Share your tip to win a $500 Walmart GC!
Nickelodeon, the company that brings your kids Nick, Nick Jr., and Noggin, is sponsoring a Holiday Money-Saving Tip contest. They’re enlisting Walmart’s Eleven Moms to run the contest, so you can enter right here at Being Frugal.net (as well as on the other Eleven Moms blogs) The prize? A $500 Walmart gift card!
Since this is such a big prize, you’re going to have to put a little effort into your contest entry. But what’s a little effort for a chance at a $500 Walmart gift card? That would buy me groceries for more than a month! Your tip might even be featured on www.elevenmoms.com!
Here’s what you have to do to enter:
- Write (or Vlog) a post about your single best money saving tip. I don’t want a post listing all your tips, just your very best one.
- Mention the contest and Nickelodeon in your post. I’d like to give Nickelodeon a mention, since they’re donating such a great prize!
- Link back to this post, so others can find the contest, too.
- Sign the Mister Linky with the permalink to your Holiday Money-Saving Tip, so we can all find it.
- If you don’t have a blog, and only if you don’t have a blog, leave your money saving tip in the comments section.
This contest will remain open until Monday, December 15 at 12 noon, PST. At that time I will close the contest to entries. The judges will pick the 10 best entries, based on how much money you can save by using the tip, how practical the tip is for everyday people, and the creativity of the post or comment. A random winner will be chosen from the 10 best tips as the winner of the $500 Walmart gift card.
Feel free to publicize this contest and the voting on Twitter, Facebook, Stumbleupon, or anywhere else!
I will email the winner on Monday night (the 15th), and the winner will have 24 hours to get in touch with me with a shipping address, so make sure you have a way for me to contact you on your blog or in the comments (putting a valid email address in the comment form works just fine…you don’t need your email address in the actual body of the comment). The winner will be announced right here and on the Eleven Moms site on December 17.
Have fun, get creative, and good luck!
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:59 am
I don’t have a blog
sorry, I am an avid reader though.
My money saving tip: keep your eyes low when you are out and about. I don’t mean all of the time, but people leave money everywhere. Loose change is common in convenience store parking lots, I think people toss it. We have a jar of “found” money” and at the end of the year we cash in. My kids are excellent hunters because they are shorter. My daughter finds lots of folded up dollar bills on and around the racks at cash registers. people fumbling for their money drop and don’t realize. On our best year we earned and extra $198.35 in findings.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Don’t have a blog but my best money saving tip is to save when I go traveling. Food and accommodation is usually a huge expense but I use social networking like Facebook to make many friends from all over the world. When I go traveling, I usually give them a buzz and see if I can bunk in with them. This helps me save lots on hotels. Of course, I also offer my home when they come visiting. In this way, everyone benefits and I save a great deal when I zoom around the world, as well as making lots of friends.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Another blog-less one. The best money-saving tip I’ve used this holiday has definitely been online price comparison. It’s amazing to see the sheer amount of websites dedicated to helping consumers find their favorite items for the lowest prices. This includes sites that offer coupon or promotion codes that easily take 10% or more off the purchase price or even free shipping. I can honestly say I’ve saved hundreds of dollars so far implementing this strategy for gifts and such.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:28 am
The big tip I have is, if you have the room, have a shelf or a clset just for gift..or make a box and start shopping the day after Christmas with the sales…now some stuff you cannot get but you can get things to make baskets for teachers, etc. I have a list of what events are going on too so I know so and so is getting married, they will need a present for wedding and can make a neat basket of baking and fun stuff. I will not buy junk- period but have bought and made a CHristmas basket of fun stuff for family going to the beach over the holidays using items I got off summer clearance- stuff they may have forgotten about or not bought yet. I use coupons and creativity and buy a pasta dinner- like a huge pasta bowl, pata, sauce, dried cheeses, and wine and loaf of Itailian bread mix and a few wine glasses for a couple that have basically everything for a little night out ( can also put a homemade bread in there instead of fresh so it lasts longer and put some fancy napkins and other seasonings instead of the glasses..
I make family night packs with bowlsfor popcorn- sometimes painting the names on of each person and a month long or three month at blockbuster online..that and microwave popcorn and some koolaid or mixes make it a fun family night. Think ahead and save money. There are things and offers for free items or shipping only through the year- think about the holidays, and if you spread it out, you will not have to go into debt and you will have lots of fun. Homemade gifts are awesome, but sometimes some are just not talented - you could make homemade bronie mixes, etc, or you could just make a booklet of gift certificates..babysitting, call me and you have dinner made- give me 2 days advance, etc…laundry, housecleaning, gardening, you name it..raking the leaves..shoveling the snow…thinking ahead saving money..Hey how about walking the dog? Get creative! Use whatever you have and go from there!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Sorry, I don’t have a blog, but I have a money saving tip to share. I have three kids and each child get’s 3 gifts and a stocking for christmas. They get three because the wisemen brought 3 gifts for baby Jesus. I am finished shopping and it does not take long to shop when you are only buying 9 gifts.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Go to the dollar store and get empty baskets…You can make gift baskets on your own according to what the recipient would like (notepads, pens, cookies, etc.) You can do your own gift baskets for even under 5 bucks! That way the gift is not only pretty, it’s economical and practical and functional for the recipient. Plus, it’s fun to buy items you know what the person will like. Instead of them throwing out bodywashes and shampoos that cost you over 50 bucks.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I think over the years since being divorced the best way for me to save money on the holidays is to go hang with my parents. I work for the school district so when we have long breaks I go visit them. I am blessed enough that they don’t mind, it gives them time with the grandson. So I save on electricity, heating (they have a wood stove), and food. I know it is a tongue and cheek thing, but it saves me money and they love having us. I would however suggest a limited time, two weeks is the max for us.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
My favorite Money-Saving Holiday Tip of all time was shared with me years ago during a holiday party, and I have used it and passed it along to others ever since.
The tip is how to serve amazing homemade gourmet coffee to your family, friends, co-workers and guests without the gourmet price.
Here’s how: go to your local warehouse grocery store and purchase a store brand container of plain ground coffee, or whatever brand happens to be least expensive that week.
To prepare the coffee, measure the grounds into the coffee filter. Now comes the good part: For Viennese coffee, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon onto the grounds, then brew as you normally would. For French vanilla coffee, measure an 1/8th teaspoon of vanilla extract over grounds and brew. For more variety, try rum extract, mint extract or almond extract. My favorite flavor combination is cinnamon-almond.
The flavors are sensational and are a hit with everyone. The best part is you can indulge in this treat all year long and save a small fortune, especially during the holidays!
Thanks to Nickelodeon and Eleven Moms for organizing this great contest! I can’t wait to read all the tips.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I make a lot of dinners and freeze them ahead of time. When we get busy with the holidays, it’s too easy to bypass dinner for quick or fast food. I’m saving money by making sure dinner is prepared.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
(No blog entry) My best tip…the best way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your pocket.
November 28th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I find that I am able to have more money for gifts if I don’t buy things I don’t need for myself. Instead of buying straws, I just drink right out of the glass. Instead of buying napkins, I just wash my hands and face.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:10 am
My best tip to save money is vote all Republicans out of office!
November 28th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Shop on black Friday
November 28th, 2008 at 1:40 am
do not use credit cards to make your purchases.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Play games with $1 - 3 gifts for family. The idea of the holidays is to get together, not gifts!
November 28th, 2008 at 3:08 am
Buy wrappin and ornaments at the after Christmas clearance sales.
November 28th, 2008 at 3:14 am
The way I shop is to hit all the clearance sales all year long that I find and to check the clearance isle at walmart every time I go there ( which is weekly) By the time the holidays come around I have 95% of my shopping done. I also hit the after Christmas sale on decorations so I have more things the following year to add or switch out with something else.
November 28th, 2008 at 4:43 am
The best advice I can give is to always make a list when grocery shopping, check coupons from the Sunday paper against sales in your local store. Shop at stores that offer double coupons and also use coupons.com because they often have free printable coupons you can use. I try to stay under $150 a week for a family of 7, which isn’t easy but if you are a savvy shopper it can be done. Buy generic too! It’s the same thing for a better price.
November 28th, 2008 at 5:11 am
First I keep a Christmas cash stash all year in an envelope–I put a little in each pay check. I also keep an updated list of people I am going to buy for and when I see or hear of something I think they will like it goes on the list. I research prices all year (a little at a time) and look for sales/special offers–so I end up buying things through the year if I think I am getting a good deal.
November 28th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Enter contest that are offering the gifts that you need as prizes.
November 28th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Decide how much you can afford to spend and put that much in your wallet. Don’t use credit cards or write checks. This really makes you consider each purchase carefully.
November 28th, 2008 at 6:01 am
My best money saving tip for the holidays is to shop throughout the year. I keep a list of people that we buy for with me in my purse. I buy only items that are either on sale or clearance and since I’m buying throughout the year and I’m usually done by September, there’s no bills to pay during the holidays.
Thanks for this wonderful giveaway.
November 28th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Decorate with nature - pinecone ornaments, reindeer made from twigs, and homemade wreaths to name just a few.
November 28th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I have a huge family, which includes 5 daughter in laws. All year long I collect up free samples of everything from pot holders to shampoo, perfumes and books. There are freebies all over the web and Walmart has several all the time. Then I make up baskets for them for Christmas. The girls just love getting their baskets since they never know what I’ve found over the year! Plus lots of these samples are really nice fragrances or hair care products that they couldn’t normally buy. When they get into them there is always much swapping , trading and bartering going on! Plus- its always fun to throw them a curve—like the newly wed who will get Luv samples this year! LOL
Thanks to Nickelodeon for all they do!
November 28th, 2008 at 6:25 am
No blog either. My best money saving tip is to buy in the off-season, when prices are dramatically reduced. For example, go shopping for next December at after-Christmas sales in January. Go to winter sales in March. The price cuts are so great you’ll save a fortune.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:02 am
I do a lot of shopping online, especially at sites that offer free shipping. Many times that will save you the tax and you avoid the hassles of crowded stores and impulse purchases. It helps to to keep an accurate list of what you want and when you purchase it.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:02 am
My money saving tip is to make Christmas about family and togetherness and not about TOYS. My children get two gifts each that they want and then the money we save on Christmas we donate to a charity of their choice. This way they learn about giving and not just receiving on Christmas. Our children understand that they have a blessed life and that they need to help those less fortunate during the holidays. This makes for a less expensive Christmas and a learning experience on top of that. It also takes the stress out of Christmas and puts the focus back on family.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
We’re saving money for the holidays by minimizing things we buy and maximizing celebrations with family and friends. We’re having simple gatherings to make decorations, to decorate, to sing carols; we’re having a progressive tree viewing…we’re making memories, which is more than a pile of presents can do.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:09 am
1. We’re making some gifts this year.
2. We’ll start on next year’s Christmas the day after Christmas.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hit the black Friday sales and the sales prior to them that offer black Friday prices.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Try to shop around to find the best prices on every item on your list and always look for coupons.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Whenever you are out shopping during the year, check the clearance and sales sections in the stores and if you see some really good deals, go ahead and buy gifts for the people on your list.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I used to shop year-round and would pick up great items on sale that could be used as gifts. By the time Christmas came around, I’d only need to pick up a few last minute items. Shopping sales helps you save lots of money.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Like many others, I shop after Christmas for next year for gifts as well as decorations and wrapping supplies. I make a gift list and shop sales for the wanted items.
November 28th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I don’t have a blog either — I make gift tags and/or cards from the wrapping paper I’m using — it’s coordinated and cheaper. I also watch sales, use coupons, and don’t go overboard…being happy with simple makes it easy to be frugal.
November 28th, 2008 at 9:15 am
every month our local drug stores offer great items that are free with rebate. they make great stocking stuffers.
November 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
No blog, I’m sorry, so here’s my comment:
Now that my family is all adults, we do the gift exchange part of Christmas 2 weeks later (mid-January). It removes some of the stress, lets us focus in family and having fun during the season, and we save a ton of money by being able to take advantage of after-holiday sales!
November 28th, 2008 at 10:24 am
If you’re really on a tight budget, let your relatives have Christmas Day with the other side of the family and schedule your family celebration after Christmas when everything has been marked down. Not only will you be able to purchase things at a discount, you will get your Christmas bills a full month later than if you’d bought everything on Black Friday.
November 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Use cash
November 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am
If you have to shop at a mall, try to go mid-week. The crowds are much smaller, and you have a lot more time to compare prices between shops. If you have a phone with mobile internet, compare prices in the stores with those on-line while you are shopping.
November 28th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Try to buy in bulk when I can, buy sale items, use coupons as much as possible!I also use enegy saver light bulbs throughout my home!
November 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I always wait til after the holidays to stock up on things I will use next year like wrapping paper, plates, napkins, Decor. This stuff is always marked down up to 90%. Saves me a lot of money and stress for next season.
November 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I don’t have a blog, so here is my best money saving tip/contest entry. Relative to the holiday season, which we’re now in, in full swing, my tip is simple: only give away what you can make!
You don’t have to be talented - I’m not. I used to be able to crochet, so I would make people scarves…but now I’ve forgotten how. ;-( Nonetheless, as untalented as I am, I can make pumpkin bread in a little disposable foil tin (or banana bread) - people appreciate it and it’s easy to make. You can make homemade ice cream, or hats/scarves, or simple earrings…think of what you can do and make a few different gifts in different colors and/or flavors. Inexpensive, thoughtful, and simple - will save you money and keep you debt-free while allowing you to give everyone gifts.
November 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Don’t eat take out…it’s the biggest expenditure!
November 28th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
This year, in January we looked at how much we had spent and we really analyzed it - how could we have spent less on gifts, food, entertaining, all of it. We set ourselves a reasonable budget (about 40% than we spent last year - we went way overboard without realizing it) and divided it by 10 - we could have saved it in cash, which was the original plan, but we ended up putting it into Smarty Pig - it was painless, the money just went into our account every month and we earned a great interest rate. And cashing out you can get a bonus if you cash out with a gift card to a particular store.
We are keeping all of our holiday spending within what we decided last year would be reasonable, so we know what we are spending and we aren’t going over. And we earned “extra” money by saving it smartly.
November 28th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Get ordinary mats for friends and families homes. Using stencils and spray paint, paint each of their last names on the mats. This will be a gift they love but affordable now that economy is so bad.
November 28th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Online price shop, look for coupons online! Watch the sale ads and plan your travel route when shopping so you don’t waste gas running around!
November 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
if you don’t spend your money there’s a good chance you’ll save some of it
November 28th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Know the difference between a “want” and a “need”. That will save you a ton of money.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
wait for sales , and if they never come you still save.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
i am clearing out rooms and closets of items that we no longer use or that don’t fit but that are still in good condition. I am selling these on EBAY to raise extra cash. so I will have more space while recycleing iitems and making money a real win-win
November 28th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
You can purchase nice items from the dollar stores and make up nice gift baskets. you can do a girls gift basket of lip gloss, hair things, nail polish, and bath items. You could do a kids craft basket of construction paper, glue sticks, crayons, markers, and scissors. You could do a basket up with kids books, puzzle, and maybe a stuffed animal to go in it.
November 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
make a list of what you need and stick to it
November 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Since I can’t afford the BIG items, I shop the housewares and storage aisles of the main and outlet stores. There are many useful gift items to be found here.
November 28th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Barter services instead of gifts, spend one on one time with family and friends.
November 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
It’s easy:
1)Take credit cards out of wallet.
2)Go to the bank.
3)Get your weekly cash IN SMALL BILLS (1’s, 5’s) and ROLLS of quarters.
I guarantee you that when you have to start peeling out STACKS of green money cash to buy groceries, and lug two pounds of quarters to get your latte, you will buy less and think more.
Lynn
November 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
walmart 1
November 28th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
shop the sales
November 28th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I save all my bonus points from my credit card and use it to buy gift cards christmas presents at the end of the year.
November 28th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Consider becoming a vegetarian family (consult your health professional first). It’s a healthful life style and grocery shopping is much less expensive. Check vegetarian cookbooks out of the library to add new dishes to daily meals.
Thanks for the contest. Best wishes for happy holidays!
November 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Get a shopping group that finds the best deals.
I shop at one store for all of the groups needs at that store and you shop for me and the rest of the group shop for the other stores. You take your cell phone and communicate with each other to get everything the group wants.
My group is my family with 3 different cars and a flexible shopping plan. If i get done with my first store I see what store I could take from another family member.
No need to run over all the place and waste time. Together we can save a lots of money and time.
November 28th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
My best money saving tip is to never buy things on credit. We start early in the year to buy gifts for the family getting the best possible deals so that by Christmas it is not a burden and we can relax and enjoy Christmas!!!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
November 28th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
stay home and pay your bills first
November 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I don’t have a blog as well but I do love to save money!
My son and I make little scrapbooks with photos, drawings, etc. for his friends, teachers or family members-sort of a “year in review” and “my favorite times with you” gift.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Save money by starting early and jumping on sales as soon as they arise throughout the year. By the time Christmas comes, you’ll already be set!
November 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
To save money, we draw names with other family members for the larger gifts and put a cost limit on the smaller gifts.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Shopping throughout the year is definitely a good strategy and also the day before Thanksgiving. Most retailer have collected all the clearance items in localized places throughout the stores and have them marked up to 90% off.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I compare the price of the item I want to different stores around here. Usually the PX on post (the PX is like a huge WalMart for us Military folks) has the lowest prices, plus no tax! So I shop around for a while & then make my decision on where to buy.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
This year I am not going to go ‘hog wild’ I am setting up a list and a budget and sticking to it. My old habit used to be, “I have to get one last thing, one last thing.” And I would just keep shopping. This year I am cutting way back.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Well, I’m not going to lie. I love to bargain shop! It is very unlikely that I will buy something if is not on sale or can’t get it at a discounted price with a coupon. Also, even if I’m into fashion… I refuse to spend more than $15 on a shirt. However, I rather buy my clothes from yard sales or thrift stores since you can still buy name brand things just like new without the big price tag.
lilacbutterfly [at] earthlink.net
November 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I don’t have a blog. Each year I look for freebies on the internet and send for them. When received I put in a box in my closet. I use them to fill stockings for my 2 grown girls who still want one each year. The leftovers go to the local women’s shelter and some of the lotions go to a friend’s mom who is elderly with little money and loves lotions but cannot afford them.The samples are perfect for her. I shop all year for Christmas gifts and am through for the year as of now. Will start again after Christmas.
November 28th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I watch the kids school scholastic book orders. You can usually get books cheaper than at the store and my kids love to read. This year I was able to purchase 8 books for $16 instead of Walmart being $32 or more.
November 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Exchange names for the adults, everyone will receive a gift and you don’t have to buy for everyone in the whole family. Put a dollar amount on the gifts that you exchange.
November 29th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I buy all my gifts on Black Friday. It saves a ton.
November 29th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Set limits…Pay Cash…Shop sales
November 29th, 2008 at 4:18 am
This one is my favorite. You know those huge crowds of people that shop beginning on Black Friday and pretty much every day after …Well, I have learned that most of those great bargains are also available on the company’s website. This time of year, many of them offer free shipping. Plus, if you do a search for coupon codes and / or promotional codes, you will find that a huge number of retailers have hidden offers where you can receive additional discounts on top of these “doorbuster” savings without leaving the comfort and warmth of home. Some of these discount codes are pretty significant!
November 29th, 2008 at 5:19 am
ems gearbucks card sale
November 29th, 2008 at 5:48 am
No blog here either…
Our biggest money saver this year is that we are, for the first time, drawing names for the adults in the family with a $25 dollar limit. So now instead of buying gifts for 5, I will buy a gift for one person.
November 29th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Thanks to Nickelodeon for Sponsoring this giveaway! I make my own gift tags by recycling old christmas cards. Just cut out the pretties part of the card, punch a hole in a corner using a hole punch and string a thin piece of ribbon through it. Wahla, a tag!
November 29th, 2008 at 6:03 am
watch out for sales and ads and shop at that time. go to places like: walmart, target and big lots. you really can save alot. who know you just might be able to get the majority of your list done.
November 29th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Take out those holiday candles that never get used and turn off the lights.
November 29th, 2008 at 7:38 am
use trash bags for bigger bulky items. can be used as bags with bows or turned up side down over some thing. green or white bags work the best fitting in.
November 29th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I shop all year long. That way I find great bargains and I’m not hit with a big list at the end of the year.
November 29th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I shop all year long and look for sales.
November 29th, 2008 at 7:59 am
When shopping for meat, only buy at good sales prices. For example, if you make a roast every two weeks, buy enough when they go on sale to last for 3 months, which is usually when they will go on sale again. Do this with all the cuts of meat you normally eat and you will save tons of money each year.
November 29th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I like to shoop at Walmart and use coupons. Walmart is a great place to shop as they match other sale ads. Thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
November 29th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I don’t have a blog, but what I do is watch the bargain-hunting sites throughout the year and find the key items that the kids want when they’re at their best prices. For some big-ticket items, I use Craigslist to find used but like-new items (both daughters are getting Nintendo DS Lites - to get two consoles and 8 games I spent as much as one new, and they’re not going to care that they aren’t ‘new in box’).
November 29th, 2008 at 9:37 am
My money saving tip is to search google or yahoo for coupon codes. I found a free shipping and 30% off your entire order for kohls. Now combine that with clearance prices and you have a merry christmas!
November 29th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I love making gifts. As soon as the weather starts to turn cooler, I get inspired to start sewing, knitting, baking, painting and crafting.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:17 am
For inexpensive ornaments, buy a spool of wired ribbon and make your own bows. Cheap and pretty.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Comparison shop for everything and price match with a discount whenever possible. Thank you!
November 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
One great tip I have is to be organized about what you DO have, and avoid buying double of things. Keep the pantry and under-the-sinks tidy so you always know what food and supplies you have–then you won’t waste money buying more than you need.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I don’t have a blog. Save money on wrapping paper and gift boxes. Instead of buying gift boxes, use the boxes you receive samples in (WalMart sample boxes are great for this) or boxes that products you buy come in. To save money on wrapping paper, and to save paper, use paper grocery bags and wrap the gift in it, print side in, then use stamps or stickers to decorate the paper. After you are done with the unwrapping, recycle the paper.
November 29th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I pick up items all year - If I see it’s on sale or a good price, I buy it and save it for Christmas or birthdays. I also buy stuff as I travel
November 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I shop online using discount codes and free shipping codes (and sometimes they even gift wrap for free). That way I am not wasting time and gas money running around looking for the best deal and then standing in line to ship the presents. Plus I don’t impulse shop so I save a bundle shopping online.
November 29th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I always shop the day after Christmas for decorations on clearance. Last year I bought wreaths and ribbon so I could hang wreaths from all my windows this year.
November 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I put the cash that I want to spend on each friend/family member into separate envelopes with their names on it. As I purchase gifts for that person, the money to pay comes from the envelope with their name on it, and the change goes back in. The item and amount spent is noted on the front with a running total spent.
November 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I garage sale all summer long and find great buys for pennies. I buy only new items. Some have been handbags, a wine tote that a bride had recieved and diodn’t want(worth $60 and buught for $4), stuffed animals with price tags still on them, a set of 12 hand painted wine glasses still in the box and numerous pieces of jewelry. I say ’seek and ye shall find”
November 29th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
This past year I started saving up all my money from doing online paid surveys and point opportunities etc and I’m using that money and the giftcards and THATS IT to pay for my daughter and sons Christmas presents! It may just be a dollar here or there, but it does add up!!
November 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
To save time & $$$ wrap A present in a present (for example, a hat in a matching scarf, jewelry in a wooden box, cookies in a reusable tin or cookie jar, barbecue grill utensils or picnic supplies in a tablecloth, kitchen gifts in towels or all-purpose cloths).
mamamy26@gmail.com
November 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
What we do to save money each Christmas is to do a large Secret Santa with just the adults in the family. We set aside a budget for what we will spend on the kids and then instead of buying seperate gifts for each of our sisters, brothers, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. we do a large Seceret Santa where everyone pulls a name (out of a hat or bowl, whatever) and each person has a budget of 20 bucks for the family member you get. Its simple and can work for familes with relatives close by or on the other side of the country. Its more personal, meaningful, fun and not to mention CHEAPER!!
November 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Make a homemade personal gift instead of buy one at the store. You may have material in the house to make that personal gift.
November 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
We try to save money by giving folks gifts that they actually need so they can save money in their day to day routine, and we spend a lot of time playing board games over the holiday and enjoying each other rather than enjoying stuff we don’t need. We are much more about the memories than the merchandise!
November 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
My best tip is to take advantage of Walmart’s price matching policy. If a competitor advertises a lower price on the same product, Walmart will match the price! Go through the weekly newspaper ads for competitors advertisements. Bring them to Walmart and you’ll get even lower prices!
November 29th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Use your credit card, just don’t overspend. Set it up to automatically withdraw from your bank account every month, so you don’t need to worry about late payments. We get 5% cah back on gas, 2% on travel and dining, and 1% on everything else. Trust me, it adds up.
November 29th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
My best tip is shopping for holiday decorations AFTER Christmas is over! In the past I have gotten expensive and gorgeous items for up to 80% off. I hit every big store early the day after that carries decorations (Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target, etc) and buy them up. I have reuseable crates downstairs and there they sit until after Thanksgiving. It’s all brand new and I save alot of money this way! I also do that with gifts by shopping year round! It doesn’t have to be bought during the Christmas rush to be a great gift!
November 29th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
My tip for saving on decoartaions is to buy them AFTER the holidays and save a TON. For prsents, Secret Santa is always a good idea.
eddiem1.1@dslextreme.com
November 29th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’ve blogged about this great contest, with my money-saving tip!
November 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Yeah for nickelodeon! My nephews love it. My money saving tip is a gift idea. I made one for my college daughter this afternoon. I bought a $5.oo wreath from Dollar General. I then got a box from the garage of small trinkets that she used to display on a shelf in her bedroom when she lived at home. They each represent a special memory from her high school years. I wired the items to the wreath with floral wire and voila! A personalized gift for a very small amount of cash!!!
November 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I only buy clothes at discount stores. The deals that are to be had at places at TJ MAXX and Marshalls are huge! You can get many of the same styles that are in department stores for a fraction of the price!
November 29th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
We take out “fun” money at the beginning of the month. This covers all of our personal expenses, eating out, etc. When it’s gone, it’s gone!
November 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
LEAVE THE PLASTIC AT HOME!
November 29th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I only buy clothes at discount stores.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
No blog here. My best money saving tip is to look at every purchase for our household as a need or a want. Food - I need it and buy it. A DVD - I only wanted it so it went back on the shelf. The electric bill - I need electricity. The cable bill - I don’t need cable to survive so it got cancelled. You can really get back to basics and save a lot of money with this mindset.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:03 am
We have a large family, so acquiring a paper shredder was a good investment.It is a heavy duty shredder that I use very regularly.( I bought it a doctors office that was closing down for $10!) I shred just about everything–including torn up pieces of wrapping paper, old school papers,flyers,mail,etc. & use it for packing instead of tissue paper. Its free,reusuable,good for the environment, and often enough comes out to be pretty colorful!
November 30th, 2008 at 5:06 am
We have converted to the LED lights. They may cost more at first, but they are more economical and energy preserving in the long run for the many Christmases to come.
November 30th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Here’s my tip: I carefully open any envelope that is a but larger with no writing on the back. I use them to write my shopping lists on (which I compile when comparing ads and prices vs. what need - I am true to NO store). Then I put any coupons or store match ads inside the envelope so that I have everything in one place. I shop using the list so I don’t stray and spend more than I should. I have the coupons at the ready for an easy check-out and then I put the cash register receipt inside the envelope so when I get home I can see how much I saved. I was out of work for 3 years and now am barely making ends meet. This strategy really works, makes shopping more efficient and helps stop any time wasting. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
November 30th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Buy hardback books at “friend of the library” sales to use as gifts.
November 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Take advantage of clearance sales all year long and be done with your Christmas shopping early.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Take only cash when you shop, and never rely on credit cards to provide Christmas. I’ve provided lovely Christmases year after year on a shoestring budget for my children. (It is amazing how many “new” items show up at thrift stores and I look for those. I also shop at dollar stores, where there are sometimes name brand items that originally sold for $15 to $39 that I’ve puchased, and I always look for the clearance racks and shelves first before proceeding to the rest of the store for shopping.)