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Several Ways to Make the Holidays Easier

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There are many things that go on during the holiday seasons. There are things that people can do to make the holidays easier. Much of the chaos is the preparation of food as well as the entertainment of people. There are some tricks that you can do while preparing food to help make the holiday easier.

Make the Holidays Easier

Drinks

There are many options when it comes to different drinks to make over the holidays. Some are great for anyone and some are adult only.

  • For everyone there is hot chocolate. This can be a process to make when you mix all the ingredients together, and then make everyone delighted. However, there is a way to make the holidays easier when it comes to hot chocolate. Using pre-mixed envelopes. These envelopes store well in a pantry or cupboard.
  • Hot chocolate packages can help make a yummy adult drink as well. One of them is when you make the hot chocolate add a little butterscotch or peppermint schnapps to it.
  • Another adult drink that can make the holidays easier is boxed wine. There are many meals that you can with a box of wine. For instance, you can make mulled wine, fancy sauces, or gourmet pot roast. You can even use sangria if you happen to spend holidays in a warm climate.

Side Dishes

There are many side dishes that can you can have that are simple to prepare and can make the holidays easier especially if your entertaining.

  • Shrimp Rings are a wonderful thing to buy because almost everyone loves those little shrimps. One way to make it even more entertainment worth is to replace them in a nice dish, and even place a sip into the center of the serving dish.
  • Cranberry Sauce is another thing that most holidays dinners have plenty of. There are many recipes all over the internet that can help you make it from scratch. However, getting a can of good quality organic cranberry sauce is cheaper than if someone was to make it on his or her own.
  • Gravy is another must have for any holiday dinner. Between mashed potatoes, turkey, and ham gravy is necessary. Making gravy on your own is something that is not hard, however takes up time as well as space on the stove. If you are into plant-based diets than you can use can mushroom gravy. If not into plant based diets there are plenty of meat-based gravies on the market. Getting a can of gravy is one way that you can make the holiday easier when preparing the big dinner.

Pastries

One of the yummiest things about the holidays is the pastries that come out of the kitchen. Pastries seem to take up the most time throughout the holidays. Shortening some of these tasks can make the holidays easier.

  • Puff pastries are a great way to have fancy treats with little time. There are many puff pastry treats, as well as many ways to fancy up other meals as well. You can even use the puff pastries to help with a pot pie.
  • Pie Crusts are something that can be made from scratch, however if you are trying to make the holidays easier this is one place you can cheat a little. Premade piecrusts are easy to unfold and even ready to use. They provide a homemade taste that is as yummy as the ones you make yourself. This may not be the cheapest way to go if you make tons of pies, however if you make the occasional pie or just a few through the holidays this makes a perfect cheat.
  • There are so many different types of baking mixes on the shelves at the grocery stores like Pillsbury and Duncan Hines, among others. These mixes can make the holiday easier when it comes to your baking. Sometimes you will even find gluten or vegan mixes that can delight those with special diets. You just have to remember to use the proper additives to keep it a gluten or vegan yummy. Some of the yummy flavors at the holidays are spice cake, red velvet cake, and even cranberry orange sweet bread.

Fillings and Toppings

There are so many pies that can be enjoyed through the holidays. The best of these pies have simple ways to help you along in preparing them. Instead of baking fresh cinnamon apples, you can purchase a can of apple pie filling. There is filling in many different flavors that can help to make the holiday easier.

Another thing that can help make the holiday easier is the festive toppings that you can get from the store. Morning cocktails, special flavor added drinks all of these can be created with a flavored cream, or other special topping. Canned whipped cream isn’t something that you buy all the time, but it is very helpful through the holiday seasons.

Plan Ahead and Save Money during the Holidays

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I love giving gifts. I can have all of my Christmas shopping finished well before October because I see things everywhere that would make those I love happy. You would think this would save money during the holidays but you would be wrong. I get caught up in the fun and frenzy of sales and shiny new things and end up buying twice or three times what I can afford, just to “add that something special.” You may be the same, or you may just be struggling to get what you need without having to mortgage the dog, either way after some financial disasters of my own I have put together some tips for us all to save our wallets and our sanity.

Save Money during the Holidays

Money Saving Websites

  • Group Couponing – I was so resistant to these it made my friends crazy. They were eating out and getting all sorts of perks for such deep discounts they thought I was foolish to not join in. I was. It was a manicure/pedicure that finally won me over and I have never looked back. Sites like LivingSocial.com, Groupon.com and EverSave.com are offering prices you can’t even imagine on quality products and services. Vacations both near and far, pub crawls, kayak trips and painting classes for the adventurous, bowling parties and movie tickets for families, wine tastings, dining and theater nights for couples, it’s all out there right along with electronics, household items, purses and more. Using this as a resource for gift giving can save money during the holidays and give you some unique gift ideas.
  • Discounted Gift Cards – There are two great ways to leverage sites like PlasticJungle.com to save money during the holidays. You can purchase gift cards for favorite restaurants and stores at a discounted rate and give those cards directly as gifts, or you can purchase the cards to use for your own holiday shopping. The depth of the discount depends on the demand for the card so look around for places you know you will find useful gifts and try to get the best deal possible. You can also trade cards you have but will never use for something better suited to your needs.

Used – Like New but Money Saving

Second hand shops can be wonderful ways to save money during the holidays. You can find excellent jewelry and electronics for pricing you’ll never find retail and in some stores you’ll even find they progressively lower prices as time passes. If the pricing structure isn’t listed on the item it’s okay to ask if they have a mark down schedule and try to be the first to get to the item when it reaches your ideal price. Books can be a great used gift as well, many people who are true book lovers prefer the look and feel of an old, well-loved book to that of a new one. I once had a professor who requested any time he was given a gift it be an inexpensive, used book, preferably inscribed to a previous owner with a new inscription to him below it. This may not be for everyone but the more sentimental of your social circle would likely be touched at such a gift.

Cash Back Credit Cards and Point System Charge Cards

You’re thinking I’m nuts, I can tell. Credit cards and saving money during the holidays are usually mutually exclusive but if you are managing your budget correctly and being honest with yourself about how much you can spend and when you can pay it off you can actually use your credit or charge card like a coupon.

  • Cash back credit cards. Purchase only what you would were you using cash and keep that cash aside along with your normal payment. Before the statement closing date, or on the due date pay both what you have newly purchased whether it has shown up on your statement yet or not and your regular payment. You have not added anything to your card but you are earning cash back on what you spent, usually somewhere between 1 and 5 percent of your total purchases. It will be as if you paid in cash, but showed them your credit card to receive a discount.
  • Point System Charge Cards. Charge cards differ from credit cards in that the balance must be paid in full every month. If you have one that offers points for every purchase think of it as a debit card use it for everything, even morning coffee but never more than you would cash. Pay completely and on time, every time or the system falls apart.  At the end of the year you will find you’ve accumulated so many points you could do all of your holiday shopping completely free! I promise there’s no better way to save money during the holidays than shopping with free money.