What do straight and curly cucumbers have to do with Christmas? Plenty! We’ve spent lots of time in the garden this year, and have been fascinated as we’ve watched it grow. Let us explain.
Tough economic times are here. By reading the signs carefully, you can make a game plan to help you survive and triumph in the current economy. But you’ve got to have your eyes wide open, take in the data and apply it to your life — read the signs and then take action.
Shapes and Curls This summer and fall, we’ve grown lots of veggies, but in particular, the Armenian cucumbers caught our attention. These cukes are perfectly adapted to grow in our hot desert climate. But knowing when to harvest them is critical to enjoying crunchy, sweet, juicy cucumbers. And the only way to know when to pick them is to read the signs. That’s right, the cucumbers tell us when they are ready to be picked — that is, IF we are paying attention. Here’s what we saw:
Cucumber A had been on the vine for a couple of weeks. Annette noticed that the tip of it did not fill out and turn into a “normal”-shaped cucumber. Then its skin started to get a brown, rust-colored pattern, which indicated that bugs were starting to eat the skin. As Annette read the signs, she decided to harvest this cucumber and eat as much of it as we could.
Cucumber B was watched for several days and because its tip didn’t fill in, it was harvested early too. We could have left it on the vine, but the bugs would have attacked it, and we never would have enjoyed any of it.
Cucumber C Annette originally thought that this cutie might “straighten out,” but when the tip started turning yellow, she knew its time on the vine was over and it needed to be pulled in too.
Cucumber D grew straight and long — the way most Armenian cucumbers grow. We allowed it to stay on the vine longer than the other three, and its size kept increasing. By the time we harvested it, it had filled out nicely and was very heavy. When we ate it, it was delicious!
What did we learn about Christmas from our garden? We’ve got to stand still for a while, stop the rushing and busyness and look at our finances. We evaluated the cucumbers by taking time to observe and consider their condition. We need to do the same with our money. If your income is lower this year or you have less to spend on the holidays, don’t make quick, rash decisions. Don’t get depressed and stop celebrating, just do it differently. It may be time to take a new approach to the season. Make it simpler (and maybe even more special), but don’t cancel it. Explain to your family and relatives that this year you want to celebrate in a new kind of way. Your holiday season may be smaller, may have a different “curl” or twist to it, but you can still create some great memories.
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“Don’t worry about not having enough money.
Limited funds are a blessing, not a curse.
Nothing encourages creative thinking in quite the same way.”
H. Jackson Browne, Jr.
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Try some of these ideas:
Unused Gift Cards Do you have gift cards from grocery or retail stores with an unused balance on them? In a 2007 article, Consumer Reports estimated that close to 27 percent of gift card recipients never use their cards. The issuing companies love it — they just made a huge profit. But we’re going to change that. Scour your house, find all those stray gift cards and put them to work. It could add up to a big chunk of change. List the people you want to provide gifts for and see how many gifts you can purchase with the gift cards alone.
Many gifts can be purchased for under $10— and they don’t have to be homemade.
1) Scented Candles in a Jar Lots of stores sell these, and many such as Michaels, Linens & Things, and Bed, Bath & Beyond regularly have discount coupons available.
2) Boxes of Chocolates These don’t have to be eaten right away or refrigerated, and you can usually find manufacturers coupons for $1 off various brand names and really save.
3) Holiday Plants If someone you know loves to grow things, buy him or her a plant. Poinsettias are incredibly inexpensive just after Thanksgiving and can be found at all kinds of locations, including warehouse clubs, home improvement stores and discount retailers. Christmas Cacti are easy to grow also and make wonderful gifts. Lots of other plants come in colored foil pots and make wonderful gifts. Or you can put a plant in a decorative basket lined with plastic. You probably have a couple of baskets at home already, or you can find some at garage sales or thrift stores. Attach a bow and you’re ready to go.
4) Music CDs You can find lots of deals on music this time of year — especially on holiday music displays in the stores. We love playing Christmas music throughout the year and have picked up some bargains in places like Ross, Wal-Mart and Marshalls. Each month, the national retail chain Family Christian Stores has several items (including two different music CDs) on their 5-dollar special rack by the checkouts. We’ve stocked up on gifts there. We’ve found Wal-Mart’s prices to be low for most general music CDs as well. Of course, Amazon.com and eBay.com are great places to find discounted music — just be sure to include shipping costs in your price comparison. We have links to these through our Web site.
5) DVD Movies The major retailers Wal-Mart and Target or discounters such as Ross and Marshalls always have a variety to choose from — often including some older classic films in their discount bins.
6) Books We’ve discovered some wonderful classics on bargain tables at Barnes & Noble and Borders — sometimes for a buck!
7) Popcorn Tins Almost every discount retailer and even many grocery, drug, office supply and home improvement stores carry these large, colorful tins filled with caramel, cheese and regular popcorn. They store well and can last far beyond the holidays.
8) Quick Breads Some grocery stores in our area sell a three-pack of quick breads for around $5. These packs usually include a loaf of each: Lemon Poppy Seed, Banana Walnut and Chocolate Chocolate Chip breads. We know one mom who bought these sets and rewrapped the individual loaves at home, tied with a ribbon, added a bow and gave them to her kids’ teachers or club leaders as holiday gifts.
9) Ornaments We rarely met anyone who doesn’t appreciate an ornament or has too many of them. Some folks have themed Christmas trees — but don’t let that dissuade you. Years ago a friend gave us four nutcracker ornaments. They are beautiful and we love them to this day.
You’ll find the best deals on ornaments AFTER the holidays, but keep your eyes peeled for pre-Christmas sales. Check out local craft fairs or shows in your area — you’ll find some really beautiful ornaments there and often they can be personalized. Or if you want to customize them yourself, buy a gold or silver permanent marker and use your best handwriting to date and personalize them.
We love watching our kids as we put up our tree each year. They pull out their own ornament boxes and look at the inscriptions on the back of each one. Some are from relatives who are no longer with us. It’s a wonderful tradition that recalls fond memories.
Okay, this last one might seem a little crazy, but just consider it.
10) BBQ Grill Sets Almost every family we know “grills.” As stores clear out summer merchandise in preparation for the holidays, these can be picked up at clearance prices. Just be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with an invitation so they can invite you when they put the chops on the grill.
Don’t despair this Christmas. The holidays are not about expensive gifts — they’re about taking the time to say “I love you” to someone special. Our motto should be, “It’s the thought that counts.” So take some time to think creatively and come up with new solutions. If you have more time than you have money, read “Stocking Stuffers” and “Gift Ideas for Less than $10” back issues for more ideas on simple things you can make. If you have neither time nor money, just simplify this year — check out FreeCycle.org and CraigsList.org for free items.
No matter how the economy is affecting you, no matter how twisted, curled or warped things become, stand still for a bit and observe how your financial garden is doing — then create your game plan for the most special holiday season you’ve ever had.