Sticking to a Gift Budget at Christmastime
by: Stephanie Foster
The Christmas season is upon us, and with it one of the most difficult times to stick on a budget. It?s so easy to go overboard on gifts for those you love. There?s always some cute, cheap item that is just perfect, but when you find things like that over and over, they really add up.
It?s no fun being on a tight budget at this time of year. You wish you could give your kids the gifts they want the most, and give other family members just the right gift too.
There are several ways to give well thought out gifts at this time of year without overdoing it on credit cards or adding to your financial worries. All it takes is a little planning and creativity. Here are a few ideas.
Draw names.
You?ll still have to do the shopping for your kids, of course, but getting together with your siblings or other family members and drawing names can save a lot of money, as well as shopping time. This also allows a single, nicer gift to be given, as you can agree beforehand what should be spent on each person, and have it be a gift from all of you.
Give your time.
Make up coupons with favors you will do for the other person. This could be mowing the lawn for your parents or giving your husband a backrub. It could be babysitting a friend?s kids.
Share your talents.
If there?s something you do well that others have been expressing an interest in learning, give them a card saying you will teach them. This could be music lessons or it could be website design or organizing their home.
Note cards and stamped envelopes.
These are perfect for the person who loves to write. Find an attractive set and get some stamps, and you?re ready to go. You could even take this a step further and create your own design on plain cards.
Family calendar.
This one takes a fair bit of time, and you?ll need other family members to send you pictures, but makes a great gift. If they give you prints, you can make a collage, but if the photos are digital you can manipulate them for a wonderfully fun family calendar. Take the results to your local print shop and have them make them into calendars.
Make picture frames.
Get a cheap picture frame and decorate it with things that the recipient enjoys.
Bake!
Homemade treats are often welcome. If you have a great pie, cake or cookie recipe, you can be sure people will thank you even if they grumble something about calories.
Make Christmas ornaments.
There are all kinds of ideas for beautiful Christmas ornaments. You can buy the cheap clear glass balls and fill them or paint them. Another idea is to take a clear jar or vase, and put in some Christmas lights, then add potpourri. It looks beautiful when plugged in and smells great.
Make gift baskets or jars.
This doesn?t have to mean cheesy, handmade stuff that you really don?t do normally. You can make gift baskets with special items inside, such as bath salts and other items good for relaxation. You can print a card with a special recipe and include the ingredients in a jar.
The possibilities here are just about endless, both in terms of affordability and creativity. Think about the recipient?s hobbies and put something together that relates; garden gloves with a plant or seeds for a gardener, gourmet coffee with a cup for the coffee lover, and so forth.
You don?t have to go overboard with gifts to have a wonderful Christmas. A little planning goes a long way toward easing the financial strain that so many feel at this time of year. Getting creative with Christmas presents doesn?t only save money ? it makes the gifts more meaningful!
About The Author
Stephanie Foster is the owner of HomeWithTheKids.com, a resource for at-home parents. For more tips on living on a budget, please visit http://www.homewiththekids.com/moneymatters.htm and subscribe to the free newsletter.
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Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune
Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune
by: Angela Tyler
If you are planning a party, you already know that food can be one of your biggest expenses. However, you can take several steps to cut your party food costs. It is not necessary to purchase expensive appetizers and beverages to throw a great party. A little imagination and effort can make your party a memorable occasion.
Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you save money on food when throwing your next party:
Have a potluck
A potluck is certainly cheaper than hiring a caterer and you will save a lot of time and money by having your guests prepare a dish to share with others. Potluck is fun and you will surely end up with an interesting assortment of foods. To make things simpler, include a suggestion as to what type of dish you would like your guests to bring such as a dessert, vegetable, or salad.
Finger foods are fun ...
Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune
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Save On Food - Ten Ways
Save On Food - Ten Ways
by: Steve Gillman
To save on food, be an opportunist. Buy what you like, but buy on sale. Do you need oranges every day? Buy them when they're cheap, then buy grapefruit or orange juice when it's on sale. Opportunism is the key to low-cost living in general. You get everything you like, and lots of variety, because everything goes on sale once in a while. Here are ten more ways to get cheap food.
1. Stock up during sales. We recently bought 20 or 30 cans of tomato paste on sale for 10 cents per can. That's cheap food. You can do this with all non-perishables.
2. Try store brands. Some are as good as name brands and some aren't, but all are cheaper. Test them, maybe without telling the kids.
3. Buy fruits and vegetables in season. They are at their highest quality at the point where the price is the lowest.
4. Garden. Gardening can be a great way to stay in shape, and can help you save on food as well.
5....
Save On Food - Ten Ways
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Understanding your Electricity Bill - A Glossary of Terms
Understanding your Electricity Bill - A Glossary of Terms
by: Chileshe Mwape
If you're shopping around for the cheapest supplier of electricity in your area, there are some terms that you need to be familiar with. Below is a list of the some of the commonly used terms.
1. KWh (kilowatt hour) - The standard unit of measurement for both gas and electricity consumption.
2. MPRN (Gas Meter Point Reference Number) - Your MPRN is the unique identifying number for the gas meter at your property. It's a ten digit number, commonly referred to as an "M" number, and can be found on your gas bill.
3. Unit Price - a variable charge dependent on your level of consumption. The unit price will be applied to every kilowatt hour (kWh) of gas or electricity used.
4. Standing Charge - A fixed daily charge for the supply of energy, irrespective of your level of consumption.
5. MPAN (Electricity Supply Number) - MPAN is the unique identifying...
Understanding your Electricity Bill - A Glossary of Terms
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Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
by: John Navata
Unless you are planning a short domestic trip, the cost of airfare is usually a deciding factor in an overseas trip. Most people with moderate incomes simply can't afford to fly regularly, as much as they would like to. There are, however, some people out there who are flying all the time on regular incomes. The secret to achieving this is a willingness to be flexible and shop around with airfares, as well as employing some tried and true discount travel techniques.
The key to getting a cheap flight is to shop around, and the internet makes this easy for almost anyone to do. There are a plethora of websites that will conduct searches around the world for cheap airfares. Although the internet is a valuable tool in discovering cheap airfares, it's important that you don't rely on it entirely. Many sites claim they are searching "all flights" for the cheapest possible fare, but you really...
Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
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Plan Weddings In India With Cheap Flights And Hotels In India!
Plan Weddings In India With Cheap Flights And Hotels In India!
by: Annie Jones
Located just a short drive from the capital city, New Delhi and close to Agra (home to the Taj Mahal), the royal city of Jaipur (also known as ?The Pink City? due to the predominant colour of its buildings), is well established as one of the most romantic places on earth to get married.
From the rich history of its palaces to the gorgeous landscaped gardens of the luxury hotels to the serenity of the floating palace on Ramgarh Lake?everywhere you look there is pink?the colour of romance.
Jaipur is the throbbing, vibrant capital city of the colourful state of Rajasthan where the regal ambience of yesteryear is still felt throughout the city?s numerous carved arches and once-bejewelled fortress walls.
Enter this mystical city through a narrow, cobbled street where street vendors selling everything from sweetmeats to silver trinkets and leather...
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Eye on the Prize
Eye on the Prize
by: Dave Roggeman
?The daily grind.?
?Back to the salt mines.?
?Another day another dollar.?
?Thank god it's Friday.?
These are all phrases of the working world with 9 to 5 jobs.
For some, this situation works.
Others feel trapped, as if all the work they do only benefits others.
There?s a reason these phrases came about.
There are millions of people who would rather be doing anything other than working.
If people loved their jobs, these phrases would be more like "The daily party", "Back to my dream", and "I can't wait till Monday!"
Is there a way for you to sing the latter phrases?
Yes there is, but it takes hard work, determination, and focus.
Where would you like to be in say twenty years?
Do you see yourself in an office job working for a large corporation where you work hard for someone else?
Starting...
Eye on the Prize
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Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
by: John Navata
Unless you are planning a short domestic trip, the cost of airfare is usually a deciding factor in an overseas trip. Most people with moderate incomes simply can't afford to fly regularly, as much as they would like to. There are, however, some people out there who are flying all the time on regular incomes. The secret to achieving this is a willingness to be flexible and shop around with airfares, as well as employing some tried and true discount travel techniques.
The key to getting a cheap flight is to shop around, and the internet makes this easy for almost anyone to do. There are a plethora of websites that will conduct searches around the world for cheap airfares. Although the internet is a valuable tool in discovering cheap airfares, it's important that you don't rely on it entirely. Many sites claim they are searching "all flights" for the cheapest possible fare, but you really...
Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
Cheap flights > Find Out How You Could Find Low Airfares
Cheap flights
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