There are a few traditions (and superstitions) that seem to take over our home the week before we start a new year. From bills, to cleaning, to silly family activities, there are a small list of items that are must-do before the ball drops and we start a new year.
Here are 5 household tasks to do before the new year, that will give you peace of mind and excitement about the next 12 months.
Pay Your Bills
Having an outstanding bill looming into the new year is grounds for disaster. There is a bit of symbolism in having all bills paid before the new year hits. You start the new year with a clean slate.
But, there is also a bit of responsibly to it all. You are making sure that the month of December is completely closed out from your monetary commitments. That’s a great catalyst for good bill-paying behavior in the new year.
Are all of your bills paid? Make sure that all paperwork is removed from your home, too. Shred those bills to make SURE you are completely done with them.
Clean Your House
This is something that I’ve done for such a long time, and I believe my own grandmother was the inspiration for it. I always remember her giving her house a deep clean the week before New Year’s Eve.
She cleaned corners, and bathrooms, and even tidied up the basement. When the new year came, it came into her home with a clean slate (see, I’m using that term again!). I now do this same thing.
I clean the heck out of my home, and organize like a crazy person. If you aren’t crazy like me, you can at least get your home clean in a fraction of the time. This post from Money Saving Mom shows you how to clean your house in 2 hours. Yes, 2 hours!
Empty Your Trash
Does this one sound weird? Well, it is. This is yet another thing that my grandmother made sure was done before the new year rang in. She explained to me that it was “bad luck” to have dirty things in your home before the start of the new year.
So, all garbages needed to be taken out. I thought it was silly, but I still made sure to do it. I think she wanted us to help her take the garbages out, so she could clean the garbage cans, truthfully.
But, if you think about it, this is another great way to symbolize the start of a new year. Get rid of the garbage. Be open to new things.
Wash Your Clothes
This is one of my favorites. A full hamper on New Year’s Day makes my eyes rain. I feel like we’re starting the year off with chores, which no one wants to do. Before we make our way to New Year’s Eve church services, we wash and fold clothes.
We also get rid of clothes with holes, clothes that don’t fit, or clothes that no one has worn. Again, entering the year with a clean slate and no garbage.
What To Do On New Year’s Day – Plan Your Year
How amazing would it be to come into the new year with it all planned? My husband and I have been doing this for the past 7 years, and we’ve seen such an increase in the positive experiences we’ve had.
I actually think this is what to do on New Year’s Day, since you’ll be sitting on the couch, relaxing, and a bit more motivated to plan out what you want to happen over the next 12 months.
We’ve also seen an increase in our finances. We know it’s because we were able to sit down, plan out each day of the year, and tell the days what they were assigned to (vacation, work trips, birthdays, etc), rather than being surprised by events that we should have planned for. It’s pretty easy to do.
So easy, I wrote an ebook sharing how to plan your year in just one day. If you can get this done on New Year’s Eve during the day, or New Year’s Day, you’ll feel like you’re conquering life before it even starts.
Love the idea of planning your year in a day! I think I’m going to try that!
Minus planning a year in a day, I do many of the same things you listed. I am especially big into decluttering before the new year has arrived. It always feels so good to enter another year without the unnecessary. I also love the idea of planning the year in a day. It’s definitely something I’d like to try.