Monthly Archives: December 2006

Christmas Holidays/bah humbug

I wish there were some magical way to make myself get into the Christmas spirit. Decorating the house with a tree and lights, buying presents and sending out cards just doesn’t appeal to me. It hasn’t for years. Many years.

Perhaps I don’t like Christmas because I don’t have any small children at home and my only grandchild lives almost 600 miles away. I have lived in Florida now for 10 years and being away from my family probably hasn’t helped the situation. Also, warm weather just doesn’t feel like Christmas either. Actually, I can’t remember when I really enjoyed the Christmas season.

I know the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Santa seems to be much more popular than Jesus at Christmas.

People seem to go into so much debt at Christmas, too. That is ridulous. I prefer my family to do/or buy me things throughout the year to show me they love me. My daughter Bonnie bought me a little ceramic chick for $l.99 at Goodwill, I believe and that meant a lot to me. She knows I love and collect chicken stuff. She saw it and it made her think of me. That is love to me. Not buying me an expensive gift just because it is Christmas.

The really great part about the Christmas season is that family get together and enjoy a great meal and each other’s company. Sometimes you are sleeping on an inflatable bed or a sofa sleeper but you are always happy to be there with people who love you.

I was thinking maybe I will start a Christmas Club savings account at the bank. Maybe that will alleviate some of the money stress I feel at Christmas.

It is difficult to decide where to be at Christmas…with my mom, sisters and one brother in Newport, NC…with my son and his family in Raleigh, NC or my daughter and her new husband in Woodstock, GA. My daughter, Bonnie is temporarily in Florida (which is sooooo nice). We use to go to my son’s house because he has a daughter and being at home with the tree and presents is important. But now that she is getting older, they have opted to have Christmas morning alone with her. I can certainly understand that. Afterall, you can open presents and spend time together anytime during the Christmas season.

So…we are spending Christmas with my Mom this year. This is her first Christmas without Dad. I know that is going to be difficult for her. She loves presents, I think. She will miss Dad’s presents and presence.

Well, I guess the least I can do is say “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
If anyone has any suggestions on how I can start enjoying the Christmas season….please let me know.

Traveling … dirty clothes

When I travel, I try to remember to stash a trash bag in my suitcase for separating dirty clothes from clean. I fold my dirty clothes and lie them in the trash bag so I can fit everything back into the suitcase when I am ready to move on.

I have been doing a lot of traveling this month and I forgot to pack the trash bag for the dirty clothes. I was in a hotel so I needed to improvise. I improvised with my nightgown which is a sleeveless, 60% cotton, 40% polyester, not quite ankle-length, soft and flexible material. I then tied the bottom of the nightgown into a knot and inserted the dirty clothes thru the neckline. Once the nightgown dirty clothes bag was full, I slipped my arm thru the two arm holes for carrying.

I was standing at the entrance of the elevator and a lady was staring at my nightgown bag. I smiled and explained how I made my nightgown into a dirty clothes bag. She laughed and said it was a good idea so I thought I would share this idea.

I was thinking when my nightgown gets too many stains…lol…usually coffee stains…I would convert one into a dirty clothes bag by sewing the bottom of it. Of course, I would have to cut some of the length off or it would drag the ground when I walk and carry it.

Grocery Shopping Tips

I know I mentioned before that it is a bad idea to go shopping right before dinner/after you worked all day. Mainly because the grocery store is so crowded and you end up spending more time standing in line. But also because it puts you home later, dinner is later and getting out of the kitchen is later.

I have always heard “don’t go shopping when you are hungry.” I truly believe that is a good rule. It is for me, anyway. I find my shopping cart full of junk when I shop hungry. I have even grabbed a bag of those “Sweet Sixteen” powdered donuts and as soon as I get to the car, I eat three or four of them. If you want to save on your grocery bill, do not shop when you are hungry.

Another helpful hint, make a grocery list. I hate to get home from the grocery store and realize I forgot something that I needed NOW. Like last night, I forgot to buy Dawn. No list, no Dawn. I guess Dawn hasn’t been on sale lately or I would have had an extra one under the sink. I am rather “focused” on stocking up on food so it amazes me when I run of anything.

I like to keep a list as I realize I am out or almost out of an item. I keep the list on the refrigerator door. If I don’t make a list, I sometimes buy things thinking I need it and I already had an extra bottle hiding in my cabinet.

Another idea is to go through your refrigerator, freezer and cabinets before you head out to go grocery shopping. It will refresh you memory so you will be aware of what you already have at home.

Make sure you gather your coupons and put them in your purse, too. I even have a coupon that says you get $10 off for a purchase of $100 from Winn Dixie. Those are nice but I seldom buy that much food at one time for just me and my husband. I guess I just never get low enough on food that I need that much at one time.

Also, the circulars that come out weekly really help you save money. I often plan my menus from what is on sale for the week. There are certain foods I buy only when they are on sale….like T-bone steaks.

Seasonal foods are great to stock up on, too. During Thanksgiving and Christmas certain foods are on sale…like cranberry sauce, canned yams, hams and turkeys. Last year, I must have bought 24 cans of cranberry sauce. They were 50 cents a can instead of 99 cents. And why not buy an extra turkey. You can slice it up and make sandwiches or turkey salad. So take advantage of those seasonal sales.

Most people are too busy to really put much thought into grocery shopping. It is just one of those things you have to do. I truly feel that I save at least $100 a month by taking advantage of the circulars. I guess I have made it a game. I like to save at least 30% at Winn Dixie. My last shopping trip I spent $49 dollars and saved $23. That was without any coupons. And I only bought stuff I knew I would use.

When I do use coupons, I only clip out the coupons of things I normally purchase. It is very tempting to purchase items that you have a coupon for $1.00 off and think, “Oh, I think I will try that.” You end up spending more money. So don’t even clip the coupon unless it is a staple in your home.

So, I hope you will take advantage of the circulars and maybe clip a few coupons for things you use often. And don’t forget that grocery list. Happy grocery shopping. It is the only kind of shopping I enjoy. I know, I am a sick puppy as my daughters say.