Think before you spend that Christmas money
My family’s Christmas celebrations are split up between festivities that take place on Christmas Eve and those that take place on Christmas Day.
I did get some things from my wish list last night. (Those gifts include Hallmark Barbie ornaments. I’ve told you before I collect Barbie dolls.)
But a good bit of what I got last night was restaurant gift cards and cash. My in-laws weren’t able to mall shop this year because they both have medical issues and can’t get out and about like usual. As a result, our Hallmark ornaments (my husband always gets some science fiction ornaments) were ordered over the phone; and many of the other gifts presented to various family members last night were catalog, on-line or QVC orders … or cash
There were some after-Christmas sales fliers in the newspapers yesterday and today. I expect another pile in the Saturday papers. Don’t toss those newspapers yet, just pull aside the fliers you want to review tonight and send the rest to the recycle bin. Most retail stores are closed today anyway.
This break in the shopping hours will give me time to think about and plan what I’d like to do with my Christmas cash. Besides, I haven’t yet seen the pile of goodies from today’s stack of gifts (everyone is still sleeping).
I don’t want to waste my money on impulse purchases. I want to use it on things I really need or would really like – but otherwise can’t afford or would never think to buy.
I’m sure that’s what you would like to do with your money too.
Continue reading Think before you spend that Christmas money …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Home alone for the holidays
photo by Lisa Sanderson
Spending the holidays without family can be lonely. Festivities tend to focus on families being together. Maybe you’re alone for the holidays or are divorced and divide time with your ex-spouse. If you know you’ll be alone or with just your spouse and no other family, start planning now. If you’ve been alone for the holidays, what have you done to celebrate?
Here are a few ideas.
SLEEP IN: …
Continue reading Home alone for the holidays …
From Frugal Village.
Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt
One fun and frugal family activity is a fall scavenger hunt. Have fun with just your family, or invite a few friends to join in the fun. You can wrap up the festivities with pie and ice cream. Ask each family to bring a pie to help keep things simple.
Use your imagination to make your own list of items to find or use one of the lists below. Give each individual, family, or group a list of items to find and a bag for their goodies and you’re off! A digital camera can be used as a fun way to record items that are too large to carry.
Here is a great Scavenger Hunt list from EverythingMom.com. It’s unlikely you could find everything on the list, but it would make a great contest to see which team could find the most items. Or work on the entire list as a family, maybe taking more than one outing to find all the items.
Or try this ABC checklist or this more simple list of items to hide and find. Here is a pretty, ready-to-go list that involves getting to know your neighbors.
And you don’t need to freit if the weather is uncooperative. Simply use this fall newspaper scavenger hunt to have some fun!
Enjoy! (And don’t forget the pie and ice cream once you get home!)
Continue reading Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt …
From Econobusters.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
What is trunk-or-treat?
Some of the holiday event notices that we get at The Monroe Evening News are called Trunk-or-Treat.
What’s that?
It was explained to me as trick-or-treating from car to car in a parking lot. Apparently it’s catching on in popularity across the country. If you’d like to see pictures, here’s an explanation and pictures at Halloween Online magazine.
The way this is commonly done in Monroe, Mich., is that the sponsoring church or community organization picks a night that isn’t trick-or-treat. Families can decide whether such an event is in addition to, or replacing, the more traditional Oct. 31 festivities.
Continue reading What is trunk-or-treat? …
From Monroe on a Budget.