Saving money this Christmas

Christmas is an expensive time for everyone, so it is important that we save cash wherever we can. Here are some effective money-saving tips that will help you out this season:

Look out for store discounts

It has been reported that the UK alone will spend £10 billion pound online this year, so the total for the world is set to be astronomical - and it’s easy to see why. Compared to shopping in store, there are a range of bargains and discounts to be had online.

Before I purchase anything online, I always do a quick search for voucher codes. I simply type the name of the store and ‘discount code’ into a search engine and I can usually find some great discounts. I’ve saved so much money over the years!

Like many other people, I am looking forward to all of the Black Friday savings to be had, although I don’t think I’m quite cut out to battle through the stores. Instead, I’ll be enjoying it online. Amazon have had some pretty great discounts in the past, so I am excited to see what they’ll have to offer this year.

DIY

Shop-bought cards and gifts can be expensive, bumping up your Christmas budgets. While you will inevitably have to fork out for gifts at some point, there are some great DIY options too that could save you some cash.

Not many people send Christmas cards nowadays, but it is a nice touch especially if you are sending them to people who live far away. If you have kids like me, you could get your little ones to hand make a few cards – your friends and relatives will love the personal touch.

I’m tempted to put my computer skills to the test and try a spot of card designing on my PC. The only problem is that our printer is not very good, so I’ll need to invest in a new one before I start designing – there’s no point in having a beautiful card that I can’t send to anyone!

As United Carlton is based in the UK, I know I can’t order from there, but I have been looking on their website to get some ideas on what printer to go for. They’re printing specialists so I know that they will only recommend the best.

As you know, I love to bake and cook. I’ve found this recipe for gingerbread men online. They look delicious and the ingredients will be much cheaper to buy than ready-made ones, plus I’m sure Noah wouldn’t mind giving me a helping hand! I may even dish these out to our friends and family as extra Christmas gifts!

Thank You Julie @itsallnew2me

I wanted to take a moment to thank one of my readers who also follows me on Twitter. I often tweet about how much Noah loves Max and Ruby. She told me about Max and Ruby stuffed animals and how she found them at her grocery store. I had found them on Amazon but they wanted $7.99 for them plus shipping. I was going to pay for Max since Noah loves him but she alerted me to check the grocery store and where to find him.

I went to the TY website and found out where they sold their products and sure enough they sold them at a grocery store nearby. I went there on Saturday and my heart sang when I went to the floral department and saw Max staring at me. I quickly snatched him up and went to the check out, I paid $5.34 for him including tax. I know that Noah will be really excited to find Max in his Easter basket. So, thank you so much Julie. You are awesome! She also shared with me some really cute Max and Ruby fabric prints.

Thanks again Julie! You helped bring a smile to Noah’s face! I can't wait to give him Max.
Everyone should follow Julie on Twitter @itsallnew2me

She worked hard for the money

I want to share with you my enterprises when I was little. I used to come up with this little business ideas. I would make things and sell things.

It all started with that typical Kool-aid stand. My Kool-aid stand was not an ordinary Kool-aid stand. I also sold graham crackers and gummy worms. I was a full service concession stand. I remember selling a couple other items but I can’t remember exactly what it was. My stand was successful.

I decided I needed to branch out some so I started coloring pictures out of coloring books and selling them door to door. They were people that bought them. I was a cute kid so I guess they decided they were worth the price I sold them for. I didn’t really do that for very long. Maybe just once. I mean how many Sheila coloring originals can one person have? Maybe it will be worth something someday.


Via: accountingdegreesonline.com

My main “business” when I was younger was where I sold homemade stationary which consisted of a stamp on printer paper and a matching stamped envelope. I would sometimes break out the toaster and emboss with it. People would buy sets of 8 pieces of paper and eight envelopes. The only time I saw anyone using it was my mom and grandma. You know they were obligated. Not that it was ugly it was just really simple and plain but hey I was young and I had to make a living somehow right? I did that for about a year. People would order it so I would make it. It was fun. I still have letters that my mom wrote me at camp on that stationary. It was cool stuff!

When I was 9, I was a mother’s helper to my next door neighbor. I got paid, (I think) to play with her son while she did housework or whatever. It was fun. When I was a little older I started babysitting a lot. I was the typical babysitting girl. I had fliers and everything. I can still see them in my head. I made a big deal about being Red Cross certified in Babysitting. I had a lot of families I would babysit for and I stayed pretty busy with that for a while.

What kind of business ventures did you do when you were little?

Glowgirl Coupon Organizer Review and Giveaway

If you haven’t figured it out yet… I love coupons. I love to get a great deal. I used to get really excited when a grocery store did triple coupons and dollar doubles. I would spend like 2 hours in the grocery store seeking out those bargains. I would also spend time at home prepping for it. I know coupons sound like a lot of work but the savings are worth it. I think of it as my pay. If I save 20 dollars and it took me a hour to clip and organize I was paid twenty dollars. I think my record is saving $120 dollars in one trip and spending only $70. So, for $70 dollars I got 190 dollars worth of groceries. Pretty good huh?

One of my couponing annoyances are coupon organizers that fall apart. I think that it is a complete necessary to have a coupon holder for organization purposes. You don’t want to be the person with a puddle of coupons on the floor at the grocery store. I have seriously have had about 5 coupon organizers in my couponing days. They fall apart, they rip, the elastic band stretches, then falls off. You know what I am talking about I am sure.

Then they become a work of art with all the masking tape you use to hold it together complete with a hair band to keep it from spilling out everywhere. We have all been there. It doesn’t matter if it is one from the dollar store or one you paid 8 dollars for. The plastic ones crack and rip too. There must be something better, a coupon holder that won’t fall apart and will withstand my abuse. Noah’s too, I don’t know what is so intriguing about a coupon organizer to a young child. There has been many times he has gone and dumped it out everywhere.

I had the opportunity to review a homemade cloth coupon organizer from Glowgirl Fibers owns her own little Etsy store. She makes all kinds of wonderful items including coupon organizers, blah,blah blah. The coupon organizers come with little file cards and 70 different labels so you can set it up the way you like it. Before I had this wonderful coupon organizer I would put my cat food coupons in with the snacks and batteries. Both cat food and batteries are not my snack of choice but my space was limited.

Now I can break free of those few labels and broken coupon organizers. Glowgirl has many different designs because she gets her fabric all kinds of places not just the local fabric store. Sometimes she gets fabrics at estate sales. It makes it unique and special not to mention gorgeous! Your coupon organizer could have some unknown really neat history. Honestly I don’t know who decides what to put on those factory made paper coupon organizers but I have seen some not so attractive ones. The coupon organizers are extremely well made. I don’t think I will need a new one for a very long time.

I have another couponing annoyance. When you are shopping, you go and get out a coupon and then you are stuck holding the coupon organizer. You can’t possibly throw it in the cart. It will get buried like your purse is. So, you are looking for a place to put your coupons. Well, my new coupon organizer can be attached to the cart. How cool is that? No more awkward couponing moments. It also gives your cart a little decoration.

My coupon organizer is a pretty green with palm fronds on them. I love the beach and palm trees so this one was perfect for me. It is really pretty and really easy to use. I love it. One thing I will share with you is if you see a fabric you like order fast. She is really popular and her stuff flies off the virtual shelves. This is important if there is a certain fabric that you absolutely love. I am sure you will enjoy them as much as I do. It is definitely a great investment. The Coupon organizers are only $12.00 each.

Glowgirl also makes fabric grocery tote bags and reusable Sandwich bags. Both will help cut down on excess plastic usage. It's really cool if you ask me.

Thank you to GlowGirl for sending me the beautiful coupon organizer and providing one for the giveaway.

I have a coupon code for you all to help you save. You will get free shipping if you enter Sheilacakes in the comments and Glowgirl will refund the shipping charge right away!

I have one fabric coupon organizer in the print of the winners choice.

Mandatory Entry go to GlowGirl’s Etsy store and pick out which one you like.

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count.

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email- you must verify your subscription

Follow my blog

Give me a good coupon tip

Remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This wonderful giveaway will end November 18th 2009 at 11:59 ET
This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY