Featured – Page 4

Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas: Week 4 Mission

We are a third of the way through our Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas missions, which means Christmas is that much closer! Are you keeping up? No? That’s okay. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just do what you can. Every little bit you do now makes you less frazzled down the road.

Today is one of my favorite missions–planning the food. I like food. I like planning food. I don’t, however, like shopping. Enough about me.

Here’s how to plan your holiday food:

1. Get out your calendar; get out your budget sheet; get out your gift list; get out two pieces of paper and a pencil…or whatever high-tech device you techies use for planning.

2. Assess which upcoming events you need food for…for which you need food. That includes Tricks-or-Treats if you feed little angels and pumpkins at your door, Thanksgiving if you’re hosting or bringing a dish, Christmas parties you’re attending or hosting, the big holiday itself, and New Year’s. I have the bonus of three holiday birthdays in there.

3. Determine how many people will be attending events you’re hosting, whether you’re handling the entire feast or calling it a potluck, if you have overnight guests to feed, and what you are asked to bring to other people’s events. This will require some emails and phone calls.

4. Check your gift list for food gifts; don’t forget stockings!

5. Are you making cookies this year? List them and gather the recipes. Mmmmm…cookies…

6. Make a menu. Skip nothing. It’s awful to have a houseful of food at Christmas and find you have nothing to eat while waiting hours for the holiday meal–add some emergency PBJs or something to the plan.

7. Print or pin or otherwise save your recipes. I like to use a binder and keep my lists, menus, and recipes in there from year to year–it’s fun to look back, and it helps with planning.

8. Write out a shopping list for groceries–again, include everything.

9. Because you’ve started early, you have plenty of time to begin gathering non-perishables or freezable items as they go on sale. If you snag a few items a week, you won’t sabotage your budget. Keep the ingredients somewhere super secret, or put post-it notes on them threatening no gifts for anyone who eats your chocolate chips and French’s onions. That usually works…usually.

10. Again, record everything (easily done by crossing it off the list). You don’t want to end up with 12 bottles of vanilla and no flour…although vanilla does make a nice gift.

That’s it. Ten steps just to say write down your eats and go buy ’em.

Accountability Time

How are you doing on the missions so far? Did you plan out the rest of the year? Did you write a budget? Have you polished your gift list?

A little bit about me–I start strong and finish weak. I need this book: Finish, by John Acuff (affiliate link). Actually, I have that book, but I haven’t finished it. I don’t like irony.

Regarding last week’s mission, I have gathered Christmas lists, tossed around gift ideas, and written down what I already have on hand, but I have not solidified anything. I did discuss gifts with my husband, and all I got out of him is that we’re not getting a puppy, which is important information. I have a few loose ends to tie on previous missions also, and I’m doing that all as much as possible this week.

Care to hold me accountable? You can always email me or join me on Facebook (as The Simple Homemaker), Twitter (as The Simple Home), or Instagram (as The Travel Bags)…or you can join me as I procrastinate on Pinterest! (I did not just say that.)

Making Gift-Giving Affordable

In Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas we are talking about gift giving this week. Mission three is planning your gifts. Are you overwhelmed and a little sad when you look at your list? Me, too.

I’d love to give Hannah a horse for Christmas. That would be aaaamaaaaaazzzzing! How about giving my gearhead nephew a truck–super awesome! I’d be the best aunt ever! How about a new washer and dryer for my mom, since hers are deader than Jacob Marley. But…I can’t.

So here’s what I do instead to make Christmas affordable and still magical.

We emphasize that Jesus really is the reason for the season. Presents are super fun, and no kid is going to say, “Hooray! No gifts this year!” Focusing on Christ, however, adds an element of profound joy and “magic” to the entire season that no present can top.

I go stocking crazy all year. My kids love their stockings. With the exception of the kitten we got them, their stockings are their favorite part of Christmas morning. I don’t spend a ton, but I tailor it to them and break too many of the family sweets rules. Wink. I gather throughout the year and wrap it all individually to make it last longer.

Instead of buying them fish, I teach them to fish. There’s no room in the budget for a horse for Hannah; how about a horse care kit, riding lessons, and/or the book Better Than a Lemonade Stand–Small Business Ideas for Kids or How to Start a Micro-Business for Teens (affiliate links) instead, so she can earn her own horse!

Go in on a gift. We can’t afford a new washer and dryer for Mom, but what about calling all the kids and seeing if there’s enough interest to pool money to get her one? That’s how she got her Kitchen Aid stand mixer and her dishwasher, and that’s how Grandma got a new TV.

Go used. I have a problem with people who have a problem with receiving a used gift. Seriously, I do. If I can find Better Than a Lemonade Stand used but “like new,” I’ve saved and the gift is still “shiny.” I can often buy two or three used books for the price of one newbie–the guts are the same, even if the cover has a crinkle. (More on used gifts here.)

Make it myself…or don’t make it myself. Adding up the cost in both time and money, sometimes it costs more to make a gift than to buy it. If, however, my family makes gifts together–oh, what a joy!

I love experience gifts, and they do not have to be expensive. I have a precious friend who made an incredible tea-time binder for her daughter, complete with monthly activities for them to do together. Those are year-long memories that money can never replace. How about scheduling a year’s worth of picnics or lunch dates with Grandma?

I frequently cross category lines in my budget. If I can fill stockings with things I have to buy my kids anyway–toothbrushes, fingernail clippers, socks, undies, food–the money is legitimately available from another category. Some of my older kids say they’re on to me, and that toothbrushes and undies don’t fly anymore. They also said I am no longer allowed to give them schoolbooks for Christmas–humbugs. Still, if it’s educational, I can budget some of the homeschool money into that category to cover it, as long as I’ll still be okay down the line. I can also dip into the clothing budget for that stellar hat for my hat-crazy daughter. Serious budgeters are passing out right now. Sorry.

I try to keep Christmas clutter-free by buying less, but buying smarter. We don’t play eenie-meenie in the toy aisle or at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. We try to give thoughtfully…or edibly. To quote my then-15-year-old, Elisabeth, “If it isn’t useful or edible, I don’t want to find a place to put it.” Elisabeth does not want clutter. Period. To quote my son, Elijah, “I love Legos.” Elijah would enjoy a single set of Legos far more than half a dozen other gifts randomly selected from Toys R Us. Perhaps you’ve heard of the three gift Christmas, or this diddy: something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. Of course, my kids would say they want, need, and can read books, and surely they could figure out a way to wear them.

For specific gift ideas that qualify under my simple and frugal principles, check out these two posts:

A Simple Christmas–10 Easy Gift Ideas (My favorites are 2, 6, and 7, although you all know number one ranks pretty high up there!)
The Simple Homemaker’s Big Long List of Affordable Gift Ideas (It’s up to 150 and growing!)

This book by my friend Stacy will give you a few (as on 100) affordable ideas as well:

100 Days of Frugal Christmas Gifts

What are your tips for keeping Christmas affordable?

Photo credit (text mine)

Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas: Week Three Mission

This week’s mission is simple and fun–gift planning. Let’s jump right in like me diving into my mom’s cookie platter on Christmas morning. Mmm-mmm.

Planning Your Gift List

1. Write down everyone (and I do mean everyone) who receives gifts from you at Christmas.

2. Jot down what you would like to give them this Christmas.

3. Go back and look at your budget from week 2. Write next to each person’s name how much you can spend.

4. Cross off the items you would like to give people for Christmas, and write down what you realistically can give them.

5. Once your list is solid, start buying, baking, or making with a goal of being finished by December 1. My goal is November 1–ack! If you are planning on homemade gifts, schedule a timeframe for making them and include it in your calendar. (Obviously, food gifts may need an extension on that–nothing says “Jesus is born” like a container of stale cookies.)

6. Tattoo your list on your arm. That’s my way of saying stick to the list and record everything! If you see an amazing tool your husband needs and it’s on sale and you have to buy it, do so, but cross off “ugly sweater,” so you’re not over-spending. Also, include the cost of everything you buy, even the chapstick for his stocking and the ingredients for the cookies you’re giving the mailman. You might have to adjust (or live on beans and rice for a while) to make your budget work.

Just a note:

In the real world, sometimes people are busy, evasive, or disinterested in thrilling topics such as the budget. In my case, I often need to work on my timing–no man wants to talk budgets during a Packer game, duh! If that’s your situation, do what I’ve done in years past, and move ahead the best you can based on what you know. If you know what your budget has been in previous years, and you know how or if your circumstance has changed, write down those estimates and share them as a conversation igniter after a green and gold win.

I’ve got a few tips for creative frugality in my next post. Until then, see you in aisle 7.

Accountability Time

How did you do on last week’s mission, budgeting your holidays?

I did bring up our Christmas budget to my husband at our weekly planning meeting. We went over our budget, assessed our current responsibilities, and discussed our need to reorder all four of our CDs. It’s bleak…bleaker than the past several years. Music missionaries don’t have big Christmas accounts, and this year falls pretty much on my shoulders.

I have my tidy stash from Mr. Rebates, Ebates, Pinecone Research, and Swagbucks, which generally covers a child at Christmas. I have something tucked away from my Amazon commission which I earn whenever anybody shops through my Amazon link. We are reusing our two-year-old’s unopened birthday gifts ($2.75 expenditure at a garage sale) for Christmas. That leaves six kids and a husband, as well as nieces, nephews, moms…. We don’t have a pastor, teachers, neighbors, or a mailman since we’re on the road full-time.

I spent most of my article-selling money on homeschool books, but I can still write. I’ll be doing a little extra article work until then, grabbing some low hanging fruit, so to speak.

I did not write down any solid numbers, because I haven’t any…except 50%. Cut costs by 50%. Who doesn’t love a holiday challenge?

How are you doing on your missions? Share your progress in the comments.

Five Quick Money-Saving Resources

This post contains referral links indicated by an asterisk*. If you sign up through our links, not only do you save money, but you support our Christian music mission and help spread the Gospel through song. You also help educate my kids, which is really swell of you. You can also support us by doing your Christmas shopping through our Amazon*, Dayspring*, Walmart*, or Christian Book* links. Thank you so much!

This week in Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas we’re talking about budgeting for Christmas. There are three ways to make your budget work with your finances.

Make more money.
Buy less.
Save money on what you buy.

Normally I’m all about number 2, which you’ll see in next week’s posts, but today I’m sharing my go-to Christmas shopping tips based on numbers 1 and 3.

I have a few quick resources that will help you save money buying what you were going to buy anyway or help you earn money doing what you were going to do anyway. Here goes:

Rebate sites for online shopping.

There are many, but the two I have been on for the last umpteen gazillion years (that’s an exaggeration) are Ebates* and Mr.Rebates*. Both serve me well.

Here’s how they work:

Sign up at Ebates* and/or Mr.Rebates* (and get their current bonus).
Before you head to, say, Toys R Us online, go to a rebate site (I go to both to see which has the biggest cash back).
Click through the link on the rebate site. It will take you to the shopping site.
If the rebate site offers coupon codes, snag them.
Shop as usual.
Find a nice little rebate notice in your email telling you how much you get back. Cash it out at Christmas. You won’t get rich, but it does help fill a stocking or two.
Share your referral link with your friends. If they sign up through your link, you each get a percentage back from their shopping.

Understand that the rebate site you use needs to be your most recent access to the site. In other words, if I go to Toys R Us from Mr. Rebates, then leave TRU and go back to it from, say, Retail-Me-Not (see below), I will not get my rebate. Retail-Me-Not will. Basically, just stay on task and on site and you’re good.

Search engine rewards.

The one I use is Swagbucks*. My hubby claims it’s not as good as Google, but it works fine for me. If it’s a deep research project I’m working on, I switch to Google…because, my hubby, you know.

Here’s how it works:

Sign up at Swagbucks*.
Search as usual through the site; load their search bar on your computer to make this easy.
Earn points called SB for, oh, about every fifth search. You can also do other things, like watch videos and take surveys for rewards, but my time is worth more than my SB, so I don’t usually do this. You can also shop through Swagbucks just like a rebate site, but I prefer the rebate sites…they’re prettier.
Send your friends your link, because you earn SB for the their searches as well.
Cash out rewards. I always cash out points for a $5 Amazon gift card. It usually provides me about $30 each Christmas, which isn’t enough to buy the Taj Mahal, but seriously people, that’s a tomb, and where would I put it anyway?

Coupon Codes

Never shop without a coupon code! Mr. Rebates and Ebates often have coupon codes, but I also check Retail-Me-Not. Be aware that if you click through a site from Retail-Me-Not, they receive a rebate from the site.

How it works:

Go there.
Search for a store.
Browse and select a coupon code.
Click through the site and go shopping or grab the code and go back to your favorite rebate site and go shopping. (I like to thank them for their hard work by clicking through their link when they find me a nice juicy coupon code.)
Insert the code at check-out. Sometimes the code is automatically inserted, but always check.

Walmart Price Match and Savings Catcher

You already know that Walmart matches prices, so get busy and get matching. The problem is, you are busy without the matching. Since they introduced their Savings Catcher program, price matching is a little easier (although not necessarily as effective).

Here’s what you do:

Shop at Walmart.
Sign up for a Savings Catcher account at Walmart.com*.
Use your smartphone to scan the bar code or QR code at the bottom of your receipt. If you don’t have a smartphone, log onto your computer and type it in.
In about three days, they’ll let you know whose prices won. Cash out. I save all my “winnings” and cash out when it’s time to do some Christmas shopping.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, but I know you have something up your sleeve.

I’d love to hear your secret little shopping tips! Share in the comments.

Photo Credit: David Porter (Text and screen mine)

A Simple Christmas: Plan to Not Over-Plan

For twelve simple Christmas missions and more simple Christmas encouragement and fun wrapped up with a pretty bow and delivered to your email inbox, sign up for my updates. (Okay, there is no bow.) For even more guidance and encouragement, buy my book.

One of the biggest “secrets” to a simple Christmas is planning to not over-plan. (It’s not really a secret, because I talk about it in my book; if it were a secret, like where I keep my chocolate stash, I would only tell a long-distance bestie. Long-distance because it’s chocolate, and if my bestie were close by and knew…well, chocolate, people. Moving on.)

Here’s how you plan to not over-plan.

Conscientiously schedule the weeks and even months leading up to Christmas as we discussed in our week one mission.

When you have inserted all your obligations and faves, insert blank days. That doesn’t mean you leave the day blank. It means you fill it with something like “Blank Day.” I hope you would be more creative, like “Regulating the Chocolate Stash Day” or “Replenishing Brain Cells Day” or “Staring Into Space Day” or “Intentionally Accomplish Nothing Day.”

Since it is the Christmas season, you could get a little more festive with your day naming. How about “Listening to Christmas Music Day” or “Savoring the Season Day.” Then, when you get invited to your thirteenth Christmas party of the season, you can honestly look at your calendar, see “Wearing Jingle Bell Socks and Going Nowhere Day” and say, “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m booked.”

In all seriousness…

Schedule days to do nothing. Those “nothing” days could actualy contain things like “Watch White Christmas” or “Make an Advent Calendar” or “Look at Christmas Lights With the Hubby.” Whatever your family most wants to do this Christmas should be on that calendar, with all the fun little “nothings” that make life so special written in on the blank days. That way, nothing worthwhile (the fun little nothings) will get bumped for, say, an eggnog party with your dog groomer’s neighbor’s manicurist’s bird.

Also in all seriousness…

When people call, conscientiously check your calendar and see if whatever they are asking you to do is worth sacrificing a blank day. It is on the blank days when the most family bonding takes place. After all, isn’t that why we’re simplifying Christmas—to focus on what matters most?

Do not sacrifice the blank days!

Are we on the same page here? Good.

By the way, I need your opinion. What are your thoughts on a “Running Through the Snow in Our Undies Day?” When people call and ask me to volunteer for this, that, and the other, I tell them I can’t because we’re obligated to run through the snow in our undies. They don’t call back. It’s far more effective than the Do Not Call List, although neither one works on politicians.

How do you keep from overbooking Christmas?

Thank you Dafne Cholet for the image. (Alterations mine)

Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas: Week One Mission

Your mission this week, should you choose to accept it (and I recommend you do), is the first of three steps of the planning stage. Our planning missions deal with time, money, and food. Because I value time over money and slightly more than food, we will begin there.

The first thing I want you to plan is to plan to not over-plan. Commit to not overfilling your schedule, overextending your family, and spreading yourself like butter scraped over too much bread. Make this commitment, and then remind yourself of it every single time you’re tempted to overbook your Christmas. (More on this next time.)

Now, time for the Christmas schedule planning.

Grab your calendar (or your calendar app) and write down (or type) the following:

Where you will be for all the upcoming holidays and when. If you are traditionally at a certain person’s house or you stay home, this should be simple. If you rotate annually or have no set pattern, work on getting those details nailed down this week.
Add in all the activities you choose to be a part of. Some you know right now, but others are still sketchy–write them down as soon as the invitations or notices come in, such as church programs or office parties. Call people for info if you need it. Do it!
Write down all deadlines and requirements–shopping deadlines, card-mailing deadlines, shipping deadlines, cookie-baking for a school party, packing days…you know the drill.
Schedule in downtime and family fun, or you won’t have it. Include your family in this. Ask them what they absolutely want to do this Christmas to ensure their favorite holiday fun is included. This is super important!

Need some ideas of what could be on your calendar? Consider these to get the ol’ hamster in the head running and the idea wheel turning:

Set a gift-buying deadline.
Schedule a family Christmas photo picture day. If it’s a pro session, call today and set it up. Today!
Set a card-mailing deadline if you do cards.
Set a wrapping deadline.
Set a shipping deadline well ahead of the USPS’ deadline.
Set a stocking stuffer shopping deadline.
Choose a decorating day.
Pick a gift wrapping day or deadline if you wrap as you go.
Set a deadline for any homemade gifts you’re making.
Do you bake? Set grocery shopping and baking deadlines.
Add your kids’ and spouse’s school and office Christmas functions.
Add club and church functions if you know about them.
Call nearby relatives and ask about their kids’ events.
Write in any set family events, like the New Year’s Eve party your aunt holds every year.
Schedule in family fun: movie night, Christmas light viewing, attending the live nativity, delivering cookies to shut-ins, Christmas caroling, craft day–whatever you want to do.

Simple! Now grab that calendar and get it done! You can do this! You can have a peaceful Christmas–start today.

For more guidance in scheduling your Christmas without feeling stretched, buy my book, From Frazzled to Festive: Finding Joy and Meaning in a Simple Christmas.

Did you do it? Did you start your planning?

Holding myself accountable: Each week I will tell you what I have done to follow the missions. Since this is the first week, and there technically shouldn’t be pre-mission homework, I’m in the clear. Next week, however, is a different story!

Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas 2017

It’s time once again to start thinking about Christmas. Whether you go all out or you buy a box of Oreos and eat them all while singing Away in a Manger, Christmas will be here before you know it. I want you to be prepared. That is why I am once again running my annual series entitled Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas. It’s like the song Twelve Days of Christmas, except I won’t sing it. You’re welcome.

Here’s the lowdown:

This series will obviously be about twelve weeks long…unless, of course, Christmas is cancelled, I move to a country chalet in France our nine-year-old has been begging for, or I just plain quit so I have more time for my new crazy book about our crazy ol’ life, any of which could happen.

This is what you’ll find here over The Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Christ focus–SIMPLE ways to keep the Christmas focus heavenward
a weekly goal to accomplish so the basics are ready on time and you’re not rushed. I’m talking basics.
AFFORDABLE and SIMPLE gift ideas, mostly posted on Facebook as I find them, but there will also be a running list posted on the blog to ignite ideas in your noggin (you’re on the blog now–don’t panic.)
a few simple and fun recipes, activity, and craft ideas that I want you to completely ignore if you don’t have time for them. I’ll be ignoring them right along with you.
thoughts on a simple holiday season and what really matters–spoiler alert: Jesus, others, you (Joy).
shameless plugging of my book From Frazzled to Festive: Finding Joy and Meaning in a Simple Christmas. Also, lots of honesty.

Notice the theme? SIMPLE!

Our missions are as follows:

Week 1: Plan Your Schedule
Week 2: Plan Your Budget
Week 3: Plan Your Gifts
Week 4: Plan Your Meals
Week 5: Wrapping Station
Week 6: Decoration Prep
Week 7: Take Your Photos and Order Your Cards
Week 8: Mail Cards and Freeze Cookie Dough
Week 9: Wrap and Deliver Gifts
Week 10: Laundry (Church Outfits, Guest Bedding, Table Cloth, Gift PJs)
Week 11: Wrap Up Loose Ends
Week 12: Help Others

If you’re looking for a Martha Stewart Christmas or an over-booked calendar, you’re on the wrong blog. Sorry–except I’m not. If you’re interested in spending more time enjoying the people in your life, the chocolate in your pantry, and the pillow in your bedroom, and less time running around like a frazzled frazzly thing, stick around!

Also, check out my book, From Frazzled to Festive: Finding Joy and Meaning in a Simple Christmas. It will give your head an overhaul and help you put the joy back in Christmas, which is a great pre-Christmas gift for anyone! (Told you I’d be plugging that baby!)

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on any Christmas updates. You can also follow my Christmas pinboard where these links will be posted regularly…unless of course I move to France or Christmas is cancelled. It could happen.

If there’s anything specific, simple, and doable you would like to see here over the Twelve Weeks of a Simple Christmas, or if there is a topic you would like me to ramble about from my simple perspective, please leave a comment. I love your comments…unless you’re a spammer. Then, not so much.

What would you like to see here in the next twelve weeks?

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