Growing up, we always had potpourri in the house, all year long, but more so during the holidays. My Mom would leave the potpourri all year long, so we would have a Christmas potpourri smell in July if you walked by the place on the table where it was sitting. As I got older, I realized holiday potpourri makes a wonderful gift idea for those on your list. I’m not talking about the store-bought potpourri though, I’m talking about homemade potpourri that leaves a wonderful home smell for all those who enter. This is an easy and thoughtful gift for friends, family, and neighbors who may be alongside a bottle of wine or liquor.
Homemade Holiday Potpourri Recipes
Before we get too much into the holiday potpourri recipe making, I wanted to let you know I do have some affiliate links here that keep me being able to do these posts for you 🙂 So if you click on something and make a purchase, I do a little dance with my girls in appreciation and gratitude!
Making holiday potpourri is a delightful holiday activity that will scent your home during the holiday season. Most of its ingredients are found in your kitchen, can also be purchased online, and in the supermarkets. Spices and packs of mixed nuts are also readily available throughout the holidays at supermarkets and specialty markets. Ingredients like juniper berries, whole nutmeg and allspice, cloves, and cinnamon sticks, when blended together, offer you a holiday potpourri that is pleasant in appearance with a wonderful festive scent.
Stovetop Potpourri: What is it?
Potpourri is a fragrant blend of spices and fruits. It can be stored in a bowl in dry form, with dried flowers, herbs, and spices. The alternate version is to make it on the stove by simmering the ingredients. It’s frequently created around the holiday season.
Stovetop potpourri, often known as “simmer pot potpourri,” is created by combining naturally scented components in a small pot of simmering water on the stove, filling your home with a delightful and all-natural fragrance. Generally, when you want the potpourri to have a scent around the home, the stove will need to be on.Â
Safety is one of the most critical issues. Even though the potpourri is simmering, you should not ever leave it alone and always turn off the stove at night or whenever you leave home. Keep in mind your stovetop potpourri shouldn’t fully dry out. Setting an alarm will remind you to monitor what’s happening with the stovetop potpourri and, if required, replace or add more water.
How To Make Stovetop Potpourri For Gifts
Cooking holiday potpourri in a slow cooker or on the stovetop will make your house smell like the holiday season. Just add printable gift tags to your package for holiday gift-giving.
5 minutes to prepare | 1 package of serving
Ingredients:
â–˘ 1) 4 cinnamon sticks (crumbled) (to release the scent)
â–˘ 2) 1 tbsp clove (whole)
â–˘ 3) 1 tsp allspice berries (whole)
â–˘ 4) 1 tablespoon star anise (optional, but provides a licorice-like aroma)
â–˘ 5) 1/2 cup cranberries (fresh)
â–˘ 6) 1 medium orange (whole) a transparent bag, a 250 (1 cup) Mason jar, or a recycled jam jar
â–˘ 7) Optional: sprigs of rosemary or evergreens
Instructions:
â–˘ Step 1
Leave out the cranberries and fresh orange slices when making a dried mix packet. You can also increase the amount of ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice in the mixture. The aroma of the ground spices will be released more quickly.
â–˘ Step 2
Refrigerate the cranberries and orange until ready to give as a gift. The ground spices will cling to the orange and cranberries, so leave them out.
â–˘ Step 3
In a stove or slow cooker, combine the dried mix, fresh cranberries, and sliced orange with 2 to 3 cups of water (or apple juice). Simmer on a low flame setting.
â–˘ Step 4
Keep an eye on it and add more water as needed only. This recipe can be kept for several days.
How To Make Potpourri Last Longer
If you refresh the water as needed, your holiday potpourri will last 4 or 5 days. If you’re giving your holiday potpourri as a holiday gift, wrap it in craft paper or burlap and tie it off with ribbon or baker’s twine.Â
How Long Does it Take for Holiday Potpourri to Simmer?
four (4) days
You can usually get several hours of very pleasant aromas, but if you use the same holiday potpourri, the fragrances can last up to four days. Simply keep an eye on the water level for precaution.
What’s the best way to make holiday potpourri smell better?
To enhance the perfume and assure the fragrance’s longevity, add a complementing essential oil to the holiday potpourri mix. For every 5 cups of the holiday potpourri, add up to 8 drops of essential oil.
You can also add dried orange slices or lemon slices, for smell and aesthetics. This addition will add a clean and fresh smell, and your house will smell amazing.
Holiday Potpourri Gift Ideas
You’ll need the following items to complete the assembly:
â–˘ 1) Wide-mouth, Quart Jars, or cellophane gift bags – The jars are obviously more expensive, but they make the most impact.Â
â–˘ 2) Holiday Wrapper – Choose wisely between kraft paper and wrapping paper. Kraft paper is stronger, while wrapping paper tends to rip apart easily.
▢ 3) Ribbon or thread — I prefer twine for its rustic and aesthetic vibe, but you can use everything you have on hand.
â–˘ 4) Scissors – for cutting. Keep it out for children below 12 years old for safety.Â
â–˘ 5) Printer – If you don’t have a printer at home, you may have these printed the free printable potpourri recipe and holiday greetings card for a few dollars at your local office supply store.
â–˘ 6) Paper/Cardstock – I recommend cardstock over paper since it lasts longer. But it’s entirely up to you.
Jar Instructions:
Cover the jar lid with brown kraft paper, wrapping paper, or any other paper you want, seal with the jar lid band and put on the free printable gift tag with a ribbon or twine.Â
Holiday potpourri in a jar that smells like Christmas is one of the most simple holiday gift ideas that can be made ahead of time. So, this homemade craft is a great idea if you want to start making homemade holiday gifts early. This gift can be created year round as the seasons change with different items which are popular during the season, not just during the winter holidays!
Do you know what the world’s most popular dog is? It’s not the Labrador Retriever or the German Shepherd Dog. It’s not even a big dog! The Frenchie is the world’s most popular breed of dog. These adorable little dogs with that irresistible flat face have won people over with their smaller size and cute looks. But there is more to French Bulldogs than just their appearance. They are also friendly and playful, and they can help reduce depression and anxiety in people who need a friend. Frenchies can also ease loneliness, and encourage playfulness and exercise. If you are looking for a perfect companion, French Bulldogs are a perfect choice. But how do you take care of a Frenchie? Read along for some tips on how to take care of a Frenchie so you are well prepared when you pick up your cute little companion.
How To Take Care Of A Frenchie
What is a Frenchie and why are they so popular
French Bulldogs, also called Frenchies, are a small domesticated dog breed with an endearing appearance. They are stocky and muscular, with short legs and a long body. They have large, round eyes, and their ears stand up straight. You might know them by their “bat ears”. Their coat is short and smooth, and they come in a variety of colors including brindle, fawn, white, lilac, black and tan, blue, red pied, merle, cream, lilac merle, and black. Frenchies are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. However, sometimes because they are a bulldog breed, they can be stubborn. Keep at it and use food to help motivate them in their training, they come around very quickly!
They are loyal and affectionate, and they make great companion animals. Give your Frenchie plenty of love and attention. They thrive on human interaction and need to feel loved to be happy. Frenchies can be known to cry and show their emotions if they aren’t feeling loved but you will rarely find them barking like a typical dog, which makes them great for city living. French Bulldogs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They are known for their friendly dispositions and their loving nature. Frenchies are a high-quality dog breed that is perfect for families or individuals looking for a loving pet dog.
How do French Bulldogs help reduce depression and anxiety
French Bulldogs are wonderful pets that can provide their owners with companionship, love, and security. They are also relatively easy to care for, although they do require a lot of attention and may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. They are also subject to several health problems due to their short noses, including breathing difficulties and congenital heart defects. Despite these potential health concerns, French Bulldogs are generally active and playful dogs that make great companions. They make great couch cuddlers and when you aren’t feeling so well or are depressed, they can help comfort you. For all these reasons, French Bulldogs can be a great option for anyone looking for a pet that will help reduce depression and anxiety.
Why are Frenchies good for loneliness
French Bulldogs are wonderful companions for those who live alone. They are affectionate and devoted dogs that thrive on human companionship.
Are Frenchies High Maintenance?
They are also relatively low-maintenance, which makes them ideal for busy people or those who live in small apartments. French Bulldogs also tend to be relatively quiet, which can be a plus for those who live in close quarters with neighbors. While they do need some daily exercise, they are not high-energy dogs and are content to lounge around the house with their favorite person.
However, don’t be fooled by these quiet guys — they get the zoomies and run around like crazy for about 5 minutes, and then pass out! If they have a sibling Frenchie, they will play in short bursts and then nap for extended periods and tend to get in mischief if you let them be alone too long. In short, French Bulldogs make ideal companions for those who live alone and are looking for a furry friend to cuddle up with at the end of the day.
What do you need to know before you get a Frenchie
If you’re thinking about adding a French Bulldog to your family, there are a few things you should know first. For starters, Frenchie’s are prone to spinal cord-related issues, so it’s important to keep an eye on their activity level and make sure they don’t overdo it. They’re also susceptible to heat exhaustion, so it’s best to keep them indoors during hot weather. In addition, Frenchies are known for having sensitive stomachs, so it’s important to feed them high-quality food that agrees with their gastrointestinal tract.
Some Frenchies have horrible allergies while others have little to none, so when you notice something different about your pup, be sure to get them to the vet as soon as possible to get them some relief. Finally, Frenchies’ nails grow quickly, so regular nail trims are essential. With a little knowledge and care, a French Bulldog can make a wonderful addition to any family.
French Bulldogs are an increasingly popular breed, known for their affectionate nature and distinctive appearance. While they make great Companions, Frenchie owners need to be prepared to take care of their dog’s unique needs.
Prioritize a high quality diet.
One of the most important things you can do for your Frenchie is to feed them a high-quality diet. Royal Canin makes a specialty food designed specifically for French Bulldogs, which helps to support their digestive health and skin health. Royal Canin has adult food as well as puppy food, each specifically formulated for the best diet for keeping your Frenchie healthy. Make sure you provide your Frenchie with a good diet. They need high-quality food to stay healthy and avoid obesity which also helps keep the gassiness down. French bulldog puppy diet is also super important. Puppy and adult Frenchies should be fed different diets, as puppies need more calories to support their growth. French Bulldogs are also susceptible to health problems like eye problems, spinal deformities, IBD, and allergies so diet is super important. French bulldog health problems can be avoided or improved with a quality diet.
Keep their folds clean.
Poor little guys! They get gunk in their folds. It is important to keep their folds clean, as they can easily become infected. Also, if left dirty these folds can start to smell, and nobody wants that! So keep their folds clean.
Don’t let them overheat.
Frenchie’s are prone to overheat, so it’s important to keep them cool in hot weather. On hot days, especially during hot summers, bring them inside. Make sure they always have plenty of water, shade, etc. If you leave them inside on a really hot day, make sure you have the air conditioning on, and again plenty of water. NEVER leave your Frenchie in a car unattended. Take extra care of Frenchie puppies on hot days as they may overheat from playing or too much excitement. Also, here is what to do if your Frenchie is overheating.
Clean your Frenchie’s ear and tail pockets regularly.
Their ears and tail pockets also need to be cleaned regularly, as they can collect dirt and bacteria.
Get them groomed regularly.
Regular grooming is also important, as it helps to prevent obesity and keep their coat healthy.
Focus on moderate exercise.
Exercise is important for Frenchies, but they don’t need a lot of it. A short walk or play session each day will suffice. After their playtime or walks, make sure to provide them with plenty of fresh water to keep them from overheating if you exercise with them.
By taking care of your Frenchie’s needs, you can help them enjoy a long and healthy life.
Although French Bulldogs are small, they require a lot of care and attention. They are prone to heat stroke and respiratory problems, so it is important to keep them cool and hydrated in warm weather. They also require regular grooming, including baths, brushings, and ear cleanings. Additionally, Frenchies need some exercise to stay healthy and happy, but their short noses make them susceptible to overheating, so it is important not to exercise them too strenuously in hot weather. By following these simple tips, you can help your Frenchie enjoy a long, healthy life alongside you to help keep you company and help if you have depression or anxiety.
The holiday season is one of giving, which often means it can easily become the season of overspending too. You want to make sure you get the best gifts for family and friends. There are still a few ways to make sure you get great gifts without going overboard with the amount of money to spend. While holiday spending might be extravagant, effective budgeting can help you avoid a month of regret later in January. Know and understand how to begin planning for the holiday season so that you can make the most of them while minimizing the financial impact. Here are a few recommendations:
How Not To Overspend During The Holidays
1) Deciding on a budget
Whenever it concerns holiday spending this season, you should have a firm grasp on just how much money you are willing to spend on gifts. However, after you’ve determined that amount of money, you’re not finished budgeting yet. During this season, think about where you’re going to spend your money. Buying gifts, like flying and other holiday activities, has a significant influence on your money. To avoid overspending on something you could have prevented, allocate your budget wisely.
If you go shopping without a list, you’re likely to buy a few things you don’t really need or you don’t know who to give to. Making a shopping list of who are the persons you are buying for and gift suggestions for each person will help you stay focused while you’re in stores. You can also just buy holiday gifts for your family members and close friends only. Make these important persons your priority, and only buy gifts for them. Regardless if you ever see something that would be ideal for someone else, keep in mind that you only have enough holiday budget put up for the people who are most important to you. If you feel awful about not being able to give holiday gifts to some people you can do the following instead: create baked goods, make handcrafted gifts, or send personalized holiday cards.
While the appropriate amount to spend for holiday gifts depends on your salary (or personal finance sitatuion), cultural traditions, and other considerations, a general rule of thumb is to spend $50 to $100 on a gift for your family (each family member) and $20 to $50 on a gift for close friends (each friend). Meanwhile, the average cost of a holiday gift for a work colleague is between $20 and $50.
2) Use an allotted amount of cash only instead of credit cards
You can also stick to a cash-only payment strategy when doing your holiday shopping. Using your credit card to pay for holiday gifts makes it easier to overspend. These credit cards nearly often feature double-digit interest rates, so your $1,000 charge for holiday gifts bought is paid off with a minimum payment that can cost you $1,800 and maybe more.
3)Â Use credit card rewards and points
Credit cards often offer rewards and points based on how much money you spend and the types of things you like to buy. So, consider inquiring about this with the financial advisors at your bank, and see what reward options they have to offer. Then, consider saving up these points and rewards (which often translate into cash-back to your bank account and gift cards) for the holiday spending season.
4) Creating a shopping list
Having a shopping strategy isn’t enough. It’s equally crucial to stick to your shopping strategy. Creating a shopping list will help you keep track of your holiday shopping expenses and thus prevent you from overspending.
Early in the holiday shopping season, when selection and prices are both at their greatest offers, buy your holiday gifts during the sales. Take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make a shopping list of all of your planned purchases ahead of time to ensure that the total amount spent is within your holiday budget, and then stick to it religiously. Creating a shopping list will give you a general idea of what you’ll need to pay for.
Create a shopping list of all of your anticipated holiday gifts expenses. Consider the following items below:
– Gifts for friends and family
– At-work gift exchanges
– Items for gift wrapping
– Price of shipping and delivery
– Gifts for service providers
5) Making holiday goals
Before you start looking for holiday treats, take a look at your finances and figure out how much you can afford to spend on holiday gifts this year. Financial experts often recommend that you spend no more than 1.5% of your annual income on your holiday gifts budget. Make sure this combined total fits inside your holiday budget. If you believe you might be able to stretch a little more your financial budget, that’s fantastic! But don’t ever be scared to scale back. You should not go broke just because of buying holiday gifts. The best thing to do is to spend money on things that are truly beneficial for you and your financial circumstances.
6) When to shop
Really shouldn’t dismiss sales fliers in your mailbox or in your email inbox. You might be able to save money on your holiday shopping if you shop during sales. You may get incredible prices on the newest toys, latest gadgets, and important home items, all of which make excellent gifts for both family and friends and even coworkers. Look through some sales fliers or e-discount codes before you go shopping to discover what items are up on the holiday sale.
7) Bring your imagination to life
The holiday season needs a bit more imagination. You can make cookies and other sweet treats, make handicrafts, or come up with other innovative ideas to offer gifts. You don’t need to spend a lot of money during the holiday season to show that you care for your family and friends. Instead, come up with unique and imaginative ways to show your gratitude to the most important individuals in your life. This can help you save money on your holiday budget while also giving you a more personalized gift for each important person you have in your life.
These homemade gifts for the holidays are a terrific way to save money while still demonstrating your love for the gift receiver.
Tips To Avoid Overspending On Holiday Gifts
Split up bigger ticket items with family & friends.
Rather than giving individual gifts, try splitting up bigger ticket items among family and friends. Rather than paying $25 for an individual gift, you can give a larger ticket item split amongst more people. You save money, because maybe your contribution was only $15, and the receiver benefits with a more expensive item.
Buy gifts in sets.
Oftentimes during holidays, department stores run sales where you can get a good deal on a variety of gifts. You’ll see ‘Buy One, Get Ones” or “BOGOs’, and even percentage discounts for purchasing more than one product. So basically, if you can purchase 2-3 candles (or any item) for the price of one, do it!
Budget at the beginning of the year.
The point of this tip is that holiday shopping doesn’t always have to happen during the crazy holiday season. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start budgeting in January, either by putting money aside for later in the year OR by starting your shopping earlier in the year. By shopping all year, you can reduce both hassle and costs.
Avoid feeling guilty about sticking to your budget.
I know, its easy to feel like you need to get your friends and family more gifts than you can afford. This is especially hard to avoid when dealing with kids. They’re so cute, you just want to get them every little thing they want. However, you’ve made your budget for a reason, because its what you could afford. Do your best to stick to it, and you won’t find yourself overspending this year.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the holiday mood and spend more money than you planned. Setting clear expectations, creating a holiday budget, and sticking to it will help you avoid debt once the holiday celebrations are done.
Very simply put, financial literacy and education is when you know enough about the crazy world of economics that you are able to make informed and effective decisions with your financial resources. It’s important to be financially literate so that you can make the right financial decisions for yourself, as well as for your family and your future.
Because we don’t learn true financial literacy in school, it’s an important set of skills to develop sooner rather than later in life. Things you should 100% be familiar with include: personal finance, credit cards and debit cards, savings accounts, interest rates, credit score, and money management.
Why is financial literacy important?
The secret to a happy, safe and secure future is financial literacy. The more financially literate you are, the better you will be with your expenses, savings, and investments. So, if you are someone who fails to manage their expenses, makes financial and investment mistakes frequently, it is probably a sign that you lack financial literacy.
Having said that, financial literacy does come with experience, but experience comes with knowledge. So, it doesn’t matter if you are an amateur or a pro at it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t begin to increase your financial literacy. (You can never perfect your knowledge, but you can always increase it. Knowledge is after all limitless)
Know it’s never too late to learn financial literacy. Growing up, we didn’t know what finances were, we just knew there was usually not enough to go around, and if there was, it meant we didn’t get anything extra, maybe a little less fighting by my parents.
So, if you are in, and want to make a change for a better future, here are all the ways you can improve your financial literacy.
7 ways to improve your financial literacy
1. Read Financial books
When they said, “Excess of anything can be dangerous”, they didn’t talk about books. The more you read books, the smarter and knowledgeable you become. So, if your idea is to gain financial knowledge and you find yourself to be an avid reader, what better way is there other than reading books on financial literacy?
Best Financial Literacy Books
If you are looking for some recommendations, here are some that you must definitely read:
Stop Acting Rich and The Millionaire Next Door, both by Thomas Stanley
The Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham
2. Join an online course
Just as you are never too young or old to gain knowledge, you’re never too young or old to enroll in an online course. You might think that you are past college, your learning days are over. But trust me, when it comes to learning, there’s no age.
Ergo, a great way to improve your financial education is to consider enrolling in courses about financial literacy. You can go for weekend online courses if you cannot make space for them during workdays. Â
DigitalDefynd is one website you can depend on. For more options, you can visithere. Also, since April is Financial Literacy Month, you’ll often find discounts for courses during this month.
3. Talk finance with the experienced ones
You might frequently forget study lessons, but you’ll seldom forget the important conversations you have with someone. Moreover, when it comes to it, perspectives matter. Talking about financial literacy within your experienced circle would not only provide you with knowledge but develop your perspectives about important things in life.
So, go chat with your boss, friends, or some people in the financial department at your workplace. Those who have the expertise, or experience per se, can give you a lot to learn. Or, if you have the budget, consider hiring a financial advisor to help manage your finances. They can give you financial advice, help you plan for your financial future, and even assist with long term retirement planning. Hiring a financial advisor is a really good idea if you’re dealing with estate planning. When you’ve got that much in the works, a financial advisor can really come in handy.Â
4. Read financial newsletters and magazines
Remember why we were always told to read newspapers? Because it increases knowledge. Likewise, financial newsletters and magazines would do just the same. So, if you want to witness a change, add financial newsletters to your lifestyle.
Ditch scrolling your phones in leisure time, instead read to boost your financial knowledge.
You can also subscribe to various newsletters of your favorite financial websites to keep yourself updated with the ongoing events. Make it a goal to read at least one article or financial newsletter before going to bed.
5. Practice Budgeting
You might forget theoretical knowledge. But when it comes to practical knowledge, these are the lessons you learn for life. Not only will it make you financially literate about your own budget but enlighten you about new financial concepts. Â
If you don’t do budgeting, you can start with the basics. Record all your transactions during the month, total them, and now compare the number with your monthly earnings. The total amount you have saved defines your monthly financial standing. Additionally, how you use your saved money is equally significant. If you are just starting, don’t use all of it towards investment – all the more, do not invest if you lack the knowledge. Talk to an expert before you start.
6. Use social media for enlightenment
Social media is a blessing, but most of us use it for all the wrong reasons. Trust me, using it to keep a tab on everyone’s life is not as useful as using it to increase your knowledge. Now that almost all small businesses are establishing themselves on social media, small financial businesses are amongst them too. Follow them; they share tips and knowledge that might improve your financial literacy.
Moreover, you can also use social media to be a part of a network that emphasizes or shares interests about financial literacy, same as yours.
7. Have a mentor
Almost all the great legends out there have someone they feel grateful to, someone who has made them who they are. They had their mentors who inspired them in life. So, if you too can think of someone like that, let them be your mentor. It’s advisable to pick someone who possesses the financial literacy that you aspire to have.Â
Should Financial Literacy Be Taught In School?
Let me know your thoughts below! In my opinion, of course it should! According to the Literacy and Education Commission, children and young adults need to be taught financial literacy for a plethora of reasons. But, the most important reason is to prepare the next generation for this crazy world of finances.
However, since its not taught at school as often as we’d like to see, it needs to be taught at home. If you’re ready to start talking to your kiddos about finance, check out these 7 ways to raise money-smart kids.
All in all, improving your financial knowledge is not a short-term process, it is not a test you can pass and declare yourself to be financially literate. It’s a journey without an end. You cannot be the best, but you can be better. So, be consistent, don’t wait for short-term results.Â
The only time we do not entirely love to shop is during the Christmas season. It’s not that we do not love Christmas (We wait for it the entire year after all) but because Christmas shopping can cause dire financial stress to our budgets. From shopping for gourmet food for lavish dinners to buying gifts for everybody – with a hundred heavy expenses, Christmas can often feel like a luxury we cannot afford to have. But then again, it’s Christmas, and you cannot “not celebrate” it. But you can certainly make some adjustments and try these Christmas shopping hacks that I’m about to disclose.
Do you know why some e-commerce websites keep coupon codes deep within the categories? Because we are too naïve of their existence. We shop without using the coupons, either because we’re incognizant about them, or we consider their hunt hassling. Mostly, it’s the former.
Thus, this Christmas, wherever you shop, make sure you check for coupons and cash back offers. Here’s one website that I recommend.
2. Compare prices on Amazon
Retail stores sell Christmas items at soaring prices. But you can get better deals on Amazon or any other E-commerce shopping website for that matter. So, every time you’re out there shopping, always make sure to compare prices. If you get better deals online, go ahead and buy.
Alternatively, if you prefer a Target, you can find such cute decor in their dollar section at the front of their store. I’m sure you’ve seen all the influencers with the bottle brush trees (guilty here too!) all over their homes for Christmas. Those come from that section and really make decorating fun and easy.
4. Do Secret Santa
If you have too many people to gift to, skip the process entirely, and gift just one person; it will save you a lot of money. Secret Santa is a group game where everybody is assigned a person, for whom they have to buy a gift. The identity of the gift giver remains unknown till the end, so the gift receiver has to make a guess.
Another great alternative is to do a white elephant gift, which can be played one of two ways. The first is to get a trick gift, like my favorite — “cold hard cash” where you would buy a cookie tin, put an amount of money into the tin, and fill with water and freeze. The person believes it’s cookies, but when they pick it up, it’s cold, and inside they have to wait to see how much money is in it if you stack the bills together.
The other way to do white elephant is to get an actual good gift, one you would want to receive as well. You can read a story and everyone sits around in a circle to be able to easily pass the gift on a specific word. Each time the word is said, you pass your gift. When the story is over, you open the gifts in order and can ‘steal’ a gift from someone else if you want. It makes it kind of fun and lets others choose what they’d really like and keeps your costs lower.
I know someone in my family who shops and makes gifts all year long so they are completely done shopping before Halloween and it serves them well. They have an area in their home they put all the gifts and it works for them.
6. Keep an eye out for sales
Brands offer sales throughout the year, and that my friend is the best time to shop for Christmas. But in case if you are someone who remains oblivious of the sales, you have to change if you don’t want to be burdened by the financial stress of Christmas.
7. Prepare baskets
Instead of gifting someone one expensive gift, create a basket including little stuff that would together come out to become a thoughtful Christmas present. You can perhaps add dried flowers, homemade cookies and chocolates, cards, soaps and scrubs, anything that the person you are gifting to might like.
8. Register on Ebates
Ebates (now Rakuten) can be a God-sent for Christmas shopping. Rakuten is a reward website where you can shop and earn up to 25% cash back on online purchases. But for that to work out, you need to register on the platform; the cherry on the top – there’s no joining fee.
There are also several other reward sites you can choose, I also like using Capital One Shopping and Karma Now as they have a browser plug in that searches for discount codes at checkout. It makes sure you get the best price and save some money without really doing much other than clicking the check box to allow it to apply the codes and check other sites to see that you are getting the best price.
9. Create a shopping list and stick to it
This does not happen just during the Christmas season, but the whole damn year- we shop more than we need to and shop what we don’t need. Ergo, to prevent it from happening, consider making a shopping list and ensure you strictly stick to it. Before you make one, make sure to check what you already have. You wouldn’t want to buy things you already had.
In Arizona, every Friday, people have estate sales, and sell off many decor items as well as items you can use for gifts. These make great ways to negotiate and find some gently used items for your decor you may never have been able to afford. I personally love going to higher end ones to find items which I would love to have, but don’t want to pay the retail price.
Now that you know these hacks, you do not need to worry about Christmas shopping. By following these tips, you can save significantly and enjoy Christmas as you should! Merry Christmas and have a happy holiday season! We all look forward to saving money, don’t we? And I’m sure this includes you, so if you have some additional shopping hacks to share, feel free to drop them in the comment section.
You might have a reserve for retirement, medical expenses, emergency funds, so why not have a reserve for Christmas as well? It does make sense if it would help you remain debt- free during the holiday season. You can consider depositing a little money every month in the reserve. But before you do that, calculate your average Christmas expenses and then divide the amount by 12 (for every month). That’s the amount you need to reserve every month for the year-end Christmas season.
3. Always go by a list when you shop for Christmas
Going without a shopping list can be deadly for your budget. You’ll end up buying more than you should, and what you might not even need. Thus, make a list of all the things you need before going to stores and spending your entire budget. And while shopping, make sure you stick to the list – nothing extra, I repeat nothing! Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you do not shop during Christmas days. Things become really expensive in the festive season. It’s really better to shop before even if you are months away from Christmas.
4. Make use of coupons and cash back
You’re seriously missing out on a lot if you do not use coupons and cash back available to you. Many websites and wallet services allow cash back and coupons that you can use to save money. Additionally, various banks offer credit card points on purchases. You can redeem those points to shop for free. For instance, even Amazon provides coupons. Visit the Amazon App, click Programs and features, and then finally click Amazon coupons. While you are at, don’t hold yourself back thinking you wouldn’t be able to save much. Little savings contribute to huge savings in the end.
When I was growing up, this was similar to layaway. You could put things on layaway and gradually pay them off over time. Because there were four of us kids, and my parents made very little, this was something my Mom used quite a bit. Alternatively, this is like credit cards today, because back in the 90’s I don’t know if lower income people even knew about credit cards. It certainly wasn’t advertised like it is today.
5. Â Â Look for cheaper alternatives
We all have our favorite brands, but in case you think that your brand favorites are expensive and you can find cheaper alternatives, feel free to switch. It would be worth it if it allows you to save money and remain debt-free in the end. Quite honestly, growing up, we had a lot of cheaper, more affordable alternatives. From cereal, to candy in our stockings, to the clothes we wore. It has made me appreciate the things I have now and the ability to buy nicer things. We are trying to pass that appreciation on to the girls by helping them understand the things they WANT versus the things they NEED.
6. Sell old and unused items
When it comes to things we do not need, our houses are full of them. Thus, what you can do is clean your house to find out such things. Such things can be anything from old laptops, phones, blankets, clothes, and even machinery. Once you accumulate such things you can sell them off on eBay or hold garage sales for the same. The easiest thing to sell when you have children, are toys and clothes. There are resell shops in most big towns and you can purchase gently used, but more affordable things at these places. This is especially great when your kids are young and growing quite rapidly.
If you are looking for electronics, I highly recommend Back Market for anything your family wants for the holidays relating to electronics. Back Market takes electronics that others may have traded in for upgrades and refurbishes them to like new, and sells them to consumers at a much lower rate. I have several iPads from them and they honestly don’t have scratches, dings, or anything wrong with them. They look brand new. They typically come in some sort of packaging from the brand, so you can easily make your family member happy as well as your wallet.
7. Lastly, make use of some Christmas hacks
Reserving the most important for the last, make use of money-saving Christmas hacks.
– Go for handmade gifts – Starting from handmade Christmas cards, to cake, and cookies.
– Opt for Giftcards instead of spending heavily on Christmas gifts.
– For Christmas dinners, encourage everybody to bring in dishes or wine.
– Send e-Christmas cards. Some websites allow you to send them for free. One such website is this.
– Sing Christmas carols, play poker and other games, as a part of fun Christmas traditions instead of going out to expensive and fancy places.
Finally,
Well, that’s it. Now you’re all ready to save money and be debt-free this Christmas. I hope this festive season brings lots of joy, happiness, and prosperity to you and your family!
spices. The alternate version is to make it on the stove by simmering the ingredients. It’s frequently created around the holiday season.
holiday gift, wrap it in craft paper or burlap and tie it off with ribbon or baker’s twine. 
are stocky and muscular, with short legs and a long body. They have large, round eyes, and their ears stand up straight. You might know them by their “bat ears”. Their coat is short and smooth, and they come in a variety of colors including brindle, fawn, white, lilac, black and tan, blue, red pied, merle, cream, lilac merle, and black. Frenchies are intelligent dogs that are 
thrive on human companionship.
and make sure they don’t overdo it. They’re also susceptible to heat exhaustion, so it’s best to keep them indoors during hot weather. In addition, Frenchies are known for having sensitive stomachs, so it’s important to feed them high-quality food that agrees with their gastrointestinal tract.
and allergies so diet is super important. French bulldog health problems can be avoided or improved with a quality diet.
are willing to spend on gifts. However, after you’ve determined that amount of money, you’re not finished budgeting yet. During this season, think about where you’re going to spend your money. Buying gifts, like flying and other holiday activities, has a significant influence on your money. To avoid overspending on something you could have prevented, allocate your budget wisely.
your holiday shopping if you shop during sales. You may get incredible prices on the newest toys, latest gadgets, and important home items, all of which make excellent gifts for both family and friends and even coworkers. Look through some sales fliers or e-discount codes before you go shopping to discover what items are up on the holiday sale.
books, the 
financial newsletters and magazines would do just the same. So, if you want to witness a change, add financial newsletters to your lifestyle.
everyone’s life is not as useful as using it to increase your knowledge. Now that almost all small businesses are establishing themselves on social media, small financial businesses are amongst them too. Follow them; they share tips and knowledge that might improve your financial literacy.
money. 
you are someone who remains oblivious of the sales, you have to change if you don’t want to be burdened by the financial stress of Christmas.
and shop what we don’t need. Ergo, to prevent it from happening, consider making a shopping list and ensure you strictly stick to it. Before you make one, make sure to check what you already have. You wouldn’t want to buy things you already had.
Christmas as well? It does make sense if it would help you remain debt- free during the holiday season. You can consider depositing a little money every month in the reserve. But before you do that, calculate your average Christmas expenses and then divide the amount by 12 (for every month). That’s the amount you need to reserve every month for the year-end Christmas season.
you might not even need. Thus, make a list of all the things you need before going to stores and spending your entire budget. And while shopping, make sure you stick to the list – nothing extra, I repeat nothing! Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you do not shop during Christmas days. Things become really expensive in the festive season. It’s really better to shop before even if you are months away from Christmas.
to find out such things. Such things can be anything from old laptops, phones, blankets, clothes, and even machinery. Once you accumulate such things you can sell them off on eBay or hold garage sales for the same. The easiest thing to sell when you have children, are toys and clothes. There are resell shops in most big towns and you can purchase gently used, but more affordable things at these places. This is especially great when your kids are young and growing quite rapidly.
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