2 019

HOLIDAY
PLANNER

2 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER

 !
You’ve just taken a very big step in getting—and staying—organized all season long.
This holiday planner—our 9th annual edition—is designed to help you get intentional
by first identifying your goals and priorities for the holiday season, then helping you
make it happen….without all the stress or overwhelm.

And, just so you know, we’ve got a ton of resources available on our website to help
you make your holiday run even smoother, including easy recipes, simple decorating
ideas, and tips for keeping your sanity during what can often be a crazy time of
year. You can find them all on our website at www.livingwellspendingless.com/
holidayresources.

In the meantime, here’s how to get the most use out of this planner:

Print it out! We recommend having it printed and coil bound, which you can
do at any office supply store. Be sure to add some sort of cover to keep it
protected.

Get clarity. Spend 20-30 minutes getting clear about your goals for the
season—both what you want and what you don’t want. This is something I
definitely recommend doing WITH your family, and it doesn’t have to take
long. You’ll probably even enjoy it (I promise!) and you will be amazed at what
a difference getting intentional will make on your state of mind for the entire
season.

Use what you need. Don’t feel like you have to use every single page in this
holiday planner. Take advantage of the pages that serve your unique needs,
and feel free to skip the ones that don’t. Give yourself permission to make it
work for you, and let go of the need for perfection!

Here’s to an incredible season of joy and peace!

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER |3

 W ith t he hu s t l e & bu s t l e o f t he S ea son, it is ea sy t o lose sig ht of wha t t ruly ma t t ers.
U s e t hi s pag e t o set y our holida y g oa ls & p riorit ies.

what 3 things can we do to help O T H E R S this year?

what are 5 things we can do as a F A M I L Y this year?

what are 3 things we D O N ' T want to do this year?

what is LEAST important to us this year?

what is MOST important to us this year?

4| 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 P l an and bu d g e t y o u r e x p enses f or t he holida y sea son a ll in one p la c e!

FOOD ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE N OT ES

THANKSGIVING

CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH

BAKING

NEW YEARS

OTHER

OTHER

TOTALS

GIFTS ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE N OT ES

CHILDREN

SPOUSE

PARENTS

OTHER FAMILY

FRIENDS

TEACHERS

COWORKERS

OTHER

OTHER

TOTALS

OTHER ESTIMATED SPENT DIFFERENCE N OT ES

TRAVEL

ACTIVITIES

DECORATIONS

ENTERTAINING

SELF CARE

OTHER

OTHER

OTHER

TOTALS

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER |5

 K e e p t rac k o f w ho ’s g et t ing wha t & how muc h y ou sp ent !

M ONE Y

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

WHO: BUDGET:
WHAT:
TOTAL SPENT:

6| 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 K e e p t rac k o f w he re y ou need t o send a ny g if t s or c a rds.

SENT

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

WHO:
ADDRESS: YES NO

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER |7

 PLANNING CHECKLIST

EARLY NOVEMBER

Plan your menu, using our menu planner on page 10. For ideas, check out our Ultimate Thanksgiving
Menu in the November issue of our LWSL online magazine. (If you can, this would also be a good time to
plan your holiday baking and Christmas menus so that you can get it all done at once.)

Make your grocery list, then start stocking up on needed items as you see them on sale in the weeks
leading up to Thansksgiving. (For more details on how to cut your holiday grocery bill in half, check out
www.livingwellspendingless.com/saveonholidayfood.)

Order specialty items. Want a fresh turkey? Need to rent or purchase table linens or a banquet table?
Planning on fresh flowers? Need a roasting pan or food processor? Get them all ordered now.

5-7 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Go grocery shopping. Purchase any nonperishable items left on your list, but wait until the day before
Thanksgiving to buy salad greens, fresh bread, or seafood.

Prep your pie crusts. If you’re baking pies for dessert, make the dough for the crust, roll it out, lay it into pie
plates, and freeze. For more pie crust tips, check out www.livingwellspendingless.com/piecrust. (Skip this
step if you plan on using premade crust!)

Thaw your turkey. Depending on the size of your bird, begin defrosting your frozen turkey in the coldest
part of the refrigerator. Make sure to put it on a plate or pan to keep it from making a big mess.
Remember that this usually takes longer than you think it will!

Gather your tools. Double check to make sure you have everything you’ll need—bakeware, pans, serve
ware, silverware, dishes, and any other necessary tools. Buy or borrow anything you don’t have.

Plan activities. Come up with activities for your younger kids to do on Thanksgiving Day. Invite guests to
bring kid-friendly games and movies too. Plan some fun for the adults too. Our free Gratitude Journal for
kids is a great option!

2 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Prep for stuffing. Homemade stuffing calls for stale bread. Cut bread now and place on a baking sheet.
(But keep in mind that pre-packaged stuffing works just as well, so feel free to skip this step!)

Make cranberry sauce. A couple days in the fridge will give the flavors time to develop.

Prep your table. Prepare the serving pieces, plates, flatware, glasses, etc. If using cloth napkins or
tablecloths, iron them now.

1 DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Bake your pies. Defrost pie dough. Assemble and bake pies.

Prep side dishes. Make the vegetables and side dishes that require baking, such as casseroles, and
reheat them tomorrow, or assemble them today, and cook them right before dinner. Peel the potatoes,
and then refrigerate them in a pot of cold water.

Chill cold beverages, including beer, cider, and white wine.

8| 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 PLANNING CHECKLIST

5-6 HOURS BEFORE DINNER

Remove turkey from the refrigerator. (Remember that timing will vary, based on the size of your Turkey,
whether you are using a bag, and whether you will be stuffing your turkey. Be sure to check the
recommended cooking time and adjust your timing accordingly!)
Allow it to sit for 1 hour at room temperature.
Prepare your stuffing.
Set the table.

4-5 HOURS BEFORE DINNER

Preheat oven and stuff the turkey; place in turkey bag (if using).
Put the turkey in the oven, basting it every half hour (if not using a turkey bag).
Set out appetizers (if serving).
Run the dishwasher, if necessary.

2-4 HOURS BEFORE DINNER

Finish prepping side dishes.

Make the mashed potatoes & transfer to an oven-proof dish.
Unload dishwasher.

1 HOUR BEFORE DINNER

Whip the cream for the pie.
Prepare the coffee, but do not brew it until 20 minutes before it will be served.
Check the temperature of the turkey at the thigh. If the thermometer reads 165 degrees, remove the
turkey from the oven. If not, check the temperature every 15 minutes until done.

HALF AN HOUR BEFORE DINNER

Let the turkey sit for 30 minutes prior to carving.
Remove stuffing from bird; transfer to a baking pan.
Place stuffing and all side dishes that need to be reheated or baked into the oven and bake at 350
degrees for 30 minutes, while turkey is setting, so that all food is ready to serve at once. (Make sure
everything is covered to keep it moist.)
Make the gravy & bake rolls.

DINNERTIME

Make the kids’ plates, if necessary.

Move all servings dishes to the table.
Pour beverages.
Sit and enjoy!

AFTER DINNER

Clear the table and designate a place for guests to retire (e.g. TV room to watch the game).
Pick up leftovers.
Load dishwasher and run it.
Turn on the coffee pot, then place pies in the oven to warm.
Serve pies and desserts.

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER |9

 DATE: TIME: LOCATION: # OF GUESTS

APPETIZERS RECIPE SOURCE NOTES

SOUP / SALAD

SIDE DISHES

SAUCES

BREAD

MEAT/POULTRY/FISH

DESSERT

BEVERAGES

10 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®
 Bring the list on your next shopping trip & check items off as you go.

PRODUCE MEAT | FISH CANS | BOXES

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SNACKS BEVERAGES SPICES | CONDIMENTS

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PAPER | CLEANING PASTA | GRAINS | RICE FROZEN

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DELI | DAIRY HOUSEHOLD | PERSONAL OTHER

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 11

 SHOPPING PLAN

Use these pages to map out your plan of attack for Black Friday & Cyber Monday in order to
score all the best deals, and be sure to check out our helpful shopping tips on the next page.

STORE:

ITEM DEPARTMENT PRICE PRIORITY? GOT IT?

STORE:

ITEM DEPARTMENT PRICE PRIORITY? GOT IT?

12 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 SHOPPING PLAN

WEBSITE ITEM PRICE GOT IT?

PRO SHOPPING TIPS!

Start with a plan. Have an idea of what you want to buy and how much you can afford
to spend. Take the time to make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for this year,
& then be realistic about how much you can spend for each person. You should also
know what deals are most important to you, and start there.

Do your research on major purchases. Spend a little time checking out the various
options & brands available. Read the reviews, figure out some base prices, & make a list
of at least your top 3 picks. Narrow down the field so you know what to look for.

Go prepared. Know the store policies, bring the ads along, remember to get gift
receipts, and compare the prices online. There’s really no point in shopping at 3am if
you don’t have to!

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 13

 PLANNING CHECKLIST

EARLY NOVEMBER

Order Christmas cards. Be on the lookout for special offers and promo codes, then get your order in. It’s
a good idea to stock up on stamps right now as well. (Order them online to avoid the post office crowd.)

Plan your gift list. Get clear about all the people you’ll need to shop for, and what you plan to spend.

Set your holiday budget. There’s nothing worse come January then realizing that you overspent during
the holidays. Set your budget now, then commit to stick to it!

Get crafty. Save money by giving homemade gifts that are both thoughtful AND cost-effective. Check
out livingwellspendingless.com/10giftstomake for 10 of our favorite ideas!

Start shopping. Spend a few hours shopping on weekdays or after work, when stores are calmer than
they are on weekends.

Stock up. Buy bulk gifts, such as a case of wine or multiple candles, to offer to neighbors, acquaintances,
and party hosts.

Plan your holiday menus & shopping list. Christmas dinner? Hosting a party? Planning a baking day?
Plan your menu and shopping list now so that you can stock up on the items you’ll need as they go on
sale.

MID-NOVEMBER

Finalize your Christmas card list. Gather and organize addresses in a spreadsheet that will allow you to
print your labels and save yourself the time of writing them all by hand.

Make your Black Friday & Cyber Monday plan. Cross reference your gift list and figure out what items you
still need to find.

Prep your decorations. Make sure you’ve got everything you need to decorate the way you want.

Finalize travel plans, if necessary.

FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER

Plan your party & performance wear. Got holiday parties to attend, or performances that will need
special attire? Make sure you’re ready. Drop off all festive outfits at your local dry cleaner, go shopping
for the correct items, or make plans to rent a dress from Rent the Runway.

Get wrapping. Set up a wrapping station in a low-traffic area of your home; wrap gifts as you buy them.

Keep things neat & tidy. Use our holiday speed cleaning checklist to keep things looking cozy (even if it
means cheating just a little.)

Finalize decorations. Put up the tree & any remaining interior and exterior decorations.

14 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 PLANNING CHECKLIST

SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER

Check on travel arrangements. Firm up any travel plans and confirm all reservations; when the time
comes, check in and print boarding passes at home.

Start baking. Make and freeze cookie dough to bake as you need treats over the coming days.

Do some freezer cooking. Prepare freezer recipes for quick meals during the holiday hustle and bustle.
(Check out our 10 Meals in an Hour system at 10mealsinanhour.com for great options to save you a TON
of time!)

Mail Christmas cards. Be sure to keep track of any that get returned so you can update addresses.

THIRD WEEK OF DECEMBER

Show your appreciation. Hand out gifts and gratuities to service people, postal workers, teachers, and
anyone else you want to recognize.

Ship gifts. Ship gifts early to guarantee on-time delivery; save a trip to the post office by scheduling an at-
home pickup at www.usps.com.

Finish wrapping. Finish up any last-minute wrapping so that you can check it off your list!

Prep your table. Launder and iron table linens.

Check your guest list. Confirm guest count if hosting a holiday gathering.

1-6 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Go grocery shopping. Purchase any nonperishable items left on your list, but wait until the day before
Christmas Eve to buy salad greens, fresh bread, or seafood.

Thaw your turkey (if applicable). Depending on the size of your bird, begin defrosting your frozen turkey
in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Make sure to put it on a plate or pan to keep it from making a big
mess. Remember that this usually takes longer than you think it will!

Plan activities. Plan some fun for both kids & adults, such as games or icebreakers.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Prep as much as possible. Prepare as much food ahead of time as you can so that you don’t have to
stress out later.

Plan for a simple dinner. Keep your supper simple- holiday feasts are such a rich treat, so keep the other
meals much simpler. On Christmas Eve, try serving a casserole. It’s easy to make, a great contrast to
turkey — and economical too.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Remember to relax & enjoy. Don’t get so caught up in the preparations that you can’t enjoy the day. It
will all come together, just keep things casual and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 15

 DATE: TIME: LOCATION: # OF GUESTS

APPETIZERS RECIPE SOURCE NOTES

SOUP / SALAD

SIDE DISHES

SAUCES

BREAD

MEAT/POULTRY/FISH

DESSERT

BEVERAGES

16 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®
PRODUCE MEAT | FISH CANS | BOXES
item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

SNACKS BEVERAGES SPICES | CONDIMENTS

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

PAPER | CLEANING PASTA | GRAINS | RICE FROZEN

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

DELI | DAIRY HOUSEHOLD | PERSONAL OTHER

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COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 17

 COOKIES RECIPE SOURCE NOTES

CANDY

BREAD

PASTRY

PIE

CAKE

DESSERT

BEVERAGES

18 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

PRODUCE MEAT | FISH CANS | BOXES
item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

SNACKS BEVERAGES SPICES | CONDIMENTS

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

PAPER | CLEANING PASTA | GRAINS | RICE FROZEN

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

DELI | DAIRY HOUSEHOLD | PERSONAL OTHER

item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon item qty/size coupon

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 19

 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
27 28 29 30 31 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

THANKSGIVING B L A C K F R I D AY

20 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

C Y B E R M O N D AY

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

HANUKKAH CHRISTMAS EVE C H R I S T M A S D AY

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

NEW YEARS EVE N E W Y E A R S D AY

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 21

 People to say thank you to

NAME GIFT/SERVICE TO THANK FOR DONE?

22 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®

 Ta k i n g t h e t i m e t o s e l f - r e f l e c t

what were our FAVORITE MEMORIES of the holiday season?

How did we do on our GOALS for the season? What were some things we did
well? What could we have done BETTER?

What do we want to make sure TO DO AGAIN next year?

What do we want to make sure we DON’T do next year?

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS® 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER | 23

 EVER FEEL LIKE YOU
NEED MORE TIME?
Of course you do!
Tame Your Time can help.

It is the proven time management system that will

show you, step-by-step, exactly how to organize
your schedule, prioritize your to-do list, and focus
on your most important tasks so that you can stop
spinning your wheels and start accomplishing all
those things you really want to do.

JUST IMAGINE IF YOU COULD:

• End your day feeling PROUD of what you

accomplished, instead of frustrated by what
you didn't do.
• STAY FOCUSED on one task at a time, without
always being pulled in a thousand different
directions.
• Have time for friends, self-care, and for doing
things you actually WANT to do.
• Have a CLEAR PICTURE of what you actually want to accomplish, and an action plan for getting there.
• Manage ALL THE PIECES of your busy life--home, work, kids, goals--without feeling crazy all the time.

Sounds pretty good right? We think so too.

And right now, for a limited time, as a thank you to our Holiday Planner users, you can take advantage of
a very special offer and get our entire Tame Your Time system for just $97 (it’s normally $297) PLUS get a free
Living Well Planner® (a $49 value) with your order. It’s just our little way of saying Happy Holidays!

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER, SIMPLY GO TO:

www.TameYourTimeSystem.com/holiday

24 | 2019 HOLIDAY PLANNER COPYRIGHT © 2019 LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS®