According to the National Retail Federation, the average American spends about $1,000 on Christmas each year (source). Gifts, treats, decorations, and travel are great, but many of us don’t have a grand sitting around with which to pay for them. Thankfully, the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to also be the priciest time of … [Read more...] about All the Merry for Less Moolah: How to Save Money on Christmas
holidays
10 Benefits of Engaging in Family Traditions
Yesterday, my daughters completed a gratitude activity that we complete each year before Thanksgiving. In the coming days, they will help me prepare traditional Thanksgiving foods. Then, I’ll recount stories of past Christmases as we hang ornaments on the Christmas tree. We’ll place our handprint tree skirt under the tree after adding this … [Read more...] about 10 Benefits of Engaging in Family Traditions
14 Family-Friendly Gratitude Activities
I wrote a post several years ago about gratitude activities for the whole family. At the time, I didn’t have kids who were old enough to participate in most of the activities. However, my two eldest are now capable of engaging in these activities and my youngest can get the gist of some of them. I’ve taken the gratitude activities described … [Read more...] about 14 Family-Friendly Gratitude Activities
9 Safe Ways to Celebrate Christmas During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is casting a somber shadow over Christmas celebrations this year. Our excitement and enthusiasm during “the most wonderful time of the year” are tempered by unease. Though we are experiencing so-called pandemic fatigue (we’re tired of wearing masks, social distancing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, being unable to travel, … [Read more...] about 9 Safe Ways to Celebrate Christmas During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Printable List of Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Each year around Christmas, many of you stop by and check out a post I wrote several years ago about alternative gift exchanges. This post has inspired many of you to try out some non-traditional approaches to giving gifts! This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us will be having non-traditional Christmas celebrations. Because of … [Read more...] about Printable List of Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
DIY Tree Skirt with Kids’ Handprints
My husband and I didn’t have a tree skirt for our Christmas tree for the first several years we were married. It wasn’t until our firstborn child was 2 years of age and our middle child was about 6 months of age that I decided what I wanted in a tree skirt. I decided to make a simple tree skirt out of felt on which we could chronicle … [Read more...] about DIY Tree Skirt with Kids’ Handprints
Why Gratitude Isn’t a Panacea During Tough Times
When many of us plan for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, we envision large gatherings around the dinner table and loved ones sprawled out in the living room opening gifts. Unfortunately, things will look different for many of us this year. The risk of spreading COVID will lead many of us to choose smaller gatherings or perhaps even no … [Read more...] about Why Gratitude Isn’t a Panacea During Tough Times
Christmas in July: Christmas Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
I’ve written one or two Christmas in July posts each year since I began blogging. For the most part, these posts address how to plan for Christmas early so the Christmas season isn’t busy and chaotic (see all of the posts here). This year we’re in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic. Though we don’t know for certain what things will look like … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Christmas Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
