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Money-Saving Tips for Happy and Financially Healthy Holidays
One of the fastest ways people get overwhelmed during the holidays is by overspending. Being financially unprepared for the holiday season leads to bad habits and poor choices that have serious repercussions at the beginning of the new year. Holiday spending is more than buying gifts, it’s usually a bunch of small things that add up. Things like- Décor Groceries Extra activities Extra giving/donations AND Gifts Money leaking out here and there for expenses you don’t have any other time of year adds up and can cause debt or overspending. Stress starts building up with each purchase and what should be a fun time of year starts to feel overwhelming.…
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Day 9. Surprise Gifts
Welcome to Day 9 of the “30 Days Blessed This Christmas Blogging and Social Media Challenge. Today we’re going to explore the concept of surprise gifts from unexpected people at unexpected times or places. When we think of surprise gifts, maybe something material comes to mind, like a certificate for a therapeutic massage. This is a nice present, no doubt. But it’s not the kind of gift we’re referring to in this gratitude exercise. A surprise gift, in this case, refers to a “kiss from the universe,” or something unexpected yet delightful, that seems to be exactly what you need at just the perfect time. What might be some good…
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Day 8. Nourish Your Soul
Ever think about taking a day to clear your mind, replenish your spirit and feed your soul? Sometimes your soul gets hungry. You want something more, something deeper and more meaningful. You feel a bit low, empty even. When someone asks of your time and energy, you have this vague sense of not being able to provide. This is a serious soul-state that needs tending to. It’s hard to feel blessed in the beauty and joy that’s ever present in our world, when we’re low on sustenance for our soul. You don’t need a lot of money to feed your soul. You don’t need an appointment at the nail salon…
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Is It Time to Break Some Holiday Traditions?
Traditions are part of what makes the holidays memorable. Thinking back on your childhood, you might have some amazing memories of holiday’s past that are steeped in tradition. You may have even brought some of them into adulthood and your own family. There’s no doubt that traditions help families stay connected and remind them of their roots but there may come a time when it helps to break traditions and build new ones. Should Traditions always be Kept? Traditions can bring comfort and a sense of familiarity and belonging, but they can also be stifling and keep you from growing and expanding. Holding onto traditions can exclude other possibilities that…
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Day 7: Hard Times Help Us Appreciate the Good
It’s Day 7 of our 30 Days Blessed This Christmas Blogging and Social Media Challenge. How are you feeling about your blessings today? Hopefully, you won’t feel preached to or “talked at” while reading these words. They’re meant to be a gentle nudge toward expanded consciousness and a way to open the door to positive people and opportunities. Do you ever feel as though life is an all-uphill battle, with no relief in sight? Some Days May Be Harder… Truth is, some days may be harder than others to allow a feeling of gratitude to permeate out being. But it’s okay to honor these feelings that we all have from…
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Day 6: Give Thanks for the Simple Pleasures
Life’s become so complicated. And yet, more than ever people are setting aside time in their busy schedules to indulge in the simple pleasures. Have you managed to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for the little things in life, that mean so much? Here are some simple, old-time enjoyments that have made a comeback in recent years, despite the technological advancements of our time. Home Cooking Comforting foods that are good for you never seem to go out of style, do they? It doesn’t matter what the latest eating trends are, or which famous chefs have put out a new set of gadgets or series of cookbooks. Home-cooked meals using…
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Day 4: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
If you grow a garden, then you probably know about "hardening off." In this process, you take young plants that have only been in the warmth of a greenhouse or in protective indoor shelter under grow lights and bring them outdoors for a few hours each day. You're supposed to do this for increasing lengths of time. The newly matured plants will become strong enough to withstand the elements on their own. Once your plants are fully hardened off, they're ready to be planted outside in your garden beds.
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Day 3. Slow Down. Take Time to Appreciate.
Are you making it your personal goal to close out the year by reflecting all there is to be thankful for? This is a perfect activity to broaden your mindset and invite more positivity into your life during the festive holiday season. One way to remember that you’re “30 days blessed” is by practicing purposeful living. This can be one of the hardest things to do, especially in our fast-paced world where electronics seem to make demands on us every second of every day. Remember that you are allowed to shut out the constant clamoring of a demanding life. In fact – it’s really bad for your health not to.…
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Choosing What’s Best for Your Family During the Holidays…without feeling guilty!
There can be a lot of pressure during the holidays to be, do, and have things that may or may not fit into your vision. The thing is, everyone has a unique idea of what merriment looks like and the best way to spend the holiday season. That’s great if it gels with your ideas, but it can feel like a burden if it doesn’t. Ultimately, it’s important to choose what’s best for your family during the holidays and let go of any guilt along the way. It might feel uncomfortable but if you keep your focus positive, you can assert yourself without too much fall out. Here’s how- Be…
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Day 2: Accentuate the Positive
Feeling blessed begins with being able to see the positive. Of course, some things are obviously a plus – like a free lunch, a beautiful day, a perfect parking spot, or an unexpected check in the mail. It’s easy to be grateful for those little moments that bring us joy. What’s a little more difficult is being able to see the good in an adverse situation. Sometimes you might feel like everything’s going wrong. You don’t have enough to pay the credit card bill this month. Your child got in trouble in school today. You had to say goodbye to a beloved pet. The checkout lines at Wal-mart seemed to…
