5 Tips for Frugal, Easy, Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Every year I think I'm going to plan ahead better than the last Christmas season and be prepared before the last minute.....aaaand I'm not.  Especially this year....a new baby in November, grandparents all coming to visit, and we're just finishing up all six kids having chickenpox.....yeah, things haven't exactly been picture perfect around here.

And is it just me, or does it seem like Murphy's Law says that every year your budget will be extra slim just as Christmas rolls around?  If a car breaks down, appliance quits working, or all the kids grow out of their shoes.....it's going to be right before the holidays. 

If you're feeling tight on time or money this year, here are some ideas that I'm using that may help you too.......

#1: Assess What You Have - take inventory of what's already around and you may have more to work with than you realized without spending a dime.....

• gift cards
• store credit
• "points" you have accumulated that you can redeem for gift cards or other things - Swagbucks, bank points, MyPoints...etc.
• free item coupons
• gift closet/stash where you've put things throughout the year and planned for gift occasions
• freebie gift basket - start with a little basket or bag, then add lotions, body wash, candles, etc. that you have from Bath and Body Works or have requested in the mail

#2: Go Home(made) - all it takes is a little time (and sometimes skill), and you can create a one-of-a-kind handmade gift that often requires very little money....

• Pinterest - of course I start there for endless ideas and inspiration - recipes, crafts, DIY ideas....
• Food gifts - a little effort and pretty packaging can make a wonderful and very inexpensive gift (here are a few I'm looking at making...White Chocolate Cinnamon Pretzels, Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds, Cake Balls, No-bake White Chocolate Pumpkin Fudge, Caramel Popcorn - so good!...)
• Gifts in a jar - they're very simple to put together, but practical, pretty, and cheap!  You can do a google/swagbucks search and you'll find lots of ideas, or check out books like these.  A friend of ours made us these Cranberry Hootycreeks and they were de-licious!
• Skills - what talents do you already have to whip up something personal?  Knitting, sewing, crafts, photography...?
• Kids stuff - close relatives usually love things that involve the kids...hand/footprints, artwork on mugs/plates...again, lots of ideas on Pinterest!
• Photograph gifts - photo gifts are personal, but can be very cheap!  Walgreens often offers free 8x10 enlargements or collage prints
• "I love you because" frame - sweet gift for less than $2!
• Movie basket - include things like....microwave popcorn, theater candy, gift cards to Redbox or a video store, theater tickets....you could put it in a cute popcorn "bucket" from Target's dollar section or make your own
• Engineer print artwork - incredible impact for very little money!

#3: Be Creative - think outside the box....

• Gift of time/service - babysitting, help cleaning out garage or sorting/scanning pictures, gift certificate for housecleaning...
• "Experience" gifts - give a gift of time together in the months ahead....horseback riding, a trip to the zoo or aquarium, skydiving.....it extends the time needed to pay for it, and the time you get to enjoy it -- you also know the joy won't be "over" in a 20 minute unwrapping frenzy.
• Be thoughtful or sentimental - old photo framed, handwritten poem/letter, put mementos in a shadowbox...

#4: Take Advantage of the Last Minute - procrastination isn't always a terrible thing....there are usually some amazing offers as the holiday shopping season ends....

• Groupon - they often run great specials near Christmas, highlighting deals that are perfect for gift giving!  And what's fantastic about Groupon is that you can buy the gift, print the certificate and you're ready to give a gift in minutes!
• Amazon - their "deal of the day" and "lightning deals" offer some big discounts! 

#5: Keep it Simple - don't try to "keep up with the Joneses" and stress yourself out because you're not doing it "right", this is a wonderful time of the year to enjoy friends and family and have fun together.....

• Prioritize Your Time - what's important to you and your family?  Is it spending time together?  Making memories?  There are so many ways to do that cheaply - and many more that are free!  Hot chocolate taste testing, snowball fights, Christmas movie pajama party, make crafts or cookies, volunteer, have a game night....
• Focus on Values - slow down this season and remember what's it's all about....keep the focus on what's important and not on the hustle and bustle and "stuff"
• Be an Example - I think it's important that we start early to teach our children what really matters. The newest electronics or game console can be fun, but it should be balanced with the intangible things too.  I recently have heard a sweet little rhyme to help keep gift-giving from getting out of hand...."Something you want, something you need, something you'll wear, something you'll read" -- I love that idea for the kids, and I just found a cute printable on Pinterest for them to fill out.  We typically have had a 3-gift guideline in our home, but I think we may do this and go to four.

Remember to slow down and enjoy the time you have with your loved ones, keep the spending in check......do what you can now to keep from starting the New Year with regret and a big credit card bill!  ;)

What do you think?  Good ideas?  Any favorites?  What tips or tricks do you have to save time or money during the holidays?

20 FREE Issues to Disney's Family Fun Magazine!

Family Fun is a great magazine packed with fun ideas for parties, travel, crafts, all kinds of clever things for parents!  Even better - it’s FREE! Just head on over and fill out the form to get 20 FREE issues of this Family Fun Magazine. It may not last long so don’t wait!

"Enjoy a 20 issue subscription. No strings attached. You'll never receive a bill."*

*True story!  I love ValueMags offers - I get them all the time, with no bills, no strings.  When signing up, be sure to check the little box ‘Please don’t send me any more special offers’, and uncheck ‘Yes! Sign me up for MagazineOpinions.com’.

(thanks Kathleen!)

Easy Valentine's Day gift -- "I love you because ____" frame tutorial.....Pinterest inspired and only cost $1.18!

I came across this really cute idea on Pinterest for a picture frame that says "I love you because _______" and you fill in the blank by writing on the glass.  It was featured on eighteen25 and I pinned it forever ago thinking I'd make it someday to hang it in our bedroom and leave sweet notes back and forth with the hubzy.....and then Valentine's Day came around and I thought that would be the perfect time to actually do it!
"Words of Affirmation" are really meaningful to my husband, so I knew he'd love it too! Knowing his love language is so important to help communicate love in a way he'll actually hear it! ("The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman is a fantastic book! If you haven't read it yet, I so wholeheartedly recommend it!)


Here were my supplies:

• 1 piece of pretty scrapbook paper (12x12)  = .59¢
• 1 piece of vellum paper (8.5x11.5)  = .59¢
• 1 8x10" picture frame (on hand)  = Free
• Rustoleum oil-rubbed bronze spray paint (on hand)  = Free

We had an old picture no longer being used that was sitting in a box in the basement....it was a yard sale find that we liked the picture of, but were not really feeling the frame.  I took the picture and glass out and spray painted the frame with oil-rubbed bronze to transform it.

{Sorry about the bad picture -- our basement is like a dungeon when it comes to taking pictures!}

I bought a piece of scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby that I thought would fit our decor, and also a piece of vellum to soften the printed paper so that we'd be sure to be able to see what was written without it competing with the pattern.

{I love the "old love letter" look of this paper.  I was going to pick something with color, but couldn't decide what since we currently have greens and purple in our bedroom, but I want to switch it over to a restful palette of blues, cream, and tan....but have yet to convince the hubzy.}

{I was concerned that the "words" on the paper would maybe make it a little too busy, so I added the vellum to soften it....see the difference it makes?  I love vellum!}

I then typed up "i love you because ______" in a Word document.  I did a Swagbucks search to find a clip art image of a heart and put that in place of the word "love".  Then played with the fonts and spacing until I was happy with the look. 

{I was a little nervous that the ink might smear on the vellum, but I ran it through my laser printer and it came out beautifully!}

Personally, I may have chosen a prettier, more "romantical" font for the words, but my husband does not share my love for fun and fabulous fonts (or alliteration, lol), so I thought I'd keep it simple -- since it was a gift for him after all.  ;)  And I did like the way the simple font looked on the "inspiration frame".

I then trimmed the pieces of paper to fit the frame and replaced the glass, then put in the vellum and and the printed scrapbook paper.  Tada!!  I'll probably put a dry erase or chalk marker like I use (and love!) for our menu board, on top of the frame to keep it handy for jotting a reason down.

{I couldn't get rid if the reflection, but I love the way the ORB goes with the blue in our kitchen!}

{I'd love to make some of these in smaller frames too for the kids.....wouldn't that be sweet to write something for them to see when they come home from school each day?}

So, for only $1.18 we'll have a Valentine's day gift that lasts year-round.......an easy way to take a second out of the daily hustle and bustle and tell each other why we're still crazy about each other.   =)

Linking up:

Cheap, Easy, Last-Minute, and Meaningful Ideas for Valentine's Day!

If you've had a hard time finding something just right that fits into your budget, or maybe Valentine's day snuck up on you.....I've got some great last minute ideas for you!

Something small and intentional (and even free!) can mean so much more than the over the top gestures or spending big money!  Here are a few ideas to show your love - good for Valentine's day or any day!

First, here are a few recent posts with fun super savings for Valentine's day:

• FREE Redbox DVD Rental code on Feb. 14th
• FREE Mars Valentine's day candy
• FREE Greeting card from Cardstore.com (mine came quickly, so there may still be time to get it for Tuesday)
• FREE printable to make a cute Post-It note cozy (also great for Teacher Appreciation gifts)

Be Thoughtful - you know your loved one best.  Just think for a minute about what makes them tick.....would a cozy evening at home make them feel loved, or a fun evening out.......does a gift make them swoon, or would taking over dinner duty or a nice foot rub be more their style? 

Everyone feels loved in different ways, and if you find out what your loved one really needs, it's so much easier to show your love in a way that they can receive ("The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts" by Gary Chapman is a tremendous book that helps you understand how people give and receive love best - vital for any marriage or relationship....my husband and I both wholeheartedly recommend it!!). 

Also show that you're listening to what they want or need - if my husband has been telling me for weeks that his back has been aching that should give me a clue that he might really appreciate a back massage - it could be free if I do it myself or I could spring for a gift certificate.  If I've mentioned that I'd love our wedding pictures to finally be put into an album or on a DVD instead of in a box in the basement (from 13 years ago!), he'd bless my socks off by trying to make that happen and would show that he cared enough to really listen.

Write a Love Letter - While Hallmark can make some really touching cards, your own words can be so much sweeter.  You don't have to be a poet or a wordsmith to write a love letter either - just write down what's in your heart.  What do they mean to you?  How do they make you feel?  What about them makes you smile or makes you a better person?
(Here are some great tips for writing a love letter!)


Make a "Why I Love You" jar/box -  This is similar to a love letter in that it shows them what you love about them, but may be less pressure than feeling like you have to compose a beautiful letter.
A couple years ago I wrote down lots of things I love about my husband (what character qualities I admire, what he does that make me smile, how much I appreciate the wonderful dad he is.....) and typed them up on slips of paper and tucked them into a small box with the title "Why I'm Glad I Said Yes...." inside the lid.  He said it was one of his favorite gifts he ever received and he still keeps it out.


Write a Love Poem - Make it serious and romantic if you'd like, or if your relationship is filled with humor make your rhymes silly and celebrate your love with laughter.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries - These are delicious, romantic, and even though they look amazing they're so easy to do!  And strawberries are usually on sale around this time of year -- for only a few bucks, you can really wow!  I've made them before for my husband and they're always such a hit!  I've brought them to gatherings with friends too and people always think they're store bought. 
If you've never made them before, check this out for easy directions (stems are not necessary, I just hold it by the leaves).  The contrasting chocolate on top (milk on white, white on dark....white and milk on dark....) is what really makes them look gourmet!


Make a Personalized Puzzle - I found a website where you can make your own crossword, word search, cryptogram, etc. for free. 
I made a crossword for my husband with important words in our relationship (where we met, "friendship", "love", our childrens names, the name of "our" song.....things like that).  It was so easy to make, but I think it will be fun for him to do and will be a sweet reminder of what means the most to us.


Make a Coupon Book - This may be a common go-to, but it doesn't have to be boring!  It can be as unique and fun as you want it to be. 
Handwritten or typed up on the computer.....it can be silly or steamy.....romantic or practical.  Coupons for back rubs, dishes, a day with no diaper changes ;), or movies of their choosing (with no complaints!) extend the love throughout the year.  You can make them usable at any time or valid at certain times (for example: a bubble bath or foot rub once a month, a promise to plan a kid-free date every other week....). 
Make it special to the two of you by using some of your inside jokes or knowing what would be important to them ("I'll watch football with you/go shopping with you without complaining once").  ;)

Cuddle Up With a Romantic Movie - Staying home for a movie can be much sweeter than going to a theater and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg!  Grab a cheap old favorite at the store or check out your local library for a selection of old and new movies.  Stop by a Redbox and pick out a movie that your significant other would like to see for just over a $1 (get a FREE Redbox DVD rental here *exp).


Dine In - Making a yummy Valentine's dinner and dessert can be a a really thoughtful way to show you care and doesn't have to be any more expensive than your normal meal!  Make their favorite food, a favorite treat and put a little effort into the table.  It can be simple and sweet or go all out - it's up to you!  Use nice dishes, set out a candle or two, make the presentation a bit nicer than normal (instead of using those plastic Taco Bell cups, drink out of wine glasses - even if it's only water!)
Just make sure you clean up too!  ;)


Dine Out for Cheap - If you want to go out to eat, check out Restaurant.com first and get 80% off gift certificates for local restaurants when you use the code "SWEETIE" at checkout (through 2/14).  So after the code a $25 gift certificate is only $2!!  Each restaurant has their own restrictions, so just be sure to read the fine print.

(You can make this even better by going through ShopAtHome for an extra 35% cashback from your purchase....or 30% back from Mr.Rebates - making the $25 certificate less than $1.50!! And if you're new to those cashback sites, you get a $5 credit in your account too! Ebates is only 15% back, but if you're new, it might make more sense to take advantage of the sign up bonus there! *cashback amounts vary, so check first)

Happy Valentine's Day!! 

*Reposted from archives and updated.

Friday Feature: Pinterest! The Virtual Corkboard Wonderland!

Welcome to the Friday Feature, where I highlight something that I'm really loving -- but first, let me introduce myself...........
"Hi, my name is Mara and I'm a Pinterest addict."  Seriously, they need a support group!  If you're part of this wonderland already, you know -- and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you must check it out!

It's a virtual corkboard - a place to "pin" all those great ideas, crafts, paint colors, recipes, funny things.....that you come across online.  It's like someone looked in my head and knew that I was wishing for a simple, beautiful, user-friendly place to keep track of all the fantastic things I see on blogs and other places!  (My method of copying a link into a draft in gmail wasn't exactly ideal!)

It's an awesome place just to organize the things that float your boat, or browse others boards and find oodles of inspiration!  I've already come across so many things that I don't think I would've seen otherwise.  You can follow people with similar interests - either their whole collection if you like their overall style, or individual boards -- for example, when their "Living Room" board is full of pins exactly like what you imagine for your own, or when every recipe they post in "Yum yum" is making you drool on your keyboard.

You need an invitation to join, but it's free and fantastic!  Send me your email if you'd like an invite!  And if you leave your "username" I'd love to see your boards.  =)

You can pin whatever images you'd like, and create any boards that you want - whatever makes sense to you....here are some screenshots of my boards:


These are dreams for my laundry room once we get done with the "big" stuff (like siding, roofing, flooring...silly details like that) and can work on the "fun" stuff...

Whenever I come across recipes or decorations that I think would be perfect for our next soiree, this is where they go (sure, 'cause we're so fancy pants that we have soirees)  ;)

I want to create a playroom/art area for the kids in the basement.....and some of these funzies would be perfect for what I have in mind - and some are ideas that I never would've thought of!

Ahh, my "delish" board.....here's where I go to drool!  ;)   I love being able to tuck away tasty treats here, so when I need a yummy dish to pass, or an idea for an awesome chicken dish - tada!  No more...."there's a dessert I saw online that would be perfect for the party - which website did I see that on??"

I created a "to make" board where I keep all the fantastic projects that inspire me to be crafty - so when I get the creative bug (and 30 seconds of free time) I know where the great ideas will be!

Ohhh Pinterest, how I love thee!!

What do you think??  Are you already pinning?  Or are you inspired to go start your own pinboard?  Need an invite, let me know!  I'd love to see your collections!

Great Big List of FREE and Cheap Kids Activities and Ideas for Summer!!

{my sweet pea Emma last year at Lake Michigan}

Summer break tends to make me a little nervous.  At first it's all fun and games, but then the novelty starts to wear off and the dreaded "I'm bored" starts to make an appearance....and with 5 littles, it can quickly turn into a giant headache.  I usually nip that in the bud by doling out a chore or two, but I thought I'd be a bit more proactive this year, lol.  I love all the opportunities for fun and family bonding in the Summer, but sometimes it takes a little planning.  The kids are growing up so fast (cliche, but true!), and I want to take advantage of the time to build memories together.

I've been brainstorming and dreaming up lots of fun frugal ideas and activities to keep the kids busy this Summer, and was going to write a list to post here.  But then I was looking up a few resources and came across some amazing lists already written and thought I'd share those instead - no need to reinvent the wheel.  ;)  There will be no chance of anyone getting bored with all these possibilities!!

I'm planning on printing out a bunch of these and letting the kids highlight the ones they love.  Then either writing them into a blank calendar to schedule the fun or put the favorite ideas onto slips of paper and drawing them out of a jar for more spontaneous adventures!

Check these out:
Brassy Apple has a great list of activities.  The link to ideas for different themed picnics is super and my very favorite is the list of "100 days of Summer"!  Just oodles of ideas!  Ooh, I just saw this link to making placemats with the kiddles and with all the free magazines around, that would be perfect for a fun artsy project!

Today Is Fun is a website entirely "dedicated to helping adults entertain the kids in their lives. The ideas here will keep kids happy and occupied for hours on end, without you having to spend money or buy more stuff. The tips are always entertaining, often educational and developmentally appropriate. We are here to help parents, home schoolers, teachers, and more."  Lots of tips and ideas for Summer and all year 'round!  And from the ideas I skimmed over, they look very simple to do - bonus!  =)

Andrea at Simple Organized Living has posted a great list of 22 Summer activities for kids - all FREE and all technology free!!  L.o.v.e. that!  I don't know about your kids, but mine are drawn to a screen like bugs to a bug zapper, lol!  We probably limit it more than most, but it seems like that's still their go to.  And they're probably getting tired of hearing me say, "when we were your age, we didn't even have {fill-in-the-blank} and we survived!"  ;)   I love things that show the kids that there's lots of fun to be had without plugging anything in! 

 

Frugal Girls has a list full of frugal ideas!  Including links to Summer reading programs, Free and cheap movies, free bowling, and kid safe websites - all great options to beat the heat over the next few months!
{A couple theaters with Summer promotions they didn't list are Cinemark and Goodrich Quality theaters.}

 

Here's a lens on Squidoo with over 100 Kids Summer Activities! Lots and lots of fun ideas!

Homeschool.com has another list of "101 things to do this Summer" - lots of activities, lots of links!

Crystal & Co. has a really nice list of 80 FREE or inexpensive things to do this Summer, and I really like that she has it broken up into a few categories so if you are looking for something to "Make" or to "Go" do, you know just where to look!  {I think we'll do a couple of the printable "Mad Libs" tonight!}

After looking through all these ideas, I feel like Summer won't be nearly long enough!! {If I'm missing for a while, you can bet it'll be because of these fun ideas!} 
In additional to the hundreds already mentioned, here are some of our own plans for Summer that I didn't see (though there's plenty I didn't have a chance to read yet!):

• Cooking with Mom - the oldest three (ages 11, 9, and 7) will get one weeknight a week to pick what we have for dinner and check to make sure we have the ingredients.  Then on their assigned night they will be my helper and it be chance for some one-on-one time, as well as practicing some math and science to keep it fresh over the Summer.  I also want to bake up some treats with the kids and let them decorate cookies or cupcakes just for fun. {Maybe we'll do that and then let them set up a lemonade stand like the beautiful one over at IHeart Organizing!}
• Volunteering - my husband and I recently watched Soul Surfer and greatly enjoyed it.  We were however both a little convicted that we haven't gotten the kids more involved in volunteer work and missions.  We would love to give them the opportunity to serve and see other people's walks of life and cultivate more gratitude for everything we've been blessed with.
• Sock or Swim Mopping - I'll fill a bucket with warm soapy water and let the kids don either swimsuits or socks and shorts.  They'll dip themselves in the water, then splash and slide around the kitchen and dining room.  When they're done we'll wipe up the water with the floors a little cleaner and kids a little wetter.  ;)

What are your favorite cheap or free Summer activities?  What works for your family?  What's your favorite new idea you saw on these lists?