Comments on: Frugal Friday: Debt-Proof Your Christmas

By: Christmas in July? Really? | Owlhaven

Christmas in July? Really? | Owlhaven — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:09:10 +0000

[...] Jessica at Life As Mom. She is doing Christmas in July this week, talking smart about budgeting, avoiding debt and other important ways to plan wisely for a meaningful, debt free Christmas. Go check it [...]

By: Frugal Slip N’ Slide | Hoosier Homemade

Frugal Slip N’ Slide | Hoosier Homemade — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:38:00 +0000

[...] ~Frugal Fridays hosted by Life As Mom [...]

By: Frugal Friday: Frozen Pizza « Dancing with Daffodils

Frugal Friday: Frozen Pizza « Dancing with Daffodils — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:50:55 +0000

[...] For more frugal ideas and tips, see http://www.lifeasmom.com/2009/07/frugal-friday-debt-proof-your-christmas.html [...]

By: Blueberries: Frugal and Healthy Tips | Modern Gal

Blueberries: Frugal and Healthy Tips | Modern Gal — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:10:53 +0000

[...] at Frugal Friday, Food Renegade, Grocery Cart Challenge, Ultimate Recipe Swap, & Tempt My Tummy Tuesday // [...]

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:48:49 +0000

After a few "loud conversations" about gift giving, my husband and I realized that we had a good idea about how much we spent on gifts each year(Christmas + birthdays). We divided the total by 12 and that's how much we put aside each month to cover it. The occasional wedding or unexpected birthday do come up but for the most part we are prepared.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:43:02 +0000

This is the time of year that I, too, start thinking about Christmas gifts. I look to my garden harvest, the abundance of wild berries in my area, and the flowers and plants that are blooming and growing this time of year. I make many of my Christmas gifts using this nature's bounty. Canned salsa and home-made chips, home-made Worchestershire sauce with recipes for its use, canned mincemeatwith a beautiful pie pan and recipe for great pie crust, pickles of all sorts with a pickle grabber from the kitchen utensil department, canned spaghetti sauce with home-made pasta, wrapped in a cool pasta bowl, with a pasta server utensil, dried wild blueberries for my far away relatives and friends, Canned fruit syrups with our secret "camp pancake" mix, matted and framed pressed flowers and or leaves, placemats with leaf prints pounded into the fabric, beautiful colored eggs dyed with colors from nature, matted and framed photos of closeups of my flowers, and the insects that love them...
there are a multitude of low cost, free, home made gift ideas if you just use your imagination. I also like to make useable, and practical items such as pillowcases, table linens, cute outfits for the kids, etc.
I also cruise the arts and craft shows that are so prevalent during the summer, and look for ideas for things that I can make, now, while I have the time, before the big Christmas rush.
I saw a gorgeous garden ornament made of copper pipe, copper wire, and broken glass, at a recent art show that sold for $50. I went to our local hardware store and got what I needed for < $10, and have enough materials to make 3 of those! Now I just have to decide who the lucky two other people will be! (I'm keeping one of these for myself!)
I have recently lost my job so this Christmas will be a test of my frugal skills, but I know that if I just keep from wandering the stores during the Christmas season, I will do just fine.

By: The Prudent Homemaker

The Prudent Homemaker — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:37:43 +0000

A couple of months ago, I wrote a list of what I will be giving each child for Christmas.

I am making almost all of the gifts, as I have done the last few years. I am not planning on outlaying much money at all, as I am using fabric and patterns I already have on hand (and free internet tutorials).

Most of the gifts are needs, as well--new pajamas, new dresses, etc. Some are fun, like dress-up clothes (cloth crowns, for example).

By: Kaye - SandwichINK

Kaye - SandwichINK — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:54:35 +0000

How fun to find others, besides myself, already thinking about planning for the holidays. My article today was a review of a fun Kids' Craft Magazine with fun, easy, and inexpensive ideas for kids and parents/grandparents to make together. It included harvest and Christmas projects, enabling us to get a jumpstart on the season. And by teaching our kids and grandkids to make at least some of their gifts, we are teaching them lifelong habits of making vs. buying.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:36:27 +0000

Since I went through Dave Ramsey's FPU class back in the spring, we started our Christmas Envelope in April. Every month since then we've been putting money aside. Looks like we are already ahead of the game, so if I see a good deal during back-to-school tax free sales, I can go ahead and buy presents early. I've never been able to do that before!

By: Kristin

Kristin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:01:59 +0000

These are good points! I actually started my Christmas shopping last Saturday It's Fair time and it concludes with Rediculous Days (something I've found since moving that many small towns around here do). It's basically sidewalk sales around the square and with local businesses. All of my stuff came from the book store at 70% off! I wasn't expecting to buy something but have now started my Christmas pile in my closet.