Archive for the ‘gifts’ Category

Many Happy Returns?

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Picture this...It's bright and early on Christmas morning.  Santa has left bright, shining new bikes with matching coordinated helmets for the children.  The Christmas tree lights are glowing and soft, holiday music is playing in the background.  (It really could be a scene from a movie!) As the excited children ...

Priceless

Monday, December 24th, 2007

One way or another, Christmas shopping will come to an end today.  The last store will close; the last delivery truck will run; and the family gatherings will begin.  As the shopping ends and the giving begins, the "damage" to your wallet will have been done.  Before you start dealing ...

We Spend What We Want to Spend!

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

For several weeks, there have been lots of "doom and gloom" press reports regarding the state of the U.S. economy and consumers holiday spending...predictions of desperate retailers "hoping" that holiday sales will get and/or keep them in the "black" for the year; stories of mortgage troubles; evaluations of the subprime ...

Give Freely

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

One of the worst things that can happen to a holiday budget is "last minute" shopping.  As the number of shopping days dwindle, credit card balances grow!  Despite the commercial emphasis that has become Christmas, you don't have to go to the extreme (like not giving gifts AT ALL) to give gifts within ...

8 Great Money Gifts for Kids

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Money is a great gift for any occasion! It appeals to people of all ages and "fits" everyone.  There are times, however, when giving money to young people can be a little bit tricky.  Until kids are old enough to understand money, it may be better to give something other than ...

Gift or Gaffe? Interesting Gift Card Facts

Monday, December 3rd, 2007

On more Christmas mornings than not, everyone in my family opened a gift from my grandparents.  It always contained a money holder envelope from the bank and crisp, new bills.  Even though we knew the gift was coming, it was always fun to get it.  It was free money and we could ...

Setting a Holiday Budget

Monday, November 26th, 2007

For longer than I would like to admit, my holiday budgets have consisted of buying gifts now and figuring out how to pay for them later!  I have always STARTED my holiday shopping with specific spending limits in mind but I have not stayed within those limits very well.  Even ...

Will YOUR Account Be “In The Black” on Friday?

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

If you have managed to miss any of the "Black Friday" marketing efforts aimed at getting people in stores early and often on Friday, count yourself lucky!  That is not to say that their are not some good deals to be had but at what cost - dealing with crowds, ...

It’s All Cash For Christmas!

Monday, November 19th, 2007

For the first time in our 10 year marriage, my husband and I will purchase all of our Christmas gifts this year with cash.  There will not be any huge credit cards bills arriving in January and we will not have regrets about spending too much money (that we didn't ...

Go “Outside The Box” for Great Holiday Gifts

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Somewhere on almost every holiday shopping list, there is a name of someone that is difficult, if not impossible, to find appropriate gifts for.  Maybe they already have "everything".  Maybe they don't have hobbies or interests with associated gifts.  For these people (and anyone else), a little creativity and imagination ...