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. . .
#1 – I got so excited writing about children’s Christmas literature and how you can use it to save money that I forgot to mention how great it is for Nickelodean and Walmart to offer this contest.
I go out for the Black Friday sales and ONLY pick up what I need. Its tempting with so many other items at rock bottom prices but this year its all about control for our budget.
jeanilynne[at]gmail[dot]com
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com
I make a spreadsheet of all the people I need to buy gifts for and what I intend to buy them. As I buy a gift I change the text from black to red and when I finish a person, I change their name to red. I have a column where I keep track of how much I have spent on each person and I total that at the bottom of the spreadsheet. That way I always know how much I am spending and I can keep track of what I still need to buy.
Post is up
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/
jeanilynne[at]gmail[dot]com
Subscriber via email
jeanilynne[at]gmail[dot]com
Comment #2 from me. This holiday savings tip has to do with elderly people in our lives. Both sets of my grandparents have houses full of stuff, closets full of clothes, and have lots of knick-knacks and they don’t need more of that kind of stuff. But they are on fixed incomes now and have real needs for everyday living items. I fill large gift boxes full of stuff that I get free or cheap from the drugstores and give it to them. Last year one grandma got enough Palmolive soap to last the entire year, shampoo, bar soap, lotions, paper towels, bandaids, etc. She said it was the best gift she got and she was so appreciative of the items. Now she can buy herself a treat at the grocery store and not worry about some of the essentials.
Angie
Thrifty Florida Mama .net
I am a subscriber. My tip is that I shop at my library’s used book store for children’s books for holiday gifts. They put out holiday themed books this time of the year and many of them are in brand new condition because they were only read a few times around the holidays. I have found very nice books for gifts for only a few dollars (and all the money goes to the library). I have also found great gifts for adults there too.
ok…I messed up. Link to the post again but with another holiday savings tip added.
I try to do as much holiday online shopping as possible and start the day after Christmas for the next year. I subscribe to multiple bargain alert email lists for online sales which helps me never pay full price. Shopping online is a great tool for me to curb the impulse buying.
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/
jeanilynne[at]gmail[dot]com
so I’m fixing the other post I messed up.
I subscribed by email.
I clip coupons, print online coupons and never leave home for my holiday shopping without them. Most are for grocery items but I’ve found many I cut or printed a few months back will be saving me a nice bit of money off my holiday grocery total.
jeanilynne[at]gmail[dot]com
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com
I actually shop year round, hitting the sales as they come up. I also take advantage of thrift stores year round. You can find great stuff, often new (unwanted by the donor) at thrift stores!
I blogged about this contest:
http://cremerfamily.blogspot.com/
I’m a subscriber, thanks.
New tip:
By making my own cards, gift tags, and bows, I save money and I feel it gives the gifts a more personal touch.
My holiday money saving tip is to frame a collage of treasured family photos as gifts for family memebers.
I shop year round!!
make gifts instead of purchasing them. i make cookies and jams for all my friends
My best money saving tip is to never buy things on credit. We start early in the year to buy gifts for the family getting the best possible deals so that by Christmas it is not a burden and we can relax and enjoy Christmas!!!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
We shop throughout the year for greatly reduced items and then when Christmas comes along we have more than enough gifts to give.
Thanks,
Lisa
4me2cn@gmail.com
My first tip is to start a fire in the fireplace and light the candles. Turning off the lights inside the house saves alot. And doing this in the month of December makes paying the bill in that dreaded “month after the holidays” a little bit easier.
Another tip that I have is also a great family tradition. I find a semi-warm day and me and my daughters go outside to find items of the season. This includes twigs, rocks, leaves, or whatever the girls think will be good. Then we spend one whole day making Christmas decorations using these items and our other craft items. Each year I add 10-15 new items to our collection. This is a great money saver that is sooo much fun and makes great memories in the process. And I have a whole collection of decorations from over the years to remind me of all the great times we had making them. Sometimes when we are putting up the previous years decorations we get to laughing at things that happened in the process of making some of them.
Another great tip, REFUSE to pay full price for any gift. You can always find a sale or a coupon. You have to be patient and sometimes a true bargain hunter but I have five children and this has become the RULE for the last few years. Of course this is the rule year round.
Save all those freebie lotions, etc for teenage girl’s stockings! They love trying new products too!
Ok, I could probably give a thousand tips since I have five children to shop for but I promise this is the last one. Bargain shop on your food and food ingredients for your holiday meals. Sometimes people forget to include this in your holiday budget. I include it in mine and bargain shop big time. I make my menu at least one to two months ahead of time and start checking all the ads each week. The sooner you start the more sales you have to shop and th better chance you have of finding every item on sale or have a coupon for.
I have found that by shopping throughout the year, when items are on clearance or on sale, that I save lots of money on buying toys for our children. In addition, our family usually makes gifts each year for our siblings and their familys. One year we made a fresh bread basket for each family, which we filled we pumpkin, banana and blueberry bread in large baskets, along with special teas and cocoa mix. Last year we made wooden outdoor Snowmen that had a yard stick attached that measured the snow. This year we are making outdoor planter benches for each family. These gifts, really save us a lot of money, though they take lots of time to make. But, we work together as a family and it’s really fun. The kids even help out by sanding and painting and they are really proud of their work. Everyone looks forward to seeing what creations we have instore for the holidays.
Making these gifts ourselves, really do keep our budget in check and we’re giving some gifts that are unusual and appreciated.
Save money by starting early and jumping on sales as soon as they arise throughout the year. By the time Christmas comes, you’ll already be set!
I shop year-round and pick up great items on sale/clearance that could be used as holiday gifts. By the time Christmas came around, I’d only need to pick up a few last minute items. Shopping sales helps you save lots of money.
This year I have cut down on who I am getting for and the price of each gift. I am keeping stocking stuffers and accessories to a minimum.
I save money by going to our local newspaper and asking for end rolls. The bis a huge roll of blank paper they give away.I have the kids draw on it and that is the only wrapping paper we use. Plus it is cue and looks so festive.
Nickelodeon is something my son loves. I am naturally a squeeky person. I save money by getting samples like Christmas cards to send out. I save things that I have bought throughout the year on sale to wrap in the Sunday cartoons for gifts.
Subscriber too. I save money by not buying very much at all.
That is the facts of life when you are a single mom.
My best tip (from my experience) is to shop at Amazon on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday, because there so many great deals to rack up on nice days. Today, I found several animation DVDs for $3.99 and a DS game that just came out for $10. Amazon is the ultimate online holiday shopping destination! 🙂
lilacbutterfly [at] earthlink.net
I shop our local drug stores that each offer free-with-rebate items every month. They make great stocking stuffers!
Use a fake tree. It may cost more up front, but you will save hundreds of dollars in the long run, and you will help the environment!
I subscribed to your feeds! My second tip: establish a homemade or consumables only rule amongst the adults in the family. Every adult only receives, and gives, homemade or consumbles. It’s a great way to reduce holiday stress and help your wallet!
Reuse gift bags and boxes. Shop the clearance. Make gifts when possible. Use a fake tree instead of a real one.
Make your own homemade holiday decorations! Its fun and the kids will love it/ Decorate christmas bulbs with swarovski crystals. String popcorn, and make ornaments out of salt dough. The ideas are endless!
Thanks so much for this fabulous prize!
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
I wish I had a tip… I never have enough money to try and save any.
I buy all my gifts on Black Friday. It saves a ton of money.
Don’t overspend on electronics.
You don’t have to pay top dollar for outstanding performance.
Another great contest–thanks, Jenn! Here’s my entry #1:
I use kraft paper for my holiday gift wrap. It’s much cheaper–a huge roll is under $2 and covers all of my wrapping needs. I embellish my brown boxes with festive ribbons (bought on sale throughout the year), raffia (cheap), pinecones (gathered outside in the fall), cinnamon sticks (dollar bin) and dehydrated orange slices (made in my oven), as well as other bits and baubles found during the year. It looks a lot nicer than it sounds!
Everyone knows when a package is from me because of my signature style, and often exclaim that it’s prettier than all the glittery papers under the tree.
mrswskitchen@gmail.com
Entry #2 – I'm already a subscriber. mrswskitchen@gmail.com
Another holiday money-saving strategy I use is for our southern-style annual Christmas Open House. The party is open from noon to evening, so finding unique ways to feed all of our friends, family and neighbors all day is always a challenge.
This year we're doing soups & sweets: 2-3 big crock pots of hearty, warming soups, a tray of rolls, and assorted cookies for a sweet treat. Beverages will also be simple: hot coffee, tea and cocoa alongside a bowl of punch. Festive AND frugal–what more could anyone want?
When money is tight, a good gift to give is one of service. You can write a little note to your neighbor and offer a few hours of babysitting to give her time to herself at this busy time of year. Priceless!
I save all of the DVDs,books and other prizes I win and regift them for Christmas.
Use what you have. Use your imagination!
This one is my favorite. You know those huge crowds of people that shop beginning on Black Friday and pretty much every day after …Well, I have learned that most of those great bargains are also available on the company’s website. This time of year, many of them offer free shipping. Plus, if you do a search for coupon codes and / or promotional codes, you will find that a huge number of retailers have hidden offers where you can receive additional discounts on top of these “doorbuster” savings without leaving the comfort and warmth of home. Some of these discount codes are pretty significant!
pamela.callahan@sbcglobal.net
I do all my holiday decorating with greens from my yard. I clip pine and holly and use some flowers from the grocery and ribbon bows. Almost free and always lovely.
eat at friend’s house
I use my 3-day rule. I make a list of what I think I want and put it away for 3 days. If I still want it and can remember what was on the list, then I’ll think hard about it and possibly go purchase the item.
Instead of buying for each adult member of your family we do a fun secret santa. Everybody buys a unisex gift for a certain amount of money. At christmas time you put it under the tree. Draw names out of a hat and pick a gift, but the kicker is if your name is drawn and you saw a gift that you already like that was open you can steal that gift and have the other person pick another one.
It’s fun.
Thanx for the contest.
watch out for sales and ads and shop at that time. go to places like: walmart, target and big lots. you really can save alot and who knows, you just might be able to get the majority of your list done.
Have the stores you shop at send you email sales flyers. This will help you get the best deal on holiday items. You can also go to coupon sites and see if you can use a coupon for online shopping like free shipping etc. Thanks for the conest!