Frugal Gift Idea -- Hand Warmers

These hand warmers make great stocking stuffers, and they are easy to make!  Just heat these in the microwave for a few seconds and they will retain heat for several minutes. To make your own hand warmers, you will need:

1. felt
2. embroidery floss
3. rice
4. lavendar (optional)

Cut two pieces of felt to the size of about a deck of cards.  Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, blanket stitch three sides together.  Fill with rice and some lavendar (if desired), and blanket stitch the fourth side.  You could make a pair of these, tie them together with some pretty ribbon, and you are done!

9 Tips to Cut Holiday Expenses

Does the idea of spending a lot of money this holiday season make you cringe? Have you been trying to save money during this tough economic time? Are you afraid the holidays will put your family further into debt? Fortunately, Frugal Family Fun Blog is here to show you how to celebrate the holidays with friends and family without breaking the bank. Here are some ways to cut expenses during the holidays.

1. Host a Potluck -- If you provide the turkey or ham, ask friends and family to each bring a side dish or dessert to share. A potluck can be an ideal solution for a vegetarian or other guests with special dietary needs. This will not only save money, but will also save valuable time.
2. Draw up a Budget -- To save money this holiday season, make up a list of all the people you typically shop for and determine how much to spend on each person. Also, include ideas for gifts for each person. When you go shopping, take your list with you and stick to it!
3. Plan Ahead -- The best way to cut expenses is always to plan ahead. Take advantage of sales and start shopping early in the season to spread out the expenses over time. With a little planning, you may be able to include other non-department stores such as CVS, Walgreens, or Big Lots to get some great deals.
4. Shop Online -- This is also a great time saver. Shopping online means you are less likely to over-spend, thanks to the shopping cart which keeps a running total of expenses. Go to currentcodes.com to find coupon codes for some of the most popular online stores. Also, consider shopping through uPromise for additional college savings.
5. Pick One Thing -- If your family needs an organic Christmas tree, consider purchasing it. Then find ways to cut costs in other areas. You could make your own ornaments, for example.
6. Homemade Gifts -- Some of the best gifts I have received have been homemade. If you know how to knit or sew, take advantage of these talents to make gifts for the people on your list. A scrapbook can make a terrific gift as well. Even dry ingredients for your favorite cookies in a mason jar can make a nice gift, while saving you some cash.
7. Wrapping Ideas -- Get creative with wrapping paper. Use holiday stamps and rolls of craft paper to make your own, or re-use comics, newspaper print, or old maps. You can use inexpensive raffia, yarn, or string instead of ribbons for a more rustic look.
8. Gift Exchange -- Put all the family members names into a hat and have each person pick one name. Each family member only shops for the name he/she picked. This way everyone gets a gift without having to shop for the entire family.
9. Volunteer -- While many families are struggling with money this holiday season, you may be able to give more of your time. Get the family out to a soup kitchen and volunteer some time there. This will help cultivate a sense of gratitude for the things you do have.

Frugal Last Minute Gift Idea for Kids -- Bird Watching Kit

Every day next week I will be posting a series of projects to make last minute gift ideas for kids.  You won't want to miss any of these!  These projects are frugal, and can be made with items you would already have in your house.  Here is a little preview of what to expect.

Today's project  is a Make Your Own Bird Watching Kit.  Emily was so excited to make these binoculars!  Pair the materials to make these with materials for the pine cone bird feeders, and you have the perfect bird watching kit!  She wore the binoculars around the house all day.  They are simple to make and extremely frugal.  

To make your own bird watching kit, place the following items in a gift basket:

2 toilette paper cardboard rolls

1 cork

paint

glue

hole puncher

yarn

Attach these instructions:

Have your child paint the cardboard tubes and cork.  Glue the cork between the two cardboard tubes, and place on a sheet of wax paper to dry.  Once the glue is completely dry, use a hole puncher to make holes on either side.  Thread through yarn for a neck strap, and you are done!

For a pine cone bird feeder kit, add the following items to a gift basket:

1 small jar peanut butter

a zip lock bag with some bird seed

pine cones

string

Attach these instructions:

Have your child spread peanut butter over the pine cone.  Roll the pine cone in some bird seed.  Hang to a tree with some string, and you are done!

Book suggestions:

The Little Bird Who Found Herself by Edwin M. McMahon (All ages)

About Birds: A Guide for Children by Catheryn Sill (Ages 4-8 years)

Do you have any great frugal last-minute gift ideas for kids?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

What to do with one leftover (and overripe) banana

Being frugal frequently means coming up with creative ways to use leftovers to avoid throwing food away, but when I realized we had just one overripe banana I was not quite sure how to use it up.  Most recipes for banana bread call for 4 or 5 bananas, and even banana muffin recipes usually call for at least 3.  Tip -- You could also store your overripe bananas in the freezer (with the skins on) until you have enough for a loaf of banana bread, or a larger batch of muffins.

However, I was looking for a way to keep my four year old occupied, so instead Emily and I whipped up this batch of banana mini muffins from scratch.  They tasted great!  

Here is the recipe:

1 large banana (overripe)

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

1/8 cup white sugar

1/8 cup melted butter

1 handful mini chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mash the banana, and add the sugar and a slightly beaten egg.  Slowly stir in the melted butter.  If you do this too quickly, you could cook the egg, so be careful!  Combine the other dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.  Spoon into mini muffin pan.  Bake for about 7-10 minutes.  Makes about 8 mini muffins.

Do you have a great way to use up leftovers?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

Target Tip -- Print Coupons at the Gift Registry

Since I posted my $10 Target gift card giveaway, many of you have written that you were not aware of how to print out coupons at the gift registry kiosk to help stretch your money while shopping there.  

Here is a great video (thanks, DealSeekingMom!)explaining how it works:

Basically, just walk over to the gift registry kiosk (located at customer service) and follow the instructions on the screen.  It is very straightforward!  This way you can get the discounts without using up ink from your home computer.  

To print coupons for Target from home, go here.

Frugal Gift Idea -- Chili Mix in a Jar

Nothing takes the chill out of winter like a warm bowl of chili! This mix in a jar is a quick, simple, and frugal gift idea everyone is sure to love. Kids could easily help to make this.  Be sure to attach a tag with instructions to make the chili. Add some big soup bowls, and cornbread mix for a terrific and frugal gift set!

Here is the recipe for chili mix in a jar:

Layer these ingredients in a 1 quart mason jar.

2 tbsp. dried parsley
2 tbsp. taco seasoning
2 tbsp. dried onion flakes
2 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. cornmeal
2 tbsp. paprika
2 tbsp. taco seasoning
2 tbsp. dried parsley
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 cup dried pinto beans
1/4 cup dried black beans
1/4 cup dried white beans
about 1 cup dried kidney beans (fill to top of jar)

Attach these instructions:

To a 12 quart pot add:

contents of jar
4 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large can tomato paste
49 ounces tomato juice
2 pounds ground beef (cooked and drained)

Fill the rest of the pot with water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 3 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste. To serve, top with shredded cheddar cheese and a spoonful of sour cream.

$10 Target Gift Card Giveaway

I am a huge fan of Target, and this week I am giving away a $10 Target gift card!  Keep it for yourself, or give it to a friend for the holidays.  Tip -- Be sure to go to the gift kiosk to print out coupons to stretch this gift card even further.  

Here is how to enter this fabulous giveaway:

1. Become a Follower -- Click here to become a follower of Frugal Family Fun Blog, and you will be entered three times.  Those of you who are already followers are automatically entered three times as well.
2. Link to me -- Use the link to me button on the right of this page to create a link to Frugal Family Fun Blog on your blog, blog about this post on your blog, or create a text link to Frugal Family Fun Blog on your site, and you will be entered 5 times!  Don't forget to come back here and leave a comment so I can see your site to verify the link.
3. Leave a comment -- Post a comment anywhere on Frugal Family Fun Blog between now and December 19th.  You will automatically be entered once.

This giveaway ends December 19th @ 6pm EST.  Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted via email for mailing address information.

By the way, I am in no way affiliated with Target.  

Good luck!!

Frugal Gift Idea -- Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I am not much of a baker.  Instead, Emily and I did some holiday "baking" by making chocolate covered pretzels.  There is no measuring required, and they are always delicious.  Wrap in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon for a great (and frugal) gift!

To make chocolate covered pretzels, you will need:

1. 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
2. 4 spoonfuls of shortening
3. 1 package of pretzel rods
4. cookie sheet
5. wax paper

Melt the chocolate and shortening in a double broiler.  Once the chocolate has melted, spoon over the pretzel rod.  Transfer to a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Repeat for as many pretzels as you can fit on the cookie sheet and then place in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to harden.

Don't miss any of these great activity ideas, become a follower of Frugal Family Fun Blog!

Frugal Gift Idea -- Festive Winter Journals

Emily and I enjoyed making these winter journals.  They are so simple to make, and they came out looking great!  To make the journals you will need:

1. Pretty paper (I used snowflake print, but any pattern will work.)
2. Plain marble notebook
3. Exact-o knife -- DO NOT LET CHILDREN USE THE EXACT-O KNIFE!!
4. Book binding tape
5. Glue stick

Have your child spread glue stick all over the entire cover of the marble notebook, and glue a sheet of pretty paper to the cover.  Repeat with the back cover.  

The rest is up to the grown ups --  Trim excess paper with the exact-o knife.  Use book binding tape over the binding of the notebook.  Trim any excess tape with the exact-o knife, and you are done!

Give Green Holiday Gifts -- For Free!

This holiday season, promote a better environment with these green gifts that help reduce waste.  The best part -- they are FREE!

1. Stop Junk Mail --  Junk mail uses a tremendous amount of resources.  Use CatalogChoice.org to create an account for the recipient to pick which catalogs are of genuine interest, and CatalogChoice will work with companies to remove the recipient's address from their mailing list for free.  GreenDimes.com has a similar free service for all junk mail.
2. Offset Carbon Emissions for a Day --  Go to OneDay.BrighterPlanet.com to find out how you can give the gift of being carbon free for a day - for free.
3. A Green Email Account -- Create a free green email account  for the recipient at CommunityMail.net.  This is a free email service that is provided by a wind and solar powered web hosting company.
4. Green a PC -- Call 1-800-PC Support and a technician from support.com will help your recipient green their PC for free.  
5. E-Cards --  Each year greeting cards generate tons of waste.  This year, consider sending free e-cards instead.  Check out evite.com, hallmark.com, and 123greetings.com to get started.

Frugal Gift Idea -- Handpainted Block Print Kitchen Towels

Looking for another great frugal gift idea?  Try these cute kitchen towels!  You and your kids will love making these, and they turn out looking great.  

To make these, you will need:

1. Plain white flour sack towels (these can be purchased at Target for about $1 each)
2. Fabric paint
3. Holiday stamps (snow flakes, holly, ornament prints all work well)
4. Paint brushes

Pre-wash and iron the towel to work out any creases.  Lay the towel on a clean, flat surface.  Using a paint brush, paint the stamps you wish to use and begin stamping the design onto the towel.  Use a small paint brush to touch up any spots the stamp did not quite get.  You can free hand other designs onto the towel, if desired.  Let dry for about 2 hours.  Wrap with pretty ribbon and you can include some dish washcloths for a cute (and frugal) dish towel set!

Coupon Giveaway -- And the winner is.....

Wow, there were 52 entries for this great giveaway!  The winning number (chosen by Random.org) was 15, and that number belongs to Rhonda from Saving Cents.  Rhonda is just starting to learn how to live the frugal life, so I am glad she won the 50 coupons.  Here is her winning comment:

Hi, your blog is full of lots of frugal tips. I am new to the frugal world and am learning some...but could use all the help I can get. Thanks for a helpful blog.  -- Rhonda

Congratulations, Rhonda!  

Another great giveaway begins soon!

Frugal Activity -- Paper Dolls

MoneySavingMom recently featured a post on the McCall paper dolls, so I printed some out for Emily to enjoy.  Here she is playing with the January 1996 Betsy with two outfits -- pajamas and ice skating.  She enjoyed the maze as well.  Great frugal fun!  You can download the entire series here.

Coupon Giveaway - Last Chance to Enter

My very first giveaway is almost over.  The coupon giveaway ends at 6pm EST, so be sure to get your entry in.  You could win 50 coupons (many are for organic items)!  Details here.

FYI:  Another giveaway starts soon!

Frugal Gift Idea -- One Day Carbon Free

Visit BrighterPlanet.com to find out how you can give the gift of being carbon neutral for a day, for free!  

From the site:

Forget fruitcake. This year, you can spread your holiday cheer by giving presents that contribute to the fight against climate change. Give the gift of carbon neutrality for a day — it's free!

Fabulous Frugal Gift Tags

Emily and I spent some time this afternoon making these great gift tags from last year's greeting cards.  To make the gift tags, you will need:

1. Some old greeting cards -- Many of the ones we received last year had no writing on the inside left, so we used those.
2. Hole Punch
3. Ribbon - I found the 1/8" wide or 1/4" wide work best.
4. Clear Contact Paper - Optional.

Have your child cut out the shapes from the greeting cards.  You can laminate these with clear contact paper, and use wipe-off marker to have re-useable gift tags!  Punch a hole in the top of the card, and thread some ribbon through.  

10 Ideas to Earn Extra Money from Home

In today's uncertain economy, knowing how to make some extra money from your home can be a huge help towards paying those ever-increasing bills. Here are some great ways to earn extra money in your spare time without having to pay fees or leave your house. Great resources for at-home moms or college students!

1. Write for eHow -- eHow has a fantastic Writer's Compensation Program and it is free to sign up. The concept is simple. Everyone is an expert at something. Begin posting articles about what you already know. At the end of the month, if you have made more than $10, you will be paid via PayPal. If you make less than $10, it will be carried over to the following month.
   
2. Design Merchandize -- If you know your way around Photoshop, or The Gimp, consider designing your own t-shirts, coffee mugs, or other merchandize for CafePress. You can open a free shop and begin selling your merchandize instantly. When you earn over $25 you will get a check in the mail! CafePress takes care of the production and shipping of your order, and you can earn big commissions.
   
3. ChaCha Guide -- If you enjoy looking things up online, consider working as a ChaCha guide. Guides earn money based on how many queries they answer. Clients ask questions via text messages, and you are the person who answers their questions. Answer as many or as few questions as you like, and guides have the ability to be paid instantly via a debit card, or paid via check after a few weeks.
   
4. Amazon's MTurk -- Amazon's MTurk program lets you work as little or as much as you want, however the jobs can get boring after awhile. Once a job is approved, you will be paid instantly via Amazon gift card, or have the money transferred to your bank account.
   
5. Start a Blog -- Another great way to earn extra cash is to start a blog and write about what you know. Use Google Adsense program to generate some extra income by advertising on your blog. Also, consider linking into Amazon's Associate program and you can earn commissions for referring traffic to products Amazon already sells!
   
6. Trade in Your Old Cell Phone or iPod -- This process could not be any easier. Go to FlipSwap.com and find the model for your old cell phone or iPod and answer some quick questions about its condition. FlipSwap will send out a prepaid envelope mailer, and you will earn Amazon Gift Cards. It is also good for the environment to keep those old electronics out of the landfill.
   
7. Write an eBook -- Digital documents and eBooks are becoming increasingly popular, and it is a terrific way to earn extra cash without leaving your home or paying fees. Use a word processing program, such as MS Word, and save your eBook as a .pdf which can be uploaded to Lulu.com. You set your own price!
   
8. Address Envelopes -- If you have neat handwriting or know caligraphy, consider earning some extra money by addressing envelopes. This can work well for political campaigns, weddings, graduation announcements, baby announcements, and more.
   
9. Write Santa Letters -- Writing letters from Santa can be a fun way to earn some extra money. For an authentic touch, have the envelope post marked from the North Pole by addressing your envelope to: North Pole Christmas Cancellation, Postmaster, 5400 Mail Trail, Fairbanks, AK 99709-9999. To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, items should be received at the post office by Dec. 15.
   
10. Join MyPoints -- Join MyPoints for free and earn points for visiting website links that are sent to your email, referring people, or purchasing items through the MyPoints website. Points can be redeemed for gift cards from many different merchants.
    

Have any other great ideas to make money from home? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

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Blogs We Love!

Money Saving Tips:

Money Saving Mom

Frugal Dad

The Simple Dollar

Budget 101

Frugal Living

Econobusters

Household Organization:

Simple Mom

FLY Lady

Parenting:

Dooce

The Many Adventures of Being Jen

Absolutely Bananas

Soule Mama

Flipflops and Applesauce

Into the Wind

Toddler Activities:

Thrifty Craft Mama

No Time for Flashcards

Having Fun at Home

Preschooler Activities:

Let's Explore

The Write Start

Filth Wizardry

Just for Fun

Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

Creative and Curious Kids

ABC and 123

Montessori Fun:

My Montessori Journey

Chasing Cheerios

Crafts:

Inchmark

Artful Parent

Lovely Design

Crafty Crow

One Pretty Thing

Maya Made

Plum Pudding

Grace Violet

4 Crazy Kings

Blogger Friends

Kelly Rouba

Val in the Rose Garden

Save Money on Baby

(Clara Sage at 4 months.  Isn't she cute??)

Let's face it, babies are expensive creatures.  Between the diapers, formula, baby food, and clothes, the cost of raising a child can really add up!  Here are some of my favorite ways to save money on babies:

1. Diapers:  Consider cloth diapers.  I know, I know, but before you turn your nose up at the idea, keep in mind that the average child will cost about $1600 for two years worth of disposable diapers.  The cloth diapers of today are vastly improved over the ones from just a few years ago.  Cloth diapers are not that much more effort, plus they are better for the environment.  For more information on cloth diapers, check out Diaper Jungle's Cloth Diaper Guide.  If you must use disposable diapers, a good way to stock up on these is to get them for free from CVS using Extra Care Bucks.  For more CVS tips, visit MoneySavingMom's CVS 101.  Also, generic store brands are often half the price of brand-name diapers, but work just about as well.
2. Formula:  If you cannot breast feed, try stocking up on samples.  Every time you take your baby to the pediatrician, ask for samples of formula.  Many times they keep several different varieties on hand.  If you start asking for samples from birth, you can accumulate a large collection of formulas for free.  For more formula samples, sign up for Enfamil's Family Beginnings.  When you receive $5 coupons good towards any formula, try to get the smallest container to maximize savings and pay the least out of pocket.
3. Baby Food:  Making your own baby food is simple and easy to do.  You can find more information on making your own baby food at WholesomeBabyFood.com.  To save on store-bought baby food, many people do not know that stage 1 baby food is the same as stage 2.  The only difference is the portion size.  Many times stage 2 baby food comes in a slightly larger bottle.  I like to purchase the stage 2 foods, pour some out into a bowl for a feeding and save the rest in the fridge to use the next day.
4. Clothing:  To save on clothing, it is important to realize that newborns outgrow clothes at a rapid rate.  Also, frequent spills, diaper leaks, and food stains make purchasing new clothes seem... well, pointless really.  Try shopping at a second hand store, consignment shop, or yard sale.  Also, buying clothes out of season can be a big money saver.
5. College Savings:  It is never too early to start saving for your baby's college education.  Consider starting a 529 plan and then automatically contribute a portion of your income.  uPromise is another great resource for college savings, and you can invite other friends or family to contribute to your child's fund by linking their store discount cards or credit cards to the account.

Have another great baby money-saving tip to share?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!

A Great Mail Day!

I am so excited because today I received some great goodies in the mail!  Here is a list of what arrived today:

1. Letter from my Aunt (she lives in Argentina).  Hola Tia Ines!!  I love getting cards from friends and family, so this just made my day.
2. Sample of Tide laundry detergent.  To get your own sample, go here.
3. Samples of Kotex with a coupon for $1.00 off any Kotex product. To get your free Kotex sample pack, go here.
4. Two checks for baby formula.  Good for $5 off any Enfamil formula. Join Enfamil's Family Beginnings Program, and you will receive samples, coupons, and more!
5. $25 Target gift card from redeeming MyPoints.  To sign up for MyPoints, and start earning points good towards gift cards, go here.
6. Gift cards for Macy's.  2/$15 off a $30 purchase, 1/$25 off a $100 purchase, and 1/$50 off a $200 purchase.  Other money saving offers from Macys.com can be found here.
7. Billing error (in my favor) check from the hospital for $35.  I love it when stuff like that happens!
8. Dividend check from my insurance company for $115.  NJ Manufacturers sent special dividend checks to policy holders totaling more than $61 million dollars this year.  Click here to learn more information and see if you are eligible.

Have you gotten any goodies in the mail recently?  Leave a comment and tell us about it! 

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