By John DeFore

By early February, memories of the downside of Christmas are fading: the bungled last-minute plans, the gifts selected out of desperation, the gulp-inducing fees for overnight shipping. You’re probably still basking in the glow of your holiday cheer and starting to forget all of that work.

Not my Mom. Images of well-dressed pine trees and stockings nailed over chimneys are never far from her thoughts, and if this year is like last I will have heard “Have you started your Christmas list?” at least once by the time fireworks explode in July.

Mom’s a true Noëlophile, and isn’t about to let logistics come between her and thorough enjoyment of the season. She gets things done early, has her celebrations well planned, and tends to be enviably relaxed during December. I’m going to try to take a cue from her this year, and maybe you should too.

Everybody is familiar with one part of this strategy: January was prime-time for picking up next year’s cards, wrapping paper and ribbon at bargain prices. Strings of lights that bit the dust this year can be replaced for next to nothing — though you should be sure to get UL-approved replacements, preferably long-lasting LEDs, lest new lights fizzle as quickly as the old ones did. The longer you wait during clearance season, the sparser selections grow — but the more eager stores get to hustle products off shelves at discounts of 75% or more.

While brick-and-mortar Christmas clearances have dried up, they linger online, where diligent Googlers might encounter the “Everything Must Go” vibe at Christmas People, where everything’s at least 70% off and shipping is under $11 (even if you order a crate full of ornaments). You can score Hallmark’s novelty Millenium Falcon and Starship Enterprise ornaments for a quarter their original price.

It helps, in this department, to have a roomy attic or basement — some place to stow this decor where it won’t be in the way. Label boxes well and store them together, so there’s no spelunking required when it’s time to decorate this year — that is, as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are dry.

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