Simple Suggestions on Gift-Giving

Some Thoughts on Gift-Giving

1.  Remember, it is not so much what you give for a gift as it is the thought behind the gift.

2.  Think about the person you are buying for, what do they like?  What are their passions?  What are their favorite colors?  Do they have a favorite sport?  Or a team they follow?  Answers to these questions will give you insight into what a person would appreciate.

3.  When they give gifts, what type of gifts do they give?  Normally people do what they wish others would do for them? 

4.  How much you spend on a gift may mean different things to people....some people are sentimental while others are into price and the bling.  Know the person you are buying for. 

• 
  
  If it is a new relationship, best to go simple, practical, and reasonable enough to say I care but not to scare them away if they haven't expressed an interest in you.
• 
  
  If you are engaged or married, sentimental and quality is the way to go.  Let the person truly know that you know what they need....keep the gift personal like don't buy a household item for your "sweetie" unless they told you they want that item as a gift.
• 
  
  Most men who are significant in your life like electronics, etc. but feelings need to be mutual as most electronics are costly.

5.  You may want to try shopping online to save time from going to multiple stores.  However, check to see if shipping cost can be waived...it often is waived with a minimal purchase amount.

• 
  
  Think in advance who you might want to shop for by asking yourself, how many people do you want to buy birthday gifts for in the next few months and try to buy them together if you can.
• 
  
  Remember only to put your personal information for purchase on sites that have secure paysites indicated by https at check out.  You may want to open up a paypal account to use for purchases from all sites to know you have a secure site to make purchases as you might not trust the publishers of the website.  https://www.paypal.com/.  If you don't know what to get, old fashioned money or a gift card to a place that the person enjoys always works and saves time.  You can gift cards at places like:
• 
  
  Qdoba https://qdoba.com/Secure/QCash.aspx
• 
  
  McDonald's   http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/services/arch_card.html
• Cheesecake Factory (You can also order online frozen cheesecake to be shipped to that person) http://shop.thecheesecakefactory.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Home_-1_10251_10001
• Applebee's http://www.applebees.com/GiftCardLanding.aspx
• Champs https://champps.com/Gifts.aspx
• And most restaurants

7.  If the person is stressed and and needs a little TLC, paying for a massage or a manicure/pedicure by giving a gift certificate is fine.

8.  Some folks just like you to spend some quality time with them and doing something that they enjoy. Remember this day is not about you, it is about him/her. :-)   If necessary, just ask what they would like for their birthday.

I love celebrating birthdays because it is the only day that I truly get to celebrate another. I love celebrating holidays because it's about family and friends being together and being thankful for each other. 

Some Great Online Safe Sites to Check Out

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.ebay.com/
http://www.kohls.com/

http://www.walmart.com/

http://www.sears.com/
http://www.target.com/
http://www.1800flowers.com/ Floral arrangements and other gifts
https://www.ediblearrangements.ae/  Delicious fruit baskets and gift baskets



Saving Money and Buying with Coupons in a Struggling Economy

Saving Money with Coupons

Using coupons, by the way, is not old-fashion....it saves money.  I came across a dear friend who is a middle age man who uses coupons that take a few minutes to gather but he saves hundreds a year.  Sound good? :-)  So where do you get coupons from:

1.  You could order the local paper and get the Sunday and Thursday specials which is relatively inexpensive, especially if you don't like excessive daily papers.

2.  Monthly mailings that come to your house.

• Best to browse them within a week of going through them and cut out the ones you are likely to use and discard the stuff you know you won't use...no need for extra paper, i.e..junk. :-)
• Keep them in a bag or something unique in your car so when you go out somewhere, like the grocery store or Steak and Shake, you have them and you are saving money.
• Quarterly go through your coupons (3-4 times a year) and throw away outdated ones are ones that you just don't or haven't used because no one needs to collect junk. :-)

3.  Other ways to get coupons on the net include, doing a search for coupons,  a few good sites I have come across include: 

Food Items, etc.

http://www.grocerycoupons4u.com/go-cpns.php

http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=13374&zid=lg03&nid=10&bid=alk1001141024cf7a787ab21912

Social Events:

http://partners.livingsocial.com/cities/17-indianapolis?do_not_redirect=1&gwo_id=0433631901&hdnv=true&ref=msadcen_IND&ver=313

Shopping/Repairs, etc.

http://www.mycoupons.com/

http://www.offers.com/sears

* If you don't see what you like, think of a place you want to shop from and list the name of the place and the word "coupon" in the search engine above and see what comes up?  You never know until you look."

Six Simple Steps to Get out of Debt

Debts can be a burden emotionally,physically, and spiritually!



1.  Buy a calender and a notebook as you will write in these a plan to get out of debt.

2.  Write down all your bills in the notebook including pay-off balances, APRs, and monthly recurring fees. Example:.
Bill                              APR                    Balance Due                 Monthly

Wells Fargo                6.9%                   $1,200                         $100
Walmart                    19.9%                   $2,500                         $60

• Figure out the bills that need to be paid off right away due to high APRs and low balances.
• Try to pay off small bills first.
•  Pay a little extra every month to the bill you want to pay off, then once it is paid off, pay off another bill.
• Try to avoid getting into more debt, avoid charging during this time.

4.  Put all recurring bills on a calender (monthly) so you know when and what bills are due for the month - writing the specific bill and how much is due on its due date.  This practice will help to avoid late fees. 

5.  On another page in your notebook, write the specific dates you get paid during the month. Say I get paid on the 7th and the 21st of the month.  Therefore, I write out  the bills that I need to pay from looking at my calender that indicates due dates of bills and I figure my strategy to pay them before they are due.  I sometimes may need to look to the following month to ensure my strategy will work.

 For example, bills that are due by the 7th are:                             
 Wells Fargo (due the 5th)                      $100                            
 Food Expenses                                    $ 100
 Sears                                                   $  30

Due by the 21st:
Walmart                    $  60
Food Expenses          $100
                                              

• Remember to put all expenses on your calender/notebook including groceries, gas, spending money, etc.

* Now You Can See If You Have Extra Funds to Pay on a Selected Bill to Pay Off.*

5.   Save a little each check for yourself, even if it is only $ 5.00 so if you should have an emergency, etc., you have money, and don't have to borrow it.

6.  Get in a habit of giving 10% of your income to a local church or in giving to others as the habit of giving reaps mental, physical, and spiritual rewards.

Other Great Resources:

Student Debt http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/110724/digging-out-of-student-debt
Financial Guide for Students http://www.finaid.org/loans/
Practical Steps to Get out of Debt in a Bad Economy http://www.central-florida-magazine.com/practical-steps-to-get-out-of-debt-even-in-a-bad-economy/
Smart Savers http://www.pinoysmartsavers.com/guide006.html
3 Simple Ways to Get Out of Debt http://www.articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/3-simple-practical-steps-to-get-out-of-debt-2979064.html
Financial Advice for Couples http://marriage.about.com/od/finances/p/financialadvice.htm