Holidays Archives - Prioritized Living

How to Create a Family Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Unlike most people, my husband and I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day as a couples’ holiday. We actually started dating within a few days of the holiday, so we reserved our celebration of love for that day instead. (The restaurants were certainly less crowded after the fact!)

However, we’ve found that Valentine’s Day is a perfect day to celebrate our love as a family!

And you don’t have to get the whole gang dolled up to overpay at a crowded restaurant. In fact, you can start your own Valentine’s Day family traditions for next to nothing. Here’s how. [Read more…]

9 Ways to Save Money & Stress Less This Holiday Season

The holiday season is here! But while the kids are dreaming of dancing sugarplums, you may find yourself searching for gifts and making the world’s longest holiday to-do list.

Had enough of your annual, end-of-year expenses and hair-pulling? If you want to maximize your holiday cheer this year, try these nine tips for spending and stressing less, so you can enjoy the season instead. [Read more…]

Christmas Cards Made Easy: How to Simplify Your Process

The holiday season is upon us again! I love heading out to my mailbox this time of year to find happy Christmas wishes from family and friends.

But sending out those cards? That’s not quite as fun. You wind up tracking down missing addresses, fumbling through drawers for extra stamps, and nursing papercuts.

But what if you could get all of your holiday cards out without the hassle? Here’s how . . . [Read more…]

How to Recover from Your Holiday Spending Hangover

It’s the new year! You’re stoked to get it started by making and forging ahead on this year’s financial resolutions.

Then you get hit with the mother of all December credit card bills.

Your holiday spending has caught up with you.

Mesmerized by the twinkle of Christmas lights and humming along to the peppy tunes piped over department store speakers, you liberally swiped your plastic. You splurged on shiny gifts for family, friends, pets, service providers, coworkers, acquaintances, and maybe even yourself.

Now Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and the whole gang are sending you post-holiday greetings in the form of hefty credit card bills.

Don’t give up on your financial resolutions right out of the gate. What you need are some quick tips to regain control of your finances and get back on track toward making this year your best money year yet.

If your holiday spending bill wound up being overwhelming, it’s too late to change the past. But you can make the best of the situation with three simple steps:
[Read more…]

Reclaim Your Space & Ditch Those Crazy Christmas Gifts

It’s been a few weeks since Christmas has passed.

One by one, your neighbors have taken down their lights and chucked their trees to their curb. Inside your home, the shiny glow of the holiday season has worn off, and you’re looking at your pile of presents with sober eyes.

You’ve tried on new clothes, flipped through new books, tinkered with new gadgets, and played with new toys. And — in the midst of enjoying your Christmas haul — you’ve found a few duds. Gifts that just aren’t you or don’t fit in with your life.

It’s not that you don’t love the people who gave you those gifts or the thought they’ve put into them. Maybe your friends missed the mark with your tastes, or the gifts would have been perfect for you at a different time in your life.

It’s hard to think about getting rid of any gift. Besides, isn’t that horribly rude?

No.

You’re not throwing the gift back at the giftee or telling her that it’s not what you want. You’ve offered that person a heartfelt “Thank you!” for generously giving you something that she thought you’d love. Now that gift is 100% yours, and you’ve got the freedom to manage your worldly goods how you see fit.

Need more convincing? [Read more…]

7 Budget-Friendly Gift Picks for the Christmas Eve Shopper

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

When I was growing up, one of our annual Christmas traditions was waving goodbye to Dad for a few hours on Christmas Eve. He was off to the mall for Christmas gift shopping!

Every year, we never knew what to expect from Dad under tree. In my case, I think that was primarily the result of having a kooky dad . . .

. . . but it’s slim pickings out there on Christmas Eve!

If you struggle to find great holiday gifts at the last minute, back away from the eye shadow collections and novelty socks.

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed procrastinator or the holidays have just snuck up on you this year, you absolutely can get your hands on gifts that people love.

And you can do it on a budget.
[Read more…]

Make Mom’s Day Without Spending a Fortune

Pricey jewelry that’s too nice for almost every occasion and expensive brunches at crowded restaurants aren’t the things that make Mother’s Day great. Sometimes less really is more. In planning to celebrate that special woman in your home, consider these low-cost (or no-cost) ideas for brightening her day: [Read more…]

Saving Big on Easter Candy

Can you smell the sweet, chocolatey scent of candy savings coming around the bend? If you are a fool for chocolate bunnies, coconut eggs, or jelly beans, you’re in luck! Stores everywhere will be practically giving away their Easter candy soon. [Read more…]