Self-Care in October for a Joyful Holiday Season

 

October is the perfect time to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. Although this time of year brings warmth, joy and togetherness, it can also bring a flurry of activities and obligations that could leave us feeling drained. Before our energy shifts to focusing on the holidays, it's crucial to spend time this month caring for ourselves. Think of October as your personal recharge month. Use this time to reflect on the year so far and plan for the busy months ahead. Start with simple self-care practices: Enjoy quiet moments with a good book, take leisurely walks to admire the fall colors or indulge in a hobby you love. These small acts of self-kindness can help replenish your energy and provide a sense of calm. Planning early for the holidays can also alleviate stress. Making a list of to-do tasks — such as gift shopping, meal planning and organizing gatherings — spreading them out over the next few weeks and tackling these tasks gradually will make the process more enjoyable. Taking care of yourself now ensures you can fully embrace the holiday spirit when it arrives. Prioritize your well-being this October and approach the upcoming season with a renewed sense of peace and joy. Thinking about it now, which self-care rituals will you do during the fall season to help you recharge and prepare for the holidays? I'd love to hear your thoughts and maybe even get some new ideas to share with others!

Five Holiday Budgeting Tips

It's happening earlier and earlier every year! What is it? The holiday shopping season. Retailers boast holiday sales months before the actual season begins. So, with that in mind, I decided to do a little research to provide you with some holiday shopping tips to help you win this season.

Stick to a Budget and Payback Plan Budgeting isn't a new tip, but when the excitement of the season is overwhelming, budgets sometimes go out the window. So, before clicking or swiping your card, create a budget and a solid plan to pay back your holiday debts.

Create a Buying Schedule ​Create a buying schedule to get the most out of your holiday shopping season. If you're an online shopper, buy early to avoid extra shipping costs. If you wait until the last minute, you could end up paying more than you would have if you had bought early.

Use Rewards Apps Rewards Apps like Honey, Rakuten, and BeFrugal can help you win the holidays when shopping online. If your credit card works with these apps, congratulations! You'll get even better discounts to help with your budget.

Go Deal Hunting A little hunting can pay off big time during the holiday season. When shopping for a specific item, hunt for deals. Look for impromptu deals. Take advantage of coupon code sites and "Daily Deal" sites. Also, don't forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. They're often advertised weeks earlier so you can plan.

Use Credit Card Rewards Pay attention to and use different credit card rewards programs to your advantage. Many offer signing rewards with cash,  points, and miles for travel. Pay attention to rewards programs early and take advantage of a program that makes sense for you. However, watch out for retailers' special financing offers; those often come with a nice initial rate but can jump in the coming months if you don't pay it off immediately.

As we all get excited about the shopping season, planning will help you reduce the already hectic season so you can truly enjoy giving the perfect gifts this year. Learn more about these tips and others here. I hope they help.  If there's anything that I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask. Happy shopping!

4 Ways to Show Your Kitchen Some Love

 

With the fall season officially underway this weekend, we'll all begin to move our celebrations indoors. There's only one room tough enough to handle the hosting duties: the most important room in your home—your kitchen! If you want to really impress this season, here are a few upgrade trends.

More and more homeowners are building larger islands, which provide more space to gather and prep for parties.

Whether you already have a backsplash or need to add one, ceramic and porcelain tiles are trendy this year. You can also make an impression with natural stones such as marble, quartz, or granite.

Having space in your kitchen is helpful and freeing. After all, you don't want to feel cramped while entertaining. Try creating an open kitchen. Take down walls to other rooms. Your kitchen is the center of the house; show it off. If you're entertaining, you'll feel part of the party.

Add some color to your cabinetry to bring your kitchen to life. While white is still the most popular color, greens and wood tones are becoming increasingly common.

If you're hosting this fall or winter, renovating your kitchen will help you with entertaining and meal prep. Try one of these trends to impress your friends and family. It will impress potential buyers if you're considering selling this year or in the future. If you need to connect with a design professional or have questions about the current real estate market, fall is a great time to buy and sell. Let's talk. Call or text to schedule a meeting.