The holiday season is here! While the holidays are about peace on Earth and fun gatherings with family and friends, it is actually the most stressful time of year. So we want to make it a hassle-free holiday for you in the midst of decorating, shopping, wrapping, entertaining, traveling and more. Apart from ensuring your home is cozy this holiday season, your favorite Denver HVAC company has put together some our favorite holiday hacks to help save you time and reduce holiday-induced stress.
Online Deals
Black Friday deals and door busters at physical storefronts are quickly going away as many online retailers offer the same deals, and sometimes better ones with special coupon codes. So, take advantage of being able to shop from home in the comfort of your robe and slippers (with coffee or hot chocolate in hand) and avoid the mall traffic. Just take a little time to ensure you have a list for everyone you want to buy for, and you can probably finish your shopping in a couple hours. And, if you are looking for special deals and comparisons, Google Shopping offers great ways to compare online retailers and deals. Also, be sure to check out Groupon as they often have fantastic discounts on electronic items like tablets, laptops and headphones.
Freezer Meals
When the family has converged on your home, the last thing you want to do is spend hours prepping meals. With a little planning before they arrive, you can make some freezer meals that are ready to go. Prep a few meals and pop them in the freezer and then in the evening just heat them up. Also, with family in town, make them big enough to allow for leftovers the following day. Then, at the very least, you can get two days’ worth of dining from each freezer meal. Another benefit to pre-prepping meals is there is minimal cleanup! And, if all else fails, ordering take-out is OK, especially after a long day of shopping and fighting crowds.
Clever Use of Crock-Pots
If you are hosting a holiday party, use a Crock-Pot to keep hot drinks at the perfect temperature. Then your guests can just ladle their favorite hot drinks into their mugs. This works for hot chocolate (with peppermint schnapps), apple cider (with cinnamon whiskey) or even for large servings of coffee or tea.
Keep Your House Smelling Festive
Instead of just spraying scents or burning candles (which can lead to poor indoor air quality), you can make your whole home smell festive by boiling water on your stove with lemons, cinnamon sticks or whatever else you think smells good. Within a few minutes your home will smell fresh and festive!
Make Some Room
We have saved our most important tip for last! Before too much of the holiday madness invades your life, take a night or two to just soak in the season. In Denver, there are plenty of opportunities to have a special night out with your spouse or even all the kids. From taking in a show at the Denver Performing Arts Center to the Parade of Lights, there is plenty to do in Denver alone. This year, you can see shows such as The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol and A Christmas Story. Even if it is just going out and exploring holiday light displays (don’t miss the City and County Building in Denver), just taking some time getting into the season can do wonders to reduce holiday stress. Plus, these things can become family traditions that you can look forward to each and every holiday season.
How to Use This Information
The holiday season can be stressful. But, we can help make it stress-free from the perspective of helping keep you warm. You should not have to stress about whether or not your furnace will make it through the holidays with your in-laws visiting. If you are considering a new furnace system or just want a little peace-of-mind, give us a call at 303-424-1622 or schedule online. If you do need a new system, we help ensure you get the right furnace system for your home and budget.
