holidays Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Making Sense Of Cents

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 24, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

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Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I have a Christmas dinner today and tomorrow and again twice next weekend. I love this!

Have a great weekend.

Holiday Spending

December 22, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 14 Comments

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I used a vacation day and took the day off. This would sound great, except the fact that I am really really really sick and I have to do nearly ALL of my Christmas shopping today. I tried shopping yesterday after work, but I couldn’t stand for more like 5 minutes without feeling like I was going to faint. I’ve been sick since Monday morning, and if I don’t feel better by tomorrow, then I am going to the doctor as soon as I can.

I tried going to Target to see if I could find any good gift cards or toys for the kids, but the shelves were pretty much cleared and there was nothing good besides the lame toys. I’ll probably try another Target, Toys R Us, Michael’s craft store, and maybe something else if I’m feeling up for it.

So today, I plan on buying lots of gift cards for people. A family friend, some of the kids probably, and my 3 coworkers will get gift cards as a part of their present. I just saw today that a survey found that 83% of respondents would rather receive cash instead of a gift. 42% of these people said they would use it just for their necessities and 26% said they would use it like an actual gift and splurge on themselves.

I like gift cards also, just because it makes everything easier and I can get what I truly want. However, I do like surprises and getting creative gifts. I am guilty of using gift cards for basics (such as when I get a Target gift card) and not using gift cards for things I just want. Do you have any problems with giving/getting gift cards?

I want to get good presents too. According to this article, between 11% to 20% of electronics are returned. Here are items that are most likely to be returned (and I’ll definitely be keeping this in mind):

Clothing and shoes, mentioned by 62% of respondents to the survey
Toys, games and hobbies, 16%
Consumer electronics, 14%
Kitchen and bath, 13%
Beauty and cosmetics, 10%
Jewelry and watches, 10%

Hopefully nothing I send our takes over a year to get there! That happened to this lady and her mom didn’t believe her!

Wish me luck on finding everything I need! I plan on making fudge tonight for a part of my present, so if I do, I’ll make sure that I post my pictures and steps either tonight or tomorrow.

Christmas Gifts that I need to get

December 20, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I have some shopping done, but not all of it. Ok lets be real, I have hardly any of it done. I guess the first stuff is making a list right? I’m so stressed out! I felt really sick yesterday when I woke up and wasn’t able to do anything yesterday. What a wonderful day off.

Kid #1: Already bought some stuff, now I want to get a mustache pacifier.
Kid #2: Something dinosaur related
Kid #3: ahhh not sure yet
Kid #4: A PS3 game
Kid #5: A bunch of crafty stuff from the craft store.
Mom: Not sure yet.
Sister: She wants a dvd holder, jewelry stand, makeup and stuff for her room.
BF’s Mom: A necklace
Family friend: Giftcard to a restaurant most likely
Boss #1: Gift card and some fudge
Boss #2: Gift card and some fudge
Coworker: Gift card and some fudge

How’s your shopping going? I hope you’re not like me!

True meaning of Christmas

December 16, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

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I wanted to share this great and very touching story with you. I just read it on Yahoo.

This woman in Indianapolis paid anonymously for many layaway toys at a local Kmart. She gave out $50 bills and paid for as many as 50 people’s full carts of toys.

“The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.

He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter.

“She told him, ‘No, I’m paying for it,'” recalled Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the store in Indianapolis. “He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn’t, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears.”

This reminded me of The Happy Homeowner’s Operation Give Back. I would check out the awesome and nice things that she’s done so far for strangers. It’s wonderful.

And check out Shopping to Saving’s similar blog post, we obviously think way too much alike!

What have you been doing to give back?

Weekly Money Check-Up: 11/28

November 28, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 11 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Here’s my Weekly Money Check up, courtesy of My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on Black Friday shopping. We bought a ton of clothes, presents and a PS3. Ahhh so much money!
2. Today I am thankful for a great Thanksgiving! The BF has a wonderful family and I had a great time.
3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was put up the Christmas tree. Yes we had to buy the tree, but putting it up was fun. I love it!
4. I will consider this week a success if I finish all of my projects and start studying for my finals. Save me!
5. My favorite Christmas song/album is Mariah Carrey’s All I want for Christmas is you! That has been my favorite for awhile. I love pretty much ALL Christmas songs though.

What To Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

November 1, 2011 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I don’t have any leftover candy, because I had class on Halloween, so I didn’t hand any out but Wise Bread had an article on What To Do With Leftover Candy. Check it out!

Baking and Sweets
Bribing kids and trading. I trade candy with the younger kids for different kinds that I want.
Donate it. Some of the dentists where I live will pay you for your candy and send it overseas
Send it overseas as a holiday box.
Eat it!

Ok, yes I know this list was pretty mundane, but what do you do with extra candy? Some of my friends don’t want to eat all of it because they end up with pounds leftover sometimes. I prefer just to eat it all though. But I know of some people who prepare holiday boxes to send overseas and I always thought this was a good idea also.

And I found a funny article about the most hated candy. What do you not like?

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!

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