When you're a writer and you're married to a writer, avoiding the holiday newsletter is not an option. It goes against your very nature. It can be a challenge to keep costs down on your holiday newsletter - especially if you also like to include photos.  And you have to remember there are postage costs, too! With this collection of free resources for holiday newsletters, you should be able to get your message across on a budget. … [Read more...]

Before you take those unwanted gifts back to the store, I want you to consider regifting. Yes, I know, regifting is such a cheapskate thing to do.  But it can be a smart thing to do. If you're returning a gift you don't want, you'll have to do the following: Drive to the store.  This will cost you gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. If you're lucky enough to be within walking distance of the store, you'll still have to spend the time to get there. Wait in long lines filled with … [Read more...]

I have a soft spot for a beautifully wrapped gift.  One problem with being frugal is that I feel guilty if I spend $5 on the paper and embellishments that could have gone towards the gift itself.  Especially since those things usually end up in the trash. In the past I have purchased wrapping paper mostly from school fundraisers.  In my experience, it is a good quality, I can support the cause and it worked out well enough.  My main frustration was that I always seemed to run out of the one … [Read more...]

If you're stumped on what to get for gifts, don't overlook cash.  With these interesting ways to give money, you're sure to make a seemingly mundane gift a memorable one. Interesting Ways to Give Money Wrap it in a giant box.  Or wrap it up in a small box, then place it inside another box and wrap that, and so on.  The anticipation of unwrapping a big box (or a succession of boxes) makes it a lot of fun.  And if the gift is for a kid - all the better!  The box becomes part of the … [Read more...]

If there's one thing I can't stand, it is the infiltration of cheap plastic junk into my home.  It comes in the form of birthday party favors, Dollar Store impulse purchases, Easter baskets and stocking stuffers. So this year, I've come up with some ideas for practical stocking stuffers.  I want to make sure that what I'm spending my hard-earned money on is going to be something my family will use and appreciate. Please note:  Practical doesn't mean boring.  It just means that your … [Read more...]