Holidays on a Budget & Ways to Make the Season Easy

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful, too, since many budgets are squeezed to the max. Lifestyle expert, Emily Kaufman, has some tips on how to survive the holidays on a budget using the latest technology, apps, and some old-school ideas to make preparing for the season easy.

Smartphones Come to the Rescue During the Holidays.   Smartphones have become a part of our daily life and are a great tool to stay on top of your budget this holiday season. During the holiday shopping rush, mobile banking app alerts are a great way to stay on top of your budget. They can help you manage your accounts while you are on-the-go. In fact, according to Bank of America’s second annual Trends in Consumer Mobility Report, more than half of Americans have tried mobile banking and a majority of users are receiving mobile alerts that can flag a low account balance (which can help avoid overspending), unusual activity and deposits received into your bank account.

Bank of America is seeing an increasing interest in mobile alerts with customers receiving more than 1.5 million push alerts each day. You can download their app or find out more at BankofAmerica.com.

The report also found that nearly three-quarters of Americans actually sleep with their smartphones nearby and 35% say it’s the first thing they reach for in the morning which may be especially true if you’re traveling during the holidays and using your smartphone alarm to wake you up in the morning.

Ways to Save if You’re Going Home for the Holidays. Staying with family and friends is a great way to ease your budget if you’re headed home for holidays since staying in a hotel will definitely add your travel expenses. If you’re hosting guests during the holidays, you can give your guest room an easy and inexpensive spruce up that not only helps your guests get a good night’s sleep, but also protects your mattress and pillows over time. AllerEase zippered mattress and pillow protectors create a barrier between you and allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander that can disrupt your sleep and collect in mattresses and plush bedroom surfaces. These protectors and pillows create a clean comfortable sleep environment, so guests rest easy during the holidays. They also make great gifts! Get them at Target, Kohl’s and Walmart and online at Aller-Ease.com.

How to Find Great Holiday Deals. A lot of deals can be found when you shop locally and YP has an easy-to-use app that is the “go-to” authority on the best local shops and businesses for holiday shopping at home or when you travel. You can maximize efficiency and do more in less time with all the info you need in any U.S. city or town right at your fingertips on your mobile phone. You can download the YP app for free at Google Play, Apple for mobile and the Apple Watch. You will also love the gas-finder feature that helps you find a gas station that has the cheapest tank of gas in your immediate area. You can find out more at YP.com.

Online Shopping Still a Great Source for Last Minute Gifts. If you’re short on time for holiday shopping, you can order great gifts online and a new trend you’ll see this season is companies that use a NOT-com web address.

Driftaway.coffee, (that’s dot-coffee, NOT dot-com) is perfect for the person who has everything. For as low as $36 for 3 months, Driftaway has a personalized coffee subscription that’s a great tasting gift and is customized to fit your coffee preferences. Also, check out Betterbox.life (that’s dot-life, NOT dot-com). BetterBox has gift box subscriptions specifically designed to inspire you each month and has themes like gratitude, mindfulness, and improved sleep – all designed to make life happier.

So don’t stress about the holidays when you have new ways to navigate through the most wonderful time of the year.

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Holiday Tech, Toys, & Gifts for Kids of All Ages

Dreaming of sugar plums is a thing of the past and with Christmas on its way, most kids have visions of the latest hi-tech toys and gifts dancing in their heads. Busy mom, Emily Kaufman, has some holiday gift ideas from hi-tech to low-tech to fit almost any budget and fun gift ideas for kids of all ages.

The Hottest Toy This Holiday Season. Each year, there is a gift that is at the top of every boy’s wish list, but this one is so much fun, that boys, girls and kids of all ages will want one. Hot Wheels has designed the first-ever flying car! The Hot Wheels RC Street Hawk can race on land and fly through the air, with its 360-degree remote-controlled steering and sleek style. Street Hawk climbs up to 200 feet in the air and performs all sorts of aeriel stunts. It’s also easy on the holiday budget at just $59.99 and is truly the ride of the future! You can purchase the Street Hawk on Walmart.com.

Batteries Not Included. Since sixteen of the 20 toys on Walmart’s ‘Chosen by Kids’ Top Toy List are battery-powered, “Batteries not included” are three little words that can put a damper on Christmas morning. But not all batteries are the same and when they are left in toys and other electronic devices for long periods, they can leak and the corrosion can destroy toys and gadgets. Energizer has solved the problem of leaking batteries with Energizer® MAX® – a long-lasting battery with Power Seal technology so make sure you have them on hand for the holidays.

Also, Energizer LED flashlights and headlights make great stocking stuffers for kids of all ages. Headlights are lightweight so you can keep your hands free for outdoor family adventures and exercise, reading a book or do-it-yourself projects around the house. Find out more at Energizer.com.

My Very, Very Busy Day! – Book for Kids with Cats & Dogs.   Banfield Pet Hospital has created its first-ever children’s book titled “My Very, Very Busy Day!” that was written to entertain and educate children by focusing on what it means to be a responsible pet owner. The book highlights how to properly care for a pet and the importance of pets receiving regular preventive veterinary care in order to remain healthy and happy. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” is available nationwide at all 880 Banfield Pet Hospital locations for a suggested donation of $10 to Banfield Charitable Trust, which provides preventive care to pets in need. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” tells the story of two four-legged friends, Captain Noodles and Kitty, as they venture through daily activities including a very important six month check-up at the veterinarian.   “My Very, Very Busy Day!” includes Banfield’s “Best Friend Promise” for children to sign which signifies their understanding of what is needed to keep pets healthy and happy, as well as their promise to become a responsible pet owner.

Finally, don’t forget that some of the best gifts are homemade or involve giving the gift of your time. In today’s busy world, time is one thing that is in short supply for families and friends. An offer to babysit or even providing a coupon for cleaning windowsm, washing the car, or shoveling snow will always mean a lot to overwhelmed moms or dads.