For the first time in years I decided to start planning the winter holidays (specifically Christmas) way ahead of time. Between the unexpected expenses that life can bring and general living expenses it just made good sense.

Last year was my first year using FlyLady’s holiday planner like with most things there was a bit of a learning curve but I totally feel up to the task this year. I feel organized enough that I’m considering creating a Christmas fund as my next step to holiday planning to make the difference (as Bob in White Christmas says) “between ouch and BOING!”

Given the new plan and my love of all things online I’ve been doing some light research into online savings, online banking, and money market accounts, etc. Not that I don’t already bank online (I do) but I was looking for something with a bit more separation from my usual activities.

Although, I’m not going too in-depth simply because, hello! It’s summer and I have three kids (nearly four, counting my darling Ashton, Ethan’s girlfriend) and all sorts of projects, plus that all important family time type of stuff. I don’t know how serious I’ll get about the aspect of a Christmas fund account the truth is right now it’s just an idea I’m toying with.

Still, I know that we are half-way through the year and whether I like it or not the holidays are going to land in my lap and I’m going to be off and running like my ass is on fire in no time at all. At the very least I’d like to have a game plan in mind rather then get down to, you know, November and start wondering what I’m going to do for which person and how. If I have even a light plan sketched out then I have a direction to go in. I don’t like to be direction-less.

I know a lot of people groan about the mere mention of Christmas when we haven’t even hit the 4th of July yet… have you started planning at all for the holidays yet? Any tips, ideas or advice?