Search Results for: blog getting free gift wrap

Freeing Myself

The refrigerator is stocked and yes, it contains a ham. But this year I’m not making the ham until New Year’s. I have decided to drastically change things up. What you will find stocked in my refrigerator and cabinets are taco fixin’s. This Christmas we are going the non-traditional route and having a huge taco bar. My husband is going to make his delicious Spanish rice and I will also be making homemade pico de gallo and a tres leches cake (a white cake made with 3 different kinds of milk—my version is 2% milk, whipped cream and coconut cream). … Continue reading →

Baked Gifts

Yesterday began the baking extravaganza. Every year my best friend and I spend two full days baking and freezing for Christmas. We make so many cookies that by the end of the two days we never want to see another cookie. It’s so much fun though and our kids look forward to it every year. As you can imagine it’s quite a mess. At the end of the day the kitchen looks like a bakery exploded so through the years we have come up with some ways to keep the mess under control. The number one thing is to keep … Continue reading →

Don’t Lose Your Gift Card Money

Gift cards can be great. In fact, my father likes to collect interesting or complicated ones in an album like baseball cards. I just picked up a two-piece one of a cat on a fence for him at the store. But gift cards come with a risk that you or the person you are giving the gift card to might not ever see the money that is put onto them. This is why retail stores just love gift cards. Used the right way, gift cards can be very frugal, because the person who receives them can take advantage of the … Continue reading →

Gift Shopping for Kids

Kids love getting the chance to purchase their own gifts for family and friends. It is a great practice to get into and can teach kids about the real meaning behind giving gifts to those we love and admire. Most kids naturally have a limited budget. Finding ways that they can stretch that budget will also help them learn about money and financial choices. You can give your children the opportunity to make their gift dollars go a long way when you guide them to shop smartly. Right about this time, holiday bazaars should be popping up around your community. … Continue reading →

Almost Free Gifts You Can Make Now

Get started early on your holiday gift shopping with the following ideas that will cost you next to nothing! It never fails that the gifts you get at the last minute are the ones that cost the most. But, you know what? I bet you can put some nice gifts together right now probably without leaving your home! Let’s get started. Stockpile basket Gifts You can make a whole array of great basket gifts using your stockpile of items that you got very cheaply or even for free. Think about it and about what you already have. You can do … Continue reading →

Frugal Housewarming Gifts

Whether you have a brand new neighbor or good friends who are moving to a new place, you can provide a wonderful and special housewarming gift that won’t break the budget. Here are some ideas. Fresh from the garden Why not take a look at your garden and divide some of your perennials? New plants and flowers might just be the thing to provide a nice welcome and give the new owners something special that they can plant right away. You can also offer to help plant, as part of the gift. Picture perfect Find a special picture of the … Continue reading →

Kiddie Birthday Parties: What Happened to Gift Opening?

If you were one of the nearly 10 million viewers who tuned into to watch the season premiere of “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” then you may have observed a striking fact: Each child that was invited to the sextuplets’ fifth birthday party brought along SIX presents. Imagine being the parent of a young birthday guest: Kid: Mommy, I got invited to Alexis/Hannah/Aaden/Collin/Leah/Joel’s birthday party. Yeah! Mother: I’m sorry honey, but we just refinanced our home so we can pay for food and water. I don’t think we have enough money leftover to buy six birthday presents… (Under her breath) … Continue reading →

What to Do in Awkward Gift Giving Situations

No matter how we prepare for Christmas, sometimes we find ourselves in awkward gift giving situations. Take for example, the time that you neighbor brought over some Christmas cookies and you had nothing to give back. Or, the time that you gave a gift and got greeted with a “Oh, I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts this year.” Or how about when your child received a gift from a well-meaning friend or relative and blurted out a rude “I don’t want this.” Well, there are some gracious ways to deal with these situations. Your neighbor brings you a gift … Continue reading →

Experiential Gifts Are Popular and Frugal

With everyone feeling the pinch of the economy, a new trend has been arising in holiday gift giving. They are called experimental gifts, and they don’t have to cost much at all. One thing that is true with the economy is that people are cutting back everywhere, especially on entertainment. As a result, gifts that have some sort of entertainment value, especially gifts that might be able to be used to get the recipient out and about are usually very welcome. Even kids will appreciate getting an experiential gift related to one of their interests. Here are some ideas for … Continue reading →

Getting Free Gift Wrap

Whether you are wrapping presents for a birthday party or for the holidays, gift wrap can be expensive. Why spend as much on the wrap as you do on the present? There are some strategies that you can use to get some absolutely free gift wrap. Put that extra money toward buying more gifts, or just save it. Take a look at the following ways to get free gift wrap. Around the holidays, most department stores will offer free gift wrapping with a purchase. You just have to head over to customer service. There may be some long lines, so … Continue reading →