Save Time and Money
In this busy world there are a few shortcuts you can take to save a little time, and peace of mind. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Do you have a closet full of gift wrap and presents to give? A lot of people buy gifts through out the year, when they see something they know someone will love or when they see a good sale. If you have the space you might have a designated area for these items and when a holiday or birthday comes up, simply shop there first. For a lot of others, the purchases never make it to the designated area, and at the last minute we end up making another purchase. Not only are we spending time and money, but we are using up valuable real estate in our homes. I have a few solutions to save you time, money and space and keep those birthdays remembered. Try one or all three.
Send Out Cards – this company allows you to save your addresses, birthdays and anniversaries in their database and send cards from the internet. The company prints up the actual cards, prints them with your handwriting and sends it in the mail with a real stamp on it!! You can receive reminders for important dates like birthdays. You can choose from a variety of cards to send for any occasion or you can create your own using your photos! Best of all, you can add a gift or gift card. Gifts range from nuts to brownies and gift cards are from restaurants, Home Depot, Old Navy, Starbucks, American Express and more. This is a great way to stay in touch with clients as well. www.sendoutcards.com/serendipity
Birthday Alarm – this internet based company will allow you to save email addresses and important dates like birthdays and will send you reminders. They have a wide selection of e-cards you can send for a variety of Holidays. www.birthdayalarm.com
Gift Catalogs – Send or give a gift catalog instead of shopping, storing and wrapping a gift that might be returned by the recipient. There are a variety of gift catalogs to choose from with themes such as baby, wedding, for her / him or teens in prices from $20 on up. The recipient looks through the products in the catalog, selects an item, orders it and it’s shipped free of charge. Give the gift of choice
2. Do you love to read, but have given up on the idea of having a home library? I think using the library is one of the greatest gifts we can take advantage! Now, that being said you do have a few more options.
www.paperbackswap.com – You list books you’re ready to pass on. If someone else would like to read it you send it off. (you pay shipping – $2.47) For each book you send off you get a credit to get a book from someone else! Best of all, you can create a wish list!
www.titletrader.com – Another great swap site, this site also allows you to trade more than paperback books. Other items include tools, toys, games, art, jewelry and clothes.
This month’s challenge: Clean off the Dinning room table and keep it that way. If you are like a lot of people, the dinning room table becomes a catch all for mail and projects that don’t have homes. If this is true for you, take a picture of the table before, spend some time and clear it off, add beautiful fresh flowers and take another picture. Now make a commitment to keep it that way, include your family on this. Share with one another or journal how it makes you feel when you see your table. Do you use it more? If you start to slip - look at the photos you took. Already have a clean dining room table? Find another surface to clean off or a drawer. I’d love to hear how it goes!!
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