A recipe for a happy Christmas
Posted by Faith, 12 December 2008
Christmas is a time of giving:
We give to the supermarket for that ten-kilo ham
We give to our parents, our children and friends
Our letterbox gives up when all the bills land
But we keep on giving until credit ends
‘Tis a wonderful season for banks and HPs
But life’s not so merry in a credit card squeeze
Christmas! How do we get through this time, without losing our goals, our hearts, our wallets and our minds?
Here’s a recipe for a happy Christmas and a healthy bank statement.
Ingredients1 freezer, fridge and pantry of food
1 open mind and a bit of creativity
A few friends or family members to jump in and help
1 free day or weekend to really have some fun.
Start by throwing open your pantry and freezer doors and rummaging through the contents. I bet there’s something in there that you can use to make a few family meals or snacks, which will save you heaps instead of spending at the supermarket.
Wonderful chrissie presentsIs there anything to make jams, mince tarts, pickles or chutneys as Christmas presents? These are delicious and always appreciated. Get a load of cast-off jars from friends and family and get out your favourite recipes.
Celebrations and partiesInstead of going out to a lot of restaurants for Christmas celebrations, why not get your friends together and either go to each others’ houses, or take a picnic to a favourite place. If you all bring a plate, you can enjoy a variety of foods for far less cost.
Spreading the Christmas cheer
Send personalised Christmas messages via email to friends and family who are far away, instead of spending up on cards and stamps.For more saving ideas, check out my list of super saving tips:
http://www.keepingthefaith.co.nz/financial_planning_faith_blog_291107.cfm
In a pantry sort-out the other day, I discovered some close-to-expiry-date flour and baking mix. When friends dropped by unexpectedly, I was able to whip up a batch of scones, instead of racing to the local dairy for some expensive biscuits and snacks.
It’s been ages since I baked at home and it was an almost forgotten pleasure to get my hands into the floury mix. While kneading the dough I suddenly remembered something my Nana used to make for me – play dough the old-fashioned way. She added a lot of salt to preserve the dough and then coloured it red with cochineal.
As my friends had a couple of small children with them, I got the kids to help make an extra batch of play dough just for them. They loved the doughy sensation on their hands as much as I did.
So, while us “big kids” settled down to scrumptious scones with jam and butter, the young-uns were playing with their own freshly made play dough, using my cookie cutters to make shapes. All this fun, not the mention the compliments, cost almost nothing!
I reckon it’s time we reacquainted ourselves with some home fun basics like this. Things our grandparents and parents taught us, that we’ve almost forgotten.
Competition - Grand saving ideas I learned from an older generation
Be in to win by Monday, 22 December:
Do you have creative ways to save money that you’ve learned from an older person? Please send as many saving tips as you can to me via the contact page.
The best tip for saving money will win the person who sent it in a free copy of my next book: Faith Speaks – Money Talks, which is due out in February 2009.
There is no limit on the number of entries. The winner will be announced and the book posted to you at no charge immediately after the launch.
And, for all of you, I will collate the suggestions and circulate them in enough time to help you through the January holidays.
---ends---
Want to know more about how to make better choices about money? Check out Faith’s Fact Sheet.
"Keeping the Faith - Travel the World" is now for sale. Click here to buy a book.
See previous blogs:
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Can you grow a money tree?
What's holding you back?
Money or your life - which has more value?
The seven secret thieves
Five questions to change your life
Find that spark
Switching lives - what would you choose?
Who can I trust to help grow my money?
How to swim in a sea of money
Life can be unfair
The rule of happiness
No way to live
Anyone can be good with money
Best ways to warm up winter
Who wants to be a millionaire?
The secret of wealth
Keeping your money safe
Having it all
Win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Europe (Part 3)
Win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Europe (Part 2)
Win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Europe (Part 1)
Make a change for good
A recipe for a happy Christmas
Nothing else matters
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Make a wish come true
Buying or Selling a House – Those that care least, usually succeed
When is a good time to buy a house?
Sleepless Nights in a War Zone
Transitions - more life or more of the “same old, same old” boring stuff?