Inexpensive Holiday Gifts: Time

One of the most frugal and heartfelt gifts for the season is the gift of time. Giving of your time and talents is a sure way to make someone’s Christmas merry, even if you are cash poor this year. Gifts of time are appropriate not only for family, but for friends, co-workers and associates as well. The secret is to come up with the right gift for the right person. Just as you would pick out the perfect gift from the store, picking out the perfect gift of time takes some thought. For example, let us say you have two … Continue reading

Practical Gifts for a Frugal Family Part 2

Are you looking for some practical gift ideas for someone who is frugal? We are continuing with our brainstorming. If you missed the first post in this topic, click here to catch up: Practical Gifts for a Frugal Family. And, now on to some more ideas… Freezer bags or containers Chances are that a frugal family is buying in bulk and freezing ingredients and meals. And chances are also good that they may be using the same freezer bags over and over again. Give them the gift of freezer bags and containers to help them keep on track. Since this … Continue reading

Practical Gifts for a Frugal Family

Giving great gifts is always a good feeling. If you are wondering what gifts might be most appreciated by a frugal family (or if you can think of ideas for your own wish list) you might want to take a look at the following ideas. Yes, they are all very practical gifts, although that doesn’t mean that a little pampering couldn’t be thrown in. For example, a gift of service could mean anything from a gift of lawn service done by the giver to a a series of hair cuts and styles done in a high-end spa. Take a look … Continue reading

Inexpensive Co-Worker Gifts

Do you know what to give on Secretary’s Day (Administrative Assistant’s Day) or Boss’s Day? Or how about to celebrate another holiday or a promotion? Getting nice gifts for the people you work with doesn’t have to cost a lot. Here are some great ideas for inexpensive co-worker gifts. Personalized Photo Cards Scan photos from your co-worker’s desk, and then have the files made into note cards. You may save even more money by purchasing note cards and then printing the photos with your home printer. Tie the cards with a ribbon and add envelopes. You can even add the … Continue reading

Naughty and Nice Snowman Gifts

These cute little gifts are perfect for stocking stuffers or as inexpensive gifts for co-workers, friends, service workers, neighbors and kids. You can choose which you would like to make, depending on whether the person you are giving one to has been naughty or nice. The naughty gifts make great ideas for gag gifts, too. Snowman gifts are really nice (even the naughty ones) because snowmen always have a way of making people smile. Let’s start with the naughty, just because that can be a little bit of fun. Snowman Poop Snowman poop is so easy to make. Just place … Continue reading

Monday’s Hit & Misses: Gifts that Miss

Gentlemen, please pay attention. As you well know, there are frequent opportunities throughout the year for you to give your wife gifts. Gifts are considered tokens of affection and they demonstrate your thoughtfulness as well as what you think and feel for your wife. With that in mind, here is a list of gifts that you should never give your wife: No Christmas Sweaters – Seriously, these are cute gifts from parents or grandparents, but never from a spouse No Huge, Oversized Coats – Despite the fact that wherever you live might be cold, wives generally prefer looks to functionality … Continue reading

Three Ways to Avoid Holiday Debt

It is easy to start racking up the debt during the holiday season. There are many demands on our money, such as holiday gifts, special events, travel costs, food, decorations, and other entertaining costs. We often get carried away when we spot the perfect gift or want to make it the best season ever. As you are planning, cooking and shopping, you might want to use the following strategies to avoid holiday debt. Start with a Holiday Budget In order to control holiday spending instead of letting holiday spending control you, you will need to set a budget. Start with … Continue reading

Sticking To Your Holiday Budget

As we head down the final stretch to Christmas Day, stores are pulling out all the stops to lure in last-minute shoppers with sensational seasonal sales. If you have gotten this far sticking to your holiday budget, don’t be tempted by these late season offers. Often, they don’t save you as much money as you’d think. Procrastinators on a budget should stray from big-box retailers during the final days leading up to Christmas. To preserve your budget, head over to the local Dollar Store for economical gift ideas. For example, if you are looking for a last-minute present for your … Continue reading

Baskets Full of Fun

Nothing says “Merry Christmas” quite like a basket full of homemade cookies, brownies, chocolate sauce and pound cake. My neighbor outdoes herself each December and this year is no exception. Yesterday she dropped off a huge gift basket filled with my daughter’s favorite sweet treats, lovingly prepared in her own kitchen. I love the idea of getting and giving gift baskets during the holiday season. Even if you are working on a tight budget, homemade gift baskets are a great option for neighbors, co-workers, family and close friends. The best way to save when putting together a gift basket is … Continue reading

Support Home-Based Business This Holiday Season

As you plan your holiday shopping this year, you may want to see how many of your gifts and other holiday purchases you can buy from home-based workers. You may think that you will only be able to purchase a gift or two from people in your local area, but I would encourage you to expand your search and look around online to see what you can find. While you may not be able to find someone who makes or sells everything that you need right in your community, there are so many home-based workers that sell all kinds of … Continue reading