Aunt Jean is coming to town. You've known about it for months, but
you're days away from her camping out in your guest room with a
plethora of denture accessories. And she knows just how to cook your
turkey. Face reality and get a game plan, because compensating
with bourbon refills can get pricey.
Sharing your home can be an awesome experience, even for folks who
prefer themselves to non-resident relatives. But it just wouldn't
be the holidays without stuffed turkeys or stuffed houses--so cozy up
with these sanity-saving tips.
1. Make a meal-sharing spreadsheet.
After a decade of gathering for Thanksgiving with my mother's extended
relatives, we finally wised up and started assigning cooking
and cleaning to each family. We went OCD on the plans and made sure each
group knew what they were responsible for. Make the most of
Facebook to send out small group messages.
2. Stock your guest's area with necessities.
Include two towels, an extra blanket and enough toiletries to get them
through a weekend--then let them know where they are. Don't
forget to leave a few bestsellers and magazines on the nightstand for
late-night reading.
3. Practice sharing a room before guests arrive.
Most of us don't have spare rooms lying around throughout our
house--your guests will most likely need to encroach on current
inhabitants. If those evicted youngsters are under three, let them share
a room with their older siblings a couple nights ahead so
they will sleep well when company arrives.
4. Plan family walks.
Two big ideas here: you will eat far more than you should (despite your
steely resolve) and cabin fever leads to badness (as
dramatized in The Shining). It's not an option. Everyone goes, rain or
shine. This year, your clan can even walk to the nearest Best
Buy or Walmart to
protest early Black Friday deals.
Doesn't that sound like fun?
5. Make a list of things to do in town (and not in your house).
If taking a brisk post-turkey walk outside isn't an option, have a list
of fun activities read to suggest for weekend guests. Think
movies, bowling or, for the thrill-seekers, Black Friday shopping. Free
is good, but it needs to be done away from the house at times.
6. Text or email directions ahead of time (with a map included).
While many of us have good access to immediate maps with our
smarty-pants phones, older folks would rather have clear, printed
directions before taking to the road. Rather than playing GPS for
multiple parties on the night of arrival, send out an email with a
map of your place and typed directions on how to get there. Include
other need-to-know stops nearby, like grocery stores and
pharmacies.
7. Invest in a good air mattress.
If you aren't a fan of air mattresses, you haven't slept on a good one.
But you'll have to pay more for a bed that doesn't leak. They
will run you over $100, but if you buy a
discount gift card to Sears from sites like GiftCardGranny,
you'll save around $10 on a queen-sized bed.
8. Ask about food allergies.
It seems most of the world is now deathly allergic to at least one food
(or food group), but as the host, you have the responsibility
of accommodating for preference and allergy.
Eating With Food Allergies has a fabulous guide to preparing a quality Thanksgiving meal
sans EpiPen.
9. Buy several plastic-lidded cups.
Unless you'd like a mass of unidentified cups sprouting around your
house, watering the carpet, get a batch of souvenir cups with
lids to contain the mess. Let each guest autograph their own cup with a
permanent marker and let them take a piece of the holidays
home with them.
10. Ask big groups to bring their own pillows, blankets and towels.
Yes, this is normally understood, but everyone needs a reminder. If your
overnight guest list is really long, suggest bringing towels
and sheets as well. Put a hamper in a central location near the bedroom
so guests who strip the sheets don't have to wonder where to
put them.
11. Make plans for visiting pets.
Our furry friends seem to be more than just four-legged friends these
days. If your cat-crazy relatives can't make it through the
weekend without toting Whiskers along, address it ahead of time. Consult
this list of
Thanksgiving safety tips for dogs, and make
sure you, as the host, know if the animal is quiet. A barking dog can kill the holiday cheer in five minutes.
12. Enjoy the moment and don't stress over plans!
These holiday memories won't roll around forever--have some perspective
and be a gracious host. Be thankful you have a generous space
to share and let your cooky relatives enjoy it as well!
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Guest article written by Ashley Grimaldo who comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys
blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents.
She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley
has been featured among such media outlets as
Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.
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