You may want to start saving money in 2018, but you may not know where or how to start. With these 10 finance tips and self-control, you can start saving money for the future.


1. Record Your Expenses
The first thing you'll want to do is record your expenses. You'll want to keep track of every penny you spend. Once you have recorded your expenses, you'll want to organize the expenses using categories. For example, these categories may include gas, food and bills. Don't forget to use your credit card and bank statements to help with recording your expenses.

2. Budget
Once you have recorded your expenses, you'll want to make a budget. You'll want to include your bills every month and the amount of money you plan on frivolously spending and saving. Try to save 10 to 15 percent of your income. If you aren't able to save that much, you may want to consider lowering your expenses. Think about what you need and don't need. You may be able to save money on dining out and entertainment.

3. What Do You Want to Save For?
Decide what you want to save money for. For example, you may want to save money for a down payment on a house or save money to go on vacation. After you determine what you want to save money for, you'll want to figure out how long it'll take.

Some short-term goals may be a vacation, an emergency fund or a down payment for a vehicle. It may take between one to three years to save money for short-term financial goals.

Some long-term goals may be for retirement, your child's education or a down payment on a house. It may take over four years to save money for long-term financial goals.


4. Consider Investment Accounts
If you want to save money for retirement or your child's education, you may want to consider placing that money in an investment account. Remember, an investment account can lose money, but you can also gain money.

5. Consider Getting a Better Bank Account
If your bank is charging you fees, you may want to find another bank to do business with.

6. Avoid Debt
If you use credit cards, now is the time to stop. Credit cards have interest rates, and some of them have annual fees. All of the money that you're spending each month to pay your credit card bills could be saved. If you have credit card debt, try to pay off the debt as soon as possible.

7. Transfer Debt
If you have a lot of debt, you'll want to transfer your debt to a credit card with lower interest rates. Keep in mind that if you don't pay off the credit card before the offer expires, you could pay higher interest fees than what you're paying now.

8. Compare Shopping Prices
Before you go shopping, you'll want to compare shopping prices. By comparing prices, you can save money on food, transportation and insurance.


9. Locate Affordable Gas
There are plenty of websites you can use to find affordable gas prices nearby.

10. Buy a Used Car
The average American spends $479 every month on their car payment. Your car payment shouldn't be more than 10 to 15 percent of your monthly income. You may want to consider buying a used car with cash or finding a car that can lower your monthly car payments.

Final Words
These tips can help you save money without stress. It may not be easy to save money if an appliance breaks or an emergency occurs, but there are ways to overcome these obstacles. You must think of ways to save money throughout your life even if you come across these obstacles.

About the Author
Hayden Stewart is a contributing author and media specialist for Financial Business Solutions. He regularly produces content-based financial, credit and business solutions that business’ and individuals face on a regular basis.

Thank you Moose Toys for sponsoring this post. Get crafty with your kiddo and make “ooniements” with Oonies by Moose Toys this holiday season!
I love doing arts and crafts, and I'm grateful to have a mini-me who enjoys doing it with me. Together on a nice day, you can find us on the deck with our craft supplies crafting up a storm. Madison, however, enjoys it just a little bit more than I do and I encourage her creativity. It doesn't matter whether she's drawing her famous artwork or just making a mess, after all she's a child and that's just what kids do, they make messes. Today however, I want to share with you four ways you can inspire and embrace your child's creativity.


Madison would come home daily from Kindergarten with drawings that she's done in school. Whether it's our Colorado mountaintops, or just her kindergarten playground, she loves to tell her stories in art form. Speaking of art, Madison recently drew the entire family on my dining room walls, and while I wanted to put her in a box forever, I knew that it was just her being a kid and I'm pretty sure that I've done worse. That's why I was happy when we received Oonies. Not only are Oonies the coolest way to create, but they are also entirely mess free. Madison can get as creative as she wants, all without the mess. Which parent doesn't enjoy not having to clean up after a busy day? I know I do! So how can you inspire and embrace your child's creativity, with the help of Oonies?


Provide the resources.
Kids need unstructured and imaginative play time. However, without the required tools, there's no way your child can be creative. Provide them with the space they need so they can work on their creative ideas. You can designate a play area for drawing, reading and even for making messes. Have paper towel, crayons, paper and even dress up clothing, anything that they can work with and allow them to be themselves. Or if you prefer no mess like I do, then consider Oonies. Kids create Oonies by placing a pellet in the inflator and you get to watch it magically transform into an Oonie. You can even stick Oonies to each other to create amazing creatures and designs, which leads me to my next point...




Praise and encourage, don't judge
Kids love praise and encouragement, so judging their creative ideas can ultimately lower their self-esteem. I can't begin to tell you how many times that Madison has created artwork, and I'm at a loss. When something like that happens, I instead ask her to describe it to me. For example, Madison recently created a cat with her Oonies, and instead of saying "that looks nothing like a cat", I exclaimed instead "wow, that's really original, I like it!" She beamed from ear to ear and said "I'm going to make more".


Encourage their ideas and allow them the freedom to build on them
Remember this is all about your child and not you. Let your child create what they want, in whatever way that they want. While you can give a few ideas, be open to your child's ideas as well. Don't discourage them by telling them that it wouldn't work or that it's impossible. Creating the impossible is what creativity is all about. Children create best when they're having fun, and they're not going to have any fun if you're breathing down their necks, or being the commentator at a sports event, pointing out all their mistakes and faults.

Embrace their mistakes
We all make mistakes and you need to remember that your child isn't Picasso, and neither are you. You weren't born coloring in the lines, so just let it go. Making our own mistakes is how we all learn and we're all allowed to make a few mistakes every now and then.


Here's a bonus tip!

It's ok to be a kid! 
Sometimes we get so caught up in being an adult that we forget what it's like to be a kid. Oonies can help bring that spark back. Create your own ideas. Madison and I have been having fun creating Oonies creatures and she even made an Oonies ornament for our tree, and I have to say that it blended right in.


Consider getting Oonies for your kids for the new year and get their creativity going in 2018!


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Whoever came up with the idea of brunch, I applaud them! It gives me the excuse to eat both breakfast and lunch at the same time, and much later in the day unlike having breakfast early in the morning. While I like having brunch with friends, every once in a while I also host my own. I don't have tons of cash to spend so I usually host it on a budget and it's much easier than you'd think to do. Together with Simply Beverages® I want to share how you can host your own brunch on a budget together with a classic mimosa recipe. After all, what is brunch without a mimosa right?



First let me start off by saying that I just love Simply Beverages®, 'simply' because they taste great! You can almost always find the Simply Orange® or Simply Lemonade® (with raspberry is my favorite) in my refrigerator. My kids love it and it usually doesn't last too long once I purchase it. I tend to pick mine up at Sams Club so I can get more for my money, since it comes in the double packs. When it comes to hosting Sams Club always has me covered as I know that I can find whatever I need in bulk, saving me not only time and money, but also keeping me well stocked as well. When you have a family as big as mine, you need to keep your pantry and refrigerator well stocked.

However, I digress, let's get back to brunch hosting. How can you host a brunch effectively, especially when you're on a budget?

1. Have your guests bring a dish
How else can you save money and not have to do the work entirely on your own? There is really no need to slave around the kitchen and miss out on entertaining with your friends. Invite your guests to bring a dish, whether it be a fruit salad or quiche.
2. Make sure there's OJ on hand
Personally I love a really good mimosa and you can't make a mimosa without orange juice. I make sure that I have Simply Orange® available, because even if your guests might not want a mimosa, they may just enjoy a fresh glass of orange juice to go along with that quiche.

3. Don't forget the eggs
It isn't a brunch if there's no eggs involved. Scrambled eggs is by far the easiest and most cost efficient to create.

And now what you've been waiting for. My classic mimosa recipe:


Ingredients
(note: a great mimosa usually has equal parts champagne and orange juice)

1/3 cup chilled dry champagne
1/3 cup chilled Simply Orange®
1 tablespoon triple sec
Champagne flute

Directions

Fill your champagne flute with your chilled champagne.

Top it off with your Simply Orange® and triple sec.

Drink and enjoy!

Cheers to a fabulous holiday!

I have been using the Hive smart products for quite a few months and have spoken about it here on the blog as well. While I enjoyed my home being a little "smarter", I never realized all that Hive smart products could really do until this holiday. You may remember about how it made my Halloween even more spooky, but it truly has made our holidays even more enjoyable. Read on to find out how.



Although we've lived in our "new" home for the past three years, we have never really celebrated the holidays at home. The holidays are usually spent traveling visiting friends and family that we haven't seen during the year. This year however, we've decided to celebrate at home and create traditions and memories to last us a lifetime. When we lived in our old home, we would decorate yearly, but the one thing I absolutely hated was going outdoors to turn on and off the switches at dusk or dawn, especially when the temperature wasn't ideal. Thanks to Hive, I no longer have that worry. Here are four ways Hive can make your holidays even more enjoyable.



Come home to a light filled home
There's nothing worse than coming home to a house just filled with darkness after a day out shopping for gifts. You can either set up a schedule for your lights to turn on automatically by using the Hive Active Plug or by opening up your front door using the Hive Door Sensor. What about when you're of out the house? Did you remember to turn off your lights? Now you can do so no matter where you are with your smartphone. It's also a great way to reduce your energy bills during the holidays.

Schedule your holiday lights
I don't always remember to turn my decorations on, but now there's no need for me to even think about it. I simply connect my lighted decorations, including my Christmas tree to my Hive Active Plug and set up a schedule. This is one of the things I truly love about Hive, being able to schedule things takes the guesswork of knowing whether or not I've turned on or off my lights for the holidays. Now I have a lighted front yard, just like the neighbors, but unlike the neighbors, everything is done automatically for me.


Control your heating
This is by far my most used feature. During the summer I would cool my home before I walked in the door, but now that the temperature has dropped, I can now heat up my home before I enter. I hate a cold home. I grew up on a tropical island so I love the heat, and I love having a warm home. I generally do all this and more no matter where I am, from my smartphone. If I had plans on traveling this holiday I could even set a holiday vacation schedule. My thermostat would essentially go to sleep until I returned, then I would be welcomed home with my perfect temperature.

Create the perfect atmosphere. 
Do you remember the Hive Active Light Color-changing bulbs that I set up for a spooky Halloween effect? Well they've come in handy for the holidays. With the Hive Active Light Color-changing bulbs, you can choose from 16 million colors to find that perfect holiday hue. I currently have my lights set on green, but I sometimes change them to red, after all they're the colors of the holiday.


So you might be wondering, what exactly is Hive? 
Hive is a leading smart home brand in the UK that recently launched in North America, Ireland and Italy. With Hive smart products, you can adjust your heating and air conditioning, lighting and even your appliances from almost anywhere. Hive products make your everyday life just a little easier by giving you more time to spend doing things you love with the people you care about. Hive makes your everyday life just a little easier by giving you more time to spend doing things you love with the people you care about.

Hive smart products are simple to use and come in packs that fit your family's needs and budget, and they're recently introduced a new flexible payment option giving you the ability to purchase their Starter, Heating & Cooling and Welcome Home packs with just one payment or spread the same cost over 24 months. Either way, you get the same great Hive features, warranties and customer service. For more information, you can learn more at hivehome.com.


Here's a bonus for all AnnMarie John readers, you will get 10% off any Hive Pack with discount code ANNMARIEHOLIDAY10. So go ahead, make your home a little smarter and give Hive a try today!

The New Year is almost upon us and resolutions may be on your mind. Before you start listing things you want to do in the coming year (all that you want to accomplish, places you want to go, weight you want to lose, habits you want to kick), I suggest you learn from past mistakes and focus on undoing a few things first. After all, you need to make room in your life for good things to come in by letting a few bad things go. I guarantee the positivity will flow if you can tackle this list. Here are 7 things to stop doing in the New Year.


Saying yes to everything - Whether you do it to be polite or because you honestly think you’re going to get something out of committing yourself to every little thing, it’s time to get picky! Prioritize what really matters to you and say no to the rest. Don’t worry about how people will perceive you. The truth is that people tend to look less favorably on a person that commits to something and cancels, completely flakes out, or doesn’t do a good job because she is simply spread too thin.

Giving excuses and/or lying to be polite - As a follow up to saying no more often, remind yourself that you don’t owe anyone an explanation and that sometimes “no” is a complete sentence. If you must give a reason, be honest and straight-forward. It’s 2017 and the time for game-playing has passed!

Canceling self-care – Mark your calendar in ink for self-care, whether it’s 15 minutes a day or a solid hour once a week. Whatever you need to do to keep your sanity should not be something you can bump in order to fulfill an obligation. After all, you can’t pour from an empty pitcher.

Taking obligatory vacations – If you only get one vacation week a year and you always spend it in a way that appeases your extended family or in-laws, just say no! You have limited time and money, so why waste it doing something that’s supposed to be enjoyable, but is really something you dread? You should not need a vacation after you return from your vacation.


Using excess to fill a void – Stop spending, stop over-eating garbage, and stop drinking (or whatever your vice of choice may be) if you have a habit of doing so to make yourself feel better. If you’re unhappy, do some soul-searching, go to church, go to therapy, get some exercise, but stop any self-sabotaging cycles you’ve gotten yourself into.

Living or working in “organized” chaos – Is it really organized or is it a hot mess? Clean up your space (physically and digitally) so you can be more productive and generally feel lighter.

Putting relationships on the back-burner – While it’s true that you need to prioritize yourself, you also need to carve out time for the people you love the most. Life is short. If someone matters to you, make sure he or she knows it.


Here's to a happy and amazing New Year in 2018!

Every child is capable of performing domestic chores even if it goes about being just a symbolic contribution to the household. If you are a progressive parent, you probably would like to help your child build numerous healthy habits and being clean is certainly one of them. Yet, children are different and you need to experiment a lot in order to find the right approach to involve yours in the cleaning process. Just be patient and constantly present easy and small cleaning duties, and don't forget to praise your little helpers for every success. This gives both you and your child a good feeling.

Here is why participating in domestic chores is beneficial for every child.


They learn family responsibility
Just like you, children also eat food, wear clothes and make messes. The sooner they realize that no-one is supposed to clean after them, the better. Everyone should know that house maintenance is a common duty. By engaging your kids with real work, you are actually teaching them to be industrious. Home atmosphere is the best place to acquire such an important skill. Plus, involving your child in the housework is a great way to create a healthy living environment. It will make them feel like an important part of the family and increase their self-esteem. Later, when your kids grow up, you will have peace of mind knowing that they possess the necessary knowledge to live on their own. 

They learn the meaning of teamwork 
Involving children in common activities will help them become more communicative and later make a good classmate or colleague. Being part of the family cleaning crew, will teach them to collaborate easily with other people and delegate the duties efficiently. When your children grow up, they will be able to work as a team. Involving everyone at home in the domestic duties brings the family closer. With time your kids will start looking at cleaning as a way of helping you.

They learn to take initiative
Kids constantly notice what is going on around them and sometimes even inform us what needs to be done. This is why you sometimes hear “Mom, did you wash my uniform?” or “Dad, the garbage bin is full”. If you haven’t encouraged your child to help around the house so far, you can’t blame them for such statements. However, teaching children to take initiative is easier said than done. They are not as fast as we are and sometimes it is much easier to do something yourself than letting your kid do it. As they say “Everything comes to him, who waits”. Arm yourself with patience and regularly assign small domestic chores to your kids. Eventually, they will start taking initiative and help around the house. You will be happy to see that the empty glasses on the table are put by the sink and the toys in the storage box.


They acquire valuable skills 
This is probably one of the most important reasons why kids should help around the house. Surprisingly, cleaning teaches children to solve problems much better than a free-play does. Picking up multiple items at once, in other words, decluttering, can be pretty challenging for kids and they are stimulated to find efficient way to clean and do their job quickly. First, assign small and easy tasks to your kids and increase the level gradually. Every domestic chore helps your child to acquire a different skill. Seeing the consequences of your own behavior is certainly one of them. Knowing that they need to clean any potential mess after, kids will be stimulated to keep everything in order.

They become independent
Every parent deserves to have the peace of mind that their children can take care of themselves. Once you teach your child to be clean, you can rest assured that the skill is mastered for their whole life. Yet, one of the biggest advantages of involving children in the housework is that later they won’t rely on other people and easily do their own duties. For this reason, when your little helper is wiping the wooden furniture or cleaning their room, don’t tell them exactly what to do and simply observe and kindly ask if you can help with something. Even if the final result is not satisfactory, the child needs to feel that they are actually doing something meaningful. With time, they will learn to do the things in the proper way. Being independent is the greatest gift a child can receive from their parents.

They learn to appreciate their own efforts
Another great one. Home is the best place to build a strong mindset. Some kids struggle to participate in the household duties and parents need to constantly stimulate them. If one doesn’t learn that great things in life cost efforts while they are still a child, it is not sure whether they will learn it at all. Children are different and not all of them agree easily to help around the house. Fortunately, small kids are easy to trick and if you let your fancy roam you can think of numerous ways how to make them clean. Once, they do what you asked for, don’t miss to express your gratitude and reward the child for their progress.

It is an easy way to spend valuable time with parents
Given the amount of time parents spend working, cleaning may be the perfect way to spend more time with their children. Presenting the domestic chores like interactive games will make cleaning fun for the whole family. In this way, rather than accepting the housework as an unpleasant necessary task, your child will be happy to participate side by side with the other members of the family.


These are only some of the reasons why cleaning is beneficial for kids. Go ahead and start the training of your little helpers. In the beginning it may not be very easy but don’t stop trying different things, eventually, you will find the right approach for your kids.


Bio:  Demi is a mother of two and a director of Clean Start Carpet Cleaning. For her, a clean home is a must and she truly believes that engaging the children in the cleaning process will only benefit them.

The holidays are always a joyous occasion, however this year has been the exception. For the past couple of days I've been in a funk. For those who may not know, this is my 2nd year without both parents, and all I've been thinking about is heading to the Caribbean to sleep in the bed that I slept in for many years before migrating to the US. I want to experience Christmas on the islands one more time and eat authentic Caribbean food, especially a nice ole Caribbean Curry Chicken. After taking a look at airline prices, I came to the realization that it's not going to happen. So what do you do you're unable to make it "home"? You improvise! Thankfully my new Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™ came to my rescue.



Let me tell you about my Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ. If you don't currently own one, I suggest you get one ASAP. This is going to revolutionize the way you cook and prepare meals. Talk about a lifesaver. This is 4 appliances built right into one.

Here is what you can expect to receive.

A slow cooker: However, compared to traditional slow cookers that only heats from the side, you'll appreciate the fact that Ninja’s Triple Fusion Heat® brings bottom, side, and steam heat together for easy one-pot meals.

A stove top: Your cooking system has an innovative heating element that turns it into a skillet so you can sear meats and sauté vegetables in one pot.

A steamer: Now you can steam your veggies or even seafood perfectly!

An oven: You heard me right! An oven! You can control the temperature range from 250°–425°F allowing you to dry bake roasts, breads, cakes and so much more!

I have been experimenting with my multi cooker, and I call it a multi cooker because of all that it can do. Once you open your box and take out your Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ from it's packaging, you also receive a cookbook filled with recipes to guide you on your journey to cooking amazing meals that will shock and awe your family. With more than 80 pre-programmed recipes, all you have to do is select your recipe number, add your ingredients and let your Auto-iQ™ do the rest for you. There is also so much to choose from. Whether it's a layered bowl, quick meals, grains or poached infusions, the choice is yours.


I almost forgot to mention that your Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ comes with a 6-quart nonstick dishwasher-safe pot, glass lid with handle and a steaming/roasting rack. It also automatically keeps your food warm and has a programmable digital timer.

However, with that big of a pot I decided to put it to the test. In my recipe book on page 45, I noticed that there was a quick recipe for "Chicken Curry". It was very similar to our Caribbean Curry Chicken, but for a few ingredients, and of course if you're from the Caribbean and truly want authentic Caribbean Chicken Curry, then you need to also add potatoes. I also have a rather big family and I wanted to see if this would be able to handle what I dished out, and I have to say that it really did! I'm really impressed and it takes A LOT to impress me.

I'm going to share my authentic Caribbean Curry Chicken recipe with you and you too can make it in your Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ. It's a variation of the recipe found on page 45 in the cookbook.


Ingredients

Family pack of drumsticks
1 onion, peeled and sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 packet Goya sazon
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup full fat coconut milk
2 teaspoon salt
6 large potatoes peeled and thinly chopped
Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ

Directions:

1. To get the real flavor of your curry on your chicken, it's best to season your chicken with the onion, garlic, curry powder and sazon preferably overnight.

2. Place all your ingredients into the pot. Stir to combine then cover pot.

3. Select Auto-IQ Quick Meals: Recipe 21 and press the START/STOP button.

4. Serve with white or brown rice.

I've uploaded a video showing my process that you can take a look at, but it's so simple that you don't even need it.


While I haven't tried all the functions as yet, you can be sure that I am going to. As a matter of fact my husband has already gone through the recipe book and has designated a few recipes that he insists I need to make, one of them being the Lobster Ravioli in Vodka Sauce. Doesn't that sound delish? You're going to love the Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ as much as I do!

You can connect with Ninja® at their website and social media pages:



Want to win your very own Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ? Then enter the giveaway below. Twenty (20) winners will be randomly selected and will each receive one (1) Ninja Cooking System with Auto-iQ. Giveaway ends December 31st.

Winners will be randomly selected from all program entries and Ninja will facilitate fulfillment of the 20 winning prizes.


Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™ Giveaway

If you don't want to wait to see if you win, or if you want to gift one for the holidays, then use my code ANNMARIE15 to receive 15% off your very own Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™ – good from now until December 31st. This way you'll be able to give my Caribbean Curry Chicken a try before the holidays.

For additional recipe and usage inspiration, as well as information on where to buy, visit www.ninjakitchen.com.

How is it that a single month can set us back so far from our financial goals? Often after the holidays, we’re left paying off credit card debt well into the New Year. That’s a fresh start alright! Sure, we all have 11 months to save and prepare for the holiday season, but somehow life gets in the way. Then before you know it, December arrives and our best laid plans fly out the window! So how can we enjoy the season without regret come January? Here are 6 ways to budget for the holidays.




1. Trim down and assess your shopping list. 
Do you really need to buy a gift for that friend you see once a year? Would a card suffice? Are there others on the list that would enjoy the gift of baked goods, homemade items, photos, or even childcare just as much as a store-bought gift? It’s easy to get caught up in the gift-buying frenzy of the holidays, so before you even set foot in a store, create a well-planned list of recipients and a maximum amount you can spend on each, then stick to it!

2. Think twice before mailing. 
Shipping costs can be outrageous these days and you can easily spend more on postage than the actual contents of the package cost you! As impersonal as gift cards may be, consider sending them to loved ones that live at a distance. Another option is to shop online and have the item shipped directly to him or her. You can acquire prepaid Visa Gift Cards at Navy Federal for the holidays. They're customizable and also safer than cash since they can be replaced if lost or stolen.
3. Cut out usual indulgences this month. 
You can find money you didn’t even know you had with a few minor sacrifices. Do you pay for any subscription or membership services throughout the year that you could temporarily pause for the month of December? Are there everyday luxuries you could cut out of your life this month (like dining out or getting coffee at your favorite barista)? This might even expand to selling a few things on eBay or having a garage sale. Before you know it, you’re actually making extra money this month!


4. Wear what you have. 
With so many holiday parties, it’s tempting to go out and buy festive new clothes…that you’ll only wear once or twice! Can you swap with a friend or buy from a secondhand store? How about using a service like Rent the Runway? There are plenty of ways to repurpose clothes without having to splurge on new ones at such an expensive time of the year.

5. Skip expensive recipes. 
Some recipes call for specific ingredients that cost a lot but are rarely used. If you’re going to bake cookies, for example, just say no to batches that require pistachios or expensive extracts, unless it’s the only thing you’re going to bake all season! Remind yourself that you can actually make many of the dishes and treats you consider to be “holiday” recipes at other times of the year. That expensive batch of cookies might be the perfect thing to make for a bridal shower in the spring!

6. Keep parties to a minimum. 
Spreading yourself too thin is not only bad for your budget, but bad for your immune system, too. Choose a few quality events or parties to go to, and politely decline the rest. If you’re looking for things to do with your kids, there are plenty of free and inexpensive options. Head to your local library for a list of community events that will be just as fun as the $30 breakfasts with Santa.


Still unsure on how to budget for the holidays? Think about setting up a savings account account which will enable you to save up for your holiday spending. You can open an account in January, then save throughout the year for the next holiday season! Navy Federal Credit Union offers tips on creating a budget that will guide you through the holiday season and beyond.

Why choose Navy Federal?
Because they care! They understand your needs because they've been serving the armed forces and their families for more than 80 years. They're member-owned, and promise to always act in your best interest. Switch your accounts to Navy Federal today to start experiencing all the benefits of membership.

How do you budget your holiday spending?

I love entertaining especially during the holiday season! There's something about having friends and family over that just makes my day and puts me into the holiday spirit; but I have to admit, entertaining can be stressful at times. Not only do I have the kids underfoot, but I also have to worry about what I'm going to feed my guests when they arrive while ensuring that my party goes flawlessly and I don’t spend the whole party in the kitchen!. After many years of entertaining, I have learned a thing or two along with the way. In partnership with Alouette Cheese, I want to share my four easy ways that you too can entertain virtually stress-free this holiday season – it's not as difficult as you'd think!


1. Choose quick and easy ingredients that do the work for you
Let’s face it, the holidays are a busy time and you won’t be able to spend the full day in the kitchen. Also, you won’t want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole time of your holiday party. So don’t! Purchase ingredients that do most of the work for you. I love that Alouette Garlic & Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese comes in a tub that looks just like a white ramekin. Also, the cheese itself has a gorgeous sprinkling of herbs on top that gives the impression that you slaved away on a cheese spread for your guests. In reality, all you have to do is pick it up at your local grocery store and pop off the top! Put it out with some fresh veggies and chunks of bread for a quick and easy appetizer and you’re done!

2. Serve tried and true recipes or ones you can't get wrong
Now is not the time to try a new recipe that you've found on Pinterest or that you've seen your favorite chef prepare on your favorite food channel. Stick with tried and true recipes that you've prepared numerous times, and that you know your guests will love. One such appetizer recipe that my family and I have been serving for many years is our creamy stuffed celery sticks. It's always a hit, and you truly can't go wrong with this recipe. Not just because it's simple to create, but its also delicious too! For this recipe we used Alouette Garlic & Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese. The Garlic and Herbs in Alouette's Garlic & Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese gives it that added oomph, and I also add some chopped chives and paprika on the top for that festive holiday feel. However, you can totally make it your own, by adding bacon etc. Be sure to save some for your guests because once you take a bite, you're not going to want to stop.


3. Make a shopping list and check it twice
Just like Santa makes his list and checks it twice, you should also do the same thing so that you can make certain that you'll have everything that you require for the big day. The grocery stores are treacherous enough without having to pack up the kids and go multiple times during the holiday season because you forgot certain ingredients. Begin with your recipes and add all the ingredients to your list. Don’t forget about spices or staple ingredients you might think you have, but might be running low on! Then, follow up with your decorations and party essentials.

4. Enlist help
Get everyone involved! While you can consider hiring help, sometimes all you need to do is ask family and friends and you'll be surprised at how many of them will get involved. And don't forget the kids. You can even offer an incentive. The first to show up at your door will receive a gift. Create a gift basket and fill it with Alouette Garlic & Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese, they'll appreciate it!


With a little bit of planning, you too can entertain stress-free this holiday season!

Have you tried Alouette Garlic & Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese yet? 

There's nothing more I like than a nice hot cup of coffee with cream in the morning. As a matter of fact my day doesn't begin until I've had that first cup of joe. Don't even think of speaking to me before then because "it's not going to happen!". If you enjoy coffee as much as I do, or have a family member or friend who enjoys their coffee, then this post is for you.


There are lots of reasons why I enjoy that cup of coffee, one of them being that coffee makes me happy. Traveling also makes me happy. So when I heard that my favorite sweet rolls company KING'S HAWAIIAN was introducing a Single Origin Coffee line, from a place that's been on my bucket list for ages, the Aloha State, I just knew that I had to give it a try. Every morning I would have my coffee with a sweet roll while dreaming of the islands. As an island girl, there's nothing more relaxing than a dip in the ocean, with a nice gentle breeze blowing, but I digress. The Hawaiian Islands is known to grow some of the finest coffee beans in the world, and everyone loves having the best.


The KING'S HAWAIIAN Single Origin Coffee Gift Set - Whole Bean is the perfect gift for the coffee connoisseur in your life. You know that one who just have to have their coffee, but is picky about the taste? The one who loves savoring every drop?

But what exactly is Single Origin Coffee?

Single Origin coffee comes from one region and is NOT a blend. It's coffee that is made to invoke the flavors of the regions that it comes from, and is usually served at higher end coffee shops. However, you can now have it in the comfort of your own home.

KING'S HAWAIIAN Single Origin Coffee Gift Set comes ready for gifting, complete with 5 2oz pouches of delicious goodness from a different region of Hawaii; Kona, Ka'u, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. The 2oz pouches is a great way to sample the flavors before purchasing the full sized product. It also gives you the chance to see which flavor is your favorite. Personally I prefer the light roast flavor of Ka'u with it's citrus undertones.


It's totally OK to be a coffee snob. You can certainly taste the difference between these premium coffee beans, compared to your regular coffee that you may currently be drinking. When you buy KING'S HAWAIIAN Single Origin premium coffee beans, you get to experience the freshest coffee that will not only delight but excite your taste buds.


Give the taste of the Hawaiian Islands, and the gift of coffee this holiday. Give your friends something to talk about with this beautiful assortment of Hawaii's premium coffees. Shop this KING'S HAWAIIAN gift set NOW and save 20% off your purchase by using promo code: PSCGS1720.