Save $$ This Christmas Season

The Christmas season is full of Joy, Giving, Family, Love....
and tons of shopping for overpriced items. 

How in the world can we save money for Christmas? 

Well, "Joy to the World," there are solutions!

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Free Decorations

Look for branches, pine cones and acorns laying around in your yard to use for Christmas decor. 

Branches: hang stockings or ornaments from them, spray with glitter paint

Pinecones: centerpiece accents, ornaments, dip in paint or spray paint, vase fillers

Acorns: ornament decor, vase fillers

Dollar Store Decorations

Buy cheap items and "snaz-it-up" into Christmas decor. 

Personalized stockings: allow everyone to decorate their own stocking.

Garlands: add fabric, lace, or other material to a string of christmas lights.

Accents: paint cheap items (such as fake fruit or plain candles) with glitter, beads, or spray paint.

Paper snowflakes: make your own paper snowflakes and hang over window.

Homemade Gifts

Everything from food, to spa, to decorations.

Go to my Pinterest pages for recipes:
http://pinterest.com/cklovelace0911/gift-giving-ideas-birthdays/

http://pinterest.com/cklovelace0911/winter-christmas-new-year-valentine-s/

Peppermint hot fudge, Andes mint bark, chocolate covered pretzel sticks, peppermint foot scrub, John Deere cookie mix, chocolate chip oatmeal gingerbread mix, homemade bubble bath, homemade vanilla, gingerbread caramels, and more.

        

       

DIY Gift Ideas

Everything from stocking stuffers to gifts for friends and extended family members.

Go to my Pinterest page for instructions and links:

http://pinterest.com/cklovelace0911/gift-giving-ideas-birthdays/

Coffee cup koozie, cookbook wrapped in dish towels, sewing kit egg crate, tea wreath, vintage tea cups made into candles, cupcake party supplies, bookmarks, oven mitt filled with baking ingredients, candles rolled in word stamps, spa/manicure kit, oven mitt filled with kitchen supplies, clever soap dispenser tags, "We whisk you a Merry Kiss-mas" gift, painted coasters, and more. 

Christmas Sales: 50-90% OFF

The best time to shop for Christmas decor and gifts is AFTER Christmas! Seriously, you will find stuff (even toys/gifts) somewhere between 50-90% off. 

Considering getting a new Christmas tree, lights for the house, or decor? 

Are you going to host a party next Christmas for friends or family? 

Not only will you get all your stuff super cheap AFTER Christmas, 

but you also won't have to do last-minute shopping for overpriced items or deal with crazy Christmas shopping crowds when time gets closer.... and you will have a less stressful Christmas season next year!

Cheap Gift Wrapping

Of course, you can go to the dollar store and get cheap gift wrap. 

But there are many ways to wrap gifts creatively with stuff you already have. 

Newspaper, magazine pages, comic strips, brown bags, burlap, 

fabric, old sweater material, towels, music sheets, tissue paper, and more.

Organization Tips

There are many things that will make your next year's Christmas season much easier and less stressful. It's the little things that make a big difference.

Go to my Pinterest page to see more "Life Hacks" and organization tips: http://pinterest.com/cklovelace0911/life-hacks-tips/

Ribbon organization in basket with holes, kleenex box attached to empty box to put used kleenex's into, hot glue plastic cups to board for ornament organization, put ornaments into egg crates for organization, put panty hose over a vacuum to catch little objects you can't find, toilet paper rolls to keep wrapping paper from unrolling, put iPhone in bowl for louder music, eat a marshmellow if your throat hurts, add wire to side of closet or storage wall to keep wrapping paper organized, and more.

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Black Friday & Cyber Monday: How To Survive & Tips

It has been said that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the BEST two days to get your Christmas shopping done for the best prices. (I didn't say the most enjoyable...)

I agree with the multiple studies that early and mid December is actually the best time to buy (a.k.a Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a big shopping hype), but even if you knew that, most of you still choose to shop on these two "special" days.

So whether you are a Black Friday expert or a "noob" that's going to give-it-a-shot this year.... it is important to keep these tips and words of advice in mind:

Why Shop on These Days?

Even if the belief were true that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have the best shopping deals, discounts, and freebies.... THERE'S A CATCH!

You have to get there SUPER EARLY...and wait in mile-long lines....and maybe get trampled over, or negotiated with by other buyers, in order to get that last item on the shelf you wanted or to get those "amazing deals." 

Most shops open as early as 4am (some are even going to open for "Black Friday" at 5PM the day before!) Hence, the people who get there as soon as it starts are probably crazy and really serious about getting their Christmas presents at the "best possible price." So just beware if you are a "noob" looking for an adventure this year. You'll get it, alright.

How You Can Prepare:

There's several things you need to do to get ready for the big two days, but in particular, Black Friday. These things will help you stay sane, organized, and successful in your shopping trip (whether you're going as tradition or to actually try to find good deals):

1. Make a list of things you need to buy for each person (family and friends). 
2. Combine all presents into categories for better organization. This will keep you from going back-and-forth throughout the store to get your items:
• Example: Sally wants a Barbie, Tom wants Legos, Tina wants an Etch-a-Sketch. You can categorize these into the "Toy" section and try to get all three of these presents in one section/area of the store.
3. After categorizing all presents, decide which stores you can get these presents in the least amount of trips possible. Lines will be LONG, no matter where you go. You want to try and get all presents in one or two stores if possible.
• Example: You have gift categories of Toys, Clothes, Women's Accessories, Electronics, and Tools. You see that you can get all of these items at a store like Wal-Mart or Target, so these are your two stores of interest that you want to go to first. 
4. Decide which items you can or will buy ONLINE the following Cyber Monday, and take these items off your shopping list for Black Friday so you don't get confused or waste your time searching for/buying them at the stores. 
5. If you know the store pretty well that you are going to, map out a route to take to get your shopping done in the least amount of time possible.
• TIP: Number your gift category sheet from which section you will visit 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Try to make your shopping route clockwise or counter clockwise to the sections you need to get to. 
• Example: In a clockwise route, Toys are the first section you come across, which is next to the Tools section, then it's Electronics, then Women's Accessories, then Clothes. Do this route to get your presents in the fastest amount of time. 
6. Go with someone!!! Not only can they make your trip faster by splitting up the shopping list to half the amount of time, but this is especially useful if you have more than one store to go to. Assign specific items to each person you bring to buy so you won't spend hours looking for all the gifts you need. If you have to buy the items on one transaction, meet together at a designated place to get in line together with all the items you got. 
• Example: Bob is going to the Toys section to grab the gifts on the list. You will go to the Clothes and Women's Accessories section. Linda will go to the Electronics and Tools section. You all meet at the shopping cart section near the entrance and then get in line together since Bob is paying for all the presents on one transaction.

Other Tips:

• DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GO: early bird discounts, store hours, store policies, special offers, etc.
• Do research on what a "good" price actually is on the items you need, that way you can compare to see if you're getting a good discount.
• Target and Walmart are going to be the some of the busiest places to shop. Beware - many people have gotten injured at these stores, too. 
• WAIT to buy gift cards! You won't get a discount on these purchases at any time, so wait to get these until later at a less stressful/crowded time.
• Cell phone service may be poor due to large amount of cell phone usage in one area or being indoors in an enclosed building. Consider walkie-talkies or something similar (it would make it more fun too!)
• Black Friday Store Hours and Early Bird Sales: http://couponing.about.com/od/blackfridayshopping/a/storehours.htm
• Always ask for gift receipts!
  
  

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