Deals and Steals for Christmas! Frugal Bargains Galore!
Are you looking for some cool Christmas gifts? Why go deep into debt just to celebrate Christmas with family and friends? There is a better way! Bargains, discounts, deals, coupon codes, freebies, etc… each of these ways can save money. You can get something nice without having to spend a load of money to do it.
Check out these frugal deals and bargains! Frugal living at it’s best!
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What a nice frugal gift for yourself of someone else! This free t-shirt would make a cool frugal Christmas gift, too! With the economy such as it is, lots of people are looking for ways get what they need or want and save money at the same time. This is a perfect way to do just that! You can get a quality customized t-shirt, designed as you want it, for free!
The t-shirt is free – just pay for the shipping and handling.
You can also get a free calendar or get three for the price of one!
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Traveling for the holidays can be expensive, as many people travel and transportation providers like to raise the prices in anticipation. You can get great deals on Thanksgiving travel, however, if you are prepared to do the research and plan a couple of months in advance. Do not snap up the first tickets you find, rather shop around and compare prices. You may find that by comparing prices you will spend less.
Planning in advance is your best bet for scoring cheap travel tickets for airlines and trains alike. As the flights fill up, ticket prices rise, all but guaranteeing that you will be paying more for your tickets as the holiday draws closer. It is always a good idea to plan your holiday travels in advance, months in advance if possible.
Try to take time off of work so you can fly on non-peak days and save even more money. Many people will fly the day before Thanksgiving and return home the following Sunday. If you can be a bit flexible with your dates, it may be a good idea to fly out on Tuesday and return home on Monday instead.
If you are driving to your destination, be sure to map out the lowest gas prices along your way. Gasbuddy.com is a great website that lists nearly all of the gas stations in an area and the price of the gas per gallon. This will help you to determine where the lowest gas prices are and it will help to cut your traveling costs.
On road trips, you will also need to eat. Take advantage of coupons to lessen the costs of your meals. Another option is to pack a picnic basket full of sandwiches or other similar items to snack on while driving.
If you find that you cannot afford a hotel, you might be able to exchange homes with someone for the duration of your vacation. Homeexchange.com requires a membership, but also guarantees that you will be able to swap homes with another member in the first year, otherwise your second year is free.
Home Exchange lists houses in a variety of countries. The way it works is that you pick a country, find a listing that you are interested in, and contact the member. It is that simple. It is a good alternative to renting a costly hotel room so as long as you do not mind sharing your home. This option does come with some risks, however, so please do your research before getting involved.
Thanksgiving travel is coming up right around the corner. Start preparing your travel plans now so that you can keep your costs as low as possible. It does not matter if you are traveling by airplane, car or train; there are significant ways for you to save money if you know where to look.
When Thanksgiving rolls around, most people focus on the food on the table. Here’s how to make the meal even more special by having a beautifully frugal decorated table even before the food is added.
Thanksgiving was originally a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest. With that idea in mind, you can create thanksgiving table decorations with natural autumn colors. There are so many frugal ways to decorate using natural items – pinecones, fruits, vegetables, leaves and twigs. Here are a few to consider.
Start out with a rich jewel-toned tablecloth. A deep red, golden yellow or orange tablecloth will make a wonderful backdrop for the place settings. Add contrasting colored cloth napkins if you have them. Create napkin rings out of beads and silk leaves. Glue a couple of acorns onto the napkin ring.
If you have enough dishes to do so, stack the main dinner plate on top of a golden charger. This will dress the table up considerably, especially if you use gold-toned decorations elsewhere on the table. If you don’t have other gold-toned items for the table, try to find candlesticks which are gold-toned or small vases to place flowers in.
Beeswax candles of varying heights can be added to the table. You can put the candles on a mirror for added interest. These can be placed at opposite ends of the table so you have enough room for a centerpiece. Spread cranberries or glass marbles on the mirrors to break up the reflection of the candle.
The centerpiece can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Try to keep the centerpiece on the short side since people will be seated at the table. You want your centerpiece to allow you to have a conversation with the person across from you. Of course, if you love a tall, dramatic centerpiece you can always remove it before the food arrives.
Find large fall leaves and wash them. Then carefully write each person’s name on the leaf with metallic markers. These will be used as place cards. If you’re not sure about using leaves, you can also find small gourds or pears to lean the place cards against. Use raffia to tie the name card to the gourd or pear. Another idea is to find small picture frames and place a picture of each person in the frame. These can then be used in lieu of place cards.
Frugal Thanksgiving table decoration ideas don’t have to be elaborate to be beautiful. Think about the things you enjoy most about the fall and incorporate those ideas into your frugal decorations. You’ll be proud of your efforts to supply your family with a beautiful table and delicious food.
The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year due to the financial pressures. Between the gift giving, holiday entertaining, and the regular monthly expenses, it all adds up to an expensive time of year!
When you budget for the holidays early, you’ll have a handle on your holiday shopping and spending throughout the season.
Benefits of a Holiday Budget
Keeping a budget during the holiday season will benefit you in many ways. First, you’ll avoid overspending, which will keep you from playing “catch up” when the season ends. Second, you’ll reduce financial stress throughout the holiday season, which will make the experience more enjoyable for you.
A couple of simple budgeting practices during the next few months will have a positive impact on your holiday spending, which can help to prevent you from going overboard or becoming overwhelmed.
Try these holiday spending budget strategies to ease financial tension during this hectic season:
1. Create a budget. Determine how much money is available for you to spend based on your current financial situation. Be realistic with your holiday spending budget, regardless of how much or little you can play with. This is your spending limit, and your goal is to stay within it.
* Remember that your expenses must be less than your income. There’s no need to get into extensive debt because of the holidays.
2. Make a list. List everyone that you need to furnish a gift for so you can create a realistic plan to accommodate your gift-giving needs. Keep everyone in mind, including family members, friends, and anyone else you want to give a gift to, such as neighbors or other acquaintances.
3. Create a budget worksheet. Create a basic budget worksheet on paper or on your computer. List every gift recipient in one column. Create a column to brainstorm ideas, a column for your planned budget for each recipient and a column for how much you actually spent on each person. Track overall budget and actual spending as well to see how you do at the end.
4. Tweak as necessary. Make changes to your budget whenever you overspend on one person so you stay within your budget overall.
* Try to set realistic budget amounts for each of the recipients on your worksheet in order to minimize the need for edits to your worksheet, but do not be afraid to make edits as necessary.
5. Trim as necessary. Giving gifts to your neighbors, your children’s teachers, and service providers like the mailman is a nice sentiment, but not necessary. If your budget cannot support your list of recipients, trim the list!
* Consider giving stocking stuffer type gifts to these recipients if you insist on giving them something for the holidays. Small gifts, inexpensive homemade gifts, or simple greeting cards are just as sentimental and memorable but will not break your budget.
6. Start early. When working on a budget, starting early offers a definite advantage. The more time you have to get your shopping done, the more time you have to comparison shop, shop sales and look for deals. Avoid leaving your shopping until the last moment; otherwise you’ll likely pay higher prices and spend more time feeling aggravated in the lineups.
Get a Handle on Your Spending
It only takes a few simple changes in your spending and budgeting habits to improve your holiday shopping experience. By starting early and following a plan, you can overcome the obstacles of holiday shopping, budgeting, and spending with ease. Enjoy your holidays!
Free Holiday Planning and Budget Guide
Be sure to download our free guide, Free Holiday Planning and Budget Guide, by clicking here.
