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. . .
I subscribed
Make something (like these pocket organizers …. http://organize-my-life.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-pocket-organizer.html). They are cheap and take just an hour. They are also customizable.
I buy througout the year when things are on clearance, put myself on a strict budget, and stay away from stores as much as possible. I also keep my husband away from ebay as much as I can!
Invest in an artificial tree after Christmas – when they go on clearance!
I love to shop all of the after christmas sales. I stock up on all the great deals and put everything away in storage. It is so fun getting everything out the next year, becuase you forget what you have bought after a year. It is really fun when you look at all of your great gifts saying “I can’t believe I only paid $$$$ for this.
I saved money this year by shopping clearance sales, yard sales and just looking for deals throughout the year.
This year we splurged again and bought a Christmas tree, not a success in my mission towards frugality. However, when we arrived at the tree lot I noticed a sign above a stack of boughs that said “Free.” My favorite! So, I have Christmas boughs decorating our house for free. The tip? Check your local Christmas tree lot for free boughs.
My family’s favorite way to save money at Christmas is actually to buy fewer toys for the kids! We get each child two or three toys, but since they want to unwrap lots of presents we buy Pop Tarts, their favorite sugared cereals (which we never buy otherwise), and other treats to wrap up. They love it!
cindy @ fencedinfamily dot com
My money saving tip is to give gifts of time. Babysit for friends with kids, take elderly people out on errands or shopping, take the garbage out for neighbors, etc.
Happy Holidays!
makemorecents@hotmail.com
My favorite money saving tip is instead of everybody buying something for everyone in their extended family, do a Secret Santa for all of the adults!
I blogged: http://mommyhoodisthankless.blogspot.com/2008/12/500-gc-to-walmart.html
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I tweeted.
Username: wastebasket
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
Shop for your decorations in the week after the holiday, you will save a ton of money this way!
I am a subscriber!
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I have happily subscribed to your website! My frugal tip: The day after Christmas is the very best day to snap up deals on ornaments, giftwrap, giftbags, ribbon and bows, and Holiday Season cards, especially at your local HALLMARK store! I buy all supplies for the following year at Hallmark on 12/26 and get fabulous prices for top-quality merchandise.
clearance 🙂
Always, always be alert for % off coupons in most stores, price shop, (most stores will match), online shop where possible (shipping is almost free, and you save gas/time).
Someone’s Christmas Holiday will be very lucky indeed, with the Walmart Gift Card! That is really exciting!
A tip: At Thanksgiving, the grocery stores have sales on baking ingredients. I save up my coupons and I buy everything I will need for Christmas baking as well as for Thanksgiving during those sales, with my coupons.
Use cash only and only go to the ATM once per month!
I try to shop for gifts throughout the year when they are on sale. I use coupons whenever possible. I also save gift bags and reuse them.
Like others I shop all year long and have a set hiding spot, we pay in cash only and I dust off my sewing machine and sew, sew, sew. Tons of great tuts all over that are so easy and make a lasting impression because they are handmade. I also love putting together theme baskets. (Buy the baskets on sale at JoAnn’s!)
We save lots of money by using greenery from the yard to decorate. I have English ivy growing on my porch and it looks beautiful coiled around a plain grapvine wreath. It can also be coiled around a candle or potted poinsettia to make a centerpiece for a table. One year we did the tables at the church Christmas party this way by collecting ivy from my house and a friends mother’s house. Her mother was grateful to have the ivy cut back from her house for free. Be sure hydrate plant materials before using them unless it is something that you want to let dry. Besides ivy other good plants to look for are, holly – especially the berries, rose hips, nandina leaves and berries. Grape, wisteria or kudzu vines are great for coiling into wreaths and can be decorated with other “found” items or with ribbons, garland and lights.
nunnelleyc@yahoo.com
Recycle gift wrap, ribbon, and tissue paper every year!
I decorate with nature, evergreens, pinecones, holly and dried hydrangeas from the garden.
I’m a new subscriber.
Thanks!
My holiday money saving tip:
Typically I take about $60 a week out of the ATM for misc. expenses and breakfast and lunch at work. Whenever I can I take $10 or $20. of that and put it in a drawer in my bedroom. Come the holidays I have a nice amount of cash ready for spending that I didn’t have to think about. It’s great!!
Instead of going crazy buying gifts and running around all over the place, simplify the holiday by honoring the birth of Jesus and attending church with your family…stay home and sing carols and talk about past Christmases….bake cookies together and make ornaments from salt dough…string popcorn for the tree and enjoy each other’s company. Memories are what your children will be talking about when they are grown..not a toy or gadget.
Host a trash-to-treasure party. Gather all your girlfriends and ask each to bring gifts or other items that they bought and didn’t use. Everyone gets to shop for something “new” from the inventory of castoffs, and no one has to spend a dime. You’re guaranteed to find a gift or two you can give to someeone else.
I save money by shopping the sales and ONLY buying the item I go in to get!
we save our gift bags
My favorite holiday money saving tip is to reuse gift bags! Thanks
I really believe in making homemade gifts for many of the people on my list.
I make big batches of cookies using coupons for the ingredients and also buy mugs or tea cups throughout the year as well. That way when its time to give gifts….I pack a mug or tea cup, with tea or hot chocolate and my homemade cookies.
I save so much and my family and friends appreciate the fact that I gave them something special.
ddavidpatrick at gmail dot com
I subscribe via email as well.
My 2nd money saving tip is….I reuse old xmas cards for postcards or gift tags. And I also let my son use em and I have even framed a few of my fav’s for my wall.
ddavidpatrick at gmail dot com
Save money by having a Holiday Potluck Party. You provide the place and the ham, sandwiches, etc…and have everyone else bring a side or dessert.
Saves not only money but time as well.
I tweeted this…http://twitter.com/BrnEyedGal/status/1053414493
ddavidpatrick at gmail dot com
I make everyone in my family a gift basket. What makes this a money saving tip?
All the items in the gift basket, I get for free or cheap during the year. During the year I send off for every freebie I see, and I purchase items on clearance of that have been marked down at least 90%. I will purchase as many of these items as I can. I will then store all the freebies and discount items, in a storage bin.
I purchase the baskets that I use at my local goodwill or I will buy other containers discounted throughout the year (any container will work, from shoe boxes to plastic pails).
My family loves getting these very unique baskets and look forward to them every year.
Julie
luvnsweeps(at)gmail(dot)com
very simple gift for a gift game… use a couple of tupperwate containers with lids… fill with inexpensive goodies… stack and use the ribbon with the wire to tie around the set…
our money saving tip is playing a gift trading game etc instead of buying each person in the family a gift… it’s more fun to steal gifts and see what the popular item is. 🙂
http://bzzagentroyalty.blogspot.com/2008/12/wow-walmarts-11-moms.html
I blogged. I can’t find the subscribe button?
nikki
knpeterson@socket.net
I try extra hard to budget everthing in because this is an expensive month. With presents, extra food bills, taxes, and I know everyone doesn’t have this problem but we have livestock and with a lack of grass we have to feed hay and grain both of which are expensive. I am diligent at the stores with price matching and coupons.
Garage sales and rummage sales always have lots of Christmas decorations and wrapping paper in the off season. Sometimes they’re so glad to see it go in August that they’ll give it to you for free.
My tip is what were doing this year instead of buying everyone on our list a expensive gifts.
Have a family get together/present party instead of buying each individual gifts. Each adult person will spend $10 on 2 gifts one $5 gift suitable for a child and one $5 gift suitable for an adult. Following the family dinner we will all play games and let everyone reach into the special Santa sack (one adult one child) and pull out their gift. 🙂
This will be saving all the family money this year plus I think it will help in putting family sharing back into the Holiday. We will enjoy a good meal good company and lots of fun all for a little price. 🙂
🙂 Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! 🙂
http://twitter.com/jennijean
here’s my twitter. I said to pass on books that you’ve already read as a gift. Write notes in the margin as you read so it’s even more meaningful to the person you pass it on to.
I save empty gift-wrap centers (the cardboard roll) and split them down one side lengthwise and use them as protectors for partial gift-wrap rolls so that my gift wrap doesn’t get wrinkled and torn while being stored – this saves me from throwing away a lot of paper later. I also recycle gift wrap by wrapping sections around rolls and trapping them on with a protector then using them next year.
It’s easy to get carried away when buying for my kids, so we’ve limited ourselves to four gifts: one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to play with, and one thing to read. This forces me to think out my purchases, instead of buying anything and everything I think they’d like. It’s fun to spoil my kids, but with limited money, it’s not feasible.
mamainjammies@yahoo.com
Would be nice to win just in time for the holidays. It would help alot.
One way we saved money this year was instead of doing a stocking full of small presents we’ve decided to do two large gifts. It’s amazing how fast stocking stuffers can add up.
supcomtabz-at-gmail.com
Twittered! http://twitter.com/Tabz/status/1054608949
I cut up last year’s cards to make gift tags and to give to the kids for holiday crafts.
katiekarr at gmail dot com
I subscribed to your blog.
I buy gift wrap at the dollar store as well as stocking stuffers. It looks like a lot and you don’t spend a lot.
emily_albrecht at hotmail dot com
This year I had a specific $ amount to spend and went shopping with a list. It is amazing the money you save buy sticking to a budget. Watch for the ads for those specific items or watch online to get better deals.
emily_albrecht at hotmail dot com
We save all gift bags and good bows from the year before. It’s kind of a joke within our families. We give gifts in the same gift bags year after year:)but it saves money.
andreaburnett@rocketmail.com
I think that dollar stores are great for things like little stocking stuffers,candles holiday cards and even wrapping paper!!!
cyclona66@aol.com