MAKE A NOTE!! -- August 1st, 1997
CIRCULATION 51
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 | Christmas Checklist |
| A/C Savings |
| Coming Attractions |
| Jokes and Quote |
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READER REQUESTS-None this issue. Come on folks, I know you have some questions or things you would like to see covered, so take a moment and let me know. :-)
CHRISTMAS-NOEL-JOY TO THE WORLD-CHRISTMAS-HO! HO! HO!- CHRISTMAS
How many of you have dreamed of having that nice peaceful Christmas that you see in the Norman Rockwell prints? Well, here is your chance! I'm not guaranteeing an entirely peaceful season, however, if you start now (yes, she did say "now"), then I think that when December comes there will be time to focus on the REAL meaning of the season. You will find a check list below to put up on your fridge. Also as the dates approach I will put reminders in the newsletters. This system has worked for me well since '86 when we were stationed in Germany and forced to do things early or miss our mailing dates. If you do this graduated list it is a lot less painful than waiting until Thanksgiving and panicking with the other 90% of the world. :-)
AUGUST
___-Make your Christmas list. Take a good look at the list. Are there people on the list that you just exchange token gifts with? Or perhaps large families that are growing big enough to be a financial drain? Why not suggest that you just exchange one family gift, draw names, or spend the money on a phone call instead of gifts. Chances are they will be just as eager for the simpler arrangements, as you are. Another possibility is to talk to relatives or friends about cutting back on the amount spent on exchanges. Remember, simpler is better, less is more. Besides I think our families enjoy the phone calls with family members and friends more than the gifts. I'm not saying totally eliminate gift giving, just pare down, and eliminate clutter. When you finally get the who down on the list, then write down the ages of recipients and the max that you want to spend. Ask those who know them for ideas for gifts, peruse catalogs (let me know if you need catalog suggestions), write down hobbies/interests, and write down gift possibilities. Also mark down whether items will need to be purchased at a store, or through mail order. That's it, don't order anything yet, just make a list. Also include in your gift list any birthday or other gifts you need to buy for the last half of November, December, or January, this will also cut your work load later.
___-Christmas Pictures. Have your Christmas pictures taken. Go to your favorite photo studio and have the pictures done. Most studios these days have a wonderful invention that snaps the photo, then you can look at a computer screen to see what the picture looks like. You know right off if an eye is closed or your child is making a face only a mother could love. You can pick the photo that you like. Locally Wal-Mart (Ramsey St), & Kmart have this system and they often run specials at this time of year. Let's face it, how many kids get their pictures at the beginning of school? Last year we had a great one done at Kmart and only paid $8 for a set of over 100 (yes, some are small, but many were larger, and it is still a great deal). Watch for the "hidden" sitting fees, this is where they charge anywhere from $2-$8 for each person who is "sitting" in the picture. So watch for the specials this month and take the family in and have them done. Also try to find a studio that will let you make an appt, it is definitely a time-saver. Once you receive the photos, order extra to send out with Christmas cards, or if they aren't copyrighted, send one in to Walter Drake for copies to be made for a lot better price with only a slight sacrifice on quality. I don't think any of you, in years past, said, "Boy, Sharon sure went cheap on these photos." :-)
SEPTEMBER
___-Order Gifts! Remember you are ordering any gift that you will need from the last half of November through January. Then head to the store to buy the things that you can't order. The more you order the less you will have to deal with the hassles of in person shopping. For those
people who love to shop, it probably will save you money to order by mail because you are probably less likely to impulse buy. Don't forget to order Christmas cards, labels, or inserts if desired (see note on Christmas letters below).
OCTOBER
___-Christmas in a Shoebox-this is a program where you load a shoebox (get a large one from a shoe store, they always have extra around, just ask for one) with all kind of goodies, toys, candy, toiletries, etc. You take the box to designated drop off areas in your town and they are delivered to children in other countries who are in need. This is a wonderful program and makes the holidays a lot more personal. You put a label on the box indicating whether it is for a boy or girl and the age of the child. I will have more information on this program in
the coming months and will be happy to send you a brochure with the labels if you can't find the info in your area. Sean & Noelle save some of their allowance and pick out things they want to send. Sometimes the recipients will even write back with a thank you note and a photo.
___-Order Christmas Stamps from post office when they get them in this month.
NOVEMBER
___-CHRISTMAS LETTERS start NOW! Up until 2 yrs ago I used to do a handwritten note in each card, but then our list got up to 200 and I decided I would have to "never say never again" and do a "Christmas letter", but try to add personal notes at the bottom. The nice thing about the Christmas letters is that you can give each person so much more info about what is going on with the family, because there are so many that we touch base with ONLY at Christmas. And if you are looking for ways to save money, why not just put an inspirational message in your letter & skip the card, how many of us really read the cards? How often have you opened a card that was just signed looked at the signature and put it aside. By the way, I honestly don't remember what any of you sent me last year, so don't take any of this personally. :-) Do a Christmas letter (or start writing in those cards), copy it, address the envelopes, stamp, & put the return labels (definitely invest in return labels, you can get 1000 from Walter Drake for about $3.00) on, stuff the envelopes, but don't seal them yet, in case you want to add a note closer to mail date. Also enclose photos if you have them.
___-Wrap presents and box them up.
___-MAIL EVERYTHING NLT NOVEMBER 13TH (THURSDAY). This will help you avoid that slight before Thanksgiving rush.
___-NLT NOV 24TH (MONDAY) Mail all cards going overseas by regular mail (not APO's).
___-NLT NOV 28TH (FRIDAY) Mail all cards going to the opposite side of the country and/or APO's.
___-Same day, put up your Christmas decorations.
___-Plan to make or buy some little gifts to exchange when someone brings over a plate of cookies or you need a little hostess gift.
More ideas for little gifts in the months to come.
___-NLT NOV 29TH (SATURDAY) Mail all the rest of your cards. I don't send cards locally unless someone sends them to me. Why not just call with Christmas wishes during the month and hand them a photo the next time you see them?
DECEMBER
___-Enjoy the season. The only thing that might keep you busy now is cookie making, unless you have large freezer to make them ahead of time. Otherwise I suggest deciding how many kinds you want to make and divide them up among the 10 days before Christmas Eve, which would
usually be the last exchange date. This may look like an overwhelming list, but you have plenty of time to start now, spread things out and really have a nice, fairly calm, meaningful Christmas. POST IT...on your fridge.
A/C SAVINGS-Now to bring you back to summer.... did you know that each degree you RAISE your thermostat you save about 2-3% on your electric bill? There are similar savings with LOWERING the thermostat in the winter. POST IT...by your thermostat.
Credit Checks/Fraud, organizing ideas, thank you notes.
A mom called her son's dorm room, where she was concerned he spent too much time on girls and parties. A young woman answered the phone. The mom tried to control her voice and asked for Bryan. "You have the wrong number," she replied. "But I scared you, didn't I?" :-)
--From Campus Comedy in Reader's Digest, contributed by Virginia Copeland
QUOTE
"The President has kept all of the promises he intended to keep."
--Clinton aide George Stephanopolous speaking on Larry King Live
God Bless, Sharon
^i^
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