How to Take Advantage of After Easter Bargains

As soon as Easter Sunday rolls around, you’ll find all sorts of Easter-related products that are on deep discounts. Snap up the following items when they hit 75 percent off and use them in some creative ways. You’ll save money and get points for resourcefulness. Easter Baskets Baskets can be used for all sorts of things around the home, from gathering clothespins to holding houseplants. Some of my favorite ways to use easter baskets include corralling baby board books, holding diapers, as gift baskets for birthdays and baby showers, for desk supplies and even as stair catch-alls (for items that … Continue reading →

Frugal Easter Fun

I had complete sticker shock when I added up the cost all of the Easter basket goodies and fixings for three children who still believe in the Easter bunny. Since we live in an affluent area, I knew there might be a little comparing of treats when school started back the next day. Still, we have to watch the budget. Here are some ways to be frugal but still have fun for Easter. The True Meaning It goes without saying that we, especially kids, should be aware of the true meaning of Easter. Focus more on the reason behind the … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

We happened to miss the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia, the second oldest St. Pat’s parade in the country (New York’s parade has the title of oldest). Viewing parades are a great way to get some free entertainment, connect with your community and celebrate a holiday. I also have some other ideas about how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You can have a fun time with your family and friends when you try out one of these inexpensive ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to celebrate at home with a St. Patrick’s Day party, you can … Continue reading →

What to Do If You Can’t Afford to Travel for Christmas

This season, many people may be finding themselves without the ability to travel to big family gatherings this year. There could be many reasons. Here are some things that you can do to enjoy the holidays, even if you have to do it at home alone. What are some of the reasons that traveling for Christmas may not be affordable this year? Perhaps it is just a matter of the cost of plane tickets, gas or car repairs. It could also be a bad idea to take off extra time at work when there may be the threat of lay … Continue reading →

How to Store Your Ornaments without Buying Anything

Doesn’t it break your heart when you dig out your Christmas ornaments only to find that some of them have broken while in storage? Or perhaps you just cant locate that favorite ornament from your childhood or early marriage, despite turning everything upside down. This year, when I opened up our ornament box, we found a couple of little toys that my youngest must have thrown in sometime during the packing up process last year. It is just chaos. This year, I resolve to be more organized in storing ornaments. I might be tempted to go out and purchase some … Continue reading →

The 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my frugal love gave to me… A washed out Ziploc bag-gie * On the second day of Christmas my frugal love gave to me… Two darned socks and a washed out Ziploc bag-gie * On the third day of Christmas my frugal love gave to me… Three Sawdust toilets Two darned socks and a washed out Ziploc bag-gie * On the fourth day of Christmas my frugal love gave to me… Four thrift store bargains Three Sawdust toilets Two darned socks and a washed out Ziploc bag-gie * On the fifth day of Christmas … Continue reading →

Salt Dough Ornaments

If your Christmas tree is looking a little bit bare, you can fill it quickly with some home made ornaments. Home made ornaments are generally very frugal, especially if you use inexpensive materials that you already have at home. Homemade ornaments, I think, are more precious than the store bought ones anyway. Every year, we add some home made ornaments to the Christmas tree, and it is always a delight when we take them out of their boxes and hang them on the tree each year. One wonderful way to make homemade ornaments is by crafting them from salt dough. … Continue reading →

Tips for Driving in the Snow, Frugally

With the news about Snow in New Orleans, it reminds me that being prepared for the snow is always a good thing. Many people skip preparing to drive in snowy weather. Special tires can be expensive, for example. But inevitably, you may find yourself out in the snow somewhere and stuck. Maybe you were still at work when the snow started to fall, or you had a doctor’s appointment or you needed to run out for milk. Whatever the case, take a look at the following tips to help you drive in the snow and do so frugally. First, it … Continue reading →

Seven Frugal Holiday Activities

Don’t get caught up in the chaos of holiday spending. It even extends into activities, with Christmas shows, holiday photos with Santa, ice skating at the rink, etc. Instead, vow to spend zero on Christmas activities, here is how. 1.Check your local area for free Christmas events. Just looking at one website and one local paper, I’ve seen more than 40 free family holiday events, from a tree lighting that include free snacks and hot chocolate, to a living manger show, to free Christmas crafts for the kids to free holiday pops concerts. 2. Organize a Christmas carol with your … Continue reading →

Frugal Christmas Tree Ornaments

Christmas tree ornaments can certainly be expensive. A single ordinary ornament can cost on average $5! Many fancier ornaments cost up to $25! At these prices, you may have to chose between decorating your tree and paying your mortgage for the month. There are ways, of course, that you can decorate your Christmas tree without spending a lot of money. Try some of the following ideas. I’ve included generally ornaments and even some that would be great for a theme. Just think, you could have a designer tree without the designer prices. For no-fuss tree decorating, just hit your local … Continue reading →