Preparing for Christmas

The Christmas season is here once more and we must be happy for having survived the brutal recession. However, it is not a time to let down your defenses to go on a spending spree. The merchants out there would do their utmost to attract your hard earned dollars so you have to take stock of your resources and do what is best for you. So first of all we should make a plan as to how you are going to juggle your resources and buy wisely.{{more}}

Paint is a must for some people as you have to preserve your home and not leave it to depreciate. This is the time of the year when you would be able to get the well needed discount but you can help to reduce costs by doing some of the painting yourself or you can make it a family affair. Use tape effectively so that you can get that professional look and avoid smudges.

It is time to bring out some of the stuff that you have stored away. Use some curtains that you have not used for a long time, it would spare you the expenses. If you have more than you can use then you can donate to some needy persons. Some tie back could help to give a new look.

Start your decorating early. Change around some of the furniture. You do not have to buy a new living room suite. Perhaps a few brightly coloured toss cushions would do the trick. Be creative; use dried and fresh instead of artificial flowers. There are many dried flowers out there that you can collect. You can use them naturally or use spray paint. Forget about the tinsel and the imported stuff. Make your own decorations for the Christmas tree. Bring in side one or two of the potted plants. Cover the top of the pot with chipped wood or saw dust. Make a big display of family photos in creative ways. Remember, there is no contest; there is only your enjoyment at this festive time. At family gathering you can try to shift the emphasis from drinking and eating to perhaps some games which will involve everyone.

Defective merchandise

Look out for defective goods. In your hurry you can end up with items that are not properly finished or have serious faults. Make sure you examine them carefully. Keep your bill safe and make sure you return defective items as early as possible. Some sellers do not want to accept return after seven days. There are some goods with opaque wrappers that make it impossible to see the goods like the turkey in the opaque wrapper. You take it home and place it in your freezer when you take it out on Christmas Eve you find the quality is not as it should be.

December is the best time of the year for us in SVG, weather wise. We cannot forget the intense heat that we endure for the most part of the year. So you can enjoy the moderate temperatures and perhaps put away the fans for a while. We still have to be careful and not leave windows open as this is an invitation for the burglars to come in.

Ada Johnson is a solicitor and barrister-at-law.
E-mail address is: exploringthelaw@yahoo.com