To keep stress-free, I try to get all of my shopping done (online if possible!) way in advance - this helps me avoid the crowds, traffic, and general stress surrounding Christmas tree shopping. I also try to take off the last two weeks of the year so I can focus on enjoying time with family and friends vs. getting work done. Luckily a lot of people tend to take off this time so things are generally quiet.
I love the joy of the holiday season and time spent with friends and family (and the food). So my family has gotten rid of anything we don't need to do. We do kind of a White Elephant exchange to reduce stress and money spent.
I try and plan ahead. i make purchases throughout the year, stock up on food and other items ahead of time. At Thanksgiving I purchased two turkeys. One is in the freezer for Christmas. Write cards while watching tv...
I would be thrilled to receive your Playbook to further help me in frugal living. i have pretty much lived my life being frugal and penny wise as a single mother raising two children. even after the children left the nest, i still maintained a debt free life as much as possible. now being retired as of 2014 and on a fixed income, i am raising a grandchild and back in the same scenario as i was years ago. your book would be beneficial for me as to financially taking care of grandchild on fixed income and still be able to provide a good life for a six year old. thank you
To keep my credit card active I use the balance transfer offers and put about 5k every year to my account and pay it off and do it again over and over. It's a good way to keep my credit active, I have 830 overall, I don't spend it and pay it back so I will keep it active till I croak
I've been living in a weekly pay hotel for over a month and I do think it's cheaper because furniture is furnished and I have a fridge and stove. As well as free electricity, water x cable big screen tv and WiFi. But today I couldn't pay my entire bill, just the store and go price. This scary lady comes by to make sure no one is in the room so I hid inside a huge cardboard box I use for storage so now she thinks I left my cat all alone.
I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. I ask for help and take it when offered. I stopped trying to do everything and make everything from scratch. I do what I can to the best of my ability and don't worrying about the rest.
I was born and raised in Buffalo NY.Lived there 37 years till we left for a job.I and my family still miss it everyday and visit whenever we can ,I prefer when there is a lot of snow since I live in Florida and miss the beauty of a snowy white night.Its a GREAT city in so many ways,terrific place to raise kids,since it teaches values.It is culturally diverse like NYC and that is something I miss.I learned about people from all over the world all religion and learned tolerance and mutual love and mutual love and respect .We have beautiful housing ,some of the best architecture in the country downtown ,a gorgeous waterfront with Lake Erie and the Niagra River.Niagra Falls is about 20 minutes from downtown.In the 70s the city handled mandatory integration of the schools by making the schools magnet schoools so people chose to go to schools outside their district and as far as I know their was very little trouble.My children who are not minorities went to inner city schools to great magnet schools and they were actually in the minority literally in those schools but had no problems at all.Almost all of my and my husbands family still live there and we get very sensitive over people putting down our "City Beautiful" .
I used to do my shopping last minute and it would completely stress me out because I hate crowds. Mostly I waited until the last minute because I didn't have the money. So now, I save all year so I don't have to wait until the last minute and I haven't had to do last minute shopping in years. Makes the season much more enjoyable!
To keep stress low, I say no to a lot of events. I will maybe go to one party during the month. Gift giving is easy in my family. We all just name a few things we want. Even Christmas dinner is easy.
We just try to keep it down to a sane, reasonable amount of social engagements this time of year, and we've whittled down gift giving to just pets, children, and one adult via drawing names. It makes things so much easier and more laid back.
To keep stress-free, I try to get all of my shopping done (online if possible!) way in advance - this helps me avoid the crowds, traffic, and general stress surrounding Christmas tree shopping. I also try to take off the last two weeks of the year so I can focus on enjoying time with family and friends vs. getting work done. Luckily a lot of people tend to take off this time so things are generally quiet.
I love the joy of the holiday season and time spent with friends and family (and the food). So my family has gotten rid of anything we don't need to do. We do kind of a White Elephant exchange to reduce stress and money spent.
I try and plan ahead. i make purchases throughout the year, stock up on food and other items ahead of time. At Thanksgiving I purchased two turkeys. One is in the freezer for Christmas. Write cards while watching tv...
I try to schedule small things to do one at a time so I don't get overwhelmed the night before!
I would be thrilled to receive your Playbook to further help me in frugal living. i have pretty much lived my life being frugal and penny wise as a single mother raising two children. even after the children left the nest, i still maintained a debt free life as much as possible. now being retired as of 2014 and on a fixed income, i am raising a grandchild and back in the same scenario as i was years ago. your book would be beneficial for me as to financially taking care of grandchild on fixed income and still be able to provide a good life for a six year old. thank you
This book sounds like it has good advice.
I use coupons and buy food items I know I will be using when it's on sale.
To keep my credit card active I use the balance transfer offers and put about 5k every year to my account and pay it off and do it again over and over. It's a good way to keep my credit active, I have 830 overall, I don't spend it and pay it back so I will keep it active till I croak
Costco.
I've been living in a weekly pay hotel for over a month and I do think it's cheaper because furniture is furnished and I have a fridge and stove. As well as free electricity, water x cable big screen tv and WiFi. But today I couldn't pay my entire bill, just the store and go price. This scary lady comes by to make sure no one is in the room so I hid inside a huge cardboard box I use for storage so now she thinks I left my cat all alone.
I buy gifts throughout the year when there are sales so I'm not scrambling to buy presents at the last minute.
I try to do a few tasks every day so that the pressure is less by the time the actual date comes around!
Free is fabulous! Also fabulous: Living large below means, saving, and helping others! Thank you kindly, Delana
Thanks for the article. I'm a letter writer and its nice to find other like minded people.
I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. I ask for help and take it when offered. I stopped trying to do everything and make everything from scratch. I do what I can to the best of my ability and don't worrying about the rest.
I avoid stress by eating lots of cookies!
I was born and raised in Buffalo NY.Lived there 37 years till we left for a job.I and my family still miss it everyday and visit whenever we can ,I prefer when there is a lot of snow since I live in Florida and miss the beauty of a snowy white night.Its a GREAT city in so many ways,terrific place to raise kids,since it teaches values.It is culturally diverse like NYC and that is something I miss.I learned about people from all over the world all religion and learned tolerance and mutual love and mutual love and respect .We have beautiful housing ,some of the best architecture in the country downtown ,a gorgeous waterfront with Lake Erie and the Niagra River.Niagra Falls is about 20 minutes from downtown.In the 70s the city handled mandatory integration of the schools by making the schools magnet schoools so people chose to go to schools outside their district and as far as I know their was very little trouble.My children who are not minorities went to inner city schools to great magnet schools and they were actually in the minority literally in those schools but had no problems at all.Almost all of my and my husbands family still live there and we get very sensitive over people putting down our "City Beautiful" .
I try to continue my normal routine of fitness and other hobbies, even when spending time with my family and friends.
I relax, breathe deeply, exercise, journal and meditate.
I used to do my shopping last minute and it would completely stress me out because I hate crowds. Mostly I waited until the last minute because I didn't have the money. So now, I save all year so I don't have to wait until the last minute and I haven't had to do last minute shopping in years. Makes the season much more enjoyable!
Set and keep a budget and shop online. Majorly stressfree!
To keep stress low, I say no to a lot of events. I will maybe go to one party during the month. Gift giving is easy in my family. We all just name a few things we want. Even Christmas dinner is easy.
I do not wait until the last minute and plan ahead. Lists and organization also helps a lot.
We just try to keep it down to a sane, reasonable amount of social engagements this time of year, and we've whittled down gift giving to just pets, children, and one adult via drawing names. It makes things so much easier and more laid back.
My husband helps me out a lot when I get too overwhelmed with stress. I do a little bit each day.