Great idea! The thought of turning 34 next month really doesn't excite me so I think I will wait until 40 to celebrate! Unless people want to give me gifts of course!
I just came across this recipe today as I was looking for breakfast cookie recipes. Since I had some going-brown bananas in the house, I decided to make these right away. I discovered I was out of applesauce though, so I replaced it with pureed plums I had in the freezer. Instead of raisins, I used coconut/raisins/golden raisins/dried pineapple. I think they're great! 5-year-old tried a bite and said he'd finish it later, 3-year-old said she didn't like them (no surprise there), 2-year-old is napping and will get to try them after she gets up. As long as more than one of us likes them, they're a keeper! Thanks for the great recipe with so much less sugar than others I found!
did you not read the other posts?? buy one at RADIO SHACK
then there is no credit card problems i have been using mine for over a year and have saved HUNDREDS of dollars and sorry but anybody that uses a credit card online other that a pre paid temporary card is asking for trouble that way you can put the amount you want to spend on the service or item on he card and then there is nothing else to lose sorry about the bad customer support but this site CLEARLY states the support sucks!! and it does but it is still a good product and i do NOT work for them i just have an opinion please DONT buy one if you dont want to no skin of my back but like i said ive saver hundreds of dollars in long distance just with the calls to my mother in law
To the writer of this blog: I really have a hard time trusting what you write when a) your writing is full of errors and b) you don't know how to use words properly. You said that a claim was "untruthful" when actually it was just misleading. You misuse a lot of words in this post, and you seem not to be able to fully comprehend the statement on Horizon's website, such as regards the pesticide, antibiotics, and hormones. Then you didn't even provide sources for your information. How can I trust a word you say?
Not getting another year older - man what a bunch of scrooges people are. There's nothing wrong with giving someone a card on their birthday to remind them that you're thinking of them. You don't have to go crazy on presents, or over the top on parties but what's wrong with cake and a nice meal together? My husband and I (we're 40) give each other cards, plan a lovely meal and recently have given gifts like bare root trees. Something that will remind us in the years to come of our birthdays. We're expecting a baby in a month and you can be darn sure that he will have a birthday party every year because we will be celebrating our absolute joy at his birth. Doesn't mean it has to be OTT but it will be special and full of love and happiness. And cake.
I disagree about not celebrating all of the teenage birthdays (so, I guess everything under 18...probably everything under 21).
I'm a volunteer youth leader with my church and spend a lot of time around teenagers. Birthdays are important for the kids, especially the kids who are more of the geeks/quiet kids/on the fringes. It's a day when they can feel special and specifically loved without it seeming like someone is just doing it to help them feel included and not on the edges (kids can tell this stuff, even the younger teens. And for the more perceptive ones it's worse than pity.).
That said, birthday celebrations don't have to be huge ordeals. Going out to lunch and a movie with a few friends is really about all that most of "my kids" really want. Just some time to spend with their friends, maybe with a cool adult along to drive (chaperone) or a less cool parent who keeps an appropriate distance.
I have friends who, for their kids' birthdays (kids are 1-13 years old currently) give that kid a bag of candy, the choice of the dinner menu and then the opportunity to stay up late with Mom and Dad and watch a movie of their choice (big family so alone time with Mom AND Dad is a big thing).
Now that I'm old (ancient according to some of "my kids"...34), I still like to celebrate my birthday. My parents send me a box with little random toys. My sister buys me a book or something off my Amazon wish list. Some friends usually either treat me to dinner or get a group together for a meal and to play some games. It's not a whole lot different than what I would do on a normal time together with friends, but it's nice to have that special recognition once a year or so. One of "my kids" made me a little pillow out of fabric scraps one year. Another bought me a chocolate bar. All these are great, little, heartfelt gestures and mean the world to me. It really is (or it really should be) the thought that counts.
Why? Why does every person at every age deserve to be given gifts and cards? And why can't you celebrate life on other days? As a society, we're all so obsessed with getting stuff and being the center of attention.
seriously. give me a break. we are so money obsesssed that we cant even celebrate birthdays anymore. how sad are all of you. we are celebrating life (not turning another year older). you dont need to spend a fortune but every person at every age deserves a party and celebrations!
While we always had family birthday parties as children (aunts, uncles, grandmas, cousins only, very low key gatherings), parties with friends were rare. For two birthdays each (mine were 11 and 16) my parents threw us a surprise party where friends from school were invited. Having two siblings, it would have been crazy for my parents to give us big parties every year, especially because my brother's birthday is exactly 3 weeks after mine.
I don't recall ever being bummed about not having "friends attending" parties all the time and honestly it made the two surprise parties extra special. Cake and ice cream is good no matter who you're with.
Nowadays, just taking it easy for a day is enough for me.
"Yes, the tax deduction. Congratulations, you've just paid $1 in interest to earn at most $.35 back on your taxes. Great strategy! :-)"
Of course one shouldn't choose to pay mortgage interest JUST for the tax deduction as you mention BUT it is necessary to highlight the true cost of home loan debt by including the tax benefits because in this article the comparison I am making is comparing the ROI of the business (or other alternative investment) to the cost of the mortgage debt. So in this case it is a great strategy! :)
I host a retail shopping site where I guarantee the lowest price and I am able to use BeatMyPrice.com for comparison before I post my products for sale. It allows me to be competitive even before I bring the merch to market on my site. It also helps me to keep from posting items I might lose on profit if someone found my merchandise higher priced than other sites. That said, it is a help to both consumers and suppliers. Thanks Stateless Systems!
When you have more than one or two, celebrating every birthday can get more expensive but it also becomes more important, in my opinion. My middle child turned 3 yesterday, and you better believe we had a party. Her older sister and the baby already dominate so much of family life, despite my best efforts, and it was quite a delight to little Pebbles to dictate where we went out for breakfast, where we had her party and what kind of cake we made.
Even though I'm a frugalista, I tend to overspend on kids' birthdays simply because I get carried away with themes and goody bags. But it's certainly not necessary to do so. A cake mix and frosting can cost $2 between them, and having some friends or cousins over for a playdate costs nothing.
Yes, there is excessive spending and competition in some families with children's parties, but saying you're just not going to celebrate is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. These days are a REALLY big deal to children, and I would argue that it's still a big deal to an 11 or 12-year-old even if they don't let on.
This year, times are tough.
And every year, I always get my kids a little something for Vday. My parents always did that for us, so I continued.
Just a small kid box of chocolate, and a small gift. (usually NOT a Vday specified gift, cause that's a WASTE of money. I get them something small that they've had their eye on for a while, or something cool I found on clearance.)
But I thought of a good idea, since Vday doesn't ABSOLUTELY have to be celebrated ON that specified day.
It's not like Santa Claus, where if he doesn't come on the 24/25th overnight, then your kids feel like they've been dissed by Santa and their world comes crashing down.
The same thing with the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.
Although....with SMALLL kids, who probably don't know WHAT day it is, you could get away with giving them their holiday stuff on another day! Muahahahaha....
Anyway, I decided that IF I were to get something Vday themed this year, that I'd wait till the day after Vday, and everything will half off!! 50% off, baby!!! Even two days later, if that's how long I have to wait!
Because I'll still love them 2 days later. Right?
And they'll understand.
Don't even get me STARTED!!!!
I sooooooo hate birthdays! (actually, I've been lucky, and the people I hang around hate them too, so we NEVER have to endure adult birthdays anymore! Yesssss!)
But the kid's parties are KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!
I have two kids. Age 10 and 7.
I had a party for their first year. That's a biggie. Some kids don't even make it to that, so....it's a celebration. There's no more SIDS risk for me to worry about at night!!
After that.....age 5 I had parties for. And age 10.
Now, when I say parties, I mean, the relatives and friends all come. LOTS of people. Big expenses. Lots of toys we don't need.
Games, prizes, scrounging up enough chairs to fit most everyone...that's a "party" to me.
But sometimes, I let the kids have their own "kiddie" party.
There's been a few sleepovers, with just a SELECT FEW KIDS, which works out VERY WELL. The kids still feel celebrated and get to have their fun, and I only had to pay for a few cupcakes and a few dollar store prizes for a few games. The rest of the night, entertainment was up to them!! Just be laying in your sleeping bags by 11pm, please! And put on a movie till you fall asleep in 20 minutes. Sweet success!
Other than that, we don't bother everyone EVERY stinkin' 6 months, for a party. "Come celebrate my kids. AGAIN. Buy them something." Nope. Can't stand that.
(they were born in December and June, so EVERY 6 months is birthdays for us!)
My cousin has 3 kids. They were all born from November to January. And so far, she has had a MAJOR party for EVER SINGLE BIRTHDAY.
It's SUCH a pain!!! I dread it!! Let alone, it's Christmas time, and after Christmas/recovery time....and I gotta buy MORE crap for her kids!
EVERY YEAR. THREE TIMES.
She has a HUGE family, lots of aunts, step people, etc.....
So it's a major deal everytime. Crowds in her house, don't get up cause you won't get your seat back, or going to a "bouncy place" to watch the kids sweat all over eachother for 2 hours....
And for MOST birthdays I've been to in the past 10 years, no one ever opens their gifts AT THE PARTY anymore!!!
WTH??? I want to SEE the look on their face when they open it! If I'm gonna go to the expense and time of thinking up the perfect thing (in the clearance section! Lol) and putting the money I really don't have, out, to get a gift...I want to KNOW they opened it.
I hate that!!!
I've tried over and over again, hinting, obvious hinting, etc....to STOP my cousin from having all these damn birthdays every year, but she just won't.
I don't understand it.
It's to the point of ridiculous now.
Luckily, recently I've been busy for a few of the parties. WHEW!!
Ok....sorry....I got started! See? I told you not to get me started!!
Oh, I did want to say, that for the years we do NOT have a major celebration for, I buy a SMALL pack of cupcakes, or a tiny cake at Walmart, and on their birthday night, my family of four sings Happy Bday after dinner, and give the birthday kid one present.
Nothing wrong with acknowledging the birthday. It just doesn't have to get crazy. And they are completely happy with that, too.
As long as there's candles. (as per my 7 year old daughter!)
Actually, I'm not even sure about the whole years 1-9 thing. It might be just because I don't have kids, but it seems kind of ridiculous, the way birthdays are celebrated.
And no, not everyone likes to feel special on their birthday - I, for one, would like my birthday to pass unacknowledged.
YIKES! Be careful of #4!! Unless they're organic flowers, those petals are covered in STRONG pesticides. Definitely not something I'd like to be soaking in. Especially after that hot bath water has opened up your pores. A rash or severe skin irritation is not romantic at all.
I think you're missing the distinction between "celebrating" and "gifting". : ) In my circle of friends, we haven't given each other formal gifts for birthdays in about 8 years (unless you count baking someone a cake).
My husband and I have that PO album (we got through a LOT of comedy) and while I agree that it's not necessary to throw a party (complete with rabid gift-wrap-tearing and candles) every year, everyone likes feeling special on their birthday -- even if they're turning an "unspecial" age.
And while I agree with the other commenters that every day should be special (unbirthdays too!), it's likely that most folk won't take the time to slow down and appreciate your average day. On their *birthday* however, it's usually easier to convince someone to take a little extra time for a nicer homemade meal, or a round of drinks, or just a night playing board games instead of cleaning out gutters, or whatever.
So I'm with you on the gifts are unnecessary front, but I'm definitely still pro-celebration.
I really like the idea of staying away from the store and creating your own Valentine's Day gift, not just from a budget and environmental perspective but particularly from a heart-felt "I love you enough to make a special gift for you" stance.
I'm a member of a green-themed social network called Greenwala and I've been finding a lot of great DIY gift ideas over there. Here are a few article links that are at the top of my list:
taking all the emotions involved in birthdays, there is actually a lot of sense in what you say. But the thing is that these thing is very hard to put in practice because most people feel unwanted when their birthdays are not acknowledged. By the way this post has just reminded me that there is a birthday in my family to be remembered!!!!!
Last birthday celebrated was in college when I turned 21. Hubby and I have 4 days between birthdays so we just try to do something different than our regular schedule, like having a picnic or going to a museum. Friends are kept unaware of our birthdays and only our kids send cards. Do we feel unloved or forgotten? Not in the least as it is our choice.
Now in our sixties birthdays aren't important - every day is important.
Yes, the tax deduction. Congratulations, you've just paid $1 in interest to earn at most $.35 back on your taxes. Great strategy! :-)
All joking aside, there's a reason that personal finance is "personal." If you've got a business or solid investment vehicle to plow your money into, great. But for most paying ahead might be a smart idea. The mortgage is a HUGE part of most people's budgets, and you have so many more options once that debt is removed. We hope to have our house paid off by 35 so that we can cut back on work and enjoy our family.
Good timing. Headed to a 63-year-old's party today. Personally, I will NOT want to celebrate the fact that I'm a year older once I reach my 60's. Or my 30's, to be honest. My parties stopped when I graduated from high school.
Most people will think that this post is a joke, but why not celebrate the people you love year-round - instead of spending time and resources on one day a year?
It's nice to mark the ocassion, but must we really go all out with cake, balloons, and gifts that the birthday boy/girl doesn't really want? Yes, the 63-year-old will have balloons. His mother and wife insist on it.
My husband is donating blood at a local blood drive, instead of a gift. I needed a blood transfusion once, and this means a lot to me.
In the past when he bought flowers he charged them and there is nothing worse than later seeing a bill for flowers!
I am so tired of the Capital One junk mail. We get something from them often but always, without exception, cut it to shreds and trash it. I have a feeling we aren't alone. They must think there are a lot of suckers out there to fall for this junk. What a waste of resourses this is.
Great idea! The thought of turning 34 next month really doesn't excite me so I think I will wait until 40 to celebrate! Unless people want to give me gifts of course!
I just came across this recipe today as I was looking for breakfast cookie recipes. Since I had some going-brown bananas in the house, I decided to make these right away. I discovered I was out of applesauce though, so I replaced it with pureed plums I had in the freezer. Instead of raisins, I used coconut/raisins/golden raisins/dried pineapple. I think they're great! 5-year-old tried a bite and said he'd finish it later, 3-year-old said she didn't like them (no surprise there), 2-year-old is napping and will get to try them after she gets up. As long as more than one of us likes them, they're a keeper! Thanks for the great recipe with so much less sugar than others I found!
did you not read the other posts?? buy one at RADIO SHACK
then there is no credit card problems i have been using mine for over a year and have saved HUNDREDS of dollars and sorry but anybody that uses a credit card online other that a pre paid temporary card is asking for trouble that way you can put the amount you want to spend on the service or item on he card and then there is nothing else to lose sorry about the bad customer support but this site CLEARLY states the support sucks!! and it does but it is still a good product and i do NOT work for them i just have an opinion please DONT buy one if you dont want to no skin of my back but like i said ive saver hundreds of dollars in long distance just with the calls to my mother in law
To the writer of this blog: I really have a hard time trusting what you write when a) your writing is full of errors and b) you don't know how to use words properly. You said that a claim was "untruthful" when actually it was just misleading. You misuse a lot of words in this post, and you seem not to be able to fully comprehend the statement on Horizon's website, such as regards the pesticide, antibiotics, and hormones. Then you didn't even provide sources for your information. How can I trust a word you say?
Not getting another year older - man what a bunch of scrooges people are. There's nothing wrong with giving someone a card on their birthday to remind them that you're thinking of them. You don't have to go crazy on presents, or over the top on parties but what's wrong with cake and a nice meal together? My husband and I (we're 40) give each other cards, plan a lovely meal and recently have given gifts like bare root trees. Something that will remind us in the years to come of our birthdays. We're expecting a baby in a month and you can be darn sure that he will have a birthday party every year because we will be celebrating our absolute joy at his birth. Doesn't mean it has to be OTT but it will be special and full of love and happiness. And cake.
I disagree about not celebrating all of the teenage birthdays (so, I guess everything under 18...probably everything under 21).
I'm a volunteer youth leader with my church and spend a lot of time around teenagers. Birthdays are important for the kids, especially the kids who are more of the geeks/quiet kids/on the fringes. It's a day when they can feel special and specifically loved without it seeming like someone is just doing it to help them feel included and not on the edges (kids can tell this stuff, even the younger teens. And for the more perceptive ones it's worse than pity.).
That said, birthday celebrations don't have to be huge ordeals. Going out to lunch and a movie with a few friends is really about all that most of "my kids" really want. Just some time to spend with their friends, maybe with a cool adult along to drive (chaperone) or a less cool parent who keeps an appropriate distance.
I have friends who, for their kids' birthdays (kids are 1-13 years old currently) give that kid a bag of candy, the choice of the dinner menu and then the opportunity to stay up late with Mom and Dad and watch a movie of their choice (big family so alone time with Mom AND Dad is a big thing).
Now that I'm old (ancient according to some of "my kids"...34), I still like to celebrate my birthday. My parents send me a box with little random toys. My sister buys me a book or something off my Amazon wish list. Some friends usually either treat me to dinner or get a group together for a meal and to play some games. It's not a whole lot different than what I would do on a normal time together with friends, but it's nice to have that special recognition once a year or so. One of "my kids" made me a little pillow out of fabric scraps one year. Another bought me a chocolate bar. All these are great, little, heartfelt gestures and mean the world to me. It really is (or it really should be) the thought that counts.
Why? Why does every person at every age deserve to be given gifts and cards? And why can't you celebrate life on other days? As a society, we're all so obsessed with getting stuff and being the center of attention.
seriously. give me a break. we are so money obsesssed that we cant even celebrate birthdays anymore. how sad are all of you. we are celebrating life (not turning another year older). you dont need to spend a fortune but every person at every age deserves a party and celebrations!
While we always had family birthday parties as children (aunts, uncles, grandmas, cousins only, very low key gatherings), parties with friends were rare. For two birthdays each (mine were 11 and 16) my parents threw us a surprise party where friends from school were invited. Having two siblings, it would have been crazy for my parents to give us big parties every year, especially because my brother's birthday is exactly 3 weeks after mine.
I don't recall ever being bummed about not having "friends attending" parties all the time and honestly it made the two surprise parties extra special. Cake and ice cream is good no matter who you're with.
Nowadays, just taking it easy for a day is enough for me.
@Stacey07
"Yes, the tax deduction. Congratulations, you've just paid $1 in interest to earn at most $.35 back on your taxes. Great strategy! :-)"
Of course one shouldn't choose to pay mortgage interest JUST for the tax deduction as you mention BUT it is necessary to highlight the true cost of home loan debt by including the tax benefits because in this article the comparison I am making is comparing the ROI of the business (or other alternative investment) to the cost of the mortgage debt. So in this case it is a great strategy! :)
I host a retail shopping site where I guarantee the lowest price and I am able to use BeatMyPrice.com for comparison before I post my products for sale. It allows me to be competitive even before I bring the merch to market on my site. It also helps me to keep from posting items I might lose on profit if someone found my merchandise higher priced than other sites. That said, it is a help to both consumers and suppliers. Thanks Stateless Systems!
When you have more than one or two, celebrating every birthday can get more expensive but it also becomes more important, in my opinion. My middle child turned 3 yesterday, and you better believe we had a party. Her older sister and the baby already dominate so much of family life, despite my best efforts, and it was quite a delight to little Pebbles to dictate where we went out for breakfast, where we had her party and what kind of cake we made.
Even though I'm a frugalista, I tend to overspend on kids' birthdays simply because I get carried away with themes and goody bags. But it's certainly not necessary to do so. A cake mix and frosting can cost $2 between them, and having some friends or cousins over for a playdate costs nothing.
Yes, there is excessive spending and competition in some families with children's parties, but saying you're just not going to celebrate is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. These days are a REALLY big deal to children, and I would argue that it's still a big deal to an 11 or 12-year-old even if they don't let on.
This year, times are tough.
And every year, I always get my kids a little something for Vday. My parents always did that for us, so I continued.
Just a small kid box of chocolate, and a small gift. (usually NOT a Vday specified gift, cause that's a WASTE of money. I get them something small that they've had their eye on for a while, or something cool I found on clearance.)
But I thought of a good idea, since Vday doesn't ABSOLUTELY have to be celebrated ON that specified day.
It's not like Santa Claus, where if he doesn't come on the 24/25th overnight, then your kids feel like they've been dissed by Santa and their world comes crashing down.
The same thing with the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.
Although....with SMALLL kids, who probably don't know WHAT day it is, you could get away with giving them their holiday stuff on another day! Muahahahaha....
Anyway, I decided that IF I were to get something Vday themed this year, that I'd wait till the day after Vday, and everything will half off!! 50% off, baby!!! Even two days later, if that's how long I have to wait!
Because I'll still love them 2 days later. Right?
And they'll understand.
That's what I decided.
But can we add 65? Medicare is a wondrous thing!
Don't even get me STARTED!!!!
I sooooooo hate birthdays! (actually, I've been lucky, and the people I hang around hate them too, so we NEVER have to endure adult birthdays anymore! Yesssss!)
But the kid's parties are KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!
I have two kids. Age 10 and 7.
I had a party for their first year. That's a biggie. Some kids don't even make it to that, so....it's a celebration. There's no more SIDS risk for me to worry about at night!!
After that.....age 5 I had parties for. And age 10.
Now, when I say parties, I mean, the relatives and friends all come. LOTS of people. Big expenses. Lots of toys we don't need.
Games, prizes, scrounging up enough chairs to fit most everyone...that's a "party" to me.
But sometimes, I let the kids have their own "kiddie" party.
There's been a few sleepovers, with just a SELECT FEW KIDS, which works out VERY WELL. The kids still feel celebrated and get to have their fun, and I only had to pay for a few cupcakes and a few dollar store prizes for a few games. The rest of the night, entertainment was up to them!! Just be laying in your sleeping bags by 11pm, please! And put on a movie till you fall asleep in 20 minutes. Sweet success!
Other than that, we don't bother everyone EVERY stinkin' 6 months, for a party. "Come celebrate my kids. AGAIN. Buy them something." Nope. Can't stand that.
(they were born in December and June, so EVERY 6 months is birthdays for us!)
My cousin has 3 kids. They were all born from November to January. And so far, she has had a MAJOR party for EVER SINGLE BIRTHDAY.
It's SUCH a pain!!! I dread it!! Let alone, it's Christmas time, and after Christmas/recovery time....and I gotta buy MORE crap for her kids!
EVERY YEAR. THREE TIMES.
She has a HUGE family, lots of aunts, step people, etc.....
So it's a major deal everytime. Crowds in her house, don't get up cause you won't get your seat back, or going to a "bouncy place" to watch the kids sweat all over eachother for 2 hours....
And for MOST birthdays I've been to in the past 10 years, no one ever opens their gifts AT THE PARTY anymore!!!
WTH??? I want to SEE the look on their face when they open it! If I'm gonna go to the expense and time of thinking up the perfect thing (in the clearance section! Lol) and putting the money I really don't have, out, to get a gift...I want to KNOW they opened it.
I hate that!!!
I've tried over and over again, hinting, obvious hinting, etc....to STOP my cousin from having all these damn birthdays every year, but she just won't.
I don't understand it.
It's to the point of ridiculous now.
Luckily, recently I've been busy for a few of the parties. WHEW!!
Ok....sorry....I got started! See? I told you not to get me started!!
Oh, I did want to say, that for the years we do NOT have a major celebration for, I buy a SMALL pack of cupcakes, or a tiny cake at Walmart, and on their birthday night, my family of four sings Happy Bday after dinner, and give the birthday kid one present.
Nothing wrong with acknowledging the birthday. It just doesn't have to get crazy. And they are completely happy with that, too.
As long as there's candles. (as per my 7 year old daughter!)
Actually, I'm not even sure about the whole years 1-9 thing. It might be just because I don't have kids, but it seems kind of ridiculous, the way birthdays are celebrated.
And no, not everyone likes to feel special on their birthday - I, for one, would like my birthday to pass unacknowledged.
YIKES! Be careful of #4!! Unless they're organic flowers, those petals are covered in STRONG pesticides. Definitely not something I'd like to be soaking in. Especially after that hot bath water has opened up your pores. A rash or severe skin irritation is not romantic at all.
I think you're missing the distinction between "celebrating" and "gifting". : ) In my circle of friends, we haven't given each other formal gifts for birthdays in about 8 years (unless you count baking someone a cake).
My husband and I have that PO album (we got through a LOT of comedy) and while I agree that it's not necessary to throw a party (complete with rabid gift-wrap-tearing and candles) every year, everyone likes feeling special on their birthday -- even if they're turning an "unspecial" age.
And while I agree with the other commenters that every day should be special (unbirthdays too!), it's likely that most folk won't take the time to slow down and appreciate your average day. On their *birthday* however, it's usually easier to convince someone to take a little extra time for a nicer homemade meal, or a round of drinks, or just a night playing board games instead of cleaning out gutters, or whatever.
So I'm with you on the gifts are unnecessary front, but I'm definitely still pro-celebration.
I really like the idea of staying away from the store and creating your own Valentine's Day gift, not just from a budget and environmental perspective but particularly from a heart-felt "I love you enough to make a special gift for you" stance.
I'm a member of a green-themed social network called Greenwala and I've been finding a lot of great DIY gift ideas over there. Here are a few article links that are at the top of my list:
1) http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/featured/4393-Green-Up-Your-Val...
2) http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/4623-3-Fresh-Green-Ways-To-...
3) http://www.greenwala.com/community/videos?q=valentine%27s+day
Hope these help everyone who's still not quite sure what to do for their loved one.
taking all the emotions involved in birthdays, there is actually a lot of sense in what you say. But the thing is that these thing is very hard to put in practice because most people feel unwanted when their birthdays are not acknowledged. By the way this post has just reminded me that there is a birthday in my family to be remembered!!!!!
Last birthday celebrated was in college when I turned 21. Hubby and I have 4 days between birthdays so we just try to do something different than our regular schedule, like having a picnic or going to a museum. Friends are kept unaware of our birthdays and only our kids send cards. Do we feel unloved or forgotten? Not in the least as it is our choice.
Now in our sixties birthdays aren't important - every day is important.
Yes, the tax deduction. Congratulations, you've just paid $1 in interest to earn at most $.35 back on your taxes. Great strategy! :-)
All joking aside, there's a reason that personal finance is "personal." If you've got a business or solid investment vehicle to plow your money into, great. But for most paying ahead might be a smart idea. The mortgage is a HUGE part of most people's budgets, and you have so many more options once that debt is removed. We hope to have our house paid off by 35 so that we can cut back on work and enjoy our family.
Good timing. Headed to a 63-year-old's party today. Personally, I will NOT want to celebrate the fact that I'm a year older once I reach my 60's. Or my 30's, to be honest. My parties stopped when I graduated from high school.
Most people will think that this post is a joke, but why not celebrate the people you love year-round - instead of spending time and resources on one day a year?
It's nice to mark the ocassion, but must we really go all out with cake, balloons, and gifts that the birthday boy/girl doesn't really want? Yes, the 63-year-old will have balloons. His mother and wife insist on it.
My husband is donating blood at a local blood drive, instead of a gift. I needed a blood transfusion once, and this means a lot to me.
In the past when he bought flowers he charged them and there is nothing worse than later seeing a bill for flowers!
I am so tired of the Capital One junk mail. We get something from them often but always, without exception, cut it to shreds and trash it. I have a feeling we aren't alone. They must think there are a lot of suckers out there to fall for this junk. What a waste of resourses this is.