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The month of March is dedicated to the fascinating and empowering history of women. With special occasions like International Women’s Day, you may find it hard not to feel the need to celebrate throughout the month of March. Luckily, there’s lots of great ways to do so which won’t cost you a small fortune. With the budget out of the way, you may find that this month is a great time to help your whole family understand the powerful role women have played throughout history and in today’s world. So, let your feminine pride show this March and enjoy celebrating with these ten tips.

1. Visit a Women’s Monument
March history month is a great time to familiarize yourself with monuments dedicated to women. If you live near one, then it might be time to head to the monument to check out and celebrate the girl power of past. This is a great way to show children the great things achieved by women as well as showing them how to give the recognition people deserve no matter their gender. Of course, there aren’t many women’s monuments in the U.S.A., so you may not be able to physically travel to one. However, you can easily find monuments online that will give you a 360 degree tour. You can also look up powerful women and write your local government requesting a special monument. It may be a hard task, but if you’re successful it will definitely give you a sense of pride.

2. Visit a Nursing Home
Not all women who accomplish great things become famous. In order to truly celebrate the history of women, you may want to head to a nursing home in your community. Here, you will get to meet the women who made history even if their name wasn’t added to a text book. These women will have taken part in wars, fought social stigmas, raised families, worked hard on their passions and so much more. The best thing about this way of celebrating is you will also help make the day of someone who may be feeling lonely. You might even consider writing down or recording the stories you hear while there. You could even put them all in a special book to donate to the nursing home so the patients can read through their stories with pride.

3. Listen to Speeches
In this day and age, we have access to so much media that it proves to be a great resource when celebrations like Women’s History Month rolls around. This month, you may want to take some time to go back and listen to some of the speeches that have helped define women, their role in society and their rights. You can go back pretty far in time to hear women talk about race, gender and sexuality equality, so choose a topic that you may not understand fully or one that you’d simply love to hear. Since this year hosted a huge March on D.C. for women’s rights, you will have easy access to these speeches too. You never know what you may learn while listening, so open up your mind and enjoy. You may also feel moved to write your own speech, or have the children write one too. With inspiration like this, women from all races, creeds and social backgrounds can find strength to progress and push forward in the future.

4. Research
Women’s History Month exists because more often than not only a few womens’ names rise to the top of the mind when we think about history. This month may be the perfect time to get to know some of the other women who made big changes in our history. You can look from a social, science or political perspective to suit your own interests. You may even consider drawing names out of a hat to see who you should research. No matter how you make the decision, remember to keep an open mind while you look into your new historical figure’s past. This is a great assignment for children too and will help them discover more women so they can find inspiration to make changes for their own futures. Of course, you can also stick with an old favorite, but make sure to share stories about her with the people in your life.

5. Take a Course
If you’re not sure where to even begin celebrating Women’s History Month, then you might want to sign yourself up for a course on the matter. Your local community college or university should have quite a selection of courses, including women’s literature or an introduction to women’s history. Both of these courses will open your eyes to new topics and help you celebrate the women who have made your life a bit easier. You can also look online for free courses to help you out too. There’s numerous websites dedicated to bringing college courses to the general public, so browse for a topic that suits you. Even some Ivy League schools will offer their list of courses so you can get the best quality education around. You won’t get graded on your work for these courses, but the lessons will be well worth your time and energy.

6. Teach Others
One way to celebrate Women’s History Month without even touching your bank account is to share your own knowledge. This is especially important when it comes to the younger generation. If you know a lot about a particular person then share that story with your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. It doesn’t have to be about a famous person either. Talk about family and friends who have served in the military, worked as nurses and doctors, protested and marched. No matter what the story is, if it involves a woman’s strength then let it out to the world. You can even do this by posting on social media. The sky is the limit here, so become a teacher this month and let others know how important women are.

7. Celebrate a Strong Woman
There are women around the world that bring inspiration to others on a daily basis. Many of these women are unseen or unheard of, but that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating them this month. If you want a frugal option for this then you can easily choose a woman, or several, in your life and write them a letter explaining how they inspire you. If you’re okay with spending a little money then invite a woman out for dinner. You can talk about her past, present and future as well as the ideas that helped her get there. You’ll feel amazing afterwards and will have contributed to learning more about such a rich history, even if it won’t be found in the text books.

8. Donate or Volunteer
This month, there’s lots of charities that can be helped in the name of all women who have worked for our present rights. If you want to do something special then find a charity that is based solely around women. There’s a lot out there ranging from women’s rights in other countries to helping homeless women in our own. You can even find education based charities or charities designed to help women escape from abusive homes. The charity is totally up to you. If you have money to spare then this is a great time to donate; however, if you’re trying to stay on a budget then you might want to volunteer to help them. Most charities are always looking for a few extra hands, so call around to see what you can do.

9. Trace Ancestry
One important thing you can do for Women’s History Month is to actually learn more about your own history. One way to help make the details of your family’s role in the rights of women is to begin learning about the women who came before you. You can use popular sites like 23andMe or Ancestry.com, or you can even hire an investigator. Of course, asking family members to help out with information may be the cheapest way to get your answers. You may find that the women in your bloodline led incredible lives that will blow you away. As you learn about them, you may want to pick up a craft or hobby that they used to love too. It doesn’t matter how many generations you go back, as learning about even your grandmother will help pass the story of your lineage down to the next generation and on.

10. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Women’s History Month doesn’t have to be all about learning about history though. It can also be about making history in your own special way. For instance, you may want to try something out that you’ve always wanted to. May it be bungee jumping or choosing to shoot for your dream career. You may also want to try creating something. From painting to crochet, your options are endless here too. As long as you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, you’ll certainly make history in the minds of your children and the people you hold near and dear to you.

This March you’ll certainly feel empowered by all of the women in your life and even yourself. These ten tips should help you find amazing ways to celebrate the month while helping ensure the future is on a better path. With any luck, March will become a new favorite time to celebrate your own beauty and the beauty of the women who came before you and those who will follow you.

With the clocks springing forward and the weather warming up, you may find that it’s time to start preparing for the Spring time. One of the best ways to get ready for the seasonal change is to plan out something to do to celebrate the Spring Equinox. In some cultures, this date is actually a holiday that celebrates the renewal of life. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune to have a lot of fun though. This March 20, you may be surprised by how amazing Spring time fun can be even on a budget. So get ready to bring in the season of renewal without adding to your budget, because these ten tips are sure to help you make the most of the special day.

1. Build a Kite
The Spring months often bring a lot of wind to the table, so what better way to celebrate then to build a kite with the family. Kites are easier to build than you may think, so don’t overthink it when you make the plans to do so. You can probably find items to build your kite around the house, but if not they are usually a lot cheaper than you may think. Once you have all of the supplies, try to work from a basic tutorial unless you are an experienced kite maker. This shouldn’t take you long and will allow each family member to get a bit creative on their own personal kite. Of course, if the family falls in love with the hobby then you can always work on more intricate designs or enter a kite contest. Simply flying the kite around will help keep the fun of Spring alive though.

2. Organize Clothes
Spring is all about starting fresh, so you may want to take this time to freshen up your closet. Winter is mostly over so it might be time to start putting away the abundance of cold weather clothes that you have out. Once you’ve put these items away then go through the old warm weather clothes that you have. Rediscovering clothes can be a lot of fun, especially if you love to pass down clothes to younger kids that no longer fit the older kids. This is also a great time to discover clothes that were bought on clearance but never worn. Often, people forget these items so it feels like a holiday to check them all out again. When you have your new wardrobe in order, then you may decide to go buy something new in order to celebrate the seasonal change.

3. Celebrate the New Year
In many cultures, the Spring Equinox is actually a major holiday. People celebrate this seasonal change as an official New Year as everything is returning to life and food is in abundance. Nowruz, for instance, is celebrated in many Middle Eastern countries and even features a ball dropping to celebrate the change. You can catch this footage online, which could be an excellent way to bring in the big occasion with the family. You may even consider coming up with a special meal to celebrate. There’s lots on this holiday and other Spring Equinox celebrations from around the world online, so it could be the perfect occasion to learn and try something new.

4. Hand Out Seeds
Nothing says Spring like beautiful flowers popping up around the community. You may also find it the perfect time to add a garden into the spare space in your yard. Luckily, seeds don’t cost a fortune, so you might end up with more than you could possibly need. This could be the perfect time to get to know your neighborhood or community better. If you take to the block or even a local park and hand out seeds to people you meet, then you’ll be doing the planet a huge favor while bringing the community together. You can even add information about saving the planet onto the seed packets, which will help bring light to the problems we’re facing. This gift is sure to make you feel great. You might also check in with your local government to see if there is any place you can plant seeds outside of your own property. If there is such a place then you can pass out the seeds to kids and help them begin planting. This will allow you to share the joy with the next generation.

5. Balance an Egg
One Chinese tradition is trying to balance an egg on the day of the Spring Equinox. It is said that the egg will be able to balance due to the Earth’s position to the sun. If you can balance the egg, then you are meant to have good luck for the rest of the year. This little project can be a whole lot of fun for the kids in your life. You might want to bring out at least a dozen eggs though, just to see if any of them balance. This may take more than luck to accomplish, but the magic of the project is sure to help your children appreciate the celebration and learn something new about another culture.

6. Create a Bouquet
The rejuvenation of flowers in the Spring time is one of the best sights, so to celebrate the Spring Equinox you may want to pick a few flowers and make a bouquet. You can check out all sorts of flower arrangement websites to help out too, if you’re feeling like keeping your bouquet professional. This bouquet can be added to the home or given to someone special in order to brighten their day. If you’re feeling really ambitious, then you can pick many flowers and make a bouquet for the patients at a hospital or nursing home. Sometimes, flowers don’t arrive by the time the equinox rolls around, but you can easily make up paper flowers to feed your need for their beauty until the real flowers begin to bloom. There’s numerous paper flower tutorials, so you should be able to recreate some of your favorite flowers in an assortment of colors.

7. Color Run
The color run is an Indian tradition that helps celebrate the joys of the Spring Equinox. However, over the years this has been transformed into a marathon in many other countries. So, if you’re feeling ambitious and in shape you may want to register yourself to join in on the fun. While you run, you will be dowsed in colored powder, which will leave you looking awesome after the race is over. If you want to experience this with your children or friends, but don’t want to run then you can easily make the powder at home and simply throw it at one another. This could become a favorite tradition in your family and will give you more insight into how other cultures celebrate the rebirth of the earth.

8. Clean Community
Another easy option to help celebrate the Spring time beauty is to give back to Mother Nature. You can walk around your own community and pick up any garbage you see on the ground. This will be a great step into ending pollution and preventing some animals from eating the dangerous garbage. You might also want to get others involved in this task, which could bring the community together to celebrate the magic of the Spring Equinox. Cleaning up garbage isn’t the only way to clean the community though. You can also work on lowering your carbon footprint and bringing awareness to others, so they can follow suit. No matter what you choose to do to keep your community clean, it will certainly help make a difference and allow you to feel connected with the planet that we live on.

9. Sign Up For Spring Activities
Spring is filled with activities to keep the whole family busy. So, this Spring Equinox, you may want to sit down with the family and check out which activities are offered and if you can work out the scheduling. Usually, soccer, track and baseball are starting up, which are all great group activities that can be played by most of the family. You may look into hiking, photography, and other classes that will get you outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather. Apart from that, you can register for activities that will simply keep the body moving. This is a great way to celebrate the New Year and will certainly help bring up your health. Another option is to start children on swim lessons at an indoor pool, so the whole family will be ready to take on the pool when summer arrives.

10. Picnic
Another classic option to celebrate the Spring Equinox is to pack a special picnic for the family. You can take your meal to a National park, local park or even just the backyard. If the weather doesn’t cooperate with you then you could always eat the picnic on your living room floor as the change will certain excite the children. When packing your picnic, try to keep seasonal ingredients in mind in order to make the most out of the season. You might also want to pack some games and activities to keep everyone busy, especially if you choose a park that doesn’t have a playground to entertain the kids. You may even want to turn your picnic into a romantic date for someone special. All in all, as long as you keep the foods frugal then you should be looking at a cheap activity that will build lots of memories.

A shift in seasons can always change the way we go through life. These ten tips will help you celebrate the Spring Equinox without forcing you to spend a whole lot of money. This will certainly make the fresh Spring time air seem even more inviting.

Tax season often makes people really happy. With many getting tax credits and a refund, this season often brings a huge boost to the economy because money tends to burn a whole in people’s pockets. However, if you’re trying to keep things frugal then you may want to consider treating this year’s tax return a bit differently. There’s many ways you can transform the money you get back during tax season, so you can worry less about what’s going on with your finances throughout the year. If you’re not sure where to begin then keep your check in the envelope and check out these tips. You’ll find that tax season will be your new favorite time to save.

1. Don’t Touch It
The first thing you should consider doing with your money is putting it away straight away. If you can, take the check directly to the bank and don’t look back. You’ll want to deposit it in your savings account, or an account that will allow it a special place to grow by gaining interest. You have many options here, so make sure to shop around to see which bank will give you the best deal on interest when it comes to your savings. If you don’t want your money in a bank, then consider buying a safe for it. The money won’t grow while in a safe, but it will sit there until an emergency arises or you find a good investment. Many people who fear electronic collapse often go with this method as it will ensure you always have cash on hand. Of course, make sure you have a great hiding place for the money and that no one knows you’re storing money in the home, as this could bring about some major problems.

2. Pay Bills
It may not sound like the fun thing to do, but using your money to catch up on bills is probably the best thing you can do for your finances. If you’re falling behind on anything then it may not be an option not to pay those things off. Try to put money on as many of these bills as you can so you don’t end up paying interest fees or, worse yet, collection agency fees. Once these bills are good to go then you may want to toss extra money on a bill that collects interest. Student loans, cars, mortgages and even your car insurance will benefit from having extra money put on them when you can afford it. If you’re good when it comes to bills then you might want to consider paying something off. This will give you extra money to spend each month instead of your typical tax return splurge time.

3. Invest
With bills out of the way and a sizeable savings account, you may want to do something to help your money grow. This is where investing comes in handy and can help just about anyone make their money work for them. Investing sounds pretty complicated, especially if you’re new to the task. There’s lots of friendly aids around to help you out though. You can also hire a stock broker to help you make the right decision. Of course, the best thing you can do for yourself when investing is to spend lots of time researching, especially when it comes to the companies you want to invest in. With a little luck, you’ll make a wise investment choice so your money can grow. This also means you’ll need to keep up to date with stocks too, so you’ll know when to sell to make a profit.

4. Necessary Repairs
It’s pretty easy to overlook all of the repairs that need to or should be done. If you have a car that’s been on the fritz then you might want to take your tax return and get it the tune up or repairs that it needs to go strong for the rest of the year. This will allow you to drive without worrying about having to pay huge fees in the future. The house is another area to look for improvements. Perhaps the house needs some new shingles or a new coat of paint. You might also check out the pipes and ventilation as well as inspect the water heater. If you don’t need to repair anything then you may want to consider improvements that could raise the value of your home. New countertops or cabinets, for instance, are smart ideas that will even make you feel more comfortable in your home.

5. Stock Up
If there’s nothing on the list that is an absolute buy, then your tax return money might be best used as a way for you to stock up the home. For instance, if you see a good sale you may want to stock up on the basic groceries you know your family goes through frequently. If you have a deep freeze then try to buy as much meat as you can, so you don’t have to worry about grocery shopping for a while. This can help you if you find yourself in a bind with money too as you won’t have to worry about budgeting in for these items. Food isn’t the only thing to stock up on. You should also consider personal items like soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products and more. Toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, trash bags and other must have items are a good option to buy too.

6. College Fund
Another great option for those looking to make a difference with the tax refund money is to set it aside in a college fund for your child or children. Most banks will happily do this for you and you can even have a separate account for each child. Make sure the account you choose for the fund will gain interest while your children grown and prepare to go to a high education establishment. There are also other programs that will help your college money grow. The government is even willing to help in regards to this with their 529 plan. This plan is based on your state and either works as a savings fund for college money or a pre-paid tuition plan for qualifying institutions. You may want to do some research into this to ensure it’s for you, but it could be a great way to invest your money in the future, while also helping out your finances and your child’s.

7. Emergency Savings
Without a doubt, if you don’t have an emergency fund for your household already then now is the perfect time to get one started. An emergency fund can be for anything from dealing with car problems, loss of a job, medical problems or even to help entertain while family or friends visit. Most middle class households should have at least $500 in savings to deal with problems such as these. However, if you can add and keep more in the account then you should always do so. This will help you from getting yourself into a major financial bind when something bad comes up. Plus, if you keep the money in the bank you’ll easily be able to grow your savings so you’ll be ready if the unthinkable happens.

8. Upgrade For Efficiency
If you’re happy with your home then it may be time to get to upgrading the appliances. This doesn’t just mean go out and grab any item you want though. Rather, try to find an item that is going to make your home more energy efficient. This isn’t really a hard task in today’s world, considering most companies try to incorporate energy star into everything they make. This means the appliance will use less power, which will save on your bills and your carbon footprint. You should look into refrigerators, stand alone stoves, washers, dryers and even surge protectors. If you need a computer or other devices to work then you should also consider investing some of the tax money there too. You can even get another tax deduction on some of these items next filing season, so hold on to your receipts.

9. Holiday Savings
Another great way to help your budget out is to put the tax refund money back for holiday spending. Every year, it seems like crunch time during the holidays because there is so much spending going on that it’s hard to keep up. By having a nest egg handy you won’t have to worry about your credit card bill skyrocketing, nor will you have to spend all of your paycheck on gifts. The savings you gain throughout the year will even help you buy more gifts, so you’ll get even more out of putting the money back. You can also dip into the money for emergency birthday gifts, which could help you out of a bind when you’re invited to an unexpected party.

10. Vacation Fund
Although this one may feel more like a splurge, you’ll be happy you did it when you’re stressed out from work. Putting the money back to take a nicer vacation is a great way to help save your budget in the future. Vacations tend to be pricey but with some money put back, you won’t have to worry about more going on your credit card while you’re there. Not to mention, vacations help with overall health. Thus, you will be less likely to make inconvenient splurges. You also won’t have to worry about getting depressed as much or getting burned out with your job. This will prevent you from taking unnecessary sick days that may not be paid for. Of course, the time to bond with your family will be priceless too, which won’t make you think twice about saving your refund for another vacation when next year’s returns come in.

Tax return season can be pretty exciting, but you shouldn’t jump ahead of yourself and splurge on things you won’t need in the near future. These ten ideas will help you get more out of your refund money, so you can enjoy the perks of a frugal budget for much longer than expected.

With the Spring Equinox only a couple of weeks away and the weather clearing up, you may be getting an itch to start cleaning up your home. Spring Cleaning is an annual tradition that can help you get your home off to a great start before the summer months arrive and the kids are constantly home from school. The only problem is many of the products that we use to clean aren’t exactly eco-friendly. They also don’t help out when it comes to the monthly budget. There are ways to get a brilliant deep clean in your home that won’t cost you a small fortune though. So, prepare to get your hands a little dirty, because Spring Cleaning season is about to hit in full force.

1. Use Rags
Many people tackle their tough jobs by using paper towels to clean them up. This is probably only good in regards to convenience, because you can simply throw the paper away and get a fresh sheet to carry on the job. However, using paper towels can really add up in the long run. You can go through roll after roll, especially if you’re cleaning up the whole house. As each sheet of paper towel hit the trash can, you’re not only wasting a tree product but throwing away whatever chemicals you have used to clean your home. Neither of these are great for the environment. Not to mention, using so many paper towels will add up in price, especially since using one isn’t always good enough to clean up a mess. Alternatively, a rag is a great option to get the job done. You can use an old towel or wash cloth as well as other clothing items. You might also want to see if your local dollar store has rags in a set as the low price will be worth it. This will allow you to simply wash an item after you clean with it. Rags also allow for more scrubbing capabilities.

2. Mold
Mold can be one of the biggest culprits to take care of when it comes to Spring Cleaning. Since the house was often closed up during the winter, you may find rooms with little ventilation, like the bathroom, have a good amount of mold that needs to be tackled. There may also be mold lingering outside of the home from constant moisture. These problems can be taken care of without chemicals though. Usually people use bleach to tackle these problems, which can sometimes work. However, there’s a cheaper and more natural approach to this problem. That is, vinegar. You can buy a bulk bottle of white vinegar for next to nothing. All you have to do is soak the molded area in the vinegar for a little while and you should be good to simply wipe the mold away. In harsher cases, you may need to do a light scrub, or spray the exterior of the home with the water hose. If this doesn’t work, then do a second soak. Before you know it, you’ll be mold free though without the use of a chemical.

3. Wood
Whether you have just a few items of wooden furniture or you have full hard wood floors, taking care of the wood in your home is incredibly important. Although cleaning it usually doesn’t take much, you may want to go to greater lengths in order to protect the wood and to leave it looking new for years longer. One way to do this is to use castile soap to clean it. This is gentle on most woods and will give it a fresh look that will make you feel like you’ve accomplished a job well done. Once your floor has dried then go over it with some essential oils. Usually orange, lemon or cedar oils are the best for this job and will leave your home smelling fresh too. You don’t need a lot of these oils to work either, just make sure you dilute them before using them. These oils will also help keep dust at bay, which is important if you have allergies. If you have scuffs on items, then use baking soda to remove them. Before you know it, your floor will look like it was just installed in your home.

4. Stains
Pets, children and clumsy behavior can leave your home covered in stains. It’s almost impossible to avoid this problem on the carpets, countertops and even the furniture. Luckily, there’s lots of great ways to get rid of the stains without having to pour chemicals all over them. For starters, peroxide is a simple way to get rid of stains on the carpet. Simply mix it with water and pour it over the stain. After it has soaked for some time, wipe it up and enjoy a stain free carpet. Lemons are another amazing option here. These great citrus fruits can take care of stains on your clothes, countertops and even on the cutting board. They even work for pots, pans and the microwave which may have food caked on. Lemons will leave the home spelling nice and fresh too, which will save you money on air fresheners.

5. Air
Most households keep the windows closed during the winter months, which can cause bacteria to build up as well as smells that aren’t exactly satisfactory. This causes many people to buy expensive air deodorizers that can add too many chemicals into the air you breathe. There’s many natural alternatives though. For starters, if you can leave the house windows open for just 15 minutes a day then you will get rid of some of the toxins while adding a fresh burst of air into the home. If you still don’t like the smell in your home, then consider using essential oils in a diffuser or dehumidifier. Many oils have antibacterial and anti-fungal principles anyway, which will help your health out. Another option is to consider a Himalayan salt lamp. These help cleanse the air as well as other health properties. Of course, make sure you’re careful here as many brands have been recalled. Finally, if you’re willing to sink money into the problem, you may want to grab an air purifier, which will even help reduce allergies when Spring begins to bloom.

6. Carpet
Vacuuming frequently can help keep your carpet looking and smelling good, but sometimes you may want to go a bit further when it comes to the care of your carpets. If you’re looking to deodorize safely then you can easily whip up a mixture of essential oils and baking soda. Simply let the oils dry in the mixture and then sprinkle it on the ground. You can really make the home smell amazing this way and many essential oils will kill bacteria that may be lingering in your carpets. If you have pets or kids then you probably have a whole lot of stains in the home too. These can easily be fixed with vinegar and a bit of heat. Simply pour some vinegar, or a vinegar and water mixture onto the stain, then place a damp cloth over it. Once your iron is heated up you can place it over the cloth and you’ll be good to go. With summer making a rapid approach this year, you may want to consider a little flea prevention too. This can be done by adding borax to the carpet whenever you vacuum.

7. Reusable Bins
Tackling closets, the garage, basement or attic can mean going out and buying a whole lot of cardboard boxes to keep your items organized. Whether you’re putting away winter clothes, saving your child’s favorite toys or simply storing junk, cardboard boxes can be a huge drain on resources and the planet. Instead of storing items in these, consider using a bin for everything. Sure, you will still have to spend money on a bin but it won’t be a whole lot more than you’d spend on the cardboard boxes. The best thing about the bin is you’ll get a good seal on your items. This will help keep dirt, dust, moisture and bugs out of your personal belongings. So, when you go to open them up again you won’t have to worry about cleaning up a huge mess or being surprised by a bug that might not look very friendly.

8. Weeds
The inside of your home isn’t the only thing that needs cleaning. You may find that after months of not even being able to see your lawn that you now have a ton of weeds that are growing and spreading faster than you’d like to admit. You could go the easy route and spray all of the weeds with a weed killer, but this may destroy your lawn and it isn’t exactly the best thing for the environment. You can easily take care of the weeds that have already popped up by spraying them down with apple cider vinegar. This will knock out the weed from the root and will keep it from coming back any time soon. Apart from that, you may want to grab some corn meal to add into your soil. This will help prevent the seeds of weeds from spreading, so you won’t end up with a crisis on your hands.

9. Dust
Anyone that gets allergies knows that dust can leave you sneezing all day every day. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do for dust without using sprays to counteract it. The first thing you can do is open up the windows. This will help move air in so you’ll feel great and will have a lot less clean up to do. Another option is to get a floor mat, which will help you from dragging in any extra dirt and dust when you come through the door. If your allergies seem particularly bad, then you may want to consider enclosing your mattress to help protect from dust. You should also vacuum it whenever you change your sheets. Decluttering the home will help cut back on dust too and will ensure the dusting you do have to do will be fast and easy. Finally, if the air is particularly dry then turn on a humidifier to help bring moisture into the air that will help prevent some dust from building up.

10. Glass
It’s pretty easy to neglect cleaning the windows when you have a million other things going on, which is why you should probably do a good job when Spring Cleaning rolls around. It’s easy enough just to spray some chemicals on the window for a quick clean, but you may find natural solutions help keep the windows looking good for much longer. If you have a waxy feeling on your windows, then you should clean them with soap and water before you do anything else. This will allow the gas to shine through and look better for much longer. When this is dry then go over them with a little vinegar to give them the shine that you see advertised on all of your favorite window cleaners. If you clean your windows and mirrors with a sponge, then you will reduce the amount of streaks on the glass. Of course, if you have a lot of birds in your area you may want to consider decals or blinds to help prevent accidents.

Spring Cleaning time doesn’t mean you have to force your budget or use an over-abundance of chemicals. With these simple tips your house should smell incredible and look great too in no time at all. So, ditch the bottles this year and enjoy cleaning the way Mother Nature intended.

If you’re expecting or you have a child in diapers, then you may have developed a fear for this costly part of having a baby. It seems like diaper duty never ends, which can be a problem if you’re on a tight budget. Diapers and wipes aren’t exactly on the cheap end of the spectrum and with all of your other new expenses, you may wonder how you’re going to be able to keep up with the constant demand. Luckily, there’s several ways you can keep your baby in diapers without spending the small fortune you might think. These ten tips should help you cut back on your spending, so you can worry less about diaper money and make more time for your bundle of joy.

1. Try Generic
There’s a lot of big name diapers out there, but for each of these brands you can easily find a generic option that is equal in quality. Of course, that doesn’t mean all of the generic brands will do right by you. If you choose to try out a new brand, make sure to shop for a smaller package. This will allow you to see the quality of the diaper without being forced to spend a lot of money on a bulk buy that may not even work for your child. It will also ensure that you won’t end up with a lot of diapers if your child is allergic to them, which happens more than you think. Generic diapers will still add up in price, but every little bit helps when you’re saving money. You should also try out generic brands from stores that you trust. Dollar store brands may not be up to par with other department stores, so shop carefully and ask others how they feel about generic brands before shopping.

2. Shop in Bulk
One of the best things about diapers is numerous stores will sell them in bulk batches to help you keep up with the constant demand. Each store will offer a variety of different bulk sizes, so you should be able to customize your shopping experience to your budget or your child’s needs. These big boxes will help you get through a longer period, so you may not have to go on diaper runs in the middle of the night. Of course, you should always do the math before you buy in bulk. Calculate the cost of each diaper and compare it to the costs of other stores. Sometimes, the biggest of the packs aren’t the best of price, which could leave you paying more than you should.

3. Open Box Deals
Open Box deals still aren’t as popular as they should. Basically, these deals offer a product at a discounted price. The only catch is the product has already been opened. Of course, the company inspects the items before offering them for resell, so you don’t have to worry about getting something that has been tampered with. You can find Open Box deals on a wide variety of websites, so make sure to look around to see what suits your needs. Amazon actually has an Open Box store especially for baby supplies, which can help you save a whole lot of money if you don’t mind getting an open box of bulk diapers. If you’re a member of Amazon Prime or Amazon Mom then you’ll still be able to take advantage of your free shipping perks too, which will cut back on your spending even more.

4. Free Samples
If you’re looking for any bit of assistance when it comes to diapers and wipes then the internet is certainly the place to look. Many companies will send you free samples of their products in order to win out your business. You can even write to the companies to see if they will send you special coupons on products to help you out. There are also special programs that will offer you free samples of a wide variety of baby products. More often than not, you will get samples for diapers and wipes. If you have a newborn or one on the way, then you can easily apply for a lot of welcome boxes that will help you out with many baby needs. Usually these boxes come with a small pack of diapers or samples as well as a variety of wipes. So, make sure you sign up for as many of these as possible. Finally, there’s lots of coupons around that can help you get major discounts and freebies.

5. Membership Programs
When it comes to saving money, you may want to look into memberships to help you out. There’s lots out there that do a wide variety of things. For starters, you can get a membership like Amazon Mom, which will allow you to take a 15% discount off baby necessities as well as the perks of free shipping. This should help keep you in the savings while adding a whole lot of convenience to your now busy life. If you have a wholesale store near you then you may want to grab a membership to that as well. This will help you to buy diapers and wipes in bulk, which is sure to make life a whole lot better, especially when the baby is going through so many diapers. Last but not least, you can sign up for perks with your diaper company. Many will put codes on their diapers which will add up to give you freebies and more.

6. Earn Points
It pays to be loyal when you’re buying diapers and wipes in more ways than one. For starters, it lets you feel secure that your child isn’t allergic to a certain brand and that you’re not going to deal with leaks as often as you might with other brands. On the other hand, it lets you get great deals on the items you’re already gong to purchase. Many diaper and wipe companies offer rewards now, in order to keep company loyalty. For instance, they will give out special codes for customers to type into their membership page. These rewards tally up and eventually you will be able to earn freebies. Of course, these memberships also offer free coupons to help you along your way too.

7. DIY wipes
Recently, baby wipes have been in the news quite a bit and not in a good way. A lot of brands can actually harm your child’s skin if used too much. This factor, on top of the high price of keeping the wipes stocked has left many parents turning to alternative measures. Usually, this means whipping up your own baby wipes for a fair price. There’s a whole lot of recipes online that can help you guide your way into making your own wipes for your child. Most involve paper towels, water and essential oils, so you won’t have to spend an arm and a leg on the items. You may even find the wipes are better for your child’s skin overall. To make things even better, you can always use coconut oil after each change to help prevent rashes and other problems.

8. Trade Ins
Chances are, if you had a baby shower then you probably ended up with a whole lot of newborn diapers to contend with. This is a great start to your new journey into parenthood, but you may end up with too many diapers in the same size. Generally, new born diapers only fit babies up to 8 pounds, which many babies surpass at birth or after a couple of weeks of life. Luckily, you don’t have to just throw out or sell all of the diapers collecting dust in the closet. Instead, you can take them into a retailer and trade them in for an appropriate size. This will help save you even more money as well as space in the home. Most retailers will do this, but make sure to ask before you go in so you don’t waste your time.

9. Go Cloth
If you really want to cut back on the spending, then cloth might be the way to go. This is a greener version of diapering and won’t force you to keep paying for diapers. The downside of cloth diapers is you’re going to be doing laundry a whole lot, but if you have an energy efficient machine you should be good to go. There’s a huge variety when it comes to cloth now too. For starters, you can go with the classic diapers that must be pinned up. These are sure to always be on the market and are a cheap way to save money while promoting cleanliness. They do make special clothed diapers now though that Velcros shut and are easy to get on and off.

10. Ask Around
Knowing people can really help you find what you need for you and your child. If you have a lot of friends that are parents or family members who have recently had a baby, then you maybe in lucky. Often, these households will have extra diapers that no longer fit their child anymore. Since the packs are open completely they may have to hold onto them. If you ask the right people, they may be willing to pass over the diapers to you. Another option is to ask charities. You may be surprised by how many people are willing to help you when it comes to diapers. In fact, there’s even a National Diaper Bank. So check out this charity and others, in order to keep the diaper purchases in working order.

Ensuring your child has a clean diaper and plenty of wipes can be a trying feat. These ten tips should help you find your way to a healthier budget and child. I’m sure, with a little luck and know how, you’re going to stress a whole lot less about diaper duty.

February seemed to fly by with major holidays like Valentine’s Day and President’s Day to leave your budget a little out of sorts. Luckily, March will be a little easier on your budget with a break from any major gift-giving holiday though, so now is the perfect time to recover a little from the holiday season. That doesn’t mean that it’s safe to shop for whatever you want in the month of March though. In fact, there’s quite a few items that you’ll need to avoid if you plan on saving money in the long run. With any luck, you’ll be able to shop around these no-buys with ease, so you can enjoy larger savings at a later date.

1. Swimsuits
In some areas, the weather may still be a little chilly which would leave some people to believe that it would be safe to go shopping for bathing suits. However, with Spring Break on the way, swimsuits will be at a high meaning you may want to wait until after the major break is over to look for the perfect suit for you. During this time, all new lines of swimsuits will be put out to appeal to students who plan to travel to warmer climates in order to enjoy their break. Once the break period is over, usually in late April, you will find lots of older swim suits on the clearance rack. You will also see a decrease in the new lines of swimsuits since most people will have gone ahead and purchased the look they want for the season. You may want to take this time to stock up on a couple of different swimsuits so you can have options when pool and beach weather officially arrives.

2. Lingerie
A lot of people think that just after Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to go shopping for lingerie. However, lingerie really doesn’t go on sale after the holiday. In fact, you will probably find better deals on lingerie on Valentine’s Day then the period directly after it. If you can hold off for a while, then you will more than likely find better deals on lingerie in the summer months during the iconic Semi-Annual sale that Victoria Secret hosts. This sale is usually followed by other lingerie companies hosting competing sales, so you can take advantage of it while you can.

3. TVs
With the Super Bowl over and all of the big holiday sales, you can kiss TV sales goodbye too. Most of the items on the market now will return to their pre-sale pricing, which won’t do you any favors if you’re in the market for a new TV. Usually, it is best to wait and get a new TV during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. However, you may get lucky during the summer months if you’re still hunting for a TV. There’s often really big sales around Memorial Day, but you may find that some stores will host sales to help make up for the lack of purchases during the summer months. Before you go shopping, make sure you plug in the TV into a shopping app to make sure that it is actually a decent sale before you buy. More often than not, these sales won’t actually save you much at all, so be careful.

4. Vacuum Cleaners
It’s almost time for Spring Cleaning, so of course, you probably won’t find the best deals possible on a vacuum cleaner. There may be small discounts on the must have machine, but if you can hold out on the item then you should. Generally, in April or May the vacuum cleaners will go back on sale, which will allow you to buy a more powerful model that can help keep your home cleaner than ever. This may mean putting off a lot of your Spring Cleaning routine, but it will definitely give you more time to organize and sort through your items before you handle the carpet. If you are in dire need of a vacuum cleaner during this month then you may consider renting one or borrowing one from friends or family. You’ll be thankful you held out on the purchase when you find one that meets your standards and your budget in the upcoming months.

5. Outdoor Furniture
In most areas, March brings some really nice weather that many want to take advantage of. It’s not entirely cold, nor is it so hot that you feel uncomfortable, which makes it the perfect time to get out and socialize. This is why so many people get the itch to buy patio furniture during this month, which retailers are quite aware of. Thus, the price of the furniture is hiked up a little or remains at retail price. If you are a little patient and wait for the upcoming months, you should find amazing deals on the furniture that will make you want to endure the heat just to enjoy your awesome savings. From table sets to fire pits, as soon as the temperatures begin to rise many retailers try to push the items out the door. You’ll also find great deals on them during the Memorial Day sales.

6. Appliances
This time of the year is when a lot of new kitchen appliances hit the market. Thus, you may want to skip out on shopping appliances during the month of March. Since it is wedding season, this also works against you as most retailers know people are on the hunt for wedding gifts as well as items for future college students to take with them for their first semester on their own. Luckily, the prices for these items won’t stay high for long, so you should be able to try out the latest kitchen trends in no time at all. Until then, you may want to consider holding on to your used item to sell at a later date, as many people will pay a lot more than you’d expect for a used appliance. This may even help you put back a little money for the new appliance that you’ve had your eye on.

7. Pools
It may seem a little too early to find yourself shopping for pools, but if you choose to purchase in March you’re likely to pay more than ever before. When it comes to inground pools, most people put in an order to begin the process as soon as the ground has thawed enough to dig. Thus, waiting until March could mean you’re hitting peak season for these orders, which is sure to leave you spending a fortune. If you’ve already waited this long then the best thing you can do is wait for the summer months to die down as this will mean demand is down and you should be able to find the deal you need. Shopping for an above ground pool may also not be wise. The item isn’t really in season yet, so you might have to special order it. However, if your department stores are already displaying them then you will probably find them at retail price, opposed to on sale. The pools and accessories will take a price decrease as soon as the weather gets really hot and sales begin to slow down.

8. International Flights
With Spring blossoming, you may get the itch to travel, especially to locations that you know are beautiful this time of the year. This urge is why the prices for plane tickets can go up substantially during the month of March. During this time, many people are planning a last minute Spring Break or they are looking to book their summer vacations. Although it may sound like a lot of fun to book a vacation last minute, there’s actually a specific amount of time you should begin your search for the special trip. In fact, if you don’t plan ahead a year in advance for some locations, you may end up paying a fortune on your tickets. So, make sure to plan wisely and avoid shopping around in March during the Spring Break and summer vacation rush.

9. Tax Software
In this case, the early bird gets the worm and since tax season is already almost over, you will probably have a hard time catching a good deal on the software you need to do your taxes. However, if you do wait until April to get your software then you will probably stumble across some last minute deals that will save you big money. March just so happens to be in the center of tax season, so people have already either finished up their taxes or still aren’t in a huge rush to do them. This doesn’t make for great sales, therefore most stores can’t afford to put the software on sale just yet. You may luck out and find a price cut with some vendors, but you shouldn’t expect anything great while shopping around.

10. Gardening Supplies
With Spring on its way, a lot of people are starting to get excited about working in the garden again. This causes a surge in gardening supply purchases during the month of March, which makes retailers want to keep their prices steady so they earn more money. Even if the weather is still icy in your area, you will be surprised as to how many partake in pre-seeding which allows them to begin gardening before it’s safe to plant outside. This keeps the price of seeds high too, so you won’t even find a relief in the high prices in this area either. The best thing you can do is wait until Spring is actually here. Most retailers get in lots of plants at once, which rarely ever sell out. Thus, they have to do lots of work to maintain the living plants, which costs them money. Also, many of the plants can’t survive for long in small containers, so you should have your pick of the lot in just a few weeks after the plants begin to show up. Patience will definitely become your best friend when it comes to gardening though, so make sure to hold out until everyone else has started to work in their garden.

March is a great time to save money, especially if you manage to avoid these ten items while shopping. With a little luck, you’ll be able to find an amazing deal later in the year, which will leave you thankful that you did without in the month of March. With all of the savings you’ll find this month, you’re sure to enjoy your Spring Break all the more.

St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to have a bit of fun while celebrating Irish heritage. Although the holiday is mostly filled with non-traditional elements from Irish culture and largely appeals to adults, you will be surprised by how much fun a child can have on the special occasion. These ten tips should help you keep your child busy on St. Patrick’s Day without forcing you to work around the community in order to meet the needs of the whole family. Not to mention, several of these ideas will cost you nothing at all to create, so you can keep your holiday frugal and fun without spending hours looking on the internet for ideas to keep the family busy and festive.

1. Pot of Gold
Leprechauns tend to play a major role in the holiday and it wouldn’t be a true leprechaun celebration without a pot of gold. You can make your pot of gold out of recyclables, old pales or even purchase a simple one from the dollar store for next to nothing. Once you get the pot ready, fill it with fun items like golden candies, your child’s favorite candy, small toys, coupons to get out of chores and much more. Then, find a hiding place for the pot and wait for your child or children to wake up. You can make individualized pots or have the whole family work together to find one pot. You can even add rainbows to the wall and floor to help direct the child to find the pot. This makes a fun game for St. Patrick’s Day morning, that will make your child feel lucky all day long.

2. Garden
There’s no better time to go green by gardening than St. Patrick’s Day. Not only will the Spring weather be rolling in, but you’ll also be able to have a lot of fun with the green concept when it comes to the kids. Try picking out items like clovers to plant in the garden, just to make it more festive. You can also do a little research and find out some of the plants that are common in Ireland and plant those. Of course, you don’t have to keep it themed as you will know what you want in your garden as well as which items will grow in your climate. The act of planting is what is important though and will leave you feeling accomplished and like you’ve done Mother Nature a bit of good. You don’t have to stop with planting though, if you’re still in the holiday spirit. You can make or buy little leprechauns to put in your yard to show off your holiday spirit.

3. Dress in Green
Dressing up in all green is probably one of the most common ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This is a great way to let the kids take the reins when it comes to the holiday. If they have plenty of green clothing, then have them pick out an outfit that shows off as much green as possible. This will allow them to feel like they are taking a bigger role in the holiday. Of course, if there aren’t a lot of green clothes in their wardrobe then you might want to consider making an outfit. If you use simple washable markers, kids can draw on denim to create pants that will stand out, but can still be washed clean later. A little food coloring on a white shirt will also transform it into a bright green that won’t leave your child getting pinched. You can also make ties, hats, bowties and other accessories to suit the occasion with paper, duct tape or scrap cloth. Your imagination is the limit here.

4. Themed Games
If you have a lot of free time on St. Patrick’s Day, then it might be time to pull out some games to help keep the kids entertained. You can transform many of your favorite household games into a holiday theme just by changing around the names a bit. Of course, there’s also a lot of fun things on the internet too. You can download themed Bingo cards, mazes, crossword puzzles and a whole lot more that will work with kids in a wide age bracket. You may also be able to find a whole lot of active games to help keep the kids entertained. There’s even fun online games that older kids will get a kick out of as they learn more about the holiday or simply have a laugh at the game design.

5. Green Food
You might count yourself lucky that the holiday has a green theme, because it may be one of the few times you can get your kids to eat green foods. Of course, if you’re not ready to present kids with a plate full of veggies, you can always transform some of your favorite foods into green works of art. Mashed potatoes are a great common dish that only takes a little food coloring to transform. Not to mention, this food is great for celebrating Irish culture. You can also go a little literary on the holiday and serve green eggs and ham for breakfast. The little ones may love this if they are learning to read and are curious about the food. Apart from that, you can always stick with the classics, like green Jell-o and sherbet. You may even consider having the kids pitch in with kitchen prep so they will be more likely to actually eat the green foods on the menu.

6. Crafts
Like most holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to break out the craft supplies to have a little fun. There’s lots of free coloring sheets available online, but you can always take your crafting to the next level. Many people especially love making items like clovers to place on the wall or to hang from the ceiling. You can also make your own pot of gold out of paper plates and markers. This is perfect for small games that you may play throughout the day too. You can also make leprechaun puppets out of paper bags or popsicle sticks. Your imagination will keep you busy all day long if you let it. If you’re shy on ideas, then browse around online as there’s so many fun things to make that the whole family will adore.

7. Leprechaun Trap
Everyone knows that catching a leprechaun is a great way to get close to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So, you may want to have the kids set out a leprechaun trap the night before the big holiday. There’s so many amazing trap ideas online that your whole family should be able to make something that suits their personality. These traps can easily be made with recyclables and other items found around the house too, so you won’t have to worry about spending too much money on them. Once the traps are finished and dried, you can have the kids place them around the home. When they go to bed disable the trap as if something or someone entered and escaped the trap. You may want to leave clovers, a form of gold dust and some treats, like chocolate coins, in the trap for a lovely morning surprise.

8. Leave Out Shoes
Another great way to add to the magic of the holiday is to have your children leave their shoes out before they go to bed. Since leprechauns are often considered shoe makers or shoe repairmen, you can play on this to make your kids anticipate the holiday. With the shoes left out, you can fill them with treats or pranks to help the kids enjoy the special occasion. Try hiding a few pieces of candy in the toe of the shoe and then tie the laces together to make it feel like a trickster came to visit. Kids will love anticipating what will happen to their shoes while they sleep, which will make this holiday more fun than ever expected. For older kids, you may even consider putting money in the shoe, but try to keep it in coin form to make it feel more realistic.

9. See a Parade
Although St. Patrick’s Day isn’t exactly considered a major holiday, there are still many parades around the country and world that are a lot of fun for the whole family to watch. You might want to check to see if there is going to be a parade in your community. If not, you may want to organize your own if you can find enough people willing to contribute to the fun. This should only take some signatures to receive approval from your city board. Of course, if you don’t want to do this you can always take to the internet to find a parade. One of the most famous takes place in Boston where they dye the water green just for the special occasion. The whole family will love watching all of the fun Irish décor as it passes along the famous boardwalk.

10. Teach
There’s lots of fun to be had on St. Patrick’s Day, but we shouldn’t forget the holiday is a celebration of Irish culture and Saint Patrick. You may want to take this time to teach your children about your Irish roots if you have any. You can also create lessons about Irish culture and history. You may even want to incorporate food into your lessons, especially if you have a family recipe that has been passed down for generations. It may be wise to do some research on Saint Patrick, so you can explain the true meaning of the holiday to your children. After these lessons, your child will have a greater grasp of what is being celebrated as well as heritage. Even if you don’t have Irish roots, this is a great time to embrace Irish history and how it affected the country that you live in. Older children may get more out of the holiday if you assign an Irish book to read for the month of March. There’s lots of great options available that you can base on their skill level.

Although it may seem tough to find things for children to do on St. Patrick’s Day, there’s more options than you think. These ten ideas will help keep everyone busy, so you won’t have to spend an arm and a leg on entertainment just to celebrate the special day. With any luck, your kids will come out of the holiday feeling a little closer to the history and fun behind the celebration.

With the major holidays finally over, you may be wondering how you’re going to get rid of all of your debt without paying a small fortune in interest. Credit card debt can be a huge pain to knock out, especially when you’re already on a tight budget, but there are ways to help you become debt free in less time than you’d expect. This will not only help with your budget, but will also improve your credit. Best of all, each of the ten tips should be stress free so you won’t have finances on your mind all of the time. So, get ready to buckle down and let your credit card bills disappear faster than you thought possible.

1. Say No to Minimum Payment
No matter what your debt is, you’re going to get a bill each month that shows you the minimum amount of money you can pay on your balance. This number is usually surprisingly low, but this is done so that more and more interest can build up on your account. Although you should never not pay your minimum payment, you should also always try to pay a bit extra. You can put as much money on your credit card as you please, so if the debt is high then you may want to tighten your belt and simply pay as much as you can afford to help knock down the debt. If you can’t put a lot of extra on it then every little bit helps. Try rounding up to the dollar to add in a few cents extra, or simply throw on $5 whenever you can spare it. This will help cut back on the interest for good.

2. Set Aside Spare Cash
We often forget just how much money we lose when it comes to change. For a while, try to carry cash for your weekly spending money so you can put back more money for your debt. When the week is over, toss whatever spending money you have left in a jar. By the time you pay your credit card bill, you should have extra money to put on your bill, without ever having to save for it. This will help cut back on your interest immensely and will show you just how much money you’re throwing away on a daily basis. You might also consider putting your splurge money into a jar once a month, this will still allow you some luxuries but will also cushion your payment even more. Another way to set aside cash without forcing yourself to be too disciplined is to create a swear jar or bad habit jar. This will help you put back cash quickly and will improve your character.

3. Watch Interest
Interest is one of the worst things about credit cards because it increases the amount you have to pay back on your purchases. However, if you’re careful with interest then you can make your credit card work for you. For instance, if you plan on spending a lot of money on a card do it during a no interest period. Some companies will offer this when you open up your credit line with them. This will give you time to begin paying off the balance before interest kicks in for a larger sum of money. If you’re unhappy with your interest rate after some time then ask your credit card company for a reduction. If your credit has improved or you are a long term customer then they may consider doing this. If not, you may want to stop spending on this card and work on paying it off, rather than accruing more debt on that specific card.

4. Transfer Balance
Most people tend to have more than one credit card now, which is okay as long as you don’t build up too much debt on both cards. However, if you want to reduce your credit card debt then you might want to consider transferring your balance from one card to the other. This is especially great if you have a card that has a lower interest or no interest at all for a period of time. This will allow you to begin paying larger payments while you don’t have to worry about all of your money being eaten up my interest costs. Some cards will even offer incentives to convince you to do this, so you may end up getting a discount on the money you already owe. Of course, make sure you research to make sure this move will actually save you money in the long run. You should also make sure not to put more money on the card that you transfer your balance from. Instead, you may want to consider closing that account or putting the card in a safe place so you’re not tempted to spend with it.

5. Don’t Indulge
After charging lots of items for the holidays, you may want to take a brief hiatus from spending sprees until you get your balance under control. To do this, you may want to set some pretty strict rules for yourself. For instance, you may not want to put any charges on your card unless they are for an emergency. This will allow you to pay off the balance, rather than forcing you to fill like you’re making no progress at all. If you do have to use your credit card to pay bills, then you may want to consider only putting essential items on it when you absolutely have to. Don’t look at the credit card as a way to increase your flexibility between pay checks or to help make life easier. It may even help to place the card in water and freeze it, so you can’t have access to the numbers or physical card.

6. Stop Splurging
One problem many people face when paying off credit card debt is fighting the urge to buy more things. From shoes to fast food, spending money comes naturally especially if you put your debt to the back of your mind. However, if you’re serious about paying off your cards then you may want to put the splurging on hold for a while. This is especially true when it comes to using your credit card. However, you should avoid splurging with your debit card or cash too. This will allow you to hold onto more money that can quickly be placed onto your credit card. This extra bit of money will go towards the principle balance, rather than the interest. Before you know it, your lack of fast food trips will have done wonders on your credit card balance.

7. One Bill At A Time
A lot of people make the mistake of wanting to overdo it when they begin to pay off their debt. They will put excess money on each bill, which will end up getting them nowhere fast. One way to help ease the pain of paying off credit debt is to simply stick with the one bill at a time plan. This requires you to pay all of your bills, but allows you to put extra money on one of the credit cards. You can choose to do this on the lowest balance or perhaps the card with the most interest. Then, when you pay off the balance of that card you can move the payment you would put on it and put it on another bill. This will help keep things from getting overwhelming, so you can feel a lot more comfortable with managing debt while preventing yourself from creating more due to an over extended budget.

8. Consolidate
Another way many people choose to tackle their debt is to consolidate their bills. This usually happens when someone has too many bills to pay in proportion to their income. Consolidating debt allows you to pay one lump sum payment that will help knock out bills faster. Often consolidation companies will take on the debt, so you only have interest based on their plan. Consolidating bills can help cut back on monthly spending too and will allow you to rest easy because your debt won’t wind up with a collection agency. There’s lots of consolidation companies though, so do a little research to see which will work best for you before you enter into the consolidation process.

9. Set Goals
When it comes to working off your credit card debt, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to set goals. This will allow you to sit down and think about how much you would like to pay off in a specific amount of time. With a goal set, you’re more likely to follow through on your plan opposed to if you were just going to wing it. You don’t have to set extreme goals right away though. Instead, start small and offer yourself a small reward when you reach this goal. Then, move up your standards to pay off a bit more of the debt. Once you get into the routine of working towards your goal, it will seem like second nature to put more money onto the debt. This will also help you from getting overwhelmed by the debt, which is sure to bring more encouragement to your mission.

10. Earn Extra
At the end of the day, one of the best ways to cut down on your credit card debt is to bring more money into the home. This doesn’t mean you have to take on a second or third job to pay off your credit cards though. However, you could utilize your talents to help earn money. For instance, if you’re good at a craft then you could always try selling some of the items you make online. There are also craft fairs and conventions that make it easy for you to turn a profit with your items. Baking is another way to add to your funds, especially if you have a decent place to conduct a bake sale. Selling all of your old items might help out too, especially if you have quite a few clothes, antiques and toys that you don’t want anymore. Finally, you can always pick up a temporary job like an Uber driver or dog walker. This should help you earn more, so you can easily toss the extra money onto the debt.

More often than not, we tend to overspend during the holidays, which leaves us wondering what we were thinking later on in the year. These tips will help make the burden less stressful, so you can find financial freedom again and raise your confidence as a consumer.

Wedding season is on its way, which means you may be scrambling to find a venue if you’re planning on tying the knot any time soon. The wedding venue can be one of the most expensive aspects of a wedding, which is why it’s always good to try to cut costs as much as you can. Not to mention, you may find that booking a venue can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you’re not working with a lot of time. There are a few options for those who procrastinated or simply want to get married sooner rather than later. With a few budgeting tricks, you’ll find that you can have a dream wedding in a fabulous venue without spending a large fortune.

1. Backyard
If you’re looking for a really cheap venue idea, then nothing will save you money quite like hosting the big event in your backyard. Of course, this does bring a few obstacles like noise levels, capacity and the weather, but when it comes to saving some money this is certainly the way to go. The best thing about backyard weddings is it allows you to have the freedom you want to create the perfect style for you. You can add in just about any theme and can customize the service to suit your own individual values and needs. You can also transform your wedding into a reception with just a little bit of work, which will save you even more money. You don’t have to stick to your own backyard either. Don’t be afraid to ask parents, other family or friends to use their yard if you think it would help create the perfect atmosphere.

2. Small Chapel
Not everyone fantasizes about getting married in a huge cathedral or church. In fact, there are many people who are drawn to the charm of a small chapel when they think about saying their vows. When it comes down to it, choosing a small chapel over other venues may be one of the wisest choices you’ll make about your wedding. These locations generally won’t charge as much to perform the service, which will save you quite a bit of money in the long run. Smaller chapels also have less space, which means you may not have enough room to invite a lot of people. This can help cut down on the reception food prices, which is just an added bonus to the mix. Plus, many of these chapels will bundle the price of the pastor with the rental of the space so you won’t have to worry about any other bills popping up. You also won’t have to buy as many decorations, which is sure to make your budget go a whole lot further.

3. Public Park
If you live in an area with a park with lots of space, then you may want to consider hosting your wedding there. This will still give you the lovely outdoor setting that a backyard would, but you’ll have more space to invite more people to your big day. Usually, you can host an event at a public park without having to spend a small fortune on permits. Some parks may not even require you to have one, which will save you a whole lot of money. However, this also means that you may have to set up early in order to avoid someone else taking your space at the park. Of course, make sure you follow all of the rules of the park while using it and clean up afterwards in order to avoid fines and to help keep the park a safe and clean place for everyone.

4. Lake/Beach House
You might think that renting a place by the water might cost you a fortune, but when you tally up how much it actually does cost and how much it can save you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Lake and beach homes tend to be a bit on the cozy side, especially if they’re rentals aimed towards adults on vacation. Despite the price, you’ll be happy to know this rental can work for triple duty. Since the scenery is beautiful, you can use the location as a great place to have your wedding. It’s also perfect for wedding photos, which will give you more options when it comes to hiring a photographer too. Once the wedding is over, you can host a beautiful reception at the lake or beach house, which helps prevent you from reserving space in another location. Then, when the day is over, you can use the rental for your honeymoon location thanks to the romantic setting.

5. Las Vegas
When it comes to keeping things frugal, but still having a whole lot of fun, Las Vegas is probably one of the best answers to your wedding venue search. Las Vegas pretty much has hotel deals year round, so you can avoid spending a fortune on your honeymoon room from the start. In fact, if you call up the hotel and let them know you’re on your honeymoon then you may receive even more discounts. When it comes to the wedding itself, you can choose from a wide variety of wedding chapels. These chapels often have themes too, so you can really let your personality shine when it comes to how you get married. With the wedding and honeymoon room taken care of cheaply, all you’ll need to figure out is where you want to host your reception if you do have guests come to your wedding.

6. Farm
Rustic weddings are a huge trend these days, which makes it smart to try to book your wedding on a farm. Many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to planning a southern or rustic inspired wedding. One of the best things you can do is call around and ask if any farms rent out their property. You might be surprised as to how many do so to bring in a little extra income. Farms are one of the best places to set up for a wedding too. If there is a barn, then you already have the perfect background for the main event and it can be opened up to reveal the reception after the big event. The rustic design of the barn will also make the perfect look for all of your wedding photos. Generally, these themes are pretty cheap when it comes to decorative items too. In fact, by choosing this you can enjoy DIY decorations, which will help cut even more money off of your wedding bill.

7. Your Church
If getting married in a church is an important thing for you, you may want to skip out on booking a church that is larger though. If you, or your family, are a member of a church then you should be able to book the church and preacher without a problem. Most small churches don’t charge a whole lot either, so you shouldn’t have to put down a lot of money in order to book the church for your wedding. Being a part of this community will also help out in more ways than just a discount on the venue. In fact, your church should be able to provide both you and your future spouse with helpful advice and gifts. Some may even help you with pre-marriage counseling before you tie the knot. Many churches now even have a kitchen and dining area so you’ll be ready for the reception. Not to metion, it’s always refreshing to have a pastor you know marry you.

8. At Sea
Looking for unique ways to get married might be a bit on the hard side, especially when your’e just sticking to land. However, you may want to consider spending time at sea to start your wedding off on the right foot. One of the best ideas is to have your wedding while on a cruise. This will allow you to avoid the huge guests list as most people won’t be able to overcrowd things as you say your vows and enjoy your special day. Most cruise lines will allow you to plan out these weddings with a small deposit. You can also get married at places like Niagra Falls on a whim. These locations tend to have captains that are ordained and willing to make your vacation special. Of course, you should call ahead to make sure there is an ordained captain as not all captains are ordained like rumors might suggest. By doing this you’re taking care of your honeymoon too, so you won’t have to deal with double the bill when you get home.

9. Community Center
Most cities and towns have plenty of community centers in the area, which often prove to be a great place to tie the knot. Not only are the centers large enough to host lots of guests, they’re also considerably cheaper than many other venues around town. You usually only have to put down a small deposit to rent a community center room for a little while. Most of these rooms are quite empty as well, which will give you a chance to show off plenty of decorations. Of course, you will have to make sure to get the permits you need for music, beverages and more before you can successfully host your wedding and reception in the community center. You should be able to find all of the information you need for these items when you go to book the space though, which will make your wedding planning a whole lot easier.

10. Court House
The idea of eloping for many people is quite romantic and in today’s world it is easier than ever. Most court houses are the perfect place to elope, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Of course, choosing to get married at the courthouse doesn’t mean that you can’t have an audience. Most courthouses now offer a small chapel where people can witness your vows. The best thing is, the price tag won’t put you over the edge as you will only be paying for your marriage license, certificate and a small fee for the service. Some court houses will even allow you to choose between a variety of services, so you can still get the religious experience or a simple exchanging of the rings.

Getting married should be a great experience, so worrying about the expensive price of a venue shouldn’t have to be so high on your list of wedding stress. These ten venue ideas should help you save some money while helping you to create your dream wedding.

Food box subscriptions have been trendy for the last couple of years and they’re gaining even more steam this year. With subscriptions becoming one of the hottest trends for millennials, the food boxes are a hit amongst those who want to spend more time cooking their own meals and less time on fast foods that aren’t good for you. However, the only problem is many people have to grapple with the dilemma of whether or not these boxes are cost effective, especially on a tight budget. There’s many things you should consider when it comes to these boxes though. With these ten tips to consider, you may find yourself trying out one of the many food subscriptions boxes available.

1. Diversity
A lot of people are frightened by the price of the boxes before they weigh in how much money they spend on fast food or restaurant meals each week. Each box comes with at least 3 meals to whip up, which if you do the math will end up costing you probably around the same price that it would to go to a restaurant three times. This also leaves you four nights out of the week that are free to practice eating frugally to help balance out the extra expense. Of course, you also have to consider that you will be getting a wide variety of foods in the box that will allow you try out new things and will ensure your diet is balanced and healthy at least three nights out of the week. This will make it easier for you to liven up your weekly diet and enjoy food again.

2. Ingredients
More often than not, when people go shopping they end up buying way too much food, especially when it comes to working with specific recipes. With the food subscriptions, you’re going to get exactly the right amount of food for each recipe. This means you won’t end up wasting any food, nor will you spend money on items you don’t need. The ingredients put in the boxes tend to be organic and high quality too, which you would end up spending even more on if you bought them in stores. You will also receive all of the sauces, spices and other items needed to make your meal which tend to be some of the priciest aspects of some of the recipe. Overall, if you calculate the price of the groceries included in the box opposed to what you would spend on lesser quality ingredients locally, then you’ll see you are working with a better deal when it comes to most subscription boxes.

3. Convenience
For those who hate shopping, the subscription box is one of the best concepts around. Each week, you either update your preferences or leave your box directly up to the company. Then, the company ships the food right to your door. You don’t even have to worry about making a list to go shopping. This can help you save money in many ways. For instance, it keeps you out of the store more often which prevents you from spending any extra money. It also allows you to save gas money and time on shopping, which is something everyone needs to save on these days. Of course, one of the best aspects of the box is you don’t have to plan out three meals a week. This will allow you to enjoy more of your own time and will allow you to let someone else make a decision for you which can help take away some of your weekly burdens.

4. Cultural Lessons
It’s really simple to get into a rut when it comes to cooking. This is especially true when it comes to working with new recipes. Although many would love to try out recipes from other cultures, understanding the recipes or even finding an appropriate recipe can be a wild goose hunt. Even if you do try out a recipe you may not be able to tell if the meal is authentic, especially if you have little experience with the meal. With food boxes, you are sent as assortment of dishes that you may have never even thought to try cooking. With the ingredients laid out before you and the instructions clear, you should be able to try meals from around the world that you are proud to say you cooked. In fact, if you are interested in only cultural meals, you can even order boxes from various countries. This can really broaden your horizons and give you a taste of life you never expected for less than you’d spend exploring restaurants.

5. Play the Field
One of the perks of these subscription boxes is you don’t have to just stick with one. You can order a subscription box from one company one week and if you aren’t happy with it or you simply want to try something else then you cancel without an added fee. Most of the time, you can do this all online so you don’t even have to call or talk about the reasons why you want to cancel. Once you’ve cancelled one box, you can move on to another to see how it compares to the first. There’s lots of subscription boxes out there too, so you can keep this up until you give them all a try. This will allow you to evaluate quality, price and the trustworthiness of each company. If you’re not sure where to start, you can even begin your journey with reviews to see how others felt about the service. After some exploration, you may find the perfect company for your household. You might even want to subscribe to two different companies to give life even more variety.

6. Coupons
Just like regular grocery shopping, you can find a good amount of coupons for subscription boxes. Most of these boxes will offer a significant amount of money off of the first order of one of their boxes. This can slash the price of your box in half, if not more, which is sure to cut down on your weekly budget. You can do this with most of the boxes you try out too, which will save you some big bucks while you explore the food subscriptions on your list. Some of the subscription services will actually allow you to cut a portion off of your bill when you order bulk subscriptions. Some will even work with you by cutting the cost of every few orders to give you incentive to stick with the company. These savings can really add up, especially if you choose to join the company loyalty program.

7. Healthy Options
Dieting can be one of the hardest things to do, especially with so many temptations on the shelves at grocery stores. Luckily, food subscription boxes make it a breeze to get on a diet or to simply eat healthier. Most subscription companies already try to offer well balanced meals, which should get you on a healthier track from the moment you begin cooking with them. However, you can also order special boxes for diets, which should help you find the best way to lose weight while eating great. The best thing is, the food subscriptions help you learn how to cook healthier so you’ll be prepared to stay on your diet even if you don’t continue on with the service. These boxes are also great if you plan on working on a change in your life, like moving towards vegetarianism or at least cutting down on meat. With such convenience delivered to you, you may not want to turn back from the subscription lifestyle.

8. Skip the Restaurant
With food and a delicious recipe already waiting for you at home, you may be less tempted to ditch cooking for the night for a restaurant meal. This is largely because you won’t want to waste the good quality food that you have in your fridge. Not to mention, you will get restaurant quality without having to wait in a line, offer a tip or worry about how many calories you’re actually consuming. Your food box meal will tally in under what your restaurant tab will be and you’ll get the experience of cooking it for yourself. Each meal in these boxes offers the calorie content of the meal too, so you can make substitutions if you need to. Before you know it, your restaurant habit will be long gone and you’ll actually look forward to cooking your own meals.

9. Less Waste
The world wastes way too much food on a daily basis, which has a whole lot to do with how we do our shopping. Food subscription boxes are a great step in cutting back on the amount of food that gets wasted every single night. Each time you cook one of these subscription meals, you won’t end up with days of leftovers so you won’t have to clean out tons of wasted food from your fridge at the end of the week. This can save you time, money and your gag reflex if you end up keeping the food a bit too long. Of course, if you do end up with leftovers from these meals then you can easily compost them without a problem.

10. Togetherness
If there’s one thing people have noticed about the subscription food boxes is how they bring people together to bond over cooking and food. You can easily make the subscription box a basis for a date for you and a spouse or partner. Working together and learning new things will help bring closeness to the relationship. You’ll even have everything set up for a romantic dinner for two when you’re all finished. This may even help you to shut off the TV during meal times, so you can start talking again and enjoy one another’s company. If you have children to cook with then you may be teaching them one of the most important lessons of all. That is, how to cook and what real food looks like. Older kids may even want to tackle some of the dishes on their own, which could be a great way to earn them allowance or simply to teach them how to take care of basic chores. Above all, it will show the whole family that eating healthy and cooking is fun and adventurous.

At first glance, food subscription boxes may look scary when you look at the total price; however, when you weigh the options you may find that they are actually worth quite a bit. After a little exploration, you might feel more comfortable with these boxes, which will help you make the decision of trying one out a whole lot easier.

After not seeing a whole lot of sales in January, you may be pleased to finally have access to some great bargains over the President’s Day weekend. Of course, the idea of a three-day weekend might be even more exciting to you. However, if you’re on a tight budget then keeping yourself or a family entertained can be a major problem. Luckily, there’s a whole lot of action going on during the long weekend, so you won’t have to look far to find something to do that won’t leave you strapped for cash. With these ten President’s Day worthy ideas, you may find your well-deserved long break is more relaxing than ever while still honoring the Presidents of the past, present and future.

1. Visit a National Park
President’s Day is a great time to get in touch with the country and celebrate some of the amazing natural beauty that the country has to offer. This is why the National Park system is offering free entry to many of the parks in country, which will help you find something amazing to do during the long weekend. Most parks have plenty of activities for all ages, but you might have to base your plans on the weather in your area. This can be a great time to learn more about the country though, especially if the park is dedicated to one of the presidents or has national monuments connected to it. It’s also nice to finally get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air since the weather is finally clearing up a little. You may even want to pack up the camping gear and spend the whole weekend enjoying the National Park in your region. You never know what you might learn there and it may become a new place to enjoy frequently, especially if you want to show your appreciation for environment protection.

2. Teach Children Presidential Duties
A lot of people begin their early education believing that the president calls all of the shots, which isn’t exactly the truth. This is why you might want to take the President Day’s holiday to actually teach your children what it entails to be the president. This can help children understand more about the way our political system works, so if they see something frightening on the news it may be a little less stressful for them. Not to mention, understanding the role of the president can help your child respect the position of the job as well as the voting process. There’s lots of great online resources to help you explain the president’s job to children of all ages. You can even find games that will make learning on a school vacation fun.

3. Learn Presidential Facts
More often than not, we don’t learn a whole lot about the presidents of yesteryear. Apart from a few tid bits from the more famous presidents, a lot of information gets overlooked because there is simply too much information to cover in history classes. It doesn’t matter if you’re just beginning to learn about the presidents or you’re in college studying them, there’s always something new to learn. So, this President’s Day you might want to check out some fun factsabout the presidents of past. You may be surprised by what you learn about some of the less famous presidents, which may make you want to investigate more into the achievements the president made during his time in office. You can even turn the new facts into a trivia game that will make learning fun. If you don’t want to spend hours searching a data base full of facts, then simply have the kids choose one president and look up fun facts from there. You can celebrate a new president each year, which will really teach a lot.

4. Study the Constitution
The constitution is the basis of our government, so there’s no doubt that it should be looked at when we honor our presidents. After all, it is their job to uphold the rights provided in the constitution. Many people, however, never actually take a look at the Constitution, which can be a real problem if you’re looking at your rights and want to know what is protected. Thus, you may want to go over this document with the family, so they can gain a better understanding of everything they are allowed in the country. This can also ensure that the presidents uphold their rights as they will always know what they have to write their president, congressmen and other government workers about. You don’t have to go straight to studying the document though. Add a few games to the mix to make learning fun. You’ll be surprised as to how much your children pick up during their day off school.

5. Attend Community Event
You may not know it, but there’s a whole lot you can do on President’s Day in your community. Many local colleges or community centers will host lectures or exhibitions on presidents, which could be a learning experience that you don’t want to miss out on. Although it might not be suitable for the whole family, many of these classes should be free so you might not want to pass them up if you don’t have kids or you have free time without them. Some locations will even host a parade to help the community enjoy the big day. These can be exciting to see, especially if there are contestants dressed as presidents. Apart from these obvious events, there many even be a small fair or community gathering to bring people together. These can be filled with music, food and other exciting activities and games that the kids will be excited to enjoy.

6. Take a Field Trip
Field trips are a great way to enjoy an extra weekend day, especially when it’s a patriotic holiday you’re celebrating. Luckily, there’s lots of great things you can see and do all over the country that will make the holiday meaningful. One great option is to check out a Presidential monument if you have you one nearby. If not, then you may want to check out what you can find at a historical museum in your area. Most of the locations will at least set out information on some presidents if they have it on hand during the holiday. It may surprise you, but an art museum might be a fun trip too. Many art museums will even work up amazing exhibits based around the presidents, which can bring history to life for you. Some museums will even make their exhibits fun for kids, which will be a win-win for everyone. Of course, if you live near Washington D.C. then you have a world of amazing things to check out on the holiday, so you may want to plan out the entire weekend to enjoy it all.

7. Be Active
One of the best things about President’s Day is the fact that there’s so many activities going on, so you should use your time to have a little fun exercising. One of the most common things you’ll find to do is marathons and walkathons, especially those for a good cause. This will allow you to show off all of the hard work you’ve done during the year. There are even more intense races to choose from like the Spartan themed races, so if you’re feeling tough then this might be something worth looking into. Of course, there are other things to keep you active during this President’s Day weekend. This year has seen a lot of different protests from many view points, so get out there and let your voice be heard. This is a great way to exercise your rights that past presidents have preserved for you.

8. Get Crafty
Add some fun to the holiday by bringing out some crafts for the kids. You may not believe it, but there’s actually a whole lot of fun things you can find for the kids to enjoy that involve presidents. A quick look online will find you a wide variety of color sheets, which are pretty much perfect if you’re hitting the road with little ones or simply want a quick and quiet activity that’s suitable for many ages. If you have some time to spend then you might consider making presidential puppets. You can do this with brown bags, socks, printables and popsicle sticks, and so on. Older children may even want to put on a production with their chosen president. Another ambitious idea is to recreate the White House or another monument using sugar cubes, popsicle sticks and so on. There’s lots of other great ideas, so make sure you find something that suits your needs.

9. Rent a Movie
When it comes to presidents, there’s been tons of movies made about them or the movements that they governed through. This may be a great time catch up on some movies that portray some major movements in history so you can learn even more about the men that have lead this country. They have movies based around all ages as well, so you may want to consider looking into some presidential cartoons for the younger children. Most libraries will have plenty of these movies on hand, so you won’t even have to spend a penny to rent them. Of course, most of these are about famous presidents, but they’ll be packed with morals that will help your children learn and grow. For adults, there’s even more options, so you may want to consider looking into a lesser known president to see if he has ever been featured in a movie.

10. Hit the Sales
Of course, it may be hard to avoid the amazing sales that pop up on President’s Day weekend. It might not seem frugal to go shopping, but if you do hit these sales you could end up saving a whole lot of money. For instance, if you’re in need of a big ticket item like furniture or a mattress, then these weekend sales are the perfect time to look around. You should especially look online as there are already rumors of many offers that will blow you away. President’s Day is notorious for having early bird specials too, so if you’re looking for items like clothes or things that aren’t as expensive then you should get up early and explore these great deals. Before you know it, you’ll have stocked up on some great items that your household needs to function properly.

President’s Day weekend is a great time to enjoy the world and learn more about your presidents. With these ten tips, you should find something to keep you busy that won’t force you to spend a small fortune on items or travel. So, now you can enjoy your extra vacation and the money you save on it.

If you shop at Walmart, then you’ve probably fallen into the money hole that includes buying way more than you actually intended on. With this budgeting conundrum, you may constantly be looking for new ways to save money at any Walmart store. Luckily, there are many ways to cut back on how you spend at the store that may not be as obvious as you think. With a few simple tricks, you can actually save big on the items you purchase, even after your shopping trip is finished. So, don’t get angry over your budget when you overdo it in the store, because with a little savvy shopping you’re on your way to cutting back on spending for good.

1. Price Match Guarantee
Shopping at Walmart is incredibly convenient. You can find just about everything you need there without having to waste time and gas to check out competitors’ prices. Most of the time, Walmart offers the best price anyway; however, you may run into a few occasions when Walmart misses a competitor’s sale or simply doesn’t have their price the lowest. This can be frustrating when you’re on a tight budget, but Walmart does offer you a bit of a safety net. They have a Price Match Guarantee, which allows you to bring your receipt back to the store as well as the advertisement from some competitors. If the price is lower, they’ll refund the extra that you paid and you can carry on with your savings. You can even pull up competitor’s ads while you’re in the store to get the price matching, so you won’t have to return later for the refund. Make sure you know which stores are accepted though and keep a look out for scams because some people love to post false information to try to get a one over on the store or unsuspecting customers.

2. Rollbacks
No matter when or where you shop at Walmart, chances are, you’re going to run into some Rollbacks. These items tend to be stocked in heavily populated areas, like the entrance of the store, and are often based on items that people will need at the time. For instance, during the Super Bowl you’ll finally find some awesome Rollbacks on sodas and chips. You can also find these deals on the ends of aisles, but these items are usually extra stock that the store wants to move to clear out before having to move it to clearance. So, keep an eye out because you may find some cool blankets and other things you may have never thought about buying. Another option is rollbacks in the grocery section. You have to keep an eye for these though as they’re not always obvious at first glance. However, you may get lucky and find some great deals on your kids’ favorite frozen treats or chips for your next big party.

3. Enjoy the Clearance
Although Rollbacks are a lot of fun and can help save a lot of money, you will really reap some benefits from the clearance items at Walmart. Each store handles the clearance section differently, so you may have to look around to find the deals. Some stores will have a full aisle of clearance items, especially if they have a lot of items they need to get out of the store quickly. However, other stores will keep the clearance items stocked with their regularly priced items. This requires a hawk eye at times, but if you know what you’re looking for then you should be able to get the savings you deserve. This can be especially fruitful when it comes to meat, produce and bread. The store constantly marks down these items so that they don’t have to throw them out, so make sure you check out the perishables as soon as you begin your shopping experience.

4. Shop Online
Although the physical store and the online store have the same name and logo, you may be surprised to find out they are different stores. This can work out in your favor though as the online store does bring in other retailers so you can find amazing deals on items like furniture that you otherwise wouldn’t find in the store. These sales are also buyer protected too, so you won’t have to stress about the product not showing up. Apart from that, you can pick it up at your local Walmart if you want to make life a little easier on you. You will find better deals on big ticket items online too, especially when it comes to technology bundles. This can be especially great during the holidays, especially if you want to skip out on all of the crowds. Of course, you can also order your prescriptions online to save you a whole lot of time and you can purchase photo prints as well as other customizable décor that will showcase your family and life.

5. Free Shipping
One of the perks that Walmart offers its customers is free shipping. If you go in a store and can’t find an item, then chances are you should be able to find it on the website. However, more often than not, this means shipping costs which won’t save you any money. Luckily, Walmart considered this when setting up their online store, so they offer free shipping from the online store to your local store. All you need is an ID card and your confirmation number and you pick up the item at your convenience. Of course, there are deals online that do offer you free shipping, but they often come at a higher price tag. If you find yourself shopping online more and more, and you don’t want to pick up the item at the store, then you’ll be pleased to know you can actually sign up for a program that offers free shipping on all items. There’s a small monthly fee, but it will more than pay for itself if you’re a frequent online shopper.

6. Price Catcher
Smart phones can be a huge asset when it comes to saving big on your shopping experience these days. Walmart has its own app, called the Price Catcher that does you a whole lot of favors when you choose to shop at their store. All you have to do is download the app, which won’t cost you a penny. Then, every time that you go shopping you simply scan the receipt on your phone and upload it to the app. The app will go through the receipt and registers savings as points, so you can earn money back on the items that you needed to purchase in the first place. It’s as easy as that.

7. Shop Early
One of the best things you can do when you’re planning a trip to Walmart is to shop early. There’s actually a couple of reasons why this comes in handy. First of all, early mornings mean less people to work around. This should allow you to get into the store and get exactly what you need without having to dodge other shoppers or feel the frustration of a crowd. This should also save you money because if you shop directly from your list and go from one item to the next, you won’t end up splurging on things you don’t need. Apart from that, early morning shopping will give you the best clearance deals. All of the produce, meat and other mark downs happen in the morning during quality checks. This could score you awesome deals on items that would normally cost a small fortune, like steaks.

8. Coupons
If you love to coupon, then you already know that Walmart is the store to shop at. The store itself offers many coupons in their ads, so you can always begin saving there. They also have many products stocked that have coupons on them, which will help you save even as you shop. Although these coupons will help you save a lot, the store is open to coupons from many sources too. You can easily print out items that you find online or show them to the cashier from your phone. Make sure the coupon is real before you use it though, or you may find yourself having to wait some time as a manager looks into the coupon. In most cases, they will try to give you the deal, but sometimes coupons found online that seem to be too good to be true simply aren’t acceptable.

9. Know Seasons
When it comes to shopping around, the best thing you can do is know when to shop for specific items. For instance, if you want the best deals on technology then you probably already know that Black Friday is the best time to shop. You can also grab these items around the time of the Super Bowl. If you love clearance items, then late January is the time to shop with Walmart. Their fiscal year ends in February, which means they want to clear out a lot of their items before they have to take inventory. This brings some major savings to you, especially on toys and clothes that sell during the holiday. July is another great time for clearance items, as well as purchasing pool tools before the store needs to clear up space for their school supplies. Knowing when to shop is the best way to avoid spending too much when you don’t have to though, which is sure to help your budget.

10. Grocery Pick Up
A lot of people tend to spend way too much money when they actually go into the grocery store because there are so many items to choose from that are too enticing. Luckily, there’s a service that can help you avoid shopping this way, which can help you keep money in your pocket. However, online grocery shopping is only available in some stores now, so you may not be able to take advantage of it yet. However, you should keep an eye on it and ask your local Walmart manager about plans in the service just to show that there is interest. Even though online grocery shopping might not be available, many stores will allow you to call in a shopping order to make things easier. This is especially handy for the disabled or those who may be sick and don’t want to spread germs while shopping. All you have to do is let customer service know that you called in an order and they will gladly bring out your items for you after you have paid.

Shopping at Walmart can be less stressful than you think, especially when you figure out ways to stop spending more than you want in the store. These ten tips should help you find the savings you want and need, without forcing you to cut back on the necessities your household can’t live without.

It’s almost time for Mardi Gras again, which means you may have to jump through some hoops to share this holiday with the kids. Although many Mardi Gras activity are based around adult entertainment, you may be surprised as to how much fun you can have with the kids during this period of celebration. Although you may not end up in the middle of the action, you’re sure to have the time of your life while teaching your kids a bit more about this iconic holiday. The best thing is, these tips won’t leave you scrambling to fix your budget as they are mostly cheap and easy to create at home from items you already have around the house. So, this Mardi Gras, don’t get stuck skipping the fun, instead invite your kids in on the action and enjoy their response.

1. French Breakfast
One of the more iconic aspects of New Orleans is the world-famous Café Du Monde, which many people love to hit up when they’re in the area, especially during this time of celebration. You may find it fun to recreate this environment for the kids. You can easily whip up café au lait at home with very little effort to teach children about this iconic French drink. Of course, you don’t have to make it with caffeinated coffee, you can use decaf or even hot chocolate for the same appearance. Another classic to add to the table is fresh beignets. You will be surprised as to how easy these are to make, especially if you enlist the kids to help out with all of the mixing. You could try out other French foods during the celebration too, like crepes. There’s enough breakfast ideas to last throughout the entire Mardi Gras experience if you want to turn the week into a cultural lesson.

2. Beaded Necklaces
Mardi Gras beads are hands down one of the most iconic aspects of the celebration, so have a little fun by making your own. These are great party favors if you do end up having a party to celebrate and they can save you a lot of money. You can make your Mardi Gras beads out of a wide variety of options that you probably have lying around the house already. For instance, if you have macaroni, or larger noodles then pull them out. These can be colored with markers and put on strings to make cool beads that will help young children work on their motor functions. Another great option is to use old magazines that may be collecting space in the home. Have the kids pull out colorful pages and then roll small strands into cute little beads. This also works with construction paper if you don’t subscribe to magazines. When the kids finish rolling up the paper, each strand can be glued and strung to your favorite form of string. Finally, if you have old party jewelry or beads around the house then you can use the items for a more authentic look.

3. DIY Masks
One of the more fun elements of Mardi Gras is getting to wear a unique mask that shows off a new side of your personality, or at least your personality for the event. People love to pick out elegant, frightening or even funny masks to use too. However, these can be pretty expensive to buy in the market, even if you shop out of season. One way to celebrate the occasion is to have the kids sit down and make their own masks. This gives them an extra special touch that can help them have more fun and show their personality and creativity. You can approach the masks in many ways too. For instance, you can cut out shapes from paper and cardboard and then color in the detailing or use a print out to sort out the details. If you’d like to take your task a little further, then consider making them out of paper mache. If you really want to transform it into an art project you can make them out of a ceramics kit that can usually be purchased fairly cheaply at a hobby store when a coupon is used.

4. Pick up French Words
Mardi Gras can be a great time to learn a few lessons in the French language. There will already be a wide assortment of French words for the kids to see each day of the celebration so try to use this to your advantage. You can make flash cards out of the words you see and use the internet to translate meanings. Of course, if you’d like to take the learning experience a bit further then you can find online lessons for absolutely nothing. These lessons will offer print-outs and other supplies to help make the language a touch easier. Pronunciation guides will also be available which will really come in handy. Apart from that, you can find apps and games online to make learning the language fun. Your family may even fall in love with the language and keep learning it well after the celebration is over.

5. Teach Ballroom Dancing
Masquerades and balls are a big part of the Mardi Gras experience. Although you might not think your kids will enjoy ballroom dancing you could be surprised as to how quickly they can pick it up. Most communities will have ballroom dancing lessons at a decent price, but if you don’t want to sink the money into a temporary hobby then you can find numerous tutorial videos online that will help you figure out the ropes. Once you have a basis for the activity down then the kids can take out their masks and dress up while having a blast dancing. Learning ballroom dancing early on could also help later in life when they need to know how to slow dance for school formals and so one. You can also make the activity feel fun, so they don’t resent it when they’re older.

6. Go to a Parade
Even if you don’t live anywhere near New Orleans, you may find that most communities will do something to celebrate Mardi Gras. It may not be a huge deal, but you should at least find a small parade in your neck of the woods or a community close by. Of course, if there is absolutely nothing in your area then you can always tune into celebrations from around the world online. Many streaming services will offer live broadcasts of the parade and more, so the family can see how the holiday is spent in many different locations. You can also have the kids come up with their own holiday parade after viewing some of the exciting examples online.

7. Cook
Nothing says a celebration quite like getting in the kitchen and making up something delicious to celebrate. There’s a wide assortment of dishes that go hand in hand with the holiday, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the perfect meal ideas for your household. One such idea is jambalaya which is a New Orleans staple. This dish can be pricey due to the sea food that is in many of the recipes, but you can always substitute with chicken or vegetables to suit your needs, tastes and budget. A King’s cake is also a lot of fun to bake and may be more to the kids liking, particularly when it comes to decorating. Mardi Gras also has routes in Italy too, particularly Fat Tuesday, so you might want to consider some Italian dishes to add to the menu. Before you know it, you’ll have tried out a lot of great items that may even become a regular on your kitchen table.

8. Find Kid Friendly Events
Mardi Gras tends to be centered around adults in most cases, but there are many areas where you can find children’s activities to help keep the kids entertained. For instance, if you were to plan a trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras then you would probably be surprised to see how many activities are actually family based. Of course, there are some areas of the city which should probably be avoided if you don’t want children exposed to certain behaviors or extremely large crowds. Otherwise, there is plenty to do in this city and many others that will give your child the Mardi Gras experience. You may want to look on your own city’s website to see what is happening during this celebration so you can plan accordingly.

9. Experience Music
If you’d like to keep things simple, but you still want to celebrate then consider walking the kids through the holiday by sharing some amazing cultural music. You can trace the holiday back to the beginning by throwing in some classical music and then move your way into the iconic New Orleans jazz. This is a great way to help children appreciate songs and to understand some of the cultural elements of the holiday that may not be as obvious through other means. There are plenty of holiday classics available too though, which can help get everyone in the mood to celebrate. You should be able to stream all of this music and more on streaming services. If you’re lucky, you may even run into a service that has special playlists just in time for the big celebration.

10. Mardi Gras Lessons
Many people never learn the origins of Mardi Gras, which is something you can remedy with your children. So, you might want to take the time to explain how the holiday relates to different cultures as well as how it kicks off the beginning of Easter so they can have a better understanding of what the holiday is all about. You can find lots of resources online that can help you to approach this holiday for different age groups too, which will come in handy. You should even be able to find color sheets or work sheets to help you out with your task. Once your kids get the hang of the holiday meaning then go over how it is celebrated throughout the world. Everyone will get a kick out of the celebrations and it will broaden kids’ horizons while helping them become eager to learn about other cultures.

Mardi Gras can be a great time to have some fun with your kids without spending a small fortune. This celebration is both a great time to learn about the world around you and to cut loose a little. These ten celebration ideas should help make this holiday kid-friendly and enjoyable for the whole family, so you won’t ever have to skip over Mardi Gras again.

February is home to many amazing deals that will lure you in and allow you to enjoy post-holiday shopping without worry. However, there are many things that you should probably avoid shopping for if you want to get the most out of your budget during this amazing month of sales. Luckily, as long as you know what to avoid you should be able get the most out of your shopping experience while holding out for the right time to buy the items on this list. So, hold tight, because these ten items should be avoided until later in the year to ensure you don’t wind up spending way more money than you have to.

1. Skip Valentine’s Day
You may think that shopping Valentine’s Day clearance is a must during this month, but you may be surprised by how much money you’ll save if you don’t. At the beginning of the month, Valentine’s Day items will be full price until the middle of the month when the holiday actually occurs. After that, items like chocolate and cards will hit the sales shelf, but they won’t be at a very high discount. Like most of these sales, you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks after the holiday to ensure the best possible deal, which will take you straight into the month of March. Jewelry, particularly Valentine’s Day themed jewelry won’t go on sale for some time after the holiday is over. You may even have to wait until the summer months to find the perfect sale for these items. Flowers, particularly from delivery services, will take a small discount, but most of these items can be used in other arrangements so the savings really won’t be worth all of the troubles.

2. Travel Plans
It’s almost the time of the year where soaking up some sun is your highest priority. However, that doesn’t mean you should be tempted into making Spring Break or summer travel plans during the month of February. With so many students shopping around for last minute deals, you’ll probably find it nearly impossible to find anything that will make your travels budget-friendly. Spring Break shopping should have been completed back in November or December, so you might be out of luck here. That is, unless you’re willing to be flexible with locations and dates. Summer is still on the plate though, but you may want to wait until March or April to begin looking for the right deals for your summer time getaway. By doing this, you should save quite a bit on all of your travel needs.

3. Perfume
Perfume is another classic Valentine’s Day gift for men and women alike, so it’s no surprise that it should probably be a no-go during this month’s shopping experience. Of course, there are more reasons than the upcoming holiday for this price hike though. February sees more new releases of perfumes and colognes, which means there’s usually very few discounts to be found, even on the older scents. However, this is the perfect time to shop around the new lines to see if there is anything that may strike your fancy. If a perfume isn’t a hit, then there’s a good chance it will be on the clearance rack faster than you think. If not, you will see these items on sale during the holiday months or when the particular scent is out of season.

4. Cameras
Wedding season is coming up in the Spring, as are many other photo opportunities, like the nicer weather and sunny vacations. Thus, buying a camera or any camera accessories may not be wise in the month of February. As income tax money begins to come in and people begin to splurge on tools like expensive cameras, you may find that the so-called deals seem even worse. The best thing you can do is keep an eye on clearance sales on your favorite camera websites, or simply wait until a better tech deal rolls around. You may be able to find something good before Black Friday comes around, but if you’re not in a hurry to buy a camera then hold out for the huge savings late in the year.

5. Theater Tickets
Movie nights are a cliché date for Valentine’s Day, which is why you probably won’t see many movie ticket deals during the month of February. Of course, this may not be too hard to overcome considering there’s not a lot of great releases coming out during this month anyway. However, even if there is something you want to watch you may want to hold off on the movie for a month or wait for it to hit the cheaper movie theaters in your area. You may not want to sit through movies during this month anyway considering they will mostly be overcrowded, which will mean you won’t get the full experience. Of course, soon, you’ll see cheaper days at some movie theaters and gift card packages at bulk stores, which will make your movie experience a whole lot cheaper.

6. Gym Memberships
With the buzz of New Year’s resolutions still in the air, you may find that getting a deal on a gym membership is harder than you think. Many gyms will actually be full from the surge of people who want to get in shape in the New Year as well as those who don’t like to work out in the cold weather. Thus, gyms aren’t exactly looking to draw in new people, which means deals will be scarce unless you get a nice salesperson who wants to make a great impression. The best thing you can do is wait for the resolution buzz to wear off and the weather to warm up a bit. At this point, people will start to drop out of the gym like crazy, so most fitness centers will be looking to draw in new people. Your best luck may be in the summer time, so try to check out online videos and other workout regimes in order to keep up with your fitness levels until you can find the best deal.

7. Fresh Produce
February is a hard time for grocery shopping, especially when it comes to shopping for produce. This month is right between the early Spring months and the late Winter months which means that produce can be a little scarce so prices will go up a bit. You may also find that there won’t be the best of quality of produce in the store, which will make the higher price feel even more unworthy of your hard-earned money. This year has brought lots of harsh weather conditions too, so don’t be surprised if items that are normally cheap are much higher in price, particularly those that come from California. If you can, shop frozen foods to make up for the difference in price. They won’t taste as great, but you’ll be able to save money while still getting the nutrients and ingredients you need for all of your favorite dishes.

8. Restaurants
Going out to eat this month may be another bad choice, particularly if you plan on going to pricier establishments. Since most places book up for Valentine’s Day, they also have the option to raise their prices, which means you won’t get the same value that you might at other times. Even some fast food restaurants will hike up the price of their food to meet the demand of people eating out more during this month. Apart from that, some establishments will have to raise prices because of the lack of produce and fresh ingredients due to poor weather conditions. Instead of eating out, place the money you would have spent in a restaurant in a jar. You may be surprised by how much you saved during the month.

9. Smart Phones
February has been buzzing with new technology release dates, including many smart phones that will make you want to spend your money on the spot. However, if you can, try to avoid shopping for a smart phones during this month. Not all of the phones have release dates in February, so you won’t be able to enjoy some of the sales on older phones in the brands that are releasing new phones. Even phones that are releasing new items may not host sales on their older models, particularly Samsung which had many issues with their older models. If you wait a few more months, you’ll be able to find many items on clearance and the newer phone models should take a price decrease when the Black Friday sales arrive. Not to mention, waiting some time will give you accurate reviews to consider, so you won’t choose a phone that is going to leave you disappointed.

10. Refrigerators
If you had plans to buy a refrigerator in the month of February, then you may want to put those dreams on hold for a month or two. The new Spring line of refrigerators will be showing up soon, which means with a little patience you will find amazing deals on older models that are just as amazing as the new one. Of course, your best bet is to shop around before you invest in a new refrigerator too. This can be one of the easiest items to overspend on and many people often have buyer’s remorse after buying a product. Make sure you measure properly before you choose the right match for your home. You should also look for Energy Star products to save even more money on the product once it is installed in your home. You should also check out reviews to ensure you’re getting an appliance that is going to last your family a long time without dealing with any problems. By avoiding shopping for this in the month of February, you can be prepared for when the sales begin, which will save you even more money.

Although February is a short month, it still has some of the best deals in many different areas. However, if you want to save a bit of cash and peace of mind, then you will try to avoid these ten items that may be on your shopping list. This should clear up plenty of budgeting room for the amazing sales though, so no matter which way you look at it your frugal shopping experiences will be right on point during the month of love.

Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, which leaves you to figure out how to work around another holiday on your tight budget. This holiday can be the perfect time to let your special someone know how you feel about them though, but that doesn’t mean you have to pour a lot of money into the holiday. There’s actually many different ways you can keep this holiday frugal while still giving your partner a gift that he deserves. From labors of love to simply spending time with each other, you’ll find that Valentine’s Day is a lot more than spending a fortune on a date and gifts. So, take a breather and check out these ten ideas that are sure to leave any man in your life feeling your love.

1. Massage
If there’s one way to a man’s heart, it is definitely a massage. This is especially true if he ends up doing manual labor often and has many tense spots, or if he ends up hunched over a desk most of the week. There are many ways for you to work out these muscles, so your partner can feel completely rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. You don’t have to settle with just doing a simple back massage though. There’s a wide range of sources online that can show you the areas to target during your massage, which will help with the tenseness and maybe even some of the pain he feels on a daily basis. Before you know it, your massages will be a legend in your household which will make Valentine’s Day gifts easier than ever from now on.

2. Coupon Book
Sometimes, the honey do list gets a little long or your partner just needs a special treat. This makes customized coupon books an absolute must for Valentine’s Day. You can fill your book with whatever you think will make your partner’s heart flutter, which could make this the most romantic gift of all. From spending alone time together whenever he wants to whipping up his favorite meal, you can make your coupon book his most prized possession. Make sure to add in special items that will let him know how well you know him. For instance, if you’re cutting down on red meat this year then toss in a free cheat day to help him get through the change. You may also want to add in nights with the guys or special days with the kids if your partner is a parent. No matter what you add in, it’s sure to bring a smile. Of course, if you’re running low on ideas or need a template then there’s plenty of ideas online to check out.

3. Homecooked Meal
Another quick way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So, if you know your guy’s favorite meal then make a plan to get it going on the special day. This will save on the two of you eating at a restaurant on such a busy day and will give you a more intimate experience that will allow you to rekindle the romance between you. Of course, you may want to spice up the meal a bit by adding his favorite side dishes and dessert, even if you wouldn’t normally cook them together. You may even consider making snacks that will help him stay full at work for the rest of the week. With a little effort in the kitchen, your partner is sure to feel your love for him.

4. New Subscription
Subscriptions are a big part of life these days, so you may want to consider ordering one for your special someone. This can be one of the pricier options when it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts though as it means paying every month. Of course, the price for these items usually won’t cost much at all. One subscription to consider is streaming services. You can grab a subscription to Netflix, Hulu and other services for not much at all, which will keep your special someone busy with movies and shows for hours. You may also want to consider adding a subscription channel like sports or anime to your cable service. There are also many subscription boxes to suit his needs. From geeky items to sports related boxes, you can find something for every taste that will be a month reminder of your love.

5. Brew Kit
If the man in your life loves beer, then a brew kit is the perfect way to show how you feel on Valentine’s Day. Brew kits are becoming increasingly popular in today’s market, so you probably won’t have to look any further than your favorite department store or online shopping site to find the right one. You can work off your partner’s skill level too. If he’s brewed beer before there are more advanced kits to help your partner make amazing beers that will wow guests. There’s also beginner’s kits that teach how to brew, with many different beer options. The best thing about this gift is it will actually save your household money in the long run because the price of kit doesn’t measure up to the amount you’d spend on just a few cases of beer. This could become a new hobby as well, which will ensure your partner always has something fun to keep him entertained.

6. Hobby Upgrades
If you’re looking for a cheap way to add to your partner’s happiness, then take his hobbies into consideration. You can easily whip up a gift basket that costs next to nothing using items from his hobby list. For instance, if he enjoys playing guitar then pick up some fresh strings, sheet music paper and pics to add to his collection. The same can be said for tools as you should be able to find some cheap accessories that add to the expensive devices he already has. This may mean picking up cleaning oils or sand paper refills, but every little bit is sure to help. You can dress these items up with homemade cookies, his favorite candies and other cheap items that will give the gift a romantic vibe.

7. Grooming Supplies
Nothing makes a man feel confident and attractive like the tools he needs to properly groom. Thus, you may want to get him a nice grooming set to show how much you care on Valentine’s Day. Grooming kits come in all shapes and sizes now, which makes finding the perfect one for your special someone a treat that he will be able to appreciate for some time. You can even get fancy by buying special moustache kits which will help with trimming as well as styling. If you really want to buy something useful then you may want to consider signing him up for a razor subscription service. This service will send a special razor to your partner every month, so he won’t have to worry about shopping for pricey razors again. This can really come in handy when it comes to your budget and will ensure your partner always has a fresh razor on hand.

8. Work Accessories
If there’s one thing that comes in handy, it’s definitely accessories that make work a lot easier. You may not think of this as one of the best gifts to get for your special someone, but when you see how appreciative he is when he opens his gift you’ll be glad you went in this direction. Work accessories can be anything from pen sets and planners to a heated jacket or a self-filtering water bottle. Of course, you can also keep things personal too by ordering a special mug, water bottle or picture frame with your family’s images on it. This will help bring the love from the house to your home, so your partner will feel pride in his family and his romance whenever others admire his cool gifts.

9. Day Off
We all need a day off from time to time, so you may want to add this to your gift list for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t matter what your partner does, try to give him a day that he can all his own. Whether it’s playing hooky from work or giving him a free day on his day off, this is sure to make him feel amazing. First, let him off the hook when it comes to chores and hide the honey do list, so he can’t put up an argument over his “me” day. Then, let him choose exactly what he wants to do. May it be planning a trip with his family or having a day to go off and enjoy life on his own. You may even want to take away his phone to ensure he doesn’t try to work or answer emails while he’s enjoying his day. After having time to unwind and think, your partner is sure to feel amazing and will appreciate having the special time to get back in touch with himself.

10. Homemade Chocolates
It may seem impossible to skip the chocolates on Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t mean you have go out and spend a fortune on a box of chocolates for the man in your life. Instead, make your own chocolates to show just how much you love him. Fudge is one of the easiest things to make and you can customize it to suit your partner’s needs. For instance, you can mix in peanut butter, a variety of nuts, mint or even crushed cookies or candy bars. This can be boxed up and presented on the special day as a gift. Your partner is sure to feel impressed by this and will love the delicious candy more than anything that can be bought. Of course, you don’t have to just stick with fudge. There’s plenty of chocolate options to choose from, so do a little research and find the perfect recipe for your partner.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be complicated when it comes to finding your special someone a gift for cheap. These ten ideas can be customized to suit many different men’s tastes, which is sure to make shopping a whole lot easier and frugal. Before you know it, you won’t stress over spending money on Valentine’s Day gifts again because those given from the heart are sure to make your special someone happier than anything else.

The Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Starting January 28, everyone will be celebrating the year of the fire rooster, which is sure to bring on some joy and excitement during the long holiday celebration. However, if you’re not financially prepared for another holiday then you may be wondering how you can enjoy the Chinese New Year without spending a small fortune. There are many things you can do to enjoy the Chinese New Year though, without having to add even more debt to your holiday budget. With a little preparation and an open mind, this could be one of the best starts to the New Year yet, so you can make the year of the rooster the year of you too.

1. Make a Dedication to Education
The year of the rooster is all about gaining knowledge and improving yourself as an individual. So, instead of spending lots of money on fireworks and other decor you may want to sit down with the family and work on any educational goals you may have. Working on your own education doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money, if any at all. In fact, you can easily find college courses online that will ensure you can benefit in a wide field of knowledge. There are also many apps you can download to improve your cognitive functions or simply to teach you a foreign language. Don’t just make the year all about your own educational transformation though. Get the whole family on the bandwagon, so you can all find new passions in the education world and create great habits.

2. Embrace Feng Shui
It is always a good idea to add a fresh look to your home when the Chinese New Year rolls around. So, instead of rolling out the food or passing out red envelopes, you may want to spend your energy working on some feng shui in the home. This ancient method can actually help you feel healthier and happier throughout the new year without forcing you to spend a penny on the holiday. The best thing is, you can learn all about feng shui online without spending a single cent. There are even many books written on the subject that can help you figure out how to adjust your home. If you do want to seek advice on this method then you can look online for cheap advice or see if there is anyone in your community who offers these services. You shouldn’t have to spend too much on a simple quote and usually the method is so simple it will only take one home visit to help get your home flowing with the best energy.

3. Ditch Something Old
Like January 1, starting fresh is one of the best things you can do for yourself during the Chinese New Year. One of the best ways to do this is to get rid of all of the junk that you just don’t want or use anymore. You might want to start in your closet to get rid of clothing that doesn’t fit anymore or simply doesn’t suit your style. You may even want to go through the kids’ and get rid of the smaller sizes unless you plan on having more children. Most homes acquire a whole lot of junk over time too though. So, look through your storage units, garages and even on your shelves to see if you can find anything that doesn’t bring you joy any longer. These items can be donated or sold to start your year off a little more prosperous. With the extra space in your home you may find yourself breathing easier and feeling set to take on a whole new year.

4. Dine Out
Cooking a meal for the Chinese New Year can mean spending a lot of money, especially if you plan on feeding a lot of people. Instead of having a feast, ditch the guest list and take your family out on the town. This can be a refreshing way to start out the year as no one will have to cook or clean up the meal. It will also allow the family to relax, discuss the New Year and enjoy one another’s company without any extra pressures. A lot of restaurants, especially Chinese locations, will actually offer many discounts around this time of the year to ensure people can enjoy the holiday. So, you may look around and see who is having sales. If your city has a China Town then you may want to spend the day there and enjoy eating classic Chinese street foods and celebration favorites, like dumplings, at a low price. With the great savings happening all over the place, you’ll be happy you chose to skip all of the cooking.

5. Keep it Clean
Cleaning has been a tradition of the Chinese New Year for generations, so why let the tradition fade this year? This is one of the most frugal things you can do to celebrate the new year and it will leave you feeling incredible with the fresh new start. While cleaning, try not to go overboard on buying new supplies to make the house sparkle. Instead, try using what you already have on hand in order to keep the cleaning process down. If you’re running low on supplies or you want to change things up to make the cleaning more frugal for the New Year, then try natural products like vinegar and baking powder. You may be amazed by how clean your home feels after using these products. Of course, you should also turn off the heating or air conditioning and let in some natural air to help cleanse the air in the home.

6. Bring on Crafts
One simple way to take part in the holiday is to pull out the crafts. This is a great way to get young children involved in the holiday so that they can learn about the celebration as well as some of the traditions that go along with it. There’s many crafts that don’t cost a fortune to make too. You can easily find many online or come up with ideas of your own. You might even be able to find great deals on craft supplies for these projects during the time of celebration. One fun thing to help the children make is a dragon puppet, which can then be paraded through the home to traditional music. The kids will love both creating the craft as well as playing with it. You might even have older kids come up with masks and create their own shows based on some of the culture they have studied during the holiday. You can do a whole lot with just a few crafts, including decorate for your celebration without spending extra money.

7. Community Events
Instead of worrying about your own celebration, you might want to do a little research to see if there is a Chinese New Year celebration in your area. A lot of the time communities will host an event, even if it is something small. If there’s not one in your own town then you might want to consider heading to a city for the celebration. If there is a China Town located in the city then chances are you will be able to enjoy parades, firework shows and other amazing community events at no charge. Smaller communities that do celebrate the occasion may charge a small fee, but it will be worth it to have a bit of fun on the special day. Even if you do end up traveling for a while, spending time out with your family could be the best way to bring in luck as you begin your year of the rooster.

8. Watch Celebrations Online
Sometimes, there’s simply not an option when it comes to joining in on a celebration. However, if you want to be a part of the fun then you should look online to see if you can find some live streams of the celebrations around the world. This will allow the family to not only watch a proper Chinese New Year celebration, but will allow them to see how it is celebrated all over the world. You may even be able to watch back to back celebrations as you enjoy a meal with loved ones. These celebrations should be streamed on the internet at no cost, so you may want to look around for websites that will offer them. This shouldn’t take long to find though and will allow you to be all set up and ready to share some special moments with your loved ones.

9. Try a New Dish
If you’re on a tight budget then you don’t need to go all out when it comes to making food for the celebration. In fact, you may just want to start out small by making a new dish for the family to try out. There’s actually lots of foods to pick from when it comes to foods that are considered lucky, so you won’t have to work too hard to add to the celebration. Some of these foods are even incredibly easy to make. For instance, some variations of noodles are considered exceptionally lucky and will delight the whole family. Another great option is dumplings which can be made in bulk for very cheap. Other options include some fruits, which are nice, healthy desserts for the whole family. You might even consider a family recipe or asking a friend to offer a recipe to help improve your options.

10. Discover Your Zodiac Predictions
Of course, before the Chinese New Year begins you may want to check out how your own Chinese zodiac will do in the upcoming year. You can find a whole lot of predictions online that can help guide you to make decisions in the upcoming year. No matter what your zodiac is, you should be able to find ways to maximize your luck and avoid any confrontation that may come your way. This can also be a good time to learn more about your zodiac too, especially if you haven’t put any research into it. If you have children expected in the year of the rooster then it may be wise to look into this amazing zodiac to help your child lead the best possible life. Predictions and explanations can be found all over the place for free.

The year of the rooster is bound to be a great year, especially if you start it off by celebrating the Chinese New Year frugally. These ten tips will ensure you get the year off on the right foot without having to stress out about how much money you took from your budget just to celebrate. With all of the great changes headed your way, skipping the party may become your new favorite way to start fresh.

This season has bought a surprising amount of rain and snow to many areas of the country. Unfortunately, some of these areas weren’t able to deal with the influx of water, which has caused flooding in many areas. As Spring approaches, we may be dealing with even more storms that will leave us fighting back the water in order to keep our families safe and our property from being damaged. You may feel helpless when it comes to flooding, but there are many things you can do to help make the burden less. From protecting yourself before the flood waters hit to knowing how to ensure your home only gets minimal damage, these ten tips could save you a small fortune if flooding does occur in your region. So, don’t start stressing out yet, as there are a few frugal ways to keep your home and spending under control during this year’s floods.

1. Know Your Insurance
One of the main problems many people face during floods is not knowing what their insurance covers and what it doesn’t. Often, if you live in a region where flooding is common, you probably won’t have this on your policy because insurance companies don’t want to pay out for something that is likely to happen. Make sure you go over your policy and add flooding to it if at all possible. If not, you may want to look around for flooding insurance, at least to have during the wet seasons. This protection can also help with flooding accidents around the home too, so it may come in handy at some point or another. Many insurance companies will even add in an Act of God clause which could prevent you from getting the insurance you need in areas that never flood. Don’t let them fool you into signing up for something that isn’t going to do you any good. If you have to, work with a professional to mediate as you negotiate your insurance and always have someone explain things to you so you’ll be ready.

2. Clear the Gutters
No one really wants to clear the gutters, but when it comes to flooding this is your first line of defense. If you get word that there is going to be a storm in your area, especially if it may last more than a few hours, you should take some time to check out the gutters before it actually hits. If your gutters are full then this is going to cause all of the water to pour off of them and into your yard which could damage your foundation and flood the basement of your home. Even if you don’t have a basement to worry about, leaking gutters can cause water damage on your walls, which may cost a small fortune to fix. Another issue with blocked gutters is they allow snow to build up on your roof. As it melts, it won’t have anywhere to go, which means it will gather on the roof causing damage there or it can have the same effect as the leaking gutters during a rain storm. So, don’t hesitate, this could be the best way to save money on flooding damage.

3. Invest in a Sump Pump
Sometimes there’s nothing we can do to prevent water from getting into the basement. If the flooding is too extreme in the area then you may want to take all of the precautions you can, but also have a backup plan. This usually consists of a sump pump. These items can be rented, but if you feel like there’s no way you can rent one in your area then you won’t be too disappointed in the price. A sump pump will work hard to get the water that comes into your home out of the home. Of course, when it comes to this item, you should be careful what type of sump pump you buy. Electric pumps can be unreliable in a flood, so you might look for one that runs on more than one energy source or simply one that runs on gas. You’ll be happy you had this item in your storage, even if you don’t use it for a flood as it can help deal with flooding from burst pipes or broken water heaters too.

4. Install Gate Valves
One of the main issues with flooding is it can often cause problems with the sewer system. If you’re sticking it out at home, or you simply don’t want a lot of damage to clean up then this can cause you a lot of major problems. Sewers can back up right into your home, which isn’t just smelly but can cause damage on your floors that can take a whole lot of money to clean up. So, instead of worrying about this to happen you might want to install gate valves. These are pretty cheap to get and easy to install, which makes them a great investment even if you’re not worried about flooding. Of course, you can get a professional to install them too if you’re worried you won’t do it right.

5. Elevate Your Items
Your home isn’t the only thing you should be afraid of getting damaged during the floods. If you need to evacuate your home and you have appliances or expensive furniture, then you might want to take precautions before you leave. Simply elevate any electronics to a higher floor if you can. Items like washers and dryers can be elevated with cinder blocks to help them from being damaged if the flood waters do come in. You should make sure to turn off your electricity before you leave the home though and unplug the items to serve as an extra precaution. Furniture, rugs and other items should be moved to higher grounds too and placed in plastic if you have the ability to do so. If your furniture is too heavy to lift higher use cinder blocks to help prevent as much damage as possible. With any luck, water won’t rise too high in your home, if at all.

6. Switch off Utilities
Living without electric and water can be a huge burden, but if your area is flooding then it may be wise to cut off your utilities in order to remain as safe as possible. Sometimes, leaving the electric and water on can cause more damage than anything else. Electricity can be hazardous if left on and may even lead to a fire if you’re not careful. When things begin to get a little too much, find your breaker and shut off the power from there. You may also want to consider doing the same with gas and water. This can usually be done with a simple phone call. Keeping the gas running can lead to leaks in the house, which can cause even more harm to you than the flood water. You may also want to avoid your water too so it doesn’t become contaminated with flood water. If you do keep it on make sure to boil it before cooking or drinking it, just in case.

7. Ask For Assistance
A lot of people believe that they are all alone if they have to deal with flood damage, which isn’t exactly true. There’s a whole lot of federal programs that can help you get on your feet if you are suffering from too much damage from a flood. Programs like FEMA are designed to provide grants and help people get back on their feet when such a disaster occurs; however, you shouldn’t fully rely on these programs to help you out completely. Some may only be able to help you get off your feet in a new place, rather than repair your home. Of course, applying to many different forms of assistance won’t hurt either. You can look further assistance programs for flooding though. For instance, the Salvation Army is great with helping families in need get clothes, food and other necessities they need to survive.

8. Protect Your Car
Your car is another important item you will need to protect when the floods arrive. This can be easier said than done, but there are a few things you can do to help prevent major damage. First of all, you may want to consider parking it away from the home in a parking garage or with a family member who lives in an elevated area. If this isn’t an option then bring it into a garage if you can. Before you drive the car into the garage, place a car cover down and driver over it. Then place another car cover over the car. This will help prevent any water from getting inside the car and causing damage. You can also consider parking on a raft to help prevent water from getting into the engine. If the floods aren’t too bad and you can still drive, you should consider avoiding any roads that may be deeper than expected. This can cause you to end up stranded in your car, which could be a danger to you.

9. Create Emergency Stock
If you decide to stay put during a storm, especially when the streets are flooding, it is important that you have an emergency stock before it is too dangerous to get outside. This should include several gallons of water to keep your family hydrated and to allow you to cook. Often, the water supply becomes contaminated in a flood, so having clean water on hand is not optional. You might also want to have a water filter to help protect your family from contaminated water. You will also want to have plenty of food on hand. Some perishables will last you for a little while, but you should also have canned goods and long lasting foods to help keep your family full when there is no way to go out for food. A first aid kit, flash light, blankets, rafts and flares are also mandatory items that should be in every home when there is an emergency such as a flood.

10. Have a Plan
Finally, if you choose to stick out a flood or other storm you need to have a game plan. This will help protect your family from harm’s way if the going gets rough. You will want to have an escape route for every room of the home in case of a fire or if a wall gives way. Your family should practice this often, especially during the storm. You should also talk about what to do if food runs low or if there is an emergency that needs outside help. Try to get with neighbors too, so you can work together if a problem arises. Another thing to consider is your pets during this time as they will completely rely on you to keep them safe. With a lot of planning, you may find yourself feeling a little better about the situation.

Flooding can be a frightening experience especially if you’re trying to keep your family safe, sound and dry. These ten tips should help you find the best possible ways to prep for a flood, just in case you have to combat the waters this season. Luckily, these tips will help you save money and won’t force you to spend much to be ready to take on the storms.

Medical bills seem to be on everyone’s minds today. For some, the mounting debt is overwhelming and they can’t seem to find a way to deal with the ever-increasing charges. For others, the idea of having a medical emergency haunts them as they aren’t sure their insurance will do them any good. No matter what situation you’re in, there are some ways you can help cut down on the amount of medical bills you have. This may help save you thousands of dollars or at least cut back on the amount of worry you put into your health. With the Affordable Care Act potentially being dismantled and other programs losing funding, you may want to keep these concepts in mind, so you don’t end up owing your health service center a large fortune.

1. Know Your Insurance
One of the main problems people face in the medical world is their insurance company. Sure, the company sends out a pamphlet every year with your rights and your insurance plan, but these are often confusing and don’t really cover everything necessary. So, many people head to the doctor without a second thought or schedule a procedure then end up with a hefty bill. Before you do anything medical, you should always try to call up your insurance company and talk to them about your plan. They will be able to tell you how much they will cover, so you won’t end up with a surprise. You should also take the time to learn about providers in your area. Some insurance plans make deals with certain providers, which helps save you money. Knowing your deductible is important too, so you can adjust it when need be or make plans to have the out of pocket expenses in your savings account before the debt hits.

2. Shop Around
A lot of people don’t treat insurance or finding a doctor like a shopping trip, but this can be an important way for you to save a whole lot of money. Not all insurance companies are made equal, so check out reviews, policies and ask those you know how they feel about their insurance. Doctors are another must when it comes to saving money. Not all doctors charge the same, so you may find that you’ve enrolled with a doctor who offers poor quality service at high quality prices. Your insurance company should have a section that provides each doctor in your network with a review as well as a basic estimate of what they charge. Of course, you should always branch out and do some research on your own by asking other patients how they feel about the doctor and checking online review sites. When you find someone you like then stick with them as enrolling with a doctor can take quite some time if you live in a region that doesn’t have enough doctors.

3. Ask For Generic
One of the major purchases many people have to do deal with is medication. Although insurance often covers a decent portion of this medication, you might find yourself paying a small fortune for the rest, especially if your doctor prescribes name brand medication. With so many prices skyrocketing this year, you’ll want to be careful as to what is prescribed for you as there is often a ridiculous different between the generic and name brand product. Most doctors won’t ask before prescribing, so before you leave the office make sure you talk to your doctor about the switch. There shouldn’t be a problem with this request and if there is then you may want to consider switching doctors. Generic forms are often fully covered by insurance though, so you could find yourself saving thousands each year just by having a brief conversation with the doctor.

4. Consider Options
Sometimes, doctors will request that you do something you’re not entirely comfortable with or something that may be way too expensive for you even with the help of insurance. You do have every right to question these practices, so don’t feel like you have to do exactly as your doctor says. For instance, if you are having problems with anxiety then you may want to stop and try a natural remedy to deal with the problem. If this doesn’t work then you can always go with the doctors method later. This will take some research on your end though and you should always stay in communication with your physician, especially if the problem seems to be getting worse.

5. Create a Payment Plan
Medical bills can be unavoidable at times in our lives. Whether you give birth, are in an accident or are fighting off a critical illness, the price of your care can begin to add up. Luckily, many doctors and hospitals understand that you’re not made of money and that insurance companies aren’t exactly the most understanding people. Due to this, many facilities will work out payment plans with you, so you won’t have to stress about the huge lump sum up front. Make sure you talk with the financial department in your doctor’s office or the hospital to see what plans you can come up with for your budget. This should help you feel a bit more relief over the mounting debt and will help keep collection agencies from hounding you in your time of need or recovery.

6. Question Procedures
When it comes to your medical care, it is often hard to remember that you’re actually in control of the situation. Your doctor is only there to recommend something to help with your problem. If you’re not comfortable with this then you do have the right to refuse the practice, especially if you want time to research it or talk to your insurance company about it. This can range from small to large procedures too, but do exercise precautions when you do this as you don’t want to put yourself at risk for further problems due to money. These procedures can even be for medical tests like urine samples and drawing blood. If you feel it unnecessary or over excessive then skip the procedure. This is especially true if it seems like you are always having blood drawn for the same tests as the price does add up on these items.

7. Financial Assistance
Even if you already have insurance you may qualify for extra assistance if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to apply for it. Many states do offer supplemental options for those who may be facing crippling debt due to medical bills. There are many programs developed for the elderly, terminally ill and pregnant women, so do a bit of research to see if there’s anything that the government can do to lend a helping hand. Many of these programs are designed to help those with an income under a certain level, but if you feel like there me be a slight inkling that you may get help it would be wise to apply. The worst you can get is a rejection for your efforts. If supplemental help isn’t in your future then contacting your hospitals financial department might be wise too. Sometimes, they will offer debt forgiveness or will cut a portion of the debt down to help you. This can really take a huge burden off of your shoulders.

8. Consider Lifestyle Changes
Believe it or not, but a lot of the medical problems treated today are actually related to people’s lifestyle choices. One way to avoid all of the high costs of the medical field is to change the way you live to suit a healthier and happier lifestyle. Make sure you get in at least 30 minutes of walking a day to help keep your body moving properly. If you can, exercise on a regular basis too and try out new ways of keeping in shape. Cardio is a great way to get rid of colds and prevent them from happening in the first place. Soothing activities like yoga or Pilates can reduce stress and depression. So planning a well-rounded exercise regime is sure to help you cover all grounds. Your diet plays a key factor in what is going on with your body too. Make sure you keep your red meat consumption down and fill your plate with leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Ditching soft drinks and junk food can also help you feel a million times better than ever before. Try ditching bad habits like smoking, vaping and drinking alcohol as well to improve your overall health. Apart from that, you may also consider vitamins and other supplements to improve health problems that have been previously diagnosed.

9. Review Bills
Bills can be pretty overwhelming, especially when you don’t work in the medical profession. The medical jargon is hard to understand and often the list of services gets to be a bit too much. That is why many people blindly accept the bills that they are given for the services they received. This can cause you to throw away a whole lot of money though. If you’re feeling a little queasy when you look at your medical bills, then don’t stress out about it. There is actually assistance you can get for reviewing your bill. You can contact your doctor’s office or hospital to allow them to explain each and every charge to you at no cost. Of course, there are also professional services that will do this for your too, but you may have to pay them. If you don’t agree with certain charges, then take the time to dispute them. Sometimes, they will remove the item from your bills without putting up any fight. You may even find a mistake on your bill, which is something you should always challenge as there is no sense paying for something you didn’t receive. All in all, taking this step every time you get a bill can help you save hundreds of dollars.

10. Tax Deduction
Getting around medical bills entirely may be impossible, especially if you have a lot of them mounting up. However, you can actually use the amount of money you pay into your medical bills as a tax deduction. When you pay a bill, make sure you get a receipt for the payment and keep it safe in your records. This will allow you to add up all of the money that you paid in throughout the year and will provide you with the proof that you did so. When tax season rolls around check out the amount you paid and see if it equals out to 10% of your income. If it does, then you may have some deductions coming your way. Of course, you probably won’t end up getting the full amount back, or even anywhere near it but every little bit will help when you’re working to pay off your bills.

Medical bills are a part of life, but they don’t have to absorb your life if you don’t want them to. These tips should help you cut back on the amount of money you have to spend on paying the bills, so you feel a bit more relaxed about the services you are receiving. With any luck, you’ll be able to save some money on the charges, so you don’t have to stress while working on getting your body and mind healthy.

One of the most common New Year’s Resolutions is actually cutting back on monthly spending. Although many people choose to target the items they splurge on, you may find that there’s a whole lot of money hiding in all of the bills that you pay each month. With a quick look at your budget, you may find that there’s a whole lot of changes you can make that will cut back enough money so you can save thousands each year. With the budget cuts working to boost your savings, you’ll ensure your lifestyle is a lot more frugal without even having to cut back on some of the luxuries that benefit your life. So, pull out your bills and get ready to leave your budget smiling as you skip out on some of the high costs.

1. Cable
If there’s one thing on your list that you simply don’t need to spend a fortune on it’s definitely cable. Cable companies really can hike up the prices to leave you spending hundreds of dollars each month on channels that you probably won’t even watch half of the time. They may even lure you in with a decent price at first and then hike up the price when the first year of service is over. There are alternatives to the cable scheme though. Luckily, today you can find all sorts of subscription services that won’t leave you spending your last penny on entertainment. Most subscription services range around $10 and offer original shows as well as those you may have found on your cable subscription. Hulu, for instance, has a deal with some TV channels that will allow you to catch shows 24 hours after they air. Netflix produces many original shows and movies and has been getting rights to Showtime shows merely months after the season completes. You can also look into subscriptions like Sling, which brings live TV to your favorite devices for a fraction of the price. Even the big name channels like HBO have come up with their own streaming service to allow people to catch up on their favorite series and movies. With all of these options, you can find a perfect match for you while saving a bundle.

2. Cellphone Contracts
Numerous people overspend on their cellphone service each month too. You may be surprised as to how much you can save by skipping the contract and going straight for a pay as you go plan. This allows you to have a bit more control over your cellphone, for starters. Some months, you can purchase a larger plan if you know you’re going to be on the phone more or if you will wind up browsing the net when you’re on the go. If you don’t plan on keeping up with the phone then downgrade the plan. Best of all, you can also allow family members to have different plans, which will help keep kids off the phone when they shouldn’t be. Sure, you will have to buy your own phone to do this, but you might find there are so many options to choose from that it will be an added bonus to your new found freedom. You can even buy phones that have advertisements on them now, which cost a significant amount less than an average phone with all of the same perks.

3. High Energy Plans
Many regions are trying to offer eco-friendly options when it comes to power use now, so you may be in for a real surprise when you look at your energy plan. Before you renew with your energy company look to see what types of plans they offer. If you are trying to cut back on your electricity consumption, then you can always sign up for a plan that allots you less energy for less money. Sometimes, you can even find plans that will allow you to use wind or solar power opposed to those that create more pollution. If you’re not sure where to begin when choosing an energy plan, then talk to the companies or look up their information so you can make an informative choice. You may even be able to write off some of your energy bill if you use a greener plan. Of course, you may also want to invest in your own solar panels which will substantially cut back on your energy bill to the point that you may even receive a refund.

4. Ditch the Gym
Many people join the gym in order to get a head start on their New Year’s Resolution. However, what they don’t realize is how much of a burden the membership can be on the monthly budget. This is especially true if you don’t always have the chance to get to the gym. With all of the days missed you may find that you truly aren’t getting your money’s worth. There are many cheaper options available though. For instance, you can simply take up walking, jogging or running to get in shape. You can also invest in a home gym for around the same price as your membership. This will allow you to workout whenever your heart desires and you’ll easily get your money’s worth out of the machine before the year’s end. If you want the gym membership for the classes, then check online for freebies. You may be surprised by how many you find.

5. Stop Water Subscription
Many people will spend a whole lot of money to have clean bottled water delivered to their home on a regular basis. These subscriptions might be convenient, but they will also cost you a whole lot more than they should. The alternative is much cheaper though. You can easily fill up your own 5 gallon jugs for a dollar a piece, which is a mere fraction for the amount you would have to pay for the subscription bottles. You may be surprised as to how easy it is to deal with water too. There’s plenty of local water stations in most areas as well as companies that offer their many filters for your use. Apart from that, you can invest in home filters and pitchers to ensure you have the best water in town.

6. Credit Cards
When it comes to handing over money each month, especially after the holiday season, credit cards can be one of the worst culprits. With high spending limits and interest costs, you may find yourself dreading looking at what your payment or even your payoff amount is. There are ways to get around this though if you’re willing to do some shopping around for a new credit card company. Some companies will offer you the ability to swap your debt to their card at no transfer price. This is a great way to get your debt in one area so you only have to work on one payment a month. Not to mention, if you can find a card with a better interest rate then this will work out in your favor too. If you can’t find a card willing to transfer your debt then simply look for one with better interest. As your credit score grows this shouldn’t be an issue as most companies will try to find you. With the better interest in your pocket you can pay off your other cards and use only the one that won’t have you spending a whole lot of extra money.

7. Travel
For many, buying gasoline is one of the priciest expenditures on the monthly budget, which can be a real problem as the price of gas tends to fluctuate throughout the year. One way to remedy this problem is to take your car out less than you normally would. If you can, set up a carpool to take the kids to and from school and do the same if you need to commute to work. This will shave off a good portion of the gas you use and will help the environment and your community out. Apart from carpools, you may also want to consider public transit. This great alternative will get you out in the community while helping your city and your environment. There is also the option of walking or cycling around town, which will improve your health. The more options you consider when it comes to getting around town, the more likely you are to save money. This doesn’t just mean on gas though. Using your car less can help your health, allow you to apply for more tax deductions and may even cut your car insurance payment down.

8. No Takeout
It may be hard, but cutting out your monthly takeout bill will put a whole lot of money in your pocket. You may be surprised by how much as well since it doesn’t seem like we’re spending too much when we order out or pick up coffee. For many, takeout is a staple that they use to get through lunch every day. This doesn’t just mean grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant or fast food chain, but also picking up prepackaged salads, sandwiches and other meals at local stores. By making your lunch at home you’ll be able to use healthier options and spend a whole lot less on the food you buy. The same can be said for dinner. If you feel like you don’t have time to cook, then consider whipping up premade meals on your days off or utilizing the crock pot. It won’t take long to get into the habit of doing this and the savings will leave you feeling amazing.

9. Skip Subscriptions
Subscriptions have become a big part of our lives as they have expanded from simple newspapers to boxes of goodies that surprise us each month. One way to ditch some of the extra spending each month is to also get rid of the subscriptions. Most newspapers and magazines can be purchased online, which not only cuts down on the price you pay for them, but also helps alleviate the clutter in your home and how much you need to recycle each week. Apart from these items, if you’re subscribed to gaming, book, pop culture or other subscription boxes then you may be forking over a lot of money for items you probably don’t even want. Instead, take a fraction of the money and put it back to splurge on an item you may actually want to own. This will cut back on the junk in your home and allow you to feel like you’re making positive changes in your life. Another subscription you may want to ditch this year is food subscriptions. You can easily look up the recipes for your food boxes and buy the food locally. This will cut back on the price and will help out local farmers.

10. Adjust Taxes
Recently, the IRS announced that people should start adjusting their taxes at work if they didn’t want to wait a while for their tax refund. This can be a quick and easy step to putting more money in your own pocket each year too. Many people are actually overpaying the government for their taxes, which is why they get a hefty sum at the end of the year. Talk to your employer to see how your taxes are being paid and what steps you need to take to ensure you’re paying enough without overpaying.

Monthly bills are never any fun to process, but with these simple steps you should be well on your way to putting money back in no time. After you reduce the amount you spend on these ten items, you’ll be amazed by how much money you actually have to play around with in the New Year.

With 2017 finally here, you’re probably well on your way to making your money saving goals a reality. However, working on this resolution can be a bit of a challenge if you’re not sure where to begin. There’s lots of great tips and tricks to follow out there, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a little money too. For instance, these ten items can fast track some of your money saving goals, so you’ll be well on your way to making your nest egg even larger. Better yet, most of the items won’t set you back too far, so you won’t have to feel guilty about spending the money on them. In fact, they should pay for themselves and then someone before the year is over.

1. Crockpot
If you don’t already have a crockpot in your life, then now is the time to head out and get one. With after holiday sales going on, you should be able to find a large crockpot for under $50. Of course, you can also customize it to suit your kitchen size as well as your cooking needs. A crockpot is great for large families or even a student living in their first dorm, so don’t hesitate to wonder if it can work for your needs. The great thing about crockpots is they work to stretch your food further. You can make soups, stews, casseroles and a wide variety of filling and delicious foods in one of these bad boys. They’re also perfect for cheap cuts of meat that would otherwise be too difficult to eat when baked or fried. There’s a ton of frugal recipes online to help guide you as well. You may find that shopping for crock pot meals allows you to buy in bulk, which is certainly a money saver and may even prevent you from having to grocery shop as often. The crockpot will also decrease the amount you have to spend on electric and gas, because it uses very little power to get the job done. Last but not least, having a crock pot means you’ll be less tempted to order in. You can toss in the food at the beginning of the day and forget all about it until you’re home from work and it’s time to sit down and eat.

2. Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Let’s face it, it’s hard to get the family to cooperate when it comes to turning off lights when they’re not using them. At any given time, you’ll probably find you could turn off half of the house without anyone even noticing. This can be a huge problem for your energy bill and the environment. Luckily, energy efficient bulbs are a great way to take away the burden of a household that loves to keep the house lit. These bulbs take up very little energy at all and are designed to last for years, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them. With just a small investment on your end, you can forget about lightbulbs on your shopping list for some time and you’ll quickly notice a fast change in your energy bill.

3. Food Saver
Buying foods in bulk can be bitter sweet sometimes. On the plus side, you save a whole lot of money on food that will last your family for a while. On the down side, you often end up with freezer burned meat, vegetables and convenience meals. With a food saver, you can skip out on this portion of your shopping experience though. This handy device will vacuum seal and secure every item you seal, so you’ll have great quality food every time you cook. With your food stored properly, you won’t have to stress about items going bad, which means you can stock up when you run into good deals. There’s more than one kind of food saver though. You can also buy items that actually pull gases out the refrigerator, which will help your produce stay fresher for longer. There’s also lots of products designed to help you store produce that has already been cut. This gives you a couple of extra days to get back to the produce before it goes bad.

4. Coffee Maker and Accessories
One of the biggest costs for many households is buying coffee outside of the home. With this expense costing around $3-5 a person every day, you can certainly save a small fortune just by cutting out this expense. One way to do this is to grab a coffee machine that is going to make it worthwhile to pick up your coffee at home. Sometimes, regular pot coffee makers aren’t the key to help the family break this bad habit, so you may want to consider investing in an espresso maker, French press or high quality machine that will make your coffee taste as good as it does from the café. Apart from the coffee machine, you’ll need a few accessories to make this all worthwhile. For instance, if your machine doesn’t come with a frother, then you may want one of these. There’s also a wide variety of coffee flavoring that can help you enjoy your coffee more. You’ll also want reusable travel cups or mugs to make everything even more convenient.

5. Reusable Grocery Bags
Many states are moving towards a more eco-friendly outlook this year, which may mean you’ll have to spend a little more at the grocery store if you like to carry your groceries home in bags. With plastic bag taxes,charges and bans, you might find it a whole lot easier just to invest in your own reusable grocery bags. These special totes tend to cost very little and will allow you to put a little bit of money back into bank account. These bags can be used for other items too, so you may find that they come in handy in more ways than one. If you really want to invest then you can even buy grocery bags that help keep your items stay hot or cold, which is perfect for those who love to shop from one grocery store to the next.

6. Battery Charger
Most households go through a lot of batteries every year. This is especially the case if you have children or a gamer in the house. Buying batteries constantly can be really expensive though and isn’t exactly the best for the environment. Thus, you may want to consider buying a battery recharger to ensure your household budget doesn’t go under. Most battery rechargers come with its own set of batteries, so you’ll be ready to go whenever you open the package. Some will even charge a variety of different batteries, so you’ll be ready to supply the household with the sizes they need. You may want to invest in extra rechargeable batteries to ensure you won’t go empty handed for a little while, but other than that your household should be set for all of the games, tools and entertainment they can come up with.

7. Smart Surge Protectors
If you have surge protectors in the home already, then you’re already doing good. A basic surge protector can help you cut back on electricity as well as protect your electronics from surges in your power. Of course, there is a better option nowadays. Smart surge protectors will ensure your items don’t fall prey to a surge in power, but they will also reduce the power that is drawn from your electronics. This is especially great when it comes to televisions, game consoles, computers and other electronics. When these items are off, the smart surge protector will prevent it from pulling power from the outlet, which can save you a small fortune. The smart surge protectors also draw less power because most are Energy Star certified. With these in your home, you’ll find your power bills a whole lot easier to handle.

8. Reusable Water Bottle
Keeping hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. However, if you’re out and about all day long then chances are you will end up buying water from a store to quench your thirst. Plastic water bottles are one of the most pollution forming items on the planet these days, which means we need to cut back on how often we use them. Apart from that, it can really tap into your budget when you buy drinks like this frequently. Instead, you may consider buying yourself a reusable bottle to help keep you hydrated. If you’re working on drinking more water in the New Year then a gallon jug could help find the perfect balance in your life. Of course, if you’re not away from the home often then a small and portable bottle should do the drink. You may even consider buying a bottle with a filter in it, so you can have fresh water whenever you want. Buying a bottle for the kids can even be helpful, so they have plenty to drink when they’re at school.

9. External Memory
If you spend a lot of time on your computer, or you simply store all of your valuables on one then you may want to consider buying external memory. This device can be plugged into any computer so you can transfer your music, movies, photographs and other material from one computer to the next. This is a great way to prevent loss of the important items you hold near and dear. Not to mention, you won’t have to pay a monthly fee to host your items like you would with online memory services. The external memory is often large enough to hold games, operation software and other programs too, which is great if you ever experience a hard drive malfunction. This will help you replace your hard drive for cheaper as you won’t have to buy an operating system with it.

10. Streaming Subscription
Cable isn’t exactly seen in the glorious light that it was years ago. In fact, many people are ditching their cable service and using streaming services instead. These services only cost a fraction of the price of cable, even if you choose to subscribe to more than one of them. You can choose which subscription you want to go with based on shows they are streaming each month, which will help you get more out of your service. The best thing is you don’t have to commit to any of these services like you do with cable. This means there will be no cancellation fees, nor will you have to worry about the price skyrocketing with very little notice. You may be surprised as to how much fun you can have with a streaming subscription and how much you can save by using one or more instead of dealing with a cable service.

Being frugal this year doesn’t have to bring on headaches. With these ten items, you’ll find simple ways to save lots of money with only a little bit of an investment. Without a doubt, 2017 is sure to be your ticket to a frugal lifestyle and a larger savings account thanks to the help of these ten items.

Most students are heading back to their dorm rooms to begin a new semester. However, they may be in for an unpleasant surprise if they live in a cold region. Many dorm rooms are notorious for being ridiculously cold, which will probably feel a lot worse to students returning back to the dorms from their warm and cozy homes. It may be hard to find a way to keep warm in the dorm too, which will only increase the urge to spend money on items to help out, or entertainment to keep you away from your room. With space heaters being illegal in most dorm rooms, you may find that these simple solutions are your best and cheapest bet to staying warm until spring makes its way to your college. So, bundle up and check out these ten tips for making your dim a little bit warmer during the brutal winter.

1. Hot Water Bottle
For generations, families have used the notorious hot water bottle to get through the long winter months as well as some ailments. If you missed out on this little gem in your childhood, you may recall seeing one at your grandparents’ house and wondering what the contraption was. Basically, this nifty device can be filled with hot water and used to heat up your body and your bed. Simply take it to your bathroom and fill it with the hottest water you can, then stick it at the foot of your bed and within a couple of minutes you’ll be ready to snuggle into a cozy environment. You can also use this items on your stomach or back to help with cramping and to keep your body warmer. You may even consider buying a mini water bottle to stick in the pocket of a hoodie to help keep your body warm as you navigate campus. The best news is the water bottles are incredibly cheap and don’t take any electricity, so your dorm can’t complain. You can even customize them with cute little sweaters and crocheted designs if you’re into that kind of thing.

2. Swap Bedding
Another simple action you can take to stay a little warmer is to swap out bedding. Your cotton sheets aren’t going to do you any favors with the freezing cold pouring straight into your dorm room. Instead, you may want to invest in a nice pair of flannel sheets. These will help use your body heat to help you stay a whole lot warmer during the winter nights. You should also buy a thicker comforter or combine more than one to ensure you stay warm enough during the night. If you don’t have comforters, then compile lots of blankets to bring on the warmth. Now is a great time to stock up on blankets too, as all of the winter themed blankets will be on clearance. This should help you get through the night, but isn’t recommended for studying as it may cause you to doze off.

3. Look For Drafts
One huge problem with many dorm rooms is they are incredibly old. This often means there’s so many drafty areas that it’s hard to keep track of them. This causes a whole lot of your warm air to disappear while making your room feel like it may as well be outdoors. One of the best ways to try to lock in heat in the room is to try to seek out these drafts. You can usually feel around the room for areas that seem to be colder or even those who have excess air coming from the exterior of the room. When you find these areas try to notify your dorm so they can plug them up or use weather stripping. If they refuse to do this then you may have to take measures into your own hands. You don’t want to weather strip or add caulking in your room as this will certainly leave you with a fine when you move out, but you can block the holes with blankets or old clothes. If you’re not sure where the drafts are coming from then invest in drapes or hang a thick blanket over the window. This should slightly help. You may even consider plugging your door frame with a towel when you go to bed, just in case the cold is coming from the hallway.

4. Heated Blanket
Heated blankets are a whole lot safer than what they used to be, so you might want to consider investing in one if you can’t get to sleep in your dorm. As long as you follow the safety instructions, you should be well on your way to a good night’s rest without having to worry about a fire. Of course, you should also give your blanket plenty of time to cool down and should never leave it plugged in when you leave the dorm for any period of time. You may also want to check to make sure they are legal in your dormitory too, as getting caught with one could leave you with a huge fine that won’t make your winter blues feel any better. With a little care and precautions though, this could be one of the best ways for you to warm up while studying or sleeping.

5. Bring on the Layers
Although you may not love doing laundry, you may want to consider making a bit more laundry during the winter months, just so you don’t end up feeling as uncomfortable. Piling on the layers is your key to keeping your body comfortable when you’re in your room as well as when you’re out and about on campus. You may want to make sure you have thermal underwear as this can be one of the best defenses against the cold, especially when you go to bed. Another option is to layer your socks and wear a beanie, even when you’re inside. Try packing on a few shirts and adding a hoodie to the top to keep your body heat locked in too. You may look like you gained more weight than you actually did during the winter holiday, but you’ll be pretty warm.

6. Electric Kettle
An electric kettle can be a life saver for college students no matter the season. However, in the winter time it can be an essential item that every dorm room should have on hand. With an electric kettle, you can have boiling hot water in just a minute or two, which is perfect for keeping hot water bottles filled up without having to journey back and forth from the bathroom. This device is also great for making warm beverages and soup. With the touch of a button, you can heat up your body with tea, hot chocolate or even some instant coffee. If you’re feeling hungry then ramen or a can of soup will be seconds away. With the warm liquid in your body you should be feeling better in no time, plus the warm mug or bowl will also help keep your body temperature feeling cozy as you hold it.

7. Move Furniture
Some dorms make it impossible to redecorate the room, but if you have the ability to move around your furniture you should do so to suit the winter months. Most dorms automatically position bedding in front of the window, which means you’re probably going to be in the coldest area of the room. If you can, move the bed to the other side of the room or as far away from the window as possible. If you have a radiator in your room then you may consider moving the bed a little closer while you sleep, but not so close that your bedding will touch the radiator as you sleep. Another thing to consider is moving furniture away from the vents. Often beds, dressers or desks are positioned over the vent, which makes most of your heat dissipate before it can make a difference in your room. Of course, if you have a roommate make sure all of the changes are okay with them first. Keep fire safety rules in mind as well as you rearrange to get through the cold months.

8. Candles
Since electric space heaters are mostly a no in dorms, you may have to make due with some of the more old fashioned ways of staying warm. One way to do this is to light candles. You can invest in cheap candles on holiday clearance or even buy a large set of tea lights at a price that is next to nothing. Keep the candles close to you while you’re working to ensure the heat from them warms you up. You may not be able to heat up a room entirely this way, but every little bit helps. One way to help the heat radiate though is to place a clay pot over the flame. This DIY heater is pretty popular on tutorial sites and is said to have helped many stay warmer. Of course, always practice safety first when using candles and never leave them going when you’re not in the room.

9. Alter Fan
A lot of college students don’t know how powerful a fan can be in the winter time. Mostly, fans are seen as a way of cooling off when the weather is warm, but there’s quite a bit more to them than that. Most fans actually have a button that will turn the direction in which the fan turns. This easy transformation allows the fan to push around the hot air in the room, thus allowing it to heat the room faster and keep it warmer for longer. If you have a ceiling fan in your room then you’re already doing good as most of these fans have the option. You can also look on other fans to see if there is a special switch to help you move what little warm air you have in the room around. A fan with this function shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg either, so investing in one may be wise.

10. Talk to the Residency Office
Although it may be frustrating, nerve racking or the bane of your existence, heading to your residency office may be the way to get you on the fast track to heat in your room. If the room is incredibly unbearable then make sure you put in a claim with the office as soon as you can. During this time of the year, they are bound to get a lot of claims, so make sure yours is in the stack the moment you notice there’s an issue. If this doesn’t seem to get you anywhere then keep showing up in person and complaining might. The dorm has to keep the area a certain temperature legally, so don’t let them infringe on your rights or the comfort you pay for. The residency office may be able to offer you some pointers as well, or provide you with freebies to help ease the pain of the cold before they can fix your room. Make sure to document all of your claims though, as this will ensure you have proof if you need to take further action.

Dealing with the cold in a dorm room can make you and your studies suffer, so try to follow some of these pointers so you can enjoy your college experience a bit more. With any luck, you’ll be able to heat up your room and feel more comfortable without having to go to extremes or break your budget.

If you still have a bit of the shopping bug leftover for the holiday season, then January is probably one of the best times to get out and find some great deals. Everything from holiday décor to TVs will be displayed at a remarkable price that you’ll have to see to believe. However, there are a few items you should probably avoid if you plan on shopping in the month of January. These items are often sold at an average or even above average price, which won’t do your recovering budget any favors. Don’t stress if you do need these items though because in the next couple of months you’ll be able to find them all at an exciting price too.

1. Mattresses
With the holidays out of the way, you may find yourself feeling worn out and ready to catch up on sleep. However, if your mattress isn’t exactly cooperating then you may find it especially hard to find a good deal on a new mattress during the month of January. Generally, most furniture and mattress stores tend to lock up the deals after their holiday sales in hopes of building up interest during their Presidents’ Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day sales. So, you may not want to go shopping for a replacement during this time. If your bed is really keeping you up at night, you may want to consider a cheap, temporary solution like mattress pads or adding a couple of blankets under your sleep area. This should help you avoid to the average to high prices until you catch one of the unbelievable sales.

2. Jewelry
The holidays weren’t exactly the best time of the year to buy jewelry and the month of January doesn’t really change this trend much. Sure, you may be able to find a few discounts on the holiday items, but if you hold out even longer then you can probably get these items on clearance in the upcoming months. Not to mention, Valentine’s Day is rapidly on its way, which means most jewelry stores are getting an influx of items that they won’t want to sell at a low price. Holding out until after the major holiday is over should allow you to find some great deals that will leave you celebrating your patience. This is especially true when it comes to romance themed items that you may want to treat yourself or someone special to.

3. Spring Lines
When it comes to fashion, you might as well steer clear of getting ahead of the trends this month. Although spring fashion has already made its debut into our lives, you should probably stay away from it until much later in the year. Spring lines will still be at an above average cost, which will mean you’ll be able to spend less and less on your wardrobe if you want to be the trendiest person around. Instead, you may want to concentrate on winter looks that you can use for the rest of this season as well as next year. There will be many sales on these items to ensure you can get the look you want without having to worry about going overboard on spending. You may even be able to incorporate some of these looks into your own spring fashion attire.

4. Football Memorabilia
January means playoffs and the Super Bowl are finally upon us, which might bring on the temptation to grab some items to show off your favorite team. This can be a huge mistake, especially if your team is doing well this season. Usually, the items won’t go on sale until after the Super Bowl is over, but if your team makes it through to the final round or even wins the Super Bowl then you could look at spending more for several months after the big game. If you really need new gear to support your team, then you might want to consider shopping at thrift stores. Many will actually pull the football themed clothes out for display during the football season, so you probably won’t have to look through everything to find what you need. You could also create your own clothing to celebrate the success of your team. Don’t worry if you can’t find any items though, as clearance attire and collectibles will soon be on their way for you to indulge in.

5. Stocks
If you’re an investor, then you probably know there are certain times to buy and certain times to sell or sit back and hold your horses. The month of January is when all of the business from the holidays begins to affect the stocks you may be interested in buying. This means, you’ll have to put in even more money to grab one stock from the company you’ve had your eye on. This can be great if the stock continues to grow, but most fluctuate throughout the year. Instead of buying right now, wait until your stock begins to drop a little. If it’s a company you truly believe in then invest when the price dips. This will give you more for your money and will hopefully allow you to sell them for more money than you bought them for later on.

6. Luggage
January is one of the best times to grab hot deals on airline tickets, cruise packages and just about anything you can possibly need to travel on a budget. However, luggage isn’t included in the savings here. If you’re in dire need of new luggage, then try to hold out until January is over because you won’t find any deals worth your hard earned money. With all of the travel deals on the table, companies hope to make more money off of travelers who want to get out of the cold with fancy new luggage. Luggage that comes in a set will be especially pricey if you’re not careful, so try to avoid the travel store altogether. This is also because new fashions are coming out to entice spring and summer travelers. Thus, if you want to travel, you may find that waiting until closer to summer or even just until February will help you find better prices.

7. Winter Sports Supplies
If you plan on hitting the slopes this season or trying out some new winter sports, then you may want to consider holding out on shopping for your own winter sports supplies. With winter in full swing, all of these items are in high demand, which means you’re going to have to pay full price for the items you want. Even items from last season won’t be at the best possible price, so try to wait until the weather warms up so you can snag the items at a great discount. Renting the items might be a simple and cheaper solution if you are just trying them out, but you can also see if you can borrow from friends and family. By the time March or April rolls around, you should be able to buy all of the winter sports equipment you desire at a price that won’t leave you stunned and frightened. Of course, you should always remember proper storage techniques since you may not get a chance to use your new gear until next winter.

8. Heating Units
The cold weather is pushing its way into many areas, despite the prediction of a warmer winter. This could leave you shivering and unprepared to deal with such a drop in the temperature. If your heating is on the fritz, then you may be in even more of a bind. A heating unit or even parts to repair your current heating unit could cost you a small fortune. Try to hold out if you can because the prices will drop in just a few weeks when spring begins. However, if you can’t wait then try for refurbished or used parts just to get you through the cold months. You may also want to try out some heating alternatives that will cut the costs of your heating expenses while keeping your home a little more comfortable.

9. Calendars
With the New Year just starting out, you may want to grab a new calendar to go along with it. This seems like a pretty basic idea, but you may find yourself paying more for the item than you’d expect. This can be really bad if you want a more expensive calendar for all of your notes and schedules. Even if you want to be an early bird and shop a bit early for your 2017 calendar, you will probably be less than impressed with the price tag. Instead of shopping now, you might as well wait until February when the prices will drop. Until then, use the 2017 section on last year’s calendar or keep your notes in your phone. Custom calendars will also cost you an arm and a leg during this time of the year due to many people wanting to add their own pictures to a personalized calendar. So, be patient and you’re sure to get lots of options and deals if you can make it through January without showing off a 2017 calendar.

10. Snow Supplies
Unfortunately, if you’re preparing for a big snow storm and find yourself without some of the crucial items, you could wind up paying a small fortune during the month of January. This time is known for snow storms in many areas, so stocking up on supplies before the bad weather arrives is always wise. If you can, try to improvise with items from home to ensure you won’t end up spending too much of your budget on supplies. Cat litter, salt and sand that may be lying around the house can do a world of good if you’re in a pinch. You may even consider using a regular shovel if you don’t have a snow shovel on hand. There’s lots of great ideas to help make your snow maintenance possible online, so if you find yourself without some of the gear to keep up with your snow problems, then you may not be in as much trouble as you think.

January is a month that is perfect for getting in the shopping you missed out on during the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you should go into it blindly. These ten items should be avoided if at all possible if you’re interested in keeping your budget in check. With a little luck, you’ll be able to get more for your money thanks to your patience, so sit tight and keep an eye on price tags.

With the New Year rapidly approaching, you’re probably trying to come up with a few ways that you’d like to change your life for the better. Boosting your confidence is a great way to create a better New Year and will give you the motivation and courage to change other aspects of your life too. Luckily, working on your confidence won’t cost you a small fortune either. Rather, this can be one of the most frugal and rewarding ways to change your life for the better. So, this New Year, you won’t have to pick a resolution that will leave you scrambling to keep up financially and emotionally as boosting your confidence is one of the best ways to get more out of your life for 2017 and the upcoming years.

1. Exercise
When it comes to building up confidence, one of the best places to start is with your body. Even if you’re happy with the way your body looks, you can gain a whole lot of confidence when you start and keep up with an exercise routine. Boosting your fitness level is a great way to increase endorphins and even allows you to get to know your body and mind a little better. Even if you have a routine you enjoy, you may want to try out a couple of new exercises to ensure you are getting a well-rounded amount of exercise. It doesn’t have to be about dropping weight either. Rather, concentrate on your health and how your body feels through the routine and after. Even toning up should help boost your confidence, so stick with the routine even if you feel like you aren’t meeting physical goals. Exercising in itself can actually help you save money too, as you will feel healthier which will mean less visits to the doctor.

2. Eat Healthier
Consuming healthy food can actually make you feel confident about yourself, believe it or not. Foods that are good for your body actually help cleanse toxins and will boost your mood and appearance quickly. Of course, jumping on the health food bandwagon could leave you feeling overwhelmed, but you can start doing this by taking baby steps. For instance, if you plan on eating out then add a small side salad to each of your meals and go light on the dressing. You can also begin by having fast food a lot less. This alone will save you a whole lot of money and will ensure you begin to lose weight and feel better in no time at all. The change you will feel as you move from junk food to health food is sure to leave you walking with more pep in your step and as you progress in your healthier eating you will crave the stuff that is bad for you a whole lot less.

3. Stand Up Tall
One small thing you can do to help boost your confidence is to keep an eye on your posture. Standing up tall and holding yourself a little higher will show the world that you are strong and ready to take on any challenge that comes your way. Even if you aren’t feeling like the most confident person on the planet, by keeping your posture long and tall you will instantly feel better about everything you have to take on. It is almost like fooling your mind into believing you are on top of your game, even if you feel like a nervous wreck. Treating your posture better can help you land a promotion, meet new friends or even get a date with someone special. If you’re having trouble with your posture consider grabbing a back brace or learn some of the yoga moves that help encourage the body to maintain a healthier posture.

4. Reach Out
Sometimes, we need a little help finding our confidence again. Often, depression, struggles with life or other problems get in the way, which can cause us to lose sight of our inner confidence. Luckily, there’s a lot of groups that can help you find your groove again. You can seek these groups out in person or online, so shoot for something that meets your needs. This will even allow you to look around for a group that suits you the best, without forcing you to feel committed. If you’re on a tight budget then you may want to seek out free groups. You should be able to do this through your community center or by talking to a doctor who may be able to recommend a great program. Of course, reaching out to friends and family can also help you feel better. Once you talk out your problem and figure out how to resolve it, you’ll be on the right track to feeling confident.

5. Start Small
A lot of people expect to hop into their New Year’s resolution goals and immediately make progress. This can not only discourage them from finishing out a resolution, but it could also cause some to throw money at the resolution. Instead of doing this you should take small steps to ensure that you don’t find the process totally overwhelming as you work towards your goal. You might start this process by making a list of things you’d like to change about yourself. From there, choose a small goal to help start you out. It may even be something as small as calling a parent more often. Once you’ve got this goal down then choose something a little bigger. As the challenge grows, so will your confidence. Remember, breaking a bad habit and forming a good habit only takes around 21 days, so you may be able to fit in over 12 goals a year if you really push yourself. With this success, you’re sure to feel incredible about yourself and you’ll probably also save some money in the long run too.

6. Ditch the Negativity
We’re all guilty of having days when everything is negative and we can’t seem to see the good in anything. These days can really bring us down though and can prevent us from having the confidence we need to get through life. One way you can combat negative feelings is to train yourself to detour from having them. You can do this by placing a sum of money in a jar every time a negative thought prevents you from reaching your potential or when it puts you in a bad mood. After spending your money, you’ll think twice about it which should lead you down a more positive road. Plus, at the end of the year, you may have a nice nest egg to splurge on something you’ve always wanted. Negative people can also hinder your success in life, so try to avoid people who may purposely bring you down. If they are a close friend or family member, then you might want to have a talk with them and explain your goals and how they are standing in your way. With the negativity out of your life, you may find you have more freedom to really shoot for your goals.

7. Read and Write
Working on your confidence doesn’t have to be all about work either though. You can really find confidence in doing activities you love or those that you may not know you love yet. For instance, reading a book can actually boost your confidence levels. Many people have a hard time getting into reading, but if you take the time to explore various books you may find that there is something that strikes your fancy out there. The more you read, the better you will feel mentally which will allow you to want to take on more challenging jobs and work on your well-being more often. Writing is another way to help with confidence levels, so you might want to invest in a notebook that you really like or start up your own blog. By writing down your thoughts and feelings you will help relieve stress and feel more confident as you take on the challenges in your life. If you choose to keep a public blog then you may even find a group of people who support you and appreciate your writing, which can also help you feel confident.

8. Step Outside of the Comfort Zone
Everyone has their own sense of security, but sometimes our safety bubbles can leave us feeling confined and a little down in the dumps. In order to boost your confidence and get yourself out of the everyday grind of things, you may want to try to take a step outside of your comfort zone every now and then. Of course, this step is going to depend on the person you are as everyone has their own boundaries. For instance, if you’re an introvert, you may want to decide to speak to someone new every once in a while. You might also want to challenge yourself by reading a book that you find to be advanced. Extroverts may get more out of trying out an extreme sport or asking the boss for a promotion at work. No matter what you choose to do, this action can help further your life and bring your confidence to a new height.

9. Volunteer
One way to challenge yourself and to make yourself feel great is to go out of your way to give back to others. Volunteering can truly change your life and leave you feeling confident about the person you have become. You can choose from so many ways to volunteer too, which makes it perfect for everyone. For instance, you can easily volunteer to help out at a nursing home or vet center if you enjoy spending time with people and helping others smile. If you enjoy working with your hands then you may want to try out Habitat for Humanity, planting trees in a park or even picking up trash on the side of the road. Animal fans will love working at a shelter or helping the elderly in the neighborhood walk their dog. No matter what you choose, making a difference is sure to help add the extra pep to your step.

10. Dress Up
Sometimes, all it takes to feel confident is to take the time out of your day to dress up and look your best. Even if you don’t have anywhere to go, you can always put on nicer clothes, fix your hair and do your make up. You may even find this activity to be a whole lot of fun, which is sure to make life a little sweeter anyway. You don’t have to do this all for no reason though. Try experimenting with new looks in your wardrobe or with your makeup. You may find looks that you’ve been neglecting that make you feel out of this world. If you’ve stuck with the same hairstyle for a while, then mix it up with something new. You might find all the refreshing looks can really make you feel like the go-getter you are.

Boosting confidence doesn’t have to be a chore or something that will leave you struggling throughout the year. There’s many ways to find your groove and keep it up, which will help you immensely in many aspects of your life. These ten ideas to boost confidence will not only help you with any other resolutions you have, but can also help keep your money secure in your bank account as you work to achieve greatness.

If you’re new to Kwanzaa and don’t know where to begin then you may find it overwhelming to see how expensive it is to get this holiday off the ground. There are, of course, cheap options, but if you’re not sure how to start and don’t have guidance then spending lots of money may be the solution. There’s lots of great ways to enjoy the holiday though even if you’re not sure how to set a proper budget for it. With a few simple tips you can easily bring the holiday to life without spending much of anything. This should allow you to embrace the holiday and incorporate it into your life for years to come without allowing it to add extra financial stress during the holiday season.

1. Start Off Small
A lot of people want to simply dive into the holiday full force, which means getting décor, attire, gifts and food. Of course, if you don’t know where to start then you may end up buying things that are overly priced or those you won’t be able to cook properly. Instead of throwing a lot of money into the holiday try starting simple. For instance, Kwanzaa is actually separated into seven different principles. So, try taking one of the principles and concentrating on that for your first year. Then, next year move on to the next. You can keep adding on this way, or you can move faster when you feel more comfortable with the holiday. You can also keep things simple by tackling one traditional dish a year, instead of overwhelming yourself with a feast. As you learn to perfect the one dish then add on until you can experience the full effect. You can do this with crafts, attire and games too.

2. Go to the Library
If you want to read up on the holiday or simply find resources to help you celebrate, then you’ve probably found a lot of pricey books on the subject. This can be discouraging especially if you’re looking forward to celebrating the holiday. Luckily, your local library should have a wide range of resources to help you gain a better understanding of the celebration. You may even be able to find cookbooks and other helpful materials to get your Kwanzaa party started. Many libraries will even have books directed towards children, so you can begin teaching the little ones about the holiday from a young age. If you’re just beginning, these books may be a valuable resource to you too as they usually present the ideas in a way that creates a perfect foundation. Of course, if you can’t find resources at your library then make sure to talk to the librarians. They may be able to request information for you or steer you in the right direction as to how to find it for free.

3. Print Out Activity Sheets
When it comes to learning about Kwanzaa, the internet can actually be your best friend. There’s lots of great resources that can help you plan out ways to teach your children about Kwanzaa. This can be a great resource for parents that are learning themselves, or for those who have celebrated the holiday for decades now. Many of these resources come in the form of activity sheets, which can be found on websites designed to teach about Kwanzaa, African culture or even most homeschooling websites. These activity sheets can also prove to be a fantastic way to keep your child’s mind active while they are enjoying winter break. You might consider starting to work on the sheets when the children get out of school for winter break, or you can always wait to begin the lessons until the holiday actually begins. Either way, you should be able to teach them quite a bit about the holiday without spending more than the cost of printer ink and paper.

4. Learn a Recipe
Food can play a big part in many holidays and Kwanzaa is no exception to the rule. If you plan on celebrating with family and friends, then having a bit of food on hand is an absolute must. Thus, learning a recipe may actually be one of the easiest ways to ensure you learn a lot about the holiday through experience. Most foods have specific ties to an event, so when you pick out the item you want to learn how to cook make sure you do a little research on it too. You will learn about where the items in the recipe come from, why it is a food used in the celebration and if it still has cultural appeal to this day. This will give you a deeper connection with the celebration and will help you feel closer to ancestors and the culture and country you are celebrating.

5. Watch a Movie/Show
One of the easiest and quickest ways to learn about something is through movies and programs that show the activity. There are actually quite a few movies and TV shows on Kwanzaa, which can be a great way to begin your celebration. Try to find a streaming website or a frugal movie or show to buy for the big occasion. Then, gather up the family to watch and learn through the actions of the film. You may find deeper meaning in the holiday by doing this, which will certainly allow you to find inspiration to progress in your celebration. Finding the perfect movie may be hard though, because there are so many great options that you may want to watch them all. In fact, there’s even a Kwanzaa Rugrats special that is sure to keep the kids glued to the screen as you all enjoy the quality time together.

6. Universities/Churches
You might find that one of the best resources you can find on Kwanzaa is actually your local education facilities or churches. Although Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, many churches will offer classes to help to teach you the meaning of the holiday and to help you celebrate whether it be on your own or with the church. Some universities and community colleges will also offer courses for the celebration around the time winter break shows up. Full courses may cost money, but if the facility hosts a guest lecture or special program then it may cost you little to nothing to attend. You may even find the institution to host its own Kwanzaa party that is open to the community. By spending time at these functions, you should be able to grasp the holiday a little better while ensuring you have a lot of fun without spending a lot of money.

7. Craft Gifts
Another way to learn more about Kwanzaa is to get your hands dirty, so to say. Try looking up some Kwanzaa crafts to see if you find something you’d like to make for those in your inner circle. When you do this, you will learn a lot about the types of crafts celebrated during the holiday and why they are often incorporated into the Kwanzaa fun. This will also give you a deeper meaning of the holiday and will supply you with cost friendly gifts to pass out to friends. You can also craft African drums to celebrate the culture. These make the perfect gift for children and will help keep them engaged in the holiday while showing them they can have a little fun. You may even look into online lessons to help the family learn more about the drums and how to play them.

8. Learn Songs
Singing is a huge part of African culture, so it goes without saying that singing your heart out during Kwanzaa is a must. Thus, you might want to start your Kwanzaa education by learning some of the songs that are commonly used. This, in itself, will give you a deeper meaning of the holiday because songs tend to layout reasons for celebration, history and culture. You can find lots of Kwanzaa songs online too, so check out spread sheet websites, your favorite streaming apps or even video streaming websites. Before you know it, you’ll be singing along like you’ve been celebrating the holiday your whole life. You may even try to find some special songs for children to ensure they get the chance to learn and participate in the holiday as well.

9. Share Family Stories
Part of the beauty of Kwanzaa is celebrating the culture of your family. This can be the perfect time to share the story of where you come from with your family. If you don’t know when to begin then this holiday might be the perfect time to uncover some of the stories that make up your legacy. You may want to start by asking the elders in your family about your roots. Make sure to write it all down in a book so you can share with your family for generations to come. If you’d like to take a closer look at your roots then you may want to look into a DNA ancestry test or a service that will help you trace your roots. You may be surprised by how far back you can trace your family tree and the stories and family you may uncover along the way.

10. Visit a Kwanzaa Celebration
Of course, if you really want to experience the beauty of the holiday and still don’t know where to begin, then you may want to talk to a friend or family member who celebrates the occasion every year. If you know someone like this they may invite you into their home to enjoy the full 7-day celebration with their friends and family. This will give you a first-hand look at the holiday, which will help you understand more about the rituals of the celebration as well as the true meaning. After seeing the holiday with your own two eyes, you should be able to plan your own holiday celebration in the upcoming years, which will ensure your family will fall in love with Kwanzaa and will take pride in the celebration.

Celebrating Kwanzaa doesn’t have to leave you feeling blindsided financially. These ten tips will help you find the resources you need to get started on the holiday while teaching the younger generation without forcing you to spend a bundle. Before you know it, you’ll be setting up Kwanzaa like a veteran.

For many families, Boxing Day can be a strange transition from the buzz of the holidays to dealing with all of the recycling left behind from the big day. There’s actually a lot of great things you can do on Boxing Day though that will help make your holiday even better and will add memories to this special day that your kids will want to pass on to their own. This doesn’t mean you have to go wild and spend even more money to have a great time. In fact, there’s lots of great low cost and free things to do to ensure Boxing Day doesn’t ruin your holiday budget. You may even find that some of these ideas will help keep the home in working order as you struggle to get ready for the New Year with your family. So, don’t let Boxing Day pass you by as this could soon become one of your favorite ways to unwind after the holiday rush.

1. Go Through Your Items
With an influx of new items in the home, you may find things to be a little crowded, to say the least. So, take Boxing Day for face value this year and use it to declutter a bit. In fact, Boxing Day was a time when the elite would box up their old items to give to their servants as gifts. You can use this same premise to inspire the kids to get busy in their own rooms. Everyone can go through their clothes, toys and other items to see if there’s anything they don’t really need or want anymore. These items can be tossed in a box and donated to those who may actually need them. If you ended up with duplicate gifts and have no idea where the gift receipts went, then these items might be perfect for donation too. That is, unless you still have Secret Santa parties to get through. It doesn’t matter if you take your items to a thrift store or donate them to a nursing home, as they will find their way to a home that will appreciate them. If you want to save money on this, simply ask for a receipt of items you donated. You can use it as a tax write off in the upcoming tax season.

2. Plan Meals
Chances are, you probably have a huge stash of holiday leftovers in the refrigerator. This can be overwhelming, especially if you still haven’t gotten over the turkey and ham sandwich epidemic after Thanksgiving last month. This could often lead to waste, but with a bit of planning you should be able to avoid it altogether. Try sitting down with the family and coming up with creative ways to use the excess food. Sure, heating up leftovers for a day or two may be great, but you can also come up with casserole ideas and so much more. Once you’ve made a game plan get the items together and start to freeze them. This will make for fast meals when you’re busy or will simply cut down on your grocery bill. You may even feel a bit of success as you conquer the leftover problem without throwing half of it out! Of course, if the family wasn’t entirely keen on the meal then you might consider fixing up plates or making sandwiches with the food, to pass out to those in need. Make sure you know the laws in your area though, so you don’t get fined.

3. Holiday Shopping
Boxing Day is also known for its extraordinary deals. This might be the perfect time to grab all of the items that you missed out on, especially if they were holiday specials. Many toys and jewelry that were must have gifts only the day before will actually take a cut in prices, so retailers can move them off of the shelves. Apart from these items, holiday décor is sure to be on your must-buy list. Items like Christmas trees, holiday lights and ornaments will be reduced significantly. Of course, if you can hold out longer then you may wait because the clearance price will only keep reducing. Holiday baking kits, candy and holiday specific foods, like ham, will reduce in price to give you some great grocery steals. You might even find some awesome clothing deals like ugly sweaters or holiday inspired pajamas for next year’s holiday fun.

4. Host a Party
The holidays can be pretty demanding, especially if you try to plan around everyone’s schedule. Rather than host a party on Christmas day or even Christmas eve, reserve this time for your family. Boxing Day is actually a great time to have the rest of your group over to celebrate. Your holiday décor will still be up and you’ll have plenty of food to go around from the previous day’s meal. In fact, you may even consider asking people to bring along some of their leftovers for a potluck event. If you received new music or movies then this may be the time to bring them out to. The same can be said for games that can keep people entertained. You may even consider exchanging small gifts, crafts or have a gifting trade to help keep the price of your party down.

5. Share Gifts
Most people want to spend some time exploring their new gifts, which can be turned into a great bonding experience for the entire family. Parents can sit down and play with their children to see how their mind thinks as well as what their interests are. It is also a good time to show children that it’s okay for adults to play too. Other than that, you may want to break out any board games or video games people may have received as this can help the family bond together even more. Of course, reading is always a great option too and will help children see that it is a fun activity, which should help them stick with it for the rest of their lives. Other than that, you may want to catch up on movies or listen to music together, especially if someone received new items. Sharing one another’s gifts can really allow everyone to get to know each other a lot better overall, which is sure to create lasting memories.

6. Create Christmas Album
With all of the Christmas fun finally over, it may be time to look through all of the amazing footage you got during your holiday adventures. Whether you traveled, or just hung out with family there’s bound to be some great memories that everyone will want to look back on in the years to come. So, gather up your family photos and pick your favorite items to immortalize. Many photo stores will actually sell photo albums at a discounted price on Boxing Day if you want a printed album, but if you want to save even more money you might want to consider adding them to a scrapbook instead. This will allow you to take your time to write in memories, or will allow each person in the family to create their own custom page. This bonding experience will help make the warm memories concrete, especially when you look over what you wrote next year and the years to come.

7. Volunteer
Since you got to enjoy your lovely holiday, you may want to use Boxing Day as a time to give back to your community. Usually, major holidays are pretty booked when it comes to volunteering, but Boxing Day can be overlooked. This means you should have your choice of places to volunteer with. You can choose anything from soup kitchens to visiting a nursing home though, so let your heart guide you to the perfect volunteer service for you. Make sure you include the kids with some of the volunteer activities too, so they see it is important to give time as they grow. You never know whose life you will touch in the process, especially since many people are still lonely during this time of the year.

8. Choose a New Year’s Resolution
Since Christmas is now over, you may want to take Boxing Day to look at the next big holiday in your life. That is, New Year’s. Coming up with a New Year’s resolution can be a real pain, but it can be important to at least think of ways you’d like to improve your life in the future. This will show your children that making improvements is crucial to growth. So, you may want to sit down with the whole family and discuss the ideas you’ve been thinking of. This will allow the children to engage in the process and come up with their own handy ideas. If you don’t have a family then consider doing the same thing with your friends. This will help you work up a support system before the New Year begins too. Of course, if you’re at a loss for what to change in your life, you might want to review some healthy options to help get you on a brighter path in life.

9. Write Thank You Letters
Now that everyone has received their gifts and are settling in and enjoying them, you may want to take the time to properly thank those that sent them. You can go about this a few ways, so you may want to experiment with different methods to see which suits you better. The old-fashioned way is to fill out thank you cards and send them through the snail mail. You can find lots of great designs in stores at a price that won’t leave you hurting. If you want to save some money though, you can make your own thank you cards via a printer or by handcrafting. These can also be mailed or hand given to those who took the time to shop for you. If you don’t want to go either route, then there’s many online services that will allow you to email personalized thank yous to every person who sent you something. Of course, you can also get the kids in on the fun, which will show them to express gratitude. You can even get them to send a thank you to Santa Claus himself.

10. Get Out of the House
Chances are, if you have been cooped up with the kids all week or the weather hasn’t been cooperative then you may have some cabin fever going on. Try to choose some cheap ways to keep everyone entertained outside of the house. For instance, you can go for a nature walk depending on the weather. This may end up becoming a snowball fight though, but it will also give you a chance to catch up on snow angels and snow men. Apart from that, you may want to see if there’s any ice skating in your area as this is always a great winter adventure for all ages. If you’d prefer to stay in the warm then catching a movie might be a lot of fun, especially since many people may still be out of town for the holidays.

Boxing Day doesn’t always have to be thought of as just the day after Christmas. With these ten ideas, you should be able to make plans that will make the whole family happy while creating traditions that the family will anticipate as the years pass. With any luck, you’ll get through the day without any extra spending.

Keeping the grocery budget in check can be pretty hard no matter the time of the year. However, winter seems to be a bit harder on most households. With major feasts happening for the holidays and family members wanting heavier meals to keep them warmer, buying groceries to satisfy everyone can really become a huge form of stress. There’s a lot of great ways to stretch your food budget further though, so you can enjoy feeding your family without feeling guilty about not having enough for them to eat. With any luck, you may even find these tips cut back on your time in the kitchen, so you can enjoy the close-knit feeling of the season with the people you love.

1. Homemade Bread
Feeding the family cheaply during the winter months often means a lot of meals with bread and simple sandwiches for lunch. Although bread at the store isn’t exactly the most expensive item in your grocery cart, the amount you buy can add up quickly. Baking your own bread at home can be a cheap alternative that will allow you to have more control over what your family eats. Homemade breads lack the preservatives and harmful ingredients that store bought breads do too, so you can feel better about giving them to your family. Apart from that, you can easily make a wider variety based on you family’s likes and dislikes. Homemade breads usually taste better too, no matter if you serve them alone or as part of a meal. The baking process isn’t very hard either, especially if you have a bread machine. While baking, you should be able to cut down on the heater as the oven will make the home warm and cozy, as will the delicious smell.

2. Crockpot Recipes
If there’s one thing that comes in handy during the cold months, it’s certainly the crock pot. This handy device doesn’t escalate your gas bill and barely uses any power, so you can leave it going all day long while saving plenty of money. This is especially great if you have to spend all day at work or running errands, as you won’t have to stress over your meal being ready in time. There’s a lot of good and hearty recipes you can utilize with the crockpot too. This is especially true when it comes to soups and stews, which are sure to warm up your family when the weather is freezing. Crockpots make it easy to cook a lot of food at once as well, so you can enjoy leftovers for a day or two, or freeze them to have on a separate occasion.

3. Go Casseroles
Make life a little easier by choosing more casseroles during the winter months. You may find some casseroles as comfort food from childhood, so pass on the tradition to your children too. The best thing about casseroles is they usually take up only one pan, so you should be good to go when it comes to cleanup options as well. You can really mix it up with your casseroles too. There’s tons of recipes online, but you can also work with breakfast, lunch and dinner concepts or throw in a few cultural elements. You may even be able to work on a casserole using leftovers from other meals. Casseroles tend to last longer too, so you can use them for other lunches or dinners to help spread out your meal plan. For an added bonus, the oven will heat up the home saving you even more money.

4. Soups/Stews
Warm up the body and the soul, when you whip up a delicious homemade soup or stew for the family. Most soup recipes won’t cost you an arm and a leg, especially if you plan a way to use the ingredients to suit more than one meal. This will help spread out your grocery budget, so you can eat healthier and smarter. Soups and stews tend to last a lot longer than other meals as well, especially since the broth fills up the belly while ensuring everyone gets plenty of nutrients. You can base a soup around things you already have in the home, or go off recipes of your own. You never know, you may even come up with your own special recipe that can be passed down from generation to generation. If you’re worried about holiday pounds then soup is the perfect diet choice as well, since so many have a low-calorie count per bowl without forcing you to feel hungry or unsatisfied. If you make large batches of soup, you can freeze them for later, which is perfect for weekend lunches for the kids.

5. Oats
One of the keys to keeping your family well-fed during the winter season is to start out early. You can do this by serving up foods like oatmeal for breakfast. These will warm up their bodies while keeping them feeling energized and full much longer than other foods would. If you don’t have a lot of prep time in the morning then you may want to consider making overnight oats. This allows you to mix the ingredients at night and simply microwave the meal in the morning. Oatmeal is great for keeping everyone happy too as you can make all sorts of varieties, with ingredients that will add even more health benefits to the family. Best of all, oats are proven to increase mood and may even help fight Seasonal Affective Disorder. If oatmeal isn’t on your agenda then consider making snack bars and cookies with oats, or cooking meals with the wide variety of oats available in the market.

6. Caffeine
Tis the season to enjoy lots of warm beverages, which will help fill you up and keep your body temperature feeling nice for much longer. When it comes to winter, caffeine can be one of your biggest friends. Most coffee beverages now contain milk and other ingredients, which almost act as a full meal. If you love your lattes and cappuccinos, then there’s many great home recipes you can use that are incredibly cheap and easy. You don’t have to stick with just hot coffee either. In fact, iced coffee will even help warm you up. It may not be as fast as the hot beverage, but the caffeine will boost your metabolism so you feel much warmer. You don’t just have to stick with coffee either though. Tea and chocolate will do the trick too.

7. Curries
If you love to eat curry then you’re in luck because it is actually one of the best foods to eat when you’re really cold. You can also whip up a lot of these dishes with ease at a price that won’t leave you stammering. The key to curries is most of them contain turmeric and cumin. Both of these spices are known to help boost your metabolism, which also raises your body temperature on top of a wide assortment of other health benefits. If you love spicy food then this will also help raise the temperature. Most curry contain chili powder and you can always add even more to raise the temperature of food, but go gentle on the amount if you’re not used to eating spicy food often. Some curries will even have ginger in the mix, which helps to keep you warm too. Of course, serving yours with some ginger tea may also be a quick way to get your body feeling great again.

8. Bulk Meals
Sometimes, it’s a lot easier to make large portions of food at once. This allows you to not spend as much time cooking on a regular basis and can help save a lot money when you’re shopping for ingredients. Often, we end up spending more than we should on food items, because we can pay a little more to get a whole lot more of the product. When you find deals like this you should jump on them and use them to your advantage. For instance, macaroni and cheese can easily be made in large batches. This is an easy dinner, side dish, or lunch for the whole family and can be frozen without worry. You can do the same with lots of other dishes you may find yourself making over and over again. Before long, you’ll wonder why you spent so much time in the kitchen when you could have just made serval meals in one quick cooking session. Cooking like this is especially great during the holidays and will help keep your family in leftovers for some time.

9. Water
The season doesn’t matter, as water consumption is a must when it comes to keeping your body’s temperature regulated and your belly full. Most people don’t drink enough water, which actually ends up causing overeating and other health problems that can make your grocery bill skyrocket. Instead of spending more on groceries, try having everyone drink a glass of water around half an hour before every meal. This will cut back on over eating while ensuring the family feels full and happy. Doing this will help you meet your daily quota for water too, which will help ensure you don’t feel as cold as the freezing weather works its way through your region. Water is a lot cheaper than most beverages too, especially if you use a home filtration system. So, make sure this winter you concentrate more on hydrating than you do on raising the grocery budget.

10. Seasonal Produce
You might not think it, but the winter months have some pretty awesome produce to enjoy. Everything from root vegetables to fruits like pomegranates are on sale during this time, which means you’ll have a lot to work with when you make your meals from scratch. Seasonal produce is always the best to buy as it is the freshest and helps you and your body flow with the seasons. Of course, it also helps that the produce is also cheaper than other items in the produce section. Generally, munching on seasonal produce will help your body get through the specific season too as it provides nutrients needed to handle colds and so much more. Your winter produce won’t be frozen or imported from abroad in most cases either, which means you get a better overall product.

Cooking in the winter time can be stressful if you find yourself working around a tight budget and a hungrier family. These tips will help you find the cheapest and most efficient ways to feed your family while keeping your money anxiety down. You may even find new recipes using these methods that are sure to stick with your family throughout the year.

The holidays are rapidly approaching, which means it’s almost time for the kids to take a break from school. Although winter break isn’t as long as summer break, you may find yourself struggling with ways to keep your kids busy as the holidays pass and boredom sets in. There’s lots of great things to do during this holiday season though, even if you don’t have an arm and a leg to spend on the field trips. These ten ideas should help you give meaning to winter vacation while showing the children that boredom doesn’t have to overtake their time away from school. You may even find a few new traditions to enjoy as the years pass, which are sure to help you prevent cabin fever.

1. Local Stores
With the holiday season here, many stores will be able to give you some entertainment without costing you a penny. A lot of stores love to host their own Santa Claus to draw in customers and keep children happy. They will even set up toy displays to help encourage customers to shop while their child meets with the big man from the North Pole. Seeing Santa Claus usually doesn’t cost a thing as long as you don’t purchase a picture. Apart from seeing jolly ole Saint Nick, many stores will even have activities to help kids feel the holiday spirit. Bass Pro, for instance, hosts a wide variety of crafts, activities and giveaways to keep customers coming in over the season. This is a great way to let your kids have some fun with other children, even if you don’t plan on shopping. So, try asking around your community to see which stores will be spreading holiday cheer when your child is out of school.

2. Cooking Class
Learning a new skill is a great way to put a winter vacation to good use. Luckily, during the winter there are lots of cooking courses available for kids, adults or the whole family. Many will even specialize in holiday dishes or desserts, which should come in handy when you need to whip up a feast for the whole family. Children will love taking courses designed to help them make cookies for Santa Claus. Usually, these children’s classes can be found at children’s programs, schools and other education centers. For adult friendly and family friendly courses, you might try your local college or restaurants. Many of these courses will be low cost, but if you want to save even more money then surf around on Groupon or other coupon sites to find just what you’re looking for.

3. Caroling
If your evenings seem to be filled with reruns on the TV and kids complaining about how bored they are, then it might be time to utilize a holiday tradition that many often overlook. That is, caroling. This activity is absolutely free of charge and can help your family and friends bond together while spreading a little holiday spirit. You never know, you may even pick up a few people willing to join in on the fun while you’re out. You may want to start this activity in your own community where you tend to know how people will respond. This will make caroling a little more comfortable for first-timers. As time passes, you may decide to branch out or simply go to a park to carol. If you’d like to cheer some people up, get in touch with a nursing home or hospital to see if you can carol there. You may also want to bring along hot chocolate and coffee to help keep everyone warm and happy as you go. If you aren’t sure about what to sing, there’s lots of great songs online you can print out for absolutely free.

4. Tree Farm
Picking out a Christmas tree can be one of the best elements of the holiday season. However, going to the store and looking through a pile of trees that are already practically dead can be a little frustrating. It takes away part of the magic of the holidays and can even be a waste of money if there isn’t a decent tree left. If you live near a tree farm, then you could be in for a real treat though. This will allow the whole family to pick out a tree that is still beautiful and that will last until the holiday season is over. Once you’ve found your perfect match then the family can work together to cut it down. This can be a lot of fun and will help with the bonding experience. Better yet, while you’re there, the kids can learn about what it takes to a grow a tree and you may even be able to volunteer to plant new trees when spring arrives.

5. Museum
A lot of museums know that children are bored during their vacations from school. That’s why many jump into gear to try to come up with ideas to draw children into their learning environment. Some, may host free days which will allow local families to check out the current exhibits for a day. Other museums will come up with their own holiday inspired exhibits to draw in a crowd. This can help children learn the meaning of the holidays while showing them the history as well. Some museums will even host craft lessons to help keep children’s minds working while they are away from school. You may find having a membership to your museum will ensure these activities are free of cost, but smaller museums may actually offer free classes if you ask. Some will even host a holiday breakfast, complete with Santa visit, so make sure you know what your local museums are up to before the fun gets all booked up.

6. Theater
Nothing brings the holidays to life quite like a ballet or play based around the beauty of the season. This can be a great cultural field trip for the whole family and will allow everyone to spend time learning and enjoying a great show. Usually, theaters that are local or in a school won’t charge an arm and a leg for their productions. If you volunteer to help out, then you may even be able to see the show with the whole family for free. This can help alleviate boredom as everyone works on sets, lighting or even ushering the event. Your family will be able to experience some classics that have been beloved for years too, which is sure to help make memories they will want to share with their own children one day. Of course, if your children are in a drama or ballet class then you should be able to experience the magic for free as well. This will also give your child a sense of purpose during the holiday season, since they won’t have homework to contend with.

7. Nursing Home/Veteran Center
During the holidays, many people get lonely especially if they are living in a home away from their loved ones. The elderly in nursing homes are often deeply affected by the holiday season, which is why it may be a great idea to get your kids out of the house, so they can spend time with those who don’t have family to spend time with. You will be amazed by the numerous stories your children will hear as they hang out with people who celebrated the holiday season decades ago. Sometimes, veterans also end up feeling alone during the season, especially if they have no family to get in touch with. Thus, caroling or hanging out at a veteran center can be a great way to show your children the meaning of the holiday spirit while allowing them to pay their respects to those that have served. You might even consider bringing some food, cards or small gifts to help cheer up soldiers who may have hit a rough patch as the world around them celebrates.

8. Hay Rides
The season may not be complete without a fun hay ride with the whole family. These rides can be pretty inexpensive if you look for a Groupon or know someone who has a trailer. Generally, the hay rides will take the family to check out holiday lights or on a caroling trip through the town, which can be a lot of fun for everyone. If you’re a part of a club or a church then you may even be able to snag a few spots on a hay ride without spending a penny. Either way, your family will stay entertained for the whole evening, which will help make the anticipation of the holiday a little easier to bear for children.

9. Library
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, the library is always a great place to take the whole family. This is especially true if you have kids that are out of school for a little while. A trip to the local library can help keep their minds active while encouraging them to learn without the school making them. During the holidays, there is often a wide variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy though. From story time with Santa to arts and crafts, the kids will feel like the library is the place to be whenever they don’t have to hit the books at school. Most libraries will also display holiday inspired books, so you can pick out all of the best bed time stories for the winter break. The best thing is, a trip to the library doesn’t cost a penny and you can spend all day there if you really want to.

10. Santa Village
Chances are, you probably have at least one Santa Village in your neck of the woods. May it be a small shop that only opens up around the holidays or a display in a shopping mall. Either way, this can be a great field trip for any child who wants to see Santa in person. Santa Villages usually have an area where kids can visit with Santa and do the official sitting on the lap experience. Many will have much more though. For instance, some will allow you to work on crafts, drink hot cocoa and simply hang out with St. Nick. This can be an enticing experience for children, especially if they’re at the right age. Other villages may even sell little trinkets that make cute gifts for friends and family. If you’re really looking to step up the trip then you may want to check out some of the more famous Santa Villages that may be closer to you than you realize.

Keeping the kids busy during winter break doesn’t have to leave you scrambling. These ten tips will allow you to keep the kids entertained without spending a small fortune on field trips. You may find it easier than ever to find new things for the whole family to enjoy after you plan out a few fun trips from this list. All in all, the beauty in the field trips will be keeping your family together and bonding during such a festive season.

The holidays can be the worst on your budget. With all of the money quickly jumping out of your pockets, you’re sure to feel your head spinning. If you have a few minutes of spare time each day, you may be able to help make up for the loss of funds that happens during the merry time of the year. There’s lots of great ways you can earn some side money without having to qualify for anything or do training for a job. This can be perfect for stay at home parents, or anyone who is struggling to get all of the gifts they planned to. So, buckle up, because you’re going to want to jump on some of these tips right away.

1. Surveys
You’ve probably heard a lot of people talk about doing surveys for a little extra cash. In most cases, these jobs actually aren’t a scam and you can receive incentive payments for taking random surveys. Usually these surveys take a few minutes each and cover a wide variety of items. You will probably be asked to share some personal information about yourself though in order to receive surveys that are a right fit. Of course, these surveys aren’t going to pay you enough to afford the lavish holiday you dream of. However, the companies usually do pay in gift cards, which can help you pick up some of the items on your list with ease. There’s lots of great survey sites out there, so make sure to do a little research to find one that will fit your needs. With any luck, you’ll be bringing in the gift cards in no time at all.

2. Watch Videos
It may sound too good to be true, but some companies will actually pay you to watch videos and advertisements. This can be a great way for you to rake in some cash while you work on your household chores or finish up some items for work. Most of the time, you only have to have the video player going, so you can multitask while earning a little bit. Although these jobs usually don’t pay much, you can quickly build up your points to earn a reward. Like taking surveys, most of these websites will pay you in gift cards, so don’t expect to get a big check in the mail. This is helpful though with shopping, but if you want to see the money hit the bank then you can always opt for a PayPal gift card. All the same, this is a great way to earn extra if you have kids running around or don’t have the attention span to make it through surveys.

3. Blog/Vlog
If you feel like you have something to say to the world then create your own blog and get to typing. You can easily transform your blogging into a little extra cash, especially if you can gain a following. This may sound harder than it actually is, so don’t feel intimidated. There’s many websites designed to help you figure out where you should start with your blogging and how to earn fans as well as money. Most of the time, you’ll find that the money comes with advertisements, which will make your job even easier. Vlogging is another popular way to earn some extra cash, but gaining money by doing this is a little less likely than with blogging. There’s many famous vloggers on websites like YouTube, so competition will be fierce. However, if you can gain a following and earn the website views then you could receive a decent payday from doing this. Try to follow your passions when you choose your subject matter though, as this will help keep the work fun which can inspire you to keep it up and earn even more money.

4. Drive
If you have a license and your own car, then you’re one step closer to making a pretty decent amount of extra money. There’s many companies out there who are always looking for drivers to keep their company thriving. Some companies don’t even require you to go through training or sign a contract, which will allow you to make money even faster on your own terms. The holiday season is a hot time for people to need rides. There’s lots of parties going on, so people are driving less to maintain their own safety. The weather is also a bit too harsh for some people to drive in, which will work out in your favor too if you feel comfortable on the roads. So, don’t let the money pass you by. Try looking up companies like Uber to see how you can get started working your own hours for some great money.

5. Craft
Crafting has become a really popular way of making money over the past couple of years. With websites like Etsy popping up you should be able to get your amazing goods to the public in no time at all. When it comes to crafting, you will have to spend a bit of money in order to earn some, unless you have crafts you’ve made in the past already ready to be shipped out to a lucky consumer. You can make anything from scarves and paintings to holiday decor and little girls’ bows. If you’re not entirely sure about selling your items on the internet, or you simply don’t want to deal with shipping, then you still have options. One is to advertise on social media to see if anyone is willing to buy your items locally. Choose a safe spot to make an exchange and enjoy the extra cash you’ve earned. You can also try selling your items to a consignment shop. You won’t receive a payday straight away, but you also won’t have to worry about the retail end of making money off of your crafting skills. Yard sales are another option, especially if you have other items you want to sell off or if you have a large abundance of items to sell.

6. Utilize Your Skills
There’s lots of ways you can make some extra money during the holiday season doing things that you would normally do around your own home. If you want to earn some extra cash, put an advertisement out for cleaning, landscaping, recycling or whatever skills you have to offer. You may find that more people than you think could use the extra help during the holiday season, particularly the elderly who have a hard time getting around in the cold weather. If these skills aren’t up your alley, then consider things you’d enjoy doing for others. If you love photography, then place an ad for family photos. This can be lucrative during the holiday season as people scramble to get their holiday cards out. Tutoring is another big deal during this time as students are dealing with finals or they have extra time for studying while on winter break. If you’re great at baking, then take this time to make holiday treats and sell them at a bake sale. Offering lessons for music or dance can be lucrative too as often people receive lessons as a holiday gift. If you’d rather work on the computer then hop on websites and look for jobs in writing, data entry or even translation.

7. Professional Shopper
Lots of people have a knack for finding items for other people, even if they don’t particularly know them. If this is you, then you may cut it as a professional shopper, which can earn you some major money over the holiday season. A lot of people don’t have time to go shopping, so they end up leaving things until the last minute and don’t know what to buy their loved ones. Your job would be to come in and handle their shopping list for them, so they can carry on with work. This job could be as easy as finding the best deals on items that are on the customer’s list, or as hard as figuring out what to buy someone with only a small description of their personality and interests. All the same, it’s a great way to spend your free time while earning extra money. You could also become a secret shopper, which reimburses you for shopping and sometimes pays you to see how a store is operating.

8. Test Websites
If you’re bored and love to explore websites then testing websites might be a great way to earn you some extra money. There’s many websites that will assign a new website to check out. All this requires is for you to poke around and see how things work. Some of these jobs only require you to answer a survey about the website or write down your thoughts and any problems you may have run into. However, some jobs will require you to record your experience, which might mean investing in a recording system for the computer.

9. Baby/Petsitting
One of the most common forms of business you can find during this season is babysitting or petsitting. With the holidays coming, a lot of parents end up working a lot of overtime hours, especially if they are in sales or retail. This can cause a problem if their children are in daycare or they have a babysitter that can’t keep up with the hours. You may even find parents desperately seeking a sitter for the winter break. Some will even look for a sitter to watch their children while they go holiday shopping or get their wrapping in. No matter the reason, this can be a simple way to capitalize on some holiday cash, so you can enjoy a great budget. Petsitting is also very common during this time of the year. With people leaving to visit family and friends, you may find an abundance of people don’t have anyone to look after their pet, nor do they have the money to board their animal. Some people will simply need you to come and walk their dog while they’re at work. These jobs can be a lot of fun, so you’ll hardly feel like you’re working for the money.

10. Sell Items
Without fail, Christmas always tends to bring in a whole lot of new items that we simply don’t have room for. One of the best things you can do is go through your items to see if there’s anything you really don’t need in the home. Old toys, clothes and clutter can be donated for a tax exemption, or you can sell it online or at a yard sale. You don’t have to limit your items to junk though. You can also get rid of technology that will be upgraded after the holiday season. This should help cut back on clutter while allowing you to appreciate the new stuff even more. Before you know it, the holidays will seem less of a burden financially as well as in regards to your home’s comfort level.

The holidays don’t have to leave you pinned under a mountain of debt for the rest of the year. These ten money making ideas can help you find the cash you need to make the holiday great without forcing you to give up on other items or to use your charge card too often. You never know, you may find a job you love that will help you earn extra money all year long.

Decorating the holiday tree can be one of the most exciting times for the whole family. It’s a great way to get together and bond over the holiday magic, while adding your family’s personality to the holiday season. However, finding the perfect ornaments to let everyone know who you are as a family can really add to the financial strain. Between tree themes and characters or customized ornaments, you may find that your tree can really dip into your gift budget over the season. Luckily, there’s some pretty awesome DIY ornaments that can help you make your tree extraordinary without forcing you to throw your budget to the wind. The best thing is, many of these ornaments can be made with the whole family helping, which is sure to help everyone bond even more.

1. Books
If you have some book worms in the family, then there’s a few options to help you have a little fun while showing off your love of the written word. One option is to take an old, worn out book from your collection or a thrift store and cut out your favorite lines. If you don’t want to damage the book, then simply scan and print the page and go from there. Once you have everything cut out, then take an old ornament and glue the sentences onto it. You can have a lot of fun with this by putting the lines in order or scattering them throughout the ornament. You can even use basic sentences and highlight words to form your own sentences or season’s greetings. Another option is to take one of your favorite lines and place it inside of a clear ornament. You can add faux snow or curl the paper to give it an extra special touch. Finally, you can make your own little books to hang on the tree. You can do this by printing out your favorite lines and gluing them onto small pages hooked together. Add a cover to the book by printing out a small version of the book’s original cover.

2. Snowflakes
Snowflakes are always a magical part of the holiday season, whether you get to experience the snow or not. With every flake different, it is a lot of fun to see what snowflakes children come up with. This makes them great additions to the holiday tree too. One simple way to make your own snowflakes is to gather up sticks from the yard. Once you have an assortment of thin sticks then glue them together in various snowflake shapes. Younger children may need help with this, but older children should have a lot of fun using their creativity. Once the glue has dried, you can add faux snow, fake berries, bells or anything else that strikes your fancy. Another option is to go the more classic route and make your snowflakes out of paper. Most school children will have participated in this craft, so you may wind up with enough snowflakes to decorate the whole home.

3. Picture Ornaments
Everyone wants to remember special memories from the year, which is why ordering a picture ornament each year has become such a popular craze. However, these custom ornaments can run you a whole lot of money that you don’t really need to spend on an ornament. Instead, you may want to consider making your own ornaments. One popular way to do this is to take some wood, which works great for rustic themes, and transfer an image onto it. You can do this by printing out an image and using mod podge, glue or a special transfer paper in order to secure it to the wood. Of course, mod podge will work on a variety of surfaces, including an old holiday ornament. Another great way to do this is to take a clear holiday ornament and simply place the picture inside. You can add other details to the mix too to spice it up.

4. Scrabble Messages
Another hot trend for DIY ornaments is to use scrabble letters to form messages for the tree. You can easily do this by buying a few scrabbles games from thrift stores. When you shop this way you’re helping out the charity the shop is sponsored by and you’re probably getting a few games that are missing pieces anyway. Grab all of the letters and begin to form the message you would like to present. You can choose anything from season’s greetings to names or Biblical verses. Once the letters are pulled out and put in order, begin to hot glue them together. You can even glue on a wire or string to help hang the tree up. If you’re not keen on using game pieces, then find some scrap wood and sand it down. You can find a cheap wood burning kit to make the letters, which can always be used for your other crafting needs in the future.

5. Hand Prints
If you have little ones in the home, then remembering the size of their hands can be magical. That’s why hand print ornaments are one of the best options when decorating your tree. These ornaments can be made in several different ways too. You can always buy a casting kit at your favorite craft store, which is perfect for younger babies. These kits are simple to use and also allow you to write an inscription. You can also make your own clay for the baby or child to use. This is very cheap and efficient and can be baked in your own home. If you don’t want just a hand print, then consider using your child’s hand print to make a lovely bulb. Simply dip the child’s hand in white paint and place it on a colorful bulb of your choice. Once the paint has dried then paint on hats, noses and buttons to create a cute snowman ornament. Older children will love turning their handprints into reindeers too. Simply trace and cut out their hand and foot print on paper or felt. Then cut out eyes and a cute red nose. Once you’ve finished with your cutting glue the hands onto the feet and then add the rest of the details to finish off your cute reindeer design.

6. Cork Ornaments
The holidays often mean an abundance of leftover wine corks, so put the recycling to work for your tree. Corks are great for making a variety of items with very little effort. For starters, with a few adjustments you can transform a single wine cork into the face of a reindeer, which will look adorable on your tree. If you’re feeling a bit craftier then consider making the whole reindeer, which only takes a few extra corks to accomplish. You can also make snowmen, Santas and anything else your heart desires. One of the ideas for a larger ornament is to piece together the corks to create a cute sled, which will look good on the tree or underneath it, if you decided to make yours a little larger. There’s lots of great inspiration online, so don’t overlook tutorial pages while working with your corks.

7. Character Ornaments
Let’s face it, children love to have their favorite characters on the holiday tree, but buying ornaments for these can be pretty pricey. Even adults like to represent their fandoms on the tree, but finding the right decorations can cost way too much. Luckily, you can make a whole lot of characters out of simple colored bulbs. All you have to do is take the bulb and paint on the character of choices face. There’s even stencils to help you out with some of the characters, so browse around until you find a stencil that is free or make one for yourself. You can also print out images or take them from coloring books and then mod podge the item onto the bulb. Some people really love to get into the creation process though and have posted lots of great ideas, including how to make your own golden snitch from Harry Potter. The imagination is the limit when it comes to making your own character ornaments, so have fun with it and your kids will never long to buy the ornament from the store again.

8. Pinecones
If you live near a lot of pine trees then you probably see pinecones in abundance. If not, then there’s lots of cheap places to purchase these items, so you can cheaply make some nature inspired ornaments. Pinecones alone look amazing on a tree, especially if you’re going for a rustic or natural style. However, you can easily add a bit of flair to these items too. For instance, you can spray paint them to match other themes or to simply give them a festive look. Even painting them with glitter will add a bit of fun to your tree, especially when the lights on the tree make the glitter sparkle. If you want to get craftier then turn the pinecones into little animals. If you choose to use ribbon or colorful string to hang them up, then you’re in for even more holiday charm.

9. Stringed Foods
A little garland can take your tree to the next level and it’s a lot of fun to make with the whole family. The best things about garland is it can be made from a wide variety of foods that cost next to nothing. For instance, you can pop some unflavored popcorn and have the whole family work to string it onto fishing wire or any other thin string you may have. If you’re looking for something a little easier for children, then use yarn and a large bag of cereal. This can keep them busy while you put on your favorite holiday movie to watch. Another option is dried cranberries or other dried fruits. You can even use fake food items if you plan on holding onto your garland for upcoming years.

10. Origami
Being shy on a tree budget doesn’t mean you have to go without stunning holiday decor. One of the cheapest ways to decorate your tree is by using origami. You can choose from a wide selection of designs too, which will make your tree look outstanding even without all of the other ornaments. There’s many tutorials on origami that you can access for free, so all you’ll have to worry about is finding the paper to use. If you really want to be frugal or eco-friendly then you can always use paper from your recycling bin. If you don’t want the lettering to shine through them simply paint it before you begin to work on all of your folding. You may even consider adding a coat of glitter to make the items look festive. This activity can be very peaceful too, which might help you escape the stress that the season brings.

Decorating your holiday tree should be a fun time spent with your loved ones. If you’re wanting to keep your holiday tree budget down, but still want to add something new to the tree then these ten tips should set you on the right path. Before you know it, you’ll be hooked on making your own ornaments, which will certainly make your tree unique and fun to decorate as the years pass.

There’s no doubt, it’s pretty easy to go overboard when it comes to spending over the holidays. This is especially the case when there’s children involved. No matter how many times you tell yourself you’re going to watch your spending and concentrate on the true meaning of the holiday, it always seems to end up the same. That is, telling your budget to take a hike and filling the bottom of the tree with lots of goodies. These ten tips will help you find easy ways to stay on track when it comes to your holiday spending, so this year you may actually ring in under budget without feeling guilty.

1. Set A Budget
The first rule of thumb that you have to make when holiday shopping is to actually sit down and work out a budget for the whole season. This will include the money you can spend on everyone on your list, not just your immediate family. Once you have this figure in mind, then you can break it down to suit each individual person that you need to buy for. When you figure out how much you can spend make sure you don’t stray from the number. If anything, always shop under the number to ensure you don’t overdo your limits. If it helps, leave your credit card at home. Instead, put cash into envelopes with each person’s name on it. This will allow you to keep your budget for the person, so you don’t take from your household’s regular budget. Don’t take money from other envelopes either. If you wind up spending less, then this money can go to pay down the debt created over the holidays or to give your home budget a small boost.

2. Rule of 4
Shopping for kids can be one of the hardest things to do when it comes to your self-control. Usually, kids wind up with so many gifts that they are entirely overwhelmed and don’t actually remember half of the items they received. Rather than overspending on the children, try to use the Rule of 4. That is, parents give them each a total of 4 gifts. These represent something the child needs, something the child wants, something the child can read and something the child can wear. This should cover a wide basis so kids will feel pleased when the holiday comes around. Of course, one Santa gift a piece will help keep the holiday magic alive too, especially when the children are much younger. Make sure to give Santa the memo though, so he doesn’t go overboard as well.

3. Don’t Impress
A lot of the time, people end up shopping with a price tag in mind, rather than the person. The need to impress others with how much we spend on them is tough to overcome, but you may find the response is well worth it when you break out this cycle. Rather than trying to match the price tag of the gift someone bought for you, think out of the box and choose something you know they would actually like. The personal touch of this type of gift is sure to warm their heart while the price tag shouldn’t leave you hurting as much as it would when you were trying to match the price. If the person isn’t impressed with your gift giving, then don’t stress out over it. It’s the thought that counts, not the money spent.

4. Forget the Hype Gifts
Every year, there’s always the one gift that everyone scrambles to find before they’re all sold out. After some time, the toy is sold on the market for an extraordinary price, which leaves parents breaking their budget or disappointing their children. Usually, kids only want these items because other children want them. They are hyped up on commercials and kids work themselves up over them at school. Instead of supporting your child’s need to fall into the crowd, try to talk to them about gift alternatives that they may enjoy all year long. You may even let them know if they still want the item after the holidays then you can get it for them then. Most of the time, they’ll forget all about it because the gift isn’t really that important. Gifts that suit personality and interests will always be a better bet. Your child may not even think about the hype gift, after they open up toys they actually want. The same can be said for adult hype gifts, so don’t fall for the jewelry or technological hype that goes around during the holidays.

5. Cut Your List Down
It’s hard to exclude people from holiday gift giving, but if your list is long and keeps on growing then you may want to sit down and do some thinking. Spreading holiday cheer is a lot of fun, so placing colleagues, neighbors and even acquaintances on the list can lead you into a world of trouble. Instead, try to stick with just your family and close friends. Some years, you may even want to cut the list down even further. If you have a close-knit group of friends then consider drawing names for the holidays. You can even do this with extended family to ensure everyone gets a gift without forcing you to spend money on everyone in the family. Secret Santa drawings are always a lot of fun too so don’t exclude these at the office, with friends or even with the family. If you’re feeling guilty about not getting everyone something, then bake cookies or make them something special. You can even just send out cards to share your holiday greetings to those who don’t make your final shopping list.

6. Make a List
One of the biggest mistakes many shoppers make when it comes to holiday shopping is going shopping blind. You should always sit down and write a list of the things you want to buy for the people on your list. This will help prevent you from straying when you finally make it to the store to go shopping. Rather than browsing every aisle for items, you will have a general idea of what you need. This will help prevent you from making spontaneous buys that you simply don’t need. These types of buys are rarely useful and can kill your holiday budget if you’re not careful. Knowing what you want to buy for each person on the list will also allow you to shop around so you can find the best possible deal around. As you go, simply mark off each person you have already bought for and before you know it you’ll feel victorious over the holiday season.

7. Skip the Card
Another major problem with holiday shopping is the power of the credit card. This card will allow you to go way over your limit without even having to think twice about it. This can be a major problem if you tend to over shop during the holiday season though. So, instead of bringing along your faithful cards, you may want to leave them at home in your time of holiday crisis. If it is still too tempting, then put them in water and leave them in the freezer until you’ve finished up your holiday spending. This should help you forget all about using them to go over budget.

8. Go Homemade
If you’d still like to give a lot of gifts without spending a small fortune, then think about some fun homemade items you’d like to whip up. Try knitting something special for the kids or working on some art that they can put in their room all year round. If you want to skip out on spending money on colleagues, friends and acquaintances then this could also be a great concept to try out. There’s so many holiday crafts to try that you won’t fall short even if you are trying to personalize the craft to each individual on your list. Popular items include making ornaments, cookies in a jar, holiday cards and so much more. Let your imagination do the work for you as you create gifts that cost next to nothing, but still bring lots of smiles to those you give them to.

9. Avoid Stockings
Stockings can be a pretty big money pit when it comes to filling them year after year. Usually, people put candy and small items in the stockings, which can end up becoming pretty pricey before it’s all said and done. Kids already get plenty of candy since Halloween has already come and gone and there’s plenty of treats to indulge in over the holiday season. Thus, you probably shouldn’t even worry about adding candy and junk food to the stockings. Smaller items can be pretty pricey too, especially as the child begins to age. Many parents will add in cheap items that children wouldn’t even think they’d want as well. This usually is just overwhelming and the toys may end up cluttering the room rather than being used for playtime. So, you may want to stick to keeping presents under the tree. If you do want to fill up the stockings, then consider doing it with items the child needs. For instance, a fresh toothbrush, toothpaste, small school supplies and fruit are great options for the holiday stocking.

10. Talk to Your Kids
A lot of the time children expect to have a lot of presents under the tree, because they are taught this is normal and if they behave throughout the year they will be given what they want. You shouldn’t let this become the case when it comes to your child as it could become a problem later on as your child grows into an adult. Instead, have a sit down with your child before you decided to host a more frugal holiday celebration. You might explain to them that they get items all year long and that the holiday isn’t supposed to be about receiving a ton of gifts. Rather, you should explain the true meaning of the holiday in your own words, so the child will know just what they should expect. You might also want to bring up children who do not receive many gifts for the holiday. Even adding in an element about Santa can help you cut down on your gifts without feeling too guilty.

Practicing self-control can be a huge battle, especially during the holiday season. These ten tips should allow you to find the perfect method to cut back on spending so you can save this season while you complete your holiday spending. With a little luck, you may find the perfect method for you which will help you in the upcoming years too.

December is here and so is the biggest shopping period of the year, which means your budget could be going a little haywire right now. With lots of holiday goods to buy and a few household necessities and wants, you might find that saving during this time of the year isn’t exactly an option. Luckily, there are a few things that you should be looking to buy during this month if you do want to get the best deal available. With a little luck, you might find that shopping in the right categories can help ease the burden of your holiday shopping while helping to prepare you to get ready to save in the upcoming year.

1. Gift Cards
With the holidays coming up, you may find that shopping for gift cards can be one of the most rewarding purchases of the season. Although you tend to have to pay regular price for most gift cards, you may find that some retailers will add in a little something extra onto your purchase. For instance, many restaurants will add a coupon for a free entrée onto your gift card purchase. You can gift this to the person as well, or treat yourself to a little something special for all of your hard work shopping. Another option that is quite popular when shopping for gift cards during the season is to have a retailer add an extra $5 gift card onto your purchase. You may also be given options when shopping, like a free prize if you purchase gift cards worth a certain amount of money. Also, some companies, like iTunes, will bundle packages of gift cards to sell at a reduced price during the season. This can help you save big time and will allow you to get multiple gifts taken care of at once.

2. Tools
Chances are, you won’t see a good deal on tools again until June so you may want to stock up now. In fact, tools see the most discounts in the month of December, so if you have a handyman on your list then you might want to stock up for Father’s Day, birthdays and other gift-giving holidays too. This is largely because most people can’t use tools during the winter months unless they are season based. Thus, your chain saws, leaf blowers, lawn mowers and even common household and mechanical tools will come at a price that is simply hard to pass up. So, make sure you grab items that are missing from your collection or a few treats for the carpenter, mechanic or landscaper in your life.

3. Televisions
It used to be Black Friday was the time to grab a TV on sale, which is still the truth. However, many companies are also bringing out deals closer to the holidays now. So, if you missed out on the great TV deal back in November, then you don’t have to feel as bad about it. A lot of companies want to lure in people who are feeling bummed out about their bad luck on Black Friday, or the fact that they waited to grab a TV. These consumers will find their second chance as the big holidays get closer and closer, so if you want the TV make sure to make room for it in your budget. You may also want to wait until the end of the year. As the Super Bowl approaches, companies will also discount their TVs to bring in business from the football crowd. Either way, you should end up with something cool that might have your hardcore Black Friday friends feeling a little jealous.

4. Toys
Toys are probably one of the biggest sellers in the month of December as parents struggle to make Santa’s job a touch easier. There’s no doubt, even though toys are in high demand during the month, retailers can afford to cut down the prices and move as many products as they possibly can. This is pretty helpful to parents on a budget and will allow you to grab some of the items you never thought you could afford to put under the holiday tree. Of course, there is an ulterior motive for all of the awesome sales. In January and February, the Toy Fair rolls into New York and displays all of the new products that will soon be on sale. So, all of the items you grabbed in December will soon be old news on the market. Thus, you might want to rethink trendy toys that your child only wants because they are hyped up by schoolmates and commercials. Instead, focus on toys your child will actually play with for longer periods of time, which will help you save more money than you think

5. Videogame Supplies
There’s a lot of talk about video games this holiday season and even more deals to check out. With several huge releases hitting in the past 3 months, you may find that the holiday lists in your family are filled with a variety of gaming items. Luckily, December offers great deals on games, consoles and bundles to help you save some major money. Many stores will throw in free games to get people to buy in bulk or to purchase high priced consoles. Apart from just shopping for games in stores, you’ll even find that there are huge savings on digital download games that can really help boost up any gamer’s collection. Some older releases may even sell for 75% off, which makes this month the perfect time to catch up on all of those hot releases you may have missed out on. Items that go with consoles will come at a discounted price too and may even be included into some of the bundles to help move more stock. Try to get the most for your money during this month, because it may be some time before you see the big bundles at such a great price.

6. Shipping
When it comes down to it, shipping can be a huge burden when you’re trying to get gifts to loved ones around the world. Luckily, during December, lots of online stores are willing to go the extra mile to take away the pain of shipping. Some companies will actually offer free shipping as a promotion, so watch out for deals like this if you have your eye on something special. Other companies will reduce their shipping price or offer free shipping when you spend a certain amount of money. This will certainly make the big ticket items on your list a lot easier to buy since you won’t have to pay the extra to get them delivered to your home. Apart from that, there is actually a free shipping day. This takes place on December 16 and many big and small retailers take part in the special event. You can look online to see who is participating if you’d like to wait and make your purchases then. Shopping on this day gives your items a full week to arrive at their destination by Christmas, which should leave you in the clear when it comes to holiday shopping.

7. Thanksgiving Leftovers
You can easily find a lot of good items when it comes to Thanksgiving in the month of December. In fact, if you plan on stocking up on the holiday décor then this is the perfect time to do it. Usually, after Thanksgiving the decorative items go on sale, but as time passes their clearance mark downs begin to increase. You can find everything from items to keep the home festive, including items that are simply autumn based, to plates and cutlery that follow a Thanksgiving theme. This will help you create the perfect set up for your next holiday, which is sure to wow your guests. Apart from that, you can also find holiday food on sale. This is perfect if you like to repeat some of the dishes you made on Thanksgiving for Christmas. Turkeys, stuffing and even cranberry sauce should be at an unbeatable price to ensure your Christmas meal or even meals later in the year are frugal and tasty.

8. Outwear
Although the really cold weather is just beginning, now is the time to stock up on all of the outerwear you’re going to need to get you through the season. Fall oriented clothing is going to be the area that you find the most sales in so check here first. Most stores should have already moved it into the clearance section to make room for the heavier coats and accessories. You should find extraordinary deals on winter items too though, especially if you watch out for sales. Although Black Friday brought some huge sales, many stores like Old Navy and JC Penny will still be trying to clear out the items for a lot less than you’d normally pay for them. Although you might not end up with a huge discount, the clothing will be more than affordable and will help keep everyone warm as we move into winter.

9. Holiday Food
Without a doubt, the month of December is all about some of your favorite holiday treats. There’s lots of great deals on food out there, especially if you hold out past the actual holiday. However, grocery shopping isn’t the only time you can grab some great deals on food during this month. In fact, this month hosts so many food holidays that you could be well on your way to some freebies before you know it. For instance, there is National Pie Day, National Cookie Day, National Eggnog Day, National Candy Cane Day and National Champagne Day to contend with this month. That means, you should find coupons and giveaways on these items just about everywhere you turn. This could lead your sweet tooth to some major savings over the holiday as you jump from one restaurant to the next trying out the best freebies around. This also may be a time to stock up on these items since they will most likely be at a reduced price.

10. Holiday Supplies
Decorating for the holidays is half the fun, but supplies can be pricey during this time of the year. That is, unless you can hold your horses until the holiday is over. Sure, you may find some pretty awesome stuff from last year on sale, but nothing will beat the price cuts when you shop after the holiday is over. As soon as Christmas Day passes and Boxing Day begins, you’ll instantly see store savings on everything Christmas. Most retail stores don’t want to keep these items in stock so they will reduce the prices substantially. As time passes, you will find even greater discounts too. So, everything from trees to ornaments and even some of the gift sets will be at an unbeatable price that will help make next year outstanding.

Shopping in the month of December can be pretty stressful, especially if you are worried about a holiday budget. These ten items are musts when it comes to saving money on this month’s shopping. With price cuts that will throw you for a loop, you’re sure to feel al little less like the Grinch with every store you visit.

Welcoming a baby into a world is a great experience, but there’s many challenges that go along with it. One challenge is whether or not you should breastfeed your child or give them formula. Breastfeeding tends to be one of the most popular options for mothers and babies because it offers the most nutrients for the child. Of course, it is also one of the cheapest feeding options. Although breastmilk is free, there are lots of accessories and storage options that can cost you a pretty penny. You shouldn’t fret though because there’s lots of great ways to save money on your breastfeeding needs, so you can spend more on your child’s needs while cutting back on your budget’s stress.

1. Utilize Insurance
When it comes to breastfeeding, insurance is absolutely on your side in this day and age. Thanks to changes in policies with insurance, breast pumps are now covered by most insurance companies. If you’re expecting, make sure to get in touch with your insurance company to see how you can request your breast pump. This alone will save you a fortune and will set you and baby off on the right foot. Some will even help you out with accessories, so you can enjoy spending even less on your feeding needs. Many insurance companies will also utilize a maternity program for women who are expecting. This program will provide you with an on-call hotline, so you can ask nurses as many questions as you’d like. These programs also provide you with free items like educational books, pamphlets and blankets.

2. Skip the Clothes
There’s a huge market for nursing clothes these days, which can really add up on your maternity spending. These clothes are exactly necessary though, so you might want to rethink them before you end up spending a lot of money. For generations, nursing clothes didn’t even exist, so finding a way to get around them won’t be a tough task. You can ask relatives what they did to help with the nursing process as they are sure to have a ton of ideas to help you out. There’s also great DIY tips to help you out with your nursing dilemma. Often, this involves altering the clothing you already have, so you can easily nurse. You may also want to choose baggier clothing to help cover your body when you’re nursing around other people. If you’re at a loss for ideas, there’s lots of topics on motherhood forums that will help you find some of the best options that have already been tested out by other mother’s.

3. Skip Storage Bags
Pumping is a big part of breastfeeding, especially if you send your child to daycare or you have family or your spouse feeding the child. This often means buying lots and lots of storage bags so you can freeze your supply for your baby. These bags can really add up though, especially if you’re buying the brand associated with your pump or other brand names. Instead of doing this, you can freeze your breast milk in ice trays. This will allow you to store them in simple resealable bags or storage containers, which will cost you next to nothing. This form of storage will make labeling dates simple too, so you won’t have to worry about leaving your supply in the freezer for too long.

4. Look for Tax Deductions
You may be surprised to learn that your breast-feeding supplies can actually help to get you a tax deduction at the end of the year. Depending on what your insurance company helps you with, you could be in for a bit of money back on your items that you purchase yourself. As always, when you go in to do your taxes bring the receipts in for the items that you’ve purchased. Your tax agent should be able to steer you in the right direction as far as a deduction goes. You can also look the information up ahead of time to see if you actually qualify. Utilizing this could really help you out financially though and will ensure you will be reimbursed for feeding your child.

5. Free Advice
Many new mothers struggle with breast feeding when they bring home a new baby. This is largely because they haven’t had the help they deserve when it comes to feeding the baby. Every infant is different, so even if you’re an experienced mother you may still run into some problems. Luckily, there’s a whole lot of free advice that you can get. After giving birth to your child, you can see a lactation consultant in the hospital to ensure your baby is latching and you know everything you need to ensure your child gets the food he or she needs. There are also many free resources online, including websites, videos and forums. If you’re having trouble with lactation you may even be able to get online and talk to a doctor in order to try to figure out the problem. Some programs will even help you out if you are low income, so talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble and see if he or she can point you in the right direction.

6. DIY Nursing Pillow
If you talk to most mother’s that are nursing, you’ll find that having a nursing pillow is about the best thing you can do for your breast-feeding adventure. The pillow helps keep your child comfortable and in a great position to nurse, which will ensure your child gets the food needed and can help with indigestion later on. The pillow is also great for mother’s too as it helps keep your posture comfortable, which is especially great after delivery. The only bad thing about this is nursing pillows can put a huge dent in your baby budget, especially if you buy brand names. By the time you’ve purchased the pillow and a couple of covers, you’ve probably already spent more than you ever thought you would on a simple pillow. Luckily, there’s a couple of hacks to help you with this problem. For instance, you can use an innertube with a cover on it to create a similar effect. You can also sew your own pillow to save money. There’s plenty of tutorials and patterns online, so don’t be afraid to dive in and try it out for yourself.

7. Nipple Care
Taking care of your nipples is essential when it comes to breastfeeding your child. If you don’t take care of them, you may find the process to be even more painful than it has to be. Many women purchase ointments before they deliver their child to help prevent pain. However, these creams can really add up and many contain chemicals in them that you may not want you or your child exposed to. There’s many healthy alternatives, like coconut oil, to help ease pain while preventing your nipples from drying out. Soap can be harsh on your nipples too, but it is the best way to keep clean. When bathing, use very little soap and always pat your nipples dry rather than wipe or rubbing them harshly. Nipple pads can always add up too, so don’t feel bad about improvising. You can use a variety of cloth to help out, including cut up socks from the missing sock drawer.

8. Milk Production
One problem many women face when it comes to breastfeeding is not having enough milk for their baby. This often leads the woman to stop breastfeeding altogether, which leads to spending a fortune on baby formula. Luckily, there’s a few things you can do to help improve the amount of milk you’re producing. In fact, there’s many foods that actually help you produce more milk. The good news is, these foods are usually on the comfort food list for most women so you won’t have to stress over eating foods you don’t like. Chocolate, for instance, can really help, especially when it comes to hot chocolate. You burn a lot more calories while producing milk too, so don’t stress over indulging a little bit. Of course, you should also keep fluids on hand at all times as maintaining hydration is the best way to keep your milk supply going strong. There’s lots of great remedies online too, so try a variety and see what works for you.

9. Utilize Aid Programs
There’s a lot of programs out there that will allow you to get some assistance if you’re having trouble making ends meet. Most of these programs are based on income, but there are some that can help you out if your child isn’t getting the nutrition needed. WIC, for instance, is based on nutrition and can give you vouchers for dairy, grains and fruits in order to help you keep up your milk supply. This will help both you and your child survive and thrive through this crucial portion of life. Your local area should have lots of information on the programs available to you, so ask your doctor or check in with a welfare office to see what you qualify for. Even if you’re not sure you’ll qualify, you should still apply just to make sure.

10. Skip Brands
Buying products for breastfeeding can be on the pricey side, but if you avoid brands you should be well on your way to saving a whole lot of money. For instance, shopping for generic bottles can help you cut back on spending. Usually, each pump has its own brand of bottles, but this doesn’t necessarily mean your baby will want to take these bottles. Instead, stick with generics in case you end up with a batch of bottles your baby won’t touch. You should also consider genetics when it comes to storing, warming and freezing your milk. Although you may want to spend more on these items, checking out reviews can help you find the best generic brands out there. Even shopping for a pump doesn’t mean you have to go for a name brand. Most of today’s pumps are designed to give you the best quality product, so you can enjoy the cheaper pumps without worrying about sacrificing quality.

Breastfeeding your baby can be one of the most rewarding experiences around. It is also a cheap way to feed your child without sacrificing nutrients. However, keeping up with breastfeeding can add to your budget and cause you to do a bit of juggling. These tips will help you cut down on your spending, while easing tension when it comes to money and feeding time.

Tis the season for giving, which also means it’s the season for taking too. Crime rates skyrocket during the holiday months, but there are some crimes you can avoid. Scammers constantly prey on anyone they can get their hands, which makes it hard to keep up with your money over the holiday season. Being aware is one of the best ways you can prevent falling victim to a scammer during the holidays and throughout the entire year. Luckily, there’s many scams that we are aware so having knowledge of them can be incredibly powerful for your security. So, grab your notepad and jot these ten items down, because they would help save you a small fortune.

1. Secret Sisters
This major scam started running its course on social media last year and has targeted a pretty large audience. Although many have fallen for the scam already, there are still many more that will fall for it this holiday season. The scam is directed towards women and promises a fun Secret Santa experience that will earn participants lots of gifts for very little. You’re given a list of people to shop for with the promise of receiving a lot more gifts in return. The only problem is, once you send the gifts off to other people you more than likely won’t get anything in return. The scam has a weird way of explaining the math behind it, but if you sit down and work the numbers for yourself you’ll quickly discover that it just doesn’t add up. So, do yourself a favor and avoid any Secret Sister groups in order to save you a lot of money and a few headaches.

2. Phony Websites/Apps
All year long, there’s plenty of websites that are designed to fool you as a consumer. These sites usually offer great products at a price that is unheard of. These sites often sell phony items or will simply take your money and never send the item out. Worse yet, some are even designed to seem like official websites for companies you shop with on a regular basis. This can lead to you losing large amounts of money, especially if the website uses phony products in order to steal your credit card number. There are ways to protect yourself from these websites though. For instance, if you look around for the Better Business Bureau seal (BBB) then you know the website is safe to use. Also, if the checkout area is secure and locked then you should be safe. Of course, you should always look at reviews on websites before you purchase from them.

3. Gift Cards
There’s many websites dedicated to selling gift cards. You can buy them brand new, slightly used and so on. However, this makes it incredibly easy for people to sell gift cards that are a scam. You could wind up spending a fortune on a gift card that is completely empty. When shopping for gift cards you should always shop with a reputable company, so if there is a problem you can easily dispute it to ensure you get your money’s worth. Better yet, you should also shop with the store or restaurant you are buying a card from. This makes it easier than ever to dispute and activate cards with a receipt. There are also many email scams that will say you’ve won a gift card. These are never true unless they come from a valid company, so don’t click on any links from unfamiliar services.

4. Social Media Coupons
Coupons for freebies seem to run rampant on social media throughout the year, but during the holidays they pop up even more. These coupons are usually shared by people on your friend list who believe that sharing them will actually earn them the free mileage or grocery shopping trip. These coupons are absolutely not real though and clicking on them could cause you a whole lot of problems, especially if you enter in your bank account information or even just login to your social media account on their websites. One of the more famous scams of this type is a $200 coupon for the grocery store Wegman’s. Of course, you will find them for airfare, cigarettes and just about anything else you could desire too. So, remember, if it’s too good to be true then don’t click on it or share it.

5. Card Skimming
It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping online or offline, your card could be in danger. Online, hackers can get ahold of your card information easier than you think, so it’s important to always be aware of where you’re shopping. Usually trusted retailers won’t pose a risk to your security, but if they do you will receive a message from them as well as reimbursement options if there is a problem caused by them. Some will even offer credit monitoring to ensure your information is safe and sound. If you choose to shop online, you might want to use secure payment methods like Paypal, so you can dispute any charges that you didn’t make. Even shopping in local stores can cause a problem. Whenever you swipe your card anywhere you should check to make sure the system looks untampered with. This is especially true when it comes to locations like gas stations. You can protect yourself from these problems with chip cards which are harder to steal, but being aware of your surroundings is one of the best options.

6. Fake Charities
Donations to charities increase substantially during the holiday season and scammers are quite aware of this fact. Thus, many will set up fake charities to help rack in some cash from unsuspecting givers. These charities pop up on websites, in churches and just about anywhere people would be willing to give money. Some will even set up stands complete with brochures that make them look like a legitimate charity. The best thing you can do during this season is to not give money to anyone you’re not sure of. You can do quick research online to find charities that are real and that accept funds in both check, money orders and online payments. Usually, Salvation Army collections are noticeable too, as you can see the company’s logo on the side of the collection basin. However, be leery and don’t give large sums of money to this type of collection as it could still be a scam or it could put the collector at risk for robbery.

7. Loan Scams
Most people are looking for a little extra money during the holiday season so they can make their family’s dreams come true. Many loan companies know this and begin to hunt down people to loan to as soon as the holidays begin. Although this can be very helpful for people who need the money, more often than not it can lead them in a world of trouble when it comes to finances and credit score. Some of these companies are an absolute scam and won’t give you the money promised. You could end up paying double to triple back due to high interest rates or other fees that they tack on to take advantage of unsuspecting borrowers. If you do need to take out a loan, try to visit a local bank or credit union to do so. This will help you get the money you need at a fair interest rate that won’t escalate later on. Payday loans can also lead you in a world of hurt too, due to the extra money you have to pay back. So, try to avoid this at all costs too.

8. Email Phishing
This year has already seen a lot of emails from high profile companies like Amazon, Paypal and Walmart, so the holiday season is sure to be filled with scammers trying to take advantage of your needs. The emails tend to look exactly like they came from the company, which is why so many people fall for them. Usually, the email will say your account has been hacked into or someone has purchased something from your account. The email will also give you a link to follow where it will have you login to your account. This is where the hacker gains your information and can then steal your card numbers, account balances and so on. There are many clues you can follow to avoid these scams though. Make sure you look at the email address, as usually they will be slightly different from the original website’s. Misspelled words and other discrepancies are another major clue your email isn’t from the website too. Of course, if you’re simply not sure, then get out of the email, clear your cookies and log into the website from the actual site. If there is a problem, you will be able to view it from there. Make sure you report these emails for phishing too, so they can’t steal other people’s information as well.

9. Lodging
For some people, the holidays are a time for travel which opens up a whole new world of scams. There are many websites that will offer you amazing rates on hotels, beds and breakfasts, and time shares. At a time when booking a place to stay is usually more expensive, you should always be leery of arrangements that are too good to be true. Air BnB can be one of the biggest culprits. Some people on the site will take funds and then close their account before you can check into your room. Although the website does try to remedy these problems, it can cause a real inconvenience when you need a place to stay and you’ve lost the money you’d set aside for it. Others will post up images of their rooms and they will look entirely different when you arrive. So, before you book, make sure you look over reviews and other information before you give out your information.

10. Old Fashioned Pick-Pockets
Even shopping in local stores can cause a problem with your finances. Most people aren’t thinking as cautiously as they would when shopping normally, which leaves your cash and cards at risk. Many pick-pockets will wait until they see an open window to swoop in on your goods. This usually happens when you’re struggling with your bags or checking out at a register. Even if you keep your money close by, the items you’ve already purchased can be at risk. If you sit your packages down to pay or take a break for a while, people can swoop in and grab a bag without you even realizing it. So, in order to be safe, you may want to take bags out to your car each time you shop so you know your items will be safe and sound. You should also avoid carrying around a purse if you can as this can give thieves easy access to your items. Being aware of those around you can help considerably though, so keep your eyes and ears open when shopping on the busy days.

Scams are a big part of the holidays, but they don’t have to leave you high and dry. These ten scams can be avoided, so make sure you keep them in mind while you’re shopping online or off. With a little luck, you’ll be able to get through the holiday season without losing money or holiday spirit due to other people’s cruel actions.

With the month of November already half way over, you may already be thinking about what you plan to do for Hanukkah fun. This amazing holiday has a lot to offer, including a wide assortment of ways to bring even more festivity to the celebration. Although many people choose not to decorate for Hanukkah, those that do or have the pressure of Home Owner Association on their back, may have a hard time finding frugal decor items to show off their holiday event. Luckily, there’s lots of great ways to decorate using items you can make with your own two hands. So, round up the family and have a little fun this season as you decorate for the big occasion.

1. Lights
If you like to keep things simple and subtle then buying exterior lights can be one of the best ways to get in some decorations without being too in your face about your decorative options. White and blue lights can be found any time holiday lights are being sold, so you shouldn’t have to look too far to find what you’re looking for. Of course, you should be careful as to which lights you choose to buy though. For instance, any lights labeled Energy Star will help you get the most out of your lights without forcing you to spend a small fortune. LED lights will also allow you to have brighter, more vibrant lights, without adding a whole lot to your power bill. You may want to shop the clearance section too, if you want to find the best deals. Usually, lights take a huge price hike after the holidays, which is sure to help you find plenty of decorative items for next year.

2. Tinsel Star of David
Another simple option is to make your own Star of David with beautiful tinsel to draw attention to it. All you need to do this is to grab some cardboard, if you plan on keeping the item indoors, or scrap wood, if you plan on keeping the item outdoors. Simply cut and glue or nail the cardboard or wood together to form your Star of David. You can keep the item small or large depending on the message you want to send out or where you will be displaying the item. Once you have the star complete and it is dry, you should choose silver, blue or white paint to give it a nice coat. Then, when this is dry take a glue gun or staple gun and begin to put down your tinsel. The tinsel will stand out more if you choose the opposite color than you did for your paint. For instance, if you chose silver paint then use blue tinsel for a dramatic effect. Once this is done you can add lights if you want. The Star of David can be hung up like a wreath or mounted to the ground for a spectacular look.

3. Dreidel Wall Hanging
The dreidel plays a great role in the celebration of Hanukkah, which also makes it a great idea for decorating. One way to accomplish this is through the old-fashioned tapestry method. All you need for this is some old fabric, tassels, glue and paint. There’s many tutorials for this online and you will be surprised as to how fashionable it looks when you’re finished with the item. In fact, you may choose to leave it up all day long. If you don’t want to spend time on a craft, then have the children get to work. They can create dreidels out of popsicle sticks, brown bags or simple paper. You can also print out coloring sheets for them to fill in and hang up on the wall. You could even hang old dreidels up from the ceiling to add to the charm of your holiday decor.

4. Renovate Menorah
Menorahs are a beautiful festive item that can transform your home in one easy swoop. If you have an old and beat up menorah that you stopped using, then now may be the right time to pull it back out to show off to friends and family. If you don’t have an old menorah to work with then shop around at a thrift store or look for a cheap one in any store that may sell them. Once you have the perfect one to work with then let your imagination soar. You can add onto it to give it a modern flair that will look great on display or you can restore it to give it an ancient style that your ancestors would have been proud to use. You can even let the children work on their own menorah to see what they come up with. You might even consider having them decorate based on what the holiday means to them, so they will learn from the craft and take pride in their heritage.

5. Gift Tree
Tis the season for giving, so a gift tree may be a great addition to your home. The tree can be made of any fake or real tree that you already have in the home too. You can also build your own using stray branches you find outside. If you choose to go the faux tree or branch route, then you may want to consider painting the tree gold. This will help create a beautiful look that is sure to stand out. Once your tree is ready to go, hang ornaments like dreidels and the Star of David on it. It’ll creature a beautiful style that is certain to make gift giving amazing. Since Hanukkah isn’t all about the gifts, you should be able to fit your gifts under the tiny tree, which will add to the magic of the holiday. The tree can also make a great centerpiece for your serving area.

6. Snowglobes
Snowglobes are a winter classic that can be used for just about any holiday you can think of. So, why not decorate your home in snowglobes for Hanukkah? These globes are simple to make and will mesmerize the children while they show off their art skills too. Better yet, you can even use some of the globes as a gift for relatives or guests. The globes don’t have to be too intricate, especially if the younger children are working on them. All you need is water, silicone, glue and an old mason jar to create the globe. Then, add fake snow or glitter to create a beautiful effect. You can even add a dreidel, Star of David, menorah or anything else that strikes your fancy. You’ll fall in love with how easy these are to make and how cute they look with the rest of your amazing holiday decorations.

7. Gelt Table Decor
One popular item around the holiday is gelt, but this item can go a lot further than your games and snacks. Instead of giving away all of your gelt, save some to use as decor. You can glue the beautiful pieces together to create a table runner that certainly won’t go unnoticed when your dinner table is all set up. You can also sprinkle gelt throughout the table to add the little touch of shimmer that will certainly grab the kids’ attention. Once the meal is finished, kids can snack on the gelt pieces or use them for their games. You might also consider gluing gelt to toilet paper rolls or other items to create cute napkin holders that are sure to change the way your table looks. There’s lots of great ideas for gelt though, so get creative and have a little fun with your decorating time.

8. Dreidel Gift Box
If you plan on treating the children visiting during the holiday to a little something special, then you may want to try your hand at making a dreidel gift box. There’s lots of different ways to go about this though, so you can find an option that works specifically for you. These boxes are great because you can hide them all over the house as decorative items before you gift them out. You can even make a hide and seek game out of the gifting, which will make the decor fun as well as the time spent in the home. Most of the boxes don’t require a whole lot of work either, which is sure to make life a whole lot easier as you plan out your treats and the rest of the party. The best thing is, when the kids have pulled out the treats from the boxes, they can use the dreidels as toys that will help keep them entertained for hours on end.

9. A Luminaries
Nothing sets the mood quite like dim lighting on your holiday table. A luminary is a great way to accomplish this while still keeping your budget in check. One way to create a fun luminary is to take an old tin can and polish it up. You can add paint or stain for effect too. Once you have the can how you want it, punch small holes in the shape of a dreidel, Star of David, menorah or a special message. Your options are endless, so let your imagination run wild. Once the holes are complete, add tea lights, a candle or battery operated lights to the mix and admire your creation. You can also make one of these with a mason jar. Use mod podge to add tissue paper to the jar in any color you like. Then use a darker color to add on the dreidel or other decorative item. Once everything is dry, add your light and you’ll be good to go.

10. DIY Chain
Another simple craft to add to your decorative items is a chain. Most kids will know how to make these, which could help keep them busy as they help you decorate the home. You can make the chain out of just about anything, which will make finding supplies a breeze. Magazines are a great option, especially if you have a bunch you want to get rid of. The chains can be used for a variety of things too. You can turn them into a menorah, hang them around doors and windows or drape them from anything you have in mind. The chains can also be used as a fun countdown down for the kids to get even more excited about the upcoming holiday. When the holiday arrives, you can add a game to each link of the chain. The kids can then tear off this link to find out what fun is in store for them every day of the holiday.

Decorating for Hanukkah doesn’t have to leave you feeling frazzled. These ten simple ideas will allow you to find the perfect look for your home, while allowing the family to have a lot of fun with the decorating process. You may even find your guests in a cheerier mood as they celebrate the holiday surrounded by your lovely decor.

Thanksgiving is practically here only to be followed by a wide assortment of other amazing holidays. So, you’ve probably taken some time to book a hotel room near relatives or your exciting vacation spot. Hotels during the holidays can be pricey and crowded, which never helps with the holiday spirit, but there are a few ways for you to get more for your money when it comes to your stay at just about any hotel you book. These ten tips will make your stay away from home actually feel like a getaway, so you can feel the joy of the holidays without stressing over the financial loss of the hotel.

1. Be Loyal
The first step you can take to make your trip better is to be as loyal as possible. Choose a hotel that you know you love and that you’ve stayed with before, so you can choose a rewards card through them. This will allow you to receive benefits from the hotel service long before you step foot in your room. Many of these hotel chains will offer free rooms after so many nights spent in the hotel, which comes in handy if your holiday stay is going to be a bit long, or you plan to stay with the hotel more than once during the holiday season. Many hotel chains will also provide their reward customers with special treats during the holiday season, so you might find a little more warmth to your stay than you otherwise would. Make sure you provide your rewards card when you sign up though as this will qualify you for all of the rewards the company has to offer. If you don’t already have a rewards card, then take to the website or ask a local chain to help set you up.

2. Use the Gym
Chances are, you’re going to be pretty busy when it comes to the whole holiday festivity thing, especially if you’re spending your time with family. However, if your hotel comes equipped with a free gym or pool, you may not want to pass up the opportunity to use it. Usually, the amount of amenities gets added onto every bill to help upkeep things like pools, gyms and so on, so you’re technically already paying to go. By skipping your visit, you’ll be throwing away money that you paid, which is never a good idea. Plus, even if you’re busy, you may want to take some time to get in a workout. It can help reduce stress that holiday visits often bring. Not to mention, it will boost your energy, so you’ll be ready to take on the next day even if you were feeling particularly drained.

3. Check In Early
Most hotels will give you a set check in time which is pretty standard in the hotel community. However, most of the time the rooms are ready at a much earlier time, so you can always see if you can check in at an earlier time. You may want to request this when you make the reservation though as some desk managers may allow it while others won’t. If it is in your records, then you won’t have to stand around arguing about who told you what when you do go to check in. This will allow you to get a little more out of your room and will help you relax after traveling and before you wind up visiting with loved ones. Of course, there are times when you simply can’t check in early, but if you express a need the desk manager may be able to move you into a different room so you can enjoy this feature.

4. Skip the Websites
You’ve probably booked a hotel or an entire vacation on a website, at one point or another. These websites are very convenient and claim to help you save a bundle of money on the best rooms around. Although the rooms may be cheap, you will generally end up with some of the worst rooms in the hotel. This is because chains tend to see customers who shop this way as a one-time customer, so they aren’t as eager to impress. The best thing you can do is hop on these websites to get a ball park figure of what you will be paying for them. You can also use the sites to check out reviews, look at photos and map the location of the hotel. Once you decide on a place then call the hotel up directly. Try to avoid calling toll free numbers too, as these number will lead you to operators who will give you a flat rate. Calling the hotel directly will give you to a floor manager who can negotiate price with you and ensure you have everything you will need for your stay.

5. Continental Breakfast
This can be one of the biggest money savers available, especially if you have a hotel that offers more than just dry cereal. Before you book, look around for a hotel that does offer a hot breakfast, so you can fill up for the day and save a bit of money on meals. Some hotels will offer some of the better deals on breakfasts by serving eggs, bacon, waffles and more. Even if they only offer bagels and fruit you’re still set up to keep going for a few hours during the day. You may find that this will help you even go past lunch for a little while which will save you even more money. Most hotels will even offer breakfast until 10:30 of 11 in the morning, which is a great late start to the day, so you can fuel up until midday or whenever your family decides to serve meals at your get-together. Some hotels will even allow you to take food up to your room, which can serve as a great snack for later in the day.

6. Think About the Pets
If you didn’t want to or couldn’t leave your pets home alone for the holidays, then you will want a hotel that is considerate to the furry members of your family too. Luckily, there are a lot of hotel that will offer a pet friendly policy when they check in. Many hotels won’t even charge you the extra amount, which is sure to make your stay even more pleasant. The key is to look into which hotels are pet friendly though, as this will ensure you won’t end up paying a huge pet deposit when you check in. Some places will even offer special signs for the door, so you won’t have to worry about the staff coming in while you’re away. Better yet, some hotels have nearby dog parks or an area to walk your pet, so they will feel more comfortable too.

7. Ask For Fresh Items
When you’re staying in a hotel, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for fresh items as the hotel won’t charge you for this. One of the main things you should ask for is a fresh bed spread. These aren’t always swapped out between customers and sometimes aren’t cleaned, so don’t use them if you don’t have to. Instead, ask housekeeping to bring up a new bedspread or spare blankets to help you get a more hygienic stay out of your hotel. You can also ask for towels as much as you need to. Usually, leaving the towels in a pile will help housekeeping know you’re hoping for new ones, but if they don’t comply then call down to the front desk. You shouldn’t have to reuse towels if you really don’t want to. Last but not least, feel free to ask for extra soaps, coffee or tea packages and any of the other complementary items. The hotels usually don’t care about this, and they come in handy on road trips or for guests in your own home.

8. Draw Attention to Celebrations
When it comes to traveling for a special occasion, you never know what kind of goodies you can get simply by letting the front desk know what’s happening when you book your room. For instance, if you’re on your honeymoon, you may be privy to free wine or champagne, a room upgrade or even special treats left in your room. Anniversaries, especially those celebrating a milestone, are also a good reason to share for the free items. Even birthdays can get you’re a few extra bonuses in your room. You may have to remind the front desk when you check in why you’re traveling though, so don’t be afraid to over-share when it comes to checking in. If you’re a rewards member you may already get special items for your birthday too, so make sure to check your email when the big day comes around.

9. Dispute Charges
If you’ve ever stayed at a hotel and found out there were charges on your bill that you didn’t make, then you may have gone from pleasant to irate in a few seconds flat. Minibar charges are one of the main complaints for people in hotels, but luckily they are simple to dispute. Most people at the front desk won’t want to argue with you over these items, so make sure to call in if you see something on your tab that you didn’t touch. Another option is movies. You can easily get out of movie fees by calling the front desk. If the movie didn’t work, paused a lot or was of lower quality than advertised then you can get it taken off of your bill in no time flat. Many people will do these things just to save money, but that is up to your moral compass. All the same, most hotels don’t like wasting time over these disputes, so call it in if you feel you shouldn’t pay for it.

10. Complain
A lot of people don’t bother to complain when there is a problem with the room or those surrounding the room. Rather, they just have a bad time and blame the hotel for it later. Most hotels are willing to meet their customers’ needs if they are told what they are doing wrong. If there’s an issue with the room, go down to customer service and politely explain what’s happening. You may be surprised as to how quickly they fix the problem. You may even get a few freebies out of the deal too, which is sure to make your stay even better. If you have a loud neighbor or they are smoking in areas in which they shouldn’t then let the front desk know. They will get to the bottom of the problem or move you to another room so your stay will be more comfortable.

Spending time in hotels doesn’t have to be a huge burden on your budget and your good time. With these ten tricks, you should be able to get a lot more out of your time in the hotel. Now, you can feel like your favorite hotel is your home away from home for the holidays, which is sure to make you feel a little bit better about spending the money.

Getting the whole family together for Thanksgiving can be a world of fun and a great reason to be thankful. However, for anyone hosting the event, keeping everyone busy and entertained can be the hardest part of the entire occasion. Kids are especially hard to keep track of, which could lead to trouble if you’re not careful. There’s no reason to buy a lot of expensive activities to keep your bunch happy though. In fact, there’s many ways for you to incorporate the children into the holiday fun without them feeling bored. So, this Thanksgiving make the kids table the place to be with these ten fun ideas that will work for an assortment of age groups.

1. DIY Parade Floats
For many families, the Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must watch. However, some children don’t really have an interest in the parade on the TV, which can mean a lot of wandering around when everyone else is sitting and enjoying the floats and musical programs. One way to engage the kids in the process is to pull out your art supplies. You can instruct the kids on how to make their own floats for the special event. Of course, you won’t be able to make floats exactly as they appear in the parade, but you can use many items to create crafts that will appear like floats. For instance, an open paper bag with a wooden or plastic pole attached will create the illusion of a float. You can also staple two paper plates together with a straw as a handle to create a fun effect. Kids can paint their floats to their heart’s content. You may even want to print out coloring pages so kids can create their favorite characters. Once the painting is complete and dry, try adding streamers for a final touch. Then, the kids can parade indoors or out with their floats for all the adults to see.

2. Thanksgiving Story Book
The story of Thanksgiving is obviously a great thing to share during the special occasion. Children of all age groups can work together to create a special book to share the story with the adults in their life. After you tell the story to the children, hand out blank pages or coloring sheets for the kids to put together. Each child can tell a portion of the story, so they will have their own special place in the book. When all of the pieces of the book are finished, you can easily bind them together and show the children what they created. Older children may want to take turns reading the book to the adults in order to share the holiday spirit. Another option is to have each of the kids sit down and write or draw what they are thankful for. Once they’ve finished, bind it together and share it with everyone before you all enjoy the feast.

3. Make Place Mats
The display of the holiday table really makes the feast feel even more spectacular, which is why you might want to have the kids work on crafts designed to help make the table look great. One way to do this is to have them make placemats, which will add to the aesthetics and make clean up a bit easier for everyone. You can make place mats in many different ways, so you might want to look online for tutorials to help you out. Of course, if you want to follow tradition, you may find that having the kids weave the placemats will make the meaning of the holiday stand out. This can easily be done with construction paper if you have little ones that may not have a long attention span or those who are still working on their motor skills. Another option for older kids is to have them work with string. This will eat up a lot more time, but the finished product will look incredible and can be reused as the years pass. When the placemats are complete, place them on the table and watch as your holiday table transforms with festivity.

4. Assemble Headbands and Hats
Many people associate Thanksgiving with pilgrims and Native Americans due to the first holiday. Thus, it might be a lot of fun to make traditional pilgrim hats and Native American headbands. Although these designs might not fit completely with history, particularly the headbands, they are still a fun way for the kids to have a little fun while participating in the holiday magic. Headbands are incredibly easy to make and may be the perfect option for the youngest kids in the group. Simply use pre-cut construction paper to measure the various sizes of heads in your group. You can staple, glue or tape these to allow them to hold. Once you have the band ready to go, let the kids go to town by making designs with markers. They can even glue on beads and feathers for even more fun. If the kids are feeling ambitious, then they may want to weave their own headbands with string. Pilgrim hats can be a bit tougher, but these will keep older children busy for much longer. Try downloading a template to make these designs a little easier. The kids can make the hats for themselves or loved ones. You may even choose to use the different hats for games later in the day.

5. Turkeys
What would the holiday be without a few turkeys to help celebrate? Most people have made turkeys at some point in their life because it is a classic school craft, so older children may even be able to lead in this craft. One way to make your decorative turkeys is to trace the children’s hands and then cut them out. You can glue the handprints together to make the turkey’s tail. Then, use a simple turkey cut out to form the body. Another option is to use a paper plate or coffee filter. You can paste the cut out of a turkey body in the center of the plate or coffee filter, then let the kids color in the rest to form the tail. There’s tons of turkey crafts online to keep everyone busy though, so have a little fun with it. You may even hang the turkeys up to add to the decor of the special occasion. There’s many turkey crafts to choose from, so don’t limit yourself. Try looking on craft sites for ideas or print outs to make this craft even more exciting for the kids of all ages.

6. Thankful Wreaths
When it comes to the holiday, nothing will help you celebrate it quite like showing the whole world what you’re thankful for. One way to do this is to work on a thankful wreath. All you need to do to start out is cut a circle out of poster board or cardboard. Then, cut out the inner circle to form the wreath. When you have your wreath ready to go, grab autumn colored construction paper and cut it into the shape of leaves. You can even use real leaves as the basis of your wreath’s leaves. When everything is cut out and ready to go, the kids can add the reasons why they’re thankful onto each leaf, then simply glue them on and wait for the beautiful wreath to transform. You can do this with one large wreath or make small wreaths for each child to make their own. When they’re all finished, the whole family should have a blast reading what each child contributed to the wreath.

7. Centerpieces
Without a doubt, the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving Day table makes a huge statement to all who see it. So, the children will love having a hand in making it. There’s a whole lot of options when it comes to this craft though. For starters, you can stick with a simple autumn theme by using leaves or other items to create an adorable look. You might even consider using autumn inspired produce. Another option is to use Native American ideas to create a fun look that will teach the children about a new culture. For instance, a totem pole is simple to make and will allow the children to work together to show off their individual personalities as well as how they combine as a family. You can even use this idea to make small napkin holders by using toilet rolls instead of larger craft supplies. Finally, you may consider making the Mayflower as a centerpiece. This may sound like an intimidating craft, but it’s easier than it looks and will have older children beaming with pride over what they created.

8. Games
Of course, crafts aren’t the only option when it comes to keeping the kids busy. There’s lots of great things you can play in order to have fun. If you have clothes pins lying around, then simply draw a turkey face on them. These can be used to play tail feather tag, which is essentially like regular tag only players have to remove the clothes pin off of the other player’s clothes in order to tag them as out. If you have kids that love to do scavenger hunts, then you may want to try a game of hide the feathers. This is a lot like sending the kids on an Easter egg hunt only there are no treats within the feathers. However, you could utilize a prize system based on the color of the feathers that you hide. If its cold outside and you want a more indoor based game then try hangman, mad libs, charades or Pictionary based around holiday themes. Finally, when the adults go out to play football, set up a game for the kids too. It’ll start them out on the tradition early.

9. Create Foods
When it comes to Thanksgiving, the action is all in the food. Most kids are curious about the cooking process and would love to lend a helping hand creating some of their favorite dishes. Luckily, there’s plenty of items on the menu that kids can help out with, so don’t let their talents go to waste. You’ll obviously want to base this activity on the child’s age and skill level, but you should be able to find something for everyone. Some options include baking and decorating cookies, having children work on a casserole, or even letting them knead the dough for rolls. Before you know it, you’ll easily be able to keep the kids enthralled with their task while showing them they’re capable of cooking.

10. Share Ancestry
Thanksgiving is all about the first time the Native Americans and Pilgrims came together, but you can also see it as the first major feast of the country that would eventually come to be. Thus, this can be a great time to teach the children their roots. If you know your family came over on the Mayflower, then share a little bit about those ancestors. You can also talk about family members that have passed. Learning about your legacy can be exciting and passing it down to little ones can also be a lot of fun. So, start checking out your family tree to see what exciting stories await you all. You never know what you’ll learn.

Thanksgiving is a great time to have a blast with the little ones in your family. These ten tips should help make it easy for everyone to have fun and stay occupied on the special occasion. With any luck, the kids in your family may even decide Thanksgiving is their new favorite holiday thanks to your awesome hosting skills.

If you’ve never heard of Universal Children’s Day then you’re in for a real treat this year. The holiday is designed to celebrate the joy that children bring to the world and to show them how important it is for them to just be children for the time being. Although the holiday is often celebrated at different times around the globe, this year November 20 has been dedicated as a day to recognize children globally. Don’t worry though, because this holiday doesn’t mean you need to go out and spend a fortune on your children. Rather, you can keep your holiday budget safe and sound by following a few frugal tips to make your children feel happy and appreciated without the big price tag.

1. Reminisce
Spending time with your children is always great and can warm your heart. However, for children’s day you may want to do something a little special for both of you. For instance, a great way to show them how much you’ve loved them is to pull out the old baby things, like the baby book. Share special memories with them that they won’t be able to recall and show them their milestones. This will help your children realize how much you admire them and want them to do their best in life. You can even ask them questions or see if they have questions for you. If you have home movies from when they were young, then show off those too. Kids will adore watching themselves learn and grow before their very eyes.

2. Write a Letter
Universal Children’s Day may be the perfect time to begin writing letters to your child every year. You can start by talking about how much you care for them, what they have achieved and what you hope for them in the future. The letters can be long or short, depending on your comfort level and can even be filled with drawings, poems or photographs. You can choose whether or not you want to give the letters to your child right away. You may want to put them away until the child turns 18 and then present it as a coming of age gift. Or, you could take the time to read the letter to your child and then put it away for them to revisit when they’re older. No matter what you choose to do, make sure you put your heart into it so your children will know just how important their childhood was to you.

3. Restaurant Outing
If you want to do something special with the children, then you might want to make plans to go to a restaurant on this holiday. You might want to choose a place that is child friendly though, particularly restaurants that allow kids to get up and play games. If you can, let the children have some input on the choice; however, if there is too much sibling bickering then you may want to avoid the option altogether. Try not to choose a location that is too expensive though, as you don’t need to go overboard this close to the holiday season. If you do want to make each child feel special, then have them choose numbers. The first number can choose the first restaurant and so on. You can span this out throughout the week or month to ensure each child gets their special day.

4. Budget a Savings Plan
Starting a savings plan for your child can be one of the most important things you can do for your little one. If you haven’t already started a savings account for your child, then Universal Children’s Day is the perfect time to start. You can easily start by doing a little research on various savings accounts. There are even some programs that will keep your child’s savings account locked until they turn a certain age. After you research, do a little work with your finances to see what you can put into the account each year. You don’t have to invest a whole lot each month, especially If the interest is high. You can also set certain terms for the plan. For instance, you can set it up for college, a car or even the down payment on a home. Once you get the account up and running, you can share it with your child or keep it a secret. Either way, you can rest assured knowing they have a nest egg that will benefit their future and show your appreciation for them.

5. Visit a Children’s Hospital
Many children spend their days stuck in a hospital, which makes their lives lonely and uncomfortable. If you want to do something special on Children’s Day then head to a children’s hospital or a children’s unit in a local hospital and visit with the children. Most will be excited to have someone come in and talk to them. Recently, there has been a trend of people who have decided to dress up as popular cartoon characters and superheroes to help cheer up the kids. This is an easy option and can make the visit even more memorable for you and the children. If you don’t want to dress up, then consider bringing books or games to help keep the children entertained. You may even consider buying second hand books or crafting gifts to help lift the children’s spirits while they spend their time healing.

6. Join Big Brother/Sister Program
Not all children have someone to dote on them on Children’s Day, or on a regular basis. If you don’t have children or you simply want to make a difference in the life of a child in your community, then you may want to consider joining the Big Brother/Sister Program. This program pairs you with a boy or girl in your community that needs a little extra attention. Often, these children come from single parent families or live with parents who have to work often to make ends meet. You’ll be given a list of interests that your new sibling enjoys, so you can cater to their needs. You may find the volunteer work to be one of the best things you’ve ever done. Not to mention, you will change the life of the child you are paired with. With a little compassion, you may find you set a child up on a path to success, which is one of the best things to celebrate on Children’s Day.

7. Donate
When it comes to making a difference on Children’s Day, the best thing you can do is donate money if you planned on spending anyway. There are a lot of great children’s charities available to choose from too. By doing this, you will show that you appreciate not only your children, but the children of the world. You can choose a charity based on your own values or personal interests. For instance, if you have had someone in your family pass away or fight off cancer, then you might want to donate to a children’s hospital foundation. There are also fundraisers to help children get the food they need to grow up strong and healthy. You can even think further and send money to a charity that sends girls to school in third world countries. If you don’t want to donate food then go through your pantries, wardrobes and toy bins and donate the items you no longer need or want. These items can go to children in need, which is sure to help out. Make sure you do your research though, as not all charities are looking to spend your money wisely.

8. Learn About Celebrations Around the World
Children’s Day isn’t exactly the most celebrated holiday in this country yet, but it could make its way up the chart soon. This means that many people don’t know exactly what is going on when it comes to celebrating the holiday. One way to start out the celebration is to learn how different cultures celebrate. In other countries, like China and Australia, Children’s Day is actually a major holiday that involves lots of different ways to make children realize the importance of their childhood days. There’s lots of research on the topic as well as games, foods and other entertainment that you can utilize into your own celebration. You may find this holiday to be one of the best times to improve your knowledge of culture while broadening your horizons through trying out the varied tradition.

9. Channel Your Childhood
Let’s face it, childhood is a lot different today than it was when you were young. That’s why you may want to take children’s day to show your children what it was like to be a child when you were young. You can show off your favorite games and compare them to pass times that your children currently enjoy. You can even share childhood memories or talk about your favorite childhood TV shows, books and movies. If you’re really feeling like exploring childhood further, you can bring up games your parents taught you. This will show the kids that there are a lot more ways to have fun, especially when you take technology out of the equation. This will also show your children how important it is to make memories during childhood, because they will bring happiness throughout your adulthood.

10. Make Gifts
Children’s Day can be a great time to show your children how to have compassion for other children. You can do this by having the kids sit down and make crafts for children who are less fortunate. You can make simple toys to help keep children occupied if they don’t have toys of their own. There’s many great ideas online that will offer cheap ideas to get you started. You can also come up with cute gift baskets that will give needy children treats that they don’t often get. If you choose to make gifts then you can donate these directly to a charity, pass them out to children in the community or sell them and donate the money to a charity of your choice. By doing this, you will teach your children that all children should be celebrated and they should have compassion for those less fortunate. You may even ask your children to go through their closet and toy boxes to come up with gifts for children that you know need a little assistance.

Spending time with your children can be one of the best aspects of their childhood. Children’s Day will allow you to have fun with your kids while showing them just how important it is to celebrate their special time in life. These ten celebration ideas should put you on the right track to Children’s Day fun without forcing you to blow your holiday budget.

November is here, which means Black Friday is just around the corner. If you’ve been keeping up with Black Friday news, then you probably already know that the madness has begun on sites such as Amazon. With the hype already starting then you can probably guess how intense this Black Friday will be. Don’t worry though, as there are a few things you can do to keep yourself sane and ready to save on some door busters during this time. So, don’t let the Black Friday news get you too hyped up, because a little patience and know-how can make the experience a little less stressful and a lot more frugal.

1. Co-Shop
One of the best things you can do for yourself during Black Friday sales is to bring along a shopping partner. May it be your significant other, a family member or a close friend, having support on such a busy occasion will help you keep your head on your shoulders when it comes to all of the deals. Shopping with a partner will also allow the two of you to split up, so you have better chance of getting the items you’ve had your eye on. Before you go shopping on Black Friday, make a game plan which will allow you to take a portion of the store and your partner to take another portion. Simply make a list for each person to grab and you’ll be all set to take on the crowds without losing out on the items you’ve wanted.

2. Pre-Shop
Before Black Friday begins, make sure to spend some time doing a little pre-shopping so you can make your day a little easier. Most stores begin to set up for Black Friday the day before or the day of Thanksgiving. So, if you have some spare time head to the store and scope out some of the displays that are going up. This will allow you to know exactly where the items are going to be that are on your shopping list. With this knowledge, you will be able to head directly to the item you want, so you won’t miss out on the deal, nor will you find items you don’t really need. You might also consider talking to the staff during this time to see if you can get any insights on sales or important information that can lead your shopping experience to be a bit more convenient.

3. Hire a Babysitter
If there’s one thing you probably won’t want to deal with during the Black Friday rush, it’s children. Black Friday sales are typically characterized by crowds, pushy people and those who have about zero concern for the well-being of your children and yourself. Not to mention, it’s really hard to get the good holiday deals on things for your kids when they’re right beneath your nose. It’s also a lot harder to get around with a cart during these sales, and if you have the children with you there’s a good chance you’ll also have a cart in tow. The best thing you can do is make money for the expense of a babysitter. This will help keep your kids safe, while making the Black Friday experience a little less stressful. Of course, if you have friends or family willing to take the kids then you probably won’t have to spend as much and you can stress a little less about the children while you shop til you drop.

4. Price Checker
One of the biggest complications when Black Friday shopping is knowing if you’re going to get the best deal possible. Often, you don’t have enough time to look up the deal on a competitors site as you will either miss out on the deal at that store or the store you’re currently at. One easy way to remedy this problem is to download a price checker app. There’s many of these apps available that can help you find the information you need so make sure to do some research so you find just what you need. A lot of major retailers will also offer price checkers of their own, which makes shopping a whole lot easier. These apps generally allow you to scan an item in any store and will compare it to other stores both locally and online. If there’s a better deal out there or if the sale isn’t exactly a sale at all, you can quickly find out with just the scan of a bar code.

5. Shoot for Door Busters
If you’re actually planning on going out on Black Friday then you may want to just concentrate on door buster items. These items will actually be advertised a couple of weeks in advance so you can start planning which items you want to grab. Some stores will have some of the same door buster items, so try to pick items that are going to be in the same store or within close proximity of one another. Some of the deals will also have time limits though, which is something to keep in mind when you’re doing your shopping. Many of the other sales in the store won’t actually save you as much money as you think they will. If you still plan on shopping for other items, then hit the door busters first and then look around to figure out what will actually save you money. You may be surprised as to how much of a store offers the illusion of a good deal. Most of the other items you’ll want will also be available during Cyber Monday though, so don’t stress the smaller stuff if you don’t have to.

6. Rewards Cards
When you hear to your favorite stores on Black Friday, don’t forget to lug around you rewards cards that each store gives you to use throughout the year. Typically, the rewards cards won’t do a whole lot for you when it comes to getting a greater discount on your items, although some stores will offer this. You should, for the most part, be able to rack up a lot of points if you intend on doing a lot of shopping at the store. These points can be used on discounts later in the year or will allow you to get freebies after some time. It doesn’t cost you anything to have the card swiped either, so there’s no reason not to do it. Make sure you know what your card has to offer though, so you can double check to ensure your points were calculated properly.

7. Bring a Shopping Bag
There’s no doubt about it, one of the keys to getting what you want on Black Friday is finding your way around all of the crowds. If you plan on getting a few items then a cart may be in your future, but this can really slow you down and it will leave all of your items at risk of being surfed through when you’re not paying attention to the court. Another option is to grab your favorite shopping bags and taking them with you. The bigger the bag the better as they will hold more without forcing you to worry about countless straps. These bags will keep your items closer to you, so you will be able to get by people without having to worry about a clearing for a basket. It will also prevent people from being able to go through your things. Another great thing about the sales bag is you can easily bounce from one line to another if a new cashier opens up, which could get you out of the store faster. Above all, the bags are ecofriendly, so you won’t have to worry about bringing home a bunch of plastic bags to deal with.

8. Price Protection
Shopping with cash can be a great idea when you’re trying to keep to a budget. However, you do miss out on some benefits when you leave your plastic behind. Many credit card companies are jumping on board with price protection, which does a world of good for shoppers on Black Friday. This benefit of your card will allow you to shop without having to stress about missing the best possible price. If the credit card identifies a better price within in a few days of your purchase, then you’re refunded the extra amount. Of course, you may need to look at your cards policy when it comes to this as some companies may require you to call in about a price drop and/or prove it in order to receive the discount. All the same, it could be well worth the trouble if the price change is great enough.

9. Store Policies
Before you choose to shop at a store during Black Friday, you may want to check out some of the store policies. For instance, some customers go into stores planning on using the store’s typical price matching policy. However, a lot of these policies are void when it comes to Black Friday. You may find yourself waiting for an overworked and cranky manager to tell you that you won’t be able to get the item at the price you wanted. This can waste both your time and the staffs’, so it’s best to know what you’re working with before you choose where you’re shopping. Some stores offer return policies that are a huge headache too. Between gift receipts and exchanging items, you may find that shopping at the store isn’t really worth it. This is one thing you’ll want to know before you have to spend hours in the return line, so make sure to read up on the policies before you pick a place to spend your time on Black Friday.

10. Bring Your Ads
You’ve probably already started receiving shopping ads in the mail, but if you haven’t don’t worry because they’re on their way. The ads you collect for your Black Friday shopping can be incredibly important when you actually do head out for the big day. First of all, the ads can actually serve as a guide, so you remember where all of the best deals are. You can easily make a game plan based on these ads too, which is sure to help save some time. If you find a store that has a price match policy, then you will need to have your ads in order to get the price you want. Some stores may not have an item priced as advertised too. In these cases, you will need to show a manager the ad in order to get the price as advertised. So, make sure to grab the ads for every store you plan on hitting, because you never know when they may come in handy.

Black Friday can be a bit of hand full when it comes to getting your shopping in while still keeping your sanity. These ten tips should help you get the items you need, so you can enjoy the holiday shopping without losing your cool or spending too much of your budget. With a little patience, you should be able to come out of the holiday rush on top.

With the cool weather blowing in and the gray skies dominating the weather, you may feel a little down in the dumps. Season Affective Disorder affects many people, but even if you’re not suffering from this disorder, there’s still ways to prevent the weather from bringing you down. Luckily, on November 12, everyone has the chance to celebrate Chicken Soup for the Soul day, which is certain to lift your spirts. This is a great time to dig deep and find the things in your life that makes you tick. Of course, it’s also a great time to start coming up with ways to keep your mood up during the long autumn and winter months. These ten tips should help you find your way without forcing you to spend a fortune.

1. Buy Second Hand Books
For decades, the Chicken Soup for the Soul books have helped people all over the world find emotional and spiritual guidance to help them get through the hard times in life. These books come in a wide variety of topics too, so you can find the perfect book to suit your needs. You can even find these books for children and teenagers, which will ensure the whole family feels like a million bucks even when they aren’t getting the weather that helps perk them up. Since the Chicken Soup for the Soul books have been around so long, you should be able to find them at just about any second-hand book store or thrift store. This will allow you to find the help you need for mere scents. Of course, you can reach for other books during this time too that could help you find the assistance you need.

2. Submit a Story
Many people get a lot of joy from writing down their feelings. For many, it is a relief to get all of the emotions out on paper, which boosts mood and reduces stress. Of course, if you feel like you have a story to tell others then you might want to consider submitting it. This will allow you to concentrate on your personal story, so you can perfect it and find the right words to express yourself. By putting time and effort into your story, you should find confidence in your story. Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul still accepts submissions for stories and even pays for those that they publish, which could make you feel even better about your story. You never know, writing down your feelings could actually help someone else in the world.

3. Comfort Food
If you’re feeling a little down, then you may want to alter your food menu to find some dishes that will actually make you feel better about life. Since the weather is cooling down, then it may be time for some of your favorite comfort foods. For instance, you may want to start out a weekend with a nice hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Other than that, you can always cook some of your childhood favorites like pot roast, meatloaf or anything else that makes you remember the warmth of childhood. It’s also a great season to pull out your crock pot for delicious meals, which could make you happier anyway. With less dishes to clean up, you may find planning a menu is easier than ever. Of course, it might be a lot of fun to find a chicken soup recipe to help celebrate this occasion. If your family doesn’t already have one, there’s lots of amazing recipes online to start you off.

4. Let in the Light
One of the major problems that affects people during the autumn and winter is the lack of sunlight. With gray skies, it’s harder to get in the light that we need to get the vitamin D that keeps us going. In the spring and summer most of our light comes to us without extra effort, thus when the skies aren’t as bright you actually have to go the extra mile to get what you need. Instead of keeping your curtains and blinds drawn, open them up and the sunlight flow in. You may also choose to sit closer to the windows when working on the computer, reading a book or simply watching TV. Getting out of the house more often will also help you get the sunlight you need. Apart from that, you may want to go to extra measures if you’re still feeling a little low. A light box can make a huge difference in your life and may even be prescribed for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

5. Change Your Music
It’s easy to fall into the routine of listening to the same music over and over again, but in the autumn and winter you might want to make an effort to switch things up. If your favorite songs tend to be a bit on the mellow side or have lyrics that you find depressive or aggravating, then you might not be doing yourself any favors. Instead, toss on an upbeat album that will make you want to get up and move around to the beat. By listening to this music, you will instantly feel a wave of energy and your mind will feel more relaxed and happier. Of course, you can always put on songs that bring back happy memories too as this should help lift your spirits. If you’re not a huge music person and find yourself in silence more often than not, then it might be time to listen to music more in order to help keep those spirits lifted.

6. Exercise
Getting and keeping fit isn’t always as fun as people make it out to be, but it is one of the best ways to beat the blues during the gray seasons. In autumn, try to get out and take a walk or go for a run. The fresh air and light will do you good and having your body move will help make you feel happier and healthier. Of course, getting outside isn’t always an option, especially as the snow, wind and rain take over the days. When the weather keeps you in then try out something you may not have otherwise tried. For instance, you might want to give yoga or Tai Chi and try. This will allow you to easily feel relaxed, while working out your body. The best thing is these exercises work around all fitness levels. You can also keep it simple by doing pushups, sit ups, jumping jacks and so much more. You may even wind up learning a bit more about yourself and your physical needs during this time.

7. Invite People Over
One of the biggest things that can help you find your happiness during these months is to invite people over. Even if you’re an introvert, a little social interaction can be a good thing when the sun isn’t shining and the weather seems far too gloomy for words. You don’t have to have people over every single day, but you should try to invite others over to suit your own comfort level. This is especially important during the holiday season, if you don’t live near your family. Make sure you choose people you’re comfortable with though as this will help make you feel even better. Friends and family are a must, but you may try to meet new people or have small dinner parties with friends from work. As long as you’re engaging in social interaction, your spirits should be lifted.

8. Take “You” Time
It’s always important to treat yourself, but in the months when you’re feeling down and out this can be crucial to your mental health. A lot of the time, we seem to get lost in the holiday work grind, especially those who are hoping to bring in extra money for presents. This can really weigh you down when it comes to your mental health. Thus, you should always take a day to do something entirely for you. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune though. Rather, you can easily get the break you need by engaging in pass times you enjoy. For instance, if you are a musician then pick up your instrument and play for a couple of hours. You might even dedicate the day to learning or writing a song. You can even just spend your day in bed reading or binge watching your favorite TV shows. No matter what you choose to do, try to eliminate the stress from your life, so you can find happiness and peace of mind again.

9. Add Plants
In the winter, we usually don’t have a whole lot of plants around to brighten our day. Since it’s a little tough to keep them alive outdoors, you can always use this time to add some beauty to the inside of your home. It doesn’t matter what level of green thumb you have, you can easily find a plant that suits your needs. Of course, make sure to consider your pets in the mix, as there are many plants that can be harmful to them. It isn’t just the sight of the plants that can bring happiness to you. Plants will actually help cleanse the air, which will make you feel healthier. The act of caring for them will also bring meaning to your day to ensure you feel needed and wanted in the home. Of course, the lovely colors and fresh scents will help lift your spirits too, so try to add a few different varieties when you choose which plants are right for your home.

10. Add Supplements
Sometimes, eating healthy and getting the right amount of exercise isn’t always enough for our bodies. In this case, a supplement could be the right way to help make you feel healthy and happy again. There’s many supplements that can help your body get back on track. For starters, you may want to try out B12, which can give you more energy and help with cognitive functions as well as other health benefits. Omega-3s are another supplement known to help you feel better about your life and health. Not to mention, they’re one of the best supplements to add to your diet. If you’re feeling particularly down, then St. John’s Wart is a natural anti-depressant that can also help with anxiety. You might want to talk to your doctor about supplements before taking them though as he may have more insight into your health and what would help maximize your mental and physical health.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Day is a great time to examine your overall health, especially when it comes to how you’re mentally feeling. With so many people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, you may find yourself dealing with its symptoms too. These tips should help you cheaply lift your spirits while allowing you to enjoy life more during the gloomy months.

With October finishing up its final days, you may be champing at the bit to enjoy all of the sales that are happening in the month of November. Between Thanksgiving deals and Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, you’re sure to find just about everything you need when it comes to the holiday season. Often, November is the month when most households end up spending the most amount of money, so try not to fret if you’re working with a tight budget. There’s actually a few items you should be looking to buy during this month. So, if you have to pick and choose what you’re shopping for then look no further than these ten awesome items that will have the best sales this month.

1. Candy
With Halloween finishing up on the last day of October, you’re sure to want to hit the Halloween aisle come November the first. Here, you will find exciting deals on candy that will keep your family in sweets for the rest of the year. Most stores will move Halloween themed candy to the clearance aisle first, so try to grab these items before they’re all gone. They generally take a huge price decrease, so you might end up buying them for around 75% of more off. Once the Halloween stuff takes a hike, many stores will even move regular bags of bulk candy to the clearance aisle. Although you can buy these year round, stores purchase too many of them in October and must, therefore, move their stock as quickly as possible. Halloween candy isn’t the only must have grab in November. When Thanksgiving is over, you can get a great discount on Thanksgiving themed treats too. No matter what you buy though, make sure to freeze it or store it properly so you can enjoy it for much longer.

2. Baby Supplies
When you come across Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales, chances are you’re going to see a whole lot of baby goods that will make you squeal with delight. If you’re expecting, know someone that is or you already have a baby then now is the time to get some of those items you’ve had your eye on. Most local clothing stores and baby supply stores will have great door buster deals, so don’t hesitate to brave the cold to see what you can find in your own area. However, if you feel like your baby bump might get in the way of your shopping then have no fear, because online stores will offer some pretty amazing items too. Of course, you’ll have to make sure you keep an eye on websites like Amazon who only offer deals for a short time and have a limited stock to sell. You should also be careful not to jump into any deals you may not actually want. A little pre-shopping before the big day can save you a lot more money than you’d expect.

3. Military Supplies
Veterans Day takes place in the month of November, which is the perfect time to celebrate all things military. Luckily, this is also a great time to buy a whole lot of military supplies on sale. Some stores that sell official uniforms will have great sales this month to help honor veterans and make their working life a little bit cheaper. Apart from uniforms, you should be able to find ribbons and patches needed to finish off your uniform or to help you remember all the honors you received while you were serving. If you can prove you’re a veteran then you should also be privy to free food on the special day, so make sure to keep a look out for these deals. If you’re not a veteran, then don’t fret. This is still the perfect time to buy memorabilia for the veteran in your life. There’s some beautiful collector’s pieces that may make the veteran in your life feel proud over the holiday season.

4. Gaming Consoles
There’s some pretty awesome things coming out this year when it comes to gaming consoles, but you know all of the stores are going to hold out on the best deals for Black Friday when they do their most business. XBOX will be coming out with an upgraded console that features a lot more memory at a price that rivals what you paid for your current XBOX One. PlayStation will have a few releases this season, including the highly anticipated Virtual Reality add on that many gamers are going crazy over. Even Nintendo will roll out some awesome bundles for the 3DS if you’re interested in upgrading. These deals will only happen during Black Friday week though, so don’t expect to find them throughout the month or even as the holidays near.

5. Election Memorabilia
November 8 marks the end of the election season, which may feel like a relief to many. However, if you’re still looking to grab a few items that will help you remember this election season then November is the time to do it. You should be able to find t-shirts, banners, bumper stickers and so much more to help you remember your favorite candidate of the season. Even those Republicans and Democrats that did not make it past the RNC or DNC will have memorabilia items for sales in order to get rid of the stock. You might also find Halloween masks of your favorite politicians or items proclaiming you didn’t vote for the other candidate. Whatever your cup of tea is, make sure you grab your items just after the final voting date before they disappear or skyrocket in price.

6. Laptops
Without a doubt, Black Friday and Cyber Monday is one of the best times to grab a laptop. The deals are incredible and you’ll be able to get a whole lot more for your money than you would during any other time of the year. This is especially great if you have a student in your life who may be working on an outdated machine that makes getting research papers in a real hassle. This Black Friday/Cyber Monday there are some amazing predictions on laptops that will have you forgetting all about your Thanksgiving Day feast. For instance, it is rumored that Chromebooks will be less than $100 in some stores, which certainly won’t break the bank. Other mainstream machines will go for a low price too, so start looking around to see which laptops are up your alley, so you’ll be ready to jump on the deals before they’re all gone.

7. Photo Printing
Tis the season to get out all of those seasonal greetings that people love so much. However, as the holidays near you may notice the prices of your prints will go up substantially. The month of November offers many great deals when it comes to photo printing though, especially if you wait until Black Friday to make your purchase. If you’re aiming to get your holiday cards printed early then now may be the time to get in those holiday photos, so they’ll be ready to be upload them to the service and send them out for the holidays. You don’t just have to rely on cards during this time though. In fact, if you just want to update the pictures in your home, or you need to print out pictures for loved ones then now is the perfect time to jump on some deals too.

8. TVs
Black Friday has been known for TV sales for years now, as they are one of the most anticipated buys of the season. The unfortunate news is TVs sell out quick on Black Friday, but there’s no harm in trying to get the best deal possible. Black Friday will see similar deals that you saw last year, which should help you plan out your game plan. Of course, there will be lots of name brand items on sale during this time, but you should also consider looking at off-brand items too. These will sell slowly while the name brands fly off the shelves, so you might have better luck working on ordering one of these items. If you do miss out on the Black Friday deal you were after, then try to grab something awesome on Cyber Monday. In the past couple of years these deals have rivaled Black Friday, so you never know what your patience may get you. You should always make sure you know what you’re looking for in regards to a TV though, so you don’t overspend on something you don’t need or end up spending too much on something that isn’t really worth the money.

9. Clothes
Often, clothes take the back burner during the month of November, but you can really find some great deals on some of the best fashion items. As the month begins to end, you should find outstanding deals on autumn fashion since December will show the first signs of winter and a whole new fashion line. Apart from making room for the new clothing, you should see plenty of deals on Black Friday too. Many stores will offer 50-90% off of their stock, so if you’re shy on something then this is the time to go shopping for it. Often, stores like Old Navy will even open up their doors early for sales that will blow you away. Better yet, this store also holds a huge raffle that could allow you to win up to a million dollars. Other stores follow similar gimmicks, so if you want to have a little fun with clothes shopping this month then look around to see what your local area has to offer. Of course, Cyber Monday will also host great deals, but make sure you know how clothing from the stores fits you, so you don’t have to battle with returning numerous items after a shopping spree.

10. Food
Without a doubt, November is notorious for food considering we have one of the biggest feasts of the year during this time. It’s also a great time to find food on sale, if you know how to shop carefully. After the Thanksgiving madness has come and gone, many of your holiday staples will hit the sales shelf. Items like stuffing, cranberry sauce, pie filling and items you can use again for the next feast will be ready and waiting for you with a pretty good discount. You can even grab a turkey or ham at a surprising price. These items can be used for meals throughout the year if frozen properly or can be bought cheaply for you Christmas meal that will be coming up in a mere month. November is also a great month to buy the last of the autumn produce, so make sure to stock up on your favorites before you have to spend a small fortune on them.

The month of November is certainly one of the best times to save money if you’re feeling like the shopping bug is overtaking you. Luckily, the sales offered this month can be seen any other time of the year, so make sure to hop on your favorite websites or visit local stores to ensure you get the most out of the November shopping experience.

Once the joy of Halloween passes, you may find that your family is stuck with a whole lot of candy. Although most families seem to have no problem making their way through the stash of goodies, you may find that there are some candies that no one is willing to touch. Of course, if you try to monitor your child’s sugar intake then you may end up with a lot more candy than you expect long after the holiday has passed. Luckily, there’s a lot of great ways to handle the candy epidemic in your home that doesn’t involve throwing out your excess candy. Better yet, these candy tips shouldn’t force you to spend money to get rid of your candy stock.

1. Freeze It
Without a doubt, candy can go bad if you leave it long enough just like any other food. Before you know it, you may bite into something stale or tasteless that might turn your stomach. There’s one easy way to make your candy stash last a whole lot longer though. That is, freeze it. Simply place chocolate and other candies that may go stale in a bag and place them in the freezer. You may find that this will help you keep everyone from overdoing it on the candy too, especially children who try to sneak candy when you’re not looking. Apart from being able to keep the candy good for longer, the chocolate is perfect for cold desserts that the whole family will love. For instance, you can easily toss your child’s favorite candy in a milkshake for an occasional treat that will keep you away from pricey ice cream restaurants.

2. Bake It
Since the weather is cooling down and the holidays are around the corner, you may want to consider firing up the oven and baking a few treats. Your Halloween candy will make a great addition to any treats you choose to bake. For instance, you can choose your favorite brand of chocolate candy and melt it away into a brownie mix or cake. This will add the perfect flavor to the mix that will drive the family wild. You can even crumble some of the candies on the top of the cake to add style and flavor. These treats can be given away as holiday gifts too, especially to co-workers. Decorating Thanksgiving cookies will also be a breeze with all of the candy corn your children collects. This candy makes a great tail for turkey cookies, which will have all of your family and friends excited about dessert.

3. DIY Advent Calendar
Halloween pretty much sparks a long list of holidays that will be heading your way in the blink of an eye. This makes it the perfect time to start building your very own advent calendars. The Halloween candy your children collect can really help make the holidays great. All you need to make your own calendar is some cardboard, markers and, of course, your leftover candy. Simply glue together cardboard if you can’t find a thin enough box. Once you do this, add shelving to separate the sections on the calendar. This can also be made with cardboard, but you can do it with thick paper, like poster board, as well. When you have everything ready then cut doors into the calendar. You can make a calendar for just about anything too. For instance, Thanksgiving, winter break, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s are just a few of the options. You can even give away the calendars if you’re feeling generous.

4. Snacks
Believe it or not, but you can make healthier snack options with some of the candy as long as you keep the candy aspect to a minimum. For instance, trail mix is a great after school snack or a snack for a sporting event to help kids keep up their strength. Simply use candies like M&Ms to the mix with nuts, raisins and other classic trail mix treats. Oatmeal bars are another great option when it comes to healthier snacks for the kids. These power bars can be made with even one snack size piece of candy, so you can keep your child’s sugar intake under control. If you’re not worried about the sugar aspect, then try popcorn balls with your child’s favorite candy in there. Another option, which is often a family favorite, is to melt your favorite candy into a batch of rice crispy treats.

5. Rewards
If your family works with an incentive method then you may want to use your Halloween candy to save you some money here. You can set aside some of the candy for your children to enjoy for the holiday. However, the rest can go into a stash for rewards. You can hand out a piece of candy for just about everything. For instance, the small pieces of candy, like bite sized chocolates, make a great reward for getting chores done on time. Other candies that have pieces, like candy corn, M&Ms, Skittles and so on are perfect for homework time. You can open a package and distribute a single piece for correct answers. These also make great teaching aids for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions. Apart from that, you can make goody bags of the candy and children can trade their points in for the sweet treats.

6. Donate to Servicemen
Giving back to the community is always great and will teach children how to be generous and respectful of those who protect them on a daily basis. When you’re finished with your Halloween candy, you might have the family sit down together and place a variety of candy into goodie bags. These can be delivered to police stations and fire stations to help say thank you to the men and women who serve the community. You might also want to include drawings or thank you notes to make the gift even more special. If you want to thing bigger, then there is actually a program that allows you to donate your candy to military members that are deployed. This will deliver your candy to a sailor or soldier who could use a pick me up while they’re away from friends and family.

7. Liven Up Hot Chocolate
There’s no doubt about it, when the weather cools down nothing warms the body and soul quite like a mug full of steaming hot chocolate. Although most hot chocolate is pretty sweet on its own accord, you may want to use your leftover Halloween stash to add a little extra to your favorite drink. Generally, it is best to do this over the stove, but you can also easily add the candy with a microwave too. Simply begin making your hot chocolate in the typical way. As the drink blends together then unwrap a couple of pieces of candy and add them to the drink. If everyone is torn by the candy they’d like to add, then simply pour the chocolate and crumble the individual candy into each mug. The drink should be hot enough to melt the chocolate on contact, so simply stir it in and serve the drink when it’s cooled enough for your child.

8. Christmas Decor
Halloween candy can really amp up your Christmas decor game. Each piece of candy can go far when it comes to crafts, especially when it comes to the candies that aren’t Halloween themed. For instance, you can use the foil wrapped candies in a clear ornament to create a colorful look that everyone will be drawn to. Another option is to create cute frames and other shimmery designs that will add fun to the season. There’s lots of great craft ideas for candy online, so make sure to browse around and find something fun and adorable that the family can make. You can also use your candy to decorate your gingerbread house. This will save you some money too and will allow you to have more diversity when it comes to your decorations.

9. Piñata
If your family loves to host birthday parties with piñatas then you’re in luck, as your Halloween candy can save you a whole lot of money when it comes to this party accessory. When the time comes for your party, simply pull your leftover candy from the freeze and wait for it to thaw. This is so the candy won’t create moisture in the piñata. Then, you simply add the candy to the piñata and get ready for the fun to begin. You may have to buy a little extra candy if your Halloween stash wasn’t large enough, but this should still cut back on the amount you spend. If you’re feeling ambitious, then build your own piñata to save even more money.

10. Candied Apples
Take a recipe out of your favorite Halloween cook book when you transform your leftover candy into candied apples. You can start this task by following the classic candied apple recipe. Then you simply melt the chocolate and layer it onto the apple. After sitting in the fridge overnight your apples should be ready to be enjoyed by the whole family. You can also use some of the candies, like candy corn or M&Ms to decorate the outside of the candy. This idea is perfect for late Halloween parties, but you can also sell the apples to bring in a little extra money for the holidays. If you’re not dedicated to selling your sweet creations, then send them out as gifts to friends and family. The tasty treat is sure to lift spirits, especially in places like the office.

Halloween candy doesn’t have to hang out in your home for months after the holiday. These handy tricks will help you find simple ways to get rid of the candy taking up space in your home, or to keep your family from going to town on it. With a little luck, your candy stash will make its way through the home, so you’ll have plenty of space for holiday leftovers and sweets that will be coming your way in no time at all.

Although autumn is just beginning, it’s never too early to start thinking about the cold months that will be here before you even know it. Purchasing winter clothes for a whole family can be a whole lot of financial strain, especially when you cater to everyone’s fashion sense. Of course, there’s still plenty of ways to get more out of your winter attire without having to spend a fortune in the stores. With a few techniques, you should be able to maximize your wardrobe while helping create a fun look that everyone will love when the snow begins to fall and the days feature an icy chill.

1. Think Functional
When you shop around for attire throughout the year, try to keep its functionality in mind. For instance, you can actually do a lot with a hoodie. Not only are these items great for the autumn chill, but they can go very far in the winter. From keeping kids warmer in the home to cut down on heating bills to adding an extra layer of warmth under a jacket, the hoodie is a must have for the season. The hoodie can also be worn during a run in the winter to help take the edge off of the cold while still making sure your flexibility isn’t compromised as you work out. Undershirts are another must have item in the winter and throughout the year. An undershirt, especially shirts designed to maintain a healthy body temperature, will help keep the core warm in the winter while cooling things down in the summer months. Any clothes that can be added to in the season are great winter finds too, so think of a few scenarios for a clothing item before you add it to your must buy list.

2. Thrift Store
A lot of people find thrift stores to be intimidating and some don’t want to buy second hand clothes. However, if you’re on a budget and you want to transform your winter wardrobe then the thrift store is the place to go. When it comes to kids’ clothes, most winter jackets are worn only a few times before they are outgrown. This leaves the clothing looking newer than ever, which will make your child look and feel cool while keeping warm. Adult clothing is sometimes sold in a practically new state too. In fact, many people have found clothing with the tag still on it at the thrift store so you may luck out and find the style you’ve had your eye on for quite some time. You can also find snow suits and other items that would normally be incredibly expensive, so make sure to grab these items so you have more money to spend on signature pieces.

3. Choose Layers
Your winter wardrobe doesn’t have to be filled with clothing that is specifically designed for winter. Having a wardrobe like this will cost you an arm and a leg. Rather than shopping like this, you should take your whole wardrobe into consideration. You can use just about every clothing item from the year to help fluff your winter wardrobe, which will save you a considerable amount of money. Rather than spending a lot of money on thick long sleeve shirts, layer your autumn long sleeve shirts with a fun t-shirt from the summer months. You can also add a fun graphic tee to a cardigan to spice up your look. Dresses that you wore in spring and summer can be added to with a pair of thick leggings or even jeans and a sweater. You’ll be surprised how much you can add to your wardrobe simply by keeping things layered.

4. Hit the Outlet Stores
If you have to keep up with all of the latest trends and you’re not keen on second hand clothing, then the outlet store is probably your best bet for clothes. If you have one of these stores near you then you should probably frequent it to make sure you get all of the best deals. Usually, a short while after seasonal clothes debut you should find a lot of the items in the outset store. These are usually because too many items were ordered or there may have been small flaws in the design. Of course, most of the clothing in these stores still looks high quality and will be priced so low you won’t want to pass the item up even if it does have a slight malfunction. The sales at these stores will also help you find the best deals on clothes for the season. Thus, the whole family will look like you spent a fortune on their clothing when you will probably manage to come just under budget.

5. Invest in Base Layers
One way to avoid having to buy a lot of clothing for winter is to invest in base layers. These items come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find what makes you the most comfortable. One popular base layer is thermal underwear. This will help lock in the heat under your regular clothing, so you can stay warmer in the snow without having to wear several different layers of clothing. You can get thermal underwear in tops and bottoms and they tend to fit under most clothing rather well. Other than that, these items make great pajamas, so you can get more use out of them than you originally thought possible. Other base layers will offer equal protection, such as athletic base layers. These tend to run a bit pricier though, but you can wear them throughout the year to ensure you get your money’s worth.

6. DIY Accessories
Winter accessories can be alarmingly expensive. During this season, you may want to channel your crafty side in order to show off your fashion sense. This autumn, you may want to check out a few tutorials to get you started on your way to an excellent fashion sense during the winter. One common item to make is your own beanie. You can buy kits to do this if you’re not skilled in crocheting, so you don’t have to stress out about the hat not turning out. Of course, if you do love to crochet then you can probably work on a few different styles as well as colors before the cold weather sets in. Another item to try out is a scarf. You can do this by crocheting too, but there’s lots of other amazing ways to work on the item as well. You may be surprised as to how many different scarves you can make without having ever worked on your skills in the area. So, browse around and see which winter accessories will make you look amazing while showing off your creative talents.

7. Wait For Sales
When it comes to winter clothing, you should have plenty of time to postpone your shopping before the big sales season begins. You may want to hold out until Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales hit your radar as this will be a great time to grab some of the hottest fashions around. Apart from that, there will be lots of sales in the winter months to help clear some stock. Typically, after Christmas and New Year’s, the sale on winter clothes become more frequent, so you may want to use this time to stock up on all of your luxury winter items. For now, just make sure you have the basics so you’ll be prepared for when the wind chill comes in and the snow begins to fall. With a little patience, you’ll be able to set up the perfect wardrobe for next season.

8. Buy Off Season
Although this won’t really help you this winter, you should always try to stock up on winter essentials and your favorite fashions during spring and summer. You may even be able to find some great deals in autumn. Winter clothing obviously isn’t needed during these seasons and many stores would prefer to eliminate it from their stock rather than carry it around for another year. So, as time passes, these items are going to decrease in price over the year so you should be able to get an extraordinary deal on the items. All you have to keep in mind is the size you or your children may be during the winter months. This is probably going to be one of the easiest ways for you to get enough clothes to last the winter without losing out on lots of money though. So, be patient if you see a style you like and hold off on buying your child’s age group appropriate clothes for next year as you’re bound to see if for a fraction of the price later on.

9. Go Wool
Wool is one of the best fabrics out there when it comes to the harsh winter months. This fabric is designed to hold strong for years to come, so you’ll get way more out of your investment. Although wool clothing is slightly more expensive, you can take comfort in the idea that you won’t have to deal with the item wearing thin on your watch. Many companies that sell wool items even offer a lifetime guarantee, so you might want to shop around and find one of these companies before you invest your money. Wool helps keep the body warmer too, so you can use it from socks to a stylish peacoat. No matter what item you buy, the wool is easy to care for and will make taking care of your finances easier than ever when winter shopping.

10. Skip the Brands
Sure, there’s a lot of brand name items out there that pretty much promise the world when it comes to good quality winter clothing. However, most of the brands don’t offer anything that is exceptionally out of the ordinary in comparison to clothing that isn’t name brand. You can easily find a wide assortment of items that will allow you to have just as stylish and well-made clothing without paying the price of the brand. This is perfect for anyone on a budget. Generally, you can find these items in department stores or discount clothing stores, so keep your eyes open for the items you truly need. Usually off-brand clothing is half the price of its counterpart, so you can really save big here. However, before you buy any clothing, brand name or not, you should look at the threading and materials it was made with just to make sure you’re on the right track.

Winter can be one of the best times to enjoy fashion; however, with all of the extra fabric and thought that has to go into each item of clothing, you may end up spending a lot more than you imagined on your favorite looks. These ten tips should help you come up with a few alternatives to not only make your budget work for you, but your wardrobe too.

If you’ve yet to start thinking about your child’s Halloween costume, you’re probably not alone. Halloween can be an expensive and stressful holiday if you allow it to be, but there’s lots of things you can do to shave off the price of the occasion while still allowing your children to have a whole lot of fun. Whipping up your kids’ costumes is one of the easiest and most fun things you can do during the holiday season. No matter their interests, there’s probably something you can find to help make the occasion great for them without spending a fortune on masks and other costume accessories. Before you know it, you’ll have the whole family ready to go trick or treating for well under budget.

1. Ghost
Without a doubt, you’ve probably dressed up as a ghost at one time or another in your own childhood. The classic ghost costume is always a hit and is the perfect last minute costume idea that you can even make it on the day of the big event. One of the easiest ways to tackle this is to take an old white sheet, or a new one from a dollar store, and cut holes for the eyes. If you’re in a rush, then your costume is totally done. If not, then you may want to add some details to the mix. For instance, if you craft some dog ears and add a red nose then you have a simple shout out to the Nightmare Before Christmas. Adding a top hat and other fun accessories will make your look a lot more exciting too. If you want to branch out away from the iconic sheet ghost, then take some old clothes and powder them down. Then add some white makeup and powder your hair. You’ll be good to go for hours as long as there’s no rain. You can even create a time piece with this form of ghost, which might add more fun to the occasion.

2. Athlete
Another fast idea for anyone shy on time is the iconic athlete. If your child is into sports, then this costume will be easier than ever. Simply have the child wear their favorite jersey or a uniform for a team they are actually on. Then, grab a ball and the costume is complete. You can even add blood, dirt and grass to make the look more intense. You shouldn’t rule out anything when it comes to this costume either. For instance, cheerleaders and ballerinas are also easily accomplished by finding items used at home. You may even decide to have the whole family dress up as one team. This is especially fun for basketball, football and hockey. Some people love to spice up the sports look by adding a backstory. For instance, they add fake blood to create an athlete who is an accident.

3. Pokemon
Pokemon is probably going to be one of the most popular costume ideas out there this year, but if you purchase a costume you’re going to be spending a small fortune. Luckily, there’s plenty of DIY ways to achieve the Pokemon look that won’t leave your budget on its way to the Poke Center. One easy way is to simply create a Pokemon’s face on a beanie. All you need after this is items to create a tail or any other stand out feature and you should be good to go. One of the easiest materials to work with as far as this goes is cardboard as it will allow you something easy to mold and paint in a hurry. If a Pokemon isn’t on your child’s agenda, then a Pokemon Trainer is another simple option. Simply mimic some of the looks from the cartoons with clothes your child already has and make Pokeballs out of cardboard. You may even get the whole family, including pets, in on the Pokemon adventure.

4. Princess
Many little girls love to dress up as the iconic princess and, luckily, it is one of the cheapest costumes you can work up yourself. One of the easiest ways to do this is to raid your child’s dress up clothes as there is usually plenty to work with when it comes to creating a princess costume in a hurry. If you’re shy on clothing for the costume, then your best bet is to check out a thrift store. Old dresses can easily be nipped and tucked to create the perfect princess dress for your child. Of course, you can also grab cheap fabrics at your favorite crafting store to come up with a dress. Once you have everything you need then you’re all set to add the finishing touches of makeup and a shimmery tiara. You can even make your own tiara out of cardboard, paint and stick on stones.

5. Superheroes
When it comes to Halloween costumes, superheroes tend to never go out of style. This is great news for you because you can DIY your child’s favorite superhero or come up with your own superhero without spending a small fortune. Most children’s superhero costumes can start out with a simple sweat suit. Once you have the colors you need then add the accessories using cloth cut outs and fabric glue. If you have cardboard lying around the house, then this is the perfect item to make accessories. From shield’s to Thor’s hammer, you should be able to find the perfect tutorial to help you build your child’s item from scratch. Apart from that, you can easily whip up a cape or a facial mask out of an old sheet or fabric you have lying around. You may even bring the kids in on the project to help fuel their creative interests.

6. LEGOs
Most kids play with LEGOs at some point in their childhood. These iconic toys are actually very easy to transform into Halloween costumes too, which will help ease your costume dilemma for the whole family. All you need is cardboard boxes that are large enough to fit around each person’s body. Once you have the perfect boxes cut a hole in the box to allow the body to pass through it with ease. You can also strap the box around the body to make it easier to get on and off, especially for toddlers who may be potty training. With the box ready to go, cut cardboard into strips and glue it in the shape of a circle on the front of the box. Then cut out a circle to glue on top of this to finish it off. When everything is dry, add a coat of your favorite color of pain and you’ll be good to go. Of course, you can spruce the costume up in many other ways too, so have a little fun with the concept.

7. Animals
Many little kids love to dress up as their favorite animal for the holiday. This is probably one of the easiest costumes to whip up in a hurry and will look totally adorable. Basically, all you need is to start out with a solid colored sweat suit. From there, you can paint on stripes, spots or other distinctive marks to make the animal stand out. Once you have that going on, then you can easily finish off the body of the animal by creating a tail out of fabric, foam or even yarn. If you’re working on animals like a turtle that may need extra detailing, then use cardboard to make it happen. You’ll fall in love with the look as will your child. Finally, for the face of the animal, create a mask out of paper or use paint to make the final touches. You can easily take a beanie and add ears onto it to create the final appearance. Your child may even want to wear the suit during playtime, which will help you get more out of your money.

8. Witch/Warlock/Wizard
Bring some magic to the holiday when you transform your child into a witch, warlock or wizard. A witch or warlock costume has been a classic for many years now and isn’t hard to achieve. The costume is easily achieved with black clothing for both witch and warlock. However, the costume will come to life with the iconic witch hat, but you may consider using a fedora for a modern boy style. Once the clothes are picked out then add some green makeup for a bad witch or warlock or glitter to represent the light witches and warlocks. Then, add the family broom to the mix and your child will look fantastic. You can even use prosthetics to create long and bumpy noses or warts. If a wizard is more your liking, then try to stick with a long robe and find a great stick to use as a wand. If your child wants a Harry Potter type costume then a simple robe, button down top and tie will suffice. You can print out one of the house logos to place on the robe to finish off the look.

9. Mummy
Another classic costume is the Mummy. This is one of the easiest things to do if you’re in a hurry for a good idea, but are still drawing blanks. You can start your mummy foundation with simple white or black clothing, depending on the effect you’d like to make. Once you have this aspect working then consider your options. If the weather is going to be clear, then you may want to save some money by simply wrapping the child in toilet paper. This will make keeping up with the costume easy and is great for younger kids who probably won’t be out for more than an hour or so. If you like the idea of a more traditional costume, then an old white sheet should do the trick. You can even go the extra mile and die the sheet to make it look aged. Once you have this ready to go then rip it up into long strands and begin the wrapping process. You can even add black around your child’s eyes and some brown to represent dry blood.

10. Career
When all else fails, let your child transform into the career they’ve always had their heart set on. You can easily find costume supplies for doctors, vets, lawyers, construction workers and so on, which will make the costume a lot of fun. You may even have all of the supplies you need in your own home, so make sure to look around before you end up going shopping. If you are looking for last minute accessories, then most dollar stores will have exactly what you’re looking for without the high price tag. Some schools will even host their career day around Halloween, so you’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone with a costume like this.

Halloween is designed to be a fun time for kids and families to share. However, with the high price of candy and costumes, you may find it hard to get in the spirit of the fun. These ten tips are sure to help find the creativity needed to come up with the perfect costume for your kids as well as the rest of the family. So get in the spirit of the season, rather than stressing about the financial burden.

Cleaning the bathroom is probably one of the worst things on your to-do list. Apart from having to use chemicals that aren’t exactly cheap, the bathroom isn’t always the easiest place to deep clean due to the tight quarters. There’s a few ways you can get more out of your bathroom cleaning experience though. If you’re pregnant, trying to keep a frugal budget, or simply want to be kind to Mother Nature, you may find some of these chemical free tips to be right up your alley. With a few simple and easy to follow steps your bathroom will look like it was professionally cleaned without forcing you to use several different cleaners.

1. Mop the Walls
One of things that makes the bathroom look and smell not as clean as it should is the walls. Most people don’t think to clean them, but with all of the moisture in the room it could be one of your best options if you really want to create a clean effect. If you have a Swiffer or similar product then this will be easier than ever. Simply place a clean pad or cloth on the device and begin to clean the wall just like you would the floor. Feel free to even use a cleaning solution to help ensure any build up will be removed as you clean. You shouldn’t have to do this as often as you would other cleaning jobs, but if you keep up with it then your bathroom should maintain a whole new level of clean that you’ll be proud of.

2. Clean the Fans
Another item that often gets overlooked when cleaning the bathroom is the fan. This is a crucial item when it comes to the bathroom, especially since it is often your bathroom’s defense against mildew and other foul odors. However, the fan can gain so much build up that it won’t function properly, which is a major problem. Every once in a while, you should take apart the fan with a basic screw driver to clean it. Once you’ve removed the component then use canned air to get rid of all of the dust and particles that are attached. When you have everything cleaned out, then place the fan back in the wall and screw it back in. In order to reduce the amount of buildup you may want to use a special wax to go over the frame of the fan. This will help prevent as much build up over time your fan will work wonders for years to come.

3. Grout
If you have a lot of grout in your bathroom, then you probably know the headache that is cleaning it. Grout can be a pain in the neck to keep free of mold and is an eye sore in the bathroom when it isn’t clean. You can probably spend hours on end scrubbing the grout too, which often comes to no solution whatsoever. Of course, there is one simple way to ditch the bold that builds up on your grout. That is, to soak a cotton ball in bleach and place them around the moldy or strained areas of your grout. Then, turn the bathroom fan on and walk away for several hours. When you come back, remove the cotton balls and rinse away the mold. Your bathroom should look sparkly and cleaner than you’ve seen it in quite some time. Another option for this is to use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to leave the grout nice and clean with items commonly found around the house.

4. Glass
There’s no doubt about it, cleaning glass can be pretty frustrating, especially when you can’t manage to get it streak free. Lots of cleaners on the marker don’t really help with this matter and can leave you scratching your head as to how to get your glass clean without all of the chemicals. One way to do this naturally is to make your own by adding vinegar and lemon oil to a spray bottle. The vinegar will cut through any grime on the mirror while disinfecting it, while the lemon oil leaves that fresh scent that makes everyone feel clean. Of course, if you want to get the streak free look then skip the rag or paper towel. Instead, use a piece of newspaper to do the job. It may sound odd, but you won’t want to use any other method when you see how striking the glass looks. After you’ve cleaned off your glass you may want to consider using a product like Rain-x for shower doors. This will help prevent mildew build up, so you’ll be able to enjoy that streak free shine for much longer.

5. Toilets
The toilet can be the stuff of nightmares, especially when you’re not in the mood to clean. There are a couple of ways to make the task go by a little faster so you won’t have to face the toilet for very long. For starters, vinegar and baking soda will quickly become your best friend when cleaning your toilet. Simply add this like you would a cleaner and let the mixture work its magic. It will get rid of stains in the toilet bowl quickly while disinfecting. Make sure you use a toilet brush to help with the process though, especially when it comes to beneath the rim where the mixture is unlikely to reach on its own. If you have stains in the tank of your toilet, use dental tablets to take care of the problem with ease. Of course, nothing will beat taking the toilet seat off of the hinges so you can clean all of the crevices that often get missed. You can even use a screw driver and a cloth to clean the crease between the seat and the tank. This should leave you with a sparkling clean toilet that you won’t have to think twice about guests using it.

6. Drains
One of the biggest headaches is the bathroom often is the drains. It doesn’t matter if it’s the sink or the bathtub, there always seems to be a clog coming up. This can cost you a small fortune when it comes down to getting your pipes cleared out by a professional plumber. There are a few ways you can stop clogs in their tracks though. If you start to feel a clog coming on, or you simply want to avoid one coming along altogether, then you may want to place white vinegar or baking soda down the drain while running hot water. This should wipe out everything in the way. If you have a close that is giving you problems, then you might want to invest in a drain snake. This will allow you to take care of the problem on your own, so you’ll never have to worry about calling in a plumber again.

7. Fabrics
Your fabrics need to be cleaned well too, which can lead to an overall better smell when it comes to your bathroom. All towels used in the bathroom should be washed every three to four days because they can begin to smell like mildew and aren’t clean enough to dry your skin or wipe your hands on any more. You should never wash your towels with fabric softener though as this will prevent your towels from being absorbent. These items, including any other fabrics you use in the bathroom should be washed on the hottest setting to support cleanliness. This even includes cloth shower curtains even though they don’t come in contact with the shower. Rugs should be washed occasionally, but it may be best to hang them over the shower or bath edge in order to dry after every use.

8. Steam Clean
The bathroom floor is not as germ free as you’d like it to be, even when it comes to regular sweeping and mopping. The best way to truly disinfect the floor is to pull out your steam cleaner. Whether you rent or own your own steam cleaner, the device should be used at least once a quarter to help get rid of buildup on your floor while truly knocking out the germs that linger. Sweeping and mopping prior to doing this will help considerably, so don’t think twice about doing this prior to the steam clean. Once you finish running the steam cleaner over your floors everything should smell a bit better and will look absolutely incredible.

9. Metal
One of the biggest eyesores in the bathroom is often dirty metal, which seems to steal the focal point. The best way to get rid of this is to clean it up with some vinegar. From the water spots on the metal to mildew that builds up around the corners of the faucet, you should be able to get rid of any problems within seconds. Even the tough stains can be cleared up by soaking paper towels in vinegar and leaving it overnight. If you’re missing the shine of the metal, then use some baby oil to buff it and then top the metal off with some mineral wax to make sure the shine lasts for quite some time. Apart from the aesthetic view of the metal, you can also clear blocked faucets and shower heads by using a sandwich or other plastic bag filled with vinegar. Simply tie it to the item that needs to be unclogged and let the vinegar soak in for a few hours. This will make you feel like your showerhead or faucet is brand new, which will certainly add to the cleanliness of your bathroom.

10. Air Freshener
If you really want to add to the finishing touches of your bathroom, then adding some fragrance to the air is the perfect touch. One easy way to do this while also cleaning is to heat up lemon halves in water. This can be done in a matter of minutes in the microwave, so it won’t take up a lot of time. This mixture can coat the tub, shower, sink or even the toilet to add a refreshing scent after you’ve done all of your cleaning. If you’d love a scent that lasts longer then there are many great ways to create your own DIY air freshener. Some of these recipes even include using baking powder which is sure to soak up some of the bad odors too. Other options include burning incense or heating up wax to help keep the room smelling like a million bucks.

Keeping your bathroom fresh and clean is important, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on chemicals to do so. These ten bathroom tips will make all of your guests envious of how clean your bathroom is, which is sure to make you happy. Although cleaning the bathroom isn’t a fun job, you can easily find joy in how it looks, feels and smells when you utilize these tips.

In case you didn’t notice all of the pink this month, October is breast cancer awareness month. There’s lots of events going on this month to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer, which may inspire you to jump in on the activities. Between walkathons and merchandise, you may find that keeping up with the activities costs a pretty penny. There are several ways that you can join in to support the message of the month while helping with fundraisers and donations. So, embrace the month of pink without worrying about money, because these ten tips are sure to help you find one or several ways to tell breast cancer a powerful message.

1. Wear Pink
Pink is the official breast cancer awareness color, which makes it easy to spot people sharing the message in the month of October. This can be a great time pull out all of your lovely pink clothes to show off to the world. If you’re a little shy on the pink front, then you might want to consider dying some clothes so you’ll have plenty to wear. You can even make your own t-shirts to add to the fun of the month and to ensure that people notice the message you’re trying to get across. This is a great way to help children participate too, especially if they have a pink day at school. If your office or the clubs you’re in don’t have plans to work on a pink day then you may want to organize one. This could really bring awareness to a larger group of people and will bring a sense of strength to the message you have to share.

2. Pass Out Ribbons
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to share the message with a large group, then passing out pink ribbons is one of the best options. You can easily and cheaply buy pink ribbon in bulk which will allow you to cut and make tiny ribbons that can be turned into pins. This should only take a few dollars to make and won’t eat up a lot of time either. Once you have your ribbons ready to go then you can pass them out at schools, the work place or even on crowded streets. This will help get the message out to a lot of people, which is sure to spike awareness in your area. With every pin you give you, you will be sharing the message to several people which can do a lot of good.

3. Volunteer
This month, there is bound to be several events that you won’t want to miss out on. From charity concerts to marathons, the list goes on and on. Of course, with all of these charity events, you may find that the price tag is a little steep too, especially if you try to make it to all of the events. This can easily be remedied if you volunteer to help out at the event. This will give you a chance to do a lot of good for the cause without forcing you to miss out on the event. Most events will begin accepting volunteers early, so make sure to get in your application. Although they usually can use all of the volunteers they can get, you might find some of the more popular events can fill up before you know it, so don’t wait. If an event isn’t your thing then see if you can volunteer for another charity that donates to the cause, or for a cancer center.

4. Walk/Marathon
One of the best things about the month of October is the weather is cooling down and there tends to be numerous walk for a cause events going on. This is especially true when it comes to breast cancer awareness walks. Marathons are also incredibly popular during this time too, so if you’re feeling fit then make sure to sign yourself up. Both of these events tend to cost an entrance fee, but if you can get enough donors on your behalf then you should be good to participate without spending an arm and a leg. This will also allow you to work on your own health, so you can set a great example for others looking to spread the word about breast cancer. Depending on the walk or marathon, your winnings may actually go to support a breast cancer charity, which is one of the best gifts you can give during the month of awareness.

5. Pass Out Flyers
Many people are still unaware that October is breast cancer awareness month. You may be able to remedy this and help them find out more about breast cancer when you choose to pass out flyers in your area. Usually, you can get a great deal on bulk flyers from many printing websites. Try to find a coupon code to cut back on expenses too. Of course, you could also print out the flyers on your own or use a copy machine to cut back on spending altogether. Make sure your flyers include basic information on breast cancer, preventive measures and numbers that people who need support can call. With a little information you can help out a lot more people than you ever thought possible. This should help you make the most of the month and protect people with knowledge.

6. Hold a Fundraiser
If you like to plan events and have a bit of money to spend this month, then a fundraiser is a great way to show breast cancer that you’re willing to fight. You don’t have to host a grand dinner party or anything that will cost you a fortune though, so don’t fret. Instead, host a car wash if the weather still permits. Yard sales, bake sales and other common fundraisers will help out too. You can even host a party where guests leave donations to help out with the cause. No matter what you choose, try to keep it on the frugal side while promoting the idea of donations. You may be surprised by how many people are willing to donate, especially considering so many people have had someone affected by cancer in their lifetime. The event may even encourage others to host similar events, which will allow even more money to be donated to the cause.

7. Visit a Cancer Unit
Like many hospitals and nursing homes, those spending large amounts of time in a cancer unit tend to be a bit on the lonely side. For some, having someone to talk to during their time of need can really help make the treatments pass by quickly. Sometimes, the company can even lift their spirits enough to encourage them to heal faster, which is always nice. So, if you really want to do something special for the cause this month you might see if there is a cancer unit that needs guests. You may even consider bringing blankets, reading material and other supplies to make the patients feel a bit more at home. Without a doubt, you will make at least one person smile, which is something money can’t buy.

8. Survivor Potluck
Another way to support breast cancer awareness is to host a potluck for people who have actually survived cancer. Ask friends, family, neighbors and anyone who will listen to donate a dish to the event. This will allow survivors to get together and enjoy food, while sharing their stories with those who may be suffering from cancer or for those living with loved ones who are. This should help others find inner strength while encouraging people that there is life after cancer. A potluck shouldn’t cost you much. In fact, the venue should be one of priciest aspects of the event. You might try churches or community centers to see if anyone will offer you a good price. If you contact churches and community centers, you may even have more people willing to donate dishes, attend the event or donate to a breast cancer charity.

9. Research
Most people don’t really know all that there is to know when it comes to breast cancer. That’s why, you may want to take this month to explore the ins and outs of the cancer. This shouldn’t cost you anything extra than your basic utilities because you can explore the internet as well as free data bases. Some sites will even allow you to ask doctors questions, which can help you learn even more about this disease. Before the month is over, you should be able to detect the signs, know about the treatments and what exactly occurs when cancer grows in the body. You may even be able to visit research centers to learn about the newest tech designed to wipe out cancer more efficiently. By the end of the month, you may not be an expert, but you’ll have a greater understanding which is half the battle.

10. Take Care of Your Health
One of the best things you can do to raise cancer awareness it to take care of your own body. Both men and women should check for breast cancer as both genders can get it. This month, you should try to get a screening with your doctor to make sure you’re in the clear. Many hospitals will even allow you to receive a reduced price on a mammogram due to October being breast cancer awareness month. There are things you can do at home to make sure you’re in the clear too. A self-breast exam should be performed every month for women on the last day of their period. You can also watch out for skin changes such as dark sports or puckering. With a little mindfulness you can ensure you’re healthy. You should also begin to teach your children about self-care and how often they should visit the doctor, so they’ll be prepared when they grow up too.

Breast cancer awareness month is a great time to do your part to help better the world and eliminate a deadly disease that causes so many deaths around the world. Although we have a long way to go in regards to cancer, every little bit helps toward a cure. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune though as there are frugal ways to help out during this important month of awareness.

The autumn months are filled with lots of things to see and do, but it’s also filled with bad weather. This makes it one of the best times to pull out the craft supplies and have a blast. Luckily, there’s lots of autumn crafts that you can make for next to nothing at all. These crafts can serve as great gifts as well as decorations for your home. With a few DIY skills and a little bit of creativity, you’ll find autumn crafts will soon be a hit with the whole family. So, don’t stress out over entertaining the family on the blustery days, because these ten ideas will have everyone having a blast.

1. Luminary
Nothing says autumn like lovely candles and warm lights that set the mood inside of the home while the rain drizzles outside. This season, you can easily make your own luminaries to make your home feel inviting during the cool weather. This craft won’t cost an arm and a leg either. All you will need is a glass container, may it be a cut wine bottle, an old candle container or mason jar. The choice of item is entirely up to you and the look you want to create. You will also need leaves cut from tissue paper, so make sure to grab autumn friendly colors to set the seasonal mood. You can free draw the leaves to suit your needs or trace them from a pattern or real leaves that you collected from outside. Once you have the leaves cut out then modge podge them to the glass and leave them to dry. You may need a couple of coats, so make sure to double check to make sure all of your leaves are completely down before you move on. When everything is dry you can add a tea light, candle or battery operated light to create a cool effect. These luminaries are great centerpieces or simple ways to freshen the house using candles and beautiful decor.

2. Leaf Prints
Keep your younger children excited about the seasonal change by having them sit down and make leaf prints. These can be very exciting for younger children because it allows them to create a form of magic that will surprise them when they make their first prints. All you need for this task is a few fallen leaves. You may want to avoid crunchy leaves though as they won’t work well and they’ll make a huge mess. Once your kids have picked out their leaves, grab a few sheets of paper and some crayons or pencils. Place the paper over the leaf and have the kids color away. This should make a print of the leaf, which can be hung on the wall or cut out and hung from the ceiling. You can also take some leaves and dip them in paint and have the kids use them as stamps. This can bring a lot of fun for everyone. You can even use this technique to make a tablecloth for the autumn months or your Thanksgiving feast.

3. Paint Pumpkins
If you’ve already made your first trip to the pumpkin patch, then you may be trying to decide when the best time to start carving is. In truth, you should probably wait until the week of Halloween to this, but there are lots of great crafts you can try out with your pumpkins that won’t leave them rotting straight away. For instance, you can simply paint them colors and add some glitter for a cute decoration that can be placed inside or outside of the home. Pumpkins can even be used as a numerical marker for your home, which will add a perfect touch to the autumn decor. Of course, if you really want to get your house spooky in a hurry then you can also paint faces on your pumpkins to create the jack-o-lantern look that you’ve dreamed of. This can be a lot of fun for the whole family too and won’t force you to waste money on pumpkins that won’t last to the holiday.

4. Scarecrow
Autumn is one of the best times to enjoy one of the iconic decor items of the season. That is, the scarecrow. Scarecrows do have their creepy vibes, but you can deck yours out to be happy-go-lucky if you so choose. This is a great way to get the whole family in on a project too. Scarecrows really don’t require a lot of shopping for supplies. You can use old clothes or burlap that you might already have lying around. These items can be stuffed with leaves that you find in the yard, which should help take care of a little lawn work too. The face can be drawn on or you can choose cute buttons or other items to add to the decor. Apart from that, you can easily transform your scarecrow into something Halloween friendly when the holiday finally rolls around.

5. Gratitude Tree
When it comes to autumn, there’s lots of things to be thankful for, including the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Thus, you may want to consider coming up with a gratitude tree this season. This can really give you a lot of room to work with because there’s no set instructions as to how to make your own tree. For instance, you can find twigs outside and use them to create an autumn inspired tree. You could also use paper to create a tree that stays on the wall. Even real or faux plants will do the trick for this craft. Once you have the tree figured out and set up then you’re ready to have some real fun. Choose a few scrapbooking or construction paper designs to start. You can cut the paper into acorns, leaves or anything else that gives you the warm feeling of autumn. Once you’ve done this, punch holes into the paper and add some string to make it easy to hang like an ornament. Of course, if you’re using a tree that’s taped to the wall then consider creating little pockets to insert the leaves or use thumbtacks or 3m’s to hang the items from. You can place these decorations in a box and every week or so everyone in the family can write down something they are thankful for. When Thanksgiving comes around, you can all read from the tree and feel the warmth of your joyful lives together.

6. Leaf Globe
The snow globe is an iconic part of winter, which many children and adults cherish as keepsakes for years. Now, you can make your very own globe with beautiful autumn leaves in it. Believe it or not, but this craft won’t cost you a fortune either. All you need is a jar with a secure lid, water, glycerin, a hot glue gun and items to put into the jar. You can really let your imagination run wild here too. For instance, you can keep it simple with a small tree or twigs as your decorative item, or you can go all out and add a full autumn scene to the mix. Whatever you choose should be glued to the lid. Once you’ve got your items glued and they’ve been left to dry overnight, fill your jar with the water and glycerin. Then, you can add in the items you’d like for leaves. Plastic or metallic leaves are cheap and easy to find during this season and will look great for years to come. However, let your imagination run wild here. Once you’ve added in the leaves, glue the lid shut and leave it to dry again. Soon, you’ll have a globe to add to your decor or to pass out as a gift.

7. Wreath
Without a doubt, a cute wreath can be a great accessory any time of the year. However, they are often a bit on the pricey side of the spectrum. You can easily make your own with some cardboard and a few cheap items. Simply start by cutting the cardboard into a circle and then cut out the center. For a great autumn inspired look you may want to glue on leaves from the yard. You can also weave branches, add acorns or pinecones as well as anything else that makes you feel inspired by the beautiful autumn weather. Of course, you can also transform your wreath into a Halloween style. This is easily accomplished with fake spider webs and the cure plastic spider rings you can buy in bulk over the holidays. You can also add pieces of candy, other scary figures and so on. Before long, you’ll have a cute wreath that will have cost you next to nothing.

8. Garland
One of the easiest ways to add to the decor in your home is to create some adorable garland that will bring the autumn beauty inside. One fun way to do this is to grab some leaves from outside. Make sure they are clean and bug free though before you begin the craft. The leaves can be glued to twine or other string to create a beautiful row of colorful leaves that will draw attention to your home. If you don’t like the idea of dead leaves hanging from the ceiling then consider trying the same craft out with fake leaves, which can be bought for cheap at most craft stores. Other than that, you can always create a cute garland using simple sticks and felt or paper. You can spell out your family’s name, welcome, autumn or other message with the twigs on each square of felt or paper. Then string them together for garland that will wow all of your holiday guests.

9. Pinecones
Although pinecones tend to be more of a winter fashion, you can show them off in the autumn too. These simple craft options look great stored in a bowl without any extra work, so imagine all that you can do with them when you channel your creative side. One of the easiest things to do with pinecones is paint them or simply add some glitter. These look great on display and will add a burst of color to the room. If you have younger children, then you may want to transform the pine cones into adorable little animals. These can be used for Christmas ornaments later on too, so you’ll get more out of your decorations.

10. Leaf Bowl
If you really want to make things advanced this season, then try out a leaf bowl. This will allow you to put your craft skills to the test, while creating cool items that will wow anyone who stops by to visit you. All you’ll need for this craft is a bowl in the size that you desire to make, fake leaves and some modge podge. Slowly layer the leaves over the upside down bowl. You may have to do this in sections in order to get it all the way across the bowl. You should also make sure all of the leaves are touching, to give your bowl the strength it needs to be held together. Once everything is modge podged together double check to ensure your leaves are well-coated then leave it to dry. Then, you can easily remove the bowl in the morning and enjoy the fruit of your labor. These bowls are great for potpourri, pinecones and so on, which is sure to give the home even more of that magical autumn feeling.

Making your own autumn decor is a great way to save money on the season as well as to keep yourself busy when the weather isn’t cooperating with your needs. These ten tips should allow you to find some fun for the whole family, which will encourage bonding and adding a festive touch to the home without spending a fortune.

Autumn and winter tend to be a time in which the power unexpectedly goes out. This can be a huge burden on the whole family, especially if everyone is stuck at home during the outage. Once phone and tablets run out of juice then the panic begins to set in, especially with the younger generation. There are a few things you can do to help fight the boredom and fear of a power outage, while showing the family there is life without technology. These ten ideas are sure to help you find the perfect solution for days when your power just isn’t going to function, which may even change the way your family treats its free time in the future.

1. Read a Book
Picking up a book is pretty much a timeless way to have a good time, especially when all of your distractions are out of the way. Once the power goes out, browse through your library and let the fun begin. You can set up lots of candles or flashlights to create a fun reading space too, which is sure to inspire the whole family to follow suit. If there’s younger children in the household, then you may want to find some larger books to read to them too. Children in school can use the time to catch up on their school reading, so they can impress their teachers and give themselves more free time in the near future. During these months, you may want to make more trips to your local library just to ensure you have something on hand to read in case the weather isn’t cooperative. Keeping up this habit may even inspire children to read more when the lights are working. If not, you could try a lights out policy once a week, which will save you money on your power bill. Reading is known to improve the way your brain functions though and will help you relax, so a power outage may be doing you more of a favor than you realize!

2. Pull Out the Games
Nothing says classic family fun like pulling out the board games and letting everyone compete. Games can be a great way to help the family bond together, while also allowing kids to improve certain skills, particularly when it comes to math and logic. Apart from the classic board games, you may also want to teach the children to play more intricate games like chess. Cards are another great option that can be catered to age. Of course, if you don’t have many games around in the home then you may want to come up with a few of your own. This can easily be done with paper and any form of figure that can be used as a marker. Trivia, Pictionary, memory and charades are also games you can do without having to have an actual game in front of you. Whichever games you choose, make sure it helps the kids learn good sportsmanship and how to follow the rules.

3. Get Outside
If the weather isn’t the cause of your electrical dilemma, then use this time to get outside and play. Of course, even if it is the cause, the weather might not be bad enough to prevent you from enjoying a snowball fight or jumping in the puddles. Since there is nothing to steal away your kids attention, you may try to entertain them with sports or outdoor games. Even relay races may take some of the pressure off of the lack of electricity. Walking, jogging and running is another great option that will keep you warm and allow you to get in some exercise. If you have a pet them take it for a walk too, or simply have a blast playing with it outside. You could even use this time to catch up on lawn work, raking leaves, shoveling the walk and so on. There’s endless options when it comes to the great outdoors, so if you have this option available to you make sure to utilize it. The fresh air will do you good anyhow.

4. Hide-and-Seek
Most children love to play hide-and-seek and even older kids will join in on the game if they’re bored enough. Playing with the lights out can be even more fun as it makes hiding and seeking challenging. Of course, this game will have to be designed based on your family’s boundaries. For instance, if the lack of light and noise is bothering younger children then you may want to play in teams or keep the hiding range contained to one room. If you don’t have these challenges to worry about then the sky is the limit. Your whole family will be able to use their creativity for the game too, which should bring lots of laughs later when you find out all of the crazy hiding places that people chose. Make sure to set safety rules too. Also, you might want to have flashlights for the game, just to avoid any unnecessary danger.

5. Clean Up
The whole family might not be as crazy about this idea, but if you have a messy home to deal with then now is the time to tackle it. If it’s daylight then you’ll have plenty of light to clean, organize and get the home in tip top shape. If not, then a flashlight can go a long way in regards to cleaning. You may send the kids to their rooms to start there. Without the distractions of TV, phones, tablets and videogames you may be surprised as to how much your child can get done. Of course, if they do get distracted it’s because of their amazing imagination, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You might want to take the time to fold the laundry, unload and reload the dishwasher or do some sweeping and mopping. Sure, there’s some chores that need electricity to be accomplished, but you should be able to get a lot of the basics without it. You may even get to organize the filing cabinet, like you’ve been promising yourself you’ll do for months!

6. Tell Stories
When it comes to hanging out with no power, there’s nothing quite like telling stories to one another. You can treat your time without power a lot like you would a camping trip, which should add a bit more fun to the situation. Try sitting around a fire, candles or even just a flashlight. Each person can take turns sharing a story in order to keep everyone entertained. Stories can range from scary to fantasy or even a simple personal story from the past week. You may even want to take turns adding to a story for a fun game that will have everyone laughing. This should help bring people closer together and will allow you to get to know each other a bit better. Also, telling stories will help prevent complaining, which will make the situation even more irritating.

7. Craft
When there’s nothing else to do, it’s time to pull out the craft supplies and get to work. This can be anything from simple color pages to making intricate paintings to hang on the wall. Your craft supplies will be the only limit you run into. Luckily, you can do a whole lot with very little too. If you have paper lying around the house, then making paper planes will be a breeze. This will even allow the kids to fly them while the power is out. Paper hats are another fine option that are great for story telling or allowing the kids to play imagination games while the power is out, or even when it’s back on. Once the popsicle sticks and macaroni art ideas have worn thin, you might want to consider getting a jump on upcoming holiday gifts. If this happens before Christmas, then throw together some mason jar recipes to give out to friends and loved ones. You can also try making book angels, which are usually a favorite during Secret Santa giveaways.

8. Learn a Skill
Working with your children to pick up new skills can be one of the best uses of your time when the power is out. There’s a wide variety of items to choose from too, so you can find something you know how to do that they may also be interested in. One of the most realistic things you can teach your kids is how to sew as this will help them further on in life. Of course, musical instruments, art and crafts and even how to play a game of poker are also great skills to teach when you have nothing else to do. If you’re working on a skill of your own then now is the time to practice it, or at least crack open the book that will show you how to start out. Whatever you do, enjoy having the distraction free time to put your full concentration on the activity.

9. Make Snacks
One of the best thing you can do when there’s no power is to make snacks to help comfort everyone in the home. Of course, this poses a bit of a problem when it comes down to cooking. Obviously, if your power is out then this limits many people’s stoves and even if you have a gas burner you might be shy on light. One of the best things you can do is pull out the ice cream and popsicles and let the kids go to town. Sure, you may be headed for a sugar rush, but at least the food won’t go to waste. Another option is to utilize classic campfire techniques. Simply light up your fireplace, use your outdoor fire pit or even utilize a candle to help out. You can easily make s’mores this way, which tend to be a favorite for many. Another fun option is to make popcorn. You can do this over an open flame too using oil, kernels and tin foil. If you want the kids to try it out on their own, you may even be able to pop a few kernels over a candle.

10. Build a Tent
Another way to keep the family busy while bringing some comfort to the lack of light is to build a tent. Gather sheets and blankets from around the house and use furniture to string everything together. Your imagination will take you far when it comes to a blanket tent, so don’t think twice about getting creative. Even if the tent falls, you still have lots of time to rebuild while you wait for the power to come back on. The great thing about indoor tents is they let kids use their imaginations as they play, which will take their mind off of the electronics they’re missing out on. It also offers a great place for the whole family to hang out, read or sleep. Best of all, if the house is getting colder, the tent will help lock in heat so you won’t feel as uncomfortable.

Dealing with a power outage can be a bit boring for the whole family, especially since so many people are attached to their phones and other electronics. These ten tips will not only keep you busy for free, but they’ll also show you that there are great ways to keep busy that don’t always involve a screen. With a little time away from the tech, your life may change for the better, which is never a bad thing!

October is blowing right in, which means there’s a whole new group of shopping challenges to get through. In all technicalities, you could even look at October as the beginning of the holiday season as Halloween jumps in only a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. This probably means your home is in savings mode, but don’t fret because there will be some sales in October that will keep you going strong without spending a small fortune. These ten shopping tips should give you a great start to your autumn, while allowing you to jump ahead for holiday shopping without spending too much money.

1. Costumes
You might think that the best time to get Halloween costumes is after the holiday has come gone. This actually used to be true, but in the past couple of years things have changed a bit. Amazon, for instance, now knocks 70% off of some of their costumes a couple of days prior to Halloween and some will even upgrade the shipping to 1-Day shipping at no extra cost. This can get you an amazing costume that will be right on time for your child’s trick or treating adventure. The Amazon sales do last a while too, as you can still get great deals after the holiday is over, but you may not find the same prices on some of the more popular items. If you’re not keen on shopping online for your costume, then you may want to check out some Halloween stores. The stores that are dedicated entirely to Halloween will probably offer some great steals as they will need to clear their stock faster than party stores will. So, you may find some pretty incredible prices, that may even encourage you to shop ahead for next year or playtime clothing.

2. Jeans
Back to school sales brought some great prices on jeans, but sales on your favorite denim is better in October. Since most people bought their fill of jeans back in August, the stores can afford to put their stock on sale at an extraordinary price in October. Not to mention, with new fall fashions on the shelves, the stores can start getting rid of last year’s jeans to help make room for the new and more expensive items they want to sell. This is a great time to stock up on the jeans the whole family needs to get through the week. You might even consider buying larger sizes for later in the year, or so you don’t have to worry about spending more on jeans next time back to school sales come around. If you shop around, you may find some of your favorite brands may even offer better deals than cheaper brands, which will save you even more money thanks to their more durable designs.

3. Hot Spot Vacations
If you were unlucky enough to miss out on a nice summer vacation, then your luck will change in October. Now is the time to book those hot spot vacations that simply weren’t feasible during tourist season. Trips to places like Hawaii, the tropics and other must see locales won’t cost you as much of a fortune as it would have back in the hot months. This is because the tourist season has dropped and hotels, airlines and restaurants can now lower prices to cater to those who still want to enjoy themselves on a budget. The best thing about going during this time of the year is the hot spots will be less crowded, which is always a must. In some locations the weather won’t be as hot either, which will be a nice change. Cruises are another must to book if you’re looking for a hot getaway to help you relax. You can travel all over the world during the month of October at a price that won’t make you feel guilty. So, get to booking now, so you can get in the relaxation you need to get through the upcoming holiday season.

4. Thanksgiving Travel
If you’re more worried about how you’re going to handle Thanksgiving, then now is also the perfect time to book for that vacation. You should be able to get in your airline tickets without worrying about the high prices of traveling, just yet. However, if you wait too long then the prices will skyrocket. Apart from airline travel, you may want to begin the process of booking hotels. If you’re staying in one place, then make sure to get in your reservations to ensure you have a place to sleep while enjoying your destination. If a road trip is in your Thanksgiving forecast, then you might want to even book the hotels you’ll stay at along the way. You don’t want to end up staying in a dive simply because there aren’t rooms available in hotels you’d feel more comfortable staying in while on the road. Now is also the time to get in reservations for rental cars too, so you’ll be ready to go and get a better deal than anyone who procrastinates during the season.

5. Columbus Day Sales
Not all states celebrate Columbus Day, but most stores use it as a reason to sell a lot of their items. This could be a great time to get a head start on some of your holiday shopping. Columbus Day sales usually encompass a wide range of items. You can find everything from mattresses to appliances on the list of sales items. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go crazy for every item you see. You may want to consider looking at décor items and smaller ticket items to save on some money. This will be the last sale before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so if you’re not sure a deal is worthwhile then you won’t have too long to wait before the larger sale arrives.

6. Tacos
Taco fans can rejoice because the month of October brings National Taco Day on the 4th,which is sure to help you ease your cravings at a lower price. You will find deals on tacos just about anywhere you look, especially when it comes to major chains. You’ll probably find free tacos with a visit to your favorite chain, but if not then you should find some with some major discounts on them. Apart from that, local stores will probably get in on the fun too, so you may be able to hop from one location to the next in order to get the delicious food you crave. If you’re not interested in fast food tacos then many stores are jumping on the bandwagon and reducing the price of items needed to make your own tacos at home.

7. Vegetarian Cuisine
If you’re a vegetarian or you’re curious to try the lifestyle, then October is the month for you. Apart from the amazing produce available during this month, October 1 is actually National Vegetarian Day. This will make shopping for items to whip up the dishes you love even easier. Of course, many grocery stores still don’t observe this day, but you will probably have a lot of luck on discounts at restaurants who cater to vegetarian and vegan diets. Even regular restaurants may lower the price of menu items that are designed for vegetarians. This will allow you to get a taste of the food you might eat if you were to follow the diet. Of course, if you’re a vegetarian then you probably know just what meal you’ll want to grab on your special day, which will make the month of October even more exciting.

8. Wedding Supplies
October marks down the season for weddings, which is pretty much good news for anyone who is planning to get married soon or in the distant future. Booking a hall or church to get married in during this time is sure to make you feel like a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders since the price won’t be out of this world. That is, unless you’re booking it in advance for the hot season. All of the supplies you need will be on sale too. So, if you already have a theme picked out then go ahead and buy the dresses, tuxes, décor and anything else you have in mind for your special day. This will cut back on spending in the hot season. Of course, you should be careful with dress planning, especially if you’re buying the dress well in advance. Planning a wedding for this season is probably best though, especially if you plan on keeping it small. It may be harder for people across the country to come to the wedding, but you won’t begin your new life in debt, which is always a plus. So, let your wedding dreams run wild as you’ll definitely be able to afford more when it comes to the months of October and November.

9. Flu Supplies
Like it or not, but flu season is rapidly approaching, which means it might be time to take inventory of your flu fighting supplies. This month is the perfect time to stock up on relief medications, vitamins and other supplies used to fight off and prevent the burden that is the flu, including cleaning supplies. You’ll want to make sure you have a stock of children’s medication too if you have children in the family as taking care of them often trumps your own needs. Since the flu usually begins to make its way into the main stream in November, October is the perfect time to get your shot. It takes 2 weeks for the shot to kick in too, so make sure you get it well in advance so you don’t end up getting sick. Many pharmacies and health clinics will keep the price of the shot down for now. Of course, you may also want to check with insurance to see if they cover the total cost of the vaccination too.

10. Vacuum
If there’s one thing you should probably get to keep your home functioning this month, then it’s a vacuum cleaner. These devices are at a low price during the month of October, so you should be able to upgrade your old vacuum or at least replace a rundown model with a newer version of itself. With all of the mud, leaves and other grime appearing outside, your vacuum will quickly become your best friend when it comes to cleaning. You may even want to upgrade to a model that can help get allergens out of the air. Of course, you’ll also want to consider the design of the model you choose. Many models are a little outdated and get clogged quickly, so you may want to research a little if you have pets or you shed a lot. You may also consider the upcoming pine needle fiasco the household goes through every December. With a little bit of looking around, you’ll find a great match for you at a price that won’t hurt your budget.

October is a month filled with fun that you won’t want to miss out on. However, the fun often cuts down on the budget we have to work with. These ten items should have you enjoying the month of October a little more, without spending as much money. With a frugal October under your belt, you’ll be ready to tackle the holidays straight on.

Gender reveal parties are one of the hippest trends with new parents. However, throwing one of these parties could leave your baby budget in the hole if you’re not careful. Between special ordering cakes and keeping everyone entertained, you may find your gender reveal party costs more than you realized. There are a few ways you can enjoy the same fun without spending a fortune though. With these ten tips, you’ll be ready to wow your guests, and maybe even yourself, with a huge gender reveal that will let the world know what your bundle of joy is. So choose a party that will leave you rejoicing the gender of your baby without stressing out the budget.

1. Pick a Side
One of the best ways to keep your guests entertained is to actually make them choose sides. People love debating over whether or not they’re right, which will bring laughs to the party. You can ask your guests to show up in pink or blue clothing to see who is on which side. This type of game can help you separate guests for other games too. Another way to have fun with this is to have people carry balloons for their choice in gender. The correct balloons can be released after the gender or taken home as a party favor. You may even have people give reasons as to why they believe it is a specific gender. Of course, you may not like all of the answers you receive, so if you don’t have an open sense of humor then you may not want to open up this can of worms!

2. Make Your Own Cake
When it comes to a gender reveal party, the gender reveal cake can be pretty expensive. It all depends on the type of cake you choose for your party, but most can cost a pretty penny. The best option is to make your own cake. This isn’t as hard as you think though. You can easily do it with your favorite cake batter, food coloring and icing. Simply mix up the food coloring with a basic white cake batter and bake it like you normally would. Then cover it in the frosting of your choice and make sure the cake is entirely covered. You can also follow the same recipe with cupcakes if you want to keep things simple, or if you have more than one gender to reveal. You can take on your own recipes too, including adding your cream filling and other clever ideas. Of course, if you want to wait to know the gender then ask a trusted friend or family member to help out. The job shouldn’t be hard and will be the highlight of the party.

3. Use Balloons
Revealing gender doesn’t have to be all about the cake though. In fact, if you’re looking to keep away from sweets during your pregnancy, or you just want to show off the baby’s gender in a new way, then there’s a whole lot you can do with balloons for fairly cheap. One idea is to buy a lot of black balloons. You will have to make sure they aren’t see through when blown up though. Fill these balloons up with the confetti of your child’s gender and let everyone have a blast popping them. You can also make a wall full of balloons. Fill some up with regular confetti and then add a couple with the gender of your baby. Then, let people pop the balloons using darts. The person who hits the balloon with your child’s gender in it, wins by being the honorary person who shared the news. You might also find large cardboard boxes and fill them with balloons with your child’s gender. When the box is opened, the balloons will float to the ceiling or the sky. This is probably one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reveal the gender of twins. There’s many other things you can do with balloons too, so browse around online or use your own creativity.

4. Hold a Raffle
Everyone loves to join in on the chance of getting a prize, which is why raffles are a great way to add to the fun of your party. There’s a whole lot of ways you can have fun with a raffle at a gender reveal party. For starters, you can hold one for the gender itself, but you’ll have to find a lot of cheap prizes for this one, because more than one person will win. Another idea is to hold a raffle for anyone who brings diapers to the party. This will allow you to stock up, even before the game is repeated at your baby shower. With any luck, you won’t have to purchase many diapers at all. Of course, one of the most competitive raffles is having the group guess the actual birthdate, day of the week, weight or height of the baby. This raffle will have to be for a future prize, but many people really get into guessing.

5. Functional Decor
You shouldn’t run out and spend a fortune on decorations with a new baby on the way. Instead, take this time to buy a few of the basics and use them as decorative items. For instance, if you grab some baby bottles and fill them with candy, confetti or beads then you’ll have a cute look that can be used when baby finally arrives. Pacifiers are also a great decorative idea as they can be hung from the ceiling or placed on tables for a cute look. Even soft baby toys will do the trick! Of course, you’ll probably want some of the classic party decor around too. So, try to find solid colored streamers, table clothes and other supplies that can be used for parties in the future.

6. Go Through Predictions
If you were dying to know your baby’s gender before your doctor was able to tell then you probably know there’s a whole lot of predictions that can be found on the internet. This is a great way to keep your guests entertained before you actually reveal the gender of your baby. In fact, you may want to ask your guests what gender they believe the baby is before and after you go through the predictions, just to see if anyone changes their minds. The predictions can be a lot of fun to go through anyway. From spinning your wedding ring over your belly to doing some simple math for the Chinese gender predictor, you’ll find people will have a blast trying to sort out which gender you’re having. When it’s all said and done, compare your results to the gender the sonogram revealed and see how close they really were.

7. Onesies
When it comes to having fun at a party, nothing gets the creativity going like making your own onesies. You can ask your guests to bring a blank onesie along, or you can buy them in bulk to make life easier. This activity will help keep people busy for quite a bit longer than games and other activities. However, you will have to be choosy as to when you plan this activity. If you’d like to keep your child’s clothes more on the gender neutral side of the spectrum, then you might play the game prior to the gender reveal. This will allow people to think outside of the box and come up with ideas that are more personal. However, if you don’t care about little princess or Mr. Fixit references then plan the activity once the gender is known. This will give you a chance to bulk up on baby clothes before your due date too.

8. Finger Foods
There’s no need to go all out when it comes to food for your gender reveal party. Sandwiches are always a great idea to keep people happy and you can cut them into cute shapes or smaller pieces, so they will be seen as snacks rather than a full meal. If you’re feeling ambitious, then a fondue station is typically a crowd pleaser. You can set up cheese and chocolate to appease everyone with an assortment of cheaper items to eat with dip. Vegetable platters are also an easy choice and will help promote you to eat healthy as well. Of course, stork and other baby inspired cookies are also a hit if you have the time to make them. There’s lots of great recipes online too, but try to go easy on yourself as you already have a lot planning to do.

9. Advice Book
New parents could always use a little advice, but sometimes its best given when the parent feels like they need it the most. Thus, an advice book might be a great way to help out a new parent while keeping guests busy at the reveal party. You can always wait to do this activity after the big reveal though as it might come in handy to have gender related potty training tips or even tips for the days when your bundle of joy begins to date. Either way, parents will love swapping stories as the book gets passed around to help out a parent-to-be. The group can even work to decorate the book, which will help make the project even more exciting for everyone involved.

10. Invitations
A lot of people go all out on invitations when it comes to their parties. They’re cute, fun to fill out and will make everyone excited about your party. However, they also cost a lot of money to mail out if you have a long list of guests and buying them can cost a fortune too. The invitations sold in stores usually only come in small bundles as well, which means spending more to get the number you need. Instead, you may want to consider sending out e-vites. You can still find cute cards to send out, but they won’t cost you a penny. Another option is to set up an event on social media and invite people this way. This will also make it simple to find out who has RSVP’d for the event. Word of mouth is another great option that won’t cost you a cent.

Having a gender reveal party can be a great way to celebrate your baby and its gender with family and friends. This amazing experience can be emotional for all involved, which is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. These memories don’t have to be laced with the burden of finances though thanks to these simple tips that will keep your party on the frugal side, without skipping out on the fun.

Oktoberfest celebrations are already popping up all over the world, so it may be time for you to see if there’s any Oktoberfest fun happening in your neck of the woods. This holiday is a great way to get in touch with German ancestry while trying new beers, sausages and pretzels. The only problem is this celebration can often come with a pretty high price tag. Depending on the Oktoberfest you attend, you could find your wallet a lot smaller if you’re not already looking for ways to cut the price. These ten simple ideas will allow you to find the perfect way to make your Oktoberfest celebration a lot more fun and a lot less taxing on your budget.

1. Look for Discounts
When it comes to local activities, like Oktoberfest, there’s usually a strong community backing which will work in your favor. For instance, many local businesses will work with the festival to help you save some money. You may be able to get a few dollars off of your ticket by eating at your favorite pizza place, for example. Perhaps, your local grocery store may host a raffle to give away free tickets, or at least provide you with coupons with your purchases. There’s also the option of trying to win tickets from the radio station. As long as there is a local event to be had, you should find some discounts to keep you happy. Usually, these discounts are for ticket price alone, but some local breweries might pass out coupons for free tastings of their beer.

2. Dress Up
It is becoming a huge trend for many Oktoberfest celebrations to honor those who are daring enough to come dressed up in traditional German attire. You may be able to get a discount on tickets at the door, beers and other items if only you’re willing to show off some lederhosen for the day. There’s even competitions for those that are best dressed, which could help you to win some big prizes if your costume is favored. With all of these options, why would you not want to dress up for the special occasion? You can find traditional German clothes sold online or in Halloween stores if you’re looking for a quick solution to the attire problem. However, the clothes aren’t incredibly hard to make either. With a little extra effort, you may find yourself walking away with some big prizes, so attempting to make your own costume could be incredibly fruitful. You don’t even have to be incredibly skilled with sewing as finding certain clothing items in thrift stores can lead you on the path of success.

3. Research Your Ticket
Purchasing Oktoberfest tickets can be one of the crucial stages to saving the big bucks. Most Oktoberfests offer a wide variety of different options, so don’t treat 2 the same way. Your ticket should let you know what is included in the price of admission, so make sure you get everything you paid for. Some tickets will include a free beer or two, some will offer samplings, while others won’t offer anything at all. If beer isn’t included in your ticket whatsoever, then you might want to skip out on the event if ticket prices seem way too high. If food is included in your ticket price then you’re doing pretty good too, but most of the festivals won’t add this in. A lot of Oktoberfests are offering VIP access now too, which could grant you early entrance, special beers and so on. Again, make sure to weigh in the value before you decide to jump on the VIP bandwagon.

4. Pace Yourself
A lot of people head to Oktoberfest because they want to get plastered as quickly as possible. This is probably one of the fastest ways to lose money on your deal. Usually, you only get a certain number of free drinks, so downing them straight away will leave you feeling pretty zapped for the rest of the event. It may even make you more likely to spend money on more beers, which won’t be priced fairly. The key is to pace yourself when drinking at the event, so you can experience the games and music before you’re three sheets to the wind. It will also make you less likely to get kicked out of an event if you drink and behave in a responsible manner. Not to mention, if the Oktoberfest is doing beer sampling, rather than full steins, then drinking quickly may leave you feeling terrible. Some of the beers ingredients don’t always hit the stomach well together. Thus, pacing yourself will allow you to plot out your sampling map, while also allowing you to get some food on your stomach.

5. Hydrate
So many people forget how wonderful water is when they begin to drink copious amounts of alcohol. However, water can really help prevent you from feeling like garbage mid-way through the festival or even the morning after. Sure, it may not feel cool to down a glass water at an Oktoberfest, but your body will thank you for doing it. A general rule of thumb is to drink one glass of water per glass of beer, so make sure you keep some bottles nearby if you plan on staying at the festival all day. Water will help you from getting too intoxicated too, which could save you from some embarrassing moments. Not to mention, it’s often not the chilliest in many areas during the September and October months, so you might want to keep some water on hand so you don’t get as dehydrated. Beer already dehydrates the body, but when you combine it with sitting under the hot sun then you could find yourself feeling pretty nasty.

6. Eat
Going to an Oktoberfest on an empty stomach can be one of the worst things you can do, especially if you plan on getting your money’s worth out of the ticket. Try to eat a heavier meal that will help soak up the alcohol when you begin to drink. Of course, you shouldn’t not eat during the festival as well. Greasy foods like sausages are one of the best items you can choose to pick up at the festival. Make sure to add on the sauerkraut and mustard too. You might consider grabbing a batch of fries, fired pickles, cheese sticks or anything else that may help you process the beer a little better. Believe it or not, pretzels aren’t really a safe bet when it comes to drinking food. They will be in abundance at the festival, but if you’ve been drinking some time then skip out on this fan favorite. You should also avoid sweets because they will super charge the alcohol and will leave you feeling like you’re ready to hit the sack.

7. Join Competitions
Most Oktoberfests are bound to have a competition or two during the event. This can be a great way for you to get a bit more out of your money. Usually, it doesn’t cost a thing to enter a competition, so if anything it will just add to the entertainment factor of the festival. There’s a wide range of competitions offered too. You may find one as simple as a costume contest or as difficult as traditional German dances or yodeling. Many will perform food or beer based competitions, so you might want to hold off on the food and drink before you find out what competitions you can sign up for. Another famous competition is holding up steins of beer. These can get pretty heavy, so you may want to do a little work out to train yourself a few weeks before the event.

8. Go For the Entertainment
One of the best things you can do to save money for Oktoberfest is to tell yourself you’re going for the entertainment. The beer and food will always be there, but if you see it as a cultural event you’re going to get more out of the entire event than if you go for beer alone. So, take a few minutes to check out the live music, cultural shows and games before you pull out the wallet to begin drinking. You may find that sipping on a beer while watching the show is a lot more fun than chugging beer after beer while you wait for a sausage you ordered. You may even learn something about German culture and history by sticking to this attitude.

9. Try New Things
When it comes to Oktoberfest, you may try to step out of you comfort zone as much as you possibly can. If you have a ticket that includes samplings, then go for the beers you haven’t had a chance to try or those that may be too expensive for you to purchase on a regular occasion. This will broaden your horizons and may even give you a new type of beer you’d like to start purchasing. You might even try to taste as many German import beers as you can to make the Oktoberfest complete. The same can be said with food though. Try to steer clear of the stuff you’d grab on a regular occasion. Instead, try out the delicious sausage with extra flavoring or the toppings you may have never thought would work for the meal. You may be surprised by how much you get out of the deal.

10. Designated Driver
It may be common sense to contact someone about acting as your designated driver, but many people would still rather catch a cab, which can really blow up the price of the event. Usually, cab companies will hike up the price if they know they’re picking up or dropping off at an event, so you may want to skip out on this. Not to mention, if the Oktoberfest is popular, you may have to wait some time for a ride, which could really be terrible if you’re not feeling well after the event. Designated drivers are more trustworthy and will ensure you get home safe and sound. You may want to offer the designated driver a little money to make the occasion better, or you might want make the deal sweeter by purchasing a sausage or pretzel for them. As long as you know you have a driver, then you’ll be ready to enjoy the celebration with a lot less worry and a little more money.

Oktoberfest is certainly a great time to celebrate German culture and heritage while having a little fun with friends and family. With a festival filled with so much beer and food, you could easily find yourself spending a small fortune if you’re not careful. However, with these ten tips you should be able to get more out of Oktoberfest than you ever even imagined.