The post Five Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>
New Year's resolutions can be intimidating and are not always a good idea because people tend to set goals that evoke negative emotions about themselves. While it may seem motivating at first, it can create feelings of depression and anxiety that seldom results in long-term motivation. So, instead of a New Year's resolution, let's look at other ways to improve during the year without feeling down.
One-Hit Wonder Goals
One-hit-wonder goals are "one-and-done" goals. One writer on GeekMom.com said they did this because it made more sense for them. Sticking to one year-long goal intimidated them, so they never followed through because they were afraid to fail. So now, they pick a set number of things they want to do during the year and check them off as they go. A few things they decided to try to include learning to say "hi" in five languages, taking their lunch to work for a week, and having a family movie night.
30-Day Challenge
Challenge yourself to something new each month. The challenge can be as fundamental as reading a book you've been putting off or as complex as training for a marathon. Whatever it is, make it something you want to do and not feel you have to do. Some examples include: 30-day declutter challenge, creating a passive source of income in 30-days, and a 30-day yoga challenge. DaringToLiveFully.com has some great recommendations to get you started.
Make A Vision Board
Where do you see yourself at the end of the coming year? Is there anything you'd like to accomplish? Consider putting it on a vision board to help you stay focused. You can do it with clippings from magazines, images you've found on the internet, or words that inspire you. Make it physical or digital and carry it with you on your phone. The possibilities are only as endless as your imagination.
Pick A Word Of The Week/Month/Year
Word of the year is prominent in the journal/planning circles. You pick a word that resonates with you and focuses on doing something related each month. You can break this down into one word for the year or change it each week or month. There are a ton of resources online that can help you pick your word, do a quick Google search of "pick my word of the year" to find them.
Consider Doing A 365-day Project.
A 365-day project is something you do every day for the year. These tend to be more successful if you do something that only takes a few minutes. Examples include:
- Reading a cert number of pages each day.
- Spending 10 minutes in Duolingo learning a new language.
- Taking a selfie each day.
- Waking up at the same time each day.
- Reading a short story every day.
No matter how you tackle your goals this coming year, the important thing is to remember why you're doing it and make sure it's for the right reasons. Positive motivation will get you farther than guilt and negativity.
The post Five Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>The post Free Central Florida Holiday Happenings appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>
For those looking for budget-friendly holiday happenings, we have you covered. Everything on this list is FREE to attend and happens on multiple nights, so there is no fear of missing out.
Walt Disney World Resort Gingerbread Displays
When: November 11th – January 1st
Where: Walt Disney World Resort
Did you know you can visit the Walt Disney Resorts for free? Yup. Stroll through the wonderful decorations at the Walt Disney World resorts. The Gingerbread displays are back this year and better than ever. Head over to the Grand Floridian to take in the life-sized gingerbread house and sample a taste of the shingles (for sale in the gingerbread house itself!). Other resorts participating in the gingerbread wonder include:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Beach Club Resort
- Boardwalk Inn
- Contemporary Resort
- Polynesian Resort
Each resort has a different opening day for its gingerbread displays, but it's safe to say they will all be up by December 1st. Don't fret about parking because you can take a bus from Disney Springs to any resort and hop around from there. For example, take a bus to the Contemporary Resort and then use the monorail (free) to Grand Floridian Resort and the Polynesian Resort for fun.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
When: November 11th – January 1st
Where: 1486 Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
They should call this the Christmas Tree Hide-And-Seek because that's what you are doing. Once inside Disney Springs (parking is free!), head to the Welcome Center, House of Blues, 12 Days of Christmas store, or The Marketplace Co-Op and get your free map, complete with stickers to mark when you've found a tree. Previously, you could show your completed map and get a button. Parking is free at any of the parking garages (If you park at Orange, you will be able to walk the entire area without backtracking).
Holidays at Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
When: November 24th, 2022 - January 1st
Where: 274 Cranes Roost Blvd, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
his year the Plaza Fountain will feature special shows complete with dancing water and festive lights, all done to holiday tunes. Shows happen nightly at 6, 7, 8, and 9 PM. Also happening at Cranes Roost Park (specifically at the Eddie Rose Amphitheater) are free holiday music performances at the Eddie Rose Amphitheater. Happening December 4, 11 & 18, 7 PM – 9 PM
Snow Falling Nightly in Celebration at Celebration Town Center
When: November 26th, 2022 – December 31st, 2022
Where: 610 Sycamore St, Celebration, Fl 34747
Nightly snowfall hourly from 6 to 9 PM The Town of Celebration has some of the best light displays in Central Florida. The residents go all out for their neighborhood competition, with some having real people as part of their display. Last year, my family saw Mr. and Mrs. Claus greet people passing by. And at Celebration Town Center, you can get some of the best "snow" on this side of the Georgia state line as it falls from the main street.
A Merry Winter Garden Light Show at City Hall
When: December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 2022, 6–9 PM
Where: 300 W Plant St, Winter Garden, FL
This year the Winter Garden City Hall has a festive light show planned on select nights from 6 to 9 PM. In addition to the light show, there will also be holiday decorations and an area for children to have fun. Enjoy strolling through all of Winter Garden as they shine this holiday season.
Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree Show
When: December 2nd – January 6th
Where: Lake Eola Park, 512 E Washington St, Orlando 32801
Starting on December 2nd, the Lake Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree will come to life with synchronized light and music. Shows will happen at 5:45 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:45 PM, 8:45 PM, and 9:45 PM. The Christmas Tree is located by E. Washington St. and N. Rosalind Ave.
Downtown Orlando Snowfall
When: Select Dates December 2nd – December 23rd
Where: 512 Eola Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32801 (Lake Eola House)
Snow in Florida? Head over to experience snowfall in Downtown Orlando this holiday season when it falls on Washington St. by the Lake Eola House (located near the intersection of E. Washington St. and N. Eola Dr.). The snowfall will happen in 15-minute increments and is scheduled to fall on Fridays and Saturdays: 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM Sundays: 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM
Meet Santa
When: Select Dates December 3rd – December 23rd
Where: 512 Eola Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32801 (Lake Eola House)
Meet Santa at the Eola House (512 E. Washington St., Orlando, FL 32801) at the Eola House on December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23. Fridays and Saturdays: 4:30 PM – 9 PM Sundays: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
A December to Remember at the Riverfront Esplanade
When: December 7th – December 25th
Where: 249 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL, 32114
The Riverfront Esplanade has several free activities for all ages this holiday season. From Santa sightings to movies on the lawn to fun community events, if you are in the Daytona area, check them out starting December 7th.
The post Free Central Florida Holiday Happenings appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>The post How to Save Money This Holiday Season! appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>
The holidays are here and you know what that means? It's time to make your lists, set your budgets, and stretch your holiday money as far as possible. Here are a few tips to help you hit the ground running and make the most of each dollar.
Make A List. Check It Twice.
If you only read one tip on this post, make it this one. Make a list of who you will buy for, establish a budget for each person, and then stick to the list! Some apps (like my favorite, Santa's Bag on iOS) will help you organize your list and track your spending. Bonus tip. To prevent any misspending on yourself, set a small budget to treat yourself while shopping for others.
Save Money With Honey
A few Chrome extensions will help you save money, but my favorite is Honey. Honey will tell you the price fluctuations of products on Amazon. And if you add an item to your Amazon wishlist or shopping cart, it will email you if the price drops. You can also earn rewards for shopping and trade them in for gift cards. A bonus is that they will run through all the coupon codes in their database at checkout to get you the best deal.
Interest-Free Credit Options
Look for sites that use interest-free credit options like AfterPay and Klarna to help stretch your holiday shopping budget. Afterpay is a particular favorite of mine. It works by extending you interest-free credit on your purchase, breaking it down into four automatic payments. You can use the service in-store with the app on your phone. The app also lets you track your spending and see when payments will come out of your account.
Be Careful On Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not all they are hyped up to be. Watch stores for their "deals" and cross-check them to your list. 2021 saw record lows in quality deals. Avoid impulse buys by sticking to your list; if it's not on there, don't buy it! No matter how good of a deal you think you're getting.
Buy Food In Advance
If you are in charge of a holiday meal, make your menu weeks in advance and then buy what you need a little at a time, so it only hits you a little at a time. This will also ensure you get everything on your list before the last-minute shoppers grab what's left.
Use Cash
To help you stay on track at brick-and-mortar stores, take cash so you don't put too much on your credit or debit card. Seeing it leave your wallet will make you think twice before you buy Uncle Owen that second R2 unit.
Free Shipping Day is December 14th.
Take advantage of Free Shipping Day (December 14th, 2022) from stores that guarantee your packages will arrive by Christmas Eve.
Track Your Stuff
Track your shopping with the UPS, FedEx, and Shopify apps. Set your notifications to ON, so your phone can alert you when you have an incoming package. When something comes in, put a sticky note on it to remind you who it's for and keep all your gifts in one central area, so you don't find a missing present in April.
Final Thoughts – Plan For Next Year
The earlier you plan, the quicker you will be done and the sooner you can enjoy the holidays with one less stressor. And when it's all said and done, start saving up for next year. Set your budget for next year and break it down into monthly installments. Put those installments in a savings account that you can pull from the next holiday season. Your future self will thank you.
The post How to Save Money This Holiday Season! appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>The post Top 10 Tips For Planning A Friendsgiving appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>
Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition, but for those looking for an alternative to the holiday, let me introduce you to Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving lets you enjoy all the fun of Thanksgiving with your closest friends. This year, Friendsgiving falls on November 25th. That's only three weeks away, so let's get planning.
Here are our top 10 tips for planning a Friendsgiving celebration!
- Get your buddies together and decide who is going to host. The host should have space for all the guests and the food. The great thing about hosting a Friendsgiving is that the host is only responsible for the turkey. The side dishes are the responsibility of the other guests. We will get to that in a moment.
- Send out the invites. Every party needs invitations to tell people when, where, and what time. Decide if you will go old-school and snail mail your invites or use an online RSVP service like Facebook events or Eventbrite (both are free to use).
- Start the conversation about the menu. Once your guests are confirmed, get out your tool of choice to keep track of who is bringing what and who will need kitchen space/time to prepare their dish before the meal. I recommend Google Docs because it's free and easy to use. Make a spreadsheet with the confirmed guests' names and columns for what they are bringing and if they have any allergies or dietary restrictions. This will help ensure you don't have three variations of sweet potato casserole and only one vegetable on the table.
- Get the space ready. A few days before, clean the area and prepare for all the fun. Determine the seating arrangements and if you need to borrow another table or more chairs from a friend. Give the kitchen a deep clean so it's primed and ready for anyone who needs to prepare their dish before the party starts.
- Get to decorating! Go to your local party store and pick up some festive decor. Tip. Keep more oversized decorations out of high-traffic areas that could cause a tripping hazard or would be in the way of counter space. And make sure you use wall-friendly products that won't cause any damage to your lovely walls.
- Figure out the parking situation. Encourage your guests to carpool or take a ride-share service to reduce the chance of any parking issues. Apartment complexes can get busy during the holidays due to family and friends visiting. Encourage your guests to carpool or take a ride-share service to avoid having your guests drive around for a spot or risk being towed.
- Plan out before and after-dinner activities. Who doesn't love games, right? So ask your guests to bring their favorite group game or break out a few of your own that you can all do before or after the meal. The simpler, the better, so you can jump right into playing.
- Have a festive playlist. Pick out your favorite albums and spin the tunes. I'm not talking about a dance party. Just something to have as background music to prevent awkward silence while everyone hangs out. Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music have great pre-set holiday playlists.
- Everybody clean up. That's right. Everyone should help pitch in and clean up at the night's end. Using throw-away-china (A.K.A paper or plastic) will make this a breeze. This is also where everyone grabs their to-go containers and divides up the rest of the goods for the next day's lunch. Bonus if you have containers with your guests' names on them, so everyone gets a fair shot at the goods.
- Make time to sit and relax. A lot of times, the host doesn't get to enjoy the party. Rotate out the responsibilities so that everyone has a chance to sit, talk, and relax.
However you celebrate, make sure to have fun and enjoy yourself, and may your Friendsgiving be blessed with an attitude of gratitude.
The post Top 10 Tips For Planning A Friendsgiving appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>