November to December, Take Care of End-of-Year Activities:
(1) Use your medical, dental, and vision benefits before the end of the year.
(2) Start gathering information for taxes and find ways to shield this year's income from taxes (such as contributing to your Traditional IRA, making donations, or increasing your retirement contributions to meet your company's 401K match.
(3) Try to maximize your Roth IRA contribution.
(4) Spend Your FSA, or get your HSA reimbursement for your medical expenses during this year.
(5) Make a 529 college savings contribution.
(6) Check your credit reports using www.CreditKarma.com or www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
(7) Before the deadline, enroll in your company's medical, dental, vision insurance benefits for next year. Seniors can enroll in medicare open enrollment Oct.15-Dec.7.
(8) Sign up for a spring classes.
November to January, Prepare for Winter:
(1) Put on another layer
(2) Wear a knitted wool hats / Beanie / watch cap, ear muffs, and gloves
(3) Get your favorite warm sweaters, blankets, winter boots, and winter outfits out of your closet, armoire or clothing chest.
(4) Adjust the ceiling fan so it is blowing upwards to circulate the warm air.
(5) Baking foods can warm the whole house (breads, oatmeal cookies, pies)
(6) Use an ultrasonic humidifier will make the room seem much warmer.
(7) Double-check that all windows are completely closed. (Use your hand to feel for cold leaking into the house.)
(8) Double-check that storm windows are installed and closed. (A properly insulated window should not be cold to touch.)
(9) Bring in plants.
(10) Get your car battery checked.
(11) Take your car for an oil change.
(12) Replace furnace and humidifier filters.
(13) Make sure central air humidifier damper lever is open and parallel to air humidifier supply duct.
(14) Make sure fireplace flue is shut if not used.
(15) Close curtains at night
(16) Space heaters and / or candles can make the room warmer (use both safely!)
(17) Protect Pipes from freezing in bitter cold, open cabinets, let faucets drip, and make sure to disconnect garden hose from the house.
(18) Drive defensively in case there is black ice on the road.
(19) Wear thick socks. Slipper socks, thick wool socks, and long underwear can make a big difference
(20) Warm drinks (coffee, tea, chai tea, cider, hot cocoa)
(21) Warm foods (soup, oatmeal, black bean soup, chili, chicken soup, spicy creole, ....)
(22) Make sure to have emergency coat, hat, gloves in the car for each passenger.
(23) Put rugs on the cold floor.
(24) Find a friend or pet to snuggle with.
(25) If NOT using your fireplace then CLOSE your chimney flue damper. If you are going to USE your fireplace then OPEN your chimney flue damper.
Properly managing your flue damper can dramatically affect how comfortable your house is, and can save a lot on your heating bill.
Dec. 21, 2019 - Jan 5, 2020, Many schools on Winter break
Tue. Jan. 25, 2020, Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar calendar and is between January & February. It is traditional to give kids a red envelope with money on Chinese New Year Eve or Chinese New Year's day. The Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days starting on the day of the new year.
Many Chinese New Year's celebrations (such as www.kccaa.org)