Life in Big Canoe, Real Estate in the Mountains

Raise your hand if you are coming up a little short this year in the stocking stuffing department?  I personally am cherishing the time spent making  macaroni necklaces for my family and friends. Hee hee! I know my mom will love the framed hand prints I made for her this year. She used to put them on the fridge when I was a kid. After speaking to several of my friends, family, and customers I realized we are all in the same boat (and it’s not a yacht). This blog is not about hollering that the sky is falling, it’s more about how to handle the holidays in creative ways that are easy on our bank accounts.

Perhaps macaroni jewelry is a little over the top but the one thing that can add the most sparkle to the holidays is a sense of humor! Spending time with your family and friends can truly help lighten the load of a declining portfolio. This year we need to focus on the important things that matter most. Here is a list of ideas that should help kindle the spirit of the season!

• Bring a box of old pictures to share at a holiday dinner. They are always good for a laugh and it also teaches us not to take ourselves too seriously.
• This Thanksgiving create a “Secret Santa” where names are drawn out of a hat and each person only has one family member to buy for. The secret is revealed on Christmas and most of the time everyone is happy. 
• If you are hosting the holiday dinner, don’t feel obligated to serve “Roast Beast”. How about a hearty lasagna with yummy garlic bread? Everyone loves it and the whole point of the dinner is to bring family together, not draining the bank account. Lasagna is served in one big dish, so clean-up is easy too!
• Create alternatives for gifts. What about taking a family vacation. For example rent a Big Canoe home where everyone can stay together and you’ll save a ton of money. Each couple can be responsible for dinner one night and the amenities are all inside the gates.
• For those with big ambitions it is a perfect time to pick up a vacation home at a very low price. Many Big Canoe weekend homes run about $300K or less and they make great rentals. If the family goes in on it together they will have a vacation home that they can supplement through renting. Even the rates are low right now.
• One last thing: Spending time with family and friends is so important. Keep the conversations light-hearted and positive. This has been a politically tumultous year. I personally would not invite politicians to my dinner table, and certainly don’t want to discuss them while I’m eating, do you?

Cheers to a happy holiday season! 

May your turkey be tender and your pants have elastic waists!

~Karin Elliott