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Nickelodeon Holiday Money Saving Tips Giveaway

November 26, 2008

This Giveaway is now Closed

You can win a $500 Walmart gift card on Mommy Brain Reports!!!

Yes, you heard read it correctly. $500. From November 26th through December 15th you can enter here to win a $500 Walmart Gift Card, courtesy of Nickelodeon! We want to know how you save money during the holidays!

This contest is going to require some work! There are 4 ways you can enter to win:

1. Leave me a comment stating your best money saving tips for the holiday season! If you entered any of my previous contests that asked the same thing, you may repost your same comments.

2. Turn your tips into a video! Show me what you’re doing this holiday season to save money! Upload it to YouTube, Photobucket, or Google Picasa, and leave me a link here! Be sure to mention Mommy Brain Reports in your video!

3. Blog about this giveaway and comment here with a link!

4. Tweet a money saving tip using the hashtag #nick and #11moms in your tweet! Then leave a comment with a link to your tweet!

Winner will be chosen at random at 12NOON PST Monday December 15th! Winner will be notified that afternoon, and will have 24 hours to reply! Winner will be announced on Mommy Brain Reports Wednesday December 17th.

For even more chances to win, check out all of the WalmartMoms sites!!!
Good luck!!!

578 thoughts on “Nickelodeon Holiday Money Saving Tips Giveaway”

  1. thanks to you and nickelodeon for this awesome giveaway.

    There are so many ways to save money for the holidays. My first is to start at the holidays…. for next year! all the clearance supplies/decorations. Then all year long i clearance shop and put the items away. When the next holiday season rolls around, I am not buying cards, paper, and a lot of gifts. I already have most of them tucked away in rubbermaid containers 😉

  2. I shop throughout the year for Christmas so that I can buy a little something for everyone but not kill myself money wise. I also buy inexpensive ornaments after Christmas to give as gifts for the following Christmas. That way I am saving money yet giving a fab gift to a teacher, neighbor or a friend!

  4. The big tip I have is, if you have the room, have a shelf or a clset just for gift..or make a box and start shopping the day after Christmas with the sales…now some stuff you cannot get but you can get things to make baskets for teachers, etc. I have a list of what events are going on too so I know so and so is getting married, they will need a present for wedding and can make a neat basket of baking and fun stuff. I will not buy junk- period but have bought and made a CHristmas basket of fun stuff for family going to the beach over the holidays using items I got off summer clearance- stuff they may have forgotten about or not bought yet. I use coupons and creativity and buy a pasta dinner- like a huge pasta bowl, pata, sauce, dried cheeses, and wine and loaf of Itailian bread mix and a few wine glasses for a couple that have basically everything for a little night out ( can also put a homemade bread in there instead of fresh so it lasts longer and put some fancy napkins and other seasonings instead of the glasses..
    I make family night packs with bowlsfor popcorn- sometimes painting the names on of each person and a month long or three month at blockbuster online..that and microwave popcorn and some koolaid or mixes make it a fun family night. Think ahead and save money. There are things and offers for free items or shipping only through the year- think about the holidays, and if you spread it out, you will not have to go into debt and you will have lots of fun. Homemade gifts are awesome, but sometimes some are just not talented – you could make homemade bronie mixes, etc, or you could just make a booklet of gift certificates..babysitting, call me and you have dinner made- give me 2 days advance, etc…laundry, housecleaning, gardening, you name it..raking the leaves..shoveling the snow…thinking ahead saving money..Hey how about walking the dog? Get creative! Use whatever you have and go from there!

  5. I would have to say that the best gifts the we give and receive are hand made. As well as the money we save and the great time spent with my girls. We enjoy shopping clearnce sales and second hand/thrift stores through out the year to find great treasuers and re-constuct them. We make wreath ornaments (gift tags) and picutre frames from cardboard, sticks, buttons, flowers, fabric etc. and put updated pictures of the family in them. We make garden stepping stones from scrap concrete and decorate them with tile, rocks, marbels and sometimes paint. I sew robes, pj\’s and blankets. Just to mention a few ways we save money. Our family and friends have grown to love our gifts and are upset if purchase gifts. Not to mention it\’s also great family time! Merry Christmas.

  6. My mom is a great cook so she usually ends up cooking many of our holiday meals. Since some of us are more challenged in the kitchen (me!) We can all save money AND guarantee a good dinner if we just contribute the ingredients she needs. (honestly, does anyone want to eat my food??) It would save her money and man would our dinner be good!

    Amys last blog post..SiteWarming Goody Bag!

  8. I belong to bookmooch.com, an online book trading website. I have mooched about 20 free books to give as gifts this holiday season. In return people have mooched about 20 free books (I ship out to them) for their holiday gifts.

  9. My number one money saving tip is make homemade gifts for people, as opposed to buying them. I can still give away some really nice things, but at a fraction of the cost!

  10. Great Contest! My hubby and I both work FT, so having the time, money and energy are important resources that we have to balance in order to keep our family that includes 5 kids happy and healthy. A typical Sunday afternoon in our house includes the whole family together in the kitchen, busily preparing the upcoming week’s “menu” of meals. A household favorite of ours is when we make a quadruple batch of a casserole,chili, or chowder. Casseroles,chilis,& chowders are nice, relatively easy dishes to prepare. On Sundays, after a family vote,we make four batches of a casserole, and a chowder or chili, and put the other three batches of each in the freezer. Then, the next time during the week when we need a quick main meal for the family, its so easy grab one of those batches and just heat it up in a snap! Its easy to change it up & add a little variety by adding a tossed side salad,fresh baked biscuits, etc.(this also makes it more eye appealing so the kids aren’t “staring” at the same old thing 4 days out of the week) Leftovers from that holiday turkey and ham are perfect (we have already planned a ham & scalloped potato casserole, corn chowder and turkey chili with our holiday leftovers) Doing this saves us alot of time & money & allows us to buy the ingredients in bulk, making each main dish cheaper than it would be ordinarily – and far cheaper & healthier than eating out or tossing a prepackaged meal in the microwave. Plus, this gives us great family time to socialize and work together, discussing & planning the recipe/menu,preparing the ingredients, cutting up veggies, etc. My kids really have an interest in helping and learning how to cook, too!Its been an all around success for us over 2 years now!

  11. We hit all the resale shops and Salvation Army to look for gifts. There are many new items for sale and they cost next to nothing. I was able to find my grandson a brand new winter coat for $5.00. I always tell everyone to at least check them out.

  12. This year I am making some of my favorite females body butters and salt and sugar scubs to save cost. I have saved jars and gotten rid of the labels. I also love twitter, deals.net and all the blogs for wonderful saving specials at all the stores!

    What a fantastic contest! thanks so much!

  14. To save money we use pictures we have taken of our son through out the year, and my son and I make them into ornaments, cards, decorate picture frames. It saves a ton of money and our family love the pictures! We have also made music cd’s of songs we know the recipient would love.

  15. To save money I shop at CVS & Walgreens. I will use beauty items like wrinkle cream, mascara, lipstick etc. as stocking stuffers for family and also combine items I got through ECB and the EasySaver program from free to create nice gift baskets.

  16. to save in the holidays, i like to bake homemade goods such a cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. i pack them up in reusable tupperware or cookie tins and then wrap them up in colorful pages pulled out from a magazine or even the sunday comic strips! it is so much fun to put it together, very frugal and the recipients love receiving something different, unique and made with love.

  17. My best money saving tip is to be honest with your kids and let them know the financial realities this year. I found that my kids understood the problems the economy is making for us, and they want us to cut back anyway. The holidays are about family, not about the number of presents you buy or the amount of money you spend. It’s a great lesson for them.

  18. I find that I am able to have more money for gifts if I don’t buy things I don’t need for myself. Instead of buying straws, I just drink right out of the glass. Instead of buying napkins, I just wash my hands and face.

  23. The way I shop is to hit all the clearance sales all year long that I find and to check the clearance isle at walmart every time I go there ( which is weekly) By the time the holidays come around I have 95% of my shopping done. I also hit the after Christmas sale on decorations so I have more things the following year to add or switch out with something else.

  24. Buy on sale and only go shopping with a list. I’ve explained to relatives that things are hard this and if someone really needs something we all put our names in a bag and pick a name. We all donate money and buy this for the person.

  25. The best advice I can give is to always make a list when grocery shopping, check coupons from the Sunday paper against sales in your local store. Shop at stores that offer double coupons and also use coupons.com because they often have free printable coupons you can use. I try to stay under $150 a week for a family of 7, which isn’t easy but if you are a savvy shopper it can be done. Buy generic too! It’s the same thing for a better price.

  26. First I keep a Christmas cash stash all year in an envelope–I put a little in each pay check. I also keep an updated list of people I am going to buy for and when I see or hear of something I think they will like it goes on the list. I research prices all year (a little at a time) and look for sales/special offers–so I end up buying things through the year if I think I am getting a good deal.

  28. Decide how much you can afford to spend and put that much cash in your wallet. Don’t use credit cards or write checks. It really forces you to think about each purchase carefully.

  30. My best tip for the holidays is to plan well ahead and try to buy throughout the year, while you can get items on sale or even clearance. I’m usually done with my holiday shopping by October, since I’ve purchased throughout the year.

  31. Decorate with nature – pinecone ornaments, reindeer made from twigs, and homemade wreaths to name just a few.

  32. I have a huge family, which includes 5 daughter in laws. All year long I collect up free samples of everything from pot holders to shampoo, perfumes and books. There are freebies all over the web and Walmart has several all the time. Then I make up baskets for them for Christmas. The girls just love getting their baskets since they never know what I’ve found over the year! Plus lots of these samples are really nice fragrances or hair care products that they couldn’t normally buy. When they get into them there is always much swapping , trading and bartering going on! Plus- its always fun to throw them a curve—like the newly wed who will get Luv samples this year! LOL
    Thanks to Nickelodeon and Walmart for sponsering this great giveaway!

  33. My best money saving tip is to buy in the off-season, when prices are dramatically reduced. For example, go shopping for next December at after-Christmas sales in January. The price cuts are so great you’ll save a fortune.

  37. We save $$ during the holidays by keeping it low key. Explaining the true meaning of Christmas and not letting the commercials drive my kids into a frenzy. We have 5 children so they pick names out of a hat and determine what gift or good deed they will perform for that person.
    We like to make homemade gifts and the kids enjoy that very much. It not only saves us money but they take pride in their gifts. This year we are making olive-oil herb bottles along with baked goods.

  38. I use my Microsoft works to print out a gift list and keep track of all my gifts on it. That way I know exactly how much I’ve spent and who gets what. It keeps me from forgetting what I’ve purchased and buying too much and everyone gets approximately the same amount spent on them. I have a large family and start early, so in in order to prevent overspending I have to keep accurate records ahead of time.

  40. My money saving tip is to make Christmas about family and togetherness and not about TOYS. My children get two gifts each that they want and then the money we save on Christmas we donate to a charity of their choice. This way they learn about giving and not just receiving on Christmas. Our children understand that they have a blessed life and that they need to help those less fortunate during the holidays. This makes for a less expensive Christmas and a learning experience on top of that. It also takes the stress out of Christmas and puts the focus back on family.

  41. My best money saving tip is to just wait until the after Christmas sales and stock up for the coming year. Almost everything in the local stores is on clearance then to make room for new merchandise but for the entire year’s needs you can stock up at the lowest prices and then avoid the crowds as the holidays or occasions come to pass. Works for me anyway.

  42. Every year I shop with my friends one day and my family another the day after Xmas. They get to pick what they want that they didn’t get, I get to pay so much less and each one is so much happier!

  43. We’re saving money for the holidays by minimizing things we buy and maximizing celebrations with family and friends. We’re having simple gatherings to make decorations, to decorate, to sing carols; we’re having a progressive tree viewing…we’re making memories, which is more than a pile of presents can do.

  44. We try to give what we have = the kid’s artwork, homemade jelly and canned goods, handmade cards and scrapbooks. We gave our friends from church a winter’s worth of firewood – we don’t burn with wood but own 27 acres of woodland. We also use cash only and shop sales.

  45. One, we’re making a couple of gifts.

    Another, I start for next year’s Christmas the day after Christmas.

  47. Throughout the year, look for good bargains whenever you are shopping and go ahead and buy gifts for the people on your list.

  48. I am always shopping for bargains. I really do most of my shopping online. Between the coupon codes listed on many different sites and cash back on sites such as live.com or mrrebates you save lots of money with the no hassle of shopping!

  49. I used to shop year-round and would pick up great items on sale that could be used as gifts. By the time Christmas came around, I’d only need to pick up a few last minute items. Shopping sales helps you save lots of money.

  50. Give hand-crafted gifts to loved ones. This saves money and says “I care enough about you to give you something I created myself.”

    This is especially good for children as it teaches thrift and discourages consumerism.

  51. Like many others, I shop after Christmas for next year for gifts as well as decorations and wrapping supplies. I make a gift list and shop sales for the wanted items.

  53. Freeze you credit cards in blocks of ice, leave them in the freezer and take only cash shopping. Seeing the green bills fly out of your wallet makes it much more real for you to see how much you’re spending and perhaps rethink your purchases!

  54. every month our local drug stores have free items with mail in rebates. I’ve been collecting all year to use as stocking-stuffers.

  55. I just think that the smartest way to save money around the holidays is to shop at home on your computer.Have a list and shop for the best price and only get items with free shipping.When I go to the store I tend to spend more because I see things and I buy them.

  57. If you’re really on a budget, let your family spend Christmas with the other side of the family and do your celebration some time afterward. Not only will you be able to take advantage of the great after-Christmas sale prices, you won’t get your credit card bills until a full month after the black Friday bills would be arriving.

  58. Like every year, we look for sales throughout the year and buy then. That puts no strain on any particular time of the year, and is a bit of fun throughout the year.

  60. If you have to shop at a mall, try to go mid-week. The crowds are much smaller, and you have a lot more time to compare prices between shops. If you have a phone with mobile internet, compare prices in the stores with those on-line while you are shopping.

  61. Buy regular floor mats for friends and family and using stencils and spray pain, paint their last names on their mats. This is a gift they will love but not cost a lot of money now that the economy is bad.

  62. A fun way to save money during the holidays is to do a cookie exchange with people. Also, make presents instead of buying…or do the "semi homemade" get something from the store like a basket and go from there–got a friend who loves to go to the spa? Make a spa basket. She’s a cook? Make a basket full of cooking stuff. Easy, not too expensive but still shows that you put some thought into it.

  63. The best money saving tip for the holiday season is simple: only give what you can make. I used to be able to crochet, so I would make people scarves…but now I’ve forgotten how. ;-( Nonetheless, as untalented as I am, I can make pumpkin bread in a little disposable foil tin (or banana bread) – people appreciate it and it’s easy to make. You can make homemade ice cream, or hats/scarves, or simple earrings…think of what you can do and make a few different gifts in different colors and/or flavors. Inexpensive, thoughtful, and simple – will save you money and keep you debt-free while allowing you to give everyone gifts.

  64. Holiday meals can be very expensive, so I save money on groceries (and diminish extra weight gain) by eating lightly for a day or two before. I make bean soup or vegetable soup with bread.

    oinkmoobaa (at) yahoo (.) com

  65. One way to save money during the holidays is to creste a budget and stick with it. That works for buying gifts, decorating, or cooking. Just make a plan and stick to it.

  66. I say watch the sale ads, check online for printable coupons and compare shop online. And plan your route so you don’t waste gas!

  68. I always go shopping on the day after Christmas, which here in Canada is called Boxing Day. I always purchase gift wrap, ribbons, tape, xmas stuffed animals, ornaments, decorations, tags etc and usually they are 75% off retail price! I’ve not bought full price peper etc. for years and years!

    This year, I have only spent $40 on Chrismtas gifts! I’m using various gift cards etc. that I’ve won and or gotten free during the year!!

    Coupons and freebies are a great way to save money as well!

    Thanks

  70. Put your christmas tree and your outdoor lighting for the holidays on a timer.
    I also get everything i need in 1 trip instead of making numerous trips to the store…
    good luck every one.

  71. Gifts from the heart are better than gifts from the wallet. For instance I’m giving my mother-in-law a scrapbook of pictures of her kids and grandkids on each page they are gonna write a letter to her. She’s gonna cry her eyes out.

  72. It is evident that I am not the only one that does this, but I shop throughout the year, concentrating on sales. For anyone/anything that I do not have the appropriate gift from that process, I generally purchase a gift card from a store that I know the person utilizes. That way I am certain that they will be able to get something they need or want, without my having to guess. It also allows them to buy necessities rather than luxuries if that is what is more needed by them at the time–this is especially true if the recipient is in any level of low funding, which is way too common right now.

  74. This year – to save money, we decided to make homemade ornaments to give as gifts. We purchased some very inexpensive glass balls from a discount store, along with some ribbon and potpourri. We soaked the balls in warm water to remove all the paint – after they dried, we filled them with the potpourri, and glued ribbon around the middle and used ribbon in place of hooks. These cheerful ornaments are a fun inexpensive family project to use at home, or give as gifts.

  76. I started using my credit card for groceries so I could build up my cash back. ( I pay the entire balance each month) and used my cash back to buy gifts for my family out of state.

  77. I went through all the rooms and found clothing and items that were still in very good condition but were no longer used of didn’t fit any more and sold them on EBAY, I now have more room and some extra cash and someone has something they need without have to buy something new. Recycle usable items

  78. The best thing that I do to save money during the holidays is to limit gift-giving. With my siblings, our gift to each other is that we don\’t get each other gifts – simply gifts for the kids that fall under a set price range.

  79. Purchase items from the dollar store and make up gift baskets. Make a craft basket for the kids with construction paper, crayons, markers, glue sticks, and scissors. Do a girl gift basket with nail polish, hair things, lip gloss, and bath items. Do a gift basket with kids books and a stuffed animal to go with it.

    Shilo Beedys last blog post..Chefdruck Musings Contest

  80. Wow! How wonderful is this! My best money saving tips for the holidays is to make a list and stick to it. You may run in to a store for a $5 item, but you also see a video or shirt that are $15 each. They gotcha!

  83. 1. I make my own ornaments and It is a great thing to do with your kids.

    2. I also shop for Christmas all year round.

  84. Other than my kids, I try to buy inexpensive gifts for people. I buy inexpensive wrapping paper, it is probably going to get thrown away anyway. I get a couple gifts one week, then a couple the next instead of buying them all at the same time.

  86. Adults in our family don’t exchange gifts. We only buy for the kids. We recycle Christmas cards by making them post cards after the first use. We keep gift wrapping to a minimum.

    I also like to sale shop all year long and I enter sweeps to win gifts also.

    The best Christmas was the year we won a truck full of Hot Wheels cars. Of course the truck was a great family gift. All of the boys in our family received a selection of Hot Wheels and we were still able to donate a couple of thousand dollars worth of toys to the Toys for Tots program. And that felt absolutely great.

  87. Plan ahead. Learn and refine a skill to make something that others need and admire. For instance one friend knits exquisite sweaters, scarves, afghans, shawls and mittens. She works on them all year. Family and friends look forward to her gifts.

    Thanks for the contest. Best wishes for happy holidays!

  88. Get a shopping group that finds the best deals. Then I shop at one store for all of the groups needs at that store and you shop for me and the rest of the group shop for the other stores. You take your cell phone and communicate with each other to get everything the group wants.

    No need to run over all the place and waste time. Together we can save a lots of money and time.

  89. My best money saving tip is to never buy things on credit. We start early in the year to buy gifts for the family getting the best possible deals so that by Christmas it is not a burden and we can relax and enjoy Christmas!!!
    cjnedrow@gmail.com

  90. Don’t wait until December to shop. I found my best deals yet on Nov 11th sales. Stores start early with their promotions.

  92. I shop alot at clearance sales throughout the year. I also get my kids to make alot of our decorations. I also start shopping for Thanksgiving and Christmas meal stuff ahead of time. And so that I don’t have to skimp on gifts or turning on my lights I buy alot of frozen meals for December (usually bought earlier in the fall at sales) and try to cut down on other expenses. No entertainment money is set aside for December, there are too many “free” lights and activities during this month. We also spend more time with the fireplace and candles going and less lights on in the house.

  94. Save money by starting early and jumping on sales as soon as they arise throughout the year. By the time Christmas comes, you’ll already be set!

  95. First day of shopping for Christmas 2009 begins the day after Christmas. We always begin that day and continue to be on the look out for greater reduced items throughout the year so when the holidays roll around again we can relax and have lots of fun with our family.

  96. Lat year I bought a bunch of boxes of Christmas cards on clearance for like 90% off!!!!!!! And they were at the Dollar store so they were cheap! My daughter used to work at a Walgreens and she would buy cologne sets on clearance so she’d have nice cheap gifts for next year and for birthdays. She also used her employee dicount to make them even lower!

  97. My holiday savings plan has several money-saving features:

    1. We have a large family so all the adults have agreed to only BUY presents for the kids. For the adults, each separate family makes a creative home decor gift with items unique to where we live (since we are spread all over the country- we do pinecone centerpieces, etc. for Colorado and my California sister does seashell wall hangings, etc.). Then we exchange with a different family each year.

    2. My son makes little scrapbooks with photos, drawings, etc. for his friends or family members-sort of a “year in review” and “my favorite times with you” gift.

    3. I enter a lot of giveaways for prizes that I think my friends, co-workers, in-laws, etc. would enjoy! (A Walmart gift card however, would be ALL mine!)

    Thanks!

  99. I compare the price of the item I want to different stores around here. Usually the PX on post (the PX is like a huge WalMart for us Military folks) has the lowest prices, plus no tax! So I shop around for a while & then make my decision on where to buy.
    jmaurer487(at)gmail(dot)com

  100. Well, I’m not going to lie. I love to bargain shop! It is very unlikely that I will buy something if is not on sale or can’t get it at a discounted price with a coupon. Also, even if I’m into fashion… I refuse to spend more than $15 on a shirt. However, I rather buy my clothes from yard sales or thrift stores since you can still buy name brand things just like new without the big price tag. 🙂

    lilacbutterfly [at] earthlink.net

  101. I really try to watch the clearance and sales. Otherwise I try to make gifts when possible. Also I watch the kids school book orders. You can usually get the books for a lot less than getting them from a store.

  102. I lay out all decorations the day before putting them up. The next day I devote to decorating and putting away all the containers. Then I clean!

  103. Check out online deals for holiday shopping. You can find wonderfully affordable gifts. Check out Etsy.com for great handmade items at wonderful prices. Give a unique and affordable gift that everyone will enjoy.

    Also, make handmade holiday decorations. It saves money, and the whole family can get involved and have fun with the project. Spruce up plain christmas bulbs with swarovski crystals. String popcorn. Shred shimmery paper instead of tinsel. Make ornaments out of salt dough and string them on the tree with ribbon. The ideas are endless!

    Thanks so much for this incredible prize!!

  104. Buy decorations, wrapping paper, ribbons, and tape after Christmas for next year. Start planning the meals early so I can watch for sales.
    Buy and make gifts throughout the year.

  106. I save all the DVDs,books and other prizes that I win during the year, I then give them as presents for Christmas.

  107. I check online ads to see who is selling what I want and for how much – then I go to Ebay and see if I can get it cheaper there – saves money and gas – and I can shop in my jammies

  109. This one is my favorite. You know those huge crowds of people that shop beginning on Black Friday and pretty much every day after …Well, I have learned that most of those great bargains are also available on the company’s website. This time of year, many of them offer free shipping. Plus, if you do a search for coupon codes and / or promotional codes, you will find that a huge number of retailers have hidden offers where you can receive additional discounts on top of these “doorbuster” savings without leaving the comfort and warmth of home. Some of these discount codes are pretty significant!

  110. Make a list of who you are buying for and how much you want to spend on each person and stick to that amount (or find some great bargains for less).

  112. I’d love to win this one! I start early, make lists & keep an eagle eye out for things I think my loved ones would like! I’m usually finished shopping before Thanksgiving.

  113. I make my own gift tags by recycling old christmas cards. Just cut out the pretties part of the card, punch a hole in a corner using a hole punch and string a thin peice of ribbon through it. Wahla, a tag!

  114. keep an eye out for sales and ads and shop at that time. go to places like: walmart, target, and big lots. you can really save alot and who knows, you might end up getting the majority of your list done.

  118. I shop all year long and store things in my closet for both Christmas and birthdays. Especially the day after Christmas.

  119. My biggest money saving tip is to know what you are looking for and know what the regular retail cost of that product is normally. Do not buy things you don’t need and never pay retail!

  120. Instead of stringing up lights outside and making the electricity bill go up, we string popcorn and peanuts in the shell on yarn and wrap that around the evergreen tree outside. The birds and squirrels love it and we get free entertainment! Thanks!

  122. My kids draw names with their friends so I only buy one gift per child’s group. We also do homemade candies to give out, everyone loves those.

  123. My wife is very crafty and she makes stuffed animals and custom clothing for our kids every Christmas.

    We also gave up buying a live tree every year in favor of an artificial one that I got on clearance. It looks remarkably real and after three years of use, It’ll be saving me money each year we use it.

  124. I always shop the after Christmas clearance for cards, lights, decorations, wrapping paper, whatever I will need for the next year.

  125. Make cookies, candies or breads to give as gifts. Homemade edible gifts are from the heart and much less expensive!

  126. My money saving tip is to search google or yahoo for coupon codes. I found a free shipping and 30% off your entire order for kohls. Now combine that with clearance prices and you have a merry christmas!

  131. one way that my family always saves money, is every year we draw names- each person buys one gift, and this assures that everyone gets a gift-

  132. just like we switch lightbulbs, switch your xmas lights to energy saving LED lights…or even solar powered outdoor lights.

  133. I have the kids make their own Christmas tree ornaments. It’s inexpensive, and more personal. We always make one for my Dad who passed away. It’s a fun holiday tradition!

  134. I always pick up some nice and inexpensive frames at the Dollar Store and give my boys’ school pictures as gifts to aunts, uncles and the grandparents.

  135. Save money and trees when sending holiday cards. At most photo card websites you can also get photocard postcards. They are cheaper to order and will cost less in postage since you will only need a postcard stamp. They will also save paper by eliminating the need for an envelope!

  137. only take cash or a pre paid card if that is all you have an won’t let your self get more or borrow you will have to stay in budget to get all you need to buy for

  139. Agree among family for a gift swap among the adults. Each person draws a name it responsible for buying just that one person a present. That way you don’t spend a fortune buying small stuff for everyone that they most likely don’t need or want, just one nice thoughtful gift. Of course this doesn’t extend to the kids, just the adults.

  140. I scour garage sales all summer long, looking for new items. Many are still in boxes of have price tags still in them. I can give an expensive gift for pennies. Christmas decorations abound at these sales. I can decorate each room for very little money and look elegant.

  141. The best way to save money is to put my whole check in the mail and go with out my wants and only gat things that we absolutely need like cleaning supplies instead of getting it at walmart go to family dollar and get there brands until after christmas

  142. I put the cash that I want to spend on each friend/family member into separate envelopes with their names on it. As I purchase gifts for that person, the money to pay comes from the envelope with their name on it, and the change goes back in. The item and amount spent is noted on the front with a running total spent.

  143. I tell my children no gifts. That saves us a ton of money! Instead, this year, we are going to adopt a family and spend the money we would use for ourselves to help out a family more in need than ours. (I’m just kidding about my kids getting nothing. They will get something, but we really are helping out another family this year!)

  144. This past year I started saving up all my money from doing online paid surveys and point opportunities etc and I’m using that money and the giftcards and THATS IT to pay for my daughter and sons Christmas presents! It may just be a dollar here or there, but it does add up!!

    Casey Hs last blog post..Thankie Thankie!

  145. Trying to avoid the "gift wrap trap?" Here are some great ideas for gift wrapping alternatives.

    * Scarves, handkerchiefs or bandannas.
    * Old posters and maps.
    * Pages from a child’s coloring book taped together (especially nice for relatives who would enjoy the artwork). Old sheet music
    * Old sheet music.
    * Newspapers (foreign newspapers are great).
    * Last year’s holiday paper (press with warm iron if wrinkled).
    * Wallpaper scraps.
    * Home-sewn cloth bags.
    * Fabric scraps.
    * Pictures or advertisements from magazines and catalogs.
    * Sunday comic pages.
    * A present in a present (for example, a hat in a matching scarf, jewelry in a wooden box, cookies in a reusable tin or cookie jar, barbecue grill utensils or picnic supplies in a tablecloth, kitchen gifts in towels or all-purpose cloths).
    * A plain box decorated with leftover glitter, paint, markers, etc.
    * A cake pan, basket or a wooden box.
    * Reusable decorative bags. Hollywood box
    * A “Hollywood box:” individually wrap or decorate the top and bottom of a box with a separate lid. Encourage the recipient to reuse the box.
    * Purchase wrapping paper made from recycled paper.

    also check out this website for more green saving ideas!!!

    http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/reduce/nowaste.cfm

    mamamy26@gmail.com

  148. We try to save money by giving folks gifts that they actually need so they can save money in their day to day routine, and we spend a lot of time playing board games over the holiday and enjoying each other rather than enjoying stuff we don\’t need. We are much more about the memories than the merchandise!

  149. I save gift bags and tissue paper and reuse, reuse, reuse! Those are spendy little items and noone really notices if you’ve regifted them!

    JLHalsted(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Jodys last blog post..Whirlwind

  150. My best tip is shopping for holiday decorations AFTER Christmas is over! In the past I have gotten expensive and gorgeous items for up to 80% off. I hit every big store early the day after that carries decorations (Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target, etc) and buy them up. I have reuseable crates downstairs and there they sit until after Thanksgiving. It’s all brand new and I save alot of money this way! I also do that with gifts by shopping year round! It doesn’t have to be bought during the Christmas rush to be a great gift!

  151. do not buy wrapping paper but recycle what ever you have-everything from calendar pages, brown paper bags ,magazines, even junk mail can be used.

  153. Give the gift of your services, time and talent instead of spending money. Everyone has a special talent or knack for something even if you don’t think so. Ask others what they think you are good at doing. For my mom this year I’m spending an afternoon helping her rearrange furniture, hang pictures, etc. in her new house. She hates “decorating” and I love it. So, I’ll do it for her and I will have spent no money but each of us will get a great gift. I’ll get to use my creative talents, she gets a decorated house, and we both get to create memories to last a lifetime. Another example, a few years ago when money was really tight my husband composed a song for me and played it on his trumpet. I was beautiful and made me cry. I still have his handwritten music sheet and framed it. Everytime I look at it I know he gave me the best gift ever. So use your talents and give them for your gifts. People will love you and the gift!

    Angie Hopkinss last blog post..Frugal but Nice Gift Idea

  154. I think it’s really important to set up a budget and realize how much you’re spending every week on little things such as coffee and snacks. Once that’s done then you need to set aside a specific amount of money for your fun stuff..be it your snacks/desserts or your fun outings (ie movies). I think that gives a good foundation for saving money and being conscious of where your money is going.

  159. We have converted to the LED lights. They may cost more at first, but they are more economical and energy preserving in the long run for the many Christmases to come.

  160. My best tip is that I look all year long,with a large family I hit the clearance aisles an yard sales,you would be surpised how much new stuff is put in yard sales,so I pack it back an then im not hit so hard in December,an I can stay at home an decorate or make some presents that also save money

  164. Make your own Christmas cards and decorations for your tree. FamilyFun.com has lots of great craft ideas, step by step ornament making directions, and templates. Get the kids involved. They’ll love showing off their crafty abilities.
    Have them gather up some pinecones and acorns and other things you can find out in nature and make your own wreath.
    Thanks for the great contest. Happy Holidays to you and yours
    gugel98atgmaildotcom

  165. use coupons and coupon codes, make handmade ornaments make handmade gifts and food treats, give the gift of yourself and time, offer to do the mundance chores for another family member

  166. If your family is large have the grown-ups draw names to buy for one adult each and have everyone buy for the kids. This will cut down on gift costs.

  168. Know your prices…sometimes sale prices are more than a regular price at a wholesale mart. I also look for change others have dropped….it adds up!!

  169. Instead of greeting cards you can send postcards. It costs much less and they are less expensive. You can even buy them blank and put your own special design on them for the holidays. Money-saving & unique.

  173. Thank you, WalMart, and Nickelodeon for this great giveaway.
    We have a big family. We draw names for Christmas. We each draw one name and buy that person a gift. We set a limit on spending. This saves us all a lot of money. We have a lot of fun and it’s easy on the pocketbook.

  174. The best tip I can give to have a frugal holiday is to plan ahead. I start shopping for the next Christmas the day after Christmas! I always find amazing deals that are even better than the before-Christmas sales. I keep a notebook and write down everything, including where I “hide” the gifts once they are bought. Throughout the year, when I come across an incredible deal, I buy it early, write it down, and store it at home. I’m usually done with shopping before the holiday season even comes around, and I have spread it out over the year so everything doesn’t hit at once!

    Joanna @ Grace in the Homes last blog post..Wanna Win a $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card?

  176. My money saving tip this year was to get together with all my “mommy friends” and their kids for a playdate instead of getting together to exchange gifts. Really, the kids don’t need more stuff and us mommies just enjoy spending time together!

  177. This year with money so tight my husband and I are not going to buy gifts for each other but I am going to cut a bunch of strips of paper and write the reasons I love him on the strips and then put them in an old cigar box so that he can pick out one each day and think of me. Gotta get creative this year! Best Wishes!

  178. Dust off the Sams Club, Costco or BJ’s membership card for this tip! One of my favorite kill two birds with one stone holiday tip is to spend one Sunday doing a large batch of baking to use as holiday gifts as well as desert for your own table for the holidays. Buying the items in bulk saves money! You can also find holiday gift bags at the .99 cents store that is not expensive to use to present your baked gifts. or if you prefer, shop flea markets for pretty baskets. Just make sure to get any allergy information from the folks you plan to make baked gifts for. While your best friend may not have an allergy, her husband or children might so just be sure to account for everyone if you are making baked goods for gifts.

  181. My best tip is to give gifts of time. We give things like baby sitting to friends that need a date night with their husband. Or a week of doing the dishes is a great gift for me… or the best one yet was when I got a weekend of no football!!

    Kim H.s last blog post..$500 Giveaway

  182. Keep plugged in decorations in mind when contemplating your electric bill. Unplug Christmas lights and decorations (and for that matter, other applicances, etc.) when not in use. So much unused and wasted energy continues to go through those plugs, even when they are in the ‘off’ position, which is a drain on the environment AND on your electricity bill. The US Dept of Energy says that not only do appliances continue to draw electricity while the products are turned off, but in the average home nearly 75% of all electricty used to power electronics is consumed by products that are switched off. Unplugging unused appliances will become a good and easy money-saving habit once you do it enough!

  183. This year I’m cutting back on postage by sending some of my Christmas cards via email. I also shop sales and clearance, and am getting better at using coupons. Our lights are on timers, so they go off at a set time. I’m also doing a lot of baking for my friends and neighbors. thanks for the contest! I could certainly stretch $500 a long way at Walmart.

    Paiges last blog post..Today’s the day

  185. Have a budget and a plan when it comes to Christmas gifts, and stick to it! That way there will be no unpleasant surprises when you receive your credit card bills. And better yet, don’t use credit cards!

  186. Tips: we shop all year for bargains taking advantage of sales. no impulse buying that way. i send away all year long for freebies or near freebies to stuff stockings with. it’s amazing what is free out there. we continually enter contests hoping for a win. but the best tip is teaching the kids it’s not all about the gifts. we visit those less fortunate and give our time to them. the smiles on their faces are worth it, it doesn’t cost money but the lessons learned and the benefits received make us all wealthy.

  187. Start early so you don’t have to buy everything at once, and only buy what you can afford to pay cash for. Don’t fall into the credit card trap.

  189. You could make everyone on your list bath salts, or a spa basket. Yes, even the guys like a nice mineral soak sometimes.

    I buy a big container or Epsom Salts from the pharmacy department then head over to crafts to find essential oils (its better to use essential oils than fragrance oils, because fragrance oils can cause irritation.) And find some cute glass jars to put them in. You could also use little cellophane bags, or however you want to package them.

    Mix 1 cup epsom salts with a tsp of baking soda (the stuff in the fridge) then add in about 5 drops of essential oils. Don’t be afraid to mix and match scents, but do make sure you smell it before you give it away. You can use regular food coloring to tint the salts if wanted.

    I sent home my mother, Aunt, and some friends with these one Christmas and they were all excited. The nice thing is I could customize the smells for each person.

    Rebeccas last blog post..Porn for New Moms?

  190. I do a lot of my shopping online, which saves on gas and crowds, but the shipping can be a large expense if you are not careful. The best thing I have found is with Amazon.com if you join their Amazon Prime, for $9.99 a month (which can be cancelled at any time, and they give a free 2 week trial) they will ship anything you order with 2 day shipping at no charge. A major site like Amazon has so many options for presents, that you can do the majority of your shopping and save big bucks on shipping.

  192. My favorite is to re-purpose and USE things you already have! From gift bags & bows, to the Sunday comics, to your own china and dishes versus buying paper, it’s amazing what we ALL already own that will help us avoid the need for more. We just have to have “eyes” to see…and maybe a bit of encouragement!

    Thanks for the offer…I’m blogging about this now!

  193. I try to check the online clearance sections of stores at times, to see if there is the same item, similar item, etc available there. Sometimes stores seem to clearance things they are also selling full price.

    KellyH

  194. Gift cards make the best presents and save a lot of money. You get to spend a predetermined amount and you don’t have to worry about taxes because they usually just come in flat amounts. Also, you don’t have to worry about wrapping paper and tape; you can just put it in a card (which most come with). Plus the person gets what they want.

  195. To save money during the holidays, I make cookie and candy trays. We make them for teachers, family and friends. Some people know to expect them and are overjoyed when they arrive.

  196. I use all the gift cards w/purchase/credit card points and cash back at this time of year to spend more "free" money than out of my budget. I also try to keep my eyes ope throught the year for bargins that would fit for Christmas – the gifts in the closet come out and then the remaining list gets made for what shopping I have to fill in.

  197. I can think of many money saving tips but I will limit them. The first is if you have children let them draw pictures and frame them in cheap frames. My little girl’s grandparents love receiving her “artwork”. It isn’t pages from a coloring book that we put in cheap frames but drawings on white paper or construction paper or matte board.
    Another money saving tip is related to food. I know I spend alot more during this time of year on food so I really keep my eyes open for coupons.
    Thanks for the opportunity.

  198. I receive free things and winnings during the year. I have a box that I put them in. That helps with stockings, 12 days and presents. I very rarely have to purchase anything and my family loves what they get!

  199. I am a shopper by nature. I only buy “super duper” deals. When I find a jackpot item…I buy it and stick it in the gift cabinet.
    I always have a special and personal gift when needed.

    I also stick to lists pretty well.

    Love to win this. It would come in very handy.

    Wandas last blog post..Hospitality Room

  200. I tweeted here : http://twitter.com/AmyKareena

    My money-saving tip is that: I changed all my light bulbs to the energy-saving ones and noticed our electric bill was about $20 less the next bill. We also were more careful to turn off lights when not in use and I unplugged some kitchen appliances that I dont use everyday.

    2 entries then, right? 🙂

  201. My best money saving tip is to watch the sale ads and clearance merchandise. Don’t buy things on the spur of the moment. Make a list and only purchase what is on the list. Impulse buying is the worst waste of money. Great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to win.

  202. Watch the CVS, Walgreens & Rite Aide deals for free products. Gather a bunch of them together as a gift basket. You can even theme it, like the Economy Sucks & put in necessary products. Put a bow on it & it is a nice & useful gift that cost you pennies.

    Ginnys last blog post..Book Review & Giveaway ~ Purry Logic

  205. So many people enjoy and appreciate homemade gifts. It could be food items or custom things like photo collages, custom t-shirts (easy to do on your computer printer) – just whatever your talent is that fits others. The prices for supplies is usually so much less than a ready made gift and more appreciated for the love that went into it.

    Robyns Online Worlds last blog post..Win a $10,000 Amazon.com Gift Card!

  208. The Dollar Store. Seriously. Stocking stuffers get so expensive and really add up. And if your house is anything like mine, the stocking stuffers get tossed aside for bigger and better presents. $10 fills a stocking at the Dollar store. Fuzzy slipper socks, lip gloss, stuffed animals, candy, hair things, markers, floam, silly putty etc…$1 each.

    For online shopping check http://www.retailmenot.com before you check out anywhere. Chances are there is a discount code to be found.

    ckbruce(at)rocketmail(dot)com

    Christians last blog post..So much to be thankful for.

  209. My kids and their friends love items that are personalized with their names, so I buy plain items and do the personalization myself. This works really well with items such as hairbrushes, journals, hair ribbons, signs for their room doors, and more. You can also use fabric paint to personalize kid-sized aprons, hats, and other items. Blank items that you decorate yourself cost far less!

    Robins last blog post..Holiday gift idea – frugal, personal, and crafty trifecta!

  210. I buy early — as in, in Sept. and Oct. I also use RetailMeNot.com and FreeShipping.org to cut down on costs of online shipping. Thanks for the contest!
    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

  213. My best holiday advice to remember that Christmas is really about spending time together as a family and building traditions — it is NOT about spending a lot of money or exchanging extravagent presents. Of course we buy presents for each other, and make presents as well, and I echo the advice of many others to shop throughout the year and watch for sales, but I am also trying to be more mindful of what is truly important. I prefer to focus on trying to spend more time with my kids, read each night and sing songs near the Christmas tree, play music together, and find a service project to do together to remind them that we are truly blessed and there are so many that have a lot less than we do, and that’s where our resources should go.

  216. The best way to save money during the holidays is to pare down your list of gift recipients and give handmade gifts whenever you can (it’s especially cute when the gift is from a child!)

  217. I know it sounds crazy, but haggle wherever you go, even food stores, you’d be surprise at what you can save by arguing for a better price.

  218. We save all the gift cards that we are given over the course of the year (unless they expire, of course)! Then, when we sit down to plan out our Christmas gift giving, we plan how to use the cards.

    This way, Christmas shopping doesn’t seem so crazy expensive – because it’s all “free money.” This might not be exactly what the giver of the gift card had in mind, but we get a) the thought of the gift and b) whatever leftovers are left after buying a Christmas present for someone else gets spent on stocking stuffers for us!

    lifeasamamas last blog post..Pictures of the bag…

  222. I have 7 grandchildren, so all of these money saving ideas are greatly appreciated! I have found that my granddaughters’ very favorite gifts are their Christmas stocking. I fill them with little things like the little lip gloss and nail polish bottles from Walmart (the ones under a dollar), little flavored lip things by chapstick or others, hair ties and headbands, little “jewelry” sets of the princesses or others, silly socks and other things. Walmart is the greatest for finding all of these little, inexpensive items. I wrap some and leave the colorful ones unwrapped. They spend all day emptying and refilling their stockings!
    Don’t forget to have a fun time with your shopping and don’t stress! Most little ones are happiest with the simplest things!

  223. With things being so tight money wise I have really stepped up my coupon use and for the first time ever went to the black friday sales where I was able to get all but one of the gifts I need and only spent 175.00. I normally would have spent close to 500.00 so a new tradition has started at our house.

  225. Almost every year I assemble photos and give them as gifts. I made a photo book this year and it turned out great! Also mugs, calendars and a serving tray work great with your photos. I do buy things on sale all throughout the year and try to make some home made items such as fleece hats, scarves, and jackets.

  226. I buy all of my gift wrap, decorations, and Christmas cards after the holiday season so I am ready for the next year. I also reuse gift bags.

  227. At our extended family holiday gathering, instead of buying a gift for each person attending, we each bring one $5 gift and play Bingo for them. It’s a lot of fun, and you can spice it up with your own silly rules.

  228. I make one or two kinds of treats in HUGE bulk amounts at the begining of the season that can be frozen. I take them out in small amounts and use them for when we have guests over, as gifts and when we need to take something to a holiday party. Saves time and money, buying in bulk and only once.

    Stacey Brills last blog post..Christmas/Wish Lists

  229. To save on Christmas wrapping paper, use old chip bags, cut them down the middle, wash with soap and water. Flip them inside out and use the shiny side as wrapping paper!

  230. I bake a lot of my holiday gifts. Right now is the perfect time to stock up on baking supplies – most grocery stores have great sales on them!! One of the grocery stores in my area currently has chocolate chips for 98 cents. They’re practically giving them away!!

    Tanyas last blog post..Black Friday

  231. I only buy gifts for the kids. Then, I make a donation to a worthy cause and let all the adults on my list know about it.

  232. Thanks for this great giveaway! My husband is out of work right now so this would be great!

    We’ve been trying to save money on Christmas gifts for family and friends this year because money is tight. We’ve been taking advantage of offers on Freecycle to find new or almost new gifts for people on our list. We’re being picky about what we take and making sure that we are giving gifts that everyone can use but it is saving us a lot of money and we have gotten some great gifts.

    Rachels last blog post..Thanksgiving and Everything Else

  235. Money saving tips for the holidays. I start my Christmas shopping the day after christmas for the next year. I am always watching for sales and doing what I can do help others. I also do my secret santa shopping during this time also. My kids don’t get alot because we get alot during the year.
    We teach our kids to give and so when there is a sale or a going out of buisness sale we head on over and think of people we love to help them out.
    We dont eat out alot during the Holidays and eat mostly soup and sandwiches. We Dont have TV so my kids dont want alot of stuff so that is a money saving tip. (dont have a TV)
    We have a library that has tons of Nick stuff to rent and we do. We are totally into the “The Avatar.” If I win the 500 alot of it will be going to my secret santa and my sil’s who dont have alot.
    I know this sounds cheesy but I do.
    I also make list and know who I have and what they like. Watch for SALES.
    Home made gifts are also awesome and I also offer my serivces for half off as a photographer. Ok so this is really long. So now Im not going to win because its long and doesnt make any sense. LOL K well if I win then YAY if not then I guess that is fine.

    Karla Southerns last blog post..Christmas Tag

  236. We record everything we purchase in a freeware program called “Ace Money.” It allows us to chart where our money is going and keep a handle on our finances. We’re less tempted to stop and purchase Starbucks when we know we’ll be evaluating that purchase a few days later.

  237. get things all year and stash them in a closet or storeroom. You can get all sorts of good, and new!, things on freecycle.com and garage sales. I have a stack of brand new things from freecycle that I have collected this year. Most of my shopping! All free.

  238. A good way that we can limit our funds on gifts for family and friends is we get out the calendar and we jot down a night that’s good for both of us.

    I invite them over for a yummy dinner and dessert.

    There are 5 in my house here so cooking for a couple extra mouths really isn’t much considering we usually have leftovers that I freeze for quick lunches or dinners.

    We not only get to save some money on gifts, but in the end it’s priceless because we get to spend some quality time with them.

    To us, that’s the gift that keeps on giving.

  239. We have a lesson with our boys on the true meaning of christmas and have them write a wish list of a few special things they want. Kids become too overindulged and forget the real meaning of the holidays.

  240. Tip for saving a $ a day: We use “Brown Paper Packaging tied up with String” for our holiday wrapping. I buy the postal shipping paper instead of holiday wrapping paper and then decorate them with an assortment of items… Pine Cones, holly greens, Holiday stickers, even hand drawn notes! We’ve been doing this for about five years now and I think it’s so much more fun than regular wrapping paper. Very personalized and MUCH less expensive. It’ll save more than a dollar!

  243. I do a lot more checking of sales and ads to make sure I don’t go over our budget. We have used newspaper and brown paper bags to wrap presents for years. I also bake a lot from scratch.

    Val Bs last blog post..That’s How I Roll

  244. I make it a game of setting a budgeted amount for each person before I start brainstorming about gifts. This keeps me from spending based on an idea that might be a sure win, but is really too expensive and it gets the creative juices flowing. I find it to be a challenge to do something thoughtful and stay under budget!

  245. I have started making homemade gifts for Christmas. I bake cookies and make homemade candies and put them in gift boxes from the dollar store. I also will give paintings and drawings as gifts. People appreciate the effort of a gift you have made yourself.

  246. What a BIG BLESSING this would be….On Social Security….
    Well, we use a combination of related methods. Here are some of things we do:

    * Subscribe to blogs/newsletters (like yours) that explain how to use coupons, match them and how to get things for free (ex: last week I got lotion, shampoo, earbuds,razors and more- for free!) I then make theme based gift baskets for those on my list and for the local sharing and caring.

    * Once ya know what the best deals are and where they are- GO TO WAL MART and Price match…. It works- saves, time, gas and money…

    * Print love coupons- specific to each recipient- ex: parents of kids= free night of babysitting, elderly parents= # of hours of helping with things around the house- kids= trip to the park or library or game time.

    * Shop the thrift stores and find out their sale schedule- then use it. (for example last week we got VCR tapes (good condition) for 20 cents each…. Great gifts- some were still in their original wrapper….)

    * Use Ebates, Mr Rebates and cash back codes groups…. These saved us big this last weekend when rebates were doubled and a bonus for signing up was offered….

    * Use local for sale and freecycle groups- works great!

    * Start early and store it till Christmas and Birthdays…
    Lastly- but far from least, Pray and ask for guidance and help…
    May your holidays be blessed
    Karo

  247. Price comparisons on the internet are a boon to getting the best deal. Also if you find something on a website you like, you can google the website you’re shopping on and “coupon”, and chances are you can find dozens of money saving coupons to the website you’ve already found the best deal for your gift on.

  248. For the christmas season we like to save on the wrapping things. We save and shred junk mail, newpaper ads, newspaper, old wrapping paper, brown grocery bags, they make great filler for the reused gift bags we have, or the ones we buy from the dollar store.
    For anything we want to wrap, we use brown paper bags, which we get free from our grocery. Or I use a coupon to a craft store and buy a large roll of brown craft paper. You can personalize it by stamping it or letting the kids go crazy with coloring supplies.
    It\’s so easy to save money on these things and people love the creative wrapping jobs.

  249. We save money by giving photo gifts. You can often find GREAT deals, especially for new customers, on photo websites. For example, I purchased the free Oprah photo book from snapfish and I’m VERY happy with it. My mother in law is SURE to cry when she sees pictures of her three year old grandson in a photo story book. I also took advantage of Vista Prints free photo calendar for my mom – for an uploading fee of $4.95 – great deal. A few websites to check out are vistaprint.com, snapfish.com, shutterfly.com, kodakgallery.com, walgreens.com…just to get started. I know Walmart had a free photo book a few weeks ago too. The key is to check often for the new promotions and offers to new customers – they make GREAT, meaningful gifts for a low low price. Just make sure to allow for processing and shipping time when ordering. I haven’t found a gift a grandparent loves better!! And I get a bargain at the same time… 🙂

  250. Recently I gave my 2 young grandsons an inexpensive clipboard,a coloring book,a pencil box containing crayons,scissors,and a protractor. I also gave them a small snap box just big enough for a new deck of cards and a pencil case with colored pencils in it. The little 5 year old confided to his Dad that this was the best present I had ever given them. I would guess the cost to be around $10.00 as most all of it if not all was on sale.

  251. I love to pick up an ornament for each of my siblings’ families-a relatively inexpensive gift but it lets them know I’m thinking of them, and they can remember it each year!

  253. Wait 24 hours before you buy anything. The time will get you to think about whether you really need it

  254. My best tips for the holidays are probably not all that original, but they help stretch our $$’s. First, we only give the kids 3 gifts. And this year I read an extra twist to the three gift idea…and I liked it. (I do not know the source, I read so much) Something they want, something they need (perhaps the proverbial socks and underwear), and something to nourish the soul (book, devotional, family game to encourage relationships).

    Also, use thrift stores, craigs list, freecycle, ebay and other bargain sites to find really good deals on what would be an otherwise expensive gift. Last year, I bought several gifts on e-bay for less than half of their retail value. (E-bay tip~ Use e-snipe or something similar. Your Welcome.)

    For extended family (I have four siblings, two of whom have four kids), we have given the whole family a gift. One year we gave board games one year we gave everyone a jar of our own recipe homemade peppermint hot cocoa. It varies according to our budget. We have also given a gift to a charity in the families name.

    My twitter handle is chocolatejunky..I tweeted about this too!

  255. Instead of our usual gift exchanges with my sisters and their families, we are having a second hand gift exchange. All gifts must be from a garage sale, consignment store, or a hand me down. This is definitely saving us money and I am excited to see everyones great finds on Christmas morning.

  256. My best money saving tip is to look at every purchase for our household as a need or a want. Food – I need it and buy it. A DVD – I only wanted it so it went back on the shelf. The electric bill – I need electricity. The cable bill – I don’t need cable to survive so it got cancelled. You can really get back to basics and save a lot of money with this mindset.

  257. I am baking our open house/christmas party/great aunt/etc gifts this year. I am making Rocky Road Granola Clusters from safeway.com. Can’t wait!

  259. According to the US Department of Energy, if all conventional incandescent Christmas lights in the country were replaced with LED lights this season, annual energy savings would total two billion kilowatt-hours—enough energy to power nearly 200,000 homes for an entire year.

  260. My very best money-saving tip for the holidays is simple: Buy anything you can the week after Christmas, when it’s up to 90 percent off–not only decorations for your own home but also wrapping items and gifts for others–to use for next Christmas. You may have a little less to choose from, but the amount of money you can save is amazing!

    Thanks to you and Nickelodeon for such a great contest, and Happy Holidays to all!

    cherise420[at]yahoo[dot]com

  261. My money saving tip is for gifts for teachers and friends. I always try and find cute containers or bags on clearance throughout the year. Then I find items to fill up the containers. I try to use a theme on each gift, such as Pasta Night (pasta, sauce, breadsticks) or Warm and Cozy (hot chocolate, marshmallows, cookies). These make for inexpensive yet heart-felt gifts!

  262. I unplug all of the things that are not getting used during the day. I only plug them in to use them and then unplug again! except for the items that need to be plugged in at all times. It all adds up.

  263. I shop all year round, starting right after Christmas hitting every clearance I can find thoughout the year. I have 4 kids to buy for so this makes it alot easier. and you can pretty much figure out what they want thoughout the year so its store in my gift closet

  264. My tips are:
    Buy gift wrapping supplies after the holidays when they are on clearance.
    Use promotional codes for free shipping and percent off purchase when you shop online.
    Cash in MyPoints points for giftcards.

  265. Make your own wrapping paper and gift bags. Make your own ornaments. Make your own gifts. All of these things kids really love to do and you or the person you are giving something to will get a keepsake to have forever.

  268. I purchased all my gifts and decorations throughout the year when I found items on sale or clearance, and when combined with coupons I spent nearly $0.

  269. I use coupons at CVS along with their sales and Extrabucks program in order to save cash on HBA and pharmacy items. Most times the things we need end up being free, but it takes work and planning. Then I can use the cash I saved to get Christmas gifts or other things my family needs without needing extra money in our budget.

  270. My best holiday money saving tip is to use reward programs from your credit card company to pay for presents. Every 2 years we cash in our reward points and it’s usually enough to pay for the majority of our gifts. This year we got $600 in Amazon and Target gift cards. It’s a good thing too as money is super tight this year. Just make sure to not pay late and pay your bill in full each month or it isn’t really free money.

  271. We buy minimal for the kids at christmas in order to save for the after christmas clearance sales, which is usually 75% off what we would have paid just a few weeks before.

  272. To save money this year my family isn’t doing gifts, we’re having a giant potluck dinner. Think Thanksgiving x10! And we’ll have lots of tupperware so everyone can share and take lots of food home.

  273. couponing,double couponing are great ways to save moneyas there are coupons on almost everything you might buy.

  274. My best money saving tip for the Holidays…
    I open up a seperate savings acct throughout the year and then use the money I saved as well as the interest for gifts…no last minute trying to scramble for money. 🙂

  275. The best money saving tip is to join Ebates.com. It’s completely free. The site lists stores and percentages of cash back the store gives and if you buy an item through the ebates site you get a percentage back from your purchase. The check can be mailed by snail mail or via paypal. You must have a certain amount and there are four pay periods per calendar year. The site also lists coupons for individual retailers. As a bonus, ebates offers five dollars for each new referral that makes purchase through their site. It’s a good way to get cash back after the holidays on purchases one had to make anyways.

  278. My tip is write down what you need before you go to the store and use coupons search online for them that way you won’t overspend.

  279. Coupons….and MORE Coupons…Then I try to match them up with local sales flyers to maximize my savings. It really does help!

  280. I shop throught the year and hide stuff. I also like the enter local sweeps and contests and put my winnings aside to use as gifts. Being a single mother in school ive learned how to stretch things and make the best of them

  281. I try to do creative and thoughtful gifts that don’t require much money. It’s fun trying to come up with gift ideas. A good example is giving of my time to someone who may need a sitter while they run errands or have a date night!

  282. Normally how I save money through the holidays is when all the sales hit. That’s when I can really save money and clip coupons when I can!
    This year is way different so if I had to go by what I’m doing this year…It would be not being able to do much but little things for my kids.
    Handmade things…And for everyone in my family.
    You just do the best you can to survive 🙂

    Krissys last blog post..Have a Giveaway you’d like us to mention??

  283. Make a list in January of gifts and then shop sales/clearances throughout the year. This also gives you plenty of time to craft those charming handmade gifts, too! Just keep notes of what you’ve purchased or made and where it’s stashed (don’t ask how I know!) Merry Christmas!

  284. I start shopping for christmas, mother’s day, father’s day, birthdays, etc the day AFTER christmas. I truly shop year round to get good bargains for everyone. I also enter giveaways and keep the items that I do not use immediately stored away for future use. I donate extra items for charity and toys for tots over the holidays.

  285. I found some lovely scented candles on sale this summer and bought a dozen. I’ll add them to a box of fudge and cookies and our friends/ family will have a personalized and inexpensive gift.

  288. I rebate all year long for totally free products like the ones you can get at CVS and Walgreens. Then I make up gift baskets with the toiletries, makeup, food etc. either spa basket, men’s baskets food baskets. Buy either fhot chocolate in the large size like at Costco or Sam’s and fill used jelly jars and decorate with last years ribbons and bows.

  289. Collect pretty dishes,cups,etc. and fill with homeade candy,cookies,or cake and you have a nice present at the last minute.

  290. Decide to have a gift-free Christmas with extended family: just do a White Elephant gift exchange instead (so you only have to buy one present, or even re-gift!), and have fun playing games together or watching a Christmas movie.

  291. To be honest, enter contests. Most of us are already addicted to the internet – I spend a chunk of my spare time online, talking to my boyfriend. So I enter contests that interest me or might interest my friends. I mean, I won a gift certificate to buy shoes, so I offered it to my friend who loves dress shoes but can’t afford them.

    That and baking cookies in bulk always works in a pinch, as you can freeze dough or finished cookies!

  292. I put cash into an envelope every paycheck for our Christmas fund. But I don’t horde it until December. I take it with me all the time and when I see a great gift at a great price, I use the cash on hand. I do very little shopping for gifts in December and get to enjoy the holidays with a lot less stress.

    Thanks! HotMommy
    sthomas76(at)auburnalum(dot)org

    HotMommys last blog post..Admission

  293. I shop online during sales. Then I go through a portal such as ebates to get cash back. Then I look for discountor free shipping coupons online.

  294. Thank you for giving an opportunity to enter such an awesome giveaway. I am just drooling over the keyboard thinking of all the things that I can buy for $500. Also, want to thank Walmart and Nickolodeon.My best money saving tips for the holiday are as follows:
    1)Make handmade gifts (baking cookies,cards,photo albums,scrapbooks)
    2)Recycle old gifts (reusing old gift bags,wrapping paper and even cards.Ofcourse only the ones that are in good condition.)
    3)Look/Search in your home or collection if you have any gifts that you haven’t used. These items can be re-gifted to different people that actually might it and be the proud owners of it.
    4)Set a budget for people on you list of gift giving.

    syeda_lubabah@hotmail.com

  295. We use an artificial tree — I can’t stand the thought of killing a beautiful tree year after year plus it save us a lot of money over our lifetime. We also use LED lights which save an awesome amount of energy/money.

  298. Such great ideas have already been posted. One thing I have done is to give “family” presents instead of individual gifts; for example a puzzle for the whole family to work on, a game the family can play together, an “ice cream set” along with a half-gallon of ice cream (Ok you thrifty shoppers, I found the cutest set at a garage sale!)Think of what might work that would include the whole family.

  299. This August (or was it Sept) I found a pear tree that had been abandoned. I harvested it three times and made batches of pear jelly. It only cost me for the jars the first round and pectin (which was on clearance for $0.10) Now that’s the only jelly my 4 yo wants on her PBJ. Hopefully I’ll still have some leftover for gifts!

  300. I think the best advice is to use what you have.

    There are so many different things that are used and even thrown away in our homes every day that could be turned into special gifts. For example, clean an empty aluminum can, punch holes in the pattern of a star on it, paint it, and put in a candle.

    You can turn ordinary objects into many wonderul things. This can also be used for holiday decorating. Have empty boxes? Wrap them up pretty and use them as decorations on your front porch. My sister has even used tomato cages to make fun, abstract Christmas tree decorations in her yard using the cage, a pot, ribbon, and garland.

    So, look around your home with an open mind. Think outside the box and let your creativity flow.

  301. Exchange decorations with family members from year to year to give your home a fresh look during the holidays! This way you aren’t out much money to decorate!

  303. One thing I do to save money during the holidays is to take advantage of online shopping. I save gas, time, and actually quite a bit of money. By shopping online through eBates, I am able to comparison shop, use online coupons, and receive cash back by using eBates. During the holidays most sites offer free shipping too! Can’t beat that!

  304. Drawing names is the best way to go to save. The adults draw names and the kids draw names. For dinner everyone brings a covered dish and it takes alot of pressure off the worries of getting in debt over the Holidays.One year we made gifts for each other it was surpriseing to see how much talent everyone had in the family.

  305. do a google search for “coupons off” – lots of sites have coupons for percentages off or free shipping that won’t be listed on the site itself – check out several different sites.

  306. I would look around and see what gift cards I had and use them or trade them for ones I could give to someone. You could also buy something with the cards you have and buy gifts for others. Just try to use up what you have and still get wonderful presents to give.

  307. Instead of buying wrapping paper, I like to use all of my daughters drawings on my copy paper to wrap gifts. Grandmas especially love this, and this is a great way to recycle her “artwork”.

  308. I’ve been trying to think of different interesting and witty tips to put on each of these contests. I realize I’m completely shameless in my desire to win one of these giftcards. However, I am also really grateful for all of these contests. In reading the comments of others I have learned a lot I didn’t know and now have a lot of money saving tips I want to try this Christmas and for Christmases in the future. One tip I have that I am actually doing this year is making my own ornaments. My twins are at an age when glass ornaments are a bad idea so I’ve been making my own with the help of my kids. It’s been fun!

    Sharlas last blog post..

  313. I start saving and buying early! Like after this Christmas I will start buying for next year. If I have extra cash during the year, I buy a few different gift cards to give at Christmas time. Also, I save change all year, I normally have a couple hundred by the end of the year, that helps ALOT!

  314. HOMEMADE ornaments for Christmas – turn anything your child makes into an ornament for the grandparents. Everyone will be thrilled – the child will be proud! You can put a school picture on the back too.

    CPA Moms last blog post..Flirting With Forty

  316. My money saving tip is to not exchange gifts with my wife. Instead, we’re going to roll up that gift into a trip to BlogHer. I’d call this money saving because she wanted to go anyway and this way we don’t buy chochkis for each other that will go unused two months down the line.

    TechyDads last blog post..Of Wandering Toddlers and Harnesses

  317. One way to decorate for the holidays on a budget is to have a swap with a friend. You’ll both feel like you have some new stuff without spending a dime!

  318. I decided this year to make my gifts in order to save some money. My fingers are crossed that everyone is ok with it!

  320. Save money on decorations by buying them after the holidays when they are up to 90% off! Also check sites like dealtaker, slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com for great deals all year long!

  323. We’re making everything homemade this year including our gifts and decorations. With 4 children, shopping lists can get pretty long so we’ve decided to buy each child only one store bought item and the rest will be homemade.

  324. Turn old happy meal toys, especially figurines, into ornaments by screwing a tiny eye hook to the top & tying some ribbon through the eye to let it hang. We did this when we had a bunch of Disney characters from old happy meals. The kids still love them, years later! Email the family newsletter or Christmas card-save on stamps & cost of printing/making the cards. Cut snowflakes out of paper, laminate them, & hang them on the tree or decorate the windows with them.

  325. Give your time instead of things this year!! Whatever you do well offer that as a service to others…you have seen the “coupon books” that children do…adults can do them as well!! Offer babysitting service, housecleaning, haircuts, fresh baked loaf of bread…you get the picture!! No money, just time–really which one would you prefer!!

  328. I save all year by having a set amount automatically deducted from our checking account. I cannot touch this account without paying a penalty and in Nov the money is transferred into another account attached to my checking account so it is easy to transfer the money whenever I buy something.

  331. I rarely buy a gift without using some sort of coupon or coupon code. I’ve saved between 40 and 50% on every gift I’ve purchased so far this year.

  332. Make a big crock pot of soup 2 or 3 days a week with dried peas, cup of brown rice, cut up carrots, water, 3 cubes chicken boullion, mushrooms, other vegetables and any leftover protein you may have in the fridge like chicken (or use a can of chicken). Let it simmer all day and have some when you are hungry (helps you lose weight).

  333. As a family we try to do many Christmassy things together throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. Simple things like taking an evening drive to appreciate the lighted houses or cookies, cuddles and Christmas story time in front of the blinking tree. If you´re feeling adventurous you could even have a family slumber party around the Christmas tree. (Parents can slip out and come back in the morning and the kids don´t even notice, trust me.)
    We also try to do some things with our children to emphasize that it´s a season for giving and sharing and let them experience the joy that comes from caring for others, such as, letting the kids choose some toys they may have out grown and donating them to Goodwill. Our kids enjoy singing so we´ve taught them two or three carols with simple motions and taken them to sing for old folks in our neighborhood, giving hugs, smiles and cookies. That way it´s more about celebrating the Christmas season and not just one big long build up to Christmas day and lots and lots of presents.

    laikilu@yahoo.com

  334. You can make your holiday cards yourself, on your computer/printer. Or add a special touch and have your kids help out and have creative cards.

  335. I try to find most of my gifts throughout the year by watching for great sales and clearance items. You would be surprised by how much can accumulate! Thanks!

  336. My #1 money saving tip is shopping at discounted stores throughout the year for Christmas gifts. By Christmas we are through and can relax and enjoy the holiday with family.

  337. Don’t use credit cards. Pay more than the minmum. On your mortage start paying a 12th on the principal each month. After 12 months will be same as 13.

  340. We’ve always done lots of baking and crafting – and especially this year when everyone is feeling crunched! My kids and I decided to give our relatives gifts that will give them memories, skills or time together: cookie mixes in a jar, all those blogger foodie gifts, and craft “kits” we put together ourselves – embroidery, knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, etc. Cheap to put together and builds relationships – the real goal!

  342. At the holidays, we all want to give to those that need it most – but often that conflicts with the already tight budget for our own family gifts, etc.

    This year my boys and I (my husband is currently deployed) are saving money by eating soup. I have made a number of different kinds of soup that usually provide up to three meals for us. We usually eat it the night I make it and then I freeze the other portions (I even used leftover Thanksgiving turkey for one of them!) So, whenever I pull out a soup for dinner we put $5 in a jar to save for a Charity of our choice. My kids are making the connection of ’sacrificing’ in order to bless others…

    And in the meantime, I have learned some really great soup recipes! =)

    amandas last blog post..God Bless America!

  347. I collected all the change that was in my car ash trays and cup holders, the bottom of purses and jacket pockets and took it to my bank where they have one of those change machines – it was over a hundred dollars (well over that). So now I do that regularly and immediately deposit the “find” into my account… talk about found money!

    hellokittiemama at gmail dot com

    hellokittiemama/MTs last blog post..So is it really gluten free? Hidden Offenders

  348. If a someone has an interest in a particular subject, you can download free articles, ebooks, podcasts, videos, etc. on that subject and give them as a gift in print or CD/DVD format.

    The printed items could be bound in an inexpensive binder or report cover or a coil binding from an office supply store. My library lets me copy 200 pages a month for free and I hear a lot of libraries have a similar service.

    I am doing this for someone who is interested in starting a business as a life coach. I’ve also collected paper airplane designs and compiled them into a booklet as a gift.

    Deborah Allinder Lees last blog post..A Few Money Saving Christmas Tips and a Contest

  349. For neighbor and teacher gifts the last couple of years we have canned homemade pie filling for them to use when they want. Last year was peach…this year blueberry. They go over very well and it is nice having the gifts done earlier in the year. All we need is a ribbon and a homemade card and we are good to go.

  350. If you live near a college, you might be able to find a discarded tree, wreath, and/or other decorations in mid-December after the students have finished their exams and left for home. Another way to recycle is to make edible decorations from foods such as kale and apples.

    If you aren’t able to get a recycled tree you might want to wait until very shortly before Christmas and negotiate for price discounts on perishable decorations such as a tree.

  351. My holiday savings tip is to create a gifting plan. Include names of EVERYONE you plan to send gifts to and those who are "cards only". Chart gift ideas or the recipients interest if you don’t have an immediate gift in mind, and a specific dollar budget for each person. Start your shopping or crafting early. I like to make homemade gifts but don’t want the "homey" look so I’ve been researching ideas for months and now I’m ready for a great holiday giving season.

  352. I save money in the holiday season by hand-making gifts that I think the person could really use. For example, my sister and brother in law say their new home gets really cold in the evening, so I made them each new fleece throws. This way, the gift is really special AND it is easy on the wallet.

  354. I start buying gifts after christmas and continue all year long. I also keep a list of what I have purchased, so that I don’t forget about it. In the fall as the holiday deals start to come out, I finish up my list with whatever bargains I can pull together!

  356. We put our holiday lights on a timer so that they don’t get left on longer than necessary.

    We also shop year round from clearance racks.

  357. My money saving holiday tip is to give baked goods. ALSO, I grocery shop for all the supplies at Aldi and save a ton of money. This is great for neighbors, teachers, and even relatives… that you want to give something but spend little money.

  359. Making a family and friends cookbook. I did this about four years ago and it was a BIG hit and only ended up costing about 20.00 per book…not bad folks !!
    I called or emailed family members and our closiest friends. Told them I was making a cookbook, wanted thier best recipes…two or three each person. I gave them a deadline for the recipes to be turned in and then I got busy making the books…myself. I typed each recipe, put a related food picture on each page, printed the pages, put them in sleeve covers and put the pages into a 3-ring binder with a beautiful coverpage. These were the best gift I ever gave…everyone loved them, and it’s something that will be in the family forever !!

    Thank you so very much for a lovely contest ~ Merry Christmas !
    tholix at pineland dot net

  362. regift, use brown paper bags for wrap and trim with whatever youmight have , like all the free stickers that come in the mail, crayons, paint, old buttons, yarn etc.

  363. To save money this year… You really need to shop around. Always check prices of where you shop online if they have an online website. Many times online prices are cheaper than those at the store directly. Also, use Google, Yahoo, etc to do searches for the item you are looking to buy… it will bring up many results usually giving you multiple sites to find the cheapest price. Of course, I’m willing to bet, Walmart will be the best choice generally!

  364. My family draws names and puts a $50 limit on gifts that way we don’t go broke during the holidays. Everyone still buys for the children but it saves a lot of money anyway.

    Amandas last blog post..Herbed Focaccia

  365. The thing I do for Christmas to save money is that I have a budget and I stick to it. I say I am only spending this amount on each person (the same amount for everyone!) and that is that. Sometimes it means I have to get creative…but I’m not spending fifty on someone and then 10 on someone else. Most likely I’m spending 10 on everyone! LOL

    Brees last blog post..BIG Giveaway!!!

  366. Sign up for email lists at all your regular stores. Everyone has big sales coming. I have a super pricey baby boutique nearby that is having a 50% off sale. I got a pair of See Kai Run shoes for $15. I never would have paid the regular price for those.

  367. Don’t buy “disposable” plates for holiday parties and meals. They are flimsy anyways. Use your regular plates, even fi you have to use mismatched sets. Doing the dishes can be a way of spending more time with your family! I have wonderful memories of doing dishes with my grandma that I treasure.

  371. This year we are trying something different. My siblings draw eachothers names for gifts. With all of the spouses we decided to combine them. That way my husband and I just have to buy one gift (same with my other married siblings) it really helps cut costs. Also the way we stick to things around here is a strict budget and I shop all year round. I find a great deal on a toy I pick it up and put it away in one spot (that way I don’t over buy either).
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Happy day.

  372. I have five daughters, and we realised early on that 25 gifts would be FAR too many to buy, if each of them were to buy a gift for each of their sisters!

    Every year they draw names, and it has become a grand tradition. They all go shopping on one day, together, and buy their gifts with a limit of about $5. They sneak around stores and hide and make jokes about not having been in an area of the store or bought certain things. Not only is it cheaper — it’s more fun.

    Jens last blog post..Giveaways

  374. our local grocery has a sale every other week that is expired foods. fill up a banana box full of shelf groceries for only $7. last week i got a box full of chocolates (dove, giridelli(sp), etc) great for gifts.

  375. When I find an item I want I check online for the lowest price and which store is offering it and also if they have any other discounts to apply toward the item.

  378. shop sales, look for items with rebates, use coupons,and credit cards with perks. above all make a budget and stick with it

  380. Money is extremely tight for our family this year and my mother is 1800 miles away and on disability due to a horrible back injury.

    In order to save money on gifts for her whole family and grand children she’s been making candles and selling them. The family is getting her candles and the cash that she makes is going for gifts for the small kids. It’s sort of emotional for me and I wish I could help her more. I think a 500 dollar gift card to Walmart would help her out so much this holiday season.

    This card would go to my mother and not for my household. I hope you accept my entry.

  383. Provoke altercations with colleagues, friends, business associates and lifelong friends around T-giving. Wait until January at the earliest to reconcile. Voila – no holiday presents necessary!

  384. To save money during the holidays, a few select friends and I agree to ‘celebrate’ Christmas during another random month throughout the year. Think, Christmas in July, only pick your own month! This way we still have fun picking and receiving gifts later on, but that’s one less on our list to stress about right now!

  385. This is going to save me a bundle this holiday. My sisters and I all have children around the same age and they all want video game systems. But my daughter wants a wii and my son wants a ps3. Since they are expensive and I can\’t afford both we decided that each sister would purchase a different system (wii, ps3, and xbox) and we will rotate them every month or so. That way all the kids are happy and they won’t get bored as easily either. And we all save tons of money!

  386. Sign up for your local Freecycle group. You can start by going to http://www.freecycle.org/ and typing in your town and state. There are at least 3 in my area. When you join you can view messages from members giving away free items and also wanting free items. I have gotten an almost brand new stand mixer from a Freecycle member and my brother has gotten a leather couch and hot tub. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or so I’ve heard 🙂 So, what one person might think is junk might be new or almost new and could make a great gift for someone on your holiday list.

    Wendy at Shopping Gemss last blog post..Blog Giveaways for the Week of 12/8/08

  387. I like to shop after the holidays for toys that I need for birthdays throughout the next year. It saves alot of money. After the holidays alot of big stores have so much inventory the clearance it off for up to 75% off! Why pay $40 for legos in May when I can get them for $10 after Christmas and save them

    Craftymamaof4s last blog post..Toys r Us Hot Holiday Toy Giveaway

  388. It probably sounds a little dreary, but we\’re saving money by simply not buying Christmas gifts this year except for our 3 yr old daughter. We always have grand Christmases and it is my favorite time of the year to spoil everyone, but frankly we agree that we have everything we need – a roof over our heads, a new baby on the way, friends, family, and jobs, at least for now. We are perfectly content going without gifts and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.

  389. Sign up for Brad’s Deals email alerts. They will email you daily with the best deals to be found on line. Some of these deals are so good they are only available for a short time – even just a day – so the email alerts are perfect. He does all the shopping around for you!!

    Thank you for this great giveaway

  391. Saving money during the holidays isn’t too difficult for me. I always use coupons when shopping. We don’t use our heater, and instead just burn wood in the fireplace. I always recycle gift bags and bows. And I start my Christmas shopping for the next year on December 26th!

  392. I shop for gifts throughout the year – I get better prices and the cost is spread out rather than all within a month or so. I also find that there is less pressure that way and I find better and more meaningful gifts.

  393. I plan our holiday meals and baking well in advance so I can purchase the non-perishables with coupons and sales. Baking sweets to give as gifts costs much less this way and means I can send extra to out of town family and spend more on postage!

  394. my best holiday money saving tip is to gift crafted or baked goods as they tend to show more love and cost alot less!

  395. I buy little things all year long. Mostly things to go in my kids’ stockings, because filling them can really add up if you do it all at once.

    My sisters and I also rotate family giving, so each year we only give to one family, not every family.

    Terrific giveaway. Thanks!

    Hollys last blog post..O Christmas Tree..

  398. I love to shop all of the after christmas sales. I stock up on all the great deals and put everything away in storage. It is so fun getting everything out the next year, becuase you forget what you have bought after a year. It is really fun when you look at all of your great gifts saying “I can’t believe I only paid $$$$ for this.

  400. This year we splurged again and bought a Christmas tree, not a success in my mission towards frugality. However, when we arrived at the tree lot I noticed a sign above a stack of boughs that said "Free." My favorite! So, I have Christmas boughs decorating our house for free. The tip? Check your local Christmas tree lot for free boughs.

  401. Having the whole family get together and make ornaments and other decorations for the tree and to set around is one thing, and also buying the stuff on sale the day after Thanksgiving and also right after Christmas!

    Jennifers last blog post..100 things

  406. Our holiday saving tip is, “Get back to basics.” We are eliminating exchanging gifts with people outside our circle — or should I say, dot — of friends and relatives. We have “trimmed” our holiday decorating budget as well — less lights equals less electricity. We are also spiritually getting back to basics by remembering what Christmas really means.
    Thanks for the opp and happy holidays.

    Beckies last blog post..Recessionistas’ BFF: TJ Maxx and Marshalls

  409. My favorite holiday saving tip is coupons and homemade gifts. Think about it, many people are happy with HomeMade Gifts… These days many people are just grateful to get a gift. Also, coupons are wonderful. They save you money and you can find coupons for about anything. I have seen some for toys even. I’d rather use a coupon and get a couple dollars off then pay those extra dollars.

    Thanks for this contest!

  411. My favorite tip is to make sure I hook up all of my electronics to a power center, which I am able to regulate power with.

  413. My favorite holiday money-saving tip would be to stock the freezer up BEFORE the rush and bustle of the season with freezer meals. Not only does it save heaps of money, but it also helps to keep some of those holiday pounds away!

    What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to enter!

    Melanie
    truthav1611 a t yahoo dot com

    Melanies last blog post..Enter to Win Moo-lah – Lots of Giveaways!

  414. 1. save your giftbags
    2. look for coupons or coupon codes if you shop online
    3. shop for gifts right after christmas because things are like 75% off usually

  415. I’VE BEEN RIDING MY BIKE FOR SHORT TRIPS & WALKING MY LITTLE GIRL TO THE BUS STOP TO SAVE GAS MONEY TO BUY EXTRA GIFTS…

  416. My best holiday tip is to wait after Black Friday and shop for all your toys online. I saved so much money also because many things were 50% off. So far I have bought all the gifts online and have received most of the them already. I didn’t have to fight the crowds, wait on line or deal with carrying all the packages. I’ve been doing this for over 5 years and I love it. Occasionally I’ll go to the mall to get one or two items and to look at all the holiday decorations.

    Lisas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Xmas Style

  417. I use mypoints.com to make all my online purchases so that in the end I can apply my points towards a gift card for another present. 🙂

  418. recycle everything "holiday" that I can – for instance, after Xmas presents have been unwrapped I take the untorn and unwrinkled parts of the wrapping paper to use again for smaller gifts next year!

  419. Garage sales and rummage sales always have lots of Christmas decorations and wrapping paper in the off season. Sometimes they’re so glad to see it go in August that they’ll give it to you for free.

  420. My tip is what were doing this year instead of buying everyone on our list a expensive gifts.

    Have a family get together/present party instead of buying each individual gifts. Each adult person will spend $10 on 2 gifts one $5 gift suitable for a child and one $5 gift suitable for an adult. Following the family dinner we will all play games and let everyone reach into the special Santa sack (one adult one child) and pull out their gift. 🙂

    This will be saving all the family money this year plus I think it will help in putting family sharing back into the Holiday. We will enjoy a good meal good company and lots of fun all for a little price. 🙂

    🙂 Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! 🙂

  422. I know others have said it too, but my tip is to make homemade, personalized gifts for people instead of buying packaged items. I’m making and decorating fondant wrapped cakes for family this year (a new skill I picked up).

  424. Gifts from the heart are better than gifts from the wallet. For instance I’m giving my mother-in-law a scrapbook of pictures of her kids and grandkids on each page they are gonna write a letter to her. She’s gonna cry her eyes out.

  425. We are converting old family slides that no one has seen in years to DVD format for all of my family. My dad passed away 3 yrs. ago and this will be very sentimental yet inexpensive!

  426. I buy most of my gifts after Christmas is over, and I get some great deals, and than I store them in a closet until next year.

  427. This may be too late for this Christmas, but I shop throughout the year. I got a great game for my SIL for $4. I got a CD for $3. Right after Christmas, I get the decorations for next year.

  428. I shop online. When I am ready to check out, I search for online coupon codes in a search engine. I usually get free shipping additional $ off

  429. Shop after Christmas for clearance items and save them for the following year. I did this last year and it has saved me money and time that I would have used shopping.

  430. I make homemade calendars for the moms. They love seeing pictures of the grandkids all year long and I use up the scrapbooking stuff I have collected during the year so it doesn’t cost extra money. Then at the end of the year they can be put in a scrapbook. My pictures are chronological on the calendar from the previous year.

    Emily Albrechts last blog post..Another giveaway.

  432. Use water bottle rather than buying bottled water. Reuse plastic bags. Use natural light from the windows rather than turning on all the lights in your house during the day. Thanks for the giveaway!

  434. I think Dollar stores are wonderful for stocking Stuffers.Christmas wrapping paper too!!
    Some of them even have great candles for people on your list like neighbors and mailman:)
    I try to find as much as possible that they have available that is not made in China!!

  436. wow. to save money, i bake cookies and cakes for my family and friends. even though it is not as expensive as i want them to be, they really like it appreciate it. thanks

  437. we have that food for the holiday meals can be a real budget buster, so we buy store brand food items or shop at a store like Aldi’s or Sav-a-lot

  438. Buy kids a couple of good quality tee shirts and some fabric markers and help them design their own tees. The gift doubles as both a craft activity and clothing.

  439. I decorate the trees with items I have on hand. In the kitchen the tree has antique kitchen utensils and cookie cutters. In the “man” room I put tools, Pez containers (my son is a collector) and sports related items, balls, helmets, etc.
    Have fun and use your imagination!
    Merry Christmas!

  440. First use cash that way you dont pick up extra stuff, 2nd check online sales prior and 3rd make lists and use them

  442. WE have decided to have the lights off during gatherings and dinners. We are going candles this year. I can’t wait to see how it changes the mood.

  443. Our family has a “secret Santa” exchange where all of the adults are given another family members name and a budget of $75. This way, we’re not overwhelmed with purchasing useless cheap gifts for 15 people, but instead, can focus our budget on purchasing a wonderful gift for one member.

  444. I make a gift list, set a budget for each person and stick to it. It’s a fun challenge to see how much I can come under budget with a little bit of research and creativity.

  445. I’m a huge online shopper! I can cost compare from the comfort of my home, and then watch for deals! I have been able to provide a decent Christmas for my kids this year just by shopping online.

  446. Buy what you can on sale throughout the year and stash the gifts back til Christmas. You know that you’ve done what you can and won’t fret over it! But, most importantly, remember what the true spirit of Christmas is all about and the joy will stay with you always!

  450. I use shopping comparison sites and use the sites that offer free shipping. It ends up saving me alot!

  454. I try to buy all of our gifts using cash. It helps me stick to a budget, and I don’t end up with a shocking credit card bill in January.

  457. i buy a lot of my gifts on ebay you can find gifts pretty cheap and you dont even need to leave the house 🙂

  458. Set a budget and spend it in cash when shopping locally. When spending with a credit card, log the cost into your check book to curb overspending.

  460. I shop at thrift stores, consignment shops, and local businesses to get unique, personalized and less expensive gifts for the people on my list. Sometimes I get brand new items for free using a local trade website or using a site similar to freecycle.

  462. Enter blog contests. It’s one of the best ways to save money this holiday season. I’ve won some giveaways this year and have used my prizes as Christmas gifts. It’s really helped out my budget this year.

  463. Since my husband and I are just students we have been learning a lot about going green and saving money. We read that even when appliances are turned off but still plugged into the outlet they still use energy and run the meeter. We have taken out all the appliances we are not using and turned down the heater just a few degrees at night and have changed out bills from $197 and $98 to $98 and $18. A good way to save while celebrating the holidays.

    Courtneys last blog post..Holidays

  465. I save money and make my own gifts. it might be a collage, a mixed media piece, note cards etc. I think people enjoy knowing I made something especially for them, a one of a kind item.

  466. We only fire up the outdoor Christmas lights on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day until midnight; same for New Year’s Eve / Day. Also, we use only cash for purchasing gifts (one per family member) and set a limit on same, $ 100.

  470. To save money this holiday season, I bought virtually every one of my presents online from two sources: 1) Amazon using my Prime account which meant no tax, no shipping, and fast delivery; and 2) Etsy where I can find beautiful and unique handmade gifts at affordable prices.

  472. If you’re a little strapped for cash to buy holiday gifts, but want to give at least something, consider making a small donation to charities such as March of Dimes. You can donate as little as $1 in someone’s name and it will help that charity tremendously. You can also printout a receipt that shows the gift recipient’s name and the name of the charity (the amount will not show). This a beautiful, priceless gift that will make you and the gift recipient feel good. It really embodies the holiday spirit of giving.

    Gails last blog post..Win a $500 Gift Card to WalMart!

  473. I tend to always use coupons that come in the mail. Since buying our new home we have received many coupons for Office Max, Victoria Secrets, Goody’s, and numerous more. I also look and compare the Sunday ads for the best deal. Price compare and also to save , I do price match at the stores that offer that. Even though the price of gas is going down, not much else is. I also ask the different stores if the offer a military or AAA discount. Any little bit helps when counting penny’s!

  474. My best money-saving tip is to gather up all your clothing and toys in excellent condition (and which are no longer being used) and sell them on craigslist or a similar site around the end of November. This funds most of our Christmas each year!

  476. get a pre paid charge card or take cash not your charge cards an or check book and take a list of people you need to get for and delete them from the list when there gift is gotten. tis help full to knot ideas for all and know your limit per gift

  479. I go to Walmart after the holidays and wait for the 90% markdowns and shop for the next year!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

  481. My holiday tip is:

    I save up my coins all year long, then in December, I go to Coinstar and buy a bunch of giftcards. It is so easy to do and it doesn’t seem like you’re spending much. The coins really do add up and whatever I have saved up is how much I spend on Christmas gifts!

  482. my tip for saving money is reusing gift bags and wrapping paper and stock up at the end of one year for next when everythign is on clearance

  483. One money saving tip that really helped me this year was to start buying presents for people in July and just buy a few presents each month. By spacing it out and looking for things on sale it wasn’t a blast to our checking account in December. Also we choose names for our big family gatherings!! I could sure use this card to start saving in January!
    Thanks, Brenda

  486. Instead of wrapping presents endlessly at this time of year, throughout the year I purchase inexpensive woven baskets with handles.

    Each person receives their gift(s) nestled in inexpensive tissue paper, carefully folded over the gift.

    Have received many thank you notes commenting on how the baskets will be reused.

  491. My best way to save money is to have a written budget (or at least an outline). I track my expenses a few times a year. WOW, you find out how much money you waste on going out to eat, soda, etc. When I set aside the "cash" that I’m allowed to spend for each category (ie. eating out, entertainment, groceries) I can keep on track and make my money work harder for me.

  492. The absolute best way to prepare for the holiday season is to shop for next year this year! Hit the after Christmas sales, especially in a tight economy. After the holidays, stores are going to be left with a lot of merchandise they have to get rid of! You can buy the bulk of next year’s gifts right after Christmas. Sure there will be some new things that come out, but you can leave a cushion in your budget for any absolute must-haves. Plus, it isn’t always wise to get the “new hot item” the first year out. Many of them have undocumented errors that get worked out for the next edition,plus the new technology always lowers the price!!!

    sherri419 at gmail dot com

  494. I buy a big turkey even though there is only four of us, since all the rest of our family lives 1200 miles away. I make extras so that I can freeze the leftovers. When the money gets tight during the up coming couple of months I pull out the frozen leftovers and have a couple of meals. That saves money and helps with getting us through the long months so we are a one income family. We have also traded our big huge fresh cut Christmas tree for a small fiber obtic tree which saves on electricty by using no lights.
    Thank you for a chance to win and give those I love a much happier holiday season.

    Happy Holidays….

    camper223[at]live[dot]com

  496. I give my youngest son toys from my oldest (they are 5 years apart). Hand me downs are great! Why buy a shape sorter or tool set when you have a perfectly great one stored in the basement?

    jill jacobss last blog post..Elf Yourself!

  498. When shopping for expensive gifts, keep an eye on the sales papers. One week it may be on sale and then you won’t see it on sale again. During the whole year open a christmas acount and save money throughout the year. You’ll have more to spend.

  499. Buy from stores that price match other’s ads such as walmart, best buy, and sears. just take in the ad from the other stores and these 3 will match the price. Sears will even give you 10% of the difference. Saves me time and money by not having to go so many places to shop.

    Angie Hopkinss last blog post..CVS Poll

  501. I price comparison shop…with sales papers. Most stores honor the lowest price.
    I also pick up sale items on nice gifts throughout the year.
    Then I have them to pull out at special times.

    Wandas last blog post..Christmas Party

  502. As hard as it is, I try to think Christmas all year. Any clearance rack I see, I browse if it is good time management that day. You never know what you might see or find that would be perfect for a special one in your life. Stockpile and be frugal even at Christmas.

  503. Wow! What a wonderful giveaway.
    My money saving idea that I use all year long is homemade food gifts. Our friends and neighbors just love them. We usually find baskets or fancy containers at yard sales and thrift shops.(clean them up, paint or add ribbon, etc. for decoration- which I buy throughout the year as clearance so we always have it on hand), than we make gift jars (cake mix, soup mix, cookie mix, drink mix, etc.) decorate the jar with a little ribbon and tag. (we use coupons and sales to buy beforehand ingredients that are needed)Add a little tissue to basket or container and place the food jars in basket with a homemade card.Or if you have a single jar you want to give as a gift you can buy white lunch bags and decorate them and put the gift jar in bag.It’s personal and edible!

  506. I think it’s best to compile a mental or written inventory of what you already own that may be re-gifted, before hitting the stores for new things. (I have friends out-of-state who don’t know I already owned something for three years or more, before deciding they can have it for themselves!) It saves money to invest time and thought into any purchase, especially now for the holidays when the shopping list grows and grows! Thanks for the entry and happy holidays!

  507. I send postcards for my christmas cards to save on money. Also, I check amazon’s deals of the day and find lots of great deals on gifts for family and friends!
    Thanks!!!

  508. We put aside money each month during the year, then limit holiday spending to the amount we’ve saved to avoid additional year-end expenses. We also give only one gift per family for our relatives, instead of one gift per person. Popular gifts include movie tickets, a new DVD, a board game, or a fun theme-dinner basket that the family can enjoy together.

  510. Shop for your seasonal decorations after the holidays. You can find some great bargains. The items will store and be ready for the next holiday.

  511. My best tip is to shop all year long. That way you have plenty of time to comparison shop, get things off-season, and pay for things a little at a time.

  513. My favorite holiday money saving tip is to have a Christmas craft day with my sisters. We get together every year and make great homemade gifts for all the nieces and nephews. If we have time, we even make gifts for our neighbors and friends. It saves us so much money and we create lifelong memories in the process. This is one of my most highly anticipated traditions every year.

  514. I would love to win this! What and awesome giveaway!

    My best money saving tip is to start early, buy things on sale as soon as possible! I also write a list of everything I want to buy for my loved ones, the have-to-haves, dreams gifts.. everything. And then I subscribe to all the places I can’t get the gift at a decent price. Sounds crazy but most places I subscribe to are Target.. Walmart.. Best Buy.. etc. I usually receive emails with coupons and best days they have sales! I bought most of my gifts and a few “dream” gifts for half the price!!

  515. This is for the older generation, but could work for younger folk too I suppose.

    Make a collage of past Christmas’s photos of you, your family, friends, relatives. The bigger, the better. You can even make enough copies of photos to make collages for: Your family, your siblings, your grandchildren, Great grandchildren. This can be great fun to do and even more fun to receive.

  516. My tip is to buy your decorations and cards for the next year right after Christmas. Plus, I shop throughout the year for gifts.

  518. My biggest saver is to dry the fruits and pick the nuts in their season to use in christmas baking, these items are very expensive and I love going to the cupboard and getting my own.

  519. I am big on comparative shopping. I like Walmart and Circuit City they will both Comp add. Also save all your receipts, most stores give you 30 days and if something goes on sale you can get a price adjustment. Thanks for the great giveaway.

  521. I have one closet dubbed the Gift Closet. I shop throughout the year, finding great items on clearance or sale. That way, my spending is spread out and I get better gifts for less money. Start now for Christmas 2009!

  522. I like to do a little shopping here and there throughout the year. When there is a sale and I see something that one of my friends or family members might enjoy, I buy it and save it. Around Christmas I take those “gifts” that I’ve been collecting and saving throughout the year and it takes the weight off of Christmas shopping. I am not stressed about time or going to busy shopping malls (although I still inevitably have a gift or two to purchase). Since I distribute my purchases throughout the year and I buy on sale I end up saving a lot of money

    Caryn Baileys last blog post..Gettin’ (Wii) Fit in the New Year

  523. We try to buy on sale throughout the year. Also we have made gifts, my husband is a musician and he has recorded his music on cd’s to give away.I have made jewelry and baked goods. Also Ebay has been a great resource. We try to just get one thoughtful gift instead of many gifts just to get gifts.

  525. My holiday money saving tips are to: shop at Walmart!! (they have the best stuff and are cutting prices on ALOT of great products! Alot of their products are at the lowest price you’ll see this season! stuff is even cheaper than Toys R US on sale!) and its been the talk of all the analysts out there!, spend within your means, and use coupons and online discount codes (there are tons out there) one great site to check out is retailmenot.com! I hope I win!! I love walmart!!

  526. I know a lot of people have suggested recycling their gift wrap and gift bags as a great holiday money-saving tip, but I take it one further than that. How could you possibly explain about Santa using the exact same gift wrap and bags every year? Your kids would catch on in no time flat.

    I have a small circle of 5 girlfriends and myself that participate in a gift-wrap/bag swap each year. We trade our saved gift wrap and gift bags in a circle, so that by the kids never get the same bags the next year. It works like a charm, and the kids have never suspected a thing… and we have some pretty smart kids in our crew.

  527. I have been using coupons and buying holiday foods in bulk or when there’s a big sale at local store. The more you buy when it’s not Christmas time is better because the retailers are not jacking up the prices.

  528. Shop online where you can comparison shop and use sites that offer free shipping- and don’t forget to shop through a rewards site to earn points for free gift cards!

  529. Try paying cash for purchases instead of using credit cards – when and where feasible. It demands self-discipline but can quickly add up to very noticeable savings by challenging those “incidental or impulse buys” 😉

  530. my best money saving tip is to buy through the year. I look for sales and stock up – even little things like deodorant, coffee, socks, etc. I also buy after christmas – usually there are some great buys

  531. We’ve installed a new digital thermostat – had a really old one – and plastic wrapped the windows during the winter – both together have saved us over $150 a month on the energy bill. For movies – instead of buying or going to watch new movies – we’re renting from RedBox – and we receive a code every Monday for a free movie rental! saves us at least $20-30 a month on movies this year! //e

  532. My holiday money saving tip is if you just have to buy wrapping paper or Holiday Cards buy that kind of stuff at the Dollar Store. It will be certainly be cheaper than buying that type of stuff at other stores. This is a great giveaway. Thanks.

  534. I buy toy sets.Then you can seperate them and get 2 or more gifts out of one.Also I clip coupons and use mail in rebates.

  535. Make a list and stick to it even if you see a good deal on another gift. If you keep buying the "deals" you see it adds up very quickly.

  536. Start a cookie swap, family and friends get together and we all pick one type of cookie to bake, then we meet and make up our cookie trays with all the types. This saves money on buying ingredients and time..

  537. The best money saving tip for the holiday season is don’t go th the stores, make homemade presents. Thanks for the chance to win.

  539. I’ve found that many chain stores have better prices online than in the store due to the fact that they are all separate businesses and even thought they carry the same products -the prices aren’t necessarily the same. So Check online first – saves you time and headache checking out at the store! Your time is priceless.

  541. I start shopping for Christmas the week after Christmas. I shop throughout the year for items on sale. It keeps me from getting overwhelmed during the holidays.

  542. This has probably been stated before but it is the best tip for saving money while shopping for the winter holidays: make a list and stick to it. If you just ‘go shopping’ you will overspend.

  543. I always shop the clearance sales for tons of goodies for next year, that is how i got all the cool stuff cheap for this Season!

  544. I scour the internet endlessly for the lowest prices before I buy a thing. I also utilize my local freecycle group-you could easily decorate your whole house for free with what others give away, and it’s been pretty decent stuff.

  545. Shopping online can be the biggest lifesaver and can save a whole lot of time and stress! During the year during big sales, shop then. Put the gifts aside and take note of who they are for etc..

  546. I always start shopping early in the year. Even the week after Christmas. This is when I get great buys on toys for birthdays throughout the year. Also, I always go to consignment sales with good deals such as mothers of multiples. This is where I get most of my gifts and clothes. I am able to buy entire wardrobes for my kids up through size 16 for 50 dollars. They also only sell clothes that aren’t stained etc.

  547. I bought $1 pre-printed calendars from Target and have used left over scraps from my scrapbook stash and photos I did not use from throughout the year. I made four calendars and each of them turned out really cute and unique.

  548. my Best money saving Holiday tip involves buying gas at the gas pump since some of you may be doing alot of travelling this Holiday Season. You can get medium grade(Plus) gasoline for about $2.60 cheaper if you fill 1/2 your tank with Premium grade(Super) and 1/2 your tank with Low grade(Regular)which will make (Medium grade)-Plus if you do so. It may take a minute longer to do this but if you’re saving near $3 I’d say better the money in your pocket than in the Oil companies pocket!
    This was told on a news media show I listen to so I’m assuming its accurate and true. Thank you. skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

  549. To save money I go to yard sales, consignment shops and thrift stores. I get alot of our clothes there, plus toys and they are all like new.

  550. My tip for saving money during the holidays as well as contributing to making the Holidays Greener is to skip the Christmas gift wrapping entirely. Instead , have some FUN with your children and your family and have them hunt through the house for the gifts (of course your gift will have a Christmas gift tag on it). If you hide the presents under chairs and beds, in closets, in cupboards or the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, etc. everyone will have a great time. And don’t worry about any missed gifts because if you think you might forget, make a list of where you hid them ahead of time. Just think of all the time you will save not having to wrap all those gifts and all the unnecessary paper you will save too! Happy Holidays everyone!

  551. One thing our family does is draw names out of a hat. this saves everyone money and it is easy to shop for just one person.

    ardy22 at earthlink.net

  552. Right after Christmas is a great time to shop for wrapping paper, cards, decorations,etc, for the next year. You can save at least 50% and sometimes more.

  553. Hit the stores after Christmas to buy ornaments for gifts next year. Also buy things that would be great for dirty Santa events and Christmas gift exchanges! Hula-Santa, anyone?

  555. Do your shopping online! Not only do you save on gas, but many sites offer free shipping around Christmas! You can even have your gift shipped directly to the recipient, saving you postage to send it yourself!

  556. My best advice is to use the internet to your advantage. You can save a lot of gas money with free shipping deals. Also, there a few really good websites that post fantastic deals regularly. I check those a couple of times a day and get some great prices on gifts!

  559. My holiday money saving tip is to give crafted and baked goods. Like cookies, scarfs, hats, ext.
    These gifts are made with love and allow the giver to express their appreciation and give a gift withouth wrecking their entire budget.

  561. I spent three years paying off my blasted credit cards and have finally made that a reality. I found it’s like quitting smoking, it was painful at first and now it’s easy. I budgeted a preset amount and have locked myself to the budget. Keep lists of the things you want and need. Working for these items by paying cash saves you the stress of figuring out how to pay for it. I made my life simple and it works. Shop the sales, with the economy the way it is, it is much easier to find better deals for the things your kids want and be patient… it’s it not on sale today, it probably will be tomorrow!

  562. Set a holiday gift budget you can afford and stick to it. Supplement your gift giving with hand made items, baked goods or nice dollar store finds.

  563. I really stick to a budget and shop year round for the best bargains. I also bake and that’s a more appreciated gift as people love my baking.

  564. I make alot of holiday gift baskets and I save big buck by using coupons at the dollar store. For example: Dove shampoo cost $1.50 coupon $1.00 off so I only pay .50 for the shampoo. My family and friends get excited when I start making the baskets. They just love it and it will always be something that they could use.

  565. My tip: Use the internet to its fullest potential. Search for and research your major purchases first to see where you can get a good deal. Don’t worry about buying online; there are several safety measures taken to preserve your identity. BUT… Keep in mind to only shop at those sites you trust, and that OTHERs trust. I try to look for online reviews of the site as well. If you shop at a store often, the best way to receive discounts is to sign up for their email notifications. I get the best deals that way. If you miss out on one, you can always do a search for online coupon or promotion codes too.

  568. I have a few things already for my family that I got throughout the year. I only need to buy 1 gift for each of my family members. They will all still have a nice Christmas.

  570. My best money saving tip this Christmas is simple:

    instead of going and buying new ornament for the holidays, wait until after Christmas and purchase next years decorations then. If you want to save even more money; make homemade ornaments since they are much less expensive and you have a ton of quality time with the kids (which ends up being priceless)…all you need is flour (2 cups), salt (1 cup), 3 table spoons vegitable oil and 1 cup water…you can add about three table spoons cinnamon too (optional; makes the house smell so great). after you’ve mixed all ingredients; oh and heated the oven to 250; roll out dough, cut them with your favorite cookie cutters and bake for one hour…you’ll have enough to decorate your whole tree.

    There’s my tip, hope you like it!!!! Hope I’m not too late for the entry!!!
    Merry Christmas everyone!
    -barbarabaker 🙂

    Barbara Bakers last blog post..My Christmas Tree (last year)

  571. I shop year round for sales and unusual items for the following holidays. When sales are sluggish you can find some great buys.

  576. My best tip would be to teach your children to value old fashion hard work instead of commercialized Fads. Have them make their own christmas cards and tree decorations. If you have a Gift exchange amongst adult, have it a NO BUY rule… you have to make it with your own hands!

    I’m sure that’s not the kind of tip your looking for especially in this day and age!

    Also, I make a list of whom I need to buy for IN JANUARY, then throughout the year I buy items on clearance and/or with coupons. Stick to the list. Do not impulse buy! My wallet does not know what retail means because I refuse to purchase gifts at retail. I’m not a scrooge…really. It’s just that when your bring home pay is less than 1,000 per month you stretch where and when you can.

    Same goes for decorations, those that we don’t make, we purchase AFTER the holidays and put them away for the following year.

    Stockpile items with coupons so you are buying them at about 90% OFF. Purchasing a case of ketchup, mayo, beans, whatever… will keep you from paying full price throughout the rest of the year! One time I bought 9 PALLETS of toilet paper (15 four packs to a pallet) because I had a coupon that made them free. We gave 1 pallet to the food pantry, divided 1 pallet up among friends & family and the rest we kept. It last 2 years!

    Thanks
    Tammy OHagan
    tammyohagan ~~~ AT ~~~ westco ~~~ DOT ~~~ net

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