10 Creative Ways to Make the Holidays Bright on a Budget – a Boomer’s Guide to Gift Giving and Staying Connected During While Saving Money

Many of us have been drastically affected by the economic downturn, despite our best attempts to save for rainy days and plan for retirement. With our Social Security and investment income dwindling down to a fraction of what they once were, it’s clear that this year we’re going to have to be more creative than ever when it comes to celebrating the holidays.

Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy the holidays on a budget – and the Internet has made it easier than ever to find great gift ideas or stay connected with friends and family without breaking the bank. So you don’t have to let distance and travel costs keep you from seeing your loved ones and showing them how much you care!

This year, enjoy the holidays as much as ever with my list of 10 easy ways to spend less and still show your love and appreciation to all the important people in your life.

1. Use old knit sweaters to create cuddly creatures. As the daughter of Depression-Era parents, I’ve learned how to use everything sparingly and I know that my mom would be proud of me for “recycling” a wool sweater into a cuddly owl toy for my grandkids. Check out www.Etsy.com for inspiration – you can make a sock dog or socktopus – and even a punky monkey that older kids would enjoy!

2. Take a cue from eco-friendly gifts ideas that use recycled products to create new works of art!  This is another great way to use what you already have around the house. I’ve seen beautiful cufflinks created from vintage typewriter keys! For more ideas, check out www.eco-artware.com.

3. Save on long distance phone calls with Skype. If you can’t afford to travel this holiday season, keep in touch with Skype, which allows you to talk with anyone, anywhere in the world! There are no long distance charges here. The service is FREE to all registered users! Your calls originate and take place at your computer and you can chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to 9 others.

4. Get a webcam and see all of your friends and family without leaving your house! Participating in free video conversations via the Internet helps you view your loved ones who are far away (and you can even watch baby Levi or Ilana take their first steps!). To purchase a webcam, count on tech reviewer CNET to base their ratings on your individual priority:  price, popularity, manufacturer, editors picks, user ratings, and product features.  Just make sure one of their recommendations is compatible with your PC or Mac.  You can then show off your creativity on YouTube, which allows you to upload your videos and broadcast them around the world.

5. Pick up those knitting or crochet needles. Whip up scarves, mittens, and throws for friends and family. The will treasure these hand-made items and all the thoughtful attention to detail that went into making them! 

6.  Don’t overlook consignment stores and popular discount retailers. Recently, I read an article about well-known interior designers, art museum curators, and other “A-list” people scouring discount stores (Tuesday Morning and Big Lots) for unique clearance items.  If they can do it, so can we! And don’t forget about consignment stores where you can discover many great finds at bargain prices.

7. Put together creative themed baskets. You can send someone a garden by packaging some seeds with a couple garden tools. For the college student, you can make a sewing kit (they’ll thank you for it later!) For the newlyweds, print some of the old family recipes and put them into a cookie jar, crockpot or a colorful index box. You can also assemble arts and craft items for any age (and don’t forget the stickers).

8.  Tell a new story or a favorite classic with picture books. Check out LookyBook.com, named as a best 2008 website by Time Magazine, to see great picture books in their entirety.  You could purchase their recommendations at full retail prices or find old standbys in “good as new” condition at garage sales, thrift stores or websites like Amazon.com.  Look for “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day,” “The Hungry Caterpillar,” “Good Night Moon,” “Corduroy,” “The Giving Tree,” “Pat the Bunny,” “Guess How Much I Love You,” and the Dr. Seuss classics.

9. Shop Iliketotallyloveit.com for teens and other discriminating recipients. Check out this site for gifts to satisfy the tame as well as the outrageous members of your family.

10. Donate to charity and make the season bright for others. And finally, for those recipients who either have everything, don’t have the space for anything or don’t want anything, pick a charity they’d approve and make any size donation. Justgive.org makes it easy and secure to support your favorite charity.

10 Creative Ways to Make the Holidays Bright on a Budget – a Boomer’s Guide to Gift Giving and Staying Connected During the Holidays

 

Many of us have been drastically affected by the economic downturn, despite our best attempts to save for rainy days and plan for retirement. With our Social Security and investment income dwindling down to a fraction of what they once were, it’s clear that this year we’re going to have to be more creative than ever when it comes to celebrating the holidays.

 

Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy the holidays on a budget – and the Internet has made it easier than ever to find great gift ideas or stay connected with friends and family without breaking the bank. So you don’t have to let distance and travel costs keep you from seeing your loved ones and showing them how much you care!

 

This year, enjoy the holidays as much as ever with my list of 10 easy ways to spend less and still show your love and appreciation to all the important people in your life.

 

1. Use old knit sweaters to create cuddly creatures. As the daughter of Depression-Era parents, I’ve learned how to use everything sparingly and I know that my mom would be proud of me for “recycling” a wool sweater into a cuddly owl toy for my grandkids. Check out www.Etsy.com for inspiration – you can make a sock dog or socktopus – and even a punky monkey that older kids would enjoy!

 

2. Take a cue from eco-friendly gifts ideas that use recycled products to create new works of art!  This is another great way to use what you already have around the house. I’ve seen beautiful cufflinks created from vintage typewriter keys! For more ideas, check out www.eco-artware.com.

 

3. Save on long distance phone calls with Skype. If you can’t afford to travel this holiday season, keep in touch with Skype, which allows you to talk with anyone, anywhere in the world! There are no long distance charges here. The service is FREE to all registered users! Your calls originate and take place at your computer and you can chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to 9 others.

 

4. Get a webcam and see all of your friends and family without leaving your house! Participating in free video conversations via the Internet helps you view your loved ones who are far away (and you can even watch baby Levi or Ilana take their first steps!). To purchase a webcam, count on tech reviewer CNET to base their ratings on your individual priority:  price, popularity, manufacturer, editors picks, user ratings, and product features.  Just make sure one of their recommendations is compatible with your PC or Mac.  You can then show off your creativity on YouTube, which allows you to upload your videos and broadcast them around the world.

 

5. Pick up those knitting or crochet needles. Whip up scarves, mittens, and throws for friends and family. The will treasure these hand-made items and all the thoughtful attention to detail that went into making them! 

 

6.  Don’t overlook consignment stores and popular discount retailers. Recently, I read an article about well-known interior designers, art museum curators, and other “A-list” people scouring discount stores (Tuesday Morning and Big Lots) for unique clearance items.  If they can do it, so can we! And don’t forget about consignment stores where you can discover many great finds at bargain prices.

 

7. Put together creative themed baskets. You can send someone a garden by packaging some seeds with a couple garden tools. For the college student, you can make a sewing kit (they’ll thank you for it later!) For the newlyweds, print some of the old family recipes and put them into a cookie jar, crockpot or a colorful index box. You can also assemble arts and craft items for any age (and don’t forget the stickers).

 

8.  Tell a new story or a favorite classic with picture books. Check out LookyBook.com, named as a best 2008 website by Time Magazine, to see great picture books in their entirety.  You could purchase their recommendations at full retail prices or find old standbys in “good as new” condition at garage sales, thrift stores or websites like Amazon.com.  Look for “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day,” “The Hungry Caterpillar,” “Good Night Moon,” “Corduroy,” “The Giving Tree,” “Pat the Bunny,” “Guess How Much I Love You,” and the Dr. Seuss classics.

 

9. Shop Iliketotallyloveit.com for teens and other discriminating recipients. Check out this site for gifts to satisfy the tame as well as the outrageous members of your family.

 

10. Donate to charity and make the season bright for others. And finally, for those recipients who either have everything, don’t have the space for anything or don’t want anything, pick a charity they’d approve and make any size donation. Justgive.org makes it easy and secure to support your favorite charity.

 

Different Types of Crockery Cookware and Tableware

Crockery can be used to describe many different types of dinnerware, serving ware and cookware. Crockery tends to be very simple in design without a lot of embellishment or decoration. It is only made of natural materials such as clay. These natural materials make it very durable. This durability makes it perfect for everyday use and the simple design makes it easy to incorporate with other serving pieces.

Some or the varied types of crockery serving ware and dinnerware include terra cotta, raku, Victorian majolica, tin-glazed pottery, faience, delftware and creamware. Crockery is less expensive them stoneware but still very durable and it can be found for any type of dinnerware and of a variety of serving pieces.

It takes a lot of force to break crockery as it is meant to be used a lot and typically crockery is used for every day dining. Crockery is dishwasher safe making it very easy to clean. Some of the finer pieces of crockery are made of porcelain and fine china and these pieces may have some decoration and embellishment.

One type of crockery called creamware was very popular in England as a famous producer was Wedgewood. Wedgewood improved the making of creamware so that he could produce several a different types of colored creamware. Wedgewood developed a whitish blue creamware that he called pearl ware. The famous rulers Catherine the Great and Queen Victoria all used creamware form Wedgewood.

Another more decorative type of crockery is called delftware. This was first produced in the Netherlands and is characterized by blue decorations on a white background. The blue is due to decoration with metal oxides. Other types of delftware also called faience have been made throughout Europe and the styles vary slightly depending on where you are.

Crockery pieces include condiment bowls, serving platters, gravy bowls, plates and much more. You can find crockery at any kitchen or tableware store as it is widely produced. You can even find some of the more famous pieces of crockery form historical producers like Wedgwood though these will be much more expensive. Creating crockery was an art form in its day and the pieces from crockery’s inception are considered works of art.

A type of c rockery cookware includes a crockery cooker or crock pot. Crockery cookers are used for certain types of foods and meats that do not cook well in water. A crockery cooker allows you to properly cook the meat at low temperatures to get the full potential of those foods. A revival of slow cooked foods became popular a few years ago and there are many excellent slow cooked recipes available.

A crockery cooker is excellent for those that are not home to create dinner as you can make a great recipe with just five ingredients. You simply place everything into the crockery cooker in the morning, turn it on and when you come home you have dinner ready and waiting for you. A basic but excellent crockery cooker that comes with fantastic reviews is the Rival 3040VC 4 Quart Crockpot.

A crockery cooker with a removable lining makes cleaning very easy. It is important when using a crockery cooker that the internal temperature of the meat or any other food you use reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit as this mean that the food is safe.

McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4

Low Price for McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4

 

McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4
Save on McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4. Free Shipping, Order Now!

You can Buy McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4 In Stock. McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4 Shops or Buy Online – At Lowest Pirce you Save BIG!. Ship with fast delivery and storage. Limited time offer! Today it is in stock, order now before the prices up.

You can goto Store for see more detail, Price or ORDER product by press ORDER NOW Button . And if you want to see price comparison you can press COMPARE PRICE Button.

Customer Review:

As another buyer mentioned here on Amazon, all four cans arrived with major dents. It seems they are getting rid of dented cans by shipping them sight-unseen to internet consumers. Bad tactic. I’ll never buy from these guys again. I could have bought a large sack of 10 lbs of steel-cut oats for about half-price ($11) but the reason I bought this product for $22 is I WANTED TO HAVE THE CANS.

 

We have “McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4″. And you can Buy McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4 In our Stock. Lowest Prices on McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4 Shops & Purchase Online – Buy today you Save All!

CheapMcCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack Of 4)

mmmmmmmm

I make it overnight in the slow cooker. 2 cups oatmeal (always steel cut!), about a cup of dried fruit, a little salt (1/2 teaspoon or so), and 8 cups of water. I start it at bedtime and it’s ready in the morning. I freeze it in 1 cup bowls and have oatmeal for a week.

DiscountMcCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack Of 4)

product fine – cans not so/rataing for product and packing

I would never buy dented cans at the store and if I ever did they would be at a lower price. all 4 cans were dented. not so bad as it would have an impact on the product inside but still dented. I feel that maybe they are seconds and maybe that is why the price. however they should tell you that so you can have the option of buying or not.I cannot find steel cut oatmeal ( in regular stores)McCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack of 4) so that is why I bought it here. I really do love it and it is so good for you.

SaveMcCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack Of 4)

Fantastic oatmeal!

I hate the glue-like consistency of rolled oats, and even the pulverized flavored oats with tons of sugar are pretty nasty to me. I love the texture of steel cut oats, and McCann’s is one of the better brands (not all steel cut oats are the same). They taste great and are easy to prepare, either by using a rice cooker, slow cooker/crockpot, or preparing the night before by boiling half the required liquid, adding the oats, then cover and remove from the stove and let it sit overnight. Add a little more liquid if needed the next day, nuke in the microwave and its good to go! Try adding peanut butter and cocoa powder with one packet of Splenda per serving, dried fruit, cinnamon and brown sugar, or even a spoon of canned pie filling such as apple or cherry. 

Others have mentioned problems with the packaging and receiving dented cans, but I think Amazon has fixed that problem. My 4 cans came shrink-wrapped together, along with a sturdy cardboard bottom. That was inside a larger box with a bunch of air pillows for padding, so the cans are completely unblemished.

ow PriceMcCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack Of 4)

Great product. Delicous

This is some of the best oatmeal I’ve ever had. Keep in mind that it takes over 30 minutes to cook (several hours in a slow-cooker) but it also holds very well for days in the refrigerator. Therefore, we always make at least triple batches and continue to heat them up in the microwave for the next few days. It is great reheated with frozen blueberries added to it. Mmmmmm 

If you’ve read that oatmeal can be healthy and a good way to reduce your cholesterol they aren’t talking about instant oatmeal. Instant and quick (minute) oatmeal can be cooked quickly because it isn’t the whole oats which are needed to get the health benefits. These steel cut oats have Dietary Fiber 4g made up of Soluble Fiber 2g and Insoluble Fiber 2g while Quaker Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack, 14.2-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) has Dietary Fiber 3g made up of Soluble Fiber 1g and Insoluble Fiber 0g.

Read More About McCANN’S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 28-Ounce Tins (Pack of 4)

Best buy for “McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4″, Lowest Price McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4 + Free shipping. Don’t miss McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4, Cheapest McCANN S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal 28 Ounce Tins Pack of 4Buy Online – Get it Now

Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

We associated with Amazon.com

Hamilton Beach 33967

Low Price for Hamilton Beach 33967

Hamilton Beach 33967
Save on Hamilton Beach 33967. Free Shipping, Order Now!

You can Buy Hamilton Beach 33967 In Stock. Hamilton Beach 33967 Shops or Buy Online – At Lowest Pirce you Save BIG!. Ship with fast delivery and storage. Limited time offer! Today it is in stock, order now before the prices up.

You can goto Store for see more detail, Price or ORDER product by press ORDER NOW Button . And if you want to see price comparison you can press COMPARE PRICE Button.

Customer Review:

Love the slow cooker. It ‘easy to take a family reunion without worring about the lid falling (Nice snap function). I also like the possibility to cover the holder and any moisture will fall into the slow cooker. My favorite feature is that you can program at a given temperature. and when you achieve it, the system is hot for 14 hours. My daughter loves him very well. This was slightly larger than standard size, but it works great for family of four. I would recommend others to buy it.

 

We have “Hamilton Beach 33967″. And you can Buy Hamilton Beach 33967 In our Stock. Lowest Prices on Hamilton Beach 33967 Shops & Purchase Online – Buy today you Save All!

Love it!

I bought this item to replace my awful Crockpot SCVP600-SS 6-Quart Smart-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel which burned pretty much everything I made in it. This is so much better! The way the top seals ensures that moisture doesn’t get out, it is easy and flexible to program, and so far everything I’ve made in it has tasted great! My only gripe is I wish the cord was a little bit longer. Also, if you are using it with the slow cooker bags, make sure you stretch them over the sides really well after you add everything or they will puff up inside when the cooker gets hot.
So far so good

So far this has been a very good crock pot. I’ve made 1 pot roast, ribs, chicken and a couple of soups and they have turned out well. The only thing I don’t like is that it truly is not programable. You can program it to be on low for 4 hrs and then it will auto switch to warm tokeep food from getting cold, but you are not able to set it 4 hrs on high and then 4 on low as a programmable item. It hasn’t been a huge deal as I’ve been able to cook most things for several hours on low.
Hamilton Beach 33967 Slow Cooker Is Tops

Absolutely love this slow cooker. I got rid of my Kenmore which did not get hot enough even on high. The Hamilton Beach ‘High” is very hot! Many foods could be cooked on ‘Low” and turn out perfectly by the end of the day. Also, contrary to another review that I read, the clips that secure the lid for traveling can be lowered out of the way. All you have to do is pull down on them until they pop down from the handles & out of the way.
Makes life easier

This is a great product. It was not what I was expecting when it said “programmable”. I wanted to be able to leave for work at 6:00 a.m. and tell my crockpot to start doing its thing at say, 10:00 a.m. It does not do that. It does let me program how long it will need to cook and then it goes into the keep warm cycle. 

It is easy to use and the programming couldn’t be more simple. It is well made, easy to clean and a good value. I would recommend it to everyone. 

In the meantime, I will still look for the true programmable crockpot–which will probably end up being more money than I want to spend.Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Read More About Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Best buy for “Hamilton Beach 33967″, Lowest Price Hamilton Beach 33967 + Free shipping. Don’t miss Hamilton Beach 33967, Cheapest Hamilton Beach 33967Buy Online – Get it Now!

Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

We associated with Amazon.com

 

Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Vs Rival Smart Pot – Battle of the Slow Cookers

These days no one has time to cook. Crockpots are a great alternative because you can throw the ingredients together and leave it to cook all day long. They are also great for pot lucks and other occasion when you need to transport or keep food hot. If you are in the market for a larger slow cooker you may be looking at programmable “smart pots.”

These pots can be set to start and stop cooking at particular times making crockpot cooking a breeze while at work or school. This will be a review of the two most popular slow cookers:

Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker

Rival SCVP600-SS 6-Quart Smart-Pot

These products are very similar. The Hamilton Beach pot is slightly larger (by two inches) and has a clip down lid and a clip on spoon which is great for traveling. The Rival crockpot slow cooker has the rubbery sure grip handles where as the Hamilton Beach has the more traditional metal handles. The Rival crockpot slow cooker has the traditional glass lid that sits right on top but it does have a hinged lid for buffet serving.

Both the Hamilton Beach and the Rival 6 quart crockpot are programmable so that you can set the time to cook or time to start cooking and when it is done it will automatically go to the “keep warm” setting something that both of these units do and most people are very happy with.

The major differences seem to come in use. Many people who wrote reviews about the Rival crockpot seemed to think that it cooked things too hot and therefore too fast and tended to burn food and there were a few people who had durability issues.

The Hamilton beach received very high rankings from its users on several sites and comes with lots of accessories with the correct model. Some people found that it was unsuitable for smaller dishes and meals but were overall very satisfied as compared to users of the Rival that seemed very unhappy with their purchase.

Buying a crockpot depends entirely on how big you need it to be and what its purpose is. With those things in mind you can choose the correct slow cooker for you.

Crockpot 3040-Bc 4-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

Crockpot 3040-BC 4-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel reviews.Slow cookers are the classics, such as 4-pot, it seemed the fourth kitchens. In addition, cookbooks, but it just looks like the modern professional kitchen. Given the simple structure of chrome, black is black handles and a removable ceramic insert is also a small saucepan set of accessories such as covers, vinyl, racks of meat and heat transport containers of food additives, clay pots.
Crockpot 3040-BC 4-Quart Round-Shaped Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel reviews by customer. Slow cookers are generally regarded as chili, soup or stew. But the 200 bonus cookbook that branch Top 4 Quart Rival Crock Pot Stoneware Slow Cooker Recipes, comes like roast chicken with peas, ham and cream, San Francisco Cioppino, and Lamb Korma. No, what you eat and the pot.
I also have slow cooker as a wedding gift and I love it. My father did not interchangeable plates was a pain until I’ve used, always clean. I had no problems with drivers and a maximum of 2 years. I had more than one time to cook, but it was probably due to overloading. Advisable to take the completed form in order to avoid overcrowding. I like this one to buy my mother to one cooked beans in tomato sauce, and these were too.I us crock pot chili twice, and each time was Nummy. Cook evenly and thoroughly. The open area is very wide, so you can determine whether you need to change the heat or not. It is heavy and solid, much of what we have left the ship more than projects, more stable than my Slow Cooker, because the uneven heating. It also has a beautiful device, and is easy to clean .damn

Need Slow Cooker Reviews? Find Them Here!

It may seem bizarre to hear, but this handy appliance called a crockpot ( also known as a slow cooker) will essentially save you time in the kitchen! The crockpot lets you prepare all the ingredients that go into a meal before you start your busy day. This meal in the crockpot can then basically prepare itself unattended while you get on with other things.

You simply plan your slow cooked meal so that it is ready to eat at your normal dinner time. Find slow cooker reviews here.

Many people think of crockpot recipes as being restricted to soups and stews. Nothing could be further from the truth! The fact is almost anything can be cooked in a slow cooker : Soups, stews, meat entrees, vegetarian meals, and even desserts!

These can be lifted off the heating base and placed on the stove top. You may prepare the ingredients in it the night before. Then simply place the pot in the chiller and you may be in a position to go the subsequent morning.

When it comes to size, crockpots and slow cookers come in different sizes starting from 1.5 quarts to seven quarts. Select one that is compatible with the size of your family. During a weekend or some day you’ll be around the house anyway, pick a recipe and try it. You can monitor the progress and take note of what kind of time your slow cooker will need.

You will initally need to try a recipe out because of this as well to be aware of how long it takes. Do not overfill the crockpot – 1/2 to 2/3 full is the most you must put into it. Any more than that and the food will not cook evenly.

Keep the lid on and keep it on! Whenever you pick up the lid it can take about 20 minutes or so to get back the lost heat! And above all, enjoy the delicious aroma wafting thru your home!

The crockpot – or slow cooker – is the perfect cooking appliance for a new cook. Cooking is straightforward with a crockpot; simply add all the ingredients and turn it on.

Check out these
slow cooker reviews. Attempt to purchase a crockpot that holds what you are feeling will be little too much food. While this sounds stupid now, in the long run you’ll have a slow cooker that will suit all your requirements – and all your sudden needs.

While some say to keep the crock less than half-way full, we have found it fine to keep it no more than two-thirds full.

Many crockpot recipes call for some variety of beef. Some of the best pot roasts and chicken dishes I’ve had have come from a crockpot! Just remember when slow cooking beef to trim off additional fat. Thanks to cooking. Due to the lengthened cooking in a slow cooker, that fat can actually get cooked in giving your dish a wierd taste. Also, healthy crockpot recipes mean less fat, anyway, so trim that fat!