Surviving Christmas

Merry Christmas and Many Blessings
GrannySue

Ho, Ho, HO!

Holiday Programs come and go. And, some are better than others.

This is absolutely The Best I have ever seen. And its gotten even better since last year!!!

I got an email similar to this one a few days ago, and let me tell you, it was great to see this program back again - and with a couple major upgrades!!!

• No waiting till after Thanks-giving this year
• Lower opt in cost - Level 1 is just $3.00
• Better interface - faster, leaner
• Updated graphics

I went to this site:



  .. and whoa,...  Not to mention...

Eight out of Ten people I show it to, actually send me money. Instantly. Directly. To my payment processor of choice. 


It is a M2M program when you send a payment your receiver will need to confirm the payment. Once your payment is confirmed your position will be placed in the matrix where you can receive payments. You need to confirm payments that you receive. 

               The cost to get started is only $3.

The program uses a Team Forced 3x9 Structure. There are only 3 positions to fill on my first level. Everything else gets spilled down. To earn in a level you need to purchase a position in that level.

There are 3 Phases with 3 Levels. $3, $12, $25, $30, $50, and $75 payments so far, and it just keeps coming like a tiny snowball gaining momentum and size as it rolls down a snow filled mountain.

You just gotta see this gorgeous Holiday site. It is truly amazing and the Hottest Holiday Program of 2016!!

                Instant Pay Christmas


Happy Holidays! 

Many Blessings,
GrannySue 

Retailers live by a calendar, all of them. The very best sales of the year for different items are generally the same, though. Below are items you can buy at the very best prices of the year - both for stocking up the pantry and getting ahead on next Christmas.

   Refrigerated biscuits and cinnamon rolls Air Conditioners
Art Supplies
Bedding
Bicycles
Curtains
Furniture
Glassware and China
Housewares
Jewelry
Lamps
Men's Apparel
Perfume
Radios, Televisions
Silverware
Sportswear and Equipment
Storm Windows
Toys

Wanted to give everybody a heads- up that Amazon has some excellent deals going on right now with their New Year New You promotion.

Books offered are some really great ones - some of which I already have in my own personal collection.

If you need some help motivating for or accomplishing those New Year's resolutions, check out their sale!

VibesUP! is a New Agey type online shop featuring beautiful gemstone jewelry, earth mats and EMF protection products.

 

For those interested in this sort of thing, Kaitlyn has had every product she produces tested for efficacy, and received the very highest acclaim both in the United States and Europe!

For those not interested in the esoteric and energy related stuff - her jewelry is exquisite - just take a look and see what she's got to offer!
Right now VibesUP! is offering 52% off of everything in the store that is not already discounted (some discounts are as great as 72% right now!!!), and with a $50 purchase you will also get a special gift!!

Last year's holiday sale was only 42%, and no specials, lol - this year she's going all out!

Every item is hand-crafted by Kaitlyn and her son at home. This is the perfect way to give a gorgeous gift, inexpensively, and still support cottage industry!

 Of course, every piece offered comes with a description and also with instructions or suggested uses. These products are designed to enhance more than just your outfit - they energetically align you with your desires!

This is not mumbo jumbo or anything like that - science has proven that these items act to enhance your personal energy field - the very essence of your being.

If you have ever seen the movie "The Secret" - you know the energy we are talking about. It is real.

Not only that, but they are truly beautiful - and offered at a great price with or without the sale! So, click on the link below and have a look around the site.

There are free articles, videos and teleseminars listed there if you would like more information on what these products are, what they do - and how and why they WORK.

She even has stuff for kids!!


Many Blessings,
GrannySue


You only have until December 10 to take advantage of this offer - so go now - and finish all your Christmas shopping in one place!


Note:  The links above are my personal affiliate links - should you decide to make a purchase, I will receive a commission on the sale.

Christmas shopping for your husband can be the most difficult part of the holiday season. This can happen for a number of reasons.

 First of all you may feel added stress to find a perfect gift for your husband. If you have been married to your husband for a number of years you may also have difficulty Christmas shopping for him because you may feel like you have already bought him everything.

This article will offer some useful tips for Christmas shopping for your husband which should make the process easier.


Considering your husband's interests and hobbies is one way to make Christmas shopping for him easier.


For example, if he recently started golfing and is still renting golf clubs you could consider purchasing a golf bag for him and giving him a gift certificate to purchase a set of golf clubs to fill the bag.

Or if he recently started running, you might consider items which would make his run more enjoyable. You might purchase an MP3 player which is designed to be worn on an armband while running or a speed and distance monitor which tracks his mileage and his pace throughout his workout.


Another useful tip for Christmas shopping for your husband is to not be afraid to repeat gifts you have given him the past.

You might normally consider purchasing a bottle of cologne for him for Christmas and then decide against it because you realize you gave him a bottle of cologne for Christmas two years ago.

This is very common because many people think it is boring to give the same gift more than once but it is not always a bad idea.


Of course, these items are almost cliche.


Ladies - I'm going to tell you the same thing I told your husbands in another post. ASK.


There are countless catalogs falling off that catch-all table - have him look through them and circle a bunch of things he would like to have.

You probably already know sizes for things like clothing and shoes etc - but if you don't know them off-hand they should already be located in your Christmas Notebook on the Christmas Gifts List.


If you haven't got one, get over to the downloads page and take a look - for the little bit of time required to put this together, it will save you dozens of hours and potentially hundreds of dollars throughout the year, every year.


If hubby is a sports fan, you have it made. There isn't a team out there that has not lost sleep on merchandising, so take advantage of it.

You can find everything from hats and scarves to cocktail glasses, blankets and car decals. But, this is a last resort for the uncreative and harried.

He might love it, but you are capable of far better things! If you must go the sports route because he can't live without watching his favorite team, get him a special package deal for Sport Clips to go with whatever memorabilia you purchase!


Also, items like money clips, cologne and after-shave - these should be reserved for stocking stuffers. You are probably in the medicine cabinet or cleaning the bedroom frequently enough to know what he prefers in this area, so these items are no-brainers.

Dump the idea of a tie if he doesn't need one for business or work, too.


I had great success one year when I decided my husband's gift would be an all-expense-paid mini-vacation.

I took him out to dinner and a show the day AFTER Christmas, but instead of returning home, we hit the snazziest local hotel I could afford for three days of no kids, no grand-kids and no interruptions...


I had the hotel put special chocolates on the bed and went before-hand with "a bottle" and two specially purchased cocktail glasses, a couple nice snack trays (prepared before Christmas), a plate of Christmas cookies and a couple movies we both enjoy - and had them waiting in the room when we arrived.


I also packed ahead and had our clothes and swim suits in the drawer waiting. We got couples massages, we got room service, we thoroughly enjoyed the pool and hot tub - and we had a ball.


If you plan ahead, you might ask if you can drop off the items for the hotel staff to put in the room rather than having to do it yourself, but I must confess...

It was rather a last minute idea I had, and so I wound up doing the work part myself. It was successful beyond my dreams, though - and so well worth the effort!


BTW - hotel staff usually LOVES this sort of thing... If you slip off to the powder room and call ahead giving them an ETA, they will greet you at the door, make a big fuss and usher you up to your room. Just don't forget to leave nice tips so they remember and do the same next time, lol!


I think it was a hit not because guys actually dream of these things, but because I did something for him that normally he would want to do for me. (But - most guys are afraid to do things like this for their wives. For us gals, we have just scored the biggest "Brownie points" of our married lives!).


We forget sometimes that men enjoy being pampered and cared for just as much as we do! They ain't never gonna tell you this, ladies - just consider it some words of wisdom from Grandma...


Finally, if you simply cannot decide what to get your husband for Christmas, it is acceptable to ask him what he wants. Have him make a list of several items he wants and plan on purchasing a few items from the list as well as a few surprises.

Many Blessings
GrannySue


Ok, guys!! Now's not the time to be shy. Let the ladies here know what some of your favorite presents have been so we get some more ideas rolling!!! Or, post what you'd like to get but haven't asked for (keep it "Rated G" or "PG" please)   ;-)

Guys, we know you have trouble Christmas shopping for your wife. She knows, too. Being a wife, I figured I might lend you a helping hand...


Most men attend a number of parties with their wives throughout the year. They may attend birthday parties for nieces and nephews, engagement parties for cousins or friends and housewarming parties for friends.

They also likely arrive at most of these occasions bearing gifts, however, in most cases it is the wife who does the gift shopping. Many women enjoy shopping and do not mind always tackling this task. However, these women don't shop for their own gifts at Christmas.


For all you fellas out there - here are a few simple ideas:


A scrapbook is a great idea for a Christmas gift for your wife especially if she is always complaining about never having time to organize the family photos. This idea may scare some of you...

Fortunately, there are many individuals in the business of making scrapbooks. All the husband has to do is round up several photos and sit down with the scrap-booking consultant to discuss what type of book he is looking for and his wife’s favorite colors and preferences.

With this information the consultant can create a lovely scrapbook from the pictures the husband provides.


There are also quite a number of pre-packaged kits available. These generally come with everything your wife would need to create her own scrap-book.

Having all the materials at hand might give her the inspiration to get the work done - and she won't need to spend a ton of time, what with having everything she needs right at hand!


A spa gift certificate is another excellent idea for men who find Christmas shopping to be difficult.

Most women enjoy being pampered and receiving treatments such as manicures, pedicures, facials, massages and other rejuvenating treatments.

Even if you are not sure where she would like to go specifically, you can purchase a gift certificate from a service which works in conjunction with a number of spas around the country.

Remember guys - ASKING IS OK!!! And frankly - whenever I catch Dear Hubby checking out sizes in my closet or dresser I am flattered - but - be discreet... 

You can also check out my post on Christmas Shopping for Women - there are a ton of ideas there, too!

Many Blessings
GrannySue

LADIES!! This is the perfect chance for you to post some of your favorite gifts that you've gotten from those great hubbies and boyfriends - give the fellas on here something to help 'em out a little bit!!  

Christmas shopping for your boss can be a difficult situation. First of all purchasing a Christmas gift for your superiors at work is considered to be somewhat of a faux pas unless the gift is being purchased by a group of employees.


While giving Christmas gifts to subordinates is generally an accepted practice, gifts from individuals to a boss can be viewed as an attempt to gain advantages such as promotions or favorable projects or treatments. Care should always be taken when giving Christmas gifts to a boss.


A boss who oversees the work of a small group of employees may receive a gift from this small group collectively and this would be considered appropriate.


In this way the gift is viewed as a gesture of appreciation from the members of the group rather than one employee "sucking up."


If you choose to go this route, I would suggest taking a collection, and then purchasing one gift with all the money collected - such as a gift card to a nice restaurant, a bottle of wine (or other alcohol if somebody knows what the boss likes to drink). Another gift idea would be tickets to a sports event...


It is considered acceptable to spend a little less than the budget as long as you refund the remaining money equally to everyone who has contributed. For example if you spend $20 less than you collected from 20 people, you should return $1 to each person who contributed.


If you are the person shopping for the Christmas present you may have to exercise some common sense and make judgment calls if necessary. For example if you collect $120 and purchase an item which costs $121.04, including tax, you may opt to simply pay the additional amount yourself if you are able to do so.


The additional amount is quite small and if the gift is appropriate, it might be worthwhile to incur this small expense for the sake of purchasing a perfect gift which is within your budget.


If you are not particularly close to your boss and do not often socialize with him or her you may not know a great deal about personal interests.


If you are unable to come up with a suitable gift idea, a gift certificate to a local restaurant is always an appropriate, and appreciated, Christmas gift.


All above said, I have never had an issue if I wanted to do something special for my boss at Christmas (when I had one that wasn't me, lol!). Usually it was a plate of home-made cookies or a 1 pound box of candies.


There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. Really. But do be discreet.

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

As usual - if you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, be sure to post below! THANKS!  

The Sweet Remembrances Kitsy Lane boutique is having a super sale!!

I opened a shop with these guys just recently, and there are a couple great jewerly promos going on now...

Also, from now until Christmas, purchase $50 or more and get a free gift! (Gifts change weekly).

Be sure to create an account, as we're sending special discount codes via email!

Sweet Remembrances Boutique

Thanks for stopping by the store to check out what we've got cooking for this year's holiday jewelry offerings!!!

Many Blessings
GrannySue 

For those who have not yet joined Ebates, they sent out two updates this morning, and I thought I'd better get over here and let you know...

1. CYBER MONDAY SALE: 

Started this morning... Some highlights -

Ebates is another great place to earn cash back for your Christmas shopping! During the Black Friday weekend they are offering double cash back bonuses for many stores in their program.

Basically, you shop at your choice of store through their portal, and you will get between 1.5% and 6% back generally. Some places like Dish Network are offering $100 cash back. Some stores only offer discount codes, but those can be more than 20%. Some also offer coupons.


There are literally hundreds of stores (1600 at last count!) to shop at from Bath and Body Works to Macy's, Mattel and even Zale's! Travelocity is also listed. You name it, this site offers it.




Just like MyPoints, Ebates can save you money on gifts and everyday purchases year round. Unlike other programs, the program is all about shopping and coupons.


You can search by product, coupons available, and their list of participating stores.


They also work with Amazon and Groupon.


Ebates is free to join, and unlike many other sites, there is no introductory survey where they want tons of details. You simply sign up and start shopping. You can save favorite stores inside your member area, and you can also promote the site to earn cash rewards.




Ebates allows you to cash out with as little as $5.01 in your account. However, they only pay quarterly, so its wise to build up that balance before requesting a payment. The most common methods of payment are via check or PayPal.


One thing I am not fond of is that if you allow your account to be inactive for a period longer than a year, they will debit your account (not your bank, just your Ebates balance) $2.00 per month to cover administration costs.


While this shouldn't be a problem, I wonder why it is that this is specifically spelled out in their Terms and Conditions! Since I only recently joined, I wonder how many people this happens to.

They do also state that your account will never go into the negative. If it gets to $0.00 and you still haven't been active, they simply delete your information.


I haven't been a member here long enough to say whether or not this will be one of my top programs. I've been watching the blog and other people's reactions to the site, though, and so I do trust them.


Once again, I'd be honored if you would join the program through my link.

Ebates

Here's the affiliate details:


Joining their affiliate program is automatic – you have access to a link to promote the site (go to the bottom left side of the page in the dark green section, and click on the “Affiliates” link in the bottom left-hand column – it takes you straight to the page where you can send emails and pick up your link.


There is a special promotion going on for the holidays where you can earn bonuses for each member you refer after the first.


They make it really easy to tweet and post to facebook, too. That's nice... Some sites disregard these sites, and they are great for getting referrals!


Caveat – in order to earn your commission and bonus rewards for referrals, the new members must purchase at least $25 through the ebates site (at any store) within the first 90 days.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

Again, if you have something you'd like to share or ask about this program, please do post!  

The first program I am going to mention is MyPoints.com.


This site offers you a means to earn points for doing some things you do every day. You earn points by clicking a special link in emails they send you (5 points per email opened). Each of these offers allows you to earn even more points by taking advantage of a free trial, making a donation to your favorite charity, signing up for an online newsletter or purchasing their product.


You get the basic points whether you take advantage of the offer or not.

They offer surveys, too. You will earn 10 points when you click through to the survey – even if you don't qualify to take that survey! You will earn between 50 and 200 points for each survey you complete, as well.


You can also earn points by taking advantage of free and low-cost trial offers for goods and services, by playing online games (poker, slots, and a host of others), using their search engine when you surf online, doing simple (really – no-brainer type) tasks, listening to online radio and more.




You also earn points for shopping at your favorite stores through their site!! Of course, this applies all year, not just now, but this IS a Christmas site, after all!!


For instance, if you use the MyPoints site to shop at Wal-mart (you can schedule pick-up or have your order shipped to your house, sometimes for free), you will earn 8 points for every dollar you spend. Sometimes during special sales they offer 10 points per dollar.


Some of the places you can shop in addition to Wal-Mart are: Land's End, Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, Amazon and more.




MyPoints is free to join. You earn points for everything you do, and these are redeemable for rewards cards. Many of the stores you can shop at for cash back also offer their rewards cards through this program.


I usually opt for the Barnes cards, because I love to read, but I've also traded my points for cards to Red Lobsters, Outback Steakhouse and Chili's.


There are nearly 100 different cards you can choose from.


If you need money more than books, clothes or a night out, they also offer a VISA card.




You can get a reward card starting with as little as 1600 points. Given the way the program works, I have never done a trial offer or any other paid action, and still have gotten more than 5 cards.


MyPoints will send between 2 and 10 points emails per day. You choose whether or not to get the emails, and you choose whether you just want the 5-pointers (offers) or whether to get survey offers as well. I get them all, and it takes me about 2 minutes to click through on everything – 5 if I decide to try for the surveys.


You will not get the 10 points for the surveys that you don't qualify for just by opening the emails, you actually have to go through the (very short!) qualification process. Of course, if you do qualify, you can still choose to end it there and take your 10 points - or go on for the full points value – but you do have to go that far.


Being a member of several other sites that offer trials and other offers, I would trust the MyPoints system with these. I have not done any offers there that I can remember. But if you do these, be sure to read the FAQ about it. I write about this on another blog (GrannySue's Get Cash Now).


The offers are easy, but you have to keep track and you have to be sure that you know the details so that in the event you need to cancel, you have that information handy.




Like I said – I don't remember ever doing any cash offers at MyPoints. However, I have earned more than 30,000 points basically doing nothing. I've gotten more than $100 worth of rewards cards.


Just opening emails and surveys you can easily earn at least one $25 gift card each year.


However – with the holidays upon us, and retailers offering everything from 5 to 12 points per dollar to use this site to shop, well, you can see where that will lead!!


Plus, if you get into the habit of shopping your favorite retailers through MyPoints, you can earn and use those points all year round! This can be a MAJOR budget saver, and is a great way to do your Christmas (and much of your other) shopping!




I would be both honored and grateful if you would use my link should you decide to join this program!!


I am currently a pending affiliate for this program, so I will not be receiving any commissions from the site if you join now. Once I am approved, I will receive $1.00 for everyone that joins through that link.


However, if you request an email from me (NO AUTO-RESPONDERS – you have to sign up for that once I get it ready!), I will send you a link. I will not keep your email address.


If I send you an email directly from the site, they still do not have access to your address unless you sign up. I will get points if you join from that email.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

Remember to post a comment to let me know about your experiences with this program or to ask any questions you might have! I'm always here to help and can always use suggestions!  

Christmas shopping can be a significant financial burden for many. This is especially true for those who have a large family or a large group of friends who regularly exchange Christmas gifts.

Christmas shopping can also be a financial problem for those who feel compelled to purchase expensive gifts. However, there are ways to deal with the financial burden which often results from Christmas shopping.


One of the ways to financial issues is to set a budget beforehand. Another way to deal with the financial stress of Christmas shopping is to shop throughout the year, rather than all at once.

This article will discuss the importance of setting a budget for Christmas shopping as well as how Christmas shopping can become less financially taxing by spreading out the Christmas shopping throughout the year.


It should go without saying, that in order to begin the process of setting a budget for your Christmas shopping, it is important to first create a list of all the people you intend to buy Christmas presents for.

Your list should include all of the close friends and family members you typically purchase gifts for as well as any co-workers or employees you normally purchase gifts for, your mail carrier and/or your children’s teachers. Include a small amount for unexpected visitors, hostess gifts, and little "extras" you might need or want to have on hand. You may also wish to budget for gifts donated to toy drives organized by charitable organizations if you typically contribute during these events. And - don't forget stocking stuffers!!! These "little" items can run a fortune...


Once you have your list of gift recipients and potential gifts, there are a couple of ways to go about establishing a budget. Perhaps the simplest way is to decide how much you plan to spend on Christmas shopping and divide this amount by the number of people on your list. This type of budget strategy may be appropriate if you plan on purchasing similar gifts for everyone on your Christmas list but it may not work out too well if you want to purchase something really special for a few of your closest friends or relatives.


Another strategy for establishing a Christmas shopping budget is to determine how much money you would like to spend on each person. Then you can use these numbers to determine the total amount of money you will spend. It might help to create categories (kids, friends, business associates, etc), set a dollar amount for each category, and then work up numbers from there.

In this day of work related relocation and retirement to warm climates away from where we grew up and raised our kids, many of us find we are Christmas shopping for friends and relatives who are out of town. This is a sad fact of life which makes it more difficult to stay in touch and also greatly complicates the Christmas shopping process.


The financial cost and the hassle of shipping gifts is one of the most obvious problems in this scenario. Items which are large, heavy or fragile can be difficult to ship. For example you may find a beautiful crystal vase that you know your Aunt in California will love but you may be hesitant to buy it because you are afraid it will be lost or damaged during shipping.

One solution to that problem is to purchase the gift on-line, from a retailer that is closer to your Aunt than you do, or purchase the item with a guarantee so that if it is lost or damaged in any way, it will be replaced at no cost to you.


Another problem associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives is you may have a great deal of difficulty selecting gifts for these relatives. You may have been very close with the relative when they lived nearby but distance can make it difficult to stay in touch and can result in emotional distance between you and your far away relatives. You may be unaware of her current hobbies and interests which can make it difficult to select a personalized gift she will really appreciate.



Opting for more generic items such as sweaters or scented bath soaps and candles is one way to deal with this problem. Another suggestion would be to get them a card and gift certificate for something the two of you used to do together, or something you know they've always enjoyed (Barnes and Noble for an avid reader, a local (to them!) garden center for gardeners, etc)


Even purchasing items for the home can be difficult when it comes to out of town relatives. You may see a throw pillow or a vase you think your sister will absolutely love and which would match her living room perfectly, but you may be unaware that she has redecorated the living room! This may seem like a big detail but even if you have kept in contact she may have forgotten to mention she had redecorated. This can make purchasing home related items for out of town relatives quite difficult.


You can help to alleviate this problem by including a gift receipt with the gift when you ship it to your relative. This makes it easier for them to return the item if it does not match their decor and purchase a more suitable item. They will appreciate the gesture of your gift as well as your thoughtfulness.



For my own out of town relatives, I usually hand make or purchase a Christmas ornament each year and send baked goods or candy. Something home-made or personalized (such as the cute hair-dryer ornament I found at Sally's one year for my Aunt who is a stylist), and a bit of Christmas cheer in the form of cheeses, sausages, cookies or candy) is both thoughtful and appropriate for most. Parents and children, as well as others who are very close should be shopped for as if they were with you.


Your biggest consideration in Christmas shopping for out of towners is the shipping time. Despite promises of "order as late as December 22 for Christmas delivery" - I never wait that long. If shipping food items that are perishable (cookies, for instance), give about 5 days lead time, or ship priority and give 3 days. For all other items, ship them at least a week before Christmas - especially if using USPS. Their promises do not hold during the overwhelming demands of Christmas holidays.






Mark it on your calendar now!


Many Blessings
GrannySue

Often, if you work in an office, you're going to be faced with buying for the grab bag every Christmas. There are a few strategies for making selecting a Christmas gift for this occasion fairly simple.

First, and for obvious reasons, you want to stay fairly generic. Unless there is a mechanism for selecting gender, this is your best bet. For totally unstructured grab bag gifts, stick with items like pen sets, plain photo frames, gift cards and the like. You can get these items within the price range of the grab bag, and virtually anyone would be happy with them.

Make sure the item you choose will hold up well to being tossed into a large bag and shuffled around! For that reason, if you give a frame, be sure it has a plastic window rather than glass. Easily breakable items are off limits, as are those with points or sharp edges!! Items with small parts can be given, provided they are well packaged so they don't lose parts along the way.


Food items are generally not a good idea - especially home-made ones. Brick cheeses are... well... cheesy. Candy might work, but packaging can often be a bit flimsy. Save these for co-workers' personal gifts. Home-made items like cookies are going to break while being jostled around - if they even make it into the office in one piece. It is hard to package these items so that packaging will hold up, too.

Still others who are Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift might consider purchasing a joke gift and including a gift receipt along with the item so the participant can exchange the item for something they would prefer. For example you might want to purchase a CD or DVD to contribute to the grab bag but selecting a CD or DVD which will be appreciated by all the participants and which the participants do not already own can be difficult.


However, it might be fun to purchase a CD from an artist most people would be embarrassed to own or a DVD for a cheesy movie and include the gift receipt so the recipient can return the embarrassing CD or DVD for a CD or DVD they really like. All of the participants will get a laugh out of seeing the embarrassing gift and the participant gets to return the gift so everyone wins in this situation.

I might do something like that, but gag gifts can backfire if you're not careful, or if you have a sense of humor your co-workers don't appreciate to begin with...


Finally, you can give one home-made item that would be appreciated by most people - especially if you are generally friendly with everyone that will be involved in the grab bag, or if you don't know many people and want a way to get to know your co-workers. Homemade ornaments are a wonderful grab bag gift! You can also print out a blank gift certificate on your computer, and use it to give the gift of a free lunch to the person that pulls your gift. I have done that to great success on several jobs.

If you go this route - remember two things: First, you either have to like and be liked by everyone involved, OR you have to be willing to meet new people. Second, you will become known as the "creative" one in the office, and in certain situations this can become a drawback. You will be the idea-go-to-person for everyone that thought your gift was "clever."

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

PS: Don't forget to leave a comment - your hints, tips and suggestions are always appreciated!! 

An unfortunate reality is that many people live quite far away from many of their relatives. Relatives may live thousands of miles away but they are still people you love and care about - and Christmas is an excellent time to express your love for them by sending them a Christmas gift. However, despite your best intentions, it is often difficult to Christmas shop for a distant relative.

One way to make it easier to Christmas shop for a distant relative is to call them to catch up before you do your shopping. Just giving them a quick phone call can provide you with a great deal of insight into their life. Obviously, its a good idea to make a call like this anyway, just to keep in touch, but it can also help you out a great deal with your Christmas shopping.

You might learn a great deal during this phone conversation: activities your relative is involved in, leisure activities they enjoy, new hobbies, life situations. All of this information can make it easier for you to select an appropriate Christmas gift. You might also consider asking your relative what they might want for Christmas. This may take away the element of surprise but it will ensure you are purchasing something your relative really wants.


Another option to consider is purchasing a gift certificate. This may not be the most exciting gift but it is one that is sure to be appreciated. A simple conversation will tell you whether a card for the local bookstore, a favorite restaurant, a movie or something else would be most appreciated.

If you intend to visit that relative over the holidays, it might be wise to either keep the gift small enough to put in the suitcase (and if you are flying, don't forget to bring paper as you won't want to wrap it in case of a search), or ship it before you leave. Often, shipping is the least expensive and most sure method for long distances - especially if crossing an ocean.


If you are shipping, you want to be sure it arrives at an appropriate time... You want it there after you arrive but before Christmas if you are going to be there. If you are simply shipping, you want it there a few days before the holiday. Remember, there will be a lead time during the holiday season, so figure out the day, and then ship a day or two earlier than it would normally take.

For expensive gifts, consider both tracking and insurance. While its not necessarily a good thing to require a signature for delivery, insurance and tracking don't require someone be home to answer the door. These are relatively inexpensive additions to your shipping bill, but the peace of mind is well worth the consideration - especially since you are already paying the actual shipping cost already. A few more pennies will not hurt the budget much.

 If you're reading this today, it's not going to be overly helpful. Bookmark this post, and come back in January, so it makes more sense! In the meantime, if you want to scan over it now, you'll get an idea of how to completely eliminate holiday AND budget stress....

There are a lot of great advantages to Christmas shopping year round. In my - not so humble - opinion, this is by far the best strategy I've ever used.

Some of the advantages include avoiding the stress of last minute shopping, not having to worry about accumulating exorbitant credit card bills during the Christmas season and being able to enjoy the Christmas spirit all year. Better still - you save a TON of money for just a little bit of planning once a year.


One of the biggest benefits of Christmas shopping year round is not having to do the bulk of your Christmas shopping at the last minute. Although there are some people who enjoy shopping during this hectic and chaotic time, most people find it stressful, to say the least.


It also winds up being very inconvenient, as you're looking for things in picked-over shelves, fighting crowds, and shopping ALWAYS takes far longer than planned, no matter what time of year.



Christmas shopping throughout the year also helps you to purchase more meaningful gifts for everyone on your Christmas list because you are not rushing around, so you have time to really think about what you are buying. You may find a gift you think is absolute perfect for your sister in the month of April. All you have to do is purchase the gift when you find it and save it for the Christmas season.


People who do their Christmas shopping year round are not only less stressed around the holiday season but they also have more free time to participate in other activities. Those who like to bake may skip baking if they feel like they still have too much Christmas shopping to do while those who did their shopping ahead of time can take some time to relax and bake wonderful cookies to enjoy during the Christmas season.


If you're like me and like to give at least a small gift which is home-made, you'll have time to make them. Also, since I try to give everyone something I made as well as a store-bought gift, planning, buying and working ahead also makes this idea much easier and far more budget-friendly.




For those who rush to get their Christmas shopping done in the month of December, the New Year can bring in a new set of financial problems. Repaying the debts accrued while Christmas shopping can be quite daunting! Especially if you didn't take time to think about spending limits, budgets and such things. However, those who wisely did their Christmas shopping throughout the year do not have this problem.


If you budget a certain amount of your monthly income for the purpose of Christmas shopping you may not even notice the financial strains of Christmas shopping. Or, you might eliminate them altogether. Although last minute shoppers may save up to do their Christmas shopping all at once by putting their money into a special savings account, it can be difficult to stick to a budget when you are actually doing the shopping!




Finally, Christmas shopping year round is a great idea because it helps people to stay in the Christmas spirit throughout the year. While many of us get caught up in the spirit of giving during the holidays, those who are always Christmas shopping may enjoy these feelings of generosity throughout the year.


Giving is a wonderful experience and although you may not actually be giving the gifts until Christmas you are purchasing them at other times during the year and this can be very fulfilling. Sometimes simply finding a great gift for a loved one can put you in a great mood and make you feel as though you have really accomplished something wonderful.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

  

Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in others. On the one hand, shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy.

Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. Of course, this assumes you are close with your family, and not buying out of obligation.

One problem may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative. You can't get them all! Well... most of us can't anyway. So selecting from a list of several items gives you a fair shot so long as the options are readily available.

If you know one certain item is the perfect gift, you might run into the opposite problem... This can be particularly stressful and frustrating if you are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. While its alway a good idea to know generally what you are looking for, don't write single ideas in stone! This frustration can make the Christmas shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item.

Even when you don’t have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift is most often due to perfectionist tendancies on the part of the shopper, and not so much to picky recipients. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with just about any gift you select for them, it still causes stress for many people.


Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that they will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given, but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others.

One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.


I give a hand filled fruit & nut basket and box of home-made cookies to each family as a unit, in addition to the following:

Our extended family solves all of these problems by holding a version of a grab bag. Rather than buying a gift for each person, names are put in a hat and each person has one to buy for. That keeps the budget in line (there are about 12 people in this grab bag in any given year). We set a dollar limit, usually $25 or $50 - which keeps the budget even happier! We also stipulate that the gift be a gift card. Shopping is fast and simple.

The kicker in the whole thing is that each person has to choose 3 gift cards they would like to receive. So - everybody is happy, stress-free and on budget.

The kids all get gifts from everyone, but the adults get their card and are good to go. If you have a large family or an especially tight money year going on, this might be a way for everyone to stay comfortable and still enjoy the best parts of the season - including participation in the gift-giving ritual.

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

PS: Don't forget to leave a comment - your hints, tips and suggestions are always appreciated!!