The Christmas holiday season will be here before you know it, and with the way the economy is right now, it's looking like the holidays will be pretty lean for must of us. That's why it is more important than ever to start thinking about the holidays now.  Come up with your holiday budget and start working on saving for that goal. Here are some ways you can make this Christmas holiday season affordable: Save a little money each payday.  If you put $10 aside every payday (assuming you … [Read more...]

Our house looks like a toy store blew up in it. I'd share a photo, but honestly, I'm a little embarrassed by the consumerism on display in my house. For the record, it wasn't all our doing. The boys were properly spoiled by grandparents and great-grandparents, alike. We paid cash for our holiday spending, but I can't help but think of the many people who don't. I've had those shopping moments. Hours, days, weeks, months after a purchase, I would feel sick thinking about how foolish of me … [Read more...]

A few weeks ago, I wrote a review of the book Christmas Sucks. The book is a tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving the holidays.  Sometimes I get a bit bah-humbug-ish - mostly because I shop for a dozen people. One person commented on my review that she was surprised that someone who is frugal would shop for as many people as I do. Wouldn't a frugal person trim the gift list a little? It made me think a bit about our situation.  Our holiday shopping list is almost entirely comprised of family, … [Read more...]

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to forget about the quieter (or maybe not-so-quiet) members of your family - your pets! You can spoil your pet without spending a lot of cash: Shop the dollar store. You can find fun dog or cat toys for $1 or less. Be sure to check that there are no small parts that can become detached and make sure it is durable. Shop the sporting goods section. A can of tennis balls can keep my dog entertained for an eternity. Make … [Read more...]

A lot of folks think gift cards are kind of tacky. And in light of all the various companies who are going bankrupt, various fees, and the risk of having them lost or stolen, giving a gift card can even be a bit risky on several levels. But I think gift cards can be a good gift idea - especially when you put some thought into it. Give gift cards to companies where you know the recipient shops. If you have a book lover on your shopping list, get an Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Is … [Read more...]