Tips for beating holiday hassles

The Christmas rush is on. Here are a few tips to survive the last-minute shuffle of the holiday season.
Gifts
—If you haven’t shipped your gift yet, you still have until noon Saturday for Next Day Air packages to get to its destination by Christmas but only to certain regions. A local Morgan City UPS representative said that if gifts are not going out to bordering states but far west, east, or north will not get to the recipient in time for Christmas.
—Electronic gift cards from a huge variety of retailers via email or text is an alternative option to the traditional physical gift.
—Shop local for more unique and one of a kind gifts and art that you can’t find in major retailers.
—Take the time to empty your closet or storage and re-gift clothes and items that you have never used.
—Avoid the last minute shopping altogether by catching clearance and After Christmas Day sales if you plan on giving a gift in person after Christmas.
Food
—Take advantage of last-minute Christmas sales from local grocery stores. Make a list of what ingredients you need and alternative ingredients that you can use in case the ingredients that you are looking for runs out.
—Call around for store hours to see which grocery stores are closed for the holidays and which are opened for reduced hours in case of accidents or spills.
—For dry ingredients, try local dollar stores or pharmacies to avoid large crowds and lines.
Entertainment
—Whip out the classic films and enjoy a Christmas movie such as “It's a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Try a film from the list of 25 Best Christmas Movies of All Time rated by both critics and viewers alike at www.rottentomatoes.com.
—Have the kids create a few games while you cook to keep them distracted. When company comes over, have your kids showcase their creativity while you finish up any last minute details.
—Make a playlist of the top Christmas carols from the Billboard Holiday Top 100 at www.billboard.com. Pick your favorite holiday classics as well as some modern renditions by Ariane Grande, Pentatonix, and Gwen Stephani for the younger crowd.