18 Ways to Enjoy Your Holidays

     1) Say hi!

     Sounds simple, right? We’ve all been there...hanging out on the boards, nobody to talk to, hoping someone might come along and offer a friendly word or two, while your Neofriend list is sitting and gathering dust. Here’s your chance to reach out to an old friend or maybe even a new friend you just haven’t gotten around to getting to know yet. There are lots of people out there who have a hard time being the first ones to make contact, so make someone’s day and see what they’re up to!

      2) Send a gift.

     It’s very common for users to collect things and somebody’s gallery can be a great jumping off point if you’re wondering what to buy someone. Seeing that notification pop up in the corner of your screen is exciting for anybody and even more so when there’s a fancy new gift waiting for them! Wearables are popular but it doesn’t need to be Neocash to be thoughtful so bust out your searching prowess and see what Neopoint alternatives are available out there. Feeling frugal? No problem! You can always try sketching somebody’s pet or writing a story about them. Think outside the box!

      3) Buy an item from somebody’s shop.

     How many times have you had an item just sit in your shop for ages and no matter how many times you price it you just can’t move it? It can be so frustrating! Take a look at somebody’s shop and see if they have something that would be considered hard to sell in there and relieve them of their burden. Sure, now you have to sell the thing, but in turn you may have helped somebody reach their goal or at the very least brought a smile to their face. This can be especially helpful for newer accounts who have yet to have had a chance to make many Neopoints.

      4) Spare a vote!

     The grind for votes when participating in creative contests can be a long and gruelling one. Hoping that enough people find your entry good enough to place at the top is often an anxiety-inducing experience for a lot of contestants. The saying, “Every vote counts,” feels very real when you’re counting down the days until voting ends and you can reap the rewards of all your hard work. An unexpected vote can totally turn your day around, especially when it’s down to the wire!

      5) Help out on the Quests board.

     There is a good chance if you visit the Quests board that you will find at least one person who needs help finding an item for a Faerie. It takes almost no time to do a quick search and free their Shop Wizard from his chains. If you don’t have Premium and the Super Shop Wizard, make sure you’re trying to give somebody the lowest available price! Some of the differences in pricing out there are quite shocking and nobody likes overpaying.

     6) Compliment someone’s Neopet customisation.

     Many people look at pet customisation as a creative outlet and love spending hours designing the right look for their Neopets. A simple acknowledgement of their hard work will make anyone’s day, and giving a good rating doesn’t hurt either!

     7) Create a custom Neopet for someone.

     Not everyone enjoys the process of putting together a nice custom. Some people have a hard time translating their imagination into something tangible. In this case, offering a helping hand and designing a custom Neopet for someone is a sure way to spread joy during the holidays.

     8) Share helpful advice.

     Although there are some great help articles out there, people are always asking for peer advice regarding various aspects of the site. Some common questions are how to make Neopoints quickly and tips regarding participation in current site events. Taking the time to give catered advice to an individual and help them sort through the plethora of Neopets help content is always welcomed by a Neopian in need.

     9) Lend someone an avatar item or pet.

     Avatars are a popular goal for many on site, but can be difficult to acquire. Some avatar items, like Super Attack Pea, can be quite expensive, while some avatar pets, like a dead Yellow Chia, can be inconvenient to create if a user does not intend to house the Neopet permanently. Sharing an item or pet just long enough for a Neopian to get the avatar is a great act of kindness that often unites the community in achieving mutual goals.

     10) Replace a lost item.

     A central aspect of Neopets is random events, of which includes random events that take items and Neopoints away (Kiko Lake, we’re looking at you!). There is nothing more devastating to a Neopian than losing their hard-earned item. But in times like these, a little help from the community can go a long way. If you can afford it, replacing a Neopian’s lost item or Neopoints will go a long way in making them feel secure this holiday season.

     11) Create a custom layout for someone.

     If you can code, creating a custom userlookup, gallery layout, shop layout, or pet page for someone can be a perfect holiday gift. Neopets is the best place for personalisation, and many Neopians are always looking to make their accounts stand out from the rest. Take some time to understand what your Neofriend likes and what kind of aesthetic they might enjoy. Although it involves a lot of effort, it's a great way to show that extra special Neofriend you care.

     12) Do a fun action.

     Put a rare item up for auction at a price much lower than it normally sells for and allow people to have fun bidding against each other in a low Neopoint auction. Many Neopians will revel at the opportunity to engage in friendly competition for an affordable item, and using a lower price point ensures those even without a lot of Neopoints can participate.

     13) Donate items to the Money Tree.

     You can pick up to 10 items a day from the Money Tree, and donating rare items can be a great surprise for those looking to grab a non-junk item. If you're feeling extra generous, you can donate lots of items in a swarm and introduce an abundance of items at once to give many people an opportunity to grab something – the more the merrier they say!

      14) Share a Rare Item Code.

     Are you sitting on a pile of codes that are just collecting dust and you have no intention of using them? In many parts of the world, it is very difficult to come across a merchandise code or anything similar. If you have plenty, especially the kind that can be used more than once, maybe consider sharing it with somebody less fortunate than you. Importing fees can be incredibly expensive and if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere close, use this advantage to brighten someone’s day!

      15) Offer a Neopian Times collaboration.

     If you’re one of the many talented artists that inhabit Neopia, then your skills are always in need by those who are not as creatively inclined. There is no shortage of ideas for comics out there and reaching out to somebody who has been looking for an artist is a great way to not only help but also connect with somebody new this holiday season. Who knows? You might make a friend along the way.

      16) Organise a game.

     Speaking of creative people, if you fancy yourself someone who knows how to work with a small crowd and get people excited you might find it fun to organise some sort of game night with your friends. Don’t know that many people? Hop on the boards and see if you can get some folks together for a classic game of Avatar Simon/Survivor. There are usually a few lurkers out there more than happy to join!

      17) Post up a challenge.

     If you have a game score you’re particularly proud of, or maybe you fancy yourself a Battledomer, there are plenty of ways to challenge a friend to a match or two. See if they can break your high score, set your own rules and have a few bouts in the dome, or even race to see who can gain the most stats on their pet in a given amount of time. Lots of possibilities here!

      18) Be positive.

     Perhaps the most important one is at the end of our list. Try to remain positive! One of the hardest things for some people during the holiday season is staying happy as this time of the year isn’t very easy for everybody. Sometimes being that unexpected smile, a shoulder to cry on, or even just a friendly passerby can really brighten someone’s day and make all the difference.

     Hopefully these holiday tips will help you make the most out of your season this year. There are plenty of variations out there on the ideas that we gave you today and probably more that we couldn’t think of! If you’re having trouble getting any of these ideas together, try asking a friend for help. The time you spend together might end up being better than anything we came up with! Happy holidays!