Have Cheap XMAS!

During the holidays there is the tendency to ant to over spend on gifts to save time and money. Also, many people are almost "required" to give a gift to a boss or co-worker due to the social dynamics of the work place. You don’t need to run your self deep into debt to get through the holidays! With some frugal thinking and an ability to Do-It -Yourself you can not just survive, but have a great holiday!

Cheap Gift Baskets and other Office gifts:
You can put an Office gift basket together yourself for less than a quarter of the price of buying retail. Use a basket already on hand, or purchase one cheaply at a discount store like www.biglots.com, or other Dollar type stores. While you are there you can get price off boxes of gourmet coffee packs, boxes of teas, and mix with water cocoa. Stop at a discount grocery like www.aldis.com or a wholes fruit place and get some fruit to put in the basket. Arrange the coffee and tea packs in a nice way with fruit in the basket. Wrap with colored plastic wrap and you have a great gift basket! For people who prefer bath products, you can make a one up with all sorts of bath and body goodies. This way you make a nice gift for $15 to $20 dollars American – instead of the $50 to seventy-five you’d pay retail. Think about it.

If you really want to save money, grow your own herbs for teas, and make up a cocoa mix from the recipe at:
www.verybestbaking.com
There are LOTS or recipes here for mixes you can put into pretty jars and add to gift baskets!

Children’s Games, etc.
For Kids games (Both my Hubby and son love video games) check out discount stores in your area and online, like www.overstock.com

Also, buy "in back of the wave." I just got several two year old Xbox game Brand New at www.ebay.com for a fraction of their $50 release year prices. Lightly used items are even cheaper at places like www.half.com, or your local used video game store. We have a great one that only charges $2.50 shipping at:
Video Games Plus!!!.

Remember with kids "BULK COUNTS" as the more toy they get the better. And kids get bored with video games very quickly. So you might get your kid a gift certificate for Ebay.com or Half com and tell them to play the few and wait for all the bored jaded kiddies who sell their Xmas games in January. Probably lots of bargains then! And the fun part is you have the receipts to wave in spendthrift relatives faces when they complain about how broke they are. (just joking –I haven’t had to be that mean spirited yet!)

Also, get some items for kids to make later when the noisy toys are ‘Boring." Art sets, markers, crayons, play clay, and all sorts of other gifts can be bought in parts at discount stores and put together in a big basket too!

For the crafty among us I recommend making as many gifts as possible. I’m a fiber artist so people get all sorts of handmade, handspun luxury fiber items from me. But even the less artistic can make a picture frame and put a family photo in it for a gift. Cut a shape to fit around your favorite family photo re-print and embellish by gluing ribbons, lace ,shells and whatever on it to fancy it up. Remember that ths first thing people run out of burning buildings after the kids and pets ---are the family photos. These make great gifts.

So now that you have all sorts of ideas here are some cheap sites to buy online:
Joanne's one stop Craft store! Free shipping on items over $25!

Walter Drake for Tee shirts with funny sayings, etc. Five dollars off
https://www.qksrv.net/click-1087427-8272622

And Overstock.com
One Dollar shipping
New Videos for under five bucks
Cheap video games
$1 Shipping Only At Overstock.com

For more ideas Check out these Frugal Living Books!
Complete Tightwad Gazzette
The Complete Tightwad Gazzette

Declare Your Finanacial Independence
Declare Your Financial Independence

Complete Cheapskate
Mary Hunt's Complete Cheapskate

Miserly Moms
Miserly Moms

You Can Afford to Stay Home With your Kids
You can Afford to stay Home WIth your Kids