Another year has flown by, and the holidays are upon us again. Time to pull all your old decorations out of storage and start hanging up lights and garlands. It’s also time to start stocking up on candy canes, sugar cookies, hot cider, and eggnog. For many people, though, it’s the Christmas tree that’s their favorite holiday tradition, and with good reason. It provides the perfect centerpiece to your cozy holiday home, it gives off a welcoming pine smell, and it’s a tradition the whole family can participate in, regardless of their ages, as you decorate together.

Choosing the Right Tree

What we call “Christmas trees” are usually one of several species of tree and are selected based on price and personal preference. Douglas fir is one of the most common, making up half of the Christmas trees sold in the United States. This tree is popular for its size, as well as its thick and full needles and its fresh scent.

Other extremely popular tree varieties include the noble fir, which is a popular variety due in particular to its sturdy branches and small needles, which make it perfect for hanging ornaments. Other popular species of tree include the red cedar, the Norway spruce, and the Virginia pine, among others.

There are several ways you can acquire the tree that you want: visit a tree lot, harvest your own in the wild, or even grow your own Christmas trees throughout the year.

Harvesting Your Own Tree

One option that you might consider is harvesting your own Christmas tree from the forest. Of course, if you decide to do this, make sure you check the regulations in your area to ensure that you can do this legally.

Finding the right tree is a matter of knowing where to look. You won’t want to head into an area that’s too densely forested, because if your potential tree hasn’t received the proper amount of sunlight, it won’t form that coveted symmetrical conical shape. Instead, search for a tree in an open space, one that receives plenty of sunlight and allows individual trees to thrive.

You’ll want to choose a tree that has plenty of space between the branches. After all, you’ll be hanging ornaments there! Find a tree that fits the space you have available. The average size of a Christmas tree is usually around seven to nine feet in height. Make sure the tree you select has fresh needles; if they are brown or falling off, the tree you choose won’t last long.

Growing a Tree

Of course, if you’re so inclined, you can also grow your own Christmas tree. To do so, you’ll need to select a sapling well in advance, sometimes even years before you intend to use it in your home. It takes about eight years for most pine species to grow into the perfect size for a Christmas tree. Of course, provided you have the space, you can grow as many trees as you would like. You can also have them planted at various stages of growth, so you don’t necessarily need to start with saplings. If you’re interested in growing your own Christmas trees on your property, you’ll need to contact a tree service, such as Mr. Tree, to plant them for you and ensure they’re growing in a healthy manner.

Cutting Your Tree

Whether you’ve decided to harvest your tree in the wild or grow it yourself, you’ll need to know how to cut a Christmas tree properly in order to maximize its life span and ensure that you can enjoy more Christmas trees for years to come. However, cutting a tree isn’t an easy task and could have an impact on the lawn around it. In such cases, some people find that getting in touch with a local service similar to Trugreen helps with their lawn maintenance, so they won’t have to worry about it# during the Holiday season.

First, you’ll want to ensure you have the right equipment for the job. Start with a heavy-duty pair of gloves so you can protect your hands from the sap, needles, and sharp branches. It’s also a good idea to bring a tape measure-to make sure your chosen tree is the right size for the space you’re using-and a heavy tarp to wrap the tree up in. If you’re transporting the tree with your vehicle, you’ll need some twine to tie the tree down, as well.

When harvesting a live tree, you’ll need the right saw to do so. There are saws specifically designed for cutting live trees. The one you use should be cleaned and sanitized so as not to risk infecting the tree when you cut. Cut low to the ground, but leave a little of the stump so that the tree can re-sprout. In a few years, you’ll have a whole new Christmas tree. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, enlist the help of a Tree Service company.

Very carefully, begin sawing through the trunk of the tree. Soon enough, the tree will begin to lean towards the ground. Holding the tree firmly with one hand, finish cutting with the other. You should avoid allowing the tree to drop over on its own, which can create splinters and otherwise damage the tree and shorten its life span. However, you may rather skip this cutting process entirely and purchase a real Christmas tree at online shopping sites such as https://mrbonespumpkinpatch.com/mrgreentrees/trees/ where you might find the perfect pine for your home.

Displaying Your Tree

There’s more to the art of how to cut a Christmas tree than simply harvesting it: you’ll want the tree to last as long as possible. When properly cared for, a healthy tree can last for weeks. You’ll want to start with a fresh cut as soon as you get the tree home. The stump where you initially cut the tree down will have dried already, and a fresh cut allows it to absorb water quickly and effectively. Set the tree up in your stand and try to ensure it’s as straight as possible. If the tree leans over, it’ll struggle to soak up water.

If you need to adjust the height of the tree, trim from the bottom, not the top. Cut more from the trunk as needed, little by little, until you achieve the height you want. Cut away any dead branches and add some water to the stand. Soon, you’ll be able to begin decorating your new Christmas tree!

For years my only real study of the Bible was going to church on Sundays, sitting down in the pew, listening to the half-hour sermon, and calling it a day. Recently, I’ve been wanting to take my connection with the Bible and with God to the next level by studying the Word more carefully. After all, a once a week church service is great, but it can’t replace individual studying and personal understanding.

Luckily, I’ve come to find that there is no shortage of resources when it comes to getting my daily bible studies in. With the apps I’ve found, I’m able to learn and consider the Word of God every day, and I feel that it has only deepened my faith and devotion.

Get live streams of your favorite services

The first thing I started to look for when I decided to dive deeper into my Bible study was good sermons. There are plenty of live streaming church apps that function much like Facebook live for church services. You can often find the streams saved to a video library, so you don’t even have to necessarily watch them live, and you can get a few lessons in even if it’s not a Sunday. If they have not been recorded, then you may want to record them yourself with software from websites like Agora.io so you do not miss out on any of the sermon live streams. Watching live church services has also connected me with new minister sermons, and I’ve now discovered multiple pastors that I truly enjoy listening to, and I really feel like I can understand and connect with them. Watching or listening to sermons throughout the week has been the perfect way to study the Bible as a daily practice.

Use Bible lessons to supplement church going

Some say that live streaming hurts church attendance, but I’ve actually found that the streaming can really act as a healthy supplement to my regular church-going. For example, video resources could be used to support faith formation, religious education, and personal and professional enrichment during Continuing Education for Clergy programs. I also have had some eye-opening experiences while finding other ways to give more depth to my Bible reflection. As I was searching for more support, I came across this useful list:

Ways You Can Listen to Bible Study Live Streams

The apps I found through it have become some of my main staples. In fact, the Bible.is app has been my go-to app every time I get in the car. I love having the chance to listen to the Bible every morning on my way to work. I not only feel like I’m learning so much more, but I also feel so relaxed and refreshed when I go to start my day!

Search for sermons to find the right lessons

Another source that has been a huge help has been apps like the sermon.net app, which allows for sermon searches so you can find the exact lessons you’re looking for. Often times life throws unexpected hurdles our way, so I like to be able to listen to sermons that are related to whatever challenges I’m going through at the moment. If you know how to use Sermon Net or other sermon libraries, you’ll find that God has an answer to any question or struggle that you’re going through, and I find that to be truly uplifting.

Conclusion

There are so many options when it comes to getting your own Bible study, but I really recommend trying out some apps and seeing what you like and what works with your own learning process. Even if it’s just a Daily Bible Verse app or a Gospel Radio, whatever you can do to deepen your connection with God will be well worth it.

With today’s children growing up in a generation where there are more complex financial product
available than ever before, it’s perhaps not surprising that we’re commonly warned that
levels of financial literacy are  slipping. While the young struggle to get a grasp
of even basic financial matters, their parents are being bombarded by economic
factors such as stagnant wages, rising inflation and high levels of household debt that
are causing many to struggle financially.

One of the biggest financial headaches of the year for many parents is the cost of back-to-school
essentials such as school uniform, PE equipment, music equipment, stationery, books and much more.
However, rather than simply pulling out your wallet to pay for those items, this could be
an excellent opportunity to teach your child a financial lesson and reduce the cost of going back to school.

1. Make a list – One of the first steps in making any back-to-school budget is to think about what
your child will need for school and work with them to create an itemised list. Asking them to help
you make that list and sticking to your guns about what you intend to spend will teach them
that sacrifices need to be made. If they do want additional items then they should contribute
themselves.​

2. Needs vs. Wants – This is the perfect opportunity to introduce your child to the difference between
what they need and items they want. Notebooks, pens and a uniform are certainly needs, but brand
name school shoes or stylish backpacks are wants. Again, if they want a more expensive alternative
then their pocket money can be used to bridge the gap.​

3. Comparing prices – Back-to-school shopping is an excellent way to teach your child the value of price
comparisons. You should check the prices at the major office supply stores, supermarkets and online
to show them that research is the only way to make sure you don’t pay over the odds. You can also
use this opportunity to teach them about quality and how this can differ with price.​

4. Let your child handle the money – When it comes to making the purchase, let your child handle the
money at the checkout or explain why you’re paying on card. This will also allow you to teach them
the importance of keeping the receipt and asking about the returns policy before you buy.​

5. The importance of timing – One important lesson for children to learn is the impact of seasonality on
price and how this can lead to significant changes throughout the year. The price of these items will
always be higher in the weeks and days leading up to the start of the school term. However, shopping
around for back-to-school items earlier in the year when the demand is less will help you secure the
best price.

6. Learn about the four pillars – There are plenty of free online resources that help teach financial
literacy and we particularly recommend Wonga’s ‘four pillars’ post to get quickly grab the
fundamentals of debt, saving, budgeting and investing.

These are just a few of the lessons you can teach your children when buying those back-to-school essentials.
Do you have some tips of your own to help reduce the cost of the back-to-school items? Please share yours
with our readers in the comments section below.