Tips

Extra Money for the Holiday

Posted on by lantan

Can you believe that we’re almost ready to wrap up another month? I can’t believe school is going to be starting in three weeks – it seems like yesterday I was trying to plan activities for my little guy that would get us through the “long” summer. Now, I find myself trying to start my holiday planning.

I know, we still have a little over four months before Christmas is actually here, but I like to get my shopping done early. I also hand make a few of the gifts I give to family and friends, which also takes some time too. As an early holiday planner, I’m constantly looking for ways to save and make extra money as the holidays approach.

I know that we can all use a little extra cash when the holidays begin to roll around. So, I thought I would share with you a few ways ideas for “making” some extra cash for this holiday season.

Put Money Back – The easiest way to make a little extra money is the old-fashioned save-your-money method. I start doing this in January, but you can start any time. What I do is put back a minimum of $50 from every paycheck. I treat it just like I do the mortgage payment, car payment, electric bill or any other bill. The $50 comes right off the top of my paycheck so I’m never tempted to spend it. By the end of the year, if you don’t add any money to the $50 per paycheck, you will have $1200 saved up. That’s a nice little extra cash that you can spend on gifts. Take a Part-Time Job – A few months before Christmas arrives, a lot of stores begin hiring holiday help. Generally, I start to see “Holiday Help…
Knowledge Base

How to Not to be a Bridezilla

Posted on by lantan

How to Not to be a Bridezilla

The majority of women who get engaged and begin planning their weddings do not intend to turn into the dreaded bridezilla. However, we have all heard stories of how crazy some women become when it comes to planning their weddings and how hard to deal with they are. Make sure that you do not turn into the crazy bride-to-be that everyone avoids like the plague. Here are a few tips to remember as your wedding day draws near.

Listen and respect the opinions of others. While your wedding day is the one day you have most likely been dreaming of for years, this doesn’t give you the right to ignore the thoughts and opinions of others involved in the wedding. Yes, you and your fiance will have the final say when it comes to the decisions that need to be made, but make sure that you take the time to listen to the input of others before you make your decision. And, when you do make a decision that isn’t in-line with what someone else thinks, be respectful when explaining why you chose to do things the way you did. The last word doesn’t always have to be yours. I’m not quite sure why so many people feel like they always have to have the last word these days. Even in heated discussions, the discussion can easily be diffused by saying, I think we are going to have to agree to disagree. If you find yourself in a discussion about weddings (or even your wedding), remind yourself that you don’t have to have the last word. You don’t want everyone around you to think that you are trying to be a know-it-all or that you believe your opinion is superior to everyone else’s.…
Ideas

Handmade Christmas Ideas

Posted on by lantan

Handmade Christmas Ideas

Believe it or not, Christmas isn’t that far away. In fact, it’s only about six or so paychecks away for most of us. While ‘tis the season to be merry, the financial strain the holidays place on people can make a scrooge out of almost anyone. And, when you’ve got children, the financial burden of Christmas rises. Not only are you shopping for the kids for Christmas, but you’ve also got to find gifts for your kids to give to their grandparents and some of their friends. One way to alleviate some of the financial strain these extra gifts can cause is to help your kids make handmade gifts to give. Below are some suggestions.

Picture Frames – You know that wedding your little girl was the flower girl in this summer? Well, get a picture of her all dressed up in her flower girl dress and set it aside. Go to the nearest craft store and pick up a plain wooden picture frame (there are some made out of cardboard too), paints and small decorative items that can be glued on to the frame. Then, help your little one paint the frame and decorate it. Finally, place the picture in the frame and wrap it up. Grandparents love homemade gifts like these!

Handprint Plaques – Another great idea is to go and get a small wooden plaque from your local craft store along with some paints. You will need at least two different colors, one for the plaque and one for the handprint and writing. Don’t forget to get a spray on clear coat. All you have to do is help your child paint the plaque, let it dry and then dip their hand in the other paint and press firmly on the plaque. Write their …