Times are tight for everyone this holiday season. Wouldn’t it be great to have a little more cash?
Wouldn’t it be great to figure out how to make the cash you do have stretch farther?
Thanks to Nickelodeon and Walmart you can do both!
Yes, Nickelodeon and Walmart have teamed up to sponsoring a contest that will not only collect together some of the BEST holiday money saving tips on the web, they are also giving one lucky Frugal Upstate reader a $500 Walmart gift card!
Talk about a present that will always be the right color and size!
Since the stakes are high for this contest, so is the bar! There are multiple ways to enter this contest, but for each entry you must submit a separate-that means different folks-holiday specific money saving tip.
Be sure you leave an email address with each tip. If I can’t contact you, I’ll have to choose another winner!
You can enter 5 separate times by doing each of, or any combination of, the following:
#1-By commenting on this post and leaving a holiday money saving tip.
#2-By writing a blog post mentioning a) this contest, b) Nickelodeon, c) Walmart & d) Frugal Upstate. Then in that post you have to give a different holiday money saving tip (don’t just repeat your original tip) and link back to this post. Then you have to come back here and leave another comment with the link back to your blog post.
#3-If you use twitter, you can tweet a holiday money saving tip, using the #nick11 hashtag in the tweet, and then return and leave another comment.
#4-You can create a Video Blog (Vlog) with a holiday money saving tip. You must mention a) the contest, b) Nickelodeon, c)Walmart and d) Frugal Upstate in the video. Then post it to Youtube & come back to comment here and link to the video.
#5-Subscribe to this blog, then leave a comment letting me know you have with, yes, another holiday money saving tip. If you are already subscribed you don’t have to do it again, just tell me that and leave your tip.
I WILL THROW OUT any entries that are not about the holidays, or that do not follow the directions above (ie didn’t link back to this post in their post, don’t mention Nickelodeon etc)
The winner will be chosen at random (using the random number generator) out of all the valid entries. I say again-the VALID entries. Make sure you read and follow those directions above folks!!!
The contest runs from today-Friday November 28th through Monday December 15th at 12 noon, EST.
You can enter to win a $500 Walmart gift card not only here but at all of the ElevenMoms’ sites. You can only win once, but you can try to win at each site. Each contest may have slightly different rules, so make sure you read carefully! Many of the tips will be featured on the Elevenmoms site-maybe even yours!
So good luck! I am looking forward to seeing all the great ideas. . .
Happy Holidays! I save tons of money simply by staying out of the stores! I purchase most of my items online so I stay in control. My only splurges are all the baking items on sale at the grocery store this time of year. I buy a year’s worth of flour, sugar, nuts, cheeses, chips, doritos, candies, etc and freeze every bit of it. Yes, potato chips can be frozen! Great time to buy!
I never leave home without my printable coupons when I go shopping. They can save you so much money. I also sign up for all the newsletters to stores I love to shop in. They send you the best coupons all year round!
I have tweeted about this contest, and will be subscribing as well.
We save money by avoiding the crowds and truly determining what is needed. No frivolous spending allowed. My kids go through all their toys and donate to charities the ones they no longer play with, to make room for newer toys if that is what’s on their list.
We also have a large garage sale and donate the proceeds to charity. Instead of going crazy buying all sorts of stuff, we also make gifts and the recipients tend to love those the best.
I do almost all my shopping online and I try to purchase most things from one site (to save on shipping), such as Amazon.com. We also now only exchange gifts for the kids for my husband’s side of the family. I also always recycle gift bags from year to year.
#3 –
Here’s my twitter tip!
http://twitter.com/PMKU/status/1028027539
#1 I’m an online shopper too! I will Google the product and let the online shopper show me the price comparisons at different online stores to find the best deals!
Shopping for the 6 kids in the family at the Dollar Store / Family Dollar store. 2) Wrap home baked cookies for gifts 3) Make food gifts such as hot chocolate and baking mixes 4) Send Christmas E-cards to family and friends online 5) Only mail Christmas cards to those family and friends that aren’t online 6) Laminate and gift quick and easy recipes to the busy parents in family. 7) Write letters to my siblings and parents to let them know how much I love and care about them.
Jenn, I hope this wasn’t too many items but this is what I am doing this season. Happy Holidays!
I recycle last years received Christmas cards. I cut off the beautiful fronts, turn them over and draw a line down the center. That makes a wonderful postcard! I use these for my Christmas cards so I don’t need to buy cards plus they only cost 27 cents to mail instead of 42 cents!
Happy Holidays!
I get great gifts for less by shopping the overstock and outlet sections on my favorite websites all year, and buying a few things at a time. I keep a master list, so I know what I have and who it’s for and don’t buy too much. My favorite site for scouting out good deals is the overstocks portion of Lands End.
I added you to my google reader!
I have a huge family, which includes 5 daughter in laws. All year long I collect up free samples of everything from pot holders to shampoo, perfumes and books. There are freebies all over the web and Walmart has several all the time. Then I make up baskets for them for Christmas. The girls just love getting their baskets since they never know what I\’ve found over the year! Plus lots of these samples are really nice fragrances or hair care products that they couldn\’t normally buy. When they get into them there is always much swapping , trading and bartering going on! Plus- its always fun to throw them a curve—like the newly wed who will get Luv samples this year! LOL
I keep a little card in my handbag with my families sizes and measurements. When I see that sweater or those jeans on sale I pick them up. I also keep a card paper clipped to my check card so I can keep track of how much I’m spending. However it is tradition in our family to only give 3 gifts to each child. This not only saves money but allows us time to do a lot of fun things as a family and the wherewithal to give to those less fortunate.We have so much fun our kids never complain about a lack of presents.
I just tweeted out to the world:
I shop clearance all year and when the holidays come, I find I have spent a fraction of the cost and have presents for all 4 kids! #nick11
Thanks Jenn,
Kitty
My favorite holiday money saving tip is to reuse gift bags. I carefully save them each christmas and regive them the next year. Saves a ton as those things can get expensive!
An easy way is making do – I have tons of holiday decorations, but always see more I want and then, I see more gifts that my son would love ad nauseum…………
So this year, I am not buying anything I don’t need. As simple as that. I am going to be practising it all year as well.
I’m not sure how I’ll be in the January sales at Walmart though..I willl pray for help and guidance.
There are so many ways to save money this holiday season! Make your own gifts, like jars of cookie makings, etc. Shop the sales at Wal*Mart, use coupons. I am getting each of my kids and my dh ONE present and ONE giftcard this year and that is it!
I keep LISTS! That way I know what I have already bought, what I need to get and the obligatory who’s been naughty and who’s been nice! It keeps me from buying way too much unnecessary stuff. I start the list during my after Christmas shopping the year before I need it.
My holiday money saving tip? Baking in bulk! I have a snickerdoodle recipe that makes 5-6 dozen little cookies, spritz cookie recipes and brownie/blondie recipes. Everyone enjoys fresh baked goods and I can devote more time to hanging out with everyone.
That and you can roll up batches of icebox cookie dough, freeze them, then slice and bake on demand!
jessica.tupper{at}gmail{dot}com
My kids and I make our own holiday wrapping paper and gift tags every year. When they were tiny, our projects were very simple — scribbles on butcher paper, making tiny handprints with paint, etc. Now that they are in high school we get a lot more creative. This year we are making marbled paper using spray paint and water — so cool! Our tags will match the paper. I asked them if they were tired of doing this now that they are in high school and it might not be cool anymore. They answered, “NO!! This is something we look forward to every year!”
Kristina
The previous post is mine. I didn’t realize I wasn’t logged on. Sorry! (blame it on turkey hangover!)
Kristina
Shop online from a place with free shipping and from a list of exactly what you want. Saves time and sometimes tax and prevents impulse buying and avoids the crowds. What more could you ask for!
One way to save money during the holidays is to set up a budget and stick to it. Don’t let yourself be distracted by impulse purchases.
And I plan to subscribe to your blog.
rachelr01@charter.net
Here in Canada, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day and we always have Great Sales on that day! If I need to buy wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, Christmas Crackers, stuffed animals w a Christmas theme, decorations, tags etc. I always purchase them on Boxing Day as they are usually at least 75% off. I haven’t had to purchase full price wrapping paper or accessories for years!
I also purchase random gifts throughout the year when I see a great deal on something one of my kids could use!
Coupons and freebies are always great as well!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
I have subscribed via email!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
leave your money and credit cards at home
A lot of people spend money unnecesaarily on takeout! eat in!
For thirty-five years, as long as I have been married, I have bought Christmas items at after Christmas sales for the following years’ use. I have a collection of Christmas decorations that would have cost thousands that were all 75 to 95% off!
If one can handle the crowds then I would recommend waiting closer to Christmas to do one’s shopping. Items are priced way cheaper. You can couple that with doing your shopping on line. Many stores are offering free shipping this holiday season which saves you money as well.
This year – to save money, we decided to make homemade ornaments to give as gifts. We purchased some very inexpensive glass balls from a discount store, along with some ribbon and potpourri. We soaked the balls in warm water to remove all the paint – after they dried, we filled them with the potpourri, and glued ribbon around the middle and used ribbon in place of hooks. These cheerful ornaments are a fun inexpensive family project to use at home, or give as gifts.
I love contests! My money saving tip is to BUDGET. If you know how much you have to spend, you won’t OVERspend. I know our budget early, so as I see things throughout the fall, I’ll pick them up for the people on my Christmas list. I used to procrastinate my shopping and I am SO OVER that!
The sibs and I are all over 30 and 40. We’ve decided to suspend the ‘trade a name’ tradition because we keep farming gift cards back and forth. I’ve suggested charitable donations instead of b-day gifts. We’ll have to see about that one.
I compare the price of the item I want to different stores around here. Usually the PX on post (the PX is like a huge WalMart for us Military folks) has the lowest prices, plus no tax! So I shop around for a while & then make my decision on where to buy.
I email Christmas wishes, saves money and paper!
The best thing that I do to save money during the holidays is to limit gift-giving. With my siblings, our gift to each other is that we don’t get each other gifts – simply gifts for the kids that fall under a set price range.
kc@mominthecity.com
I buy all my wrapping paper and cards at the after Christmas sales for at least half price. I also give home made candies and cookies for gifts to neighbors and dh’s coworkersn 🙂
Shop clearance throughout the year and ONLY use cash!
Do homemade gifts.
Purchase items from the dollar store and turn them into gift baskets. You can find so many nice items there. Make gift baskets like a girls gift basket you could include nail polish, lip gloss, hair things, and bath stuff. For kids you could do a craft basket with construction paper, glue sticks, crayons, markers, and scissors.
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
Make a list and stick to it!!
Wrap gifts in fabric, reusable cloth bags, pillow cases, or baskets.
I plan ahead what everyone is getting before I hit a store or a website. We have a limit per person and stay within it.
I shop the sales and 99-cent store all year and store purchases in plastic storage containers. Then, at Christmas, I buy Christmas gift bags (at the 99-cent store) and put together a ‘bag ‘o gifts’ for those on my list. It’s fun!
I love this Frugal Upstate website and contests especially when Nickelodeon and Walmart are involved with a frugal holiday contest! Compare prices on-line (especially at Walmart.com) and use on-line printable coupons to save cash when holiday shopping when able. If purchasing on-line, do research for codes for free shipping or look for like items that have free shipping to save holiday money!
Happy holidays!
Dar
ddabrams@twcny.rr.com
My best tip is that we sat down with our children and explained that the economy is hurting, and we were cutting way back on Christmas. We’ve simplified everything, and you know what? Our kids are so much more into the Christmas spirit. We’re decorating with natural elements we find outside like pine cones, and pine boughs. What a valuable lesson our children are learning this year: Christmas is about family, and not about how much money you spend.
instead of buying new items for the holiday I am recycling by posting items I no longer need on freecycle and asking for things that I want. Recycling fees better than buying
i always buy things when they are onsale bad_girl_4_u_1984@yahoo.com
Shop the sales but stick to your “sale” list or that $5 book you are giving your sister in law just turned into a book for her and a video for you and a cd for your husband.
best tip i can offer is to stay home or pay all your bills first
if your family or friends drink a lot of coke or pepsi get them to put the codes aside. I have ordered great presents from Pepsi and Coke. for example 90 pepsi points will get you a free popular dvd. You can order a gift subscription for magazines like redbook and good housekeeping.
Reinforce what is really important with your children through books! From now until Christmas try and focus on selecting books from your library that impart an important lesson.
For example, December by Eve Bunting is a wonderful story about a boy, who, you eventually figure out, is homeless and who knows the real importance of Christmas.
Another example, The Velveteen Rabbit is about friendship and loyalty.
Reading books like this to your children, especially at bedtime, will help nurture their minds and souls and divert their attention from wanton consumerism.
P.S. I’m sure your local children’s librarian would be happy to point out other suitable books.
I subscribed in My Google Reader. My tip is to shop year round by keeping a list of people, likes, and sizes in your wallet. When you come across a great deal, buy it and cross that person off your list.
Angie
Thrifty Florida Mama .net