it's your birthday and you're broke!

Why does it have to be on your birthday? When of all days, this is the day you'd want to make everyone happy---your friends and family. You want them to feel happy too because it is your birthday, but how? You're broke, so what are you going to do? Should it be an unhappy birthday to you?

No way. With a little ingenuity and a few bucks, you could get yourself one ball of a time! How? Here are some ways in which you can celebrate your birthday with little or no money:

1. Plan a program. Set up a small stage from old tables and other scraps you have around, and invite your neighbors to come and participate in the show featuring everybody. In this program everybody is going to be a star. Encourage everyone to show off their talents in singing, dancing, acting, whatever. Serve sandwiches and juices while this is going on.

2. Karaoke singing. Sing your hearts out the whole night. You may invite your neighbors who are into singing too.

3. Camping. For a change because it is your birthday, have your dinner outside under the star-lit skies with the music of the crickets as background.

There are other countless ways you can have a grand time with your family when you don't have a penny on your birthday. Have fun!

gifts that are least appreciated..

Gifts are meant to be appreciated no matter what. After all, it is the thought that really matters. Unfortunately, not all gifts get to be appreciated. In fact, because the receiver finds no use for it, he will stash it away in one place so he could recyle or regift it to someone in the future. It is no use not talking about this because this is happening now.

In one forum I have posted this topic, asking members to share the gifts they do not want to receive and most of them expressed little or no interest to receive items that just collect or gather dust in one corner. In short, top of the list for least appreciated gifts are figurines of all sorts. Gone were the days when figurines were tops in the gift list.

Now that the season for gift-giving is fast approaching, it is time we review our gift list. It is always best to go practical. Find gifts that people can use. Avoid gifts that are meant only to be put aside to gather dust and molds. Go practical. I will come up with a list of practical gifts to be given on any occasion.