Yes, it’s hot outside—but that won’t stop me from cranking down the A/C, pouring hot chocolate into a festive mug, and curling up with a Hallmark Christmas movie (or two!). We’re officially six months away from Christmas Day, and for me, that means one thing: the countdown is ON.

As a Project Manager by trade, I treat the holidays like my favorite project of the year—full of joy, sparkle, and spreadsheets! I want to do all the magical things without burning out. The secret? Starting early, staying organized, and keeping it fun. If you’re like me and want your most joyful, stress-free Christmas yet, join me on this journey.

🎅 July Kickoff: Setting the Foundation

This month is all about setting up your plan. That means creating your master gift list, outlining your budget, and getting your Christmas notebook or planner ready. We’re not rushing anything—just laying the groundwork so the rest of the season runs smoothly

🎁 Master Gift List & Budget

Let’s talk about one of the most important tools in your holiday toolkit: your gift list.

As an iPhone user, I rely on the free app The Christmas Gift List, but there are lots of great options available for Android too—just find one that works for your style.

At a minimum, look for an app that lets you:

• Add names to your list
• Set a budget per person
• Track your total budget and spending
• Log gift ideas, purchases, wrapping, and delivery status

Some bonus features I love in my app:

• Organize people by groups (Family, Friends, Co-Workers, etc.)
• Look back at previous gifts so you don’t repeat
• Carry over ideas from one year to the next
• View reports like: who still needs a gift idea, what’s been purchased, wrapped, or shipped
• Share your list (I share with my husband—even if I’m not convinced he checks it!)

Bonus Tip: I also use a second app (with a passcode!) just for tracking gifts for my husband. Gotta keep some surprises a secret!

📒 Coming Up…

In an upcoming post, I’ll show you how I set up my Christmas Planner—another tool that keeps everything from menus to mailing deadlines organized and at my fingertips.

But for now, take the first step:
✨ Choose your gift tracking method
✨ Set your overall budget
✨ Start brainstorming ideas

Then reward yourself by cozying up with a Christmas movie. After all, planning should be part of the fun!

Let’s make this the merriest, most magical season ever—without the last-minute panic.
Stick with me and we’ll make Christmas 2025 the most joyful one yet!