Thursday December 3, 2009
Each December, I mail about eight packages of gifts to family members who live in various parts of the country. I know--with the ease of e-gifts, gift cards, and retailers who offer free shipping, I'm making more work for myself than necessary! But packages are so much fun to open, and I want each family member receiving them to feel special and know that they are remembered, despite the miles that separate us.
The only problem is that this little Santa project gets to be quite expensive! Over the years, I've learned to cut costs with these tips:
- Buy easy-to-mail, lightweight gifts. No more color-your-own umbrellas that require over-sized mailing boxes! Instead, I've learned to choose small gifts that aren't heavy and can easily be wrapped and packaged.
- Use your own boxes and packaging tape. Do not buy boxes at the post office, unless you're using a flat-rate Priority Mail with the USPS.
- Mail them early. Don't get stuck paying overnight or two-day shipping rates. Planning ahead and mailing your gifts early can save a lot of money. Plus, you can even print postage from your home computer and have the boxes picked up at your front door for free!
- Forgo the extra insurance. Unless you're sending something fragile or very expensive, you can skip this additional cost.
- Consolidate packages, if possible. Don't mail separate packages to relatives who live near one another and will likely see each other over the holidays. Instead, mail your gifts to one person who can then pass them out to the others over the holiday season.
For tips on making your packages even more fun to receive, read Mailing Gifts and Packages to Your Kids.
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel:
Tuesday December 1, 2009
Do you dread the thought of discussing your holiday parenting time schedule? Do you feel like your ex is going to resist your request just to spite you, or has lost all memory of the last-minute changes you allowed last year?
Try to approach the conversation with a genuine sense of openness. As best you can, leave the past in the past, and communicate your goals clearly and honestly. In addition, be willing to listen to his or her parenting time requests, and aim for a compromise that allows both of you to get at least part of the time you're asking for.
For more tips on working out a holiday parenting schedule that meet all of your needs--including your kids'--read:
Monday November 30, 2009
Are you ready to do something creative and fun? It might surprise you how much doing something "mindless"--like a simple craft project--can take your mind off everything else and help you truly relax with your kids.
Start with these simple Advent calendars to help you count down the days until Christmas, and then try some of these simple homemade ornaments you can make with stuff you already have around the house.
More Holiday Resources:
Photo © Jennifer Wolf, licensed to About.com.
Saturday November 28, 2009
This week's highlights include turkey recipes, an update on Nadya Suleman, and more.
On the Blogs:
Son Spends Four Days in Juvie for Refusing to Visit Father - Cathy explores the possible back-story to this unfortunate event.
Leftover Turkey Recipes - Stephanie shares some tasty ways to use up any leftover turkey that's still lurking in your refrigerator.
In the News:
Octomom Puts Family in Front of Cameras to Pay the Bills - In an exclusive interview for Good Morning America, Nadya Suleman explains how much it costs to raise her 14 children, and where she gets the money to sustain her family.
Habitat for Humanity Home is More Than Walls to Single Mom - An Ohio mother and her four children moved into their Habitat for Humanity home just in time for Thanksgiving.
Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
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