You can finally breathe a sigh of relief the holidays are done for one more year. Now's the time to start thinking about taking down all those decorations. And, just a little planning this year will save you tons of time next.

Here's what you'll need to get started.

1. Clear plastic totes or cardboard boxes. If you don't already have plastic totes, they can be a bit expensive to buy. But they'll last for years and they do a very good job of keeping out the pests and rodents. Make sure to get enough to hold all your decorations.

2. 2-3 Plastic garden hose reels

3. Old wrapping or tissue paper

4. Bubble wrap

5. Plastic "zippered" storage bags-quart and gallon size

6. Tape

7. Labels

8. A note pad

Start with bringing all the decorations to a central location. Choose one location for inside decorations and one for outside. This will help you make sure you don't forget anything.

As you're sorting, take the time to decide if it's something you really want to keep. Now's the time to get rid of any broken, discolored, or ratty old decorations. The best rule to observe is if you didn't put it up this year you may want seriously to consider getting rid of it.

Organize your totes or boxes into three categories open first, inside decorations and outside decorations. Label accordingly. Then break it down even further within each category.

The open first tote should contain a smaller shoebox sized tote or gallon sized plastic bag with Christmas cards and envelopes, your address list, a pen, labels, stamps (if postage hasn't gone up) and note paper for writing additional notes. Christmas books for the kids, extension cords, adapters, hangers and hooks.

Put all extension cords and small items in plastic zipper bags.

Label outside totes: outside lights, wreaths, and freestanding decorations.

For indoors label totes, indoor lights, trees/tree stands/skirts, ornaments, collections, wall hangings, gift-wrap, and other decorations. Once you have the totes or boxes grouped into their categories, you're ready to start packing.

Put a layer of bubble wrap on the bottom each tote/box. Wrap all fragile items using old wrapping or tissue paper. Place in tote/box snuggly but do not force or cram. Put a sheet of bubble wrap between each layer. Remember to put the heaviest items on the bottom.

Wrap all wreaths in bubble wrap and stack loosely in tote/box. This will help preserve their shape.

Put all gift-wrap, bags, boxes, tissue paper, and bows along with ribbon, tape, scissors and to/from tags in the same tote/box. That way you have an instant "wrapping station" ready to go next season.

Use garden hose reels to wrap all lights. You can pick up the plastic kind for less than $10.00 each at any home center store or even at Walmart. These are perfect for putting on several strands of lights with out tangling.

If it's with in your budget, grab a couple extra. They also work great for garland and even extension cords.

As you're packing, be sure to note any damaged, nonworking items, or items that simply need to be replaced. Make a list and tape it inside the lid of the open first box. This way you'll have a list of all the items that you need to buy next year.

Label each box with not only the contents of the box but also the order in which you generally use it. For example the Christmas tree would be labeled a higher number than the lights or ornaments. Because you have to put up the tree before you can decorate it.