According to a recent report by Bankrate, 49 percent of parents say that they will be spending less on Christmas gifts than they did last year. With fewer bottom basement bargains available this Black Friday (which was really creeping into Black Thursday) and parents who will be spending less this holiday, does this mean that kids will be disappointed on Christmas morning? It is easy to feel guilty or sad if you can’t get your kids certain items on their list. After all, we get the message everywhere that we go. Our kids must have the latest and greatest, or … Continue reading →

Starting in late October, I am online several times day to check my favorite deal websites. Why do I do this? To get the best bargains for my Christmas shopping, of course. If I see a great sale or clearance or other great deal, I pounce on it and whittle down my Christmas gift list. Of course, it helps to have a real plan in place. I keep track of all of my holiday gift purchases, so I won’t overbuy. I list who the gift is for, and I keep a running total of how much I spend per person … Continue reading →

Before you throw out or recycle your food packaging, consider repurposing it into festive boxes and wraps for the holidays or containers for your wrapping things. You’ll save money and a couple of trees, too. Potato Chip Tube You know those tubes that potato chips come packaged in? They are just perfect for packing cookies. You can even mail them, too. Take a clean tube and cover it in scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or even comics or newspaper. Add a ribbon and a gift tag to complete the gift. Soup Cans Turn soup cans or coffee cans into planters. My … Continue reading →

The holidays will be here before you know it. Instead of breaking the budget to pay for your gifts, food, decorations, events, etc., why not make some quick cash. You’ll thank yourself in January. Gather Your Gift Cards Most of us have a few gift cards laying around. Now is the time to take advantage of that. Either use the gift cards to purchase the things you need for the holidays, or trade them for cash. There are many companies online who will pay you for your gift cards, and you can also sell them on Cragislist or Ebay. Gather … Continue reading →

This time of year, everyone wants pumpkins. I am embarrassed to say that one year we wound up spending $50 on pumpkins for decorating. That seems like a lot to me. Of course, a friend of mine thinks that is a bargain. She routinely spends about $200 on pumpkins, hay and other fall decorations for the outside of her home. I have other things that I would like to spend that money on, although we do like to have our pumpkins. So, if you feel the same way, you might want to read the following tips. They may help you … Continue reading →

No one wants to be cheap when it comes to Halloween treats and giving out candy to the kids, but we do want to get our treats cheaply. Candy is getting very expensive, so why not do what we can to be generous at Halloween without spending a fortune? Here are some ideas on how you can spend less on Halloween treats this year. Use Coupons Right now there are a ton of coupons for candy and other Halloween treats. Stock up on those coupons and then combine them with the sales to get your Halloween treats at rock bottom … Continue reading →

While homemade Halloween and fall decorations are fine in my book, there are some times that call for store bought decorations, such as when you are going all out for a party or or community event. Still, there is no reason to have to pay full price for Halloween decorations. Now is a great time to get things at 40 percent off or more. You just need to know where to look and what to do. Believe it or not, many retail stores already have their Halloween items on sale or even at clearance! Yes, it is still more than … Continue reading →

A couple of weeks ago, my family and I were in our local Target store. All of the Halloween costumes and things were already out on display, even though it was still September. No matter, I know that these things go quickly. While my husband and the rest of the kids were looking at the trail mix, I chased after our youngest, who was excited by all of the different colorful costumes. He spotted one that “he waited his whole life for,” a rocket costume. I admit that he certainly looked cute in it when he tried it on. I … Continue reading →

Freebies, free samples, free stuff, free things in the mail, however you want to call them can be a frugal person’s fun resource. If you want to learn how to get it free, read the following tips. Your mailbox, your belly and maybe even your wallet will be full in no time. Free Food Check with local and chain restaurants for free food items or free meals. Many places offer free kids meals on certain days, with or without a purchase. Chick-fil-a often has free food events, such as free sundaes or chicken sandwiches. Get on mailing lists to find … Continue reading →

Want some inexpensive ideas for Halloween costumes? How about costumes that are essentially free? Check out the following ideas for Halloween costumes that can be made out or ordinary materials that you probably already have or can, at the very least, get for practically nothing. The Cardboard Box Costume Ideas There are many different costumes that can be made from an ordinary cardboard box. You can make practically anything that has a square or rectangular shape, Grab some free boxes from local business and get to work. From a box of popcorn to a Rubik’s cube to a carnival claw … Continue reading →