3 Gifts for Christmas and a Stocking – The Season of Christ’s Birth

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This post was originally published on December 6, 2011. It is not meant to say that what anyone else does at Christmas is wrong, just to share how our family chooses to celebrate with the giving of gifts. Several years ago was our first time to buy Christmas gifts for kids in our home.  It was our first year to be foster parents and we loved getting to know the kids and spoiling them with a life like they had {Read More}

Stack Paper Coupons with Savingstar Ecoupons

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SavingStar is a program where you get additional money back by shopping with your store loyalty card. It’s like e-coupons but instead of saving at the register you get your cash back through PayPal, a direct deposit, or even a gift card once you’ve accrued $5. The SavingStar Ecoupon program works on most grocery and drug store loyalty cards (except Safeway and Publix stores). Simply sign up online and enter your store loyalty card numbers. Then choose your money saving {Read More}

Making Coke Ice Cubes

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Last week’s Tips for Tuesday was about turning flat soda or day old coffee into icecubes for your soda or to make iced coffee with.  I was really eager to get that almost empty and very flat bottle of Coke out of my fridge this week so I went ahead and tried the Coke ice cube experiment. After about 4 hours the ice cubes were formed but slightly mushy- like an icee that’s left in the freezer too long. (they {Read More}

CCC sale Tyler – Children’s Clothing Consignment Sale Tips and Info

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This week is the HUGE CCC sale down at Harvey Convention Center. 2014 Sale hours are: Wednesday 4/9/14- presale by ticket only (volunteers & sellers) Thursday 4/10 and Friday 4/11, 9 am – 6 pm Saturday 4/12,  9 am – 4 pm You’ll find much more than just clothes: Kids clothes, shoes and accessories Kids furniture Baby swings, pack n plays, bouncy seats etc. Bikes and other sports equipment Books, games, puzzles and toys Bedding and home decor On Saturday {Read More}

Creative Valentine’s Gifts For Your Spouse

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My husband and I don’t typically exchange gifts for holidays, anniversaries or birthdays. We’ve chosen to put that money into our vacation fund instead. But on the occasions that we do exchange gifts, we’ve set a $2, $3 or $5 limit for it.  Most of these gifts have meant tremendously more to me than the gifts I was given that cost substantially more. These are some of the creative Valentine’s gifts (and birthday/anniversary) my husband has made me over the {Read More}

The Hare May Be Faster, but the Tortoise’s Slow and Steady Wins the Race

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tortoise and the hare

I’ve been seeing lots of posts on facebook for the 52 Week Money Challenge a.k.a the “save $1,300 with me in 2014” plan.  The idea is that in the first week of 2014 you put $1 into savings, in the 2nd week you put $2, and the 3rd week $3 etc. By the time you put $52 into your savings in the last week you’ll have over $1,300. While I do love the concept, I think most people will lose {Read More}

What You Can Get at the After Christmas Sales

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Retailers and most consumers seem to think that just because Christmas is past we can’t use any item that was packaged for the winter season (even though winter has barely begun).  Outsmart them by purchasing items you can use now because they are winter themed instead of Christmas themed. Items that only have winter/Christmas packaging but can be used any time of year, and items like toys and batteries that are simply overstock are hard to find at good discounts. {Read More}

A $25 Christmas Gift Limit Means a $25 Value

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Your family limit is $20/person and you find a $20 gift for $5.  You feel guilty for only spending $5, but should you?  This post explains Christmas gift limits are intended to work. One trap we fall into at Christmas time is having a spending limit.  Don’t get me wrong, I think spending limits are great!  But for most of us, our understanding of these limits is warped.  We begin to feel that we must spend the limit, not matter {Read More}

Our Christmas Tree Has a Dirty Little Secret

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icicle lights on Christmas tree

At first glance our Christmas tree probably looks like the typical kid friendly, low budget tree.  And it is.  Bought for about $12 after Christmas a few years ago and decorated primarily with ornaments that were gifts or from our childhood trees, it certainly fits the bill for a family striving to pay off their homes as soon as possible.  While not a fabulous designer look alike tree, it is perfect for our family at this time in our lives. {Read More}

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts for Teachers

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Gift giving at Christmas time can be a huge financial strain, but there are many ways to enjoy the season on a budget, while still giving nice gifts.   So far I’ve suggested that you:   buy gently used items for your kids if you were planning to remove them from the package to display them for Christmas anyway, shop through cashback sites for your online or site to store purchases, buy gift cards at a discount online.  This week I {Read More}