Right about now, your holiday to-do list probably feels longer than Santa’s naughty-or-nice list. Help yourself out by outsourcing some of those tasks. You can hire a friendly elf or two to hang Christmas lights, arrange both house cleaning services and a meal delivery service and even have someone help curate and ship a box full of presents for the kids. We’ve shared all the details below, all that’s left to do is sit back and sip that eggnog.
Get a Curated Collection of Presents
Little Lamma
Have a hard-to-shop-for kid on your list this year? New complimentary virtual shopping service Little LAMMA might be the answer to your gift-giving woes. Simply click get started, and you'll answer a few questions about what your kids' interests are. Based on the child in question and your budget, you'll receive personalized suggestions for unique items for kids ages 0-12 from personal shoppers via email or text, and gift wrapping is free of charge. They ship anywhere in the country and offer same-day delivery in Los Angeles.
With a little help from Minted, you can make this the year you finally get around to sending out holiday cards. Whether your recipient list is in multiple files or if it's just a pack of return labels saved from cards you've received this season, their concierge address service can create a single digital address book for you. Once the address book is ready, Minted will print recipient addresses on envelopes that match your family's custom holiday cards. It's a little bit like having your own personal holiday assistant—but it's free! You'll only pay for the cards. That's a holiday miracle we can believe in.
Address services free. Custom photo card available at minted.com, from $1.67 per card.
Wrapping presents is a task that calls for outsourcing. When you shop you locally, you can make use of the free wrapping paper service many spots offer to attract holiday shoppers. Or, you can pay your artsy teenage neighbors to put their own special touch on your wrapped packages. It's an easy holiday gig that'll give them a little extra pocket money and helps you cross an item off your long to-do list. If you don't have a crew of elves to do your bidding, and you need help in a snap, you can also find reliable present wrapping help through TaskRabbit.
While you're cooking the turkey or catching up with relatives, the kids need something to do. Order up pre-packaged entertainment in a box. Easy DIY craft kits from Michaels are an affordable option to entertain the entire kids' table. Lola and Lark's boxed sets include everything your little ones need for hours of magical pretend play. For older kids, there are science kits from Yellow Scope and engineering sets from Engino.
A white Christmas is magical—a blanket of fresh snow, cuddling by the fire, a peaceful scene outside your door. Shoveling snow, though, is a task you can easily outsource. Whether you pay your high school-aged neighbors to scoop the white stuff off of your sidewalk or find a snow shoveling service to plow your driveway through takl, this is one job you can cross off your to-do list. Maybe you can make a snowman instead!
Give your holiday table a personal touch with one-of-a-kind place cards. Instead of spending time digging through Pinterest, order a set from Etsy seller Snazzy Nest Shop. We love that these wooden name cards can be brought out year after year for any festive family occasion.
Hang custom stockings by the chimney with care (and without midnight crafting sessions). Personal Creations offers dozens of Christmas stockings, so you're sure to find a style that fits your holiday decorating tastes. Pick from LED light-up stockings that give an extra magical glow, or intricate needlepoint stockings. All are ready for your kids' names, so St. Nicholas will know exactly where to put the candy canes & goodies.Â
Instead of getting out the ladder, pull out your phone. Christmas Decor can link you up with a nationwide network of experienced Christmas light installers. The Light Pros light up cold winter nights with impressive displays on homes in Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. No need to get tangled up in twinkle lights for Christmas magic.
Who's got time to scrub toilets? Outsource house cleaning to the experts. Whether you're prepping for a holiday party or for an extended visit from your in-laws, call in reinforcements to get your house spick-and-span. Ring up your fave local cleaning service or find a new house cleaner through Takl, where you can even find same-day service! Scrub-a-dub-dub and you'll have a clean tub.
For some people, marching off into the woods or heading to a snow-covered farm to pick out a Christmas tree is a magical part of the holiday season. For others, it's a major hassle. Luckily, you can skip the hassle and get that dreamy fresh pine scent delivered to your door. Williams Sonoma offers sturdy, thick Fraser firs grown in the Blue Mountains—order them online and pick your delivery window. Through Christmas Tree Brooklyn, New York residents can easily order a tree, wreath, and have the tree decorated, getting holiday ready in a snap. Head's up to Amazon Prime members—you'll be able to order fresh trees again this year!
Get all of the holiday magic with minimal effort. Target offers five unique ornament kits with everything you need to trim your tree. Choose from the sparkling gold and white Enchanted Eve kit or the bright, kid-friendly Jingle City set. Bonus: ornaments come in a repackable box, so you can easily store the set and pull it out next year.
Order up a batch of cookies or holiday treats and get all the delicious pay off without putting on an apron. The Gingerbread Factory creates impressive gingerbread houses, from classic cabins to impressive castles. They've also got customizable cookies you can send to your co-workers, your kiddo's fave teachers or the neighbors who always shovel your walk. Even if you or your little ones have dietary restrictions, you don't have to miss out on the deliciousness. Check out the vegan and gluten-free goodies from Karma Baker. Check out our list of other holiday treats you can have delivered. Happy eating!
Whether you're running last-minute holiday errands, rushing to another winter recital, or waiting in line to meet the big guy in red, one thing's for sure: you don't have time to cook. Whatever you and your kids are craving, you can order up and have it delivered via tried-and-true services like GrubHub or DoorDash. If you've got a sugar hangover, Freshly's farm-fresh, cooked-from-scratch meals offer up a healthy option. With a few clicks, a healthy meal can be delivered to your door.
Send someone else to the market to pick up the turkey and gravy. Instacart shoppers picks produce for you, plus the service offers exclusive deals save you a little money on your fave products. Same-day delivery is available in cities across the country, from Los Angeles to Houston and Chicago to Washington D.C. Even better: you'll avoid meltdowns in aisle three. Find all the skinny on 16 more grocery delivery services here.
If you want to send a big gift to a far-away relative, usually you're stuck with large shipping fees. With the new delivery service Roadie, not only will you save money on shipping costs, but you won't have to deal with packing it up. Roadie will also pick up and drop off just about anything you don't have time to do yourself.Â
