The Elf Blog

Christmas Countdown -- Three Months To Go

Christmas Eve is three months from today.  That means it's time to kick the Christmas countdown into high gear. 

Within the next month, you need to complete the following tasks:

• Make your holiday travel arrangements.
• If you are throwing a party, let folks know to save the date.
• Update your Christmas card address list.
• Build your Christmas gift list.  You don't have to start shopping yet, but you should at least decide who you'll be shopping for.
• If you plan to make gifts or decorations, purchase all craft supplies and start work, if possible.
• Pull out your holiday recipe file and start narrowing down the ones you want to try.
• Make room in the cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer for the holiday surplus.
• Finalize your holiday budget and make sure you know where the money is coming from.  If you don't have enough saved, you need to reduce the budget.
• Stop buying things you don't absolutely need.  Put them on your Christmas list instead.

the sooner you start, the higher the chances that three months from today, you'll be cosily esconced in a chair, drinking hot cocoa, eating homemade cookies, and watching a Christmas movie -- not making a mad dash through the mall only to come home to defrost the turkey with a hair dryer before pulling an all-nighter to finish crafts and wrapping.

T Minus 10

Thanksgiving is only ten weeks away.  Within the next two weeks, it's important that you do the following:

• Finalize any travel plans, buying tickets and making hotel reservations if necessary.
• Request time off from work if you'll need it for travel or preparations.
• Of you are hosting, make your master schedule for cleaning, shopping, table-setting, and cooking.
• If you'll have overnight guests, decide on the sleeping accomodations and begin de-cluttering the guest room.
• Go through your recipe folders to come up with a basic menu -- for the holiday itself and for the surrounding days.  If necessary, test any new recipes you plan to try.
• Begin making space in cabinets, fridge, and freezer.

An Elf Recommendation

On my recent vacation, I visited a magical place.  No, not the North Pole.  In my world, that's a business trip!

I made two visits to the Spa at Colonial Williamsburg.  Any spa treatment comes with access to the steam room, hot tub, and lounges.  The amenities include everything from beauty products and chilled cloths dampened with lavender water to custom-blended teas and almonds.  (You can purchase the beauty products and teas at the spa boutique.  If you run out once you get home, they'll ship.)

The staff is solicitous and professional; thoroughly competent, yet charming and helpful. A wide variety of treatments are offered, so you have plenty of choice.  They even have a special suite where couples or mothers and daughters or best friends can receive treatments side-by-side.

There is one significant danger:  you may never want to leave, it's so relaxing and lovely.

Now, you'll notice this blog post isn't categorized as a money-saving venture.  Well, it isn't one.  This isn't an inexpoensive treat.  It's a splurge.  But it's worth it!

Back from Vacation -- with Some Strategies

I am back from acation and slowly getting back into the swing of my ordinary daily life.  But before I get totally immersed in the ordinary, I wanted to share a few strategies I used during my recent vacation.

Before you go, check out the places you plan to visit on the Internet.  By doing advance research online, I was able to save on hotel rooms, attraction tickets, and food costs.  You can also try googling the place you are visiting with the word "discount" but most of the links will take you to places trying to sell you vacation packages.

Once you arrive, check out your a travel center or your hotel for discount coupon books.  You are likely to find coupons for local restaurants.

Another great thing to do is to talk with the people you meet who live in the area -- for example, the people who work at an amusement park or a museum.  Ak them where locals go.  I've had some of my favorite travel meals that way.

Finally, when planning your vacation, decide what you are willing to splurge on:  location, trabnsportation, food, accommodations, things to see and do, souvenir shopping, etc.  Unless you are independently wealthy, you likely can't splurge on all of those.  (If you are independently wealthy, please call me.  I have a business proposition for you!) Pick what matters to you and spend money on that.  Maybe you really want to visit someplace that has high admission fees.  Save money on food or stay in a less expensive hotel.  If you want to stay in a nice place, maybe you go off-season or you don't travel as far.  As in most of life, the point is to decide what you really want and plan to get it.

On Vacation

I'm on vacation this week.  I planned transportation, hotel, and attraction tickets well in advance.  I made a reservation for the one things that's don't miss.  And I searched online to find some interesting restaurants.

Beyond those basics, the time is unscheduled.  I'll have flexibility each day, depending on the weather, my energy level, and what catches my fancy.

For me, that's my favorite type of vacation.  I'm not rushed trying to accomplish the maximum amount of "fun" in a limited time.  I can relax and enjoy whatever comes my way.

Vacation Planning

If you haven't made any vacation plans yet, now is the time to get moving! 

Obviously, money is tight everywhere, so you may need to scale back your plans.  But big plans or small ones, you do need time to rest, relax, and refresh.

If you do have money available for a vacation, you may find your dollars going farther than expected.  There are lots of special deals available this summer, due to the ecoomic downturn.  Plane fares are lower and bus fares are two for one.  Many vacation destinations (theme parks, historical sites, etc.) are offering exceptional deals, especially if you book online.

If you want to save money, spend a little time online looking for deals.  Check newspaper travel sections and chambers of commerce and tourist commissions to get ideas and to ask if there are any special deals.  Look at packages, but also price the packages separately.  You may get a far better deal booking pieces separately.  Use online bidding sites to price rental cars.

You can also save money on food and extras.  Many hotels offer a complimentary breakfast.  Take advantage of it.  Hit a grocery store or farmers' market to buy fruit as snacks -- healthier and cheaper than fast food.  Don't do pay movies on the hotel television.  Bring a laptop and some rental DVDs instead. No one needs the tacky souvenirs, so don't bother.  If you shop as entertainment, think in terms of Christmas gifts so that you are spending money you would have spent anyway.

What other cost-cutting ideas can you add?

Business Travel

I realize that I didn't post any blogs last week.  I was on a trip for business.  When I had access to teh Internet, I was working and when I wasn't working, my Internet access was too slow to be useful.

Business travel can be an productive time apart from the actual purpose of the trip.  These trips take you out of your ordinary routine and often involve streches of downtime.  Unless you have one of those trips where you are scheduled nearly 24/7, there are lots of things you can accomplish:

• Write letters -- with actual pen and paper.  You have that lovely desk in your hotel room.  Why not use it?
• If you have to drive to a meeting, consider an audiobook.  Many libraries lend audiobooks without charge.
• If you are flying, airport waiting time and flights are excellent opportunities to catch up on books and journals.  You may be tempted to update files on your laptop, but how often do you get several hours with no phone and email?

• Try a new cuisine.  If there's a distinctive non-perishable regional ingredient, pick it up and add a new flavor to your repertoire.  (For example, sugar cane vinegar is available in parts of Louisiana.)  Pick up a few extra as Christmas gifts for the foodies on your list.

• If you have time to get around a city, stop in boutiques and shops that offer locally made products.  (If you happen upon a craft fair or art show or the like, even better!)  It's a great way to pick up unique gifts and make a dent in the Christmas shopping.

Travel Hints

If you are headed out of town for Christmas, here are some helpful hints:

• No matter the form of travel, leave yourself as much extra time as possible.  Traffic is likely to be heavy.  Airports will be crowded.  If you limit your need to rush, you'll arrive more relaxed.
• A related point, make sure you have an activity to occupy your waiting time: a book to read, a scarf to crochet, socks to knit, sudoku puzzles, a personal DVD player with earphones.
• Never enter an airport without a fully charged cell phone.  If your flight is cancelled, IMMEDIATELY call the toll-free customer number while you are getting into the ticket line.  Get help from whichever real person you talk to first.
• Do not wrap gifts before packing.  TSA may have to unwrap them.  Either wrap on arrival or use gift bags and tissue.
• Air travel limits on liquids are not suspended for Christmas.  These limits affect jams and jellies, perfumes, and Christmas spirits.  These things must be packed in checked baggage.  Remember:  many airlines charge for every bag you check -- even the first.
• No matter who you are traveling to visit, plan some things you can do on your own.  With all the Christmas preparations, your hosts will appreciate not having to entertain you.  If you take their kids with you, you will get invited back!

Thanksgiving is 6 Weeks Away

Thanksgiving is 6 weeks from today!  You don't need to start freaking out, but tere are some things you should be working on now.

If you will be traveling somewhere, plan the travel.  Buy bus, train, or plane tickets. Plan a few alternate car routes.  Decide when you'll need to leave ans schedule time off if necessary.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, start planning your guest list.  If folks will be coming from out of town, find them a place to stay or know where in your house you'll put them.

We'll get more specific about planning in a few weeks.  For the next two weeks, just get a sense of the scope of planning you'll need.

An Autumn Vacation

I am off for a 4 day weekend in New York (just outside Manhattan) to refresh and relax.  I'll do some shopping, spend time with friends, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

When I get back next week, I'll start a week-long series on how to live graciously and generously -- even in a bad economy.