Last Minute Holiday Guide 2022

What To Give New Homeowners This Holiday Season

The real estate market has been a wild ride in recent years. Sellers have cashed in on record-breaking profits, and buyers have had to compete against many others — sometimes in bidding wars — for a limited number of properties. Once listed, homes are selling fast.

As interest rates rise and inventory increases, things are likely to change, though for some it did not come soon enough.

Individuals who were lucky enough to find a new home this year may discover they now have little money to outfit those homes. Shoppers with new homeowners on their holiday shopping lists may want to help those loved ones outfit their homes this season. The following are some home-related gift ideas to get shoppers started.

• Video/smart doorbell: Although the smart doorbell market began with only a handful of options, there’s now a bevy of manufacturers who make video and smart home doorbells. These doorbells serve the

dual purpose of alerting homeowners to someone at the door, while providing surveillance of the comings and goings outside of the home. Depending on the product, a subscription may be needed to access video history. Doorbells range from $50 to $200 and more depending on features and resolution.

• Furniture gift card: There’s a good chance new homeowners will need to furnish new rooms in a home, particularly if they’re coming from an apartment

or a smaller place. Many people also like to update furnishings when they move into new places. A gift card to a popular furniture store in the area will provide the head-start new homeowners need to secure sofas, dining sets, lamps, rugs, and more.

• Household tool kit: What better way to prepare new homeowners for the do-it-yourself projects and household repairs than with a tool kit? Home improvement retailers often package common tools needed in carrying cases or sets, but shoppers can grab separate items they think will be used and group them

together into one gift. Pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, a level, and measuring tape are good starter tools.

• Customized doormat: Give that new home additional curb appeal with a doormat customized with a special message or the new homeowners’ names, such as “Welcome to the Smith Home.” Other customizable products include cutting boards and wall plaques.

• Programmable thermostat: A programmable or learning thermostat will help new homeowners save on their energy bills. Many thermostats now pair with smart home systems and phones and automatically adjust the temperature as needed to reduce energy consumption.

• Linens: A high thread count sheet set or plush Turkish cotton towels may not be something new homeowners think to get for themselves. But these luxurious gifts can make life at home more comfortable.

Moving into a new home is an exciting yet expensive endeavor. Carefully curated gifts can tap into what new homeowners need the most.

What To Get The Family Beach Bum

Sandy beaches and the sounds of waves lapping against an idyllic shoreline may not be the first images people think of during the holiday season. But the beach is never far from a beach bum’s mind, and that’s something holiday shoppers can keep in mind as they look for the perfect gift for loved ones who can’t wait to dip their toes in the sand.

If the weather outside is frightful, these beach-themed gifts can be just what beach lovers want to see under the tree this holiday season.

• Beach shade/tent: Beach shades and tents can make a day at the shore that much more enjoyable by protecting beachgoers from the sun. Many beach shades and tents offer significant sun protection, making them the perfect places to look to for a riverside or oceanfront nap. Shades and tents also provide a welcome respite from the sun while eating or reading summer’s must-read novel.

• Beach hammock: Individuals or couples who want to take beach napping to the next level would undoubtedly appreciate a beach hammock. A beach hammock strung between two palm trees is the stuff tourism brochures are made of. When shopping for beach hammocks, look for one with durable tree straps and an attached bag that makes setup and takedown a snap.

• Sand­free towel: Perhaps the only nuisance of spending a day at the beach is bringing sand home with you. Enter the sand-free beach towel. Sand-free towels are typically made with microfiber that prevents sand from accumulating on them. That helps beachgoers ensure sand on their towels doesn’t make it to their cars and homes.

• Foldable blanket: A foldable blanket folds up and zips into a tiny rectangle and makes for the perfect place to enjoy a picnic at the beach.

Foldable blankets that can be zip-closed can fold up into the size of a small pillow, making them highly popular among beach lovers who are accustomed to serving as sun-soaked sherpas each time they visit the beach.

Sand-free fabrics make these ideal for people who want to leave the sand behind when it’s time to go home.

• Beach wagon: Beach wagons make getting from the car to the sand with your gear in tow that much easier. Collapsible wagons can fold up and fit easily into vehicle trunks when not in use. Depending on the size of the wagon, it may be able to carry more than 100 lbs. of cargo, including beach chairs, coolers, towels, and more.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day might not be peak beach season, but it’s a great time to find items that can make beach lovers’ trips to the beach that much better.

Find The Time To Shop For Holiday Gifts

The holiday season is a busy time of year. So many activities are packed into a relatively short period of time, and it is easy to become a tad overwhelmed by it all. Once Black Friday arrives (or Thanksgiving evening for those who can’t wait until Friday), holiday shoppers have less than a month to get all of their shopping done.

Planning, decorating, entertaining, and socializing takes time away from shopping. To find the time to get everything done — especially shopping — consider these time management tips and tricks.

• Shop during off­peak hours. The busiest times of the day for holiday shopping will be lunch hour during a business day and right before or after supper time.

Wading through crowds can be time-consuming. Try to shop when the stores are more sparsely populated so you can get in and out faster.

• Shop local. Think about patronizing small, independent retailers. Not only will you enjoy customized, exemplary customer service, but the stores probably will not be able to fit as many

customers as large chains. That means you can browse more readily and shop faster and more safely.

• Schedule online shopping blocks. Pepper your calendar

with blocks of time devoted to online shopping. This way you can handle it without

distraction and easily check people off of your list.

• Delegate some tasks.

Pool your resources with friends or family members and divide up your shopping lists. Each person can be in charge of a different category of shopping. For example, if you are in charge of gaming gifts, buy all of these and then distribute them to whoever needed them. Delegating saves time and lets shoppers avoid rushing from store to store.

• Take a day off. While it may not be ideal to use vacation time for holiday shopping, sometimes it can be an effective way to check off a good portion of your list. Start in the early morning when the children are at school and visit as many stores as possible. Stow away those gifts until you have the opportunity to wrap them. Make the day off a little more special by treating yourself to a solo lunch or a midday meal with a friend.

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Finding the time to finish shopping and complete other tasks is challenging, but possible.

Popular Songs To Stream

Holiday Season

The holiday season is steeped in tradition. One of the most popular traditions is playing holiday music, which many retailers begin to broadcast over their PA systems shortly after people put their Halloween costumes in storage. The popular music streaming platform Spotify tracks the most popular holiday songs each year, and 2021 featured a mix of some newer songs and some all-time classics. According to Spotify, these five songs were the most streamed holiday tunes on the platform between November 1 and December 9, 2021.

Recycle And Reduce Waste For The Holidays

The holiday season is a special time of year. Individuals often spend a little more on gifts, indulge a little more on rich foods and treats, and make a concerted effort to enjoy more time with their loved ones during the holidays.

The tendency to overdo things during the holiday season can create a lot of waste. In fact, Americans produce 25 percent more garbage from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, according to Waste Advantage magazine, a publication of the waste and recycling industry. That uptick equates to one million tons of extra trash per week throughout the holidays.

Extra food, plastic and paper waste is generated this time of year, but people can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take some steps to be more waste-conscious as they entertain.

• Reuse a small portion of wrapping paper or look for other wrapping items. Sunday comics, newsprint, colorful magazine pages, and even pieces of fabric can be used to wrap gifts in lieu of purchasing new wrapping paper. Otherwise, collect used wrapping paper and reuse it next year, doing the same with

boxes and bows. According to researchers at Stanford University, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

• Skip disposable party items. It’s certainly easy to use disposable plates, napkins and cups when hosting holiday parties, but that is very wasteful. Opt for durable, reusable products that can be packed away and used each year during holiday events.

• Buy durable and reusable items as gifts. Avoid fad gifts and focus on items that will have staying power. Homemade gifts, such as foods, knitted scarves, artwork, and more, are generally eco-friendly.

• Set up marked trash and recycling receptacles. Remind party guests to recycle the appropriate materials by clearly marking a pail designed for collecting recyclables, such as cans, plastic beverage bottles and glass wine bottles. Most hard plastics can be recycled.

• Remove your name from catalog lists. Call companies and ask to be taken off promotional mailing lists to reduce paper waste.

• Send a photo. Mail holiday card recipients photos of the kids or the entire family in lieu of cards. They’re apt to save the photos and display them, helping to keep even more paper trash out of landfills.

• Research new recipes for leftovers. With an abundance of food remaining after entertaining, turn leftovers into new meals by exploring recipes from friends or by doing a little research online.

Waste can get out of control during the holidays, but there are ways to tame the excess.

Jingle Bells

The instantly recognizable “Jingle Bells” has become a wildly popular Christmas carol despite not mentioning Christmas or any other holiday. Written by New England native James Lord Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” is commemorated with plaques in two different cities, each of which claims to be the place where Pierpont wrote the song in the 1850s. One plaque is in Medford, Massachusetts, where Pierpont is said to have written the song from a tavern while watching sleigh races taking place outside. The other plaque is in Savannah, Georgia, where locals believe Pierpont wrote the lyrics prior to leading a sing-along of the song at a local church in 1857.

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtail ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight! Oh,

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one­horse open sleigh. Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago

I thought I’d take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side, The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And then we got upsot.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one­horse open sleigh. Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago, The story I must tell I went out on the snow, And on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleigh, He laughed as there I sprawling lie, But quickly drove away.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white Go it while you’re young, Take the girls tonight and sing this sleighing song; Just get a bobtailed Two forty as his speed Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! you’ll take the lead.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Lyrics written by James Lord Pierpont Lyrics courtesy of Digital Music News

Deck The Halls With Your Own DIY Decor This Holiday Season

Decorating is one of the joys of the holiday season. Families often decorate together, and such traditions may include dressing the Christmas tree and hanging holiday lights around the house.

A day spent making homemade ornaments is another great way to decorate and spend quality time together as a family during the holiday season. Though families can let their imaginations run wild when making ornaments at home, the following are some great starting points that can serve as springboards for holiday crafting sessions.

• Snowmen: The holiday season simply wouldn’t be the same without snowmen.

made out of ping pong balls, which are the ideal size when making ornaments for the Christmas tree. Those

who want to go a little bigger can glue wiffle balls or large polystyrene balls together or create their own papier mâché snowmen to display

on mantles or on console tables in a foyer or hallway.

• Santa Claus: Another staple of holiday decor, Santa Claus has inspired

many a DIY holiday ornament over the years. A paper plate Santa Claus with a cotton ball beard glued on can make for a fun Christmas craft, especially for young children who can’t wait for the big guy to appear on Christmas Eve.

• Penguins: Though they might not have a direct link to the holiday season, penguins evoke feelings of cold weather, making them an ideal addition to holiday decor schemes. Make your own penguin family using polystyrene craft balls in assorted sizes and then hang them on the tree or place them around the house.

• Reindeer: Santa would not be able to get the job done each Christmas Eve without his trustworthy team of reindeer. Popsicle stick reindeer projects can be fun for kids of all ages and a great way for youngsters

to recognize the efforts of Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, and, of course, Rudolph, among others.

• Cookie cutters: Family baking sessions are a holiday tradition for millions of people. Though that often leads to batches upon batches of tasty cookies, it also means families tend to have a surplus of holiday cookie cutters around the house.

Surplus cookie cutters tend to be discarded or relegated to the miscellaneous items drawer in kitchens, but a more awe-inspiring fate can await them. A coat of paint, some glitter and a little bit of string or twine is all families need to transform their extra cookie cutters into colorful tree ornaments.

Holiday decorating sessions can be made even more fun when families take time to craft some DIY decorations together.

How To Make Christmas Eve Special For Kids

Christmas Eve is viewed differently by different people, even those who live under the same Santaready roof. Adults may see Christmas Eve as crunch time when they must prepare food for the next day or set up presents for their children to open in the morning. Children, on the other hand, are focused on Santa’s visit and little else.

Parents naturally want to make Christmastime as special as possible for their children, and that may involve ensuring that Christmas Eve is just as memorable as Christmas Day. The following are some ways to impart more magic into Christmas Eve celebrations.

Attend Mass at midnight Practicing Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. On Christmas Eve, churches often hold celebrations that may include late-evening or midnight masses that celebrate the birth of Christ when the calendar switches over to December 25. While it does make for a late night, it can be thought-provoking for kids and a unique experience unlike any other.

Bake fresh cookies

Children like to leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. That makes Christmas Eve a perfect time to whip up a fresh batch of cookies. Explore different recipes to come up with a unique offering each year.

Read a Christmas story

Watching television or looking at a tablet or mobile phone before bed can be too stimulating when it’s time for children to wind down for bed. Choose a holiday tale or tales that can be read as a Christmas Eve bedtime story. Reciting the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)” is a great way to set the Christmas Eve mood.

Make a batch of ‘reindeer dust’

Why should Santa’s reindeer be left out when it comes to receiving treats? Reindeer dust, made from a combination of oatmeal,

rice cereal, dried fruits, and glitter (if desired), is purported to attract Santa’s reindeer and provide them a nibble at the same time. Plus, it’s generally safe for other animals in the yard to eat.

Go caroling

Caroling may not be the norm, but some families may want to revive it. Close-knit communities can organize family-centric caroling opportunities and roam the cul-de-sacs and other pedestrian-friendly areas singing popular songs.

Christmas Eve is a great time to embrace various traditions that help to make the season even more special.

Away In a Manger

The popular Christmas carol “Away In a Manger” has an interesting history. German priest and Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther was long believed to have written the song. However, historians no longer believe that’s the case, and it is now widely considered to have American origins. In fact, the author of the third verse remains a topic of debate, as that verse does not appear in the earliest renditions of the song. Though that final verse is often attributed to American John T. MacFarland, various sources indicate that more research is necessary before that credit can be safely assigned.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

courtesy of LyricsforChristmas.com

Lyrics

Great Gifts For SchoolAged Children

Successful shopping for adults on a holiday list often involves identifying a loved one’s favorite hobby and then finding something that makes that hobby even more enjoyable. For example, a new e-reader can be just what the family bookworm needs to make reading even more immersive.

School-aged children may not be so simple to shop for, as their interests are always evolving and they tend to outgrow toys as quickly as their growing bodies outgrow their clothes. No two kids are the same, but these gift ideas can appeal to school-aged youngsters at a time in their lives when their curiosity is always piqued.

• STEM gifts: Parents know that the term “STEM”

is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These academic disciplines have gained heightened importance over the last couple of decades, and many toy manufacturers now make products that reinforce STEM lessons kids learn in the classroom in a fun way. STEM-based toys are available for kids of all ages, including children who are still in diapers.

• Nature­based gifts: Many parents do everything they can to reduce the amount of time their kids spend looking at screens, which is a tall order in the digital era. But various manufacturers produce toys designed to help kids be more physically active in the great outdoors.

From age­appropriate binoculars that encourage kids to explore natural settings to birdhouses and fairy gardens kids can build and paint in their favorite colors, shoppers can choose from a host of nature-based gifts that encourage kids to

way for kids to learn and have fun doing it. Board games are made for kids of all ages, and they’re not just fun, but also

beneficial to early childhood development. For example, clinical psychologist Beatrice Tauber Prior, Psy.D. noted to the children’s book publisher and distributor Scholastic that board games requiring strategy help the frontal lobes of the brain develop. Those lobes are responsible for planning, organizing and decisionmaking. Board games also provide opportunities for families to spend quality time together free from distractions.

• Cookbooks: Cookbooks are another great gift for school-aged youngsters, who can learn a lot from pitching in at dinnertime. Children who cook with their parents can learn valuable lessons about nutrition, and measuring ingredients can reinforce lessons learned in the classroom. Shoppers can choose from any number of cookbooks designed for kids, and even children as young as two can pitch in when baking cookies or preparing family meals.

Shopping for school-aged children during the holiday season can be made easier with some suggestions that can reinforce classroom lessons while keeping the focus on fun.

get away from their screens and enjoy the great outdoors.

• Board games: Board games remain a wonderful

important

a holiday

as the main course. It’s perfectly acceptable to offer a few new and unique dishes on your holiday table, but guests likely will be expecting some tried-andtrue classics as well.

Green bean casserole is a staple of many holiday dining tables. Alongside mashed potatoes and candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole is a beloved holiday recipe — and it’s easy to make as well. This recipe for traditional “Green Bean Casserole,” courtesy of Campbell’s®, can hit the right note for guests who want a taste of holidays past this year.

Green Bean Casserole Serves 6

1 can (10½ ounces)

Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular, 98% Fat Free, or Unsalted)

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon soy sauce

4 cups cooked cut green beans

11/3 cups French’s® Fried Onions (divided)

Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a 1½-quart casserole. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Bake for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir the bean mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 2/3 cup onions.

Bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Variations: This recipe can be customized as one sees fit. Double up the amount of condensed soup if you desire a wetter casserole, or change the flavor by selecting a different flavor soup variety, such as Cream of Asparagus. You can add grated Parmesan cheese or shredded cheddar if you

want a cheesy option. Some people prefer to use Frenchstyle green beans instead of the thicker cut variety.

Alternate cooking method: The traditional recipe has you cooking the casserole in the oven. However, if you have a large enough toaster oven, you can cook it in there to free up oven space; otherwise, prepare the casserole as directed in a slow cooker and cook on low for around 3 to 4 hours, until tender. Then add the remaining onions and transfer the casserole to the oven to crisp up for 5 minutes. (Check that the slow cooker crock is ovensafe; otherwise, spoon the mixture into an oven-safe dish for the final baking and serving.)

Get To Know Boxing Day

Many people get their fill of boxes on Christmas Day. However, people living in certain countries, including Canada, know that there may be more boxes in store on the day after Christmas as well.

Boxing Day is an annual holiday celebrated in Canada on December 26. Canadians are not alone in celebrating Boxing Day, which is also observed in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, among other countries.

The origin story behind Boxing Day is not entirely known. One theory regarding those origins connect the holiday to 19th century England and the giving of boxes that included money,

presents and/or food to British servants on the day after Christmas. The servants had to work on Christmas while their employers cele brated, so they waited until the following day to celebrate with their families. The boxes were a token of appreciation and a way to make servants’ celebrations more bountiful and enjoyable.

Another theory links Boxing Day to collection boxes for the poor. Long known as a time of giving, the holiday season was a time to give to the poor. So when collection boxes were opened on the day after Christmas, they were full and the money within them was then distributed to the less fortunate.

Modern Boxing Day celebrations don’t resemble either theory of the day’s origins.

In fact, modern Boxing Day

more closely resembles Black Friday, a retail holiday in the United States that marks the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season. Retailers discount items on Boxing Day, and the deals compel people across Canada to spend the day after Christmas shopping.

Canadian soccer fans who are not excited by the idea of shopping on Boxing Day can celebrate like many of their British counterparts. In England, Boxing Day has become synonymous with European football, and the Premier League has ensured its fans can spend a good portion of Boxing Day watching the action on the pitch.

Boxing Day may not have maintained a significant connection to its past, but the day remains one to look forward to.

What

Holiday shoppers relish the moment when a loved one unwraps a gift and immediately smiles widely. Hitting the nail on the head in regard to a holiday gift is its own reward, and there’s no shame in looking around for some inspiration to find a gift loved ones will truly cherish.

Shopping for young professionals this holiday season could be a little tricky, as changes sparked by the pandemic continue to affect work environments. However, shoppers can still find gifts to make young professionals happy this holiday season.

• Home office essentials: Many businesses have welcomed workers back to the office, but some are taking a hybrid approach to being in the office. Many professionals who once went into the office five days a week are now spending one or two days a week at home. Others may still

Young Professionals This Holiday Season

be working remotely fulltime. Holiday shoppers can take this into consideration when shopping for young professionals and look for some basic home office essentials. A comfortable office chair, a monitor that can be paired with a company-issued laptop and even a single-serve coffee pot for young people accustomed to getting their morning coffee on the way into the office can help professionals seamlessly transition from the office to their home office during the work week.

• Messenger bag: Looking the part can boost young professionals’ confidence as they begin their careers. A leather messenger bag is a stylish and sophisticated way for young professionals to carry their laptops and other workday essentials to and from work. Professionals working in especially formal environments may prefer

shuffling from one business meeting to another.

• Business card holder: Though they might not be as prevalent as they once were, business cards remain an effective way for young professionals to build their networks. An elegant, monogrammed business card holder can help young professionals make a strong first impression.

• Luggage: Business travel may not be back to its prepandemic levels just yet, but many young professionals will undoubtedly still appreciate an upgrade over the luggage they used in college. If designer luggage is a budget buster, look for a sturdy, elegant alternative that young professionals will be proud to tote around on their first official business trip.

Business may still be unusual as the world continues to emerge from the pandemic. But shoppers can look to some old favorites as they search for the perfect gifts for the young professionals on their holiday shopping lists this season.

How To Celebrate The Holidays Away From Home

A popular Christmas song attests “there’s no place like home for the holidays.” For many people, a truer statement couldn’t be uttered. But sometimes life gets in the way of an oldfashioned holiday spent at home.

There are a number of reasons why individuals may not be able to spend the holidays at home. Active military service people may not be able to leave their posts to travel home. Some students studying abroad or even far away domestically may find getting back to their homes can be timeand cost-prohibitive. Some people may not be home for the holidays because work obligations keep them out of town, or because they have planned vacations to serve as nontraditional holiday celebrations.

Being away from some familiar sights and sounds of the holidays doesn’t mean

a leather briefcase, which creates a more traditional look for young people who will be entertaining clients or

celebrations should be any less special. Here are tips for celebrating away from home.

• Find people in similar situations. Chances are you will not be the only person away from home, particularly if you are a student or someone on a business venture. Connect with others who are away from their families and do something together for the holidays.

• Partake of local traditional activities. You may be used to baking sugar cookies for the holidays, but in a foreign country, the locals may make another type of dessert. Figure out how the locals celebrate the holidays and then take part in any way you can.

• Volunteer your time. If you will be away or alone

Visit a children’s hospital and deliver small gifts.

• Engage in virtual fun. Connect with people at home through the power of digital technology. Video conferencing services connect people who can’t be together in person. Utilize

celebrations by cooking the foods you would normally enjoy at home. Those tastes and smells can transport you back to grandma’s kitchen or dad’s living room.

• Stay off of social media. Being away from home during the holidays can

loved ones. Tune out of your social feeds for a few days.

• Invite others to you. Maybe you don’t have the means of getting home, but you can bring those at home to you. Find out if anyone can plan a road trip, train ride or flight to where you are and then enjoy the holidays together.

Being away from home during the holidays may not be ideal. However, there are plenty of ways to maintain your holiday spirit when celebrating in unfamiliar surroundings.

Shopping is foremost on the minds of many come the holiday season. When considering loved ones and acquaintances while making holiday shopping lists, tangible gifts, such as clothing or items for the home, may be the first things that come to mind. However, experiential gifts also merit consideration. Experiential gifts are those that focus on experiences rather than

items. These can include anything from a horseback riding adventure to a spa day to concert tickets to getting behind the wheel of a race car. Experiential gifts can be tailored to people’s interests. A 2014 study by researchers at San Francisco State University showed people tend to realize greater wellbeing from life experiences and consider them to be a better way to spend their money. Overall satisfaction tends to be greater with gifted experiences than with material things.