"On the first day of Christmas, My True Love sent to me………" Christmas is just around the corner! While everyone is busy trying to plan their activities (and the budget of course) - it is somehow frightening the way the commercial side of this blessed season creeps up on us like a thief in the night. It relieves us of most (if not all) of our savings and then disappears only to return twelve months later to take another year's hard earned money.
Thoughts like these can be very frustrating - that is, if we lose the meaning of what Christmas is all about. Because of this, it is a continuing challenge for us to come up with strategies on how we could celebrate Christmas without too much worrying on budget by focusing instead on the essence of the season.
Here are some helpful tips:
1. Save yourself the hassle of Christmas shopping - of having to brave through the traffic or plunging into crowds, hoping to choose the best gifts for the holidays - by making a grocery list before going to the store and stick to it - never buy things on whim only.
2. Clearance Sale is everywhere so grab it! Take advantage of their reduced cost. Lots of these items are still in good condition and can be used as gifts to your loved ones. 
3. Be creative and unique! Every person is born with creativity and uniqueness. You can either make your own gifts or try concocting a special recipe, which you can use as presents.
4. If you are to attend a lot of holiday parties, MOVE. Walk around your office building during lunch break. Walk up and down stairs instead of riding escalators and elevators. Work up your muscles, not fat.
5. Do not strive for perfection. If you over-ate during one meal, forgive yourself, but continue your weight control program as before.6. Practice eating slowly. It is easy to overeat if you take your foods in rapid spoonfuls.
7. Although most people will look for bargains, be extra careful when you opted to buy foods that are "on-sale". Most of the time, these foods are near expiration, if not expired already (you do not want to save a centavo this Christmas and spend a thousand after the celebration due to food poisoning, do you?)
8. At home, be a freeze whiz! Refrigerators and freezers are great because they make food last. Freezing allows the homemaker to cook for 3 meals in one session. But be sure to freeze the prepared food after it has cooled and before it is eaten. If they're put in while hot, ice crystals tend to foam on them, which can ruin texture and even flavor. Remember also to season foods lightly during initial cooking, as freezing tends to cause some flavors to get stronger.
9. To slow down spoilage, do not store leftovers in large containers. The smaller the portion, the faster it can cool down - thus retarding bacterial growth.
10. Sauces with mayonnaise, cream or milk should be set aside and not mixed with the rest of the food. These are often the fastest to spoil. Stuffing, garnishing and gravies should all be stored separately.
11. Since money can't buy all things - it's the perfect time to express love and appreciation to your loved ones - do things that you know will please them (such as cleaning the house, cooking a special dish or just stay in the house).
12. Finally, the celebration of God's greatest gift to mankind is not centered in one event only but is a series of events that takes place every year. Be sure that before you have filled your stomachs and houses with foods and gifts - you have already paid homage to the KING! Merry Christmas!
