Merry Christmas Baby!

It's here, the day that makes kids turn flips off of stairs without fear, and wake up their parents before the sun rises, force their family members to install, put together, watch and play with whatever they've received. That's right, Christmas is today. I used to love that part of the holiday, the wonder and anticipation that was held as children. Now it's the true meaning of Christmas that make my heart all aflutter. Don't worry I won't throw Jesus all in your face. Just know that I am celebrating Him and not the glitter and shine that comes with today. I love that fact that I can enjoy my family and not worry about what I or someone else did or didn't get. I'm more concerned with what I can do for you, how I can help another. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be rich to be a philanthropist. I'll give a list of charities and organizations that you can donate to all year long. Start today. You'll be glad you did this. Giving with a clear and light heart will be returned to you when least expect it. Grab that check book or debit card and hit play on that Soul Christmas cd and let Boyz II Men and Donny Hathaway set the mood for giving.
 I wish you and your families a  Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah, Feliz Navidad, and Happy Kwanzaa. Whatever you celebrate remember the best gifts can't be found in a box, bag, or inside wrapping paper.
List of Charitable Organizations:
1)$1- Two books shipped to a classroom in Africa. BooksforAfrica
2)$2- A set of drumsticks for a low-income public school student. Littlekidsrock
3)$3- A field trip to a museum, concert, or theatrical production for a high-risk youth. Createnow
4)$4- Two hours of prepaid phone time for a soldier stationed overseas to call home. Cellphonesforsoldiers
5)$5- A one-burner kerosene stove for a family that would normally rely on an open fire. Foodforthepoor
6)$6- Measles vaccinations for 15 children in a developing country. Doctorswithoutborders
7)$8- A medical teaching doll to aid a child in learning about their cancer treatment. Stjude.
8)$10-Homesfortroops, Janegoodall, Operationsmile, Globalgiving.
9)$11- Eleven trees to planted in Alabama communities devastated by tornadoes. Arborday
10)$12- Twenty pounds of multipurpose soap to help keep families germ and disease free. Oxfam
11)$14- Two nutritious meals delivered to a housebound senior citizen. Meals
12)$15- A backpack and school supplies for one homeless or low-income child. Education
13)Big Brothers Big Sisters

Don't let Christmas make your money rubber!

This piece is from Soulkissestv.com 

10 Ways To Save On Christmas

October 11, 2011 By SangDuong

1. Make a budget. Be realistic and sit down with everyone in your family and discuss realistically what can be afforded. I know it’s not the hottest topic to discuss, but if your whole family knows the budget then their requests will be more reasonable and help lessen the stress.

2. Plan ahead. Know what you want for the Holiday Season whether it’s buying gifts for one another to having a sit down dinner or going on vacation. Again whatever you decide to do put on paper and start planning early. Its mid September but a few weeks from now your schedule may not allow enough time to plan for a wonderful stress free Holiday Season.

3. Write it all down. Once you know your budget and you start planning what you envision your Christmas  Season to be like be sure to write it all down. This makes for a great quick reference and the human mind does not keep track of our decisions as accurately as we wish! Writing down your plan will help you stay within budget and keeps your expectations in check and realistic.

4. If you are purchasing gifts be sure to ask those persons you are buying for to give you a list of 4-5 realistic options within your budget. I know it’s not very popular to ask and you should be thankful for anything given but it’s nice to get what you like. I’m more for the surprise type but with the current economy I am more than thankful for items I do need.

5. Ask for needs. It’s not popular to get items you need, but it can be less stress for you when money is already tight getting items you are in need of. I like Starbucks but with small kids in my house the hubby and I rarely get an opportunity to use a Starbucks gift card. For our family a gift card to Walgreens would be more suitable.

6. Exchange childcare. If you do plan on going shopping consider shopping early in the year and exchanging child care with a friend. Take turns watching each other’s kids so you can go shopping in peace. Do you find yourself spending more money when you have your kids with you? Treat yourself to less stress and shop being relaxed and not rushed. If you truly need to save money plan out your transactions and don’t shop with others, this will help stay on budget and keep to a plan.

7. Shop Clearance and Discontinued items. So this may not be popular but if you have limited funds look for clearance items and be sure to keep your budget in mind when shopping around for items. Look for Manager Specials or closeout sales. Often times you can find some really good items fairly cheap if you just take the time to look around hence the reason start early.

8. Set up a Storage area. The worst thing you can do to yourself is shop early and accumulate your gifts and put them away in different spots and then when it comes to pull them out you don’t know where you put them. Designate one place to store those items. A cheap alternative is get a Cubby Tote drawer from Target for $2.50 from the $1 area and use that you place your items in and put it in a closet high for small kids not be able to reach. For bigger items consider a plastic tote 18 gallons or bigger or even the under the bed flat totes but make sure it’s a solid color and not a clear one.

9. Label Everything. When you buy a gift be sure to label with masking tape who the gift is for and for what occasion. If you are like me I will buy items when they are on clearance or at their lowest price and store them for birthdays or special treats but be sure to label them so you don’t have the hassle of trying to remember.

10. Buy after the Holiday Season. So let’s start early for next year! So you may find some discounted Holiday items right now but you will really save just after the Holiday season primarily the 2nd week of January all the way to the 2nd week of February. I spent $10 one year and got all my Christmas decorations including lights, ornaments (custom) and solid decorative bulbs, tree, wrapping paper, tape and much more for the following year. I waited till everything was 95% off and I am thankful every year after that.

Enjoy your holiday shopping!

*Jezzie's two cents :This is just a list of ways to try and have some money to spend after Christmas has come and gone. Take heed. I know we all like to give gifts and see reactions but I know none of us wants to deal being broke and incurring overdraft fees because of it. You work to hard to have lint in your pockets.

Merry Christmas!

I am no scrooge. I thoroughly enjoy Christmas and everything that comes along with it. I like the snow,smiling faces, the niceness of people, the extreme family togetherness, gifts and of course the real reason for the holiday:the birth of the Savior. A lot of people have forgotten that He is actually the reason for all the celebrating.I like new shoes and clothes as much as the next gal and I admit it's easy to get caught up in the commercialism of it all. When you strip all of that away, it leaves you with CHRIST and that's the best gift one could have. In my opinion anyway. I could stand on my soapbox and proclaim "how things have changed, and how the commercialism of the holiday is sickening,etc..." but you've heard that before. This holiday is about family, whether yours is loud, dysfunctional, crazy, loud, silent, or separated every other day except for this one, cherish it. You didn't have to be blessed with them. No matter how much they get on your nerves and no matter if you count the minutes until you go back to your corner of the world. A part of you secretly loves this time of year. It makes you feel like a kid again. Reverting to childhood isn't always a bad thing. If you don't feel the way I do, then that's fine we're all entitled to our own beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. I'm not the best Christian but I do hold and keep some things sacred. Spirtuality, family,being two of them. I don't wish people a "Merry X-mas" for the simple reason if you take 'Christ' out now on HIS birthday,what makes you think He won't do the same to you when you two finally meet? These are just some things to think about on this beautiful day. Merry Christmas to you and yours!