Holiday Ideas for the Family

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Holiday Ideas for the Family

It's that time of the year again when the leaves begin to fall, the air gets a little chilly and people start to feel a little nostalgic.  It's time for the Holidays!!

Because I was raised with a family of 6 on a military budget, sometimes the holidays were on a very tight budget.  Also, because I was raised as a military child, we always had a few guests at our table for the holiday meals.  Most of the single men and women in the military are so far from home and have no one to share the holidays with.  My parents always made it a tradition to include several of those men and women in uniform to every holiday meal.

With that tight budget, came some very creative ways to have a wonderful holiday!  I wanted to share a few of our family's budget friendly holidays and share some from other people on the internet.

1.  Make everything from scratch.  

Believe it or not, it actually costs LESS to make everything from scratch.  Avoid the store bought mashed potatoes, gravy, pre carved turkey......... Just make it yourself! Do the number crunching and you will see how much money you will save by making it on your own.

2.  Stick to a budget.

I know. I know.  It is SOOOO hard to go into a store and buy the items you need with out the distraction of finding everything else you MAY need.  (at least it is for me, anyways)  Write out a very detailed shopping list and stick to it. 

3.  Trade a few things with friends. 

I have a friend that is a domestic Goddess.  I - unfortunately - am not.  Don't get me wrong - I am a good cook, I just choose not to.  So, from time to time, we do a trade.  Because her and her husband are empty nesters and my hubby and I are empty nesters, it just does not make good sense for us to cook for ourselves.  She will make a meal and drop half of it off to me and I will buy the groceries for her to do that.  Win - Win.   So, why not do a trade with a friend?  

4.  Go Potluck!

Invite friends and family and have each one bring a dish.  Not only will it save you a lot of money, it will save you a lot of time AND everyone gets to try each other's dishes.  You will also have a very large variety of foods to choose from.

5.  Keep it simple.

I'm sure you have been to fancy shindigs where the menu includes items like Turkey Roulade and Rocotta stuffed bacon wrapped dates.  I mean, really?  Who eats that stuff.  And what is Roulade anyways.  

One of the many reasons Americans love the holidays is because of the traditions.  In our family, a traditional meal includes Turkey (plain ole turkey from the oven), mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, mac n cheese, broccoli cheese casserole, sweet potato pie, corn and pies, pies and more pies.  You see, we aren't fancy schmancy.  We just like to eat our comfort food. 

So keep it simple.  You will save money on extra ingredients that you may never use again and you can ensure everyone will eat it! 

Now, let's look at decorations.......again, you've probably been to those homes where everything is set out like a Better Homes and Gardens center fold.  Let's face it - that's not real life.  So, unless you are living with Martha Stewart, don't go there.  What do you have around the house?  Pine cones? Fall leaves? Pull out some of those fancy wine or champagne glasses you use maybe once a year and see what you can do with it.  Here are some great pictures below that I found on www.midwestliving.com

Be Creative! Have fun! Make memories!

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How to Stage your Home to Sell!

Steps to Stage Your Home

1.  Clean. Clean. Clean.  I can not stress enough how important it is to clean your home.  It is so easy to overlook things when you live in a home.  (I know. I'm guilty) Have a neutral friend that will tell you the truth to come in and make a list of things that need special attention.  Walls, windows, doors, baseboards.....these are all items that potential buyers look at and take note of.

Also, clean air filters, air vents and around the indoor system.  Potential buyers always look at your HVAC system, water heater, appliances.  Make sure those are clean. 

Organize and clean out closets. Buyers look in closets.  Make sure to clean out items you do not need. Is it winter?  Take out all  your summer clothes.  Is it summer?  Take out all of your winter clothes.  Clear out shoes you do not wear, purses, accessories you do not wear.

2. How does your home look from the curb?  Is your landscaping fresh? Does your home feel welcoming?  Clean landscaping up by trimming or removing any outgrown bushes and/or shrubs.  Plant colorful flowers and plants and fresh mulch.  Add colorful flowers to planters in and around the landscaping and add a few potted flowers to the front porch.  

How does your front door look?  Purchase a cheerful welcome mat. Add a colorful wreath to the front door.  Most importantly, if your paint is old and faded, refresh with a couple coats of paint.  Repair and/or replace door knobs. 

3. Remove clutter.  I know - I know......isn't that a lot like cleaning?  Yes.  It is.  However, I cannot stress enough the importance of decluttering.  Remove personal items.  Buyers like to imagine themselves in their new home.  Remove 90% of personal photos.  I love framed photos of my family.  I have to admit I may have over 100 framed photos throughout my home.  However, I'm not selling my home, either.  I am also very guilty of looking at families in photos at homes.  Do you want potential home buyers looking at your photos or looking at your home?  

Are you a collector of Baby Dolls, Miniature cars, Precious Moments and Mickey Mouse?  Box them up and put them in storage.  Any type of collection is important to the owner, however, those items are distracting and could be damaged easily by little visiting buyers. 

Don't forget the kitchen.  Any type of small appliance that is not used daily - put away in cabinets.  You want your counters clear of any clutter.  Buyers love kitchens and want counter space.  

4.  How do your bedrooms look?  To many - a bedroom is a sanctuary.  Present yours as such.  Fresh linens - or better yet - new linens work wonders.  If you can afford a new comforter and throw pillows, by all means, get those.  I even suggest throwing them on top of your old ones for viewings and then remove afterwards to keep fresh.  Add a new throw blanket at the end of the bed for color.

Buyers want to feel comfort in their new bedroom.  Think Peaceful. Think Spa like.

5. Bathrooms rank right up there with kitchens.  Make sure you declutter your bathroom, as well.  Clean out cabinets, drawers, medicine cabinets and linen closets.  Get rid of old and never used makeup, toiletries, medicines.  Organize what is left.

Clear off the counters.  The only thing that should be left on the bathroom counter is a decorative soap dispenser and possibly a towel. Again, think spa like.

Clean floors, baseboards, shower, tub, toilet.  Clean mirror. Everything should be sparkling clean.  

When showing, close toilet lid, put away toiletries in shower/tub.  Put away bath toys.  Hang freshly cleaned or (better yet) new towels.  

6. Invest in scented candles or scent warmers.  However, keep in mind, strong smells make people wonder what you are trying to hide.  Think of scents that remind you of "home".  I tend to find that homes that smell like freshly baked foods (cookies, pies, cakes) tend to make buyers smile. Vanilla is probably one of the most popular scents.  If you cannot invest in any new items, tumble a load of clothes with a fabric sheet.  Everyone loves the smell of fresh laundry.  Also, you can put fresh laundry sheets in closets, in air vents and under beds to freshen a stale home.

7. Fresh flowers give a home a finished look.  If you have flowers in your garden, go out and cut a few and put in a nice vase.  Many grocery stores have fresh bouquets for a great price - pick some up and arrange on your kitchen table or on a coffee table.  I have found that daisy type flowers tend to last longer and can be found in many varieties and colors.

For the kitchen, put out a bowl of fresh lemons ( 2 or 3 is just fine).  

 

8. Children's bedrooms are always the hardest to stage and keep clean.  However, it is so important to remember that not all people have children.  So, with that in mind, declutter children's rooms.  Do they have toys that they no longer play with or seldom play with?  Box them up and move them out. Check closets.  Arrange clothes in an organized fashion and get rid of anything that is no longer used.  Beds should be clean and made up for showings.  Clean bedding or new bedding is a must.  The rooms are still your children's rooms, so let them help you clean and give them the opportunity to help decide what stays or goes.  

A fresh coat of neutral paint will go a long way with buyers.

9. Remove any extra furniture.  Still have that baby bed in the children's room - only your child is 6?  Take it down and put it in storage, sell it, or donate it. The object is to make a room look large.  Unfortunately, the more furniture in a room, the smaller it will look.  Get advice from a friend or realtor to see what items can be moved out.
A room will need to make sense.  Do you have a bedroom that is being used as a walk in closet? Do you have a dining room that you are using as an office or game room?  Turn those rooms into what they were originally designed for.  You want to make your buyers understand how the rooms are laid out.  Again, this might be a good time to invite your Realtor over for advice.


When getting your home ready for potential buyers to tour, don't be overwhelmed.  Recruit the help of family and friends and definitely call on the help of experts.  Your Realtor knows what buyers are looking for and can help guide you in the path to get your home sold quickly!



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What to do in Evansville, Indiana - CHEAP

Spring has officially SPRUNG!  That means that the sun will be shining, temperatures will be rising and those that have had the winter Blahs will be ready to get out and about!

Being the bargain hunter that I am, what better way to make memories than to save money, too!

Here are my favorite things to do in Evansville:

MESKER PARK ZOO

Open 9:00 am - 4pm daily, Mesker Park offers fun for all ages.  Vanderburgh residents get a $1 discount!

My advice:  Become a Member!   Not only do you get to enjoy the benefits of the zoo anytime for one price, but you get to enjoy free tram rides and free or discounted admission to many zoos and aquariums that are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  

No matter how many times we go, we always see something new and have a blast exploring.

LST Memorial 325

The LST 325 has been a labor of love to bring the ship to Evansville.  The ship is fully restored and is in "ship shape" - as it was in it's proud warship days.  

A sense of American pride will overwhelm you as you take a tour throughout the ship - which includes the Main Deck, Troop Berthing, Tank Deck, Mess Deck, Galley, Stern of ship (Guns and Anchor), Wheel House, Officer's Country and the Captain's Cabin. It includes 3 sets of stairs down and 3 sets of stairs up.  Great for kids of all ages, however, it will be difficult for individuals with health problems or baby strollers.  (just my opinion)

Children's Museum of Evansville

The Children's Museum of Evansville (CMOE) is a great place to let the kiddos run and have fun.  There are so many interactive exhibits that adults may find themselves having as much fun as the kiddos.  

My advice:  Become a member!  Not only do you get free admission to the wonderful exhibits of the museum, special invitations to fun events, discounts to birthday parties and camps, but you also get discounts or free admission to other museums nationwide with their reciprocal program.

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