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Sponsor a Child and Make a Difference Today!

 

Most of us take a lot of things in this life for granted: A roof over our heads, food to eat, clean water to drink, an education, medicine when we need it, a bed to sleep on, etc.

The cold hard truth is that a lot of children have no roof over their heads. They go to sleep, if they can sleep, hungry. They have no clean water to drink. They don’t get an education. They have no soft bed to lay on. they have no medicine when they need it.

Some of their bellies are bloated but not from being overstuffed with food – but rather because they have not eaten in so long. For some, to get a drink means to drink filthy water, often the same water they bathe in or wash their few clothes in and that animals have been in.

How many of us can imagine living this way? I dare say, not many of us. But this is a way of life for many children, and they need help. They need our help.

How many of us spend a dollar or so a day on something we don’t really need? Like a soda or some fries or a chocolate bar? How many of us buy boxes and boxes of soda every month? How many of us eat out all during the week?

Christmas is coming. How many of us will spend money and buy loads of Christmas gifts for our kids – gifts that in all honesty will probably get shoved to the side after the new wears off.

Why not do something different – and make a difference. Why not sponsor a child and make a difference in that child’s life? For less than $30 a month, less than $1 a day, you can make a difference in the life a child. You can choose a boy or a girl to sponsor. You can correspond with the child with letters and photos if you want to, plus get updates about the child. you can even visit the child if you want to!

And trust me, these kids WILL appreciate what you do! You can help clothe a child, help feed a child, help a child get medicine and clean water, help a child have an education and a roof over their head. If you don’t think you can make a difference with so little, you are so wrong!

Years ago, I sponsored a little girl from the Philippines. At that time, sponsoring a child was only about $18 a month. I didn’t make a lot of money, but I always sent $20 a month instead of just the $18. I got letters from her telling me what she was able to buy with just that $2 extra … clothing for her AND her family, an umbrella, food, and more. Her mom was widowed and left to raise children on her own. The few dollars I was able to send helped the little girl and her family.

Sponsoring a child doesn’t just bless the child, it blesses you! It blesses you just knowing that you are making a difference in the life a child – a child that will grow up and know they were loved enough by a stranger to help them. And think of the difference they can make!

Why not start now? Sponsor a child and make a difference today! Click that link and get all the details – it’s super easy and it WILL make a difference!

 

 

 

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Buy and Sell Boxes of Kids Clothes!

 

Got clothes your kids have outgrown that someone else can use? Need more clothes for your kids because they’ve outgrown what they have? Do you want to help someone else while helping yourself?

Buy and sell boxes of kids’ clothes at thredUp.

Get great new clothes (and toys!) for your kids while getting rid of stuff they no longer use. It’s free to join. And thredUp will send you free postage paid boxes and even arrange for them to be picked up – it couldn’t be any easier!

You can now earn cashback for your outgrown kids clothes, and gently used toys, and books on thredUP. Earn up to $10 for every great box you send to another mom. Click Here.

This is a great way to not only organize your kids’ closets and bedrooms, but also a frugal way to get things your kids need.  As parents, we know that it can cost a lot to clothe our kids, but it doesn’t have to – frugal parents know there’s a better way than spending a lot of money on clothes and toys, etc.

It’s free to join thredUp, so head on over there and see how you can get help yourself and help others at the same time!

Check it out and share this posts with other moms you know that might be interested!

 

 

 

 

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Frugal Holidays: Homemade Gift Giving Guide

With the prices of everything on the rise, you’ve probably found it more and more difficult to buy gifts for all your loved ones, not to mention your friends, neighbors, business associates, the kids’ friends and teachers, and the occasional mail carrier!

Have you considered making your own gifts? Lovely presents can be made at home for a fraction of the cost! Besides being less costly, many homemade gifts are cherished by their recipients far more than something you bought at the store. After all, a little love goes into every homemade gift!

Try these ideas to help you get started with making homemade gifts:

Romantic Gifts

✴ Mix your own CDs with your loved one’s favorite songs and those that mean a lot to your relationship, like what was playing on your first date.
✴ Compose your own love song or poem.
✴ Bring back fond memories of your time together by creating a special scrapbook.

Gift Baskets

Buy baskets at the dollar store or on sale elsewhere and customize them for the recipient, filling them with little treasures they’re sure to enjoy. Alternatively, use other packaging like small metal buckets or decorative boxes.

✴ Snack baskets. Fill them with packets of hot cocoa, flavored teas, coffees, cookies, fudge, or candy. Making a few batches of cookies at home is much cheaper than buying them from the store.
✴ Classy baskets. Include some fine wine and cheese or chocolates and fruit.
✴ Fruit baskets. Fill with fresh or dried fruit and nuts.
✴ Hobby baskets. Choose an assortment of items relating to their hobby. For example, a bucket of golf balls and tees would be welcomed by any golf enthusiast.
✴ Movie baskets. Include microwave popcorn, candy, and a movie. Gifts for Friends, Neighbors, & Business Associates

❖ Home-baked cookies, pies, cakes, fudge, or candy
❖ Mason jars layered with the dry ingredients to bake their own treats. Decorate with cloth, ribbon, and a card with the recipe.
❖ Craft unique jewelry. Jewelry isn’t only easy, but incredibly fun. The more you do it, the faster you get! This is one area where you can really get creative! Use unique shells and beads to make earrings, bracelets, necklaces, decorative hair accessories, and more. Buy supplies at craft stores or online. This is truly a one of a kind gift to every friend!

Gifts for Children

Sock monkey. These old-fashioned sock monkeys are popular once again! They require you to sew, but are extremely adorable and make excellent gifts for children.

These items are all you need for this fun and frugal gift:

❖ 1 pair of men’s extra large socks
❖ Cotton or stuffing
❖ White thread
❖ Red yarn
❖ Black embroidery thread
❖ Two buttons for the eyes

Holiday Ornaments

This activity is very fun and simple – so simple you can get the kids in on it too! Make some fun Holiday memories with your family while making inexpensive gifts and decorations.

Here’s what you’ll need:

❖ Clear glass ball ornaments
❖ Acrylic paint
❖ Ribbon
❖ Egg carton

Take a glass ornament and poor a few colors of paint inside. Swish it around so the paint covers the inside of the ball. Poor the paint out into the trash and cap the ornament, placing it in the egg carton to dry. Voila! Each ornament is a unique creation and will be cherished for years to come.

Use these ideas as fuel to spark new creations of your own. You may find glorious new traditions in your frugality that you enjoy for the rest of your life.

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Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Craft Ideas
 

With the holidays come decorations, and Thanksgiving is no exception. While your children may not be able to participate in much of the cooking of Thanksgiving dinner, you can put them to use by allowing them to decorate the house in anticipation. Set them up at a craft table with paper, glue, glitter and other craft goodies and let them create their own decorations.

There are many different items that your children can create to decorate the house for Thanksgiving. Teach them how to draw thanksgiving-themed pictures such as pilgrims, Indians and cornucopias. These items, as well as other fall or winter-themed items, can be drawn onto colored paper and cut out to display around the house for your family and guests who may come to dinner.

You can find templates online by doing a search. Many of the online templates will allow your children to simply color and cut out. Best of all, if they make mistakes and want to re-do the picture, you can just print out another template.

Thanksgiving name cards for the dinner table are a crafty idea for children. Buy some thanksgiving-themed stamps and let your children stamp the name cards. The stamped images can then be colored in and names written on the cards for the guests.

In addition to name cards, napkin rings can be designed with utmost ease as well. Inform your family beforehand that the items were made by your children so that your friends and family can praise your children for a job well done. Watching your children beam will add precious memories to the occasion.

Have your children make a thanksgiving-themed garland to hang around the house. Buy fall-colored paper and cut into strips. Your children can make and attach circles out of the strips and form an inexpensive garland that will certainly add to the festivities. Let them make either one long, or several short garlands to display around the house.

Thanksgiving is a great time to decorate the house. You can let your children feel like they are part of the festivities by allowing them to decorate the house with some quick and easy crafts. Provide them with templates, but also let them use their own creativity. After the house is decorated, be sure to take pictures because before you know it, the Thanksgiving decorations will be replaced with Christmas decorations.

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