Cheap Ways to Ring in the New Year

I am always amazed at how much money people are willing to spend on one night of fun to ring in the new year. It’s not just the cost of the event at restaurant hotel. It’s the cost of the dress or the tux, the new shoes, a possible hotel stay, a limo and more. If that’s what they want to do, more power to them. If you’re more like me and would like some more affordable options, you’ve come to the right place.

Have a party at your home. Provide finger foods and ask each family to bring an appetizer, as well. Buy enough champagne or sparkling cider for a midnight toast, and ask your guests to bring the beverage they want to drink. Just be sure to monitor your guests to be sure they are safe to drive home.

Have family game night. Let each family member choose a game to play and play them all. Set out snacks or your family’s favorite finger foods and have fun enjoying time with each.

Go Bowling and have pizza. There are two bowling alleys near my home and both are offering New Year’s Eve specials. They are considerably cheaper than typical New Year’s Eve events and are closer to home (for us anyway). One place offers two different times, so small children can still have fun but make it to bed at a decent time.

Attend a party or event at a friend’s house. For years, it has been our family’s New Year’s tradition to hang out with two other families at a home where it was legal to shoot fireworks. Once we have our fill of those, we head inside for a game of Scene It or other family-friendly party game. Sometimes we are there until 4 a.m. just having fun with friends.

Have a family movie night and pajama party. Much like game night, let each person choose one movie, and watch them all as a family. Take a break to maybe make your own pizzas or make ice cream sundaes. Set out a bunch of blankets, cushions and sleeping bags on the floor and let the whole family sleep in one spot.

Host makeover night. Invite a bunch of girlfriends to your house for manicures, pedicures, hair and make-up fun. As one of the “girls” if their husband will host a guy’s night at their house. That way everyone has something to do.

However you choose to spend New Year’s Eve, enjoy yourself and stay safe. Happy New Year from Neighborhood Credit Union!

 

Last Minute Gifts that Won’t Kill Your Budget

Have you finished your holiday shopping? I thought I had. Then I went through about 10 boxes in my dining room that have been delivered over the past two weeks, and I realized I was severely short on gifts for my husband.  To add insult to injury, I went to the website for the top item on his list and it’s on back order. Yikes!

I hate to admit it, but this has happened to me before. In fact, it happens to me every year, which makes me the queen of last minute gifts. Here are some hints to help you get through these last few days with a gift for everyone on your list.

1. If something is not available online, and that retailer happens to have a store nearby, I go to the store and buy it. If the store doesn’t have it, I purchase it online, print a photo of the item and wrap it in a box with a note that says the gift is on its way. They may not have it on Christmas day, but they’ll know it’s paid for and coming soon.

2. Look for a suitable replacement. Find an item with similar specifications and include a gift receipt. When they open it, explain that the one they wanted wasn’t available, but this one is practically the same. If they don’t like it, they have the gift receipt to return it and get what they want.

3. Buy gift cards. Grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target and others carry a wide assortment of gift cards to other stores. Many online retailers give you the option to print gift cards using your own computer. If you absolutely have to have a gift on Christmas Day, give a gift card.

4. Give something homemade. If you are handy with the computer, make a photo calendar using online templates. Google “photo calendar templates” to make it easier. Put together a photo CD or DVD. One year my father-in-law made me a quilt rack for my living room. It’s still one of the nicest things I’ve ever received from him. Use whatever skill you have to make something thoughtful.

5. Give the gift of time. Make a certificate or a coupon book promising dates with spouses, play time with children, etc. Think about what is important to the recipient and craft an event around it. Perhaps your spouse works a lot. Offer a day where you’ll do his chores, or let him sit and watch TV all day and serve him his meals on the couch.

If you give a gift with thought, they’ll like it, if it isn’t something they’ve asked for. From our family to yours, have a Merry Christmas!

 

Unconventional Ways to Find Steep Discounts this Holiday Season

This is the first holiday season where gift ideas have just fallen into my lap. I haven’t even shopped in a store. Most of my gift buying has been online, either through deals that other friends have posted on Facebook or through e-mails I have received from various daily deal sites. Apparently I have been in the right place at the right time this year, but part of that is knowing where to be in the first place. Here are some ways for you to find super steep savings on gifts for most people on your list.

Daily Deals Sites

If someone would have told me a year ago that I’d be holiday shopping on daily deal sites, I would have thought they were crazy. This year, I’ve purchased four gifts through various websites that send an e-mail every day with a special discount offer. On Urban Dealight, I purchased a ride for my son and my husband in a World War II Aircraft to view Christmas lights. The flight usually costs $250 a person. I paid $75. On Groupon, I purchased an electric corkscrew for nearly 50 percent off and a $30 gift certificate to a specialty store which only cost me $15.

There are two valuable things to know about these sites. First, you don’t have to wait for an e-mail to find a fabulous deal. Go to the sites and browse the deals available. This time of year, you may find hundreds of deals. Second, don’t limit your shopping on these sites to the city where you live. The corkscrew I bought was through the Amarillo, Texas Groupon site. If you’re buying it online, what does it matter what city the deal is for?

Other daily deal sites I know about include:

AP Daily Deals

Living Social

Amazon Local

If you Google “daily deal sites” you may found several dozen more.

Amazon Lightning Deals

Last week, I purchased a laptop for $250 off the retail price thanks to lightning deals on Amazon.com. These are deals available at specific times of the day. They publish that time in advance, and they time the length of the sale. When the time is up, the deal is dead.

Lightning deals are not just for electronics. They are on anything Amazon sells – toys, books, music downloads, cookware, etc. If you are looking for something specific, check the lightning deals first. You can view them sometimes days in advance. You just can’t buy until the specified date.

There is still plenty of time to shop online and get your gifts in time for holiday giving. And, don’t forget yourself. If you find a steep discount on something you’ve been pricing for a long time, and you have the money in your budget, buy it now. You may not find deals this good ever again.

Free Santa Fun

One of my favorite Christmas songs is a tune my mom used to play when I was a kid. I can still hear Glen Campbell’s voice singing, “Christmas is for children, just for children, grown ups say.” I don’t necessarily agree with that sentiment, but now that I have my own child, I am constantly looking for ways to keep Santa’s magic alive. My son is eight years old, and I’m not sure how many years I have left before his Christmas beliefs change. Here are some resources to help you extend the magic with a child or children in your life.

Free Santa Photos and More at Bass Pro Shop

There are two Bass Pro Shops in the DFW area – in Garland and Flower Mound. Both have transformed a section of their stores into Santa’s Village. There are free games, crafts and other activities, including a free visit and 4x6 souvenir photo with Santa. You do have the option to upgrade your photo package, but there is no purchase necessary for your child to join in on the fun. Check the store websites for hours of operation.

Free, Personalized Videos From Santa

The Portable North Pole (PNP) is by far my favorite online Santa site. It lets you create a free, personalized video from Santa to a child. The video is customizable. You can upload the child’s photo, input information about what the child wants for Christmas, have Santa compliment the child on a major accomplishment this year and have Santa mention something the child still needs to work on, like listening to mom and dad, eating vegetables, etc. At the end of the holiday season, you have the option to download the video. I believe it was less than $5.

Disney also offers a free Santa video. It’s customizable with the child’s name and photo, but it’s not nearly as personalized as the Portable North Pole.

Free Printable Letters from Santa

Would your child like to receive a personalized letter from Santa? Send them one for free on this website. Choose from five different letters and five different page designs. Customize certain fields in the letter and print it in your own home.

NORAD Tracks Santa

This site does more than let you and your family track Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve. There’s also an online village where you can countdown to Christmas with different activities every day. There are holiday video messages, facts about Santa and more – all for free.

25 Days of Christmas Crafts and Recipes

This site is not necessarily Santa fun, but it gives you all kinds of fun things to do with your family this holiday season. When school lets out next week, you may be happy you have all these activities.

Have fun making free holiday memories with your family this year.