by 1 person |
Here is a lens of things to do in January. Not just places to visit, or fun activities, it is also a reminder of the little things that are time to do around this time of year. Take a look.
To the left is Janus, the Roman god of doorways and arches, for whom January is named.
To the left is Janus, the Roman god of doorways and arches, for whom January is named.
January
Fiscal Things to Do In January
- Prepare for Tax Season
- List the W2s, 1099s and interest income statements you expect. Check off each one as it arrives. The list will keep you from preparing your tax returns until you have all you data in hand. [tip from Reader's Digest]
- Tame Your Credit Card Debt
- Credit card debt is, outside of payday loans, the most onerous debt around. Do this any way you can. Reader's Digest suggests paying off your credit card debt with a low-rate home-equity line of credit. On a five thousand dollar loan, this can cut your interest payments for the year from $750 to $200. For those of you, like me, who don't own a home, lower it any way you can. It is amazing how freeing it is to watch your debt go down.
Click the above link to check your credit reports (free annually). Since there are three credit agencies, and you get a free report from each of them every year, you should spread that out over the whole year. (That is, get one report every four months.)
Keep Your Capricorn Friends
- Send Birthday Cards
- It is easy to forget someone's birthday if you have to remember to check every day of the year. Why don't you sit down and write birthday cards (or write birthday e-cards) for the whole month. It's a time investment, but it pays off.
- or Gifts
- If they are really good friends, you can send them gifts. A lot of on line companies will let you specify when you want something to ship out and may not even charge you until it actually ships. Click the above link if you would like gift suggestions.
Now That The Holidays Are Over
It's somewhat of a relief. The gifts were given and gotten, the family has come and gone. I know you thought it was all over. Think again.
- Go through your decorations. Throw away anything too ratty for next year and box up everything else.
- Write thank you notes.
- Download (or develop) your holiday photos. Don't forget to share them with friends.
- Restock the liquor cabinet.
- Go through the fridge. Get rid of the left over turkey.
Watch the Bowl Games in January
Even if football isn't your thing, this is a great excuse for a party. And football is a lot more interesting if you are there with people who care AND who can explain the rules. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of guys jumping on each other.
- Watch the Rose Bowl
- And while you're at it, watch the Tournament of Roses, a spectacular parade of floats made entirely of flowers.
- Watch the Gator Bowl
- Get all the official information at this official website.
- Watch The Tostidos Fiesta Bowl.
- Crunchy!
- Watch The Sugar Bowl
- Currently hosted by All State (like a good neighbor, they are there), this link might change next year. (The Sugar Bowl was last hosted by Nokia.)
- Watch The Orange Bowl
- Juicy!
Get Snowed!
- Go skiing.
- Go sledding.
- Build a snowfort.
- Get in a snowball fight.
- Join a tobogganing club.
Outdoor Things to Do in January
- Ouray Ice Festival
- The Ouray Ice Festival is the premier ice climbing event in North America. The Ouray Ice Festival features competitions, demo gear, parties, etc..
Feeling Guilty About all the New Things You Have?
There's an app for that!
Well, no not really, but there are things you can do. Volunteering is number one, but barring that, pick a charity and donate. One of your favorites or go to Donors Choose. And the smaller an organization is, the more a small amount means to them. $5 from a bunch of people really adds up.
DonorsChoose.org is dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools.
European Festivals in January
- Berlin's Annual Dance Festival
- This site about Tanzetag Berlin is in German, but it is basically a choreography showcase for all dancers in Berlin.
- Flander's Bommel Festival
- Epiphany in Ronse means more than just taking down the old Christmas decorations: the inhabitants seize the opportunity for yet another party. Pride of place goes to the "Bommels," or Corks, characters dressed in monumental costumes whose main purpose is to knock each other senseless.
This bizarre spectacle is the high-point of the events on Crazy Monday, now rather confusingly held on the first Saturday after Epiphany every year.
The small town of Ronse is a rarity in the Plat Pays (flat country) of Flanders, situated as it is in the hills of the Ardennes. Bommels and scenic views aside, the town is known also for the Church of Saint Hermes, whose 11th-century crypt was a site of pilgrimage for the mentally ill throughout the Middle Ages.
Event information provided by Whatsonwhen.com - Croatia's Carnival of Rijeka
- Click on the "English" link on the bottom to get to the English version of this site.
The Carnival madness starts with the Carnival queen contest and the opening ceremony with the Mayor's simbolic delivery of the City keys to the Master of the Carnival. Concerts, exhibitions, parties, performances and other festivities fill the days that precede the major event - the International Carnival Parade. Hundreds of floats, thousands of masks and streets crowded by spectators are the result of a competitive spirit built on originality, inventiveness and wittiness.
Thanks to the Carnival, the city of Rijeka has earned its "5th Season" - a season of partying and parading that satisfies both young and old. - Monte Carlo's International Circus Festival
- Created in 1974 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the International Festival of the Circus of Monte Carlo gives circuses and clowns a chance to show their stuff.
- Italy's Putignano Carnival
- A parade of papier-mache floats.
Thank You Notes
I said it before, I'll say it again: Don't forget to send thank you notes to everyone that gave you a gift.
by Einsteinium
I want to consolidate the scraps of paper in my life to workable, memorable lenses. This is try number 1.
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