Debbie Mayo-Smith: Time and money saving pre-holiday tips

Use some of your children's old paintings as wrapping-paper for presents. Photo / Thinkstock

1. Young Children? Great use of artwork

With the holidays fast approaching, here is a great idea to personalise your gifts while saving money too. Use some of your children's old paintings as wrapping-paper for presents. Children bring home a large amount of artwork, and with time, you will become a lot more discerning about what paintings of theirs you will keep. The discarded ones can then be used as wrapping-paper.

2. Pinterest Instead of Google

If you're looking for holiday decorating ideas, special recipes, seasonal cheer or DIY Gift ideas, don't go to Google first. Rather have a search through the social media site Pinterest . Think of Pinterest as a visual discovery tool for your projects and interests. From how to patch holes in the walls, to carpeting choices for bedrooms, you'll find visual bookmarks others have saved from their searching of the web. You'll probably save heaps of time as you're Pinterest results are the best of the web instead of all of the web

3. Five Actions to Reduce Holiday Stress

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The Christmas period is more stressful because of the combination of school holidays, summer holidays and Christmas celebrations.

1. Shop off-peak: Stores are excessively crowded in December, but not as much in the early morning or late night period

2. Chop food beforehand (even a day or two in advance) and assemble on the day

3. Cook and freeze your meals early

4. Make a detailed list of things to do and group similar tasks together

5. Buy during sales and store things away.

4. Save Time Leaving Home

This tip is from Marie Lambie from our book together - 101 Quick Tips Surviving the Kids: Keep a big box by the front door for all the kids' shoes, socks, hats and bags.

When they come home, get them to dump all these items in the box so you can easily grab these essentials for every outing. I can't begin to think how much time this has saved me. There's no more searching frantically under sofas and beds for one shoe here, a bag there.

The children were remarkably quick at cottoning onto to the system and it is now their first port of call when I tell them, 'We're going out - get your things, guys!'

Written by Debbie Mayo-Smith, One of New Zealand's most in-demand speakers, trainers and bestselling authors. Debbie works with companies that want more effective staff. For more tips and business ideas sign up for her free monthly newsletter.