This is resonant -- the turn in weather this week has made me start to think about planning my holiday shopping starting now! I've already bought one present, and I wish I'd have started sooner :)
Baking soda as shampoo is awesome! I have been using it for over a year now and love it. I have heard it called the "nopoo" method - which is a goofy name, but I guess that's what it is called.
I have started preparing for Christmas and to map out the activities we want to do to celebrate fall, including apple picking, farm visits, get-togethers with friends. I have also mapped out when I will be addressing our cards, taking the holiday photo, having our tree trimming party, setting up other decorations, doing my baking, etc.
Definitely haven't started getting ready for the holidays, but I am setting aside a couople extra dollars each week for a "gift" fund - that way when the holidays come around, I won't be short-changed!
Noooo, I haven't even begun to think about Thanksgiving and Christmas yet. Not sure if my family will be doing a gift exchange this year. To simplify things last year we had a scaled-down version. I haven't even bought Halloween candy yet! I usually wait until much closer to the holiday to start doing anything for it.
Don't be afraid of looking silly when you take your car into a shop.
Ask plenty of questions. Make sure you know what is going on.
You deserve to understand what is happening with your car, and a good technician will not mind your questions.
I started purchasing Christmas gifts a month ago. Since I have a huge family, I find it less stressful on my pocketbook to buy a gift with each paycheck (one each week) so by the time Christmas rolls around, I have all of my shopping done and I am not in debt. I even stock up on new ornaments and decorations in July when they are super cheap.
I've made my fall wreath, hung it on my door last weekend, and that's as far as I've gotten. Thanksgiving I cook the night before, and I can't bring myself to think about Christmas yet. I'm still planning a few more beach days!
I've just started thinking about christmas. All my plans depend on if we get time off or not, and we don't know yet. As soon as we do, I can plan christmas gifts better. Halloween boxes are out and costumes are started but that's it.
I always start in September, although I sort of plan year-round! Our Christmas budget for each year is determined by how much money I have earned taking surveys online. Every September, I check to see how many points I have with each survey company and make goals for how many points I need by the time I want to cash out in November. Also in September, I go through my Evernote and my Amazon gift idea lists where I have been saving ideas all year, and I choose gifts for everyone. By the end of September, I usually know my budget and what I am buying!
In fact, I ordered some gift certificates from the credit card rewards program just last night. We've got 7 nieces and nephews who celebrate the whole gamut of holidays. I've started making luggage tags for each and they'll get either a GC or cash as well (they range in age from 11-18, so homemade play dough is not appropriate. If I don't add anything to my to-do list, I should be done by Halloween!
My little freezer is full of bags containing diced peppers (red, green, yellow), cooked ground beef, diced cooked chicken, cooked rice, diced onions, etc.. I also cook beans in the pressure cooker and bag them up in 2-cup bags......Quick and easy to put something together.
My best tip for living in retirement: live on your monthly income and not whatever amount you have saved. If you can't afford to live on a retirement income, you shouldn't retire. Too many people spend more than they earn while working. This behavior will not support a decent retirement. It's all about the budget!
Not yet....waiting on the hubby to get down the fall decorations from the attic!
I have not started holiday prep- looks like
I am behind again in 2013!
Karen
This is resonant -- the turn in weather this week has made me start to think about planning my holiday shopping starting now! I've already bought one present, and I wish I'd have started sooner :)
I'm a procrastinator, so I usually do things last minute!
I haven't started decorating, but I've started buying Christmas gifts for sure!
I have not started yet.
No, but thanks for the reminder...
Baking soda as shampoo is awesome! I have been using it for over a year now and love it. I have heard it called the "nopoo" method - which is a goofy name, but I guess that's what it is called.
I have started preparing for Christmas and to map out the activities we want to do to celebrate fall, including apple picking, farm visits, get-togethers with friends. I have also mapped out when I will be addressing our cards, taking the holiday photo, having our tree trimming party, setting up other decorations, doing my baking, etc.
My son's birthday is Christmas day so I always start shopping in September!
Definitely haven't started getting ready for the holidays, but I am setting aside a couople extra dollars each week for a "gift" fund - that way when the holidays come around, I won't be short-changed!
Noooo, I haven't even begun to think about Thanksgiving and Christmas yet. Not sure if my family will be doing a gift exchange this year. To simplify things last year we had a scaled-down version. I haven't even bought Halloween candy yet! I usually wait until much closer to the holiday to start doing anything for it.
Don't be afraid of looking silly when you take your car into a shop.
Ask plenty of questions. Make sure you know what is going on.
You deserve to understand what is happening with your car, and a good technician will not mind your questions.
The knowledge may come in handy in the future.
I started purchasing Christmas gifts a month ago. Since I have a huge family, I find it less stressful on my pocketbook to buy a gift with each paycheck (one each week) so by the time Christmas rolls around, I have all of my shopping done and I am not in debt. I even stock up on new ornaments and decorations in July when they are super cheap.
I've made my fall wreath, hung it on my door last weekend, and that's as far as I've gotten. Thanksgiving I cook the night before, and I can't bring myself to think about Christmas yet. I'm still planning a few more beach days!
I've just started thinking about christmas. All my plans depend on if we get time off or not, and we don't know yet. As soon as we do, I can plan christmas gifts better. Halloween boxes are out and costumes are started but that's it.
I always start in September, although I sort of plan year-round! Our Christmas budget for each year is determined by how much money I have earned taking surveys online. Every September, I check to see how many points I have with each survey company and make goals for how many points I need by the time I want to cash out in November. Also in September, I go through my Evernote and my Amazon gift idea lists where I have been saving ideas all year, and I choose gifts for everyone. By the end of September, I usually know my budget and what I am buying!
Yep! My sister in law and I are giving our families baskets with canned stuff and other homemade stuff. Canning season is in full swing!
I already have 5 gifts bought and hidden! All on sale too!
I have started a little in regards to prepping for the holidays.
These are great tips! I like to prepare meals that I know will produce enough leftovers for a second (lunch the next day) or even a third meal.
I haven't started holiday prep yet.
In fact, I ordered some gift certificates from the credit card rewards program just last night. We've got 7 nieces and nephews who celebrate the whole gamut of holidays. I've started making luggage tags for each and they'll get either a GC or cash as well (they range in age from 11-18, so homemade play dough is not appropriate. If I don't add anything to my to-do list, I should be done by Halloween!
My little freezer is full of bags containing diced peppers (red, green, yellow), cooked ground beef, diced cooked chicken, cooked rice, diced onions, etc.. I also cook beans in the pressure cooker and bag them up in 2-cup bags......Quick and easy to put something together.
My best tip for living in retirement: live on your monthly income and not whatever amount you have saved. If you can't afford to live on a retirement income, you shouldn't retire. Too many people spend more than they earn while working. This behavior will not support a decent retirement. It's all about the budget!