What is the Most Valuable Section?

[Gingerbug]

What do you consider the most valuable section(s) of your Christmas notebook. To be honest with you I hadn't used mine regularly in a couple years and then last year I did....it REALLY made a difference. For one thing as long as I know it's in the notebook I don;t have to feel all crazy (lol) trying to keep track of it in my head. These are the sections I used better last year and am again this year too:

Gift List: I've always used this one but I also added a little place to mark when it was actually bought and when it was wrapped!!

Stocking Stuffer and Elf Gifts: Have always used stocking list but added the elf gifts and ideas so we didn't end up with five holiday coloring books...lol

Baking and Menus: Last year I took this to a more organized level by selecting cookies/menus earlier and making the master ingredient list. Then I shopped each week for items needed. This worked out VERY well even though there were some items I still had to wait closer to an event for...but it sure helped the budget!

What sections to you use and have they made a difference??

:rudolph:

 

[Ahorsesoul]

Most valuable would be the lists I have of gifts I've given and received. I forget so easy.

Menus: I have lists of what I cooked along with notes of what worked and did not work.

Crafts: Things I'd like to try, this section includes decorating ideas.

Cards: I print off an address list and keep one of that years Christmas cards in this section. I also keep track of who sent cards to me.

Debrief: This is so mislabeled. It contains schedules for cooking and cleaning.

Gift Ideas: Any gift ideas that sound interesting goes here along with my lists of given and received gifts. I do keep a file on my computer desktop for gifts ideas for my family and myself. That way when an idea comes to me I can just write it down quickly.

Recipes: This includes the ones I always make and things I'd like to try. Every two years or so I try to weed out any recipes I have not tried. After all there are always new ones grabbing my attention. And the old ones I can find on the net.

 

[jinglemom]

My most important sections are my gift ideas lists and my elf section. I have been trying to be good at trying to write down all the ideas that pop in my head. When I look through those sections, I often realize how much I like an idea I had wrote down and I had completely forgotten about it. I have a page for each person I buy for to keep track of my ideas for that person in my notebook. I update it periodically on the computer. For all the gifts I have given I change the font color so I remember what I gave. My gift closet inventory is included in this section too, and is important so I know what I have. I have a similar section for all the decorating ideas that pop in my head too. I use this section alot too, but definitely the gift ideas and elf ideas sections are my most helpful.

My next most important would be my two folders for menu planning. I have a yellow one for thanksgiving, and a red one for Christmas that are inside my notebook. Inside the folders I have either a copy of the recipe, or a list of the one's that I am thinking of making. and where they are located. I still need to get more organized with my shopping lists though, way too many 2nd trips because I forgot something.

 

[HouseElf]

Calendars, meals and menu planning! Love writing out menu plans, and editing from one year to the next.

I have been keeping all shopping lists on my iPhone, using a gift app... it keeps track of 'what & for whom' and if I wrapped or mailed it as I enter data. It also keeps a running tally of expenses, gifts left to buy (from the info I entered). Makes it a little easier for me, as I always carry my phone.

 

[jampss]

As for me ...

My sections are Gifts List! Who's it for, how much and is it wrapped yet!!!

I use card list for addresses.

What's in the gift closet!!

Holiday Traditions: what we like to do every year or a new fun tradition idea!

 

[girlsinmo]

I'm enjoying reading this thread.

 

[Saquilla]

This is a really tough question for me - I'm big on writing everything down, so all the sections get used.

If I had to pick one though... it would be the Meals and Menus section. This is where I have menus listed for every event that I will be preparing food for. From the "card writing party" I have with my mum and my sister (that's this week!) through to Boxing Day. I also have a master ingredient / shopping list for each. I would be lost without this section!

 

[Ahorsesoul]

It's funny but I do not have a shopping list for my Christmas menu. My Thanksgiving notebook has a very detailed list. Will make a list this year for Christmas.

 

[MinnieCo]

I use parts of mine, but my gift list is the MOST important thing. It keeps track of what I have, when I've boxed it and what numbers each gift are assigned. Then checked marked when wrapped, so I don't miss anything. Next, I would say my swap list. Same thing...keeps my numbers in order, the cost spent and info on my partner.

 

[Colleen in PA]

I must agree, my Gift List and Stocking Stuffers list are the most "dog-eared" sections of my NB. But my calendar pages are a huge help also...I put "due dates" on it for cleaning and special projects not suitable for prying eyes, so they aren't on the family calendar in the kitchen.

 

[ChristmasRose]

Definitely my gift lists. I write down everything I want to get for each person, and then I underline them when I actually have them. It's very helpful to be able to look back at what I gave them in previous years, too. I have good intentions about using the rest of my sections, but I only do it sporadically. Hopefully I'll get better at it.

 

[missjane]

I use my calendar and gift section the most. I need to do better with the recipe/grocery section. One of the forms I really like is the black Friday sales form. On Thanksgiving afternoon, I sit down and pour over the sale papers and internet and write down what is where.

 

[chilli]

I have to say that I don't have a real christmas notebook. So far I only have notes and to-do lists but somehow I don't find time to collect this in a real notebook. This is very sad, as I had so many ideas for notebooks: Seasonal notebooks, Birthday Notebook, rainy day notebook (children activities), holiday notebook.

But I don't know when.... :-(

Chilli

 

[goodpace]

Believe it or not my decorating sections. I move around often and I use certain decorations in certain rooms like themes. So when I come across an item that doesn't fit in I can check with past themes and inventory and somehow make it work.

I have another smaller Christmas planner with tear pages of decorating ideas, recipes I'd like to try, and quick cleaning tips kept in one of those multi-pocket folders so I can flip through quickly.

Then next it would have to be my recipes which my family would throttle me if I lost their favorite side dish, cookie, and candy recipes from throughout the years!