Thrice the Spice shows you how to make Homemade Breakfast Sausage.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Summer Bucket List
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How We Save Hundreds of Dollars on Christmas Gifts
Guest post by Steph from The Cheapskate Cook
When my husband and I got married, we lived in a renovated shed and had a budget that matched. I was an avid Money Saving Mom® reader, and although we’ve moved out of the shed and added two kids to our family, I’m still learning how to save money… and I’m still an avid Money Saving Mom® reader.
Over the years on tight budgets, we’ve learned a lot about celebrating the holidays on a shoestring. Here are a few things that have worked for us:
1. Use a system for family gifts
We celebrate Christmas morning with my parents and siblings, and as the kids have grown up, started school, gotten jobs, or struggled to get jobs, we decided that instead of everyone getting gifts for everyone else, we would draw names.
We also pitch in to fill the stockings, so each person gets a larger gift for one person and a small stocking stuffer for each family member. That way we can enjoy shopping for each person but don’t have the pressure of buying large gifts for everyone.
2. Don’t feel like you need to buy gifts for everyone
For most years, Chris and I just decided not to get each other gifts. It was a tradition to travel to see family over the holidays, and so making the arrangements to do that was our gift to each other. And surprisingly, when we were surrounded by people we loved on Christmas morning and we knew we were intentional about making that happen, the gifts weren’t missed. (Although I admit the other gifts from family certainly helped!)
We’ve also been selective about gifts for our friends and general acquaintances. Some years, it was wiser to not give those kinds of gifts. However, gifts like fresh bread (I love this Very-Little-Bother-Bread recipe) and honey butter can be fun, frugal, and even a welcome alternative to the cookies so many people have in abundance.
3. Host a cookie exchange or white elephant party
Invite several friends over for an evening of coffee, hot chocolate, and treats. For the cookie exchange party, each family brings a small plate of cookies and little bags filled with 2-4 cookies to add to the exchange. When guests leave, they grab a few bags of cookies to take home.
The white elephant party is a classic. Instead of purchasing a gift, wrap something you already have at home. Then each person chooses from the pile of gifts, and you never know what you’ll end up with.
4. Remember the point to all of this
Giving gifts is fun, and someday, if we continue to use our money wisely, we’ll be able to give even better gifts. But ultimately, this season isn’t just about that, as wonderful as generosity is.
It’s about remembering and celebrating the One who gave us the best gifts: the gift of a relationship with Him and the gift of salvation. And we can do that no matter what our budget is.
When Steph and her husband got married, they lived in a renovated shed and had a grocery budget that matched. As a passionate whole-foodie, Steph was determined to continue eating healthy, minimally-processed foods on their shoestring budget. So The Cheapskate Cook was born.
Ask the Readers: How much do you budget for Christmas?
Today’s questions is from Christen:
I was wondering how much people budget for Christmas? My hubby and I are trying to find a reasonable amount to budget. -Christen
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
25 Days of Random Acts of Kindness
Two different bloggers have challenged themselves to do one random act of kindness each day from December 1 to December 25. I’ve been so inspired by read their posts and wanted to pass them along to you:
Are you doing something similar? Tell us about it!
Homemade Gingerbread Latte Recipe
Free printable Decorate the Christmas Tree Game
21 Days to a More Organized Christmas: Plan Your Gift List
Once you’ve determined your Christmas Budget, it’s time to break that down further and create a gift list.
1. Use Your Budget As a Guide
If it’s not in the budget, you can’t buy it. Period. And even if it feels like you’re being a scrooge, I promise you that it’s always better to give small and simple gifts that you can afford than to give elaborate, extravagant gifts you buy on credit.
For the first few years of our marriage, we did nothing in the way of gifts for Christmas. We couldn’t afford to buy or make gifts, so we just didn’t. And we survived just fine. It wasn’t our first choice, but it was a sacrifice we made in order to survive law school without debt.
2. Pare Down Your Gift List, If Need Be
Sticking with your Christmas budget may mean that you need to pare down who you buy gifts for. I talked about paring down your gift list in my post on simplifying Christmas yesterday:
Evaluate your gift list: Do you really need to give a gift to your uncle’s neighbor’s dog? I’m pretty sure Fido will survive just fine without another fancy chew toy, so save your money and use it to buy gifts for those you really care about or want to bless.
Creating limits for how many gifts you buy helps to simplify things. MoneySavingMom.com reader Ashley says, “We give each of our children three, and only three, Christmas gifts. One gift is always something useful like pajamas; one gift is money for their savings; and one gift is something they want or a fun gift. By limiting the number of fun gifts to just one per child, we are able to say no when we see something they would love, but not love enough to be their fun gift.”
3. Be Free From Guilt or Obligation
Buying a gift for someone out of guilt or obligation gives you no fulfillment. I loved what Rachel from Small Notebook said in her post on simplifying Christmas without the guilt:
Sometimes Christmas seems like putting on a show. It’s wearisome, and it leaves us wanting more.
I’ve been thinking about what a simple Christmas would be like for us, and together with my husband we have chosen some things to cut back on. This means I won’t get to act like Martha and show off my amazing skills. (Which is a good thing, considering my past kitchen disasters.)
More and more, I have to remember that Christmas is not about me. It’s not about what I can do, what I can make, or how organized I can be.
If our Christmas is to resemble the way that Christ came to this earth, then we need to take a step back. The way Jesus was born was humble. It wasn’t a spectacular show. It wasn’t a production. I want my Christmas to reflect that, so I can dwell on him this season. (Read the full post here; it’s really good!)
4. Give Gifts That Are Meaningful
When you plan ahead and make a list of who you are buying gifts for, it allows you to put forth more time and effort into the actual gifts. Instead of hastily throwing together a gift or hurriedly running to the store and getting some generic gifts, planning ahead allows you to consider what would really bless the recipient.
Take time to consider each person on your list individually. Think what would really be meaningful to them. Ask another friend or family member for suggestions if you’re having trouble coming up with them.
Some people find it helpful to keep a running list of gift ideas and to update this list as someone mentions a particular like or interest. My husband does this for me and he always ends up surprising me with a completely unexpected gift that is something I love–all because he wrote down the idea on his list months in advance.
5. Experience Joy in Giving
When we give gifts we can afford and that we’ve put effort and thought into, there’s so much joy in giving! We don’t have to worry about a credit card bill coming in January, we don’t have to feel guilty because we just threw something together at the last minute. We can just thoroughly enjoy giving–no strings or guilt attached!
How do you plan your gift-giving? Do you use a spreadsheet online? Do you use a printed gift planner? Or do you use another method? I’d love to hear what works for you!
Practical Application
1. Sometime in the next 24 hours, sit down with your Christmas budget and plan out your Christmas gift list. Start by jotting down all the names of those people whom you’d like to give gifts to and then compare it to your budget.
2. If need be, pare down the list and then set a specific budget amount for each person.
3. Brainstorm possible gift ideas (we’ll talk about this more tomorrow).
A Handmade Christmas: Handprint Christmas Wreath
Guest post by Nikki from Christian Mommy Blogger
This wreath is something I made as a child. My mother still has mine and hangs it each year for Christmas. It is simple, rustic and classic.
With a few simple materials, you can make this homemade wreath. With one decoration you will capture a snippet of your child’s past, add warmth to Christmas, and give those grandparents a beautiful homemade Christmas present.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fabric of your choice (Burlap, Muslin, or similar fabric in a remnant for the best price!)
- 3 paper grocery bags
- Clothes pins (or other clip to secure the fabric)
- Tempera Paint (Finger Paint) in red and green
- A wire hanger with white cardboard cover (you only need the cover)
- Yarn (you want it to be sturdy and rustic, like your fabric)
- Matte protective spray so the paint doesn’t fade (optional)
- Fabric Glue or Tape
- A child with cute chubby hands!
Here’s how to make it:
Step 1: Put one of the grocery bags on your ironed fabric. Trim the fabric to just a few inches wider than the paper bag on three of the sides and leave about 6 inches on the top (you will be folding it over in a few steps).
Step 2: Lay your fabric on the counter with the side you want visible facing down. Fold the fabric up onto the bag and secure with the clothes pins. You want it to be smooth but not too tight.
Step 3: Turn the bag over. Pour the green paint onto the second grocery bag. Spread it around and press your child’s hand in the paint and stamp a hand print on the fabric. Dip the child’s hand between each stamp so there is good paint coverage. Make sure to space them out well enough that you can see their handprints well (that is the whole point after all!). Set the “canvas” aside to dry before starting step 4.
Step 4: Pour red paint onto third grocery bag. You will only need a small amount. Dip your child’s thumb (if they are old enough they can clearly be on their own, my daughter is only two!) in the paint and place red thumbprints where ever you desire (I place mine between each of the gaps in the hands). Set aside to dry before moving on to step 5.
Step 5: Remove clothes pins from one side and replace them with either glue or tape. Repeat with the other side and the bottom.
Step 6: Take the extra fabric on the top and make it smooth. Thread the yarn through the cardboard cover. Place the cardboard cover at the top of the bag (see image below). Fold the fabric over the cover (the cover is now hidden) and secure it with tape or glue as in step 5. You can see in the image below that the glue shows through and that is okay.
Step 7: Decide how long you want the yarn. Knot it and move the yarn until the knot is hidden within the cover. Let it dry completely. Spray with matte protective spray (if desired). Let dry and give away or display proudly!
From personal experience, I can tell you that you will love looking at this for at least 30 years! If you leave room at the top (as I did) you can even put “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” or “Your Child’s Name” at the top in cute felt letters!
Nikki is a Christian work at home mommy to her two children and wife to her husband who serves in the Navy. She loves real food cooking, spending sweet time with the Lord, and blogging about how fun it is to tackle homemaking responsibilities and playtime with her precious daughters. You can find her blogging at ChristianMommyBlogger.
Two do-it-yourself gifts for little boys
Jenae from I Can Teach My Child shows you how to make a Car Mat Backpack.
Have you blogged about a do-it-yourself Christmas gift idea? Submit it here for possible publication in the next two weeks.
Do-It-Yourself: Homemade Foaming Peppermint Soap
The Humbled Homemaker shows you how to make Homemade Peppermint Foaming Soap.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Homemade Gingerbread Playdough + Playdough Mats
Looking for a creative gift to give to young children or a fun project to make with your children? How about homemade playdough?
SweetSugarbell.com has an easy recipe for homemade Gingerbread Playdough.
Plus, you could laminate some Gingerbread Playdough Mats for extra fun. (There are many other free playdough mats available online. Just do a quick Google search to pull up dozens you can print.)
Do-It-Yourself: Knitted t-shirt yarn trivet
A Happy Homemaker shows you how to make knitted t-shirt yarn trivets.
Toilet Paper Tube Christmas Wreath & Ornaments
Convert empty toilet paper tubes into this Toilet Paper Tube Christmas Wreath.
Or, make some Toilet Paper Tube Christmas Ornaments.
Shared Dec 5, 2011
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21 Days to a More Organized Christmas: Plan Ahead to Make Memories
21 Days to a More Organized Christmas: Plan Ahead to Make Memories
Have you ever gotten to the end of December and looked back and realized it all went by in such a blur that you spent very little time doing the activities and projects you had hoped to do? That’s been me many years. I’ll have great ambitions, but I never make a plan, so nothing happens. And before I know it, Christmas is over.
Christmas Card Popsicle Stick Puzzles (Excuse the peanut butter smeared on the table! :))
Growing up, Christmas was my favorite time of the year. It wasn’t the presents or food as much as it was the special activities–making cookies and taking them to the neighbors, making homemade gifts, opening the advent calendar each night, reading Christmas books together, listening to Christmas music, making Christmas cookies, and so many other things.
I want my children to look back on the Christmas season and have some of the same fond memories. But just wanting that to happen isn’t enough; I have to intentionally plan ahead to make those memories happen.
Button Christmas Tree Activity from the Christmas Busy Bag Box
With this in mind, at the end of November, we took some time as a family to think what activities we really wanted to do this Christmas. Each family member got to choose 3-4 activities and we typed them up into a Master List. Once we had the list made, Jesse and I sat down with our calendar and planned when we were going to do each activity.
Decorate a Snowman Project from the Christmas Busy Bag Box (Download a free printable template here.)
We spread the activities out over the course of December so we could enjoy them more. I’m guessing some things will come up and we might not get to every single activity, but having it all planned out ahead of time is definitely going to guarantee that we do a number of fun, meaningful, and memorable family activities this Christmas.
If you’re looking for some ideas of special activities to plan for Christmas, be sure to check out my post with 6 Fun and Inexpensive Christmas Activities for Kids and my post with Six Free Printables for Advent.
What special activities do you have planned for the Christmas season?
This Week’s Menu
Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
So, my ambitious plans to do a lot of freezer cooking last week pretty well fell flat on their face. I did make the scone mixes, but that was it. A number of unexpected things came up last week and I was just doing good to get dinner on the table each night.
So, I’m going to try again this week and see how much process I make. I guess that’s one advantage to starting early with my Christmas baking!
I’m planning to make one to two items every night while I’m cooking dinner each night. Hopefully, I’ll make it through my list by the end of the week. We’ll see!
Breakfasts
Granola bars
Toasted bagels, scrambled eggs
Steel cut oats with dried cranberries
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
Waffles, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls, scrambled eggs, fruit saladLunches
Lunch at Subway
PB&J, carrot sticks, apple slices
Annie’s macaroni & cheese, peas, pears
Black beans and rice, carrot sticks, pear slices
Tossed salad with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and dried cranberries
Leftovers x 2Snacks
Fruit/veggies
Cheese/crackers
Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes
Dinners
Baked fish, twice-baked potatoes, steamed broccoli
Hamburgers, tater tots, green beans, pear slices
Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust, fruit salad, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole, steamed veggies
Homemade Pizza in Less Than 30 Minutes, carrot sticks, pear slices
Dinner with extended familyFreezer Cooking
Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche with Brown Rice Crust
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Black Beans
Biscuit Dough for Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Whole-Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.