Author Nick: Jamie Jefferson
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Contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to get a quality, beautiful engagement ring at a low price. You just have to know where (and when) to look. The first step in securing a cheap engagement ring is to start your search online. This is the easiest way to learn about your different options as [...]
The school year is in full swing and so are the year’s activities. If your family life is like mine – among ball games, play rehearsals, youth groups, homework clubs and social engagements – it’s certainly not easy to find time to sit down to a relaxed family dinner. Still, we know that the busier [...]
When it comes to office supplies, deals and coupons are so prevalent (especially online) that you should almost never settle for paying full price. Here are six tips for scoring office supply discounts on everything from ink jets to laptops; furniture to copy paper. 1. Save on office furniture by checking craiglist or your local [...]
I look back at my children’s toddler stage with genuine fondness. And that might be largely because the memory of the temper tantrums has faded, along with the memory of the time I spent cajoling them to eat certain things. At times, this involved all of the mature and time-tested tips you’ll read about below. [...]
As a busy parent, you deserve some rest and relaxation. Here are 8 tips to help you derive the most enjoyment from your next family vacation. 1. Start planning now – the earlier the better. When you research your destination in advance, you’ll spend less money, and you’ll probably have a more relaxing time, too. [...]
Few women would argue that the best, most romantic Valentine’s Day would include an intimate dinner at a quiet restaurant, a bottle of champagne, and a diamond token of your affection. Here are tips and ideas to help you give her the Valentine’s Day she’s always dreamed of. Make your reservations at her favorite restaurant. [...]
Your children’s school lunches have to fuel them all afternoon. Here are some ideas for making that brown bag lunch healthy, without losing the ‘yum’ factor. 1. Think beyond the sandwich. When my youngest child (who is also my pickiest eater) started grade school, he would always bring home his sandwich without ever having taken [...]
Your wedding is a day you’ll remember forever, but you don’t have to blow all your savings to create a memorable, romantic occasion. Here are a few ways to cut costs for your wedding (without being cheap). 1. Book your venue carefully (and early). When booking your venue, you’ll spend less if you can avoid [...]
When you work from home, everything seems to clamor for your attention – from the laundry pile to the breakfast dishes, to the dogs who would really like another walk. And then there are the well-meaning family and friends who call or stop by in the middle of the day, just to visit. Here are [...]
Oh how we love our pets. They enrich and enhance every moment of our lives, so it’s hard to think about scrimping and saving when it comes to them. The good news is that it is possible to take good care of your pooches and your kitties without spending an arm and a leg. Here [...]
Many of us think of a weight loss program or a diet as a time of deprivation. But too often, the more we put certain foods off limits, the more we want them. When we set our goals too high, we can sometimes get discouraged right out of the gate. And when that happens, we [...]
Do you ever feel like you’re losing your mind? Do you ever walk into a room, and you can’t remember why? Do you ever get to the store and you can’t remember what you came in to buy? Do you ever wonder where you put your sunglasses, and then you find them on top of [...]
To give a just-right gift is one of life’s great joys. We look for something that perfectly suits our loved one, and we can’t wait to present her with a gift that will make her face light up. So much time goes in to finding the gift that, too often, the gift wrap is an [...]
Many Americans gain a pound or two (or more) over the holidays, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to this fate. Avoiding holiday weight gain is as simple as knowing (and heeding) a few tips and tricks. Here are 8 of the best. 1. Find a physical activity that you enjoy, [...]
Your spouse is the person whom you know the best in all the world, so it should be easy to pick out the perfect gift, right? Sadly, this often isn’t the case. Sometimes, the gift you give your spouse is the hardest gift to choose, because you want to give something that is just right. [...]
The day after Thanksgiving – commonly known as “Black Friday” – is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. For many people, hitting the mall on Black Friday is part of their annual Thanksgiving tradition, and it can be a fun ritual to help you get in the holiday spirit. The term Black [...]
Here are 16 easy steps you can take to green up your home, without spending a lot of energy, time, or money. 1. Unplug appliances when you aren’t using them. Some electrical items will actually continue to use energy when they are in “standby” mode. So you can save energy (and money on your utility [...]
If you’re a parent, the holidays are a crazy busy time. Between the baking and cooking, the holiday parties, the pageants, the traveling, the decorating, and the corresponding, you have to somehow find and wrap a heartfelt gift for your kids, spouse, parents, relatives and friends. Even if you have made a commitment to spend [...]
In the autumn, when the natural world is dying and when leaves decompose underfoot, something eternal and hopeful awakens in me. I wrap myself in my longest sweater, the one with the sleeves that extend past my fingertips, and I make hot cocoa, wrapping my hands around the mug and sitting on the couch with [...]
If you have a special relationship with a child, whether it’s your own child, a niece or nephew, or a friend’s child, you want to find a “just right gift” – one that won’t be tossed aside when it’s time to open the next gift. You want to give something that will enrich the child’s [...]
