That's a wrap!

Ok, it's 4 days until Christmas, so maybe you're like some lucky souls that already have all the gifts wrapped and under the tree. Or, perhaps you're a bit like me, you still have gifts to wrap and may even be a bit overwhelmed by all the various "to do"s to cross off your holiday checklist.

To help ease some of that anxiety, I would like to recommend that you create a "wrapping station". My "WS" is my ironing board (for height) with my gift wrap, tissue paper, boxes, tape, gift tags, a pen and some ribbons & bows.

In addition, I suggest that you place an envelope in your "WS" so that you can put all of your holiday receipts into it as you begin your wrapping marathon. That way, everything will be in 1 place and it will cut down the stress later on.

Here's wishing you a happy and stress-free holiday!

It's that's time of the year...

...to hang up your stockings, trim the tree & wrap the gifts! In the hussle & bussle of the holiday season, it's important to be as organized as possible. Gather up all your coupons and put them in 1 place, preferably a clear zip-lock bag. Remember that many online vendors are now accepting "promo codes" for holiday purchases, so go to Coupon Cabin or Coupon Sally (there are literally tons more to find!) for the best discounts! A friend just downloaded a $20 off coupon to Burlington Coat Factory...now we're talkin! As Santa would say, make a list (and check it twice) of the people you need to buy gifts for. You may even want to assign a monetary value to each to help keep your costs within budget. Afterall, it's not fun to go broke over the holidays, so plan, prepare & have fun while you're at it! Happy Holidays!

Be creative with gift tags...

As I was wrapping up holiday gifts this year, it occurred to me of how I could use that pile of "old" holiday cards. Do you have a pile of cards that are just sitting around? If so, why not cut the covers off and use them to make a decorative gift tag. The way I see it, you win in more ways than one...you de-clutter by recycling your old card and create a special gift tag for that snazzy gift you picked out!

Holiday Returns Got you down...

As we get into the swing of the holidays (a.k.a. holidaze), it can become quite overwhelming with all the shopping and hussle & bussle the season brings. Today's focus is on "holiday returns". While it is still early and Christmas is 3 weeks away, you can create a system today for your holiday receipts, so that when it's time for the inevitable return, you can go to 1 place and find it. I recommend creating a holiday receipt envelope. You may choose to clip it up to your refrigerator or store it with your other receipts (perhaps within your "bill" folder, see blog from last month for more details). Or, another option, is to give your gift recipient a gift receipt (you just need to ask the cashier at the checkout) so that they can exchange their gift on their own time. However you choose to do it, I hope you'll enjoy a stress-free holiday!

Get a handle on the holidays...

If you're like me, you've probably been receiving all kinds of holiday coupons, offers and communications on sales via snail mail and email. One tip that has helped me is to organize my coupons, is to place them into an envelope that I carry with me throughout the holiday season. When you're out and about, you can think through which stores you want to go to and then pull out the coupon as needed. This will cut down on trying to remember where you put the coupon and save you time & energy so that you can enjoy all the joys the holiday season brings! Happy Shopping!

Save a buck...

It's that time of year again....time for holiday shopping and dining out! If you're like me, saving a little money during time busy time is key. Some suggestions are to search for promotion codes online. A lot of companies are offering promo codes to drum up more holiday business. If you shop around, you can find up to 30% off discounts. Also, many stores are sending out their holiday catalogs offering free shipping and handling, as well as buy one, get the second one free! Some sites that have been particularly good are:

Promotional Codes: http://www.promotionalcodes.com/

Restaurant deals: http://www.groupon.com/new-york/subscribe?utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=NYC&utm_campaign=Search&gclid=CJ-AptyJnZ4CFY915QodbDWbpA

Please feel free to respond back with other great sites to save a buck or two...

Happy Holidays...