Frugal Family Life - Latest Comments in Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Misty — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:32:25 -0000

My best money saving tip is...drum roll.......start shopping on the day after Christmas- get a head start on the next year. I love to buy holiday candles, special ornaments, platters, and fragrance gift sets ( I could go on and on) and store them for the next year. I find amazing bargains the week after Christmas and then periodically through the year. I save 50-90% off the regular price and I avoid the last minute scramble to find a gift-last minute purchases are stressful for me and end up costing a lot more. I save money and gain peace of mind knowing that I am prepared.

twitter username mistymc77, I signed up for the newsletter w/ email address mistymc77@hotmail.com

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Michelle Morris — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:08:46 -0000

A great money saving holiday tip that we use is using stamp pads with the letter of each of our children on them a G for Garrett and a S for Skyler, the stamp is scroll font, and instead of using labels we stamp a letter on the package. Our kids know that Santa doesn't have time to write out every boy and girls name, it adds a nice touch to their Christmas thoughts, and saves a frenzied mom on Christmas time a little extra time, and money!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Donna Holmberg — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:45:10 -0000

My email used for the newsletter is "one6ylady@aol.com"

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Donna Holmberg — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:42:41 -0000

I added myself to the newsletter, I'm twittering as "one6ylady" and my best money-saving tip for the holiday season is this:

My friends and I are always wanting new decorations for our yards and houses at Christmas time... but we're all on very tight budgets. So I came up with a great solution. Each year, just after Thanksgiving, we load our cars with Christmas decorations (or photos of items that are simply to big to carry in that small car, and we do a "Decoration Swap". For each item you brought in person or brought a photo of, you are given "credits" to use to "barter" for other items that others brought to the swap floor. This way, everyone gets new items to add to their selection, but nobody has to pay for anything. Once you swap it, the new person owns it, and has the option to put it up for swap next year, or keep it forever if they can't part with it. This way, our house and yard decorations appear new and different to our families and neighbors every year without draining our pockets. The bargaining gets fierce, but it's a lot of fun!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Angie Hopkins — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:35:13 -0000

My money saving tip: If exchaning gifts with extended family start a new tradition of giving each other stockings filled with lots of goodies and set a small limit for the amount spent. We use $12 limits. We draw the name of our recipient right after Christmas dinner for the next year and then we have all year to collect goodies at clearance sales, yard sales, dollar stores, etc. We also love that the gifts have to be small enough to go into the stocking (no more cluttery items taking up space), and are usually things that are consumable like lotions, candy, etc. It makes giving and receiving fun and you never know what to expect.

I'm following you under the name Thriftyflmama and I signed up for your newsletter as Thriftyfloridamama@gmail.com

thanks for a sweet contest!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Jill Jacobs — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:24:48 -0000

1. Re-use toys (especially for small children) Use hand me downs that are in good condition, buy on ebay, or buy at consignment stores!

2. twitter name @naturalmommy

3. davidandjilljacobs@hotmail.com

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

nycti — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:36:17 -0000

Start holiday shopping early some, you get some really good deals in the early months nyckia@msn.com a new newsletter subcriber

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Brenda D. — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:22:46 -0000

One money saving tip that really helped me this year was to start buying presents for people in July and just buy a few presents each month. By spacing it out and looking for things on sale it wasn't a blast to our checking account in December. Also we choose names for our big family gatherings!! I could sure use this card to start saving in January!
Thanks!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Caryn Bailey — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:46:58 -0000

I like to shop/pick up gifts all year round when I find great deals/sales. When Christmas comes, I often have many gifts already figured out and it is great not to have to spend a bunch of money at one time. I also have more time to shop around for the best deals
jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com

rockinmama (twitter)

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Gail — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:20:37 -0000

My best holiday money-saving tip is to skip the drive-thru when shopping around. When I know that I'll be out for a few hours, I take along a cooler filled with water, sodas, snacks or sandwiches. This helps me save a $1-$5, which could buy a nice holiday gift for someone!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Michelle P. — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:15:26 -0000

I found out about a cool website this year where you can send out free personalized photo postcards, postage paid and everything! The website is www.hippopost.com. You can only send out a certain amount per day, but with planning, you can send out all your Christmas cards for free and even have your family picture on the front! That’s what we did this year to help save money, because even the postage is free (they put a small advertisement on the back & they’re the ones that pay for it). Enjoy!
Twitter user name: mepace

Newsletter e-mail: me.pace@hotmail.com

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Emily Albrecht — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:40:30 -0000

When shopping for Christmas or any other time, set a strict budget and go shopping with a list. Do not deviate from the list or the budget. Use coupons when you shop. It is best if you take in only the cash allowed in your budget. If you have cash only you cannot just decide to get out the card or the checkbook if you "want" something else. It is too easy to swipe the card or write a check if you go over. My twitter name is stampinem. Email for the newsletter is emily_albrecht at hotmail dot com

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Sharla — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:46:42 -0000

1) I'm telling you, my very best money saving tip is to sign up for newsletters for money saving blogs(like Frugalous;). Each day as I get my emails I check out the deals and coupons and reviews and shop from them. That is seriously the way I have done ALL of my shopping this year. Thanks to all of you that do so much work!! 2) My twitter handle is @Momnerd 3) My email for the newsletter is sharlacarbine at gmail.com

P.S. I'm glad I actually READ your post. ;)

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Andrea Cook — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:13:25 -0000

Here we go! I'll share a money saving tip that I thought was thrifty and nifty! It is from a friend who shared with me how she and her family celebrate Christmas together. She only buys three gifts for her kids because there were only three gifts for Jesus on the night he was born.

Twitter ID: andreacook

Newsletter email: acook@starvacationsagency.com

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Shannon — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:22:55 -0000

Tip: Cut Cable, join Netflix instead.

Twitter user name, Euphrasie

Subscribed: shannoncornaby at yahoo

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Jen — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:00:27 -0000

Seriously I cannot get this right, can I? The first comment had one thing..the second comment had two things. This comment I'm copying and pasting just in case.

Money saving tip: Homemade gifts. I can actually do a craft project that involves bits from the dollar store, say its from my kids, and viola...a really cheap gift with a super-high love factor.

Twitter Name that followed you: jennydecki (that's me!)

Email address that subscribed to your newsletter: jennydecki@beyondmom.com (that's me too!)

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Jen — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:51:20 -0000

Responding to myself...so tacky :)

Twitter Name that followed you: jennydecki (that's me!)

Email address that subscribed to your newsletter: jennydecki@beyondmom.com (that's me too!)

My apologies for not being clear in the original post. I'm a bad contest enter-er. Thank you for your patience with me!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Kimberlee — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:09:38 -0000

Whoops! My Twitter ID is @kimferrell, and email is onenewhope @ gmail.com. Thanks! Great contest idea.

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Kimberlee — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:03:04 -0000

My money saving tip is to make as many gifts as you can at home. With high quaility photo printers, you can make books, pictures, and even T-shirts at home to share with your loved ones.

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Alex — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:48:46 -0000

Give homemade gifts. They are usually more thoughtful and very much appreciated!

http://twitter.com/alexdao

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Cathie Dalziel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:34:27 -0000

sorry forgot to add email; thought it would do that automatically.
cathiedalziel@sympatico.ca

(Having to put your email on a webpage where everyone can see it, spamers and hackers, is a turnoff. You might want to rethink this for future contests. Your response rate will be higher if you omit this from the contest rules)

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Jeaneane — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:30:57 -0000

1. Give your time instead of things this year!! Whatever you do well, offer that as a service to others...you have seen the "coupon books" that children do...adults can do them as well!! Offer babysitting service, housecleaning, haircuts, fresh baked loaf of bread...you get the picture!! No money, just time as well as building/strengthening friendships and sharing your talents!!! 2. jtmkcm 3. jtmkcm at yahoo dot com Fun contest!! Have a wonderful day!!

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

ShelleyRae — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:30:45 -0000

I don't know if anyone hit this one but the best money saver we can do is to buy locally made products.

In this flexing economy buying local and buying proud is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and it saves beyond $$ it saves jobs, communities and resources.

Love yourself, love your neighbors buy local! No matter what city, state or country.

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Cathie Dalziel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:25:09 -0000

To save $ this Christmas, give the gift that only you can give - yourself. Do something special for everyone on your Christmas list, one at a time, just you and that person. Give of yourself, your cooking, your friendship, your laughter, your sharing. Make memories...more priceless than any commercial gift.
Twitter name is inspire_ite.

Re: Win $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

Debra Oliver — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:22:40 -0000

Money saving tip would be to continue the time tradition of making cookies from scratch and giving them as gifts. Butter cookies are an inexpensive holiday cookie with powdered sugar icing. There are some great recipes on the Reader's Digest website. People appreciate it since so few people bake anymore.

Debra Oliver

debdiego03@yahoo.com

twitter.com/debdiego