My mother swears by those vacuum bags, the ones where you suck all the air out and can get 10 sweaters to drop to the size of one, but I usually store my summer clothing high up in baskets on a shelf. Because they are expensive, I haven’t purchased any yet, but from what I understand, they are worthwhile for the additional closet space they provide.

2. Get ready for overnight visitors. Since September, we have had visitors every weekend, and there will be many more. While inviting friends and family over is wonderful, they will all need pillows to sleep on and blankets to keep warm. It’s time to check our linen closet to make sure we have enough fresh, comfortable bedding for the next chilly winter nights.

3. Fill the freezer and pantry. Amen. We do a lot of baking, a lot of cooking, and a lot of wine drinking. Buying essentials now, such as sugar, flour, pumpkin pie mix, spices, and even trash bags, will help you avoid the Costco hordes I loathe during the holidays. It’s also time to clear out our freezer in preparation for stocking up on meat and poultry in quantity for chilly evening meals.

Winterize the home, fourth. We get a lot of rain around here, so it’s time to clear the gutters and check that the downspouts are pointed away from the house to prevent flooding the foundation. Ah, the pleasures of home ownership. That’s a lot of work! We also need to cover the patio furniture, inspect and replace the furnace’s filter, turn off the sprinklers, and weatherproof a drafty door.

5. Make a list of the winter outerwear. We frequently require new jackets, boots, caps, and other accessories because of our expanding children. Fortunately, we have friends who frequently give us jackets or rain boots when their children outgrow them because winter clothing can be expensive very quickly. Which retailer do you prefer for good, inexpensive winter clothing for kids? Are there any other excellent options since I’ve previously shopped at Lands End? Anyone have a clever alternative to using a Sharpie to “mark” your kids’ outerwear?

6. Establish and adhere to a holiday spending plan. Of all the things, this is the most crucial and, I’ll be honest, the one I find hardest to do. (In particular, I died when I spotted some “must have” sunburst mirror small decorations at a nearby Christmas store.) But since I detest receiving a sizable credit card statement in January that lists all the small things that I neglected to plan for, With a budget in place, I’m confident that I’ll be more prudent with my money and less prone to spend foolishly.

7. Prepare to wrap your gifts. The disarray I experienced with all that gift wrapping was one of the factors that led me to construct an gift wrap organizer ! There is far less stress and a significant time savings when all the wrap is prepared in a small area with ribbon, tape, and scissors.

8. Start gathering gifts right away. I believe it is wise to begin Christmas gift buying in October, and the purchases are made simpler when I maintain a brief list of all the people I need to buy for in my handbag or wallet. Oh boy, if the idea is to produce handcrafted gifts, I’ll need to allocate much more time to obtain the necessary materials and devote that few hours to making leisurely rather than under duress.

The advantage of starting your shopping early is that you can avoid the crowds and impulsive purchases, but those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals only grow better with time! Which holiday—Black Friday or Cyber Monday—do you prefer? Since I can complete the latter in my jammies, I believe I prefer it.

9. Enhance What You Have. It’s true how alluring those fresh holiday decorations can be, isn’t it? However, I believe it’s crucial to inventory what currently exists in your hoard and attempt to find a way to make it work. It’s all so glittery, lovely, and wonderful. Supplement with some fresh seasonal items, decorations, and accessories if the budget allows.

10. Get Ready for Hours Indoors, however… Having a lot of games, novels, and art supplies available keeps boredom at away despite how difficult it is to find entertainment during colder weather, especially when daytime hours are spent indoors.

But when the kids start climbing the walls, I’m one of those parents who happily welcomes them outside before pointing them toward the puddles or snowdrifts. It is the least I can do to repay my parents for making us do it. One of the best things about winter is how all the outdoor play is rewarded with soup and hot chocolate everywhere.