Bookswapping and Frugal Gifts
After Christmas Sales
After Christmas sales can be a great way to save money on things you would buy anyway, without paying full price.
If you want to get some great deals but you also want a lot of selection, you'll want to show up in the store pretty early on December 26th. You can get deeper discounts if you wait several days or a week for the stores to mark items all the way down to 75% off. The down side of waiting is that the item you want may be gone if you wait too long.
You can often find good buys at grocery and drug stores a week or two after Christmas because there's not as much demand for after Christmas items in those stores.
Here are some of the things to consider as you visit after Christmas sales:
Buy new Christmas decorations for next year.
Buy "Baby's First Christmas" items (pajamas, bibs, ornaments, etc.) for those friends and relatives expecting babies in the next year.
Purchase holiday craft items. Christmas ribbons, needlework, and other craft supplies are often marked down to 75% off. Get started on those projects and get them done early. Don't forget to get enough red ribbon and craft supplies for Valentines day.
Buy Christmas chocolate to freeze for year-round baking.
Christmas isn't just red and green any more. You can get every color under the rainbow now. If you are decorating a room or having a special party, such as an anniversary you can purchase your supplies for 75% off.
Purchase gifts for next Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and teachers' gifts.
If you have a wedding coming up, look for decorations with your wedding colors after Christmas.
You can also get tablecloths and napkins for your household on clearance after Christmas. You can buy these at up to 75% off and use them every day.
Look for wrapping paper for other occasions. Stores have colored and white tissue paper and wrapping paper that isn't necessarily just for Christmas. You can also buy Christmas paper for next to nothing after Christmas and save it for next Christmas.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
And here's my hand my trusty frien',
and gie's a hand o' thine;
we'll take a right gude-willi waught
for days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Great Green Goods Christmas Cards
http://www.greatgreengoods.com/category/holiday-cards/
Christmas Cards Hobbycraft Handcrafted Christmas cards
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/xmas06/xmas_cards.htm
Card Making @ Circle of Crafters.com
http://www.cardmaking.circleofcrafters.com/christmas.html
Card Inspirations
http://www.cardinspirations-usa.com/demo/demo10.htm
My Craft Book Christmas Cards
http://www.mycraftbook.com/List.asp?subcategoryID=14
Iris Folding Christmas Cards http://www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com/christmas.html
Handcrafted Greetings Christmas Cards http://www.cardsandcrafts.freeservers.com/embrinst.html
Stitching Cards Free Holy Wreath Pattern
http://www.stitchingcards.com/product.php?xProd=102&xSec=5
Card Making Ideas and Verses
http://www.cardmaking.info/58428.html
Punch Art Christmas http://www.fabulousfoods.com/crafts/paper/cards/xmas/treepunchxmas.html
GIFT GIVING
50 Great Green Gifts
http://www.greenlight-digital.com/greenlight/iss05/?pg=18
Reused Gifts are Better
Reused Gifts are Better
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25720.asp
101 Gifts to Make
101 Gifts to Make
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftgiving/a/120400a.htm
Crafty Moms Homemade Gift Ideas
Crafty Moms Homemade Gift Ideas
http://www.crafty-moms.com/gift_giving.shtml
Five Christmas Gift Baskets You can put together
Five Christmas Gift Baskets You can put together
http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2006/11/5-christmas-gift-baskets-you-can-put-together-for-an-inexpensive-but-thoughtful-gift.html
Christmas Items to Knit & Crochet
Christmas Items to Knit & Crochet
Holiday Gifts to Charity
FirstGiving.com is a Web site that allows you to select a recipient charity and then set up a giving page where friends and loved ones can donate to your cause, in lieu of purchasing gifts. The FirstGiving.com site is good for birthdays, anniversaries, as well as the holidays, and can also be used in memory of someone or to fundraise in connection with a sporting event or personal goal.
Altgifts.org is the creative gift-giving Web site of Alternative Gifts International, which helps you divert your holiday giving dollars to someone in need in all parts of the world. For example, for the price of an iPod you can purchase supplies for a hospital in North Korea, or for the price of a video game you can purchase a wheelchair for someone in Cambodia. Altgifts.org provides an entire online catalog of creative giving options.
NetworkforGood.org makes it easy to give to any nonprofit you like – or several all at once. They keep track of your donations and provide all the tax information you need.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
1st Day - Donate toys to the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots Program in your community.
2nd Day - Send a Care Package to a soldier or student.
3rd Day - Go caroling at Assisted Living Homes.
4th Day - Take blankets, quilts, coats, socks, gloves etc. to homeless shelters.
5th Day - Show random acts of kindness to the homeless who are on the streets.
6th Day - Invite friends whose families are out of the area to your family's Christmas dinner.
7th Day - Attend a church service, especially if you haven't done so in a long time.
8th Day - Visit Pediatrics, Oncology, and Surgical floors of your local hospital(s).
9th Day - Order a Christmas dinner from a restaurant and deliver it to a needy family.
10th Day - Make a donation to a charity such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
11th Day - Deliver food and other nonperishable items to your local food bank(s).
12th Day - Send a Christmas card to someone saying they're forgiven or seeking their forgiveness.
Have a Merry Christmas and remember to pray for Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men!
2nd Day - Send a Care Package to a soldier or student.
3rd Day - Go caroling at Assisted Living Homes.
4th Day - Take blankets, quilts, coats, socks, gloves etc. to homeless shelters.
5th Day - Show random acts of kindness to the homeless who are on the streets.
6th Day - Invite friends whose families are out of the area to your family's Christmas dinner.
7th Day - Attend a church service, especially if you haven't done so in a long time.
8th Day - Visit Pediatrics, Oncology, and Surgical floors of your local hospital(s).
9th Day - Order a Christmas dinner from a restaurant and deliver it to a needy family.
10th Day - Make a donation to a charity such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
11th Day - Deliver food and other nonperishable items to your local food bank(s).
12th Day - Send a Christmas card to someone saying they're forgiven or seeking their forgiveness.
Have a Merry Christmas and remember to pray for Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men!
Helpful Hints for all Holidays
Living on a Dime Helpful Holiday Hints for all Holidays http://www.livingonadime.com/holiday-articles.htm
THE CRAFTY CHRISTMAS
Decorating and Project Ideas
Christmas Items
Craft Ideas and Projects for Busy Moms
Craft Site Directory Christmas Crafts
Craftbits Christmas Crafts
Christmas Craft Creations Free Projects
Freebies from EZ Craft Show
Christmas Place mats and runner to sew
Believe Magnet in Plastic Canvas
Silver Bells Wreath
Candy Cane Potholder Knitted
Wood Scrap Snowmen
Snow Folks made from mittens
Make Earth Friendly Gift Wrap
Wrap Up Your Holiday for Free
Shirt Boxes: If you purchase clothes as a gift this year, remember that during the holidays many department stores offer at least one free box with your purchase. Decorate the box with existing pens, pencils, stencils, glitter, or paint you already have on hand. Use holiday pictures from magazines or newspapers and glue them in a collage around the box or feature just one on the top lid. You can also use duplicates or scanned copies of old family photos for decorating the box to give it a more personal touch.
Paper Bags: Gift bags are always popular, so why not decorate your own? On paper sacks use pens, paint or glitter you already have on hand and either staple or tape the bag closed to hide the contents.
Aluminum Foil: Chances are you already have this in your kitchen cupboard. In a pinch, it will make elegant gift wrapping.
Newspapers: This is an old stand by that works all year round. Use the comics, the sports section, the arts and entertainment section, etc. The newspaper also makes great lettering for gift cards. Just cut letters and holiday pictures from the paper and arrange on solid colored paper you already have on hand or recycle envelopes from opened mail by cutting out squares to make "To" and "From" labels.
Yarn: Chances are you have a few skeins hidden in a closet somewhere that can be used for wrapping. Use it for tying up the other packaging ideas listed here or as a wrapping paper alternative. When using it as packaging, wrap the yarn all around the item until it is completely covered and then tie off. You can even embellish the yarn with beads or feathers if you have these items left over from previous craft projects.
Calendars: The year is almost over, so put that old calendar to good use and recycle the pictures from the calendar for wrapping paper. You can also cut the calendar pictures into squares and add a smaller square of white or solid colored paper on top to create unique gift tags or thank you notes.
Paper Bags: Gift bags are always popular, so why not decorate your own? On paper sacks use pens, paint or glitter you already have on hand and either staple or tape the bag closed to hide the contents.
Aluminum Foil: Chances are you already have this in your kitchen cupboard. In a pinch, it will make elegant gift wrapping.
Newspapers: This is an old stand by that works all year round. Use the comics, the sports section, the arts and entertainment section, etc. The newspaper also makes great lettering for gift cards. Just cut letters and holiday pictures from the paper and arrange on solid colored paper you already have on hand or recycle envelopes from opened mail by cutting out squares to make "To" and "From" labels.
Yarn: Chances are you have a few skeins hidden in a closet somewhere that can be used for wrapping. Use it for tying up the other packaging ideas listed here or as a wrapping paper alternative. When using it as packaging, wrap the yarn all around the item until it is completely covered and then tie off. You can even embellish the yarn with beads or feathers if you have these items left over from previous craft projects.
Calendars: The year is almost over, so put that old calendar to good use and recycle the pictures from the calendar for wrapping paper. You can also cut the calendar pictures into squares and add a smaller square of white or solid colored paper on top to create unique gift tags or thank you notes.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Aluminum Can Star Ornament http://www.aluminouspublishing.com/recycling_aluminum_cans_star_ornament.html
Ornaments and Suncatchers made from recycled Christmas trees http://www.ctstore.com/kensanta.html
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