Holidays
Spice Up Your Marriage With a… Budget!
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Okay, a budget may not exactly add romance to your marriage, but it may help reduce marital money fights. A new national survey I commissioned from the market research firm Synovate found that married people who use a budget experience fewer financial disagreements with their spouse than those who don’t use a budget (see the ... [Read more]
Keeping Cupid From Overspending
Monday, February 8th, 2010
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and since romance has a way of fogging our financial sensibilities, MSN is out with a helpful story about gift giving. According to researchers at Stanford University, gift recipients tend to appreciate inexpensive gifts as much as expensive gifts. Researchers explain that gift givers usually have a number ... [Read more]
A Peace That Transcends Understanding
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Each Christmas season, the bedtime routine for our young children changes to include singing some traditional Christmas carols like Silent Night and O Holy Night. The songs make for a soothing transition from playtime to bedtime. Silent night, holy night. I find the songs soothing as well, a helpful antidote to the Constant Negative News ... [Read more]
Frugal and Creative Gift Ideas
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Mix a tough economy with the biggest gift-buying season of the year and lots of us are looking for inexpensive yet meaningful gift ideas. Which is what makes this list of 50 gift ideas from BibleMoneyMatters.com so timely. The ideas range from the unusual, somewhat complex, and not too frugal (make your own digital picture ... [Read more]
Reconsidering the Gift Card
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Gift cards have been among the most popular gifts in recent years. However, there are signs that they are starting to fall out of favor, and for good reason. As MSN’s Liz Pulliam Weston pointed out, any store-branded card can become worthless if the retailer goes out of business. Other problems include the fact that ... [Read more]
Gifts for Job Seekers
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Chances are good that someone on your gift list this year is unemployed. The holidays can often make matters worse for someone without work. It’s harder to line up interviews, and all the emphasis on spending money on gifts can just compound the pain of a jobless person’s financial problems. That’s why, with the holidays ... [Read more]
One Simple Word
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Do you find it more difficult to feel thankful this year? Even if you still have your job, you probably know someone who has lost his or hers. Or have the tough times made you more aware of and thankful for some of life’s simple gifts? We have felt the pain of financial loss this ... [Read more]
Cash Back in Fashion
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Despite proclamations that the recession is over, most people are planning to keep a tight rein on their wallets this holiday season. And when they do pry their wallets open, fewer people will reach for their credit cards. Those are among the findings of surveys by the National Retail Federation and USAA. Using cash instead ... [Read more]
Help With Your Gift List
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
A new Consumer Reports survey offers helpful tips on what holiday gifts to buy and what to avoid. Gift cards are a common choice, and they still head the list of items people want (tied this year with electronics). However, since 25 percent of last year’s gift card recipients still haven’t used the cards, the ... [Read more]
The Blessing Box
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1 This month many of us will gather with family and friends for a Thanksgiving meal of turkey and stuffing. In many homes it’s a tradition to go around the table and have each person mention something for which they ... [Read more]
Christmas Sanity
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
December is right around the corner, and if you don’t plan ahead one of the most meaningful holidays could easily turn into one of the most stressful and costly times of year. Fortunately, lots of holiday-smart articles are filling the blogosphere these days, offering good reminders like the importance of setting and sticking to a ... [Read more]
No Holiday for Those Who Long to Labor
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
The three-day Labor Day weekend provided a much-needed respite for many people. But for many others, such as the 24 million people who are unemployed or underemployed, it may have been a painful reminder of their situation. An article on WalletPop encouraged those who are gainfully employed to reach out to those who are not ... [Read more]
Experiences Trump Possessions
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
What makes you happier–new stuff or enjoyable experiences? CNN reported on new research showing that for most people enjoyable experiences generate more lasting happiness than new stuff. Two key reasons are that experiences tend to involve other people and they’re better than material objects at generating feelings of vitality or “being alive.” I couldn’t agree ... [Read more]
Romance In, Spending Down
Monday, February 9th, 2009
A few more of us plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year (63% of all adults) than last year (61%). However, the economy is driving down how much we plan to spend. According to the National Retail Federation, those planning to celebrate this year say they will spend an average of $103 on their loved ... [Read more]
Gift Card Watch-Outs
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Despite a raft of bad publicity, gift cards continue to be a popular choice among holiday shoppers. If you give or receive a gift card this year, Consumer Reports offers some helpful advice. For givers, the magazine suggests steering clear of retailers that are known to be struggling (it’s tough to redeem a card from ... [Read more]
Gifts That Last
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
When shopping for gifts this year remember that the least expensive items are not always the best deals. Be sure to also consider how long a gift may last. As we considered what to buy our kids this year we were mindful of all the broken toys that fill our toy bins. So, we’re giving ... [Read more]
Deals That Delight
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
One upside to a down economy is that lots of products are on deep discount before Christmas. But which deals will truly satisfy? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, behavioral economists and psychologists have found that products that enrich your relationship with friends or family members rate the highest on the satisfaction scale. ... [Read more]
The Light of the World
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” – Luke 2:16-18 When the ... [Read more]
Giving THANKS
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Isn’t it great that the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving? There’s something good for the soul about pausing long enough to take stock of all that we have to be thankful for. And while I’ve mentioned the following idea before, I think it’s worth repeating. One of the best ways to remember all that we ... [Read more]
Thanks GIVING
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
In the midst of all the belt-tightening going on during these turbulent times, many charities are seeing an increase in donations. As reported by the Associated Press (which I heard about through Dan Miller’s excellent eNewsletter, 48 Days), Washington state’s largest food bank is getting calls from companies whose employees have decided to forgo their ... [Read more]
Save on Everything – Part Two
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
In the last issue of this eNewsletter I steered you to a blog post with links to some of the best money-saving ideas from around the blogosphere. Now, here’s a collection of some of the best holiday-related money saving ideas from various blogs. And, with an assist from a reader named Mary Ellen, here’s a ... [Read more]
More Gift Giving Tips
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
If you have a child on your gift list this year, buy them something that doesn’t require batteries. Such gifts usually require more imagination on the child’s part and less ongoing cost for the child’s parents. Also, do as much of your shopping as possible online. Whenever I’m shopping online I open three Internet windows–one ... [Read more]
The Gift of a Debt-Free Holiday
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
An estimated 12 million people are still paying off debts they racked up buying holiday gifts last year. That’s among the more sobering findings from a new holiday survey conducted by Consumer Reports. The lingering debts may be one reason why nearly 60 percent of people plan to use a gift budget this year–a much ... [Read more]
Stay Away From Layaway
Friday, October 24th, 2008
Buying “on layaway” is making a comeback. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Depression-era retail practice of letting shoppers put items away while they pay for them a little at a time is coming back in fashion. Analysts cite our rough economy, which has limited people’s access to credit. Kmart has even made ... [Read more]
It All Comes Down to This
Friday, February 1st, 2008
“No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG) If February had a theme, it would be, of course, love. Sure, Valentine’s Day has become a bit commercial, with everything from cakes to multi-carat diamonds available in the shape of a heart, but ... [Read more]
Completing Our Gift List
Friday, December 1st, 2006
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
- Matthew 25:40 This time of year the news is full of stories about shopping. How much will people spend on holiday gifts? Nearly $800 per person, according to the National Retail Federation. What ... [Read more]
Only One Thing Is Needed
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She ... [Read more]
