Boxing Day

Day 26

Boxing Day

Boxing Day... The day after Christmas... December 26th.

I'm not sure if it is like this everywhere but where I'm from there are a lot of pretty good deals to be had the day after Christmas.  I only started taking part in Boxing Day festivities in recent years... because I finally had extra money to spend, I needed furniture, and because I wasn't having a family gathering so I had more time to get out and go shopping.  I've still never waited in a long line at like 2am though... because that just isn't for me when it's this cold outside!

Anyways, this year I'm planning to get a new cell phone because I'm still using an iPhone 4s... which means I'll also be hunting around for a new plan.

I also really want these shoes but I've been looking (online) for them in my size and it's starting to look like they are all sold out (at least at places that will deliver to Canada)... I'm a little sad about this but I could have gotten them a while ago.  So I guess I only have myself to blame?

Last year I got a new winter jacket from North Face (online).  It took a while to find the one I wanted, in my size, from a store that would ship to Canada but I was so SO so happy when I did find it.  I had my eye on this jacket for a loong time (even trying them on in the store here so that I knew my correct size)... so I was super excited when I found it and I was even more happy when I got it within a couple days.  If you live somewhere that it gets COLD in the winter (I'm talking like -30's and colder) then do yourself a favour and get yourself a really good winter jacket!

I also got new black boots last year.  There is nothing special about these black boots except that they are leather and will hopefully last a long, long time.

The year previous (so 2013) I had just moved into my place so I was in the market for some furniture.  I picked up my bedroom furniture and mattress on Boxing Day.  The furniture I got from a discount furniture place and I don't recall if it was discounted more because of Boxing Day... but I'm still liking it so I'm going to go ahead and say it was a good purchase.

I've always considered buying a new tv on Boxing Day because mine is pretty ancient... but I don't watch enough tv to make that seem worthwhile.... at least not yet.

What has been your most successful Boxing Day purchase?

Volunteering at Christmas

Day 13

Volunteering (and giving) At Christmas

Things are getting a little serious today for Blogmas.  Many of us are very blessed and live in a world of some sort of privilege.  BUT, at the same time many people do not live in this same privileged world.  It's wonderful to receive presents and eat lots of delicious food at Christmas time and I just think we should all be a little more willing to help those in need.  This year, I spent my time and money helping one local family and 2 kids overseas.

Not to guilt you into doing anything but you could consider giving up your morning coffee for a couple months (or find a cheaper alternative) in order to do something.  My old pastor would always tell us that if we owned a car we were in the top 10% (or so) of the richest people in the world.  He would often direct us to Global Rich List so that you could see just how rich you are in comparison to others.

Every year some friends and I sign up to do a Christmas hamper for a family in need in our city.  I usually spearhead the project and it usually works out quite nicely.  Basically, you sign up for a family of a size that you are willing to help (since it isn't just me and a couple friends I've requested a family of 8 or more the last couple years) and you buy groceries for the family (for a Christmas dinner and other stuff to last them a little while) as well as presents for any children.  When I spoke with the mom of the family she told me she was trying to implement a family game night and the kids loved books so this year we went above and beyond and put together a little collection of games and books for the family as well.

I think that it is important to note that no matter where people live they could still be struggling at Christmas.  It isn't for us to judge how well off a person is because of the car they drive or the house they live.  Things could be gifts, maybe they bought their house before they ran into trouble and have it all paid off.  Anyone could be struggling financially this Christmas.

Anyways, I would like to think, that is is super easy to do... what I always do is print off (or write out) a list of all the items we have to get and get my friends to sign up for different ones.  Then I take a collection for the presents and go out and buy them.  

Here is our collection of presents!

hamper presents

 and here they are all wrapped under my Christmas tree!

The project I help with for overseas is Operation Christmas Child.  John and I put together these boxes a month or two ago and dropped them off at our church.

Super easy to do... just a trip to the Dollar Store and Shoppers Drugmart and it was done!

Don't have money but still want to give something back?

Consider giving your time.  There are lots of organizations that need volunteers.  It could be anything from a nursing home to a soup kitchen to a pet shelter.

Shovel your neighbours walk

Organize a neighbourhood clean up

Bring cookies to your neighbour.

and I'm sure there are so many others.

I've been reading a book about paying it forward... I think that is the kind of attitude more people need to have... to do something nice for another and not expect anything in return.

Then today I heard a story on the news about a person giving someone money to call a lock smith for no reason whatsoever... with the extra money that wasn't spent this person that needed the lock smith bought and donated some toys to a local charity.  This is awesome.

Are you going to volunteer this Christmas season?

What are you going to do to give back?

Secret Santa - What to Buy

Day 6

What to get your secret santa

Participating in a secret santa gift exchange can always be a little stressful.  What if you get that person in the office that you know absolutely nothing about?  What if you get that person who already has everything?  Or the person that is never satisfied (well, for this person it's simple.. get them some Christmas cheer!).

Anyways, here are some ideas for things to get that special secret santa in your life.

At the school I was at in the past you did smaller gifts leading up to one bigger gift on the last day when everyone guessed who had them.  Here are some ideas for smaller gifts.

1)  Chocolate.  Candy.  Easy.  Done.

2)  A Gift Card for a coffee.  A coffee doesn't have to cost a lot (in fact, if you time it right you may be lucky and McDonalds may be giving them away for free!).  You could even bring the coffee to them and leave it on their desk for when they get to work (of course this could be tea as well... whatever they like really!).

3)  Speaking of tea... why not get them a little tea sampler.  If you are like me (which you may not be) you have a bunch of tea in your cupboard and you don't even like it.  I would give them a bunch of tea bags one day (if they like tea... if my secret santa did this to me I would think it was some cruel joke).

4)  Bring them some kind of small treat (that isn't chocolate or candy) such as a doughnut.  I would be really happy to get a doughnut!

5)  Go to the dollarstore and see if there is anything there they need.  Is their desk always littered with pens? Maybe they need a pen holder?  Are they always asking to borrow your tape?  Buy them some tape.  Maybe they need a memo pad.  Or a to do list pad that sticks to their fridge.

For some "bigger" gifts I would simply suggest finding out what they are into.

For example....

My boyfriend is really into the Washington Capitals (I bought him tickets to the hockey game and we are going today!... but you likely aren't allowed to spending hundreds of dollars on this person... hopefully).  But in the process of trying to decide what to get him I found so many other smaller Washington Capitals stuff that I know he would be into or need (and okay... I probably bought him some of them but I can't go into details because what if he reads this!?!) 

Does the person need a day off?  Get them a reasonably prices massage or manicure or pedicure.  Does the person eat out a lot?  Get them a gift card for their favourite restaurant.  Does the person always come with their nails done?  Buy them some new (decent quality) nail polish.  Does the person love all things zombies... go with that theme.  Does the person love puzzles?  Get them a puzzle... those little mind puzzles are usually pretty cheap too!  A bottle of wine.  A new game.

You get the idea... don't over think it (but make sure you keep the person in mind that you are buying for).

and most importantly, have fun!

What other ideas do you have for secret santa shoppers?  Leave a comment below!