Saturday, December 1, 2012
As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? How about homemade gifts?
Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Patch explores the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find something to inspire you to enjoy the season more. Healthy options: Pack energy in a jar with healthy snacks like energy bars, dark chocolate…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
How much is too much to spend on children and teens? We want to hear your thoughts, South Brunswick.
As the holiday shopping season goes into full swing, some people are maxing out their credit cards to pay for presents and others are setting budgets and sticking with them. Scour just about any Facebook stream or stop in a local coffee shop and chances are you’ll hear parents debating the merits of setting spending limits. Or, you'll hear them lamenting about just how much they've already spent. The ideas for a perfect limit do seem to vary rather greatly. Some parents say $100 per child is more than enough. Others tend to lean toward much more generous figures. After all, there’s nothing like seeing a child’s eyes light up as they unwrap gift after gift. And that’s what we want to hear from you about, South Brunswick! Do you set spending…
Monday, November 26, 2012
Techies will love the almost unlimited options available this holiday season. With so much to choose from, Patch is here to help.
Techies will love the almost unlimited options available this holiday season. From affordable tablets to the newest cell phones, there is sure to be winner on this year’s list of the hottest in all things techie. Small tablets are becoming a major selling point as consumers look for options packed in smaller packages. Apple has dominated the larger tablet industry with its iPad, and the iPad 4 will be released Nov. 2 with a starting price of $499. But competition is heating up in the smaller tablet market, with four worthy competitors vying for market share. Gaming systems are continually being updated and reconfigured. If there’s a gamer on your list, maybe a new system is high on their list. eReaders are turning paperback enthusiasts …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. For grandparents, that number might be a little higher.
Here's the first thing you need to know about holiday shopping for grandparents: We just can't get enough pictures of our grandchildren. Whether they're printed on Kodak paper or popped in as wallpaper on our iPad screens, grandparents love, love, love looking at those precious faces. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking in the right direction: These are available on-line through sites like Snapfish.com, or you can order them when you take your digital images or film to Walgreen's, CVS, Rite Aid, or wherever you order prints. My personal favorite is a 4x6 album that fits into my purse. (Go ahead, ask me about my grandchildren.) Help the kids make a frame using a craft-store kit, or simple materials like heavy cardboard or Popsicle …
