Valentine's Day

Is the Post Office Open on Presidents Day 2018?

February 14, 2018 By James Hendrickson 3 Comments

Washington’s Birthday and Presidents Day are both celebrated on the same day. Annually, the holiday falls on the third Monday of February. This year, the federal holiday lands on February 19. Because it is a federal holiday, it has many people questioning, “Are the post offices open on Presidents Day?”

In the United States, federal holidays aren’t national holidays. So, when it comes to what is open and what is closed on federal holidays, there can be a significant amount of confusion. Federal holidays generally only apply to federal workers. Not everyone gets the day off. Many small businesses decide whether or not they want to observe the holiday. The United States Postal Service, however, is a part of the federal government. Therefore, USPS will be closed in observance of Presidents Day.

Is the Post Office Open on Presidents Day?

No, the post office is closed on Presidents Day. USPS observes Presidents Day and all post offices across the country will be closed on February 19. Mail service won’t be active and no letters or packages will be delivered to your home or business through the standard mail.

Is the Post Office Open on the Day Before Presidents Day?

No, the post office is not open on the day before Presidents Day. Like every year, Presidents Day is on a Monday making the day before a Sunday. Post offices are not open on Sundays, so there will be no mail delivered, etc. Many people may need mail something around Presidents Day (or soon after). If this is the case you will need to schedule delivery for Saturday or Tuesday instead of Sunday. Mail will be delivered as it would be on any other typical Saturday. If your local post office has Saturday hours, it will also be open for business on the day before Presidents Day.

While the USPS will be closed February 18 and 19 over the Presidents Day weekend, it still may be possible for you to take advantage of basic postal services. Most post offices have postal machines installed inside for people to weigh packages, letters and other mail items in order to get the correct postage to send their items on their way. A majority of the time these services are available even when the post office is closed. Obviously, these services may differ based on your local branch. If you’re wondering if your local P.O. offers these services, call and check.

Those who need to send a letter or package on Saturday or Sunday and don’t have access to a self-serve postal machine, FedEx or UPS may be an option.

Is Federal Express (FedEx) Open on Presidents Day?

Yes, FedEx is open on Presidents Day. FedEx doesn’t observe Presidents Day. They operate on February 19 as they would on any typical Monday, with all pickup and delivery services available on that day. FedEx offices will be open as well.

Is United Parcel Service (UPS) Open on Presidents Day?

Yes, UPS is open on Presidents Day. While UPS does recognize Presidents Day, it doesn’t observe it. The company will run under its normal Monday schedule on February 19 and will deliver and pick up packages as usual. UPS stores will be open for business.

What’s Open and Closed on Valentine’s Day 2018

February 14, 2018 By Jackie Cohen 1 Comment

What’s open Valentine’s Day depends on what year it is. You’re in luck for 2018: Everything is open.

You’re wise to research whether things might be closed on V-Day because when the holiday falls closer to the weekend, it may overlap with President’s Day, or be close enough to that date for there to be closures.

Although V-Day is celebrated by a majority of the population, the government and businesses do not consider it a day to take off — or as Uncle Sam would say, President’s Day is a federal holiday but not Valentine’s Day.

What’s Open Valentine’s Day

So while everything is indeed open on Valentine’s Day, don’t expect that to be the case in 2021, when the holiday falls on a Saturday. That’s when government offices at all levels will be closed, and so will banks and the stock market — along with schools and some public libraries.

In 2022, Valentine’s Day will fall on a Sunday and then the post office will also be closed, so that will be the year to plan ahead for deliveries to arrive on February 13.

This year, it’s worth noting that stores are open for business as usual on Valentine’s Day this year so you can buy last minute gifts. If you’re a chocolate lover, you might want to hit the store on February 15 to get sweets on sale — even premium brands for up to half off.

Busy Night at Restaurants

Restaurants are open on Valentine’s Day most years, and it’s one of the busiest nights for the industry, so if you intend to take your sweetheart out for dinner, make reservations early so you don’t get locked out of your top choice.

Otherwise, you can always cook at home, especially because groceries are open on Valentine’s Day (and if your garbage is normally picked upon Wednesdays, that will happen as usual).

A variation on cooking at home: Picnic in the park if you live somewhere warm. Public parks are open on Valentine’s Day, but it’s not one of the days that national parks offer free admission in 2018.

Readers, what are you planning on Valentine’s Day?

Romancing Your Sweetheart on a Budget

February 9, 2018 By Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

how to romance your sweetheart on a budget

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.

This day is designed to celebrate love, and being so intensely connected and devoted to someone makes you want to buy them a fancy dinner, a show, and a beautiful set of jewelry. But maybe your budget allows for cheap fast food, Netflix, and fake jewelry from a mall kiosk.

Or maybe you’re just looking to mind your pennies and stick to your budget, but you still want to make that special someone feel, just that, special.

I’m here to help. Below are several tips on how to romance your sweetheart while sticking to your budget.

Cook a romantic dinner

Cooking your significant other a special dinner will pay off two-fold. One, it will save you a bunch of money on going out. And two, they will notice and appreciate how much work you put into the meal. It’ll make dinner even more special.

If you are looking to eat healthy this Valentine’s day, visit this post on how to eat healthy on a budget.

Give a full body massage

Once again, you are going to save loads of money on this. Massage parlors, especially good ones, will cost you a couple hundred bucks, easy. By giving the massage yourself, you save all that money, less the price of massage oil.

Like the dinner, your significant other will notice and definitely appreciate all your effort.

Pack a sunset picnic

If you live where it’s cold, hopefully, it’s warmer than normal. If you live in a warm climate, this will be perfect. A sunset is always a beautiful sight and is a wonder to watch with your love. Pack a picnic filled with their favorites to make them feel special.

If the weather sucks, watch the sunset from your car. Or you can try another tip from this list.

Leave love notes

This is free but will make them feel so special. Write cute things like what you love about them, something they do that you find endearing, or a special memory. It’ll make them feel good and won’t cost you a thing.

Take a walk

Walk through your neighborhood or through the local park hand in hand. I love walking around with my wife. It gives us a chance to talk, enjoy the weather, and enjoy each other’s company.

Visit special places from your past

I love this one. Go to the location of your first date, where you first kissed, where you proposed, or where you got married. You will both reflect on that special day and how much that day meant to one another.

Plus side of this, if you don’t go inside, it won’t cost a penny.

Snuggle and watch romantic movies

Long periods of intimate contacts, like cuddling, release the hormone oxytocin, which will lower your heart rate and reduce stress. Cuddling and watching a romantic movie will surely give you some quality time together. My wife’s two favorites are the Notebook and Love Actually. Give one of those a shot.

Slow dance to some romantic music

This music could be found on a Spotify or Pandora playlist, or it could be one that you both declared as your song. Pick a few songs, hold each other close, and enjoy the moment.

Write a love letter

This is also one of my favorites. I love writing, so putting pen to paper and telling my wife how I feel is something I try to do every few months. It gives you a chance to really let that special person know what they mean to you.

Find a fun and free local attraction

Look on the web for a free event or attraction that’s going on near you. It could be an event at the park or theater, or it could be free admission to the art museum. Make it something that you both enjoy.

Box up some memories

Find special items that you’ve kept over the years. Put them in a box, wrap it, and gift it. A nice touch, write a little note for each item about what it is, why it’s in there, and where it came from. They will love the thoughtfulness of this gift.

Burn a CD of shared favorite songs

This could be a song that the both of you enjoy together, it could be “your song,” or it could be a song that just makes you think of them. If there are a couple of slow songs in the mix, take her hand and dance with her during those.

Conclusion

Valentine’s Day can be a very special one, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, going to dinner and splurging on a nice gift would be nice, but it might not be as intimate, as thoughtful, or as special as using some of the tips in this post.

Have a beautiful Valentine’s Day. I hope it’s one to remember!

Costco Roses Are Red, Are They Cheaper Too?

February 5, 2018 By Jackie Cohen Leave a Comment

Roses are red, sometimes a $1 apiece. You just have to buy more than a dozen to get them that cheap.

The smallest lot you can buy to score that price per flower appears to have jumped from Costco to ProFlowers — although once you pay the florist’s shipping and handling, it’s not as cheap as what the warehouse retailer charges.

ProFlowers sells a dozen red roses for $15.99, and no vase included.

Not Cheaper at ProFlowers

ProFlowers proclaims that the the price was slashed from $29.99, but the savings vanish as soon as you click on checkout, where you see delivery costs $12.99 and you have to pay another $2.99 in handling.

And such is the state of the supposed savings on two dozen red roses in a vase, which at first look like they’ve been slashed to $23.99 from $39.99 — until you click on checkout.

Plus, with all of the ProFlowers offerings, you might get wheedled out of even more money if you fall for any of the add-ons, starting with a choice of three different vase upgrades for $3.99 to $7.99.

Sweet Temptations

Then there’s sweets like dipped strawberries — half a dozen for $15.99 (down from $24.99) and a dozen for $23.98 (down from $34.98); nine cake truffles for $19.99 (down from $24.99); nine cheesecake bites for $23.99 (down from $29.99); gourmet chocolates for $11.99; a spa set for $7.99; a teddy bear for $7.99; a paper card for $1.59 and an electronic card for $1.03.

Assuming the shipping and handling situation hasn’t completely put you off of ProFlowers, you might want to instead consider the dozen red roses in the form of a potted rosebush for $19.99 — or multicolor arrangements of roses for $18, but these don’t come in rosebush format, meaning they won’t last as long.

Costco Roses

Still, you might consider ProFlowers’ offerings more convenient than the bulk lot requirement to save money at Costco: 50 roses for $49.99, and no vase. Yet you’re saddled with more than four times what the typical flower vase can hold.

If you happen to have four sweeties, or can you talk any of your friends into going in on a deal with you and splitting up the flowers, then the deal is still cheap.

Interestingly, Costco’s deal doesn’t require a membership for purchase, and it includes shipping and handling.

This is only available through Costco’s website and by phone, said Daniel Hidalgo, a customer service agent in Costco’s Miami call center who confirmed other details of the offer.

Yes, But Are They Fresh?

Hidalgo explained that the super low price for the roses was negotiated through a bulk deal with a flower warehouse located in Colombia — as in the South American country.

The low price during the time of year when roses are most in demand might make you wonder whether the flowers might wilt faster than what’s available through other florists — but remember that the deal with Costco gives you a lot more flowers than you might want to give to any single person on Valentine’s Day.

Although giving your partner 50 roses certainly gives the message that you really love her or him — it pretty much requires either an oversized vase or multiple vases to hold all the flowers.

Buy in a Group

Unless you can go in on the purchase with other people and divvy up the flowers among yourselves, you wind up spending more than you otherwise would.

Take a look at prices of red roses elsewhere and you see that a dozen technically costs more per flower everywhere else, but consider that you’re getting with that higher price a bit of added convenience — like not putting yourself or your partner at risk of cutting a finger on the thorns, since the roses come without a vase, in two bunches of 25 all within a single box.

FTD is offering a dozen roses without a vase for $19.99; add a vase and the price rises to $29.99; make it a dozen and a half with a vase for $49.99; two dozen in a vase is $59.99, and if you put that in the deluxe package you also get cookies and a heart-shaped metal heart and key for $109.

Meanwhile, eFlowers is selling a dozen red roses for $59.99, down from $64.99. Interestingly, the site is also upselling supposedly higher quality arrangements at $69.99 for a dozen, down from $74.99, and $79.99, down from $84.99 — without specifying what makes either of the two better than the lowest priced of the three, which is still more expensive than what many others are promoting online.

Different Combinations

Meanwhile another seller, Global Rose Network, prices a dozen red roses for delivery on February 14 at $51, but gives you the option to vary the delivery date, size of the assortment and color of the roses to move the price up or down. The promotion claims that you can buy as little as one rose or as many as 100, but then says the minimum order value needs to be $38.

As of this writing, 1-800-Flowers sells a dozen red roses without a vase for $39.99, along with multicolored assortment for $29.99 — offering as add-ons a vase, chocolate, and balloons and teddy bear that all together would bring the price up to $59.99.

Prestige Flowers was offering a dozen roses in an assortment including eucalyptus and baby’s breath, with free chocolate truffles and delivery in the U.K. for $44.66 (based on exchange rates the day of this writing). The company charges more for longer-distance shipments and also upsells an assortment of add-ons.

How Big Are the Roses?

Teleflora offers a dozen roses in a vase for $67.96 plus a deluxe version for $84.96 and premium for $101.96 — each uptick is successively wider and larger.

Add-ons include mylar balloons ($4.99 for one, $9.99 for two, and $14.99 for three) and up to three per order; stuffed animals ($9.99 for a small one, $19.99 for a medium, and $29.99 for large) and chocolates ($9.99 for a small box, $19.99 for a medium, and $29.99 for large).

Plenty of other florists also offer lots of 50 red roses, only for higher prices than Costco. From You Flowers puts them in a vase for $134, not including the aforementioned add-ons that would put up to another $24.97 on the total.

Apple Yard delivers 50 red roses within London for $118.42, based on exchange rates the day of this writing. and 200 roses for $432.66.

Order Early

If you decide to order the red roses from Costco, do it by noon Eastern Standard Time on February 10 if you want the flowers to arrive by Valentine’s Day — although it’s possible the offer might sell out before then, so it’s not a bad idea to order as soon as possible.

In fact, it’s probably a good idea to order early wherever you decide to buy from. Once the lower-priced offerings sell out, you might expect the others to follow suit, while remaining inventory elsewhere could climb in price as the big day approaches.

That’s a good reason to look into other types of flowers for Valentine’s Day, although that wouldn’t send quite the same message.

Readers, what, if anything, are you planning to do for Valentine’s Day?

Is the Post Office Open on Presidents Day 2017?

February 15, 2017 By Amanda Stewart 3 Comments

Washington’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day are both celebrated on the same day. Annually, the holiday falls on the third Monday of February. This year, the federal holiday lands on February 20. Because it is a federal holiday, it has many people questioning, “Are the post offices open on Presidents’ Day?”

Is the post office open on Presidents’ Day?

No, the post office is closed on Presidents’ Day. USPS observes Presidents’ Day and all post offices across the country will be closed on February 20. Mail service won’t be active and no letters or packages will be delivered to your home or business through the standard mail.

Is the post office open on the day before Presidents Day?

While the USPS will be closed February 19 and 20 over the Presidents’ Day weekend, it still may be possible for you to take advantage of basic postal services. Most post offices have postal machines installed inside for people to weigh packages, letters and other mail items in order to get the correct postage to send their items on their way. A majority of the time these services are available even when the post office is closed. Obviously, these services may differ based on your local branch. If you’re wondering if your local P.O. offers these services, call and check.

Those who need to send a letter or package on Saturday or Sunday and don’t have access to a self-serve postal machine, FedEx or UPS may be an option.

Is Federal Express (FedEx) open on Presidents’ Day?

Yes, FedEx is open on Presidents’ Day. FedEx doesn’t observe Presidents’ Day. They operate on February 20 as they would on any typical Monday, with all pickup and delivery services available on that day. FedEx offices will be open as well.

Is United Parcel Service (UPS) open on Presidents’ Day?

Yes, UPS is open on Presidents’ Day. While UPS does recognize Presidents’ Day, it doesn’t observe it. The company will run under its normal Monday schedule on February 20, and will deliver and pick up packages as usual. UPS stores will be open for business

Photo: Flickr: Randy Robertson

Alternative Uses for Chocolate Boxes

February 10, 2017 By Jennifer Clark Leave a Comment

In a few days, we will be overrun by chocolates and stuffed animals, not to mention the colors red and pink. Valentine’s Day is the holiday critics love to hate, but it won’t stop that one holiday-loving co-worker from leaving you a cute sentiment in the form of assorted candy. (And who would want to prevent your work friend from doing such a thing?) But, as great as it is to receive these delicious guilty pleasures, it leaves us with perfectly reusable boxes that end up going to waste. That is, until now. Here are some creative alternative uses for chocolate boxes that environmentalists everywhere will love.

Storing Letters and Notes

Take out the plastic insert and simply use the decorative box for storing letters and notes. It’s a cute way to maintain these keepsakes while also recycling. You could also take it one step further with decoupage and redecorate the box with clippings from magazines or newspapers.

Napkin Holders

Use the cardboard from the boxes to create napkin holders. Simply cut the box into thick strips, glue a fabric of your choice around the pieces and then glue the ends together to make a ring. Check out this tutorial that not only gives an interesting and fun spin on napkin rings but walks you through the process as well.

Cards

Alternative uses for chocolate boxes are seemingly endless. Another would be to turn them into cards. Cut out parts of the design you like best and use for thank you cards or other nice sentiments. Boxes that already include cute messages could be incorporated into your craft.

Homemade Chocolate Box

Who says you have to tear apart the container and turn it into something new? You could make your own chocolates and use it to repackage and gift your homemade treat to someone else.

Ice Trays (For the Plastic Inserts)

Reuse the plastic inserts to make ice cubes or even other tasty frozen treats. If you use a fruit juice, you can make popsicle-type goodies for the little ones. The environment (and your kids) will thank you.

Planter Box

Save money on planter boxes by making your own with the chocolate boxes. Line the box with a plastic bag with a few holes poked in it (for drainage). This can especially be great to do if you live in an urban area. See how this blogger made hers for inspiration.

Jewelry Box

Jewelry boxes can be pricey at times, so why not just make your own? If you receive multiple boxes of chocolate this holiday (lucky you) you could make multiple jewelry boxes and gift them to others, each with a special design. We like this DIY tutorial for this craft by Muhaiminah Faiz over at Instructables.com.

Cat Scratcher

When it comes to scratching, cats can be relentless. Give them something they can really sink their claws into (and save your furniture) by making them a cat scratcher out of your Valentine’s Day chocolate boxes. Pinterest has a variety of ideas to make these for your feline friend, some that even look like furniture.

Hopefully, you will find these alternative uses for chocolate boxes useful this season. What would you add to the list?