Making A List and Checking It Twice

Through out the years, it seems I've had to learn through experience how to stretch a dollar even further at Christmas.  My husband being in direct sales, often has lean checks from November to March.  Unfortunately, we haven't progressed to the point where we put money away for Christmas so here are a few things I've learned in order to stretch my Christmas dollar.


1)  Save your drug store freebies.  I always put new toothbrushes in my kid's stockings every year.  Since toothbrushes are something I often get for free from Walgreens and CVS, I save a few extras for stocking stuffers.  (I usually put a brand new razor in everyone's stocking as well.)  For my daughter, I put cosmetic items I've gotten for free.

2)Decide on a budget.  Before I do any Christmas shopping, I sit down with my husband and figure out what our budget for the holidays will be.  I try to include any presents, extra food, special financial contributions, and supplies for any parties we will either be attending or hosting.

Speaking of financial contributions, I am endeavoring to raise $200.00 for the Salvation Army with my own virtual Christmas kettle!  Please consider donating to this worthy cause.  They truly do so much good around the world.

3)Determine how much of your Christmas budget is for gifts.  The next thing that should be done is to determine how much of your budget will be set aside for presents.

4)Make a list of people who you'd like to purchase gifts for.  Don't forget to include teachers, pastors, bosses and co-workers.  I also keep a few inexpensive gifts aside in case I've forgotten someone.

5)Go back a prioritize your list.  I usually have four different categories of people.  a) immediate family b) extended family c)close friends  d) neighbors, acquaintances, co-workers, etc.

Let's say that I have a budget of $400 this Christmas.  The first thing I'd do is set aside $40 for an extra charitable contribution.  Next, I'd set aside another $60 for parties and miscellaneous.  This would leave me with $300.00.  I try to spend 2/3 of my budget on my family.  In this case, I would spend about $200.00. Since I have three children, my husband and my recently widowed mother to purchase for, I would divide this amount by 5.  This would allow me to spend about $40 on each person.  The remaining $100 would be for the last two categories.  At this point, I'd definitely do some baking.  The difference between the people in category c and d is that I'd probably include something small along with the baked item for the people in category c (ie. a bookmark for the people in my book club).  If I have a little more money than this, I'd buy my close friends gifts as well as a baked item.

Coming soon:  Christmas log

Buy a Gift That Will Save Money All Year!!

Last Christmas I found one of the best money saving websites I've ever found.  It's called Restaurant.com.  A lot of my friends have expressed more than a little confusion at how this program works, so let me explain.

Restaurant.com is a service for restaurants.  By listing a restaurant with them these restaurants are able to get new customers to visit their location and receive feedback from them after they have visited.  Basically, you go to their website and put your zip code in the "Find A Restaurant And Save" box.  This will alert you to the restaurants participating in your area.  If you live near a large city you'll be surprised at how many restaurants use this service!  After choosing a restaurant you can purchase a "gift certificate" for that restaurant.  The certificates are usually anywhere from 70-80% off.  This means that a $25 gift certificate costs anywhere between $2-$3!!!!

Now, of course, there are special limitations.  Most $25 certificates require that you spend at least $35 before tip.  Many restaurants also specify that they will add the gratuity to your bill to ensure that your server gets tipped on the entire purchase before the certificate.  I'm sure all of you would do this anyway, right?
Occasionally there will be other restrictions such as no holidays, or weekends.  However, I've found this to be rare.

At Christmastime 2009, I purchased a Dinner of the Month Club Membership for my husband.  With this deal, I paid $36 for twelve $25 gift certificates and I received a $50 gift certificate as a bonus!  What a sweet deal.

Redeeming these certificates has been hassle-free as the restaurant management has to review their membership monthly.  I've never had a problem.  I do show the server my certificate when ordering.  A few days after we've dined using one of these certificates, I am e-mailed a short survey.  Honestly this survey takes less than 2 minutes.

Restaurant.com has saved us hundreds of dollars, and has allowed my husband and I to celebrate birthdays, and our anniversary by eating out, when we probably would not have been able to afford to.  Just the other night my husband, two teenagers and myself went out for a birthday dinner.  We went to a new pizza place in our neighborhood.  The food was excellent, atmosphere was great and service was superior!  We had a huge appetizer sampler plate, their largest Hawaiin pizza, and sodas.  The whole event cost us $18!!  Tip included!

Today, Restaurant.com  is offering an 80% off deal.  This means that each $25 certificate you purchase will cost you $2!!  Just enter the code GOBBLE at checkout for this amazing deal.  Stay tuned this Christmas season for more deals to come.

16GB WIFI iPad for $399!!!!!!

I verified this through the TJMaxx!!  You can save $100 by purchasing the iPad at TJMaxx.  It's rumored that Marshalls has the same deal.  I would definitely call your local store before heading out, as I'm sure these are flying off the shelves.  I did call my local TJ Maxx and confirmed that although they had none, some stores are carrying iPads for $399. Let me know if you snag one.

Daily Deals 11/19/10 - Part 2

Here are a few more deals as promised!

This is a very SWEET deal.  New York & Company has a code for $50 off any purchase of $100.  Use the code 6186 before 11/21 and you'll receive $50 off any purchase of $100 or more.  To make this deal even better, you can search through their many sales items.  In addition everything other than their clearance section has buy one get one half off!!  If you are a ShopAthome member, you'll also get 5% cash back.  Just log on here and proceed with your order.  Let me know what kind of deals you get!!!

Thanks Hip2Save for posting this!!!

If you're like me you have company coming for the holidays.  It's a great time to encourage your husband to get a few pesky things done around the house!!  Check out this Ace Hardware coupon at either their website or at  Coupon.com.  Tomorrow only!!!

There are also a couple of restaurant card deals I thought were worth mentioning...

Applebees:  For every $50 gift card you buy get a $10 bonus gift card.  Click here to check out the details.

Outback:  For every $100 gift card you purchase get a $20 bonus gift card.  Click here to find out the details.

Maggiano's Little Italy:  For every $100 gift card you purchase you get a $20 bonus gift card.  Click here to find out the details.

Purchase a $25 Q Club Cash Card and receive a $5 voucher.  Click here to find out the details.

Uno's Chicago Grill:  Last but certainly not least!  Purchase $25 on a gift card and receive a $5 voucher. Click here  to find out more details.

Shop Small - Shop Locally

As a followup of my previous blog Doubling Your Giving, I have decided to write about shopping locally. Due to the struggling economy, small businesses have really taken a hit.  They can not afford to offer the deals that larger companies run this time of year.  However, here's somethings to consider when shopping small and locally.  1)  You are giving back to the economic health of your community.  2)  You'll find things that you won't find anywhere else.  3)  Your gifts could prove to be more thoughtful, because of the unique items you are able to snag.  4)  You could actually spend LESS because your gift is so unusual that it's thought outweighs the prices of those "must have" Christmas items.

Here are some vendors I am personally aware of:

Etc., inc.  is a new store with a "mall" of individual local vendors.  From coach purses to locally designed designer tee shirts, you're sure to find something special.

Here's a cool gadget for drilling holes into your Christmas tree.  You pop this baby on your drill and then you don't have to twist those screws into your tree forever and ever.  Maybe if you contact him on his facebook page he could ship this product to your home in time for your tree!  :)

In addition my friend Megan makes beautiful original jewelry.  You can look at her products and "like
 her facebook page  at Just 4 Me Jewelry.  You can triple your giving here.  Many times she gives a good deal of her profit to charity!  So you're buying a gift #1.  You're prospering a small business #2.  You're giving to charity #3!  What an investment!!

Lastly, I have a dear friend who is working on raising money to send her husband to Haiti on a missions trip.  She is an excellent baker and is selling baked goods and candy as a fundraiser.  Here's a link where you can find out more...My Friend.

Doubling Your Giving

Last year my children and I sold candied pecans so that they had money for Christmas.  With one kid at college,  another working, and my youngest involved in several performances from now until Christmas, we won't be in business this year (unless my regular customers demand).  However, I was remembering how excited we all were each time we got an order.  We all have friends, or know young people who have small businesses or sell things for fundraising.  How about encouraging their efforts by making sure that you think of them first when buying Christmas presents?

I know in our circle of friends we have: bake sales for missions trips,  friends who make beautiful jewelry (here's a link to a jewelry open house in the Chicago area)and several more who design and make t-shirts.  By purchasing these wares, we are directly  blessing families we know, helping them to a better Christmas.  It truly is a gift that keeps giving...
Go to this facebook page to inspire you..Shop Small.