We all know that the holiday season can be fast and furious. Why not give yourself the gift of being extremely organised and frugal, yet creative, for Christmas this year? Here are some ideas you can get to work on right now!

Consider Christmas gifts in a jar or Christmas in a box. Set aside a place to store jars or boxes labeled with each persons names, for whom you intend to get gifts. When you do your weekly shopping, if you see something that may be just right for one of your friends or family, buy it and place it in their box or jar. Add to each container as you go, through the year. Near Christmas time you can simply and decoratively package these gifts with their bows and cards. Each gift can be wrapped in its own tissue paper in the box and then glue wallpaper to the outside of a box instead of using wrapping paper.

Alternatively, buy a bunch of cheap baskets/boxes and create generic gift baskets/boxes. You could have themes for each such as aromatherapy, sports, car care, music, entertainment. Fill each with items relative to their themes such as restaurant vouchers, music CDs, car wax, lavender oils. A basket like that is bound to please someone you know or its a great way to store smaller gifts that are just right for the friends you may have forgotten on your gift buying errands.

Purchase a bunch of photo frames that you may spot on sale at some point through the year. For family and very close friends you might collect a nice photo during the year that you can enlarge or reduce in size to put in the frame. For other friends, the frame is simply the gift.

Grow cuttings of some of your favorite plants and these can then be put in a decorative ceramic pot at the end of the year and used as a Christmas gift or, kept at hand for gifts at any stage of the year.

Sponsor a child with World Vision or similar organisation. The receipt for each months contribution could be enclosed in a beautiful envelope as an individual gift for 12 different people that Christmas. Perhaps a letter or photo of the child during their gifted month can be enclosed with the receipt copy. Invite the recipient of the gift envelope to write a letter to the child letting the sponsored child know of your friend or family members indirect involvement.

Get creative this Christmas and start your preparations early. Allow yourself to be relaxed and able to simply be in the company of the people who you love spending time with during the holidays.

Copyright Glenda Erceg.