Do people really need suggestions? I have tons of non-shopping activities I do every week, every weekend! I have forever. Nothing special, I just don't like it. God, there are TONS of things to do. Sad if people do need this list. :(
Writing letters, though, IS something that people tend to forget, but it's great to get some snail mail every once in a while. :)
I frequently return gifts - off our wedding and now baby registries, a bunch of returned gifts that we sort of wanted bought us the big ticket items we really wanted.
Here's a guide to easy furoshiki, which is my favorite way of wrapping gifts. I assume that if the package isn't too big, you could also use a really pretty vintage scarf. I also love gift boxes, like you mentioned. So useful.
From what I've seen the speed of your internet connection plays a big roll in how the Magic Jack functions. It also does not work if you're trying to use an older computer.
When I was a kid, friends and I used to go caroling every year around the holidays. I'm not religious, but I had so much fun going around the neighborhood and tormenting the neighbors with our off-pitch squawking. I wish more people did it now - the last few times I've opened the door for caroler's, they've been from a local church or youth group and they asked for a donation.
I never return gifts. I always accept them politely, and then find something else productive to do with them if I don't want them! I frequently regift things that are simply "not me" or that will end up as clutter in my house. Other things (like an unpleasant holiday sweater) I put to new uses, like dusters, pillowcases, or kindling.
I've read on many websites that Locks of Love is not everything people think. They graciously take the hair, but they don't give it away, they sell it at a hefty profit. The other one mentioned, well I haven't looked into them at all, but LoL should be avoided as far as I'm concerned. I'll cut my 20" hair off and throw it in the trash if it's not worthy enough to sell, but I'll NEVER give it to LoL.
I like to give gifts that are packaged in useful containers.
For high school graduations of kids going away to college, young bride wedding showers and house warming gifts, I package gifts in a plastic bucket with inexpensive dish towels in place of tissue paper. It makes for a unique and totally useable gift.
For first baby baby shower gifts, I regularly give a small tool box/bag with tools (useful for assembling baby gear, opening battery compartments, etc) and lots of assorted batteries. Along with a note explaining why I'm giving the new mom to be hand tools and batteries.
And for a variety of occasions, most recently a wedding shower, I've given games packaged in a large plastic tote destined to become the "games box". The box isn't filled up with games, as that allows for the inclusion of the current games' library and/or expansion (it helps if I know what games the person/couple has or enjoys so that I can select a tote that will fit those game boxes.
The presents may not be the most elegant, but they are unique, practical, useful and always much appreciated.
I am Jay with Jay's Saving Your Money and I visited this website on Halloween and learned a great deal about how to earn extra cash from my old stuff.
I wanted to let you know that I did have a great experience with Gazelle and YourRenew. I was surprised when I got some cash for the junk in my kitchen drawer!
I wanted to say "Thanks", again.
Note to readers: The whole reason I am posting this comment is to give my statement as proof that you really can get cash for your old electronics!
Dittos on the Brother 5100 C. It works! I used duct tape. It was a little hard to get the cartridge back in because of the thickness of the tape. I pushed it in to get an imprint, then stretched the tape where it needed to fit. Works great!
I'd add to these that getting out especially in the winter time is good and relaxing for you. Head to the mountains for some hiking or if you live near the beach, head there. Even if its 45 degrees out, the beach can be a great place to toss around a ball or a frisbee with few other people there. If you live along the coast stretching from North Carolina to Texas and in Southern California, you get a treat because its usually warm enough to really enjoy it. Check out a new park that your city or county has opened. But above all, get out and do it cheaply.
Many people spend countless hours inside once the holidays are over so getting some sun during the holiday break is important.
I rarely return gifts. I only had to return one wedding gift as it was a duplicate of something I already owned. I don't receive many gifts, and those I don't like or can't use I generally donate.
In my family, if something is purchased, we always include a gift receipt since the advent of these handy little items. We usually exchange 'gift suggestion' lists around the time of gifting holidays and that also helps. Family members who live far away are usually given a gift card at a store near their home! I've exchanged a sweater or two that my mother has given me, because, bless her heart, she thinks I am skinnier than I really am:) I have never re-gifted. I love every gift, because I know it was given with love and not obligation.
On our wedding in 1980, we received a set of bowls that I thought I didn't care for- yellow pyrex nesting glass bowls. I didn't know how to cook and thought they would only decorate my cabinets. 29 years later, I use them daily and have had jealous comments from friends about my 'awesome vintage bowls'. And yes, I have learned to be quite a good cook!
I believe I have read that Swine Flu is not transmitted by hand contact but in the air, by coughing or sneezing. Therefore, at least in this case, a handshake is not prohibited for any polite person.
The Arabic Student wrote: "It seems most of these posts are all about the past. Where are today's poor people posting how they get by?"
Plenty of people are writing about it, including the author of this post. But old-fashioned techniques work best. I've seen people bragging about how much they are saving with coupons, but they come out of the store with bags of junk like sugary cereals and other highly processed foods. You don't find too many coupons for apples or lentils.
-Hannah
I use Ooma. Works without having to have it connected to a pc, so it is functional 24/7. I don't like to have the pc on all the time (I imagine electric savings could be calculated from that, not to mention the reduced wear to the pc). You do however have to have broadband internet (same as magic jack). Downside: you have to purchase equipment (I paid $200 for the deluxe system and have seen this as low as $160 for the basic). After that there are no charges...ever (US only, significant lower costs for international calls. Works with cordless phones with satellites (cordless phone with charger base only). Had it six months and it works, no regrets as yet.
Please excuse my ignorance (I am not an economist), but why did they not decide to pay 80% of what they used to? The absolute values of the deductions would still be unequal, but "everyone by the same percentage" would be an argument much more easily "digested", thus avoiding the beating.
Spend $25 in the Amazon Toy Store, get a subscription to Parenting or a $10 refund.Recently I came to know that there is a website named AmazingWatcher.Com which is a free website that will “watch” items for you on Amazon and let you know when amazon has them in stock at regular retail price.It got so awesome!
Good luck everybody!
I am so involved when I GIVE a gift (finding out about the person what I need to know if I dont know it already and then searching for (what I deem to be) a PERFECT GIFT that:
1. If the person who gives me a gift cared enough to "know" about me and come to an informed decision about a gift I will keep it---knowing the time and effort it took to pick it out for me!
BUT
2. If the person who gives me a gift gives me something so off of
my personal radar---then I have no qualms about re-gifting or trying to return it! And I also, in this case, would even tell the person what I am doing. If they get angry or hurt--I will try and explain. If they are still upset--so be it! Then there wont be another useless (to me) gift I have to bother and exchange or return!
Do people really need suggestions? I have tons of non-shopping activities I do every week, every weekend! I have forever. Nothing special, I just don't like it. God, there are TONS of things to do. Sad if people do need this list. :(
Writing letters, though, IS something that people tend to forget, but it's great to get some snail mail every once in a while. :)
I frequently return gifts - off our wedding and now baby registries, a bunch of returned gifts that we sort of wanted bought us the big ticket items we really wanted.
Yeah, I have. It's ok to do, but not if the gift is from your mother. She WILL notice if you never seem to be wearing/using her gift. Lesson learned.
One of my favorite cheap parties. Just invite a few friends. Ask everyone to bring a finger food or drinks and pull out the board games.
Thanks for the comments! Always good to have more ideas in the repertoire. Happy holidays, everyone.
P.S. Anyone know why the stats just went from 9 tweets down to zero? Really strange. Oh well.
You can also follow me on Twitter and Trek Hound.
Here's a guide to easy furoshiki, which is my favorite way of wrapping gifts. I assume that if the package isn't too big, you could also use a really pretty vintage scarf. I also love gift boxes, like you mentioned. So useful.
From what I've seen the speed of your internet connection plays a big roll in how the Magic Jack functions. It also does not work if you're trying to use an older computer.
When I was a kid, friends and I used to go caroling every year around the holidays. I'm not religious, but I had so much fun going around the neighborhood and tormenting the neighbors with our off-pitch squawking. I wish more people did it now - the last few times I've opened the door for caroler's, they've been from a local church or youth group and they asked for a donation.
I never return gifts. I always accept them politely, and then find something else productive to do with them if I don't want them! I frequently regift things that are simply "not me" or that will end up as clutter in my house. Other things (like an unpleasant holiday sweater) I put to new uses, like dusters, pillowcases, or kindling.
I've read on many websites that Locks of Love is not everything people think. They graciously take the hair, but they don't give it away, they sell it at a hefty profit. The other one mentioned, well I haven't looked into them at all, but LoL should be avoided as far as I'm concerned. I'll cut my 20" hair off and throw it in the trash if it's not worthy enough to sell, but I'll NEVER give it to LoL.
I like to give gifts that are packaged in useful containers.
For high school graduations of kids going away to college, young bride wedding showers and house warming gifts, I package gifts in a plastic bucket with inexpensive dish towels in place of tissue paper. It makes for a unique and totally useable gift.
For first baby baby shower gifts, I regularly give a small tool box/bag with tools (useful for assembling baby gear, opening battery compartments, etc) and lots of assorted batteries. Along with a note explaining why I'm giving the new mom to be hand tools and batteries.
And for a variety of occasions, most recently a wedding shower, I've given games packaged in a large plastic tote destined to become the "games box". The box isn't filled up with games, as that allows for the inclusion of the current games' library and/or expansion (it helps if I know what games the person/couple has or enjoys so that I can select a tote that will fit those game boxes.
The presents may not be the most elegant, but they are unique, practical, useful and always much appreciated.
Hello Again,
I am Jay with Jay's Saving Your Money and I visited this website on Halloween and learned a great deal about how to earn extra cash from my old stuff.
I wanted to let you know that I did have a great experience with Gazelle and YourRenew. I was surprised when I got some cash for the junk in my kitchen drawer!
I wanted to say "Thanks", again.
Note to readers: The whole reason I am posting this comment is to give my statement as proof that you really can get cash for your old electronics!
How good it is that you suggest these activities to the busiest people in the world! Those are all no-cost beneficial things to do!
John DeFlumeri Jr
Dittos on the Brother 5100 C. It works! I used duct tape. It was a little hard to get the cartridge back in because of the thickness of the tape. I pushed it in to get an imprint, then stretched the tape where it needed to fit. Works great!
I'd add to these that getting out especially in the winter time is good and relaxing for you. Head to the mountains for some hiking or if you live near the beach, head there. Even if its 45 degrees out, the beach can be a great place to toss around a ball or a frisbee with few other people there. If you live along the coast stretching from North Carolina to Texas and in Southern California, you get a treat because its usually warm enough to really enjoy it. Check out a new park that your city or county has opened. But above all, get out and do it cheaply.
Many people spend countless hours inside once the holidays are over so getting some sun during the holiday break is important.
LiveCheap
I rarely return gifts. I only had to return one wedding gift as it was a duplicate of something I already owned. I don't receive many gifts, and those I don't like or can't use I generally donate.
In my family, if something is purchased, we always include a gift receipt since the advent of these handy little items. We usually exchange 'gift suggestion' lists around the time of gifting holidays and that also helps. Family members who live far away are usually given a gift card at a store near their home! I've exchanged a sweater or two that my mother has given me, because, bless her heart, she thinks I am skinnier than I really am:) I have never re-gifted. I love every gift, because I know it was given with love and not obligation.
On our wedding in 1980, we received a set of bowls that I thought I didn't care for- yellow pyrex nesting glass bowls. I didn't know how to cook and thought they would only decorate my cabinets. 29 years later, I use them daily and have had jealous comments from friends about my 'awesome vintage bowls'. And yes, I have learned to be quite a good cook!
I believe I have read that Swine Flu is not transmitted by hand contact but in the air, by coughing or sneezing. Therefore, at least in this case, a handshake is not prohibited for any polite person.
The Arabic Student wrote: "It seems most of these posts are all about the past. Where are today's poor people posting how they get by?"
Plenty of people are writing about it, including the author of this post. But old-fashioned techniques work best. I've seen people bragging about how much they are saving with coupons, but they come out of the store with bags of junk like sugary cereals and other highly processed foods. You don't find too many coupons for apples or lentils.
-Hannah
I use Ooma. Works without having to have it connected to a pc, so it is functional 24/7. I don't like to have the pc on all the time (I imagine electric savings could be calculated from that, not to mention the reduced wear to the pc). You do however have to have broadband internet (same as magic jack). Downside: you have to purchase equipment (I paid $200 for the deluxe system and have seen this as low as $160 for the basic). After that there are no charges...ever (US only, significant lower costs for international calls. Works with cordless phones with satellites (cordless phone with charger base only). Had it six months and it works, no regrets as yet.
Please excuse my ignorance (I am not an economist), but why did they not decide to pay 80% of what they used to? The absolute values of the deductions would still be unequal, but "everyone by the same percentage" would be an argument much more easily "digested", thus avoiding the beating.
Spend $25 in the Amazon Toy Store, get a subscription to Parenting or a $10 refund.Recently I came to know that there is a website named AmazingWatcher.Com which is a free website that will “watch” items for you on Amazon and let you know when amazon has them in stock at regular retail price.It got so awesome!
Good luck everybody!
this is really help full thanq u so much
read this blog and just wanna say thank you very much about this great idea! keep writing
I am so involved when I GIVE a gift (finding out about the person what I need to know if I dont know it already and then searching for (what I deem to be) a PERFECT GIFT that:
1. If the person who gives me a gift cared enough to "know" about me and come to an informed decision about a gift I will keep it---knowing the time and effort it took to pick it out for me!
BUT
2. If the person who gives me a gift gives me something so off of
my personal radar---then I have no qualms about re-gifting or trying to return it! And I also, in this case, would even tell the person what I am doing. If they get angry or hurt--I will try and explain. If they are still upset--so be it! Then there wont be another useless (to me) gift I have to bother and exchange or return!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!