Comments on: Give Thanks, Save Money: Win $500 Walmart Gift Card

By: angel

angel — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:40:01 +0000

We love to make homemade ornaments from our craft scraps we collected all year. We have lots of leftover fabrics, yarns, paints, glitters, pompoms, craft sticks, etc. and our tree looks fabulous each year! Plus it's a great way to spend time with the kiddos. Each year gets a little better because of the memories from prior years hanging on the tree. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a generous giveaway.

By: Keitha

Keitha — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:59:30 +0000

I love to shop all of the after christmas sales. I stock up on all the great deals and put everything away in storage. It is so fun getting everything out the next year, becuase you forget what you have bought after a year. It is really fun when you look at all of your great gifts saying "I can't believe I only paid $$$$ for this.

By: Lyndsi

Lyndsi — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:41:56 +0000

Make something like these pocket organizers at http://organize-my-life.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-p...because they take about an hour a piece and you can make several with the supplies that you purchase. I was also able to personalize them for each person given their interests and favorite colors.

By: Deborah Allinder Lee

Deborah Allinder Lee — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:00:08 +0000

Just posted to my blog at http://ourmusicalhome.com/blog/2008/12/a-few-money-saving-christmas-tips-and-a-contest/ and to Twitter http://twitter.com/musiclee.

Deborah Allinder Lee’s last blog post..Noisemakers vs. Instruments

By: All Adither

All Adither — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:37:24 +0000

To save money on gifts, I like to use my talents to make an inexpensive gift. For instance, writing my husband a story in which the main characters are thinly veiled versions of ourselves. Or shooting a lovely photo of something meaningful to him and framing it. This year I also compiled photos of our kids into a photo book and called it 2008. Only cost $27. All Adither’s last blog post..Cat Video Friday

By: amanda

amanda — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:23:33 +0000

I blogged about the giveaway…

here is the link…
http://everysimpleday.blogspot.com/2008/12/there-is-big-giveaway-going-on-yall.html

amanda’s last blog post..there is a BIG giveaway going on, y’all…

By: Deborah Allinder Lee

Deborah Allinder Lee — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:18:26 +0000

There are several things I have done or plan to do.

SERVICES: This year I am altering my brother-in-law’s pants and helping my sister get set up to sell stuff on ebay.

REPURPOSING: I do this two ways. I give quality gifts from things I already own and I take things I own and remake them into something unique.

This year I took half-zip pullovers my son has outgrown and made backpacks for the kids.

I also add decorative elements to items to personalize them and make them more interesting. Last year I used pieces of roof flashing to create a unique decorative front on a simple blank journal.

MEMORIES: I have my grandmother’s old everyday dishes and want to decoupage her picture and other collage items on it and give it as way to remember her.

I also want to create a scrapbook with the recipes my grandmother cooked most often.

Another idea on my list is to use decorative family tree charts I purchased on Ebay and fill them in with all of the names we’ve found so far from our genealogy research.

GROW IT: We have a small city garden and I enjoy canning. I like to think of things to make that would make good gifts like salsa or jelly. I have also done this by buying produce at the farmer’s market when it’s in season and cheap and canning that into something good.

Fresh herbs are easy and cheap to grow, but expensive to purchase. Put together a small herb garden in a planter and give away the whole thing. You can also grow them yourself in larger quantities and make a small swag or wreath of different herbs to make a nice fresh gift and can be hung in the kitchen and used for cooking even as the herbs dry.

It’s best to buy the seeds and planters during gardening season for the best availability and price.

DOWNLOADS: If a someone has an interest in a particular subject, you can download free articles, ebooks, podcasts, videos, etc. on that subject and give them as a gift in print or CD/DVD format.

The printed items could be bound in an inexpensive binder or report cover or a coil binding from an office supply store. My library lets me copy 200 pages a month for free and I hear a lot of libraries have a similar service.

I am doing this for someone who is interested in starting a business as a life coach.

Deborah Allinder Lee’s last blog post..Noisemakers vs. Instruments

By: Stefanie @ Mommy Musings

Stefanie @ Mommy Musings — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:00:13 +0000

We are making our own ornaments out of felt this year. I am making cupcake and cookie shaped ones, and my daughter makes basic shaped ones. It is a fun activity we can do together, saves money by not having to buy new ornaments, and best of all...they don't break! Stefanie @ Mommy Musings’s last blog post..Meet Scribble

By: Janelle

Janelle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:19:36 +0000

Good Heavens, You have a TON of entries! Keeping fingers crossed I win!
My #1 tip and what I’m doing this year for my cousin’s family who is a family of 5- I am going to give them a give card to a movie rental place ($10) and then a few bags of popcorn and put it in a nice basket ($5) from walmart. The total should be well under $20 bucks for a family of 5 to share.
My grandma, I am making a picture using photoshop with all of us in her family and will frame it.
My mom wants a fancy pan so that won’t be cheap. *sigh*
And my kids know that “Santa” are going to bring them 3 present each because his bag can only hold so much. But I will put some fun goodies in their sockings, like lip gloss and stuff that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, but they will enjoy.
I hope these tips help someone out there

Janelle’s last blog post..Wanna Win The Limited Edition Box Set of the Movie ‘Heathers’?

By: Donna K

Donna K — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:19:16 +0000

I twittered about your contest. http://twitter.com/donnak4