Decorating Strategies At Christmas

photo credit: macinate

With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to
ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well arranged and beautiful, and
not haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration,
along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing
decorative environment can be created in all homes.

Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or
entranceways and on a wall with unobstructed view. Garlands can be placed along
surface where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. And Christmas lights
can be used by itself or with garlands, in shrubs and of course on Christmas
trees.

Using Christmas lights outdoors along the frame of houses and icicle
shaped ones to decorate the roof lines of homes have become very popular. Icicle
lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very
pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light
displays can also make houses and the lighting display look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas
decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued but beautiful
manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at
least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, which is in a
vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to
use. There are electrical candles but also battery-operated ones that can be
used safely instead of electrical ones or in places where there aren't any
electrical outlets.

There are also creative ways to use and incorporate various items around
the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used
to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look and a
creative Christmas decoration. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up
for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants
to give porches, patios and front lawns a surprising Christmas decorative look.

Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore to stuff
Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations.
A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf or a wall
with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those
that are often seen in stores.

Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or
stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look. Mistletoe can also be hung just
about anywhere with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is
believed however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath where
two people can have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can also be
sprinkled on garlands, mistletoes and wreaths to further enhance their
appearance with something from the Christmas season.

And to borrow a decorative feature from department stores, several differently
sized boxes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner and placed in a corner
from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration.

Old Christmas cards can also be used for decoration by cutting pictures from
them to make a collage. The pictures are then glued onto a poster board that can
be framed or hung as is on a wall as Christmas decoration. Even Christmas cookie
cutters can be put to an easy, simple and creative use as a decorative item at
Christmas time. A ribbon can be used to string two or three or even single
cookie cutters that can be placed on the Christmas tree or at a window as
decorative ornaments.

Any home can therefore be decorated to be appealing for Christmas and the
holidays, given the many ideas and ways that Christmas decoration can be done.

Christmas in the United States and Canada

photo credit: gadl

Many of the celebrations in the United States that are associated with Christmas were traditions brought by German and English immigrants. Along with the well-known and practiced tradition of a brightly decorated Christmas tree, other traditions brought by these immigrants include Advent calendars, Christmas greeting cards, gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies.

Christmas in the United States today can be seen as focused around family, travel, shopping and decorations.

Family and travel go together during Christmas in the United States because family members often have to travel fairly long distances to be with each other at one location. The growth of cities that have primarily economic activity, suburbs for residences, as well as the fact of different industries being found in certain geographic locations, are among the reasons that family members often live great distances from each other in separate states.

Christmas and its festivities therefore present a wonderful opportunity for many members of the family to gather in celebration and see each other in an intimate setting. The traveling involved makes the Christmas season a busy time of the year for rail and air travel.

The occasion of seeing many family members at Christmas is also linked to the activity of shopping that is an important feature of Christmas in the United States. The Christmas season officially begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday and which now ranks second in shopping for a single day to the Saturday before Christmas.

Much of the shopping that is done is to purchase gifts for friends and family. Gifts for family members are usually exchanged after dinner on Christmas day, when everyone gathers in the room with the Christmas tree. Gifts are usually left at the base of the Christmas tree in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Gifts may also exchanged before Christmas at parties held by friends and parties held at workplaces.

Second to gifts, shopping is also done at Christmas for decorations. While the Christmas tree may be the centerpiece of attraction, garlands, wreaths, candles and decorative lighting placed outside on lawns or along rooflines are also used to create a beautiful holiday appearance for homes.

Canadians enjoy Christmas activities that are similar to those celebrated in the United States. That is so because in the 1700s when some German immigrants in the United States migrated to Canada, they continued to practice many of the activities associated with Christmas. The geographical proximity of the two countries also means they share many things, so similarities in Christmas traditions wouldn't be an exception.

One thing that accounts for the difference between the two countries however, is the Eskimo population in Canada. Eskimos in Canada celebrate a festival during winter and have other traditions that are absent from American Christmas celebrations.

A practice also exists in Nova Scotia in which small groups of masked individuals march around about two weeks before Christmas. These masked groups attract attention by creating stir with much bell ringing and engaging in a noisy caper in an aim to get candy, sweets and goodies from onlookers.

This tradition bears some similarity to Jonkonoo celebrations in the neighboring islands of the Caribbean. Those celebrations also involve masked individuals, including some that appear on stilts that make them as tall as trees. The parade of Jonkonoo regale onlookers with various antics and present a minor scare to some children, who are then calmed with candies and other treats.

In Nova Scotia, onlookers can try to calm the noise and rowdiness just a little if they can correctly guess the identity of the masked person. A correct guess puts an end to the noise as the mask is removed, exposing the individual. For their part, maskers also play nice by friendly nudging answers from children about whether they have been naughty or nice and handing out candies and treats accordingly.

Different Types of Christmas Trees

photo credit: kevindooley

The tradition of Christmas trees in America came from German immigrants who had settled in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the tradition of Christmas trees started in Germany from as early as 700 A.D and was practiced by many Germans in the 1800s. It's also since that period that Christmas trees have also been available for sale in the United States. While artificial Christmas trees are popular, many people like to have a fresh Christmas tree in their homes, or outside on their lawns. And similar to all other trees, Christmas trees also have different shapes and qualities that make some types more popular than others.

Along with other decorative Christmas items such as wreaths and garlands, having a Christmas tree in your home is very essential in creating a special atmosphere for the season. It is believed that Christmas trees have been available for sale in America since the 1800s, which is about the same time that the former Woolworth's department store started selling ready-made ornaments for Christmas trees.

Choosing the right type of Christmas tree is important because
Christmas trees are often a focal point for many family activities and traditions. Given the many types of Christmas trees that are available, it is important to think about how the tree will be used. While a tall tree may look very elegant, it may not be suitable if there aren't many adults around who can reach the tree's heights. And a very short tree may be dwarfed by other furniture in the room. It's therefore very important to carefully consider and get a tree that has a suitable height and also one that has sturdy branches to hold heavy ornaments.

Artificial and real Christmas trees can often be bought from the same retail stores these days as local businesses and retail chain stores often sell both types of trees. The best place to get a real and fresh Christmas tree, and also to see a wide variety, is likely a Christmas tree farm however. Using modern technology, both types of trees can also be obtained through online transactions, via telephone as well as by mail-order through catalogs.

Among Christmas trees there are certain types that are always favorites and which are bestsellers. These include: Douglas, Fraser, Noble and Balsam firs, and Scotch, Virginia and white pine trees.

These evergreen trees all have all have one or more excellent features related to shape, color or sheen and fragrance, which makes them favorites for Christmas trees.

The most favorite Christmas trees basically have a pyramid or cone shape. A pyramid-shaped tree is likely taller and has somewhat of an elegant look. Douglas Fir, which ranks first among Christmas tree favorites, is an example of a pyramid-shaped tree. Other examples are Fraser, Balsam and Noble firs.

A cone shape tree tends to be short with dense branches, which makes them excellent for holding many ornaments and other decorations. Families that have a strong tradition of making their own ornaments, or putting mememtos on Christmas trees may consider a cone-shaped tree. Virginia and Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce and the Eastern White Pine all have cone shapes.

Another feature that makes Christmas trees appealing is their color. While all trees have a green appearance, a closer look at their needles will reveal differences such as a bright or dark-green, blue-green or yellowish-green hue. The needles may also emit a silvery sheen with the right lighting. Fraser and Noble firs both have needles with a silvery sheen, and the branches of both trees are also used for garlands and wreaths.

Most people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its fragrance, which can be fairly strong or just subtle, giving off just enough of awhiff of scent. Douglas Fir, which is the most popular Christmas tree in homes and public places, is a very fragrant tree. The Balsam fir is also fairly fragrant. The Eastern White Pine is however, a tree that doesn't have much fragrance.

Whether you have a favorite type of Christmas tree or will choose one from its appearance, there are many choices to satisfy the desire to have a fragrant and well-decorated tree for Christmas.

6 Great Online Christmas Shopping Tips

photo credit: Fosforix

Christmas shopping is no longer confined to the local mall or an annual catalog that happens to find it‘s way into your mailbox. Thanks to advanced technology, there is literally a whole world of shopping at your fingertips. The internet has revolutionized the way people shop and, besides, what better way to do your Christmas shopping than from the comfort of your own home. No longer must we suit up and weather the harsh winter days in the hopes of checking a few names off of our Christmas list. The store aisles, as we know them, are crowded and hectic.

But now, many store aisles are becoming virtual, a shopping cart is something you fill with images of a product and a checkout is something that you click on to confirm your order. Things have changed a lot in the past years and I wonder how many of us couldn’t even imagine what life would be like without the convenience of shopping on the internet. There are several tips for online Christmas shopping, which can make the experience a smooth and pleasant one.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Be prepared

It’s a good idea to start your shopping with a complete list. This will save you both time and money with having to go back and place a separate order later on. With most online stores, you pay a flat shipping fee. In some cases, if you spend a certain amount of money on your order, the shipping and handling fee is waived. It’s always best to get everything you want, all at once, to save on shipping. Before you commit to buying from one store, shop around and compare prices on both the product and shipping.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #2: The early bird gets the gift

If you want to get the best selection, begin your holiday shopping early. Internet stores generally carry large quantities of every item, but even they can sell out. As Christmas draws near, it becomes more difficult to find the exact item that you’re looking for. There’s nothing like finding the perfect item and seeing the words, ‘Sold Out’ written under the price.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #3: Shop Safe

When ordering anything online, check product reviews if available. Always shop secured websites because you will be entering your credit card, or banking information, for payment. You don’t want your financial information accessed by anyone else, which is why all secured websites let you know how they protect your data.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #4: Wrap it up

If you’re like most, there’s not a lot of extra time around the holidays. If you need to save some time on wrapping, most online stores offer a gift wrapping service for a small fee. At some point during the ordering process, you may be asked if you would like to add gift wrap or a name tag. It’s as easy as the click of a button, which is much easier than trying to tie the perfect bow.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #5: Check Delivery Dates

When placing your order, check to make sure that the item is in stock or will be delivered in time for Christmas. Many times, especially near the holidays, items will go on a backorder status. It’s not uncommon for an advanced order item to have a delivery date of January, so be sure to check the status of the items in your shopping cart, along with their expected delivery dates. Not only that, but it’s also a good idea to check on the company’s shipping policy and delivery time for in-stock items.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #6: Christmas Cards?

With all the stuff going on in December it's easy to forget to send out Christmas cards to family and friends. But if you forget to send traditional Christmas cards in time all is not lost. In fact, there are some great sites and services online that will send your christmas cards out for you (saving you precious time). You can find services that are both free and paid, and services that send both digital and tradition paper Christmas cards.

Christmas - Giving Is A Blessing

photo credit: Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)

Christmas brings a new life to the believers. Much before Christmas comes, the mood around the world changes. It is the anticipation of lovely days ahead of giving joy, meeting friends and family and feeling the spirit in the air that changes the most negative person to positive moods. Chistmas makes a person different. The same man, who you never see smiling, laughs during Christmas. That is the festive spirit of Christmas and that is why it is a lovely festival.

The most important part of Christmas is of course celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Another ritual of Christmas that makes it so special is giving. We send so many cards to friends and family that we lose the count. Similarly giving gifts is very important. Selecting the right gift for everyone, wrapping it lovingly and sending it across, all this is joyful. This joy cannot be described in words.

As I said earlier, it is the giving that is the major reason of happiness. If we look at our moods and behavior, we find that we always derive greater joy in giving compared to receiving. Can we not celebrate this spirit of giving everyday? Can we not get this joy everyday? Can we not make someone happy everyday? We can. With conscious effort, we can do one act a day that makes somebody genuinely happy. Why not carry the spirit of Christmas all the year and enjoy the happiness of giving. One is blessed when one gives. Let us get these blessings round the year.

Organize Your Christmas Shopping

photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

Grab a notebook. Grab a pen. It's time to get serious about your Christmas shopping by making your list (and checking it twice).

Make a list of the people you'll be buying for this year. Leave space between each person’s name. Now go back through the list and write down gift ideas and a rough dollar amount you’re willing to spend on each person.

Example:

1. Aunt Fran - Collects lighthouses, loves golf - $30.00

2. Beth - Candles, bath and body products - $20.00

3. Joe - Something for his new truck, loves fishing - $50.00

Bring your notebook shopping with you. It will help you to stay focused on who you need to shop for, a general idea of what you're looking for and your price range. Making a detailed list like this will prove invaluable in keeping you organized and on budget with your Christmas shopping. As you shop, cross off each person on your list. Be sure to keep an eye open for bargains and grab a few extra gifts - there's always that visitor that shows up that you didn't anticipate.

Set holiday shopping goals for yourself and jot them down in your notebook.

1. I will have all cards in the mail by December 10th.

2. All of my major shopping will be done by December 15th.

3. I will not go over budget!

Making lists and setting goals for yourself this holiday will save you time and stress and allow you to enjoy the season for what it really is. If you haven't started your shopping, start now. It's not too late to get on track. The first step is starting your notebook, making your list and getting a plan of action.

After the holidays, store your notebook away somewhere (perhaps with your decorations). It will serve as a great reference when you're ready to start your shopping next year.

Happy Holidays, Happy Shopping...and by keeping a Holiday Notebook - Happy You!

Twelve Things You Never Knew About Christmas

photo credit: kermitfrog

1. Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree.

2. Workers in the construction industry are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the early 1930s.

3. Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family.

4. The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.

5. Plastic became the primary material used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited because lead was used in the manufacturing process.

6. The idea of Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German immigrant. The idea of sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10 years later when new postal delivery services started.

7. The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.

8. According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and it wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes.

9. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be about collecting money in
clay boxes. Another thought is that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about 800 years ago, when churches would open their 'alms boxes' and distribute the contents to poor people on the day after Christmas. Alms boxes
are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet another belief is that it comes from a custom of masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after Christmas.

10. Evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people, particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient peoples would hang evergreen branches over their doors and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green plants that would grow with the return of summer and the sun god being strong again.

11. In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign that the
son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health.

12. Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the country's new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to observe and take part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were barred in Boston earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or activity related to Christmas. Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.

6 Christmas Shopping Tips You Must Know

photo credit: mysza831

There are a variety of opportunities for holiday shoppers, including stores, catalogs and the internet. Below are 6 Christmas Shopping tips that should:

Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Shop Early

If you’re heading out to the mall this year, have your shopping list ready. It’s a good idea to shop early in the season because, if you wait too long, that perfect gift may already be under someone else’s tree.

Christmas Shopping Tip #2: Be Polite

Always remember to be polite. The holidays are extremely busy and store employees are working overtime, so be patient as you wait for assistance.

Christmas Shopping Tip #3: Layaway

If you have a big list, but not quite a budget to match, consider a layaway. Many stores offer a convenient layaway plan, which would allow you to make payments up until Christmas. It saves you from having to charge up credit card bills or spend a lot of pocket money all at once, so consider a layaway if you have a big shopping list.

Christmas Shopping Tip #4: Shop Online

If you do decide to shop on the information superhighway this year, it will save you a lot of time standing in line at the mall. You can literally shop worldwide with the click of a button. Browse photos, compare prices, read customer reviews and see a huge variety of products without having to leave home. Best of all, in some cases, you won’t even have to pay sales tax on internet orders. Some stores offer free shipping, quantity discounts and all kids of other incentives to lure you into their site. In addition, several televised shopping networks have websites in which they offer an easy payment program on select items. This means that you make one payment, using a credit/debit card, and the product ships out to you immediately. The remaining payments are billed to your credit card, until the item is paid in full, for the specified number of months.

Christmas Shopping Tip #5: Place Your Catalog Orders Early

If you’re shopping from a catalog this year, be sure to place the order early. The most popular items sell out first, so get your order placed and on its way as soon as possible. There’s no need to wait for a catalog to arrive in the mail because you can log on to the internet and find many catalog companies online with product photos, descriptions, size charts and special ‘internet only’ sale prices.

Christmas Shopping Tip #6: Buy in Bulk

If you have a lot of people to buy for, and aren’t exactly certain of their taste, consider buying in bulk. You can purchase a nice package of scented candles, divide them up into multiple gifts and present them with a beautiful bow wrapped around the glass jar. These types of gifts are ideal if you have teachers, doctors, co-workers or other special people that you want to wish a Merry Christmas. Another terrific idea is to purchase small Christmas tins and several bags of assorted miniature candies. Divide the candies up into each tin and present them with a beautiful bow on top. These are ideal gifts because they are thoughtful, but also budget conscious. You can purchase a pre-designed tin similar to the one described, but you will get a much better deal if you make your own. As an added bonus, you get to decide which candy to include, which isn’t always the case with pre-packaged gifts.

Happy shopping!

Decorating Your Lawn for Christmas without Going Overboard

photo credit: Sister72

When many of us think of outdoor Christmas decorations, yard signs and inflatable Christmas characters often come to mind. While many homeowners do choose to decorate their homes with inflatable Christmas characters and yard signs, there are others who feel that those types of outdoor Christmas decorations are too extreme. If you would like to decorate your lawn for Christmas, without shoving your Christmas spirit down your neighbor’s throat, you can. There are a number of outdoor Christmas decorations designed for individuals just like you.

One of the best ways to go about decorating your lawn for Christmas, without going overboard, is to replace the items that you already have in your yard. You will want to make those replacements be ones that have a Christmas theme. For instance, if you have a number of potted plants or flowers out in your yard, there is a good chance that they are in a traditional flower pot. Did you know that you can purchase Christmas planters? Christmas planters are just like the planters that you may be using now, but they often have a Christmas or a holiday theme to them. You should be able to find Christmas planters that come in Christmas colors or ones that have Christmas designs, such as Santa or snowflakes. Christmas planters are an easy way to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays.

If you are a homeowner who has trees in your yard, there is a good chance that you have a birdhouse in at least one of those trees. Did you know that you can buy Christmas themed birdhouses? For the holiday season, you could easily replace your traditional birdhouse with one that has a Christmas theme. Christmas birdhouses come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Popular birdhouse shapes includes those that are shaped as churches, but it is also possible to find birdhouses that are shaped like snow sleds or something else similar in nature. Christmas birdhouses are another easy way that you can bring a little bit of Christmas spirit to your front or backyard.

Another way that you can quietly, but effectively decorate your front yard for Christmas is by purchasing Christmas stepping stones. Christmas stepping stones look great in any yard or along any walkway. As with most other outdoor Christmas decorations, Christmas stepping stones also come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Regardless of the size and shape of each stepping stone, you will find that most come with a Christmas or holiday design. It is not uncommon to find Christmas stepping stones that are decorated with snowflakes or Christmas trees. Depending on where you are shopping, additional designs may also be available.

As beautiful as Christmas birdhouses, planters, and stepping stones are, they are items that often go unnoticed or un-purchased. For that reason, it may be a little bit difficult for you to find the above mentioned Christmas decorations in one of your local retail stores. It may be possible to purchase these amazing, but unique outdoor Christmas decorations from a specialty Christmas shop, but for the largest selection of outdoor Christmas decorations, you are advised to shop online. You can easily find a number of retailers that specialize in selling the above mentioned outdoor Christmas decorations by performing a standard internet search.

Why You Should Let Your Kids Decorate Your Home for Christmas

photo credit: KB35

Are you a parent? If so, are you children looking forward to Christmas this year? Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, there is a good chance that they are excited with what Christmas may bring. In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, you will find that their excitement just keeps on building. To hang on to that excitement, you may want to think about decorating your home for Christmas. Decorating your home for Christmas is a great way to keep your children’s excitement going strong until Christmas does finally arrive.

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, you will find that you have a number of different options. Your first impulse may be to decorate your home on your own, but you may want to think about letting your children help you. You will find that there are, literally, an unlimited number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate for Christmas, no matter how young or old they are.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate your home for Christmas, no matter what their age. Despite the fact that children of all ages could benefit from helping you decorate for Christmas, there are some children who could benefit more than others. For instance, young children, especially toddlers, are in the learning stages of their life. This stage is where children can benefit the most from a small amount of responsibility and encouragement. Encouraging your children to help you decorate for Christmas, by hanging up pictures or by completing another small task, you could be encouraging them to use their mind, their imagination, and their decorating skills!

Perhaps, the best way to go about decorating your home for Christmas is together. Unfortunately, in today’s world families don’t get to spend as much time with each other as they should. That is one of the reasons why Christmas is so important; it is one of the times when all families get to come together. Instead of decorating for Christmas by yourself or letting your children do it all, you all should decorate for Christmas. In addition to helping build up the Christmas spirit, decorating for Christmas as a family is one of the best ways to spending well needed bonding time together.

The best part of decorating, for your kids, may be the actual decorating process, but there is something else that your kids may also enjoy. They may also enjoy helping you pick out Christmas decorations. By taking your kids with you to the store, they could easily help you pick out Christmas decorations. If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, you are advised to visit your local dollar store or department store. These stores usually have low-cost Christmas decorations, many of which will appeal to children. If, by some chance, you can’t find the decorations that you or your children were looking for, you could easily make their own Christmas decorations. In fact, making homemade Christmas decorations is another fun experience, all on its own.

Regardless of whether or not you ask your children for assistance, when decorating your home for Christmas, you are urged to decorate. For children, Christmas decorations help to keep them excited about the upcoming holiday. That is why Christmas decorations are an important part of the holiday season.

Money At Christmas - Surviving The Festive Period Without A New Year Financial Hangover

photo credit: hlkljgk

Money always seems to be tight. Every year at Christmas the financial situation always seems to get worse. Increased electricity and heating bills to pay, expensive party food to purchase, presents to buy, travel costs to visit relatives, the list seems to be endless, while finances are certainly not. It is the season to be jolly, whilst trying to forget the long-term costs which will emerge in the New Year.

What can be done to reduce the New Year financial hangover?

Firstly, ensure your incoming finances are being maximised.

If you are in work, is there any part time or freelance work that you can do? Often jobs such as supermarket shelf stacking can be made to fit in around other commitments, while websites such as Dobiz ( http://www.dobiz.net ) have started springing up to get freelancers and businesses together. Selling on eBay or simply returning unwanted gifts can help recover some of your own expenditure.

If you are not working, then obtaining a job is the most important thing to do. Use the facilities that are available. The Jobcentre can provide some help, but it is frequently better to sign up with several agencies who specialise in your own area of expertise. A quick geographically based Google search will normally locate appropriate organisation in your area. As well as using specialist agencies, it is always a good idea to sign up to a couple of general agencies in order to get some form of temporary work, as these can often provide short or long term contracts to keep your finances above water, and they can be given up without much of a period of notice and they look better on a CV than a period without any work at all. If you need help with CV’s or interviews, then internet searches can provide many sites that will be able to help, like Capita ( http://www.capitapd.co.uk ) or Jobseekersadvice ( http://www.jobseekersadvice.com ).

Regardless of your employment situation, you also need to maximise the money you have already. If you are using store cards to make your purchases, don’t. Unless you always pay off the entire balance every month, you will be paying more than you have to. Store cards usually have a very high rate of interest, and you should be able to get a much better rate if you use a credit card. If you are using a credit card to make most of your purchases, what is the APR of that card, and could you get a better rate? Many credit cards currently offer introductory 0% transfer rates, and the increased competition to handle your finances is leading to lower APRs all round. If you have a loan, could you get a better deal? Are you getting the best return on your investments? Comparison websites like Moneynet ( http:www.//moneynet.co.uk ) or Fool ( http://www.fool.co.uk ) are there to enable you to check these details for free, quickly and easily, in order to make your money work for you.

The next thing to do is to try to reduce your outgoings. Budgeting is a good way to reduce costs. By highlighting how much your regular incoming and outgoings are, it is often easy to spot areas that can make huge differences. Most people find that instead of having very little money to spend each month, they are actually frittering away small amounts all the time. This pattern of small spending rapidly mounts up, and can leave little left over to spend on the things that you feel are really worthwhile. Keeping a daily record of your spending is a simple step to take but it can also show where important cuts can be made.

Other ways to reduce costs at Christmas include recycling last year’s decorations, only buying food that will be eaten, rather than obtaining large quantities that will end up being thrown away. Do most of your shopping online to save money on presents. Due to the lower costs of running a shop online, the price of goods can be considerably lower than in the High Street. Sites such as Kelkoo ( http://www.Kelkoo.co.uk ) and Pricerunner ( http://www.pricerunner.co.uk ) enable you to compare prices from various suppliers and find the cheapest. Even if you prefer to buy on the High Street it can still be worth going armed with prices from these sites as many High Street shops will discount if they know they are beaten on price.

If you don’t win the lottery in the New Year and still feel that things have got out of control then you need to seek advice from one of the free advice organisations that are set up to help. The National Debtline ( http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk ) and the Foundation for Credit Counselling ( http://www.cccs.co.uk ) are two non-profit making charities that can help with guides and free personal advice.

Regardless of whether you are trying not to shed those few extra pounds, or recover from debt problems, a few small actions like this can make a large difference to your New Year.

Disclaimer:
All information contained in this article, is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as advice under the Financial Services Act 1986.

You are strongly advised to take appropriate professional and legal advice before entering into any binding contracts.

Christmas Decoration Ideas for Kids

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

Are you a parent? If so, there is a good chance that you already know just how much kids love the holidays. That is why you may want to think about letting your children help you decorate for Christmas. In fact, in addition to just letting them help you hang Christmas decorations, you may also want to let them make their own handmade Christmas decorations. Not only will you find that there are a number of benefits to doing so, but you will also find that there are a number of fun and exciting Christmas decorations that they can easily make.

Almost every family that celebrates Christmas has a Christmas tree; therefore, there is a good chance that your family will have one. One fun and exciting Christmas craft project that your children could do involves making their own Christmas ornaments. Christmas ornaments can be made from regular paper or any other type of material. In fact, you can purchase a number of Christmas ornament cutouts or guides from your local craft store. These ornament pieces are likely plain, but already shaped like something, such as a star or a cross. It would be up to your child to paint their ornament. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is great for small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time.

In addition to Christmas trees, a large number of families have small Christmas signs or pictures throughout their home. These signs and pictures often state a Christmas message or have a picture of Santa. Your children could easily make their own paintings or drawings, often with the supplies that can already be found inside your home. Your child’s picture would likely look great on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere else inside your home. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is ideal for children of any age and, as previously mentioned, is a great way to save money since you likely already have all of the needed supplies.

Another fun Christmas decoration that your children could do is make a centerpiece for your dinning room table. In fact, you may also want to use that centerpiece for your Christmas dinner. If you are looking for a somewhat elegant centerpiece, you could easily have your children make their own. You can do this by purchasing artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, as well as other decorative items. Your children can easily arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dinning room table. It may also be a good idea to let them be crafty. Your child may also be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper and a few other small supplies.

The above mentioned Christmas craft decoration ideas for kids are just a few of the many that exist. In addition to using your own craft ideas, you can also find a number of other fun Christmas craft projects for kids online. You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard internet search. Also, in your local library or at one of your local book stores, you may also be able to find a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as give detailed directions on how to make Christmas decorations. These decorations may include Christmas drawings or paintings, tree ornaments, table centerpieces, and much more.

Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if you participate as well. For a child, there is nothing like seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree. That is why you are advised to let your children make their own Christmas decorations. As mentioned above, there are a number of decorations that they can easily create; decorations that may require little time and money.

How Not To Blow Your Budget This Christmas

photo credit: WTL photos

Every year thousands of families make a fresh decision to start living by a budget. They set up accounts on their home computer, begin to track everything they spend and set limits designed to help them save more and spend less.

Gwen Mathews is the Mother/Chief Accountant in one of these new budget conscious families. She and her husband Pete set up some ambitious financial plans with the goal of paying off their credit card debt. They split their family income up into categories and were doing just great. That is until the holiday season came along.

As Gwen scanned the family Christmas list she realized that the ‘gift giving category’ her and Pete had agreed to early in the year wasn’t going to cut it.

Pete, Gwen and their three children sat down after dinner that night and laid out the situation. Christmas was a month away and the budget was clearly not going to buy the family the kind of presents that they were used to. They needed to make some decision together as a family. What did they want more? Expensive Christmas gifts or a shrunken credit card balance?

The secret to keeping a budget during the holidays is to:

A. Have a clear vision of your priorities. Remind yourself and your entire family of the reasons you had for getting on a budget in the first place.

B. Make a complete gift shopping list and then prioritize it according to your relationship with that person. Immediate family comes first, extended family, friends, co-workers, etc. Start at the bottom and cross off any names that absolutely don’t need to be there – then assign a portion of your budget to each of the remaining names.

C. Get creative with your gift giving. A day in the kitchen with the oven at 350 degrees will take care of a lot of people on your shopping list. A plate of home made Christmas cookies is a welcome and touching gift.

D. Give up keeping up with the neighbors. The surest path to a blown budget is to start comparing what you’re doing with what someone else is doing. Remember, they’ll likely be crying come January.

E. Don’t start shopping too early. Many a Mom has spent their entire holiday budget before Thanksgiving thinking she’s a smart cookie to get it all out of the way. Then the Christmas sales kick in and she’s kicking herself and thinking ‘Well I can spend just a little bit more can’t I?”.

F. Final rule: No impulse buying. If someone gives you an unexpected gift, it doesn’t mean you have to run out and buy them something – that’s what 'Thank You' is for.

By keeping their goals in mind and recruiting the support of their children, Pete and Gwen survived the holidays within their budget. As their gift to each other they wrote an extra payment to the credit card company. If they keep that up, they’ll be celebrating a debt free Christmas next year.

Christmas Shopping the Day after Thanksgiving

photo credit: joiseyshowaa

The day after Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Black Friday”. This day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the years and for many signifies the first day of Christmas shopping. While the term black Friday was originally used to represent the day in which retailers returned to profitability many who work in the retail industry use this term as a way to describe the crowds and chaos which accompany Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Likewise consumers expect significant sales to go along with the large crowds which flock to stores.

For many shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is a tradition which wouldn’t be missed for the world. These individuals look forward to the sales and starting their shopping as a way to get into the Christmas spirit. These individuals can be counted on to arrive before the malls and shopping centers even open to get a great parking spot, to make multiple trips to their cars to drop off packages before returning to the shopping area to make more purchases and to almost literally shop until they drop. These are the individuals retailers count on each year to boost their quarterly earnings and to help them report profitability for the year.

Those who enjoy Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving feel this way for a number of different reasons. Some enjoy shopping on this day for the tremendous sales which are inevitable. Still others enjoy shopping on this day because they like to take things one season as a time and figure now that Thanksgiving is over; it is time to start focusing on Christmas. There are even others who like shopping on this day for the excellent people watching opportunity the day presents. Whether or not they get any actual shopping done these individuals flock to shopping malls on the day after Thanksgiving because they know there will be tons of other shoppers to observe. Finally there are those who start their Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving because of a sense of tradition. It is these individuals who have simply always started their Christmas shopping on this day out of habit. Their parents probably started Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving and they simply learned this is the day to start Christmas shopping. They will also likely pass on the habit to their own children.

Conversely there are other shoppers who absolutely refuse to step foot inside a mall or shopping center on the day after Thanksgiving. For these shoppers trying to get any shopping done on this day is near impossible. They are willing to sacrifice the opportunity to buy some items as gifts at excellent sale prices just to avoid the throng of shoppers who swarm the stores on this one particular day. However, it is important to not that just because these shoppers avoid shopping areas on the day after Thanksgiving does not mean they don’t enjoy great sale prices on the Christmas gifts they purchase. These shoppers may take advantage of sales throughout the year to accomplish their Christmas shopping within their set budget.

There are still others who typically do not do any shopping on the day after Thanksgiving but these individuals do not necessarily avoid the malls and shopping areas on this day either. There are many people who enjoy taking a trip to the local mall or shopping center on the day after Thanksgiving just to enjoy the hustle and bustle the day presents. For these people just walking around and experiencing the excitement around them helps to put them into the holiday spirit.

Whether you are an early Christmas shopper, a last minute Christmas shopper or just a people watcher, you likely understand it is appropriate to expect large crowds in malls and shopping centers on the day after Thanksgiving. It is up to you to decide whether or not you choose to join the shoppers on this hectic day.

Low-Cost Christmas Decorations

photo credit: laffy4k

Are you planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year? If so, have you completed the first step? When it comes to decorating for Christmas, the first step is getting the decorations. Unfortunately, in today’s world, many families are finding it difficult to afford “extras,” including Christmas decorations. However, there is good news. If you are on a budget, there are still a number of different ways that you can get your home decorated for Christmas. You can do so with low-cost Christmas decorations.

When it comes to low-cost Christmas decorations, it is important to remember that different people associate low-cost with different things. Just because you think a particular Christmas decoration is low-cost doesn’t necessarily mean that someone else will. For some individuals, a low-cost Christmas decoration is an item that only costs one dollar, for others it is five, and for others it can be fifty dollars. That is why it is important, when looking for low-cost Christmas decorations, that you keep this in mind. However, no matter what your view of low-cost is, there are still a number of different ways that you can go about decorating for Christmas.

Perhaps, the easiest way to save money while decorating for Christmas is to not buy any Christmas decorations. If you decorated your home for Christmas last year or in recent years, did you save your old Christmas decorations? If you did save your old Christmas decorations, you may want to think about using them again this year. Although it may be nice to have brand new Christmas decorations, they are not required. Not only can you save money by using your old Christmas decorations, but you might not have to spend any extra money at all!

In addition to using your own used Christmas decorations, you may want to think about using other people’s old Christmas decorations. During the summer and sometimes during the early fall, you may be able find local yard sales. Yard sales are a great place to get used Christmas decorations for an affordable price. If you are unable to find a yard sale, you can also purchase used Christmas decorations online. You can easily find a collection of used and sometimes even deeply discounted new Christmas decorations by doing your shopping on an online auction website.

Although you can save a fairly large amount of money by buying used Christmas decorations, as previously mentioned, there is a good chance that you want new ones. If this is the case, you still have a number of different options. You should check your local dollar stores, discount stores, and even department stores. Many of these stores, around Christmastime, have a large selection of Christmas decorations, at an affordable price. If you are looking to save the most money, it may be a good idea to visit your local dollar stores. Some dollar stores sell really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar and sometimes even less.

It might even be possible for you to make your own Christmas decorations, with items that you already have inside your house. In fact, this is how you can turn your old Christmas decorations into new ones. Simply by altering your existing decorations in one way or another, for instance by adding a bow, you could make your old Christmas decorations like new. You can also take a simple candleholder and turn it into a Christmas candleholder with a little bit of creativity. The same can be said for a number of other items that you likely already have inside your home. This is another way that you could avoid spending any money on Christmas decorations.

As you can easily see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about finding or making your own low-cost Christmas directions. Although you may be worried about the quality of those decorations, you shouldn’t be. Most times, it isn’t necessarily about the Christmas decorations themselves, but they way that they are presented or arranged.

Decorating Your Christmas Tree

photo credit: gadl

As the Christmas holiday season starts to approach, a large number of individuals and families start decorating for Christmas. While just about anything in the home can be decorated, a large amount of focus is placed on the Christmas tree. Since there is a good chance that you may want to purchase a Christmas tree this year, you may be wondering about your decorating options.

Perhaps, the most common Christmas decoration used on a Christmas tree is lights. Christmas lights are a small set of lights that tend to be multicolored or white, although different color combinations can be purchased. A large number of Christmas tree owners use Christmas lights to decorate their Christmas trees. What is nice about Christmas lights is that you have options when using them. Depending on the type of Christmas lights you use, if you choose to use them at all, you may be able to set your lights to sing a Christmas tune or flash in a certain pattern.

Aside from Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments are another one of the most commonly used Christmas decorations, for Christmas trees. Christmas ornaments come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. On average, most Christmas ornaments are in the shape of a ball. They are typically colored red, green, silver, or gold; however, many Christmas ball ornaments also come designed with unique messages or Christmas symbols. Christmas ornaments are most commonly hung from Christmas tree branches using ornament hooks, yarn, or thread.

Christmas tree toppers are another item that can regularly be found on a Christmas tree. While Christmas tree toppers, like all other Christmas decorations, come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes, and styles, they are most commonly sold as angels. Despite the fact that most Christmas tree toppers are in the form on an angel, other popular toppers include stars, crosses, and Santas. In addition to coming in different sizes, you will find that many Christmas tree toppers are designed to light up, with Christmas lights, and some may even play a musical Christmas tune.

In addition to Christmas tree toppers, Christmas lights, and Christmas ornaments, garland is also used on many Christmas trees. In fact, it is sometimes rare to find a decorated Christmas tree that does not have garland on it. Garland, when used to decorate a Christmas tree, is often intertwined with Christmas lights. Christmas garland also comes in a number of different styles. Popular garland styles include floral garland and beaded garland. It is also possible to find pre-light garland. Pre-light garland is garland that has Christmas lights attached to it already. The main purpose of pre-light garland is to reduce the amount of time it takes to decorate a Christmas tree.

If you are interested in decorating your Christmas tree with Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree toppers, or garland, you may need to purchase these items, unless you are using your decorations from last Christmas. Since all of the previously mentioned Christmas decorations are widely used on Christmas trees, you should be able to find these items from a large number of retailers, both on and offline. For affordable Christmas decorations, you are urged to check your local dollar stores, discount stores, or department stores. For the largest selection of Christmas tree decorations, you are urged to shop online or at a local specialty Christmas shop.

Christmas Holiday Shopping Online: 5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Online Shopping Experience

photo credit: C.S. 2.0

Christmas is just around the corner and many people are turning to the internet for their Christmas Holiday Shopping to save time, money, gas, and avoid the crowds. Can a good deal really be found online? Is it safe to purchase online? Where are the best places to shop online? Keep reading for some tips to make your holiday shopping online a little easier.

Great deals on the net…

Can a good deal be found online? Most definitely yes! Most large retailers have an online store and many run internet only specials, that translates into savings for you. Many stores are only found online as the cost to run an online store is less expensive than a brick and mortar store. Since these stores don't have the high overhead they can provide some great deals that will only be found online. Price isn't the only factor to consider when shopping for an item though. When searching for that special gift you will have a greater selection online and you won't have to travel or beat the crowds. Instead of the local mall you can shop the world, all from the comfort of your own home. You are bound to find unique gifts online!

Shopping online is not only convenient it is safe when you follow a few simple rules.

5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Doing Your Christmas Holiday Shopping Online

1). Comparison shopping is a must, just like in regular stores. Don't just think you are getting a good deal - know you are!

2). Know the shipping and handling costs before you make your purchase. Some stores may offer a great price only to make up for it with the shipping and handling charges. On the other hand, many stores offer free shipping!

3). Make sure the online store is reputable. Do they have a return policy and a privacy statement that you can live with? Do they offer secure purchases? You should only make online purchases through a site that offers secure purchases. Most sites that offer secure purchases will display it. For those that do not, look for the http: in the address bar to change to https: on the store's shopping cart or the page where you put in your credit card number.

4). Make sure the online store includes complete contact information, including a phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address.

5). It's best to make your online purchases with a credit card. A credit card offers you an extra level of protection in case something goes awry and the online store is not handling the situation to your satisfaction. Most credit card companies will reverse a charge if you dispute it for good reason and have tried to resolve the problem to no avail.

Holiday shopping can be stressful but by doing your Christmas holiday shopping online you can have an easier time of it. The World Wide Web offers many benefits to online Christmas shoppers such as, no lines, great deals and the widest variety of products. Go ahead, give it a try you may just be pleasantly surprised at how stress free your holiday shopping can be.