Advantages of a Christmas Inventory

January is a good month to create a Christmas inventory. Keep track of ornaments, Christmas lights, and wrapping paper as you put them away. It’s tempting to shove everything in a closet, but taking the extra time to itemize the trappings of Christmas lets you know what you need to purchase before next Christmas, including any needed storage containers.

Jotting down the locations of stored items helps you find them when it’s time to take them out again. And listing items in need of repair gives you a head start on fixing them. It’s a good idea to put together a holiday binder and include a tab for your Christmas inventory. A little effort now will save you time and frustration in December.

Another Kind of Christmas Inventory

While you’re at it, add a ‘Review’ tab with blank pages for another kind of Christmas inventory. This is where you can jot down your observations about the Christmas just past. Now, while holiday memories are fresh in your mind, is the best time to take note of what worked and what didn’t in your holiday season.

Did your wassailing party go flat? Were Christmas Eve dinner preparations so exhausting you had to skip that candlelight service you really wanted to attend? Did you miss anyone who should have been on your gift list? Do you need to scale back on sending Christmas cards?

It’s funny, but we think we’ll remember these things and usually don’t. Write it all down along with thoughts for improvement, an exercise you may find cathartic (or is that just me?).  With your notes to refer to, you’ll have a better idea how to plan for next Christmas.

Note also the things you already know you want to do next holiday season. With a whole year to go, maybe you can set aside the money for that sleigh ride you had to miss this year. For that matter, why not get started planning next Christmas?