Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

Winter's on its way. There's no denying that darker days are ahead for a couple of months. We can either curl up on the couch and sleep the winter away or we can embrace this time and try new ways to enjoy the winter. Winter activities can fit all income levels and budgets, including completely free activities. The whole idea is to get outside, embrace the winter season, and keep active. Besides, we're not bears, so sleeping the winter away isn't an option anyway!

The holidays are once again around the corner. With exceptional shortages occurring in many retail sectors, this may be the year to try something a little different when it comes to gift-giving. If you’re looking to surprise a loved one with something unique, save money, and have a little fun, you might consider a DIY gift.

I’m trying to take a step back this holiday season, to be more conscious about my actions in the gift-giving realm and focus on other ideas besides new stuff. It’s not easy; the autopilot response is to buy new gifts and wrap them in flashy new paper. Since my children are older now, I don’t feel pressure to create such a magical experience, but holidays can be special at any age so I’m trying to quell my inner Grinch and find other ways to spread joy. Here are some simple ideas to switch it up, save money, and create more fun, less resource-intensive holidays.

If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, you may find it challenging to get gifts delivered in time for the giving season, but don’t panic! Although the supply chain logjam means that everything from computer chips to pies from local bakeries is delayed by weeks or even months, we’ve got some ideas for how you can still find the perfect gift in time for the holidays.

Many people (myself included!) are itching to travel again. But it isn’t just the pandemic that prevents people from going abroad. A lot of would-be travelers don’t plan trips abroad for fears unrelated to COVID-19. Here are eight of the most common causes of travel anxiety—and ways you can reduce your fear for each one to take that trip across international borders.

Are you a beer lover? If you’re planning a staycation or are looking for an alternative to out-of-state travel, visiting Vermont’s Breweries may be the right adventure to embark on. Around the year 2008, I discovered that breweries that are members of the Vermont Brewers Association offer brewery passports. These passports were created to encourage participants to visit local breweries, where they receive stamps on their passports. Those who collect enough stamps win a prize.

We all know that summers in Vermont are fleeting and that foliage season is passing quickly. If you blinked, you may have missed peak foliage season in some areas, but Vermont still has a great deal to offer—particularly if one is willing to go off the beaten path a bit. In that spirit, let’s explore some of the lesser-known gems that our state has to offer.

Decorating and renovating might seem intimidating and expensive, and indeed they can be, but you don’t need to hire a decorator or a contractor and spend tens of thousands of dollars to give your home a fresh new look. With some thoughtful choices, creativity and a bit of work, you can give your home a makeover and increase its value for relatively minimal cost.