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Shared Dec 4, 2011 comment

21 Days to a More Organized Christmas: Creating & Sticking With a Christmas Budget

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 4, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

One of the key elements to enjoying a stress-free and organized Christmas is to plan a Christmas budget and stick with it. Here are four tips to help you:

1. Create a Budget

Yes, it’s kind of a no-brainer, but you can’t stick with your Christmas budget if you don’t have a budget in the first place. Take some time to look over your bank account and the money you have available, and the money you’ll have coming in over the next week or two (if any), and decide what is a realistic budget amount to set aside for Christmas.

If possible, only budget money you already have on hand, not money you are expecting to get in a paycheck soon. That way, you’re not banking on being able to spend money you don’t already have.

We typically start planning for Christmas spending halfway through the year. Since we use a cash envelope system, we just start socking away most of our gift cash for Christmas. In addition, we also save up our Swagbucks Amazon gift cards to use for Christmas presents. And I keep my eyes open for other ways to earn free gift cards or products that would be good for gifting.

By the time December rolls around, I usually have a nice stash of gift cash plus gift cards to use for gifts and this becomes our Christmas budget. By doing it this way, we don’t have to dip into any of our savings or other money to pay for Christmas–we just have to plan ahead and then look for deals to stretch that money as far as possible.

2. Make a Plan

After you get your Christmas budget created, sit down and make a list of everyone you need to buy Christmas gifts for. There’s a free printable Master Christmas Gift list here you can use to keep track of everyone you plan to buy for and what you’re planning to buy. If you prefer to keep a running total on a spreadsheet, you can download the Excel Christmas Budgeting Worksheet here to help you stay organized and stick with your budget.

3. Use Cash

If you’re at all tempted to go over your written Christmas budget, I highly recommend that you have a cash-only Christmas. Take the money you’ve allotted for your Christmas budget out of the bank in cash and then only use that money to pay for your Christmas gifts. This will force you to carefully evaluate each purchase to make sure it is the best use of your money and it will guarantee you don’t go over-budget.

Since many of the best deals are online, I suggest that you either use Paypal and refund the money to your bank account immediately from your cash envelope or take money from your cash envelopes and purchase gift cards for your online purchases. This is a bit more of a hassle, but it means you don’t have to worry about any staggering credit card bills come January!

4. Keep It Simple

Christmas should not be about impressing people with expensive gifts. If you’re going to give someone a gift, do it to bless them. Meaningful gifts don’t have to be extravagant and costly. Consider giving experience gifts or handmade gifts as opposed to high-dollar items. Sometimes, the most remembered gifts are those that took time and thought, not money.

photo by yvestown

What are your tips and tricks for sticking with your Christmas budget? I’d love to hear!

Shared Dec 3, 2011 comment

Free ebook: The Story of the Other Wise Man

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 3, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Download a free copy of The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke.

Please note that the price is currently $0.00, but that could change at any time. Be sure to check the price before checking out to verify that it is still free.

This ebook is specifically for Kindles, but you can go here to download a free application that enables you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.

Find more free ebooks here.

Thanks, Farewell Office!

Shared Dec 3, 2011 comment

Books Read This Week: EntreLeadership & Little Town on the Prairie

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 3, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

EntreLeadership — You all know how much I love Dave Ramsey, so it’s no surprise that I would love his new book, EntreLeadership. However, I wasn’t expecting to love it just as much as I have.

It’s packed–and I do mean packed–with tried-and-tried information, practical application, and fantastic inspiration. As a small business owner with a few employees and sub-contractors, I’ve gleaned so much from this book. In fact, I’ve only been able to read a chapter or less each day as there’s so much to think about and consider in each page. And I’m already ready to go back and re-read it!

If you are a small business owner, I’d highly, highly recommend this book. Dave can be a bit blunt and brash sometimes, but he’s got amazing wisdom and business experience to share.

Read-Aloud

Little Town on the Prairie — We’re nearing the end of the Little House series and I think the stories aren’t quite as exciting for young children, but so far, my kiddos are still loving this series and never want me to stop reading when I finish a chapter! I’m hoping we can finish the last two books in this series before the end of the year. We’ll see!

Currently reading: Kisses from Katie and Getting Things Done . You can see all of the books I’ve read in 2011 so far here. Read all of my book reviews here.

Have you read any good books recently?

(Note: The Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

Shared Dec 2, 2011 comment

When you feel like giving up…

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 2, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you’re a tired and overwhelmed mama today, go read my post on MomLife titled, When You Feel Like Giving Up.

One of my children is currently testing my patience to the max. The other day, it had been an especially trying day, and I was feeling ready to pull my hair out. I walked into my closet and cried out to the Lord in desperation:

“I can’t do this anymore. I’m so tired of dealing with the same issues and attitudes again and again. It seems all of my efforts aren’t going anywhere. I’m ready to give up, God.”

Read the full post on MomLife.

photo credit

Shared Dec 2, 2011 comment

A Handmade Christmas: Fingerprint Ornament

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 2, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post by Becca from The Gardner’s Dirt

Those ten little fingers that you counted so carefully as soon as they were born grow so fast! Create a one-of-a-kind handmade necklace or Christmas ornament that preserves the impression of those tiny fingerprints.

Materials you’ll need

air-dry clay
rolling pin
clay cutting tool or other sharp object
acrylic paint
clear acrylic spray (gloss or matte)
ribbon or jewelry wire

Instructions

Roll out your clay to about 1/4 inch thick.

Make imprints in the clay with those cute little fingers Be careful not to push all the way through the clay.
We stamped the initial of the child inside their fingerprint. Now I’ll be able to remember which fingerprint one belonged to who. Other stamps can be used to decorate as well. I loved my friend’s idea of stamping their name or message around the outside of the pendant
Using a clay cutting tool or other sharp object, like a pin or the end of a paper clip, cut out around the fingerprint in the shape of your choice. For this example, we chose a circle. When I made one with my four children, we did the impressions in a straight line and cut a skinny rectangle around it. If you are making it into a Christmas ornament, cookie cutters are an easy way to cut out your shape.
Make a small hole through your pendant using your sharp tool or coffee straw.
Let the clay dry completely.
Paint your pendant however you like! I filled in the stamped areas with one color, wiped off the excess, and let dry. Then taking a second color, I dipped my finger into the paint, dabbed off the excess, and softly wiped over the stamped area.
Allow paint to dry.
Spray entire pendant with a coat or two of clear acrylic spray and let dry. This gives it a nice, shiny finish.
Finally, add ribbon for hanging your Christmas ornament or string your pendant onto jewelry wire to make a necklace. This is where you could really add some flair if you wanted: beads, decorative wire, colorful stones! And, voila! A beautiful present full of meaning.

Becca G. is the mother of four very imaginative and energetic kiddos. Check out their creative adventures at The Gardner’s Dirt. Their favorite projects involve giving new life to old or reclaimed materials, especially t-shirts.

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Shared Dec 2, 2011 comment

Do-It-Yourself: Flavored Salted Caramels

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 2, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Kojo Designs has a guest post showing you how to make Flavored Salted Caramels.

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.

Shared Dec 1, 2011 comment

Re-purpose a reusable shopping bag into a pocket bib

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 1, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Homemade Ginger shows how to re-purpose a shopping bag into a pocket bib. I love it!

Shared Dec 1, 2011 comment

21 Days to a More Organized Christmas: Introduction

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 1, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It’s December 1! And that means that Christmas is exactly 25 days away.

I want to help you have a meaningful, memorable, relaxed Christmas this year. Truth be told, I want to have the same.

December is usually a laid back and quiet month for our family. However, with my book launch in January, I have more on my plate this December than I usually do–especially since this is my first book and this whole process is all brand-new to me! But, even with the extra responsibilities and learning curves that accompany the book launch, I really want to be able to savor and enjoy this season–not just rush through it feeling overwhelmed and behind.

So just like the 21 Days to a More Organized Life series, I’m writing this series for me. We’ll be talking about:

Organizing your Christmas list
Making and sticking with a Christmas budget
Freezer cooking for the holidays
Memorable family activities
Simple and inexpensive homemade gifts
Getting your home in order
Savoring the meaning of the season
…and much more.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey toward an organized, stress-free Christmas season! Who’s with me?

photo by yvestown

Shared Dec 1, 2011 comment

A Few Small, Consistent Changes Can Make Such a Difference

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 1, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I was honored to be interviewed by Gretchen Rubin author of The Happiness Project today. Here’s a snippet from her blog post:

What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier?
I usually have to drag myself to the treadmill in the mornings, but I never regret getting on it and running–even if it’s just for a mile. It gets my blood pumping, it helps to clear my head, and it makes me feel much more energetic and efficient the rest of the day.

Is there anything you find yourself doing repeatedly that gets in the way of your happiness?
I often get distracted, procrastinate, or choose to do what I want to do over what I should do (i.e. surfing the web versus writing an article that is due). Any time I do this, I end up feeling frustrated at myself for wasting time. And I usually end up stressed, too, because it results in me being behind schedule or late to an event.

Head on over to read the full article here and find out why I sometimes force myself to sing when I don’t feel like it and what I’ve learned about contentment that I didn’t know when I was 18 years old.

Shared Dec 1, 2011 comment

Homemade Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 1, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Megan shows you how to make homemade Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. Yum!

Make a Salted Caramel Mocha to go with it and you yourself Starbucks at home for about a fourth of the price–or less!

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Click here to download!

Shared Dec 1, 2011 comment

Do-It-Yourself: 3D Star Paper Wreath

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 1, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Little Birdie Secrets shows you how to make a 3D Star Paper Wreath.

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.

Shared Nov 30, 2011 comment

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life: How to Make Time for What’s Important

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 30, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Tonight we close out the 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life series. It’s been an eventful experience, to say the least. I knew I need to intentionally focus on developing discipline in my own life, but I had no idea how eye-opening and convicting it was going to be for me to spend three weeks blogging about it.

We Always Find Time for What is Important to Us

You see, for years, I’ve come up with excuses for so many deep-rooted bad habits in life. I’ve excused almost always being late and behind as the result of being busy and having so much on my plate. In reality, while I do have a lot on my plate, my lack of being on time and getting things done early is because I habitually procrastinate and don’t prioritize things well.

I don’t plan ahead like I should. I wait until the last minute. I do things that don’t really matter to avoid doing what is most important.

You would think I would know better, since I’m a huge advocate of goal-setting and budgeting when it comes to finances. But after I posted about doing the hardest things first, I realized that this was my main problem. I’m constantly avoiding what I really should do in favor of other “busy” work.

For example, it only takes me 15 minutes per day to keep up with the laundry and yet I’m always behind on it. However, I seem to find time for reading or blogging and eating. And if I looked back on each day, I can guarantee you that there was at least one (or five!) pockets of 15-minutes that I frittered away on something that really didn’t matter. So, in reality, it’s not that I don’t have time to do the laundry, it’s that I’m not making it the priority it should be.

Here are three things that have been tremendously helpful as I’ve been seeking to break my habit of procrastination and have better priorities in my day-to-day life:

1. Do It Now

Instead of spending all day feeling discouraged that I’ve not gotten to the laundry yet, I’ve been trying to just set the timer and get it done now. The same goes for so many other things. Rather than thinking: “I should call so-and-so” or “I need to order such-and-such”, just do it then. Most of the time, it only takes a few minutes (or less!) and then the task is no longer nagging you, taking brain space and energy. Best of all, it’s done!

2. Prioritize My To-Do List

I’m a huge list-maker, but I’ve been prioritizing each item on my to-do list in the last week. And then I’ve been doing my best to strictly adhere to it. I’ve noticed that not only am I getting a lot more done, but I’m getting the most important stuff done first. This means, that if I don’t get to everything on my list (and I pretty much never do in any given day!), I’ve at least tackled the most pressing stuff from the get-go.

3. Plan to Arrive Early

Instead of waiting until the very last possible minute, I’ve been trying to start getting ready to go at least 1.5 hours to 2 hours in advance. I’ll go ahead and get the necessary items laid out by the door, make sure I have everything I need in my purse, and get myself and the children ready early. I’ve yet to arrive any place more than a minute or two early, but we’ve not been more than a few minutes late to any event in the last week, so we are definitely making some headway! (Hmm, maybe I need to start planning to leave 3 hours in advance?!)

Where Do We Go From Here?

Our 21-Day series is over, but hopefully your journey towards more self-discipline is just beginning. I encourage you to go back and re-read through the posts, tackle any of the projects you didn’t get to, and keep challenging yourself to slowly develop habits.

I’ll be writing more on habits in 2012 as I’m planning to choose 12 habits I want to develop, one per month, and blog about my progress each month. In the mean time, I’m planning to finish Getting Things Done and also read The Now Habit in December.

Thanks, again, for joining me in this! Your accountability and cheerleading made such a huge difference for me!

What have you learned from this series? How has it made a difference in your life? I’d love to hear!

photo credit

Shared Nov 30, 2011 comment

Ask the Readers: Buying fabric and sewing supplies online?

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 30, 2011 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s question is from Tamara:

I love to sew dresses and many different items, because I can make them the way I want them and it can be less expensive than buying it in the store. Lately, though, I’ve been noticing the prices of fabrics have gone up.

Without a coupon, after the cost of the fabric, pattern, thread and whatever other notions are needed, it can cost as much if not more to make things at home. Are any places online to find high-quality fabric and sewing supplies at a good price? -Tamara

I don’t sew, but I do know you can save a lot of money by recycling tablecloths, bedsheets, and curtains into fabric for sewing projects. We also had a great guest post awhile back on 5 Ways to Save Money on Sewing Supplies.

Do you purchase fabric online? If so, what sites have you found to have the best deals?

Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.