Holidays are for making magical memories, but sometimes the stress and pressure of it all can get overwhelming. Here is our community's BEST tips for the holidays to reduce the stress and make lasting (priceless!) memories:

Welcome back to this week's blog post in our Freebs Community Collective series. This series is where we share life hacks, tips, advice, favorites and recommendations on a topic of your choice. Every month, we share the topic of the week over on Instagram (follow here!) for you to submit your answers! As always, we will share your responses as well as Jordan Page's/The Page Company's responses. Join the fun!

This week we asked the Freebs Community: Give Us Your BEST Holiday Tips! (Any Holiday!) And you delivered, as per usual. Read on to find out some of the best tips, tricks and hacks to making the holidays more special and less stressful!

The Page Company's Best Tips

This particular topic is very near and dear to our heart! In fact, we JUST released a new book with Jordan's best tips for every holiday of the year – The Ultimate Guide To Holiday Party Planning! Available in physical and digital form!

 

This book was a labor of love, putting together all of Jordan's best advice from over a decade of sharing her holiday parties and traditions!

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE

Some of our other favorite holiday advice can be found for free here on the blog, in these blog posts:

• FREE Thanksgiving Printables That Will Save Your Sanity!
• Holiday Shopping Tips To Save You Money!
• Holiday Budget Tracker Envelopes
• Making Christmas & Holiday Traditions Amazing
• The Ultimate Holiday Bucket List + Printable
• New Year Activities for You and Your Family

 

FREEBS COMMUNITY RESPONSES:

Our favorite part….time to hear from YOU! Thank you for participating and sharing your best tips for magical holidays. Most centered around food and gifts, so we've separated them accordingly! Here's what you had to say!

HOLIDAY FOOD/HOSTING

• We like to do the big family Christmas dinner early, like the week before! It's your holiday too, enjoy it!
• Minimize the amount of separate dishes you make for a meal. 2-4 is enough!
• Start your baking early (like DAYS ahead) and pop in the freezer until your holiday. Saves you from messy kitchen clean-up on the holiday, too!
• Holiday meals are best served on disposable dishes and utensils.
• Any butter rub is perfect for juicy turkey meat. Spread under the skin and over the bird.
• There's no rule that you HAVE to eat turkey or ham for holiday dinners. Start your own tradition and eat what you LIKE!
• Assign tasks like setting the table, mixing drinks, or making appetizers. Sharing responsibilities makes hosting more manageable.

HOLIDAY GIFTS/SHOPPING

• We start our end-of-the-year holiday savings fund in January!
• If you have a large family, you can do a Gift Card Drawing rather than buy everyone a gift.
• Visit the Dollar Tree about 30 days before the holiday for the best goodies.
• Buy wrapping and tissue paper in BULK. I bought mine at Costco years ago and still have plenty.
• Set a budget for gifts and STICK. TO. IT.
• Don't rush into purchases. Compare prices, look for deals, and consider shopping online for discounts. Use price comparison apps and websites to find the best deals.
• Keep an eye out for holiday sales, discounts, and coupons. Many stores offer special promotions during the holiday season.
• Get creative and MAKE some gifts yourself. Handmade gifts can be both thoughtful and budget-friendly!
• Consider using cash or a debit card instead of credit cards to avoid overspending. When the cash is gone, you can't spend more.
• When participating in gift exchanges, set price limits to ensure everyone stays within budget.
• Instead of individual gifts, consider group gifts for families or groups of friends. This can be way more cost-effective!
• Acts of kindness can be the most meaningful gifts.

MISCELLANEOUS (BUT GENIUS) HOLIDAY TIPS

• Write down a “debrief” after the holiday: what worked well, what didn't, new recipes, etc.
• Avoid travel and stay home! Tell your family they are welcome to come over, but don't feel obligated to go to them.
• It's okay if you can't celebrate on the specific date. Do what works for you!
• You don't NEED matching pajamas!
• Try your best to maintain a positive attitude and keep the holiday spirit alive. Stay patient and adaptable in the face of unexpected changes, by knowing ahead of time that not everything is going to work out perfectly but it will all be okay.
• It's okay to decline invitations or activities that would add unnecessary stress to your schedule. Focus on what truly matters.
• We use our leftover Halloween candy to stuff reusable advent calendars. $0.00 Advents!

We love these great tips so much!! You might already know many of them, but it's always helpful to have a reminder! Would you like to add anything to the list? Leave a comment below!

And don't forget to grab a copy of Jordan's Ultimate Guide to Holiday Party Planning here!

The holiday season should be a time of joy, not stress. With a little planning, prioritizing what truly matters, and embracing the spirit of giving, moms can create unforgettable and stress-free celebrations. Remember to take care of yourself, enjoy the traditions, and savor the moments that make the holidays truly magical. This holiday season, focus on what matters most – the love and togetherness of family and friends.