Organizing Receipts December 21, 2008

If you are gift giving this holiday season you will be bombarded with receipts.  Place an envelope in your purse, and use it for all the gifts you buy.  When you give a gift, you will know exactly where the receipt is if you need it.

For an more advanced technique, create two envelopes-one for receipts of gifts and one for receipts of supplies (such as wrapping paper and cards.)

This will also allow you to have a running total of your holiday expenditures at the end of the season.  Being organized financially will help you save money.

House Guests December 20, 2008

Many of us have houseguests during the holiday season.  Some are expected, and some are unexpected!  Either way it is important to get prepared.  If you use air mattresses, blow them up and make sure they don’t leak.  Also be sure that any sheets you for guests are clean.  Take a minute to dust the guest room, and fluff the pillows and curtains.

A few minutes of preparation will give you piece of mind for the season!

Thoughtful Present December 19, 2008

If you are looking for a unique and inexpensive gift this holiday season, give a photo!  In this digital age, we take hundreds of photos per year.  Why not have a photo blown up and frames for your loved one?  Pick a photo and have it enlarged at your favorite photo shop or super store.  Often you can purchase a frame from the same.  Its a great gift that only you can give!

Christmas Cleaning December 18, 2008

Although we are strapped for time during the holidays, its a perfect time to do a little cleaning at your home.  For mot people, having a clean home takes away stress and makes the holidays more enjoyable.  As a Christmas present to yourself, consider hiring a cleaning service for the commonly used areas like bathrooms and kitchens.  Then take the extra time to tackle items like curtains that need to be washed, replacing air filters in your home, or filling hand soap dispensers.  Attention to the details will make your holiday season go much smoother!

Educational Experiences. Clutter Free Gifts – Part Five December 17, 2008

Educational Gifts enrich those you give them to, and generally don’t take up any space in the home.  Try these examples, or be creative on your own!

Magic Lessons

Cooking Lessons

Computer Lessons

Personal Trainer Sessions

Music Lessons

Language Lessons

Photography Lessons

Golf Lessons

Eat, Santa! Eat! Consumable Gifts. Clutter Free Gifts – Part Four December 16, 2008

Consumable gifts are great because once they are used, they don’t take up space in the home.  Mostly they are food and beverage type items.  Here are some great consumable gifts:

Homemade Cookies

Coffee or tea basket

Spices

Flowers

Wine, Cheese, or Beer of the month club

Again, be creative and customize the gift to the recipient!

Make The World a Better Place! Clutter Free Gifts- Part Three December 15, 2008

Leaving the world a better place than we found it is a tough job.  Making a donation in your recipient’s name is a great way to bolster a cause that they feel strongly about.  Don’t be shy, ask your recipient what they feel passionately about and tell them you want to help.  Here are a few small examples:

Adopt an endangered animal

Buy clean water for an overseas village

Make a charitable donation on recipient’s behalf

For More information visit:

Oxfam.com

American Wildlife Foundation

World Wildlife Federation

MarkMarkers.org

Membership and Getaway Gifts. Clutter Free Gifts- Part Two December 14, 2008

Memberships and event tickets are a great way to get your friends out of the house, and doing things they love.

Museum Membership

Zoo Membership

Sporting event tickets

Broadway/Theatrical Event Tickets

iTunes Gift Card

The Gym or Health Club

Wholesale Club Membership

Getaway gifts…  Who COULDN’T use a much needed break?  It may be the best gift your recipient receives all year.  Again, be creative!

Hotel Stay

Weekend Getaway

Offer to babysit for a night/weekend

Plan and schedule a romantic dinner for a couple

Clutter Free Gifts- Part One December 13, 2008

Needs some ideas for a clutter free gift?  Read on!  More to follow!

The following are “experience” gift certificates that allow your recipient to have partake in an activity, rather than purchase something to clutter their home.  Be Creative!  Get them a gift certificate to:

Day Spa

Nail Salon

Massage

Movies

Ice Skating Passes

Find something the recipient likes to do and give them a gift certificate to do more of what they love.

Running Errands December 12, 2008

Running short on time this holiday season?  Look for ways you can cut down on the time it takes you to run your errands.  Research having your dry cleaning picked up, or having your groceries delivered.  These are examples of services that, for a small fee, can be completed by others and crossed off your personal list.  There are other personal errands that can be “automated” during the holidays, be creative.  The small surcharges these services cost will be well worth it during the holidays!

If you have to go out, try to schedule your errands based upon their geographic location.  Doing errands that take you all over town wastes time in driving, and money in gas.  Especially with everyone else out doing their errands at the same time!