Every Christmas I've crocheted slippers for each of my 5 daughters, in addition to getting them a few store-purchased gifts. Last year I didn't make them and boy did I hear about it! I didn't realize how much they looked forward to their homemade slippers. (I've just completed the third pair last night. :)
For friends and co-workers I make dark chocolate fudge and pack it in tins I get from the dollar store. Around the end of September I start getting emails and phone calls asking if I'm still going to send out my "To-Die-For-Fudge." If I didn't, people would be sorely disappointed!
Try something new each holiday season:
Even if you're a pro at knitting leg warmers, it's fun to try new things each year. This helps reduce boredom for you and increases the recipients' eagerness, wondering what you'll come up with this time around.
One new project I'm doing is to make gifts in a jar. I've been saving my jars all year long and looked online for some interesting suggestions to fill them with. The best site I found is CraftBits.com. I also plan to buy champagne glasses and glass plates from the dollar store and paint some pretty designs on them. I got the idea from Donna Dewberry's One Stroke Painting. It's really easy to do with a bit of practice and the results are beautiful!
Need some other ideas?
My oldest daughter makes adorable clay jewelry out of Fimo clay. My 4th daughter is making plaid flannel scarves. My second daughter shops in thrift stores looking for much sought after tomes at a fraction of the original price then makes handmade bookmarks out of ribbon and lace to go with them. A friend of mine takes beautiful photographs, has some enlarged and framed then gives them to the people on his gift list.
There are many sites online devoted to homemade gift ideas. For me, the simpler the better. I try not to stress myself out and tackle huge or meticulous projects when I have a large handful of people to create gifts for. I always believe that crafting should be relaxing. A natural stress reliever!
Handmade gifts should be a tradition in every household. It's not too late to start thinking of some things you'd like to make for your friends and loved one. You'll save a lot of money and create memories that last a lifetime.
Mortgage payments are the largest expense in a typical UK household. It therefore makes sense to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible on your home loan which means that you should remortgage if necessary. In this day and age of rising household bills it is vital to ensure you save money where you can and your mortgage is a good place to start.
If you are paying interest on your mortgage at the lender's Standard Variable Rate (SVR) then you are probably paying more than you should be. The SVR is the highest rate you can be subjected to. Most lenders have products with discounted rates that are useful for helping borrowers save money on their monthly repayments. Mortgage lenders are always looking to attract new customers and regularly offer discounts and other incentives to potential remortgage customers.
You should review your mortgage situation at least once a year and if necessary employ the services of an independent advisor to give you an expert opinion on whether or not to remortgage to a different product. New deals are constantly being added to the market so it is wise to review your situation regularly.
However, a remortgage is not always the best course of action to take, as they can come with hefty fees. Therefore your first task after evaluating your existing home loan is to contact your current lender and find out if they will offer you a lower interest rate to stay with them.
Your current lender may be open to your proposal, especially if you tell them that if they cannot offer you a more competitive rate you will simply refinance to a different lender. If your current lender agrees to your proposal, you may save yourself time and money by not having to switch to a different lender.
However, if they do not offer you a better deal, you should compare your current home loan to any other suitable remortgage products on the market that you qualify for. This is where an independent mortgage broker can help. Independent advisors have special software that can scan the entire remortgage market, saving you the time it would otherwise take to conduct the research on your own.
If you do decide to remortgage, remember to account for any fees that may become payable, such as application fees to the lender and broker and solicitor fees. If the overall expense of paying these fees outweighs the benefits of a lower interest rate on the remortgage product, it may be a better idea to stay with your current product.
If you would like to remortgage your property, you should therefore perform a cost-benefit analysis to ensure you make the right decision for the long-term. Be sure to evaluate the situation yourself after you gather all the information you can from your mortgage broker. The broker may want you to remortgage so they can earn a commission however this may not be the best option for you. Be sure to make the right decision based on your own personal financial situation.
Both Ronald.varghese & Michael Sterios are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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