Gifts in a Can

You have all heard of gifts in a jar, right? Well, what about gifts in a can? Take your gift giving one step further with this easy and very frugal gift giving idea! Gifts in a jar are a nice way to show someone you care this holiday season. You basically create a food gift mix and place it in a large glass jar, which you’ve decorated with ribbon, raffia or fabric. A tag attached, tells your gift recipient how to prepare the mix. Here is a much more modern take on this idea that suits todays busy families who … Continue reading →

Frugal and Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

‘Tis the season to start thinking about holiday gifts. Have you noticed that gift wrap is getting pretty elaborate and expensive? My son brought home a school fundraiser that featured gift wrap for $12 a roll! And the stores aren’t too much better these days. But why spend so much on wrapping the presents? Use that money instead to buy bigger presents or to save toward other holiday bills. Here are some frugal and creative ways to save on gift wrap, but still provide gift wrap that has impact. The secret to great gift wrapping is to let your imagination … Continue reading →

Stocking Stuffer Picks from the Dollar Store

As I mentioned previously in my dollar store strategy series: Getting More from the Dollar Store (1) and Getting More from the Dollar Store (2), dollar and discount stores are great places to pick up lots of stocking stuffers for the holiday season. And don’t limit these little gifts to just a stocking. Fill a pretty basket, a decorated shoe box or any container that works for you. There are so many ideas out there. You can fill a stocking with a theme of gifts, or just include a selection of surprises. It is so much fun to be able … Continue reading →

A Frugal Gift Idea: Hand Made New Sew Blanket (1)

With Christmas rapidly approaching, and plenty of gifts to be had all around, I have already begun our shopping, as well as creating of gifts. Every Christmas I hand make at least one item per person. I want a personal gift that tells them I loved them and spent time on their gift. A couple of years ago I made ornaments for each child. Another time I made throw pillows for their bed with long thin arms that could hug them, they were a really big hit. This year I am making each child a throw blanket. I found a … Continue reading →

Start Your Christmas Shopping Now

You heard me right, start Christmas shopping now. With the end of the season clearance prices on everything from toys and clothes, to gadgets and gaming electronics, its the perfect time to start stocking up for Christmas. In a previous article, I discussed what we do to ensure that we are not left with loads of last minute Christmas shopping, however if you haven’t practiced that method this year, it’s not too late to start. It is August and you still have five whole months until Christmas! It is definitely not too late. Assign several household members to each remaining … Continue reading →

Gift Shopping Year Round

It is a sure bet you have heard this from me before, and it is a sure bet you will hear it from me again. Shopping for birthdays, and holidays is expensive, especially when it is last minute and not planned. So rectify that by shopping for gifts year round. Several department stores host clearance sales several times a year. This is a terrific time to stock up on gifts for any occasion. Candles, vases, candy dishes, plates, bowls and other household items are marked down as much as 60-70%. These are the types of gifts that are perfect for … Continue reading →

Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

Why spend a fortune on gift wrap when you can create beautiful and inspired packages at home? Birthdays, anniversaries and of course Valentines Day..it seems as if there is always a present to wrap. While you can shop the after holiday sales for gift wrap and keep it in your gift closet, there are plenty alternatives right now in your home. Why not try some of these ideas or let them inspire your own? Comics for kids: As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Squeezing Money from The Newspaper, the comic strip (or funnies, as my parents always called it) … Continue reading →

What Is A Gift Closet?

A few weeks before the holidays, my five-year-old was invited to a birthday party by one of his friends from Sunday school. The week had been really hectic, and there was no way we would have found the time to go out shopping for a nice birthday present that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Fortunately, I had the perfect solution. I just reached into my gift closet and pulled out a great gift. A gift closet is a great concept in frugality. It allows you to pre-purchase gifts throughout the year, whenever there is a great sale, deal … Continue reading →

My Experience with Re-Gifting

Now that the holidays are drawing to a close, you may be tempted to do a little re-gifting. You know, taking a gift that you don’t so much care for and rewrapping it to give it to someone else. What is your opinion about regifting? Is it a viable way to save money? If you want my opinion, read on…. Let me take you back to my first experience with regifting when I was about ten years old. For my birthday my grandmother had given me a magnetic board for which to post notes or something. It had a basket … Continue reading →

Re-Gifting: Frugal, or Just Tacky?

Perhaps you have been wondering what to do with some of your unwanted Christmas gifts. Have you thought about keeping them around and eventually giving them away to someone else? Have you ever re-gifted? You know, taken an item that someone else gave to you, wrapped it, then gave it to someone else? What do you think about the concept of re-gifting? Is it frugal, or just tacky? I have had some experiences with re-gifting that have really given me a sour taste for it, though some people think that it is a viable way to save money and not … Continue reading →