2023 Christmas Essentials to Buy Early for a Stress-Free Holiday

Here’s a list if Christmas essentials to stock up on early for a smooth-running holiday season. You’ll be sure to have everything you need when you need it!

Can you believe it’s almost that time of year again? Yes, we’re talking about the most wonderful time of the year – Christmas! With the festive season just around the corner, it’s high time to start prepping for the holly jolly celebrations. And you know what that means – it’s time to get your Christmas essentials in order.

We all know the feeling of last-minute Christmas shopping panic, and I’m here to help you avoid that stress. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the must-have Christmas essentials you should be adding to your cart right now, before they fly off the shelves. From twinkling lights to holiday outfits, and everything in between, I’ve got you covered. So, grab a cup of cocoa, get comfy, and let’s sleigh this holiday shopping season together! 🎄✨

General Household Christmas Essentials

When putting up my Christmas decor, there are several general supplies I use every year. Make sure you get these Christmas essentials early before you start decorating.

• FLORAL WIRE: Use small gauge wire to attach ribbon and ornaments to your Christmas tree, mantle garland or staircase. In a pinch you can also make your own ornament hooks out of this wire.
• HOT GLUE GUN: If you already have a glue gun, be sure to stock up on glue sticks. This comes in handy for so many things during the holiday season, including to quickly mending a favorite broken ornament.
• COMMAND HOOKS: I use Command Hooks all year long, but it’s good to check your supply before putting up your Christmas decor. Stock up on several different sizes so you have what you need when you need it.
• ZIP TIES: This is my go-to tool for attaching garland to our stair railing. I prefer the clear zip ties, but the black ones are easily hidden as well. My husband also uses these to secure electrical wires for our outdoor decorations.
• SMART OUTLETS: This is another thing I use all year long, but I pull out some extras during the holidays. This Kasa brand works with our Alexa devices, and I have used mine for several years now. I put all the Christmas lights in an Alexa group called “Christmas Lights.” When I wake up every morning I say, “Alexa, turn on the Christmas Lights,” and our home comes to life. It’s one of my favorite things about the Christmas season. I absolutely LOVE Christmas lights!

Christmas Decor

Even if you don’t plan to put your decorations up early, there are some decor items that sell out early. It’s best to get these Christmas essentials early while they’re in stock, at the lowest prices, and you have the best selection to choose from.

• CHRISTMAS TREES: The best time to buy a Christmas tree is in November before Thanksgiving. Michael’s is always the place I look first because their Christmas trees are 50%-60% off during this time. You’ll also want to check Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and Amazon for deals.
• CHRISTMAS TREE COLLAR: These have become quite popular in recent years. You can find good deals on them if you shop early. They often sell out, so it’s best to get yours early.
• STRING LIGHTS: Every year I buy a few boxes of GE string lights. It is a brand that is available year after year, and they last several seasons. I also use a lot of fairy lights around our house throughout the year. They are available in both plug-in and battery powered options. Cluster lights have become very popular recently as well. I’m going to try some this year.
• RIBBON: If you use 3-inch or 4-inch wide wired ribbon, you definitely need to get it early. The smaller widths are pretty easy to find, but the wider ribbons that are reasonably priced sell out quickly. Also, if you are using a popular or trendy color in your Christmas decor, you’ll want to get your ribbon early. This year I’m adding some brown into my color scheme, so I’ve already started shopping for it.
• GARLAND: The most realistic-looking garlands sell out quickly, especially anything named “Norfolk Pine.” It’s best to get more than you think you’ll need. You can always return any you don’t need later, but you probably won’t be able to find anything reasonably priced after Thanksgiving.
• ORNAMENTS: You can easily find ornaments everywhere as long as you’re not picky about what you get. However, I tend to be very picky about both size and color, so I shop early for mine.
• ORNAMENT HOOKS: Believe it or not, hooks can get hard to find a week or two past Thanksgiving. I usually get a couple of packs since I put up several trees. I love the gold swirly ones!
• WREATHS: Just like the garland, the most realistic looking wreaths and anything named “Norfolk Pine” will disappear fast. Get them early!
• BELLS: Rustic brass bells are another Christmas decor item that has become very popular. They come in a wide range of sizes and have a classic look about them. They also go well with just about any color scheme, which may be one of the reasons they always sell out.
• CHRISTMAS VILLAGES: Classic Christmas village pieces are readily available, but if you prefer white village pieces or wooden villages you should definitely shop early.

Gift Wrapping Supplies

My goal every year is to wrap gifts as I get them. Some years I do better than others. No matter when they get wrapped, I like to get the wrapping supplies early so I have no excuses.

• TAPE: Any clear tape will work, but the Scotch brand is still my favorite. I also like to get some double sided tape for gift wrapping.
• PLAIN WRAPPING PAPER: I bought a roll of plain brown wrapping paper several years ago, and I use it for everything! You can dress it up with a bow, stamp it, add doodles, and it can be used for any occasion. No matter what my Christmas theme is, I always add some gifts wrapped in this plain paper. It also comes in white and black.
• PATTERNED WRAPPING PAPER: I like quality wrapping paper, and I want it to match my decor. I buy one pack of Hallmark Reversible paper every year. A pack of 4 rolls gives you 8 coordinating patterns. Mix in a little of the plain paper with it, and it’s a beautiful display!
• SCISSORS: If it’s been a while since you’ve replaced your scissors, it may be time. Sharp scissors will save you a lot of time while you’re wrapping gifts.
• TISSUE PAPER: White and/or gold are my preferred colors of tissue paper. I keep both on hand all year. I use them for fill in both boxed and bagged gifts.
• BOXES AND BAGS: I rarely purchase a box because I save and reuse boxes from things I’ve ordered online. However, I do keep a supply of gift bags. Plain brown gift bags can easily be dressed up with gold tissue paper and a bow for any occasion.
• GIFT TAGS: You may have guessed by now, but I like to stock up on plain brown, white or gold and white gift tags. Add some thin ribbon, twine, or colored string and you’re ready for any occasion.
• RIBBON AND BOWS: I use 1-inch to 1.5-inch ribbon to wrap my gifts and simply tie it into a bow, but if you’re looking for a times saver, try these pull bows. They look much better than the bulk bows that stick on packages.
• WRAPPING PAPER CLAMPS: I got a set of these 2 years ago, and I absolutely LOVE them! I use them to clamp wrapping paper to the side if my dining room table, and they work exactly as promised. I also love that they hold a roll of transparent tape. So handy and a huge time saver!
• WRAPPING PAPER CUTTER: Not only is this tool handy for cutting straight pieces of wrapping paper, but it stores right on the rolls and keeps them from unraveling. I recommend getting a couple of these!

Baking and Cooking Christmas Essentials

Now you may be thinking you don’t need to buy baking supplies early. However, in the past couple of years there have been a couple of ingredients that were difficult to find, and I had to make trips to multiple stores. Last year it was chopped pecans, another year it was molasses. If you plan to do a lot of baking, why not go ahead and stock up on your basic supplies? There’s nothing worse than starting to bake and finding you’re short 1 cup of flour!

Holiday Outfits

Avoid the last minute stress of shopping for a holiday outfit. Shop early for the best selection and deals. Opt for an elegant black dress, a sparkly jumpsuit, or dressy black pants and a shimmery blouse. Those combinations should get you through any holiday party!

The best thing about shopping early and online is that you can try on outfits at home and return anything that doesn’t fit. It saves TONS of time not having to drive all over town and waiting for a fitting room. Plus, when you try on your outfits at home you can pair them with accessories and shoes you already have before making another purchase you may not need.

Here are some of my favorite places to shop for holiday outfits.

• Pink Lily’s Holiday Shop (use code November20 at checkout to save 20%)
• Kohl’s Holiday Shop
• Marshall’s Cocktail Dresses
• TJ Maxx Formal Dresses
• Macy’s Cocktail and Party Clothing

Event Tickets

Check your local venues to see what shows and events are happening in November and December. The best shows will sell out quickly, so get your tickets early for the best seats. 

Do you have all the Christmas Essentials?

As we wrap up this festive guide, I hope you’re feeling a little more in the holiday spirit and a lot less stressed about your Christmas shopping. Remember, nabbing your Christmas essentials early is the key to ensuring a smooth and joyful holiday season.

So go ahead, check those items off your list, and revel in the anticipation of decking the halls, cozying up by the fire, and celebrating with loved ones. I wish you a holly, jolly, and stress-free holiday season. Happy shopping, happy holidays, and may your Christmas be filled with warmth, love, and a whole lot of magic! 🎅🎁🌟

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