A Frugal Merry Christmas #2

 Another group of my favorite stores for gifts:

1.  True Leaf Market carries a variety of seeds and propagation supplies, including one of my go to Asian seeds from Kitazawa Seeds.  Use coupon code Holiday24 for 15% off items from their holiday gift guide.

2.  King Arthur Baking has something for everyone, but if you are shopping for someone with a gluten allergy they have some of the best gluten free baking mixes.

3.  Calamity Ware carries calamity themed ceramics.  I sent my brother the coffee mugs one year and he loved them.

4.  Burpee Seeds is offering 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $50.  I love their collapsible tomato cages.

5.  Warmies are stuffed animals, slippers and scarfs filled with heating beads and lavender.  Heat them in the microwave and climb into bed for a peaceful sleep.  My daughter loves her sloth and my husband loves the slippers.  They are offering a BOGO for the weekend.

6.  Voluspa is a candle company that sells candles made of coconut oil.  Their Noble Fir scented candles smell so authentic that you will think there’s a Christmas tree in the room.  They are 20% off for Black Friday.

I hope you get some inspiration from this list of my frequently used and favorite stores.

God bless,

Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts #3 and Life Happens

So, I had quite a few pre Christmas posts planned, but life was derailed this past Thursday.  My dear husband had a heart attack and has been hospitalized.  But good news, today I brought him home!  We will be celebrating Christmas with just the three of us quietly at home.  We've cancelled our plans, so he can rest.  I feel so blessed.

The Ulta ad today shows that many of their Holiday gift packs are 50% off.  From skincare to cosmetics this is a great time to pick up something extra for a friend (or yourself).  The same is true from the hardware store (mine has cute seaside themed ornaments), to the drug store (CVS had Yankee Candle decorations marked down).

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.

God bless,
Pam

Frugal Simple Christmas

We are having a frugal, simple Christmas this year.  We have gone easy on gift buying with most of the purchases being for the children in the family.  Our family will gather together on Christmas Eve afternoon at my brother-in-laws house for a few hours, leaving time for church or relaxing around the house in the evening.

Our outside lights are all LED this year to help save on electricity use and bills.  It is also nice because you can hook many more strings together, rather than the three string limit on traditional lights.  We like to decorate the outside of our house as a way to share Christmas with our neighbors.

Inside our decorations are at a minimum.  We probably only put out a fourth of our decorations.  Our live tree from Lowes is smaller this year, so we only used our most special decorations on it.  Then a few table top items were placed throughout the house.  As we age and DD leaves home I envision us moving to a table top tree.

I also like to use bowls and vases that I already have filled with pine cones or ornaments as decorations on tables.  If the bowl is large, fill the bottom with a crumpled up plastic bag, then place the cones or decorations over the top.  Take a clear glass vase and fill it with a string of white LED lights, which are available in battery powered.

For the first time in twenty years I did not send out Christmas cards.  I will probably do it again next year, but I was not looking forward to it and I was feeling pressured.  I may break it up by sending out cards a few at a time for other occasions during next year.

Strangely enough no one in the family has expressed disappointment at our pared down preparations.  I think that it has been a relief for all of us to have less expectations or demands made on us.  Christmas is supposed to be about our faith and family, not about a perfectly decorated home or meeting the expectations of others.

God bless,
Pam

Start Planning For A Debt Free Christmas

It's pretty disturbing to see Christmas in some of the hobby stores this early, but it is definitely not to early to start planning for a debt free holiday.  Remaining debt free takes planning and planning takes time, so let's get started.

If you are going to give homemade gifts you probably should have started crafting back in January, but you should be able to make some simple gifts if you start right now.  People love to get simple, but beautiful gifts such as knitted or crocheted towels, wash cloths, and hot pads.  How about sewing covers for sewing machines, or small kitchen appliances.  Use your favorite craft and get started.  The exception would be food gifts; those should be made right before mailing or gifting.

Start setting aside money with which to buy gifts.  Look at your budget to see what you can do without and put that money out of sight.  If you can have the money taken directly from your paycheck for deposit in a Christmas account.

Layaway has become popular again during this recession.  Most big box stores are doing layaway, but may not allow you to start until mid October.  They do charge a fee for this service, but it is usually small.

Do your shopping ahead of time on paper.  In other words, create a spreadsheet listing the gifts for each person and what they will cost.  Does it equal the amount of money you are saving?  If it doesn't then it is time to save more or buy less.  Stick to this list when you are shopping.  Impulse buying is the debt creator.

Watch for sales.  September is the time to buy toys, bicycles and small electronics.  October is a good month for clothing and November is back to electronics sales.  Home appliances are usually on sale in December.  Also, start buying your baking supplies when they go on sale.

The holidays can be stressful, but nothing beats the stress you feel when you open that first post holiday credit card bill.  Be frugal by planning, saving, and taking advantage of layaway and sales.

God bless,
Pam