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Target Markdown Schedule for Christmas

Take advantage of the Target markdown schedule for after Christmas deals. The day after Christmas, Target will generally mark it’s seasonal merchandise down to 30 percent off, which is great if there was something that you want to make sure that you don’t miss. Some items go quickly, such as Christmas trees and decorations for the yard. This bigger ticket items may be worth getting right now, with the new discount. Other items may be worth waiting for until the discounts go to 50 percent, generally five to seven days after Christmas. Get ready to grab light strings and gift … Continue reading →

Christmas Card Coma

I received my very first Christmas video card last week and bid adieu to my electronic holiday greeting virginity. The Hallmark e-card stripped me of my seasonal innocence and now I guess I should expect my mail carrier to travel a little lighter next Christmas. Apparently, holiday e-cards are the wave of the future and soon traditional Christmas greetings, like these, will go the way of the Walkman and typewriter. Say it ain’t so. How many paper holiday cards did you receive this year? I sent out nearly 90 and have received more than half that amount as we wrap … Continue reading →

Care and Feeding of a Live Christmas Tree

Live Christmas trees are becoming more and more popular as people become more environmentally conscious. Live Christmas trees are sold with the root ball in tact to be used as Christmas trees for the holiday and to then be planted afterward. Instead of paying for a tree dispose of after the holidays and then buying a new tree to plant for the year, homeowners can kill two birds with one stone with the purchase of a live Christmas tree. When choosing a live Christmas tree, be sure to consider what evergreen trees will grow well where you live. Also, avoid … Continue reading →

Buying a Used Christmas Tree

Believe it or not, you can get a nice Christmas tree when you buy a used one. Most people debate about whether to by a live or an artificial tree. If artificial is your choice, then do consider getting one that has been pre owned. You’ll save a lot of money. Current artificial trees can cost $150 or more. A good used Christmas tree can cost you $10 or less. So you can see where the math works out here. The first place to shop for a used artificial Christmas tree is your local thrift store. Because Christmas trees take … Continue reading →

Getting the Most of After-Christmas Clearance

After-Christmas clearance sales can be a great way to stock up for next year, or they can be just another lure to get you to the store and spend money on things that you don’t really need. So how can you make sure to shop responsibly after Christmas? Here are some tips to getting the most of the end-of-year sales: Look for versatile items: Look for items that you can use throughout the year, and not just at Christmastime. Look for solid colors. Some versatile items that you might find are: white tissue paper, serving dishes, or gift wrap. If … Continue reading →

Tips for Not Confusing Organization with Buying More Stuff

This entire week we have been focusing on not buying more organizational products for storage and looking at what is already in the home. Frugal Living is a challenge in today’s economy so learning to see a treasure in a piece of trash is something you must learn. Here are a few tips on recognizing items for what they can be, rather than what they are. What else can be used for organizing? – Baby Food Jars – Containers used for other items (ie. Plastic Lego containers and buckets that no longer host the item, etc) – Paint Buckets, and … Continue reading →

Give the Gift of a Chemical Free Lifestyle

We could all use a few less chemicals in our homes. A 2009 study showed that newborns come into the world with over 200 chemicals already in their bodies. Wonder how they got there? On a daily basis, we are exposed to hundreds of chemicals – through cleaning products, personal hygiene products, makeup, hair products, plastics and more. And children are the most vulnerable to the side effects of these chemicals because their fragile immune systems can’t fight off the foreign substances. The chemicals found in newborn’s cord blood includ bisphenol A, or BPA, which mimics estrogen and has been … Continue reading →

Snow Worries

Maybe it’s the severe frostbite I sustained standing outside in minus 80-degree windchills covering a triple murder as a TV reporter that spoiled my taste for winter and all its wonder. Or perhaps it’s the fact that I was born and raised in balmy Hilo, Hawaii, that prevents me from truly embracing snow and bitter cold. Regardless of my inability to tolerate all that Old Man Winter hurls at us here in the frozen tundra, I try very hard not to negatively influence my young daughter’s view on the coldest season of the year, which in Wisconsin, happens to last … Continue reading →

Earning Extra Holiday Money

If the finances are tight, then figuring out how to gain the money to be able to afford the holidays can be daunting. Besides the presents, there is food, decorating, charity gifts and more. Sometimes the solution is to simply earn some extra money in order to afford the holidays. I like this idea much better than going into credit card debt. If you find yourself in this situation, or if you simply want to be able to sail through the holidays without extra bills, try one of these ideas for earning extra holiday money. Have a yard or virtual … Continue reading →

Saving on Seasonal Stuff

I admit that I complain quite a bit about how the retail stores are constantly rushing the seasons. For example, when did it make it okay to go ahead and put Christmas trees up in September? The holiday season is still months away, and I haven’t full recovered from the chaos of back to school. Heck, I still haven’t fully realized that summer is over. Do you know what I mean? I’m waiting for the eventual moment when the merchandise is pushed so far back in the year that it wraps all of the way around and becomes timely again. … Continue reading →