Tag: holiday tips

Better Ways to Spend Black Friday

Posted on by Jordank

#Thanksgiving is upon us! And even before many family #feasts have cooled on the countertop, the malls and the big-box stores will reopen with much fanfare — and promises of rock-bottom low prices — to mark the beginning of the #holiday #shopping season: Black Friday.

Overnight, we’ll see crowds gather in hopes of getting an unreal price on a big-screen TV, gaming system or computer. The doors will open, and crowds of crazed bargain-hunters will rush in, jostling their way to low prices. Is it worthwhile?

We at The Organizing Blog don’t have anything against #shopping. Our hunter-gatherer heritage lives on in the desire to equip ourselves with food to eat, clothes to wear and tools to use to survive comfortably. And we love getting a good #deal.

But the manufactured urgency of limited-time offers and loss leaders is designed to get people to buy before they get a chance to think a purchase through, CNET notes. For another thing, that low, low long-weekend price may not be the best you can do.

To save, consider buying used, certified refurbished or closeout goods. Search the online classifieds for antiques, collectibles and bigger-ticket items. Or find unique — yet inexpensive — gifts at the #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by #donations to ClothingDonations.org.

There are better ways to spend the long weekend than elbowing through the crowds. Consider taking a hike, celebrating Buy Nothing Day and Native American Heritage Month, or visiting the public library, NPR suggests, instead of wasting time and money chasing supposed “deals.”

Take a day to make a few homemade gifts, visit a museum or #declutter a #closet and #donate the things you aren’t using, adds Money Talks News. Or prepare for the holidays by baking a batch of cookies, putting up lights or decorating a tree.

Trust us, the deals will keep coming throughout the holidays, in stores and online. And if you can’t get whatever you want at a price you can afford, maybe it isn’t worth having. Take your Black Friday back from the retailers — you won’t regret it. #BlackFriday

Thanksgiving in 30 Minutes or Less

Posted on by Jordank

#Thanksgiving recipes don’t need to take all day to be delicious, says Taste of Home. In fact, there are plenty of sides and desserts that can be made in less time than it takes for a Domino’s pizza to arrive — and they will taste a whole lot better! Quick takes on the classics include skillet stuffing, green beans and bacon, mashed potatoes with horseradish breadcrumbs, and more. You can make multiple sides and appetizers in the time it takes to roast a turkey, or just use the time you save to do something else — take a fall hike, watch a movie or #declutter the basement, for example. Keep your #holiday simple! #EasiestThanksgiving

Set Your Thanksgiving Table at the Thrift

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a #holiday feast but don’t have the proper table settings? Never fear — #thrift and #secondhand stores are overflowing with previously owned serving dishes, dinnerware and glassware that can lend your #Thanksgiving table a hint of seasonal elegance without a lot of money. Dishes and platters “don’t have to match exactly but should go together,” says Jane’s Distractions. “Here is where you can start to design the table with colors, textures or shapes.” For a great selection, visit a thrift store that’s supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org; the proceeds from #resale will go toward programs that help #veterans during the #holidays! #EasiestThanksgiving

How to Have a No-Cook, No-Clean Thanksgiving

Posted on by Jordank

Everyone has had at least one year in which cooking for #Thanksgiving was just too much hassle to contemplate. If you have more money than time this year and are just too #stressed to host a meal or contribute to a potluck, you have options. You can outsource the cooking to a local grocery store and buy ready-made sides, or order an entire turkey with all of the trimmings for the family. Another option? Go out! Chain and local restaurants offer Thanksgiving meals, and dining out eliminates #cleanup, too. “Heading to a restaurant to indulge in ham, turkey and the sides is a perfectly reasonable way to spend the holiday,” says Good Housekeeping.

Opt for Easy Recipes to Reduce Thanksgiving Stress

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a #Thanksgiving feast takes lots of time and energy. If you want to enjoy the #holiday with less #stress, focus on simple recipes that don’t take a lot of fuss in the kitchen. If you’re having a small gathering, you can do a whole spread on two sheet pans, Food Network says, or pick from a range of streamlined recipes that will be big winners at your potluck or dinner without requiring a ton of prep work or time in a hot kitchen. Try an air fryer turkey breast or apple crisp, for example, instead of the traditional roast turkey and pumpkin pie for easy takes on the classics that will still please a crowd. #EasiestThanksgiving