Tips to Save this Christmas

According to CECU (Confederation of Consumers and Users), each household spends an average of $1000 during the Christmas period. This is an excessive amount of money considering the average monthly salary is not much more than the expenditure itself. Most people like to think of different ways to save money during the holiday season and each and every family would like to see this figure lowered as much as possible. This requires a bit of planning and imagination.

Try to buy before or after the Christmas period. Look for recycled gifts, always compare prices, set yourself a budget and shop online. Avoid the lavish, fresh and expensive Christmas meals and save money by complimenting your dishes with frozen goods. Frozen meat can be as good as fresh if you follow the package instructions and guidelines thoroughly. Fish, meat and seafood can be quite expensive: hake, sea bass, sea bream, lamb, suckling pig, tenderloin, turkeys and prawns can be bought before the Christmas period for a much lower price if frozen. This option is certainly a good way to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

Give useful and inexpensive gifts to your friends and family. When choosing them, it would be a lot more interesting to look for things that are practical and also economical, even if that means “having to think a little more”. This requires that you write down a list, look around for the gifts and compare best prices. The Organization of Consumers and Users advice people to consult these lists which they provide on a regular basis.

The use of the internet is always handy if you are looking into saving money. Buying online is usually a lot cheaper and it will also be easier to compare prices. If you purchase in bulk you might be able to get wholesale prices with goods like Christmas videos, cards, books, clothes, cds and lots more.

Go through the boxes you’ve got in storage at home. Remember what they say: “someone’s junk is somebody else’s treasure”. Surely we can think of many people who would be delighted to receive these gifts.

Making your own Christmas decorations is easy and will also save you quite a bit as they are usually expensive in the shops. Cook yourself instead of ordering food during the festive season. This is a great opportunity to give a try to that chocolate cake you always wanted to make!

Be a “good Samaritan” and offer to cook for other members of your family, walk their dogs, care for your nieces and nephews in the evenings… these are all great Christmas gifts.

If you are planning on watching a Christmas show this year try to either find last minute cheap tickets or plan in advance and buy them a few months before the holiday season; both options will be cheaper than buying them within the same week.

These are just a few ideas that will save you money this year. As you can see, by planning ahead and with a little imagination you can still have a great Christmas without drilling a hole on your savings account!

Having that Perfect Lighted Christmas Tree

A lighted Christmas tree will bring any room to life.  There are many ways to decorate your tree with lights, depending on your taste.  For people who like a nice and subtle tree, soft and clear lights may be used.  For those who want a bright and colorful tree, they can use bright, sparkling lights that come in any color.
For lighted Christmas trees that are artificial, here are some tips for different types of lighting choices.  For subdued and subtle lighting for a 6-foot tree, use a dozen boxes of 50-light strands.  If you are using an 8-foot tree, it is best to use about 20 boxes.  When applying the strands, start at the bottom and close to the truck.  You can wrap the cords around the branchlets to secure it.  If you want more moderate lighting, use 20 boxes for 6-foot trees and for 8-foot trees, use 30 boxes.  To achieve a brighter more showcase type of lighting, use 40 boxes for 6-foot trees and 80 boxes for 8-foot trees.  Wrap the lights around the branches in a maypole manner.
For lighted Christmas trees that are fresh, divide the tree into three sections starting from the top.  Compute your tree’s height and use 100-strands for every foot.  Instead of starting at the bottom as with artificial trees, this time, start at the top of the tree next to the trunk.  Make sure that the cords do not cross over each other as this can be a fire hazard.  Rearrange the lights as necessary.
A lighted Christmas tree will surely brighten up any room in your home this season.

Pink Christmas Tree – A Princess’ Christmas Dream

Christmas trees always come in the same traditional color – green.  While this is very nice, this year, why not shake things up a little bit and decorate your home with a pink Christmas tree? Pink Christmas trees are the perfect choice especially if you have a little princess in your house.  Girls, big and small, will love the idea of having a Christmas tree in her favorite color.  They will be sure to want one in their bedroom or in your family room.
Pink Christmas trees can be found easily nowadays at any local store.  They come in different shapes and sizes.  Price ranges are the same as the traditional green Christmas tree.  There are also some pink Christmas trees available that come with matching ornaments, which is perfect if you want everything to match.  These usually come in a kit and can be quite cheaper.  The tree however may be smaller than usual.  If you want to purchase a larger tree, you can also purchase the ornaments and decorations separately.
Before purchasing a tree, take into consideration the size of the room you will be putting up your pink Christmas tree in.  If you wish to put a tree in your little girl’s bedroom, a big tree may overpower it.  A good choice is to use a tabletop tree.  If the tree is to be put up in a family room or a playroom, a large pink Christmas tree is a good choice and will definitely look great.  Always determine where you are to place the tree first so you can also determine its size.
A pink Christmas tree sure may not be traditional, but it will bring your little princess’ dreams to life!