Tag Archives: dining

Financial Pitfalls: Identifying Your Biggest Weakness

The biggest reason for budget failure is that you did not take the time to address your greatest financial weakness. You need to identify what that is, and then come up with strategies on how to deal with it. My greatest financial weakness is eating out. I am lazy and even though I stay at home, I still never feel like cooking. My husband’s biggest weakness is electronics. Fortunately he rotates on wanting big purchases about every six months. For some people it may be massages or beauty treatments. It may be a new wardrobe for every season for you … Continue reading →

Charge it! Cheerful Giving or Buyer’s Remorse?

Do we really want to spend the next entire year paying off Christmas? It is way too easy to spend too much on Christmas gifts for family and friends. We all delight in delighting others, and sometimes we get carried away. When we can whip out the plastic and charge it, we tend to go overboard, because we know we can pay over time. I’ve even seen people put everything on credit cards at the big bargain sales, people who know they won’t pay off the balance immediately. Don’t they realize that they haven’t saved any money when they are … Continue reading →

Dining in New York

When you think of spending time in New York, a number of things come to mind. For starters, there are the Broadway plays, Central Park, taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, and more. However, another great reason for traveling to New York is the culinary experience. Without doubt, New York offers culinary enthusiasts with everything imaginable from casual diners to elaborate five-star restaurants. Today, New York is hopping with new and exciting trends, making it a fabulous place to dine. To help you choose a restaurant for your trip to New York, I have provided some of my … Continue reading →

Can You Change Your Money Habits?

If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation, wondering how you will ever be able to pay off the bills, or put food on the table you may be asking yourself if you can change your spending habits. The answer is a simple yes you can. The key is that you want to change badly enough that you are willing to take a look at the spending habits that got you there in the first place. Many people do not want to take that long hard look at themselves, and decide that they need to change. These people are … Continue reading →

New Study Shows That Kids Want Savings Instead Of Presents

According to a recent survey parents should be spending less money on Christmas presents and saving instead. In Great Britain, a survey asked children 8 to 15 years old questions about Christmas presents and how much money their parents spend on them. The results actually surprised me. Of the children surveyed: 48% said their parents spend too much money on presents for them 47% wanted the money to be put into a savings account for college The results for the parents surveyed were similar: 31% felt they spend too much money on their children at Christmas 40% admitted they would … Continue reading →

How Much Do You Spend On Christmas?

Christmas generates about $435 billion worth of economic activity each year in the United States alone. But how much does the average family spend on Christmas? 2005 statistics show that the average New Zealand family spends $900. In England 43% of parents spend between $189 and 378 per child and 24% between $378 and $945. In the United States the average American will spend about $750 dollars on gifts and accessories. So for a family with two adults that is a total of $1500. That is a lot of money. Especially when you consider that for many families the gifts … Continue reading →

5 Reasons to Budget

Many people hate to budget. It can seem time consuming. Budgeting does take time, and it does involve some effort. Those who decide not to budget, may be able to pay all of their bills every month, or they may be just scraping by and adding more to their credit cards every month. Here are five reasons you should have a budget. 1) A budget allows you to control your money. If you are consciously assigning money to specific categories, you are directing what you are spending, and know when to stop. You can decide what extras or luxuries are … Continue reading →

Celebrities Dining On Dog Food?

Did you know that tomorrow is “Dine With Your Dog Day?” I didn’t, until I heard on the radio that a celebrity event promoting the day got “Desperate Housewives’” actress Nicollette Sheridan a lot of media attention. Apparently, Sheridan was supposed to eat dog food during the event designed to celebrate the bond between man and dog by encouraging pet owners to share a meal with their dog. “This is not ‘Fear Factor,’” Sheridan said Thursday, balking at the idea of downing dog food. But she wasn’t the only Hollywood hottie who declined to munch on doggie morsels. “Exorcist” head-turner … Continue reading →

Dining Room Equipment: Tablecloths

Fancy or plain is much more than a matter of taste when deciding on equipment for an invading horde of diners. If you love fancy, you may spend more time ironing lacy ends than with those you have invited or are required to feed through a sense of birthright or marriage. No-iron, poly/cotton blends are very practical and no one seems to really care way or the other. (They will, however, always remember if the food is bad.) Here are some general tips to bear in mind while marketing for a tablecloth. 1. Choose easy to clean fabrics in deep … Continue reading →

A New Dining Room Table? Keep It Simple

In the words of famous fashion designer, Coco Chanel, “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance”. This holds true for everything from clothing to jewelry to furniture; dining room tables being no exception. If you do the simple things, everything else will fall into place. This is a rule of thumb that works for most objects but usually not for people. But I digress, for dining room tables are not, after all, people. When in the market for a new table for your dining room, make sure you measure to see that there is enough room between the apron … Continue reading →