Secret Santa has a bad reputation with some people. In some offices and friendship groups the tradition has turned a little stale, with people fed-up of novelty gifts and cheap stocking fillers. But we’re here to say that the Secret Santa tradition should be nurtured – Secret Santa is actually a great way to bring some festive cheer to the office or the extended family when you are on a budget. Here’s why Secret Santa still scores points.

1. You Save Money 

While you may think that you’ll only spend a small amount of money on each person, it quickly becomes clear that even the cheapest gifts all add up to some serious money at the end of the day. When you buy one Secret Santa gift you spend a little more on that one person, but that’s the only gift you have to think about. You can budget better and not end up broke by the end of the week.

2. No One Gets Forgotten

In the workplace or in big family groups it often happens that someone turns up to the gift giving party unexpectedly, and there is nothing for them in the gift pile. You end up feeling bad for the person who goes home empty handed, but it is really hard to keep track of everyone. A Secret Santa system helps ensure no one is left out and there is a little bit of Christmas cheer for all.

3. You Don’t Need to Find 10 Perfect Gifts 

Instead, you can find one perfect gift. If you don’t know people very well, in the office for example, it can be really hard to come up with gift ideas for 10 people or more. You may find one gift you love and that would be perfect for someone, but then spend hours wandering the store trying to get inspiration for the other nine. Save yourself the trouble with the Secret Santa concept.

4. You Can Set Spending Limits

A Secret Santa Gift shouldn’t be so cheap that it’s hardly worth receiving, but neither should it be so expensive you’ll need to save up in advance to buy it. Set a reasonable spending limit so no one feels overstretched. You’ll be surprised how creative people are when they have a spending limit to stick to. You get some great handmade gifts and ideas that are original and different.

5. Everyone Loves the Mystery

Make sure that no one reveals who they’re buying for until the giving – you could even try and prevent people from saying afterwards, too. It’s fun to guess who’s the one going out shopping for your gift. Plus, when you can’t tell anyone who you have, you must put in the effort yourself to find something they will like. It’s also fun at the gift exchange when you can try to guess who bought your present for you.

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Shopping for clothes can be an annoying task for some people. It can also get to be rather expensive if you don’t know what you are doing. This is why it is so vitally important for you to be as educated as possible before you embark on any shopping trip. The info that you don’t know can eventually cause you to spend much more than you need to. Your overall savings can be very substantial if you take a little extra time to prepare. Here are some nice examples of tips that will help you with becoming a smart shopper for clothing.

1. Shop at different stores

Some people insist on buying all of their clothes from one store. This will certainly save you money on gas by preventing you from driving around town. However, it will not necessarily save you any money. In fact, you might end up paying considerably more in the long run. Do not be afraid to do a little extra driving to find the clothes you are looking for at cheaper prices. You could also call some places to find out what they have in stock. This would help you to avoid wasting a trip.

2. What are online retailers selling?

You may not like buying clothes online because you prefer to try them on before you buy them. This is perfectly understandable. However, it is common for online clothing retailers to charge much less than their brick & mortar counterparts. This is why you owe it to yourself to take a quick peek and see what these online retailers are selling and how much they are charging. You can check out some lehenga sarees if you visit http://www.craftsvilla.com/clothing/lehnga.html.

3. Knowing when the sales are going to be held

Every shopper loves a good sale. The key is knowing when they will be held so you can get there when the sale first begins. This will give you the best selection of the items that are on sale. Many clothing retailers allow their customers to provide their email address. An email is then sent to that person to notify them every time that store is going to have a sale. However, some sites require you to check back periodically on your own.

4. Be mindful of shipping fees

The money you save could be lost on shipping fees. Be careful not to pay too much to have your purchases shipped to you.

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The house is a structure where all our valuables are stored. These are not limited to valuables with monetary values, but also valuables such as memories that took place inside the home. However, houses are extremely vulnerable to theft with over 2 million burglaries being reported each year. Hence, it is important to safeguard your house, and the installation of a security system is one of the most prevalent steps applied in achieving safety of home.

There are a number of companies that can provide a design proposal specifically for a property. One of the well established agencies that are capable of determining a property’s specific need is the ADT in Chicago. Having a roster of professional staff with valid experience in the field is guaranteed.

However, even then burglaries are high, and a major reason is the fact that homeowners often do not pay attention to some very important points. Here are some of the mistakes homeowners do that are ineffective and does not result in effective security measures:

1. Taking on the task of professionals

Every property varies in requirements for security and surveillance installations. There are experts that should be tapped for such projects. The proper location of cameras can be determined depending on the angle of coverage that it can provide. The wiring devices and cables to be used must be of recommended quality. Electrical loads brought about by these installations are also computed by experts. The technicality of the work done needs to be properly addressed so as not to compromise the function of the system.

1. Choosing to install intimidating lock sets

Installing high-end lock sets that are made of quality materials may intimidate a thief. As per reports, thieves tend to attack homes that ‘look’ unsafe. If a homeowner is willing to invest on these things, then a thief can easily conclude that the owner of the house is wealthy.

1. Posting alarm signs

Many houses equipped with security systems advertise their installations by posting signs that the house is burglar protected. In some cases though, robbery is made easy because you are announcing to the public that a certain company installed your security. Once a thief is able to familiarize himself with the techniques a company implements during installation, it makes it all the more easier to rob your house. Sometimes, the warning signs are what intrigues robbers to break into the house, this is because they know that people who invest in alarm systems have valuables to keep.

1. Pretending to be there by leaving the lights on

Most homeowners use this technique to fool the neighbors that there is someone inside the property. However, if a thief plans on entering the house, the first step is to observe whether someone is inside which may compromise the success of the crime. Leaving a light on in a certain room without shadows or movement allows the robber to assume that it was left on just for the sake of pretending that someone is inside. What you can do is use lights that have timer functions. Leave a light on in a specific room and then set it to turn off after a few minutes. Set the other light to turn on a few seconds after the other one turns off. This is a much more effective way of fooling burglars off than just leaving a single light on.

1. Storing valuables where they are most likely stored

Burglars know that people have the tendency to keep the things that matter most near to them. Which only means one place: the bedroom. We may think that valuables are safer when they are kept in our private spaces, but the reality is that it is most likely that a thief has the same mindset. Confuse your burglar by creating hiding spots that are easily seen in public spaces but do not feel out of context. The kitchen cupboard may be a good hiding place, in addition to under the knives, below the kitchen sink. These are some spaces you can pick instead of leaving them in the drawer of your nightstand. Be unpredictable!

1. Building high walls to serve as perimeter fence of your property

Covering the house to safeguard it from public eye may provide additional safety for the property, but it also plants something in a thief’s brain–that there is something worth stealing inside. Keep things casual, do not make the neighborhood feel as though your house needs a total lockdown. Remove their possible suspicions by letting your property blend in with the neighborhood ambiance.

Be mindful of every detail you expose to the public that concerns your house, especially if you are new to the neighborhood. These deterrents have been used throughout time, and burglars are already aware of such techniques, making them ineffective security measures. Imagine how a thief would think and try to do things differently.

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