February 6, 2012

Christmas Shopping Discounts Are Expected in 2010

October 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Look for good bargains this Christmas shopping season.There are lots of reports going around that 2010 may just be a buyers’ market when it comes to getting great deals on Christmas gifts.  While this is good news for consumers whose budgets are already stretched, it keeps the retailers a little nervous.  The Christmas season accounts for up to 40% of annual revenue for many retailers.

The current expectations are based on the fact that many stores placed large order for holiday gift items back in the Spring, when the economic recovery was looking fairly solid.  Now, here we are in October, when unemployment is still hovering around 10% in the US, and people are cutting back on spending.  I’m sure merchants are having flashbacks to 2008 when they practically had to give stuff away to clear it out.  According to the article, retailers did a better job of forecasting last year by ordering less.  While 2010 may not reach 2008′s level of price cuts, it’s expected that there will still be plenty of discounts available to get shoppers into the stores.

Retailers are also expecting shoppers to wait until the last minute to shop, in order to get the best bargains .  To counter this, many merchants are planning on running sales early.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Christmas sales running before Halloween.

The moral of the story for this Christmas shopping season is to “shop around.”  You’re probably going to find some really great deals.

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With:

Christmas Trivia – A Fun Christmas Game

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you're looking for a lot of fun this Christmas, try the Christmas Trivia Game.Spending time with family and friends is one of the very best parts of Christmas.  Games can add to that fun.

Tonight, while searching the web, I was looking for some Christmas game ideas that I could write about.  That’s when I came across a downloadable Christmas trivia game from ChristmasTrivia.

I was curious, so I bought and downloaded it.  The game consists of two rounds of ten questions and may be played by individuals or teams.

The questions were easy enough that everyone should be able to score some points, but not so easy as to be boring.  The game also includes an answer key, sheets to print out and record answers on and complete game rules.

As a bonus,  the publisher also includes the lyrics to some of the more popular Christmas carols.  Now, you won’t have to hum when you get to the part of the songs you don’t know.  :-)

I would have liked more questions so that the game could go longer, but I can see us having a lot of fun with it this coming Christmas Eve.  The game sells for $7 which is a small price to pay to make a fun holiday memory.

This game would likely be a lot of fun at a holiday party too.

Click the link below for more information:

Family and Friends Christmas Trivia Game

Filed Under: Featured, Games Tagged With: , , ,

Great Christmas Decorating Ideas For Kids

September 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Picture of Christmas craft itemsIf you’re a parent, you already know just how much children love Christmas.  In fact, you probably have many fond memories of your own childhood Christmases.  Now, it’s time to fashion the Christmas memories that your kids will carry with them throughout life.

One of the best ways to do this is to let your children help you decorate for Christmas.  This goes beyond merely allowing them to hang decorations.  Let them make some of the decorations.  It will mean more.

If you are like most families, who celebrate Christmas, you’re most likely going to have a Christmas tree.  One of the best craft projects for children would be to let them make ornaments for the tree.  This is quite easy because ornaments can be made from a wide variety of materials.  I remember when our son was younger, he made an ornament, shaped like a Christmas stocking, out of construction paper with a yarn loop to hold it on the tree.  Let me tell you that this has become one of our most cherished ornaments and, although our son is now grown, it goes on our tree every year.

Your local craft store should have many pre-designed “kits” that you can use to make inexpensive ornaments and decorations. 

This is an excellent project for children, or anyone else for that matter.

Another great decorating idea would be to have your youngster draw or pain a Christmas picture.  It could be something featuring Jesus in Bethlehem, Santa flying across the night sky or anything that sums up Christmas for them.

You could hang the pictures on your refrigerator or, even better, you could purchase inexpensive frames and hang the pictures throughout your home.

Another fun Christmas decoration that your children could do is make a centerpiece for your dinning room table. In fact, you may also want to use that centerpiece for your Christmas dinner.  If you are looking for a somewhat elegant centerpiece, you could easily have your children make their own.  You can do this by purchasing artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, as well as other decorative items. Your children can easily arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dinning room table. It may also be a good idea to let them really exercise their creativity. Your child may also be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper and a few other small supplies.

 The above mentioned Christmas craft decoration ideas for kids are just a few of the many that exist. In addition to using your own craft ideas, you can also find a number of other fun Christmas craft projects for kids online.  You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard Internet search.  Also, in your local library or at one of your local book stores, you may also be able to find a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as give detailed directions on how to make Christmas decorations.  These decorations may include Christmas drawings or paintings, tree ornaments, table centerpieces, and much more.

 Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if you participate as well.  For a child, there is nothing like seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree. That is why you are advised to let your children make their own Christmas decorations. As mentioned above, there are a number of decorations that they can easily create; decorations that may require little time and money.

Filed Under: Decorating Tips, Featured, Homemade Decorations

Do You Go “Christmas Lighting?”

September 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This is a tradition that started when I was a teenager, I believe. We may have done it once in a while before then, but I remember it becoming a regular thing during my teen years.

The tradition of which I write is “Christmas lighting.” Every Christmas Eve, we would jump in the car, just after dusk, and drive around town checking out all of the wonderful Christmas light displays.

When I got older and Cindy and I were married, we carried this tradition into our new family as well. We did add a trip to McDonalds or Wendy’s to the tradition. Every year, we would go through the drive through and get some finger food (usually chicken nuggets) and eat in the car as we drove around town, “oohing” and “aahing” at all of the wonderful holiday displays.

When we got home, we would read the Christmas story from the Gospel of St. Luke and then it was time for bed.

This may not seem like a big deal to some, who are used to big fancy affairs on Christmas Eve, but I have many fond memories which revolve around our “Christmas Lighting” trips.

Filed Under: Featured, Memories, Traditions Tagged With: ,

7 Tips For A Low-Stress Christmas

September 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

christmas fireplaceThe Christmas season is coming.  There’s no denying that.  For most children, Christmas is a time of wonder, magic and enchantment.  For grown-ups, it can be a time of great joy, but also a time for great stress.  For some, the stress of the season is so great that it nearly masks the joy altogether.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are seven tips I’ve come up with to help you have a “low-stress Christmas.”

1.  Be realistic.  A lot of the stress people feel comes from the images we see in the movies and on TV.  You know what I mean.  No matter what troubles come about, everything works out perfectly in the end and every Christmas Eve has a loving family gathered around a roaring fire as snowflakes lightly fall outside.  Ah, if only life really worked like that.

No, in reality, we sometimes have Christmases that are warm and sunny.  Perhaps the family can’t get all together this year.  Suppose the turkey is dry or the cookies get burnt.  That’s reality and we have to roll with the punches.  Remember, “perfect Christmases” only exist in fiction.  The trick is to make the most out the situation we really have. 

Also, don’t expect to be happy and light all of the time.  Christmas is a time of joy, but it is also a time of remembrance.  I know that my heart strings get tugged a little bit when I think of the many loved ones who have left this world in recent years.  I miss them most of all at Christmas.  Of course, you could let this sadness ruin your holiday, or you could cherish the fond memories you have as a blessed part of the season.

2.  Concentrate on the reason for the season.  With all of the hustle and bustle of the season, we sometimes forget just why we are doing this and exactly what we are celebrating.  Keep the true meaning of Christmas in the front of your mind.  If you are a Christian, remember the baby in the manger who went on to be the savior of the world.  Whether you’re a Christian or not, concentrate on the fundamental themes of the holiday: family, friends, love and peace.  After all, those are the real “gifts” we have in this life.

3.  Do things to make good, lasting memories.  Much of the stress people feel at Christmas comes from the desire to obtain just the perfect gift for as many people as is possible.  If Christmas were a meal, our culture has made presents the main course when, at most, presents should be just a side dish or maybe dessert.

Instead of expensive gifts, concentrate on doing things that will create fond memories.  It doesn’t have to cost a lot.  In fact, some of the best Christmas memories are of things that didn’t cost a cent.  It could be going to a local craft show, or packing the kids in the car and driving around looking at Christmas lights.  It doesn’t have to be elaborate.  Believe me, a year or two from now, people may not remember the gift you gave them, but the will remember the good times you had together.

4.  Avoid debt this Christmas.  Make it a “cash Christmas.”  People love to really “go all out” at Christmas, but sometimes the money just isn’t there.  That’s when they turn to their old friends Mr. Visa and Mrs. MasterCard.  People build up sizable debt at Christmas and stress about it for the rest of the year.  That’s not smart and it’s definitely not a Christian thing to do.  Instead, this year, resolve to have a “cash Christmas.” 

You may be thinking that this is “easier said than done,” but I assure you that it is possible.  Here are some tips.

  • Cut back.  As we discussed earlier, gifts should not be the centerpiece of your Christmas celebration.  Give gifts that will be meaningful to the recipient.  Don’t give a gift just to give a  gift.  Most of us have too much stuff to keep up with anyway.
  • Make gifts whenever possible.  If you can’t afford to buy that perfect gift, make one instead.  Everyone has a talent or two.  If yours is baking, make some cookies.  That’s an awesome gift.  Write a letter telling someone how much they mean to you.  Great gifts need not be expensive.
  • Make a list and a budget and STICK TO IT.  Impulse buying is the biggest culprit in Christmas debt.  People see things and buy them on impulse.  Before they know it, they’ve spent a lot more than they ever intended.  By making a list and a budget, you are able to plan out exactly what you have to work with.
  • Use Layaway.  This was a wildly popular option in the 70s and 80s, but it fell out of favor in the 90s.  Fortunately, it’s back.  With a little planning, you can put your gifts on layaway and pay for them over several weeks.  It’s kind of like credit, but without the nasty finance charges. 
  • Start saving money NOW.  When I was a little boy, my mom used to save money, all year, just for Christmas.  She put it in a Christmas Club account.  Well, it may be too late for that now, but you can still start putting money aside.  Don’t wait until the last paycheck or two to start Christmas shopping. 
  • Buy gifts throughout the year.  Whenever you see a bargain on something you would like to give as a gift, jump on it.  Put the gift away and bring it out at Christmas time.  The trick here is to remember where you put it.
  • Earn some extra money.  If the above tips aren’t doing it for you, you may need to earn some extra money.  You can have a yard sale, sell unwanted items on e-Bay, start a home-based business or do any variety of things to make some extra money.  In this day and age, it’s never been easier.

5.  Don’t do everything yourself.  Get help.  Too often, people try to do everything themselves.  They try to do all of the decorating, shopping, cooking, planning, etc.  When they eventually burn out, and they will, these folks often wonder why.  Don’t try to be super-human.  If you need help, ask for it.

6.  Take some quiet time.  Sure, there are a lot of things to do during the Christmas season.  There are school plays, Christmas parties, shopping trips, recitals, family dinners, etc.  We haven’t even mentioned wrapping, packing and shipping duties yet.   Whew!  A body can get tired out with all of this. 

While these events are important, quiet time is also vital.  For me, this means turning off the lights and sitting by the Christmas tree.  Usually, I have a glass of eggnog in hand and Christmas music playing softly in the background.  This really is one of the best parts of Christmas.  That may not be right for you, and that’s OK.  Find what quiet things you like and make sure to work them into the mix of holiday activities.

7.  Celebrate the season, not just the day.  There’s way too much stuff to do at Christmas to cram it all in to one 24-hour block.  That’s why you need to spread it out over several weeks.  Around here, we celebrate Christmas all year long, but especially between Thanksgiving and January.  Our decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving and don’t comedown until a week past New  Years.  That way, we get to experience a whole season of fun.

Well, I could go on for a while and, if pressed, probably come up with several more tips, but I think we’ll stop here for now.  I hope that you have been able to pick up something that you can use.  I wish you all the joy, peace and love that the Christmas season contains.  God bless.

Filed Under: Featured, Tips