no avoiding the holiday hustle and bustle. Parties, shopping and decorating seem to snatch away the precious free time we do manage. But some timesaving tricks can help get you through the hectic holiday season so you can reclaim some of that hard-to-find free time. Put precious time back into your holiday schedule with these timesaving tips from ScoTr Tissue and Towels’ first Chief Common Sense Officer and Seattle mother of two, Samantha Graziadio. * Address holiday cards a year ahead, using the cards you receive this year as your guide. Then place them, without stamps, with your holiday decorations. Put a reminder note in your calendar about where they are. * Have a yearly calendar with highlighted important dates. Look ahead each week to see which gifts and cards need to be purchased and sent or given. Calendars with important dates make great gifts for family members. * Keep a good tablecloth under the everyday one for surprise holiday visitors. * Learn the layout of the stores where you shop, and write lists according to the orderof the store. Make it a point to browse for hard-to-find items, and then make a mental note of where those itemsarein the store. Put time back into your busy holiday shopping schedule by learning the stores’ layouts. * Slip an extra “emergency” check in a pocket in your wallet for when you accidentally run out of checks. When you use it, replace it immediately. Remember, the holiday months are always busy. “People run around like crazy trying to get things done,” Samantha says, advising: “Slow down and do one thing at a time. By using effective, common-sense, timesaving shortcuts, you will wind up with more time for yourself and for your loved ones.” For more of Samantha’s common-sense tips and tricks or to post your own common sense counsel, join the Common Sense Community at www.ScottCommon Sense.com.
