Christmas Shopping Tips & Suggestions for You!
The Fabs’ Favorite Christmas Shopping Tips & Suggestions!
I love Christmas Shopping! I’m mostly done with mine though, so I thought I’d take the time to put together a list of tips and suggestions for those of you that still have some shopping to do.
Watch for hot deals & clearance throughout the year and keep a secret stash of gifts. Just be sure that you don’t overdo it. Keep track of what you have bought, set limits and a budget.
Look for gifts on your list at stores that sell gently used toys and other things.
Shop Black Friday deals. Here are our Black Friday Shopping Tips.
Track your purchases…Cathy likes to use the calendar notes on 12/25 on her google calendar. She keeps a list of what she’s purchased, as well as clothing sizes, and everything else.
Make a list…and check it twice. Stick to the items on your list & focus on finding the best deals on those things.
Shop around, check out ads, and compare prices online to try to find the best price. I always price check on Amazon.
Shop early in the day to avoid crowded stores and long lines. Or shop online!
When shopping online, use a shopping portal when possible (like Ebates) to earn cash back on your purchases!
Pack snacks or a lunch for your big shopping trips.
Follow this blog to know when & where the hottest deals are, plus stay up-to-date on all of the current coupons! Subscribe to our daily emails here. Follow us on Facebook here.
Not sure if it is the lowest price? Know the return policies in case you find an item cheaper somewhere else. Also, Walmart is offering a Christmas Price Guarantee.
Set a budget & stick to it. Decide how much you can spend total and how much you want to spend per person.
If the budget is tight, separate needs from wants. Try to make some of the things you need into fun gifts!
Consider the gift of service. Sometimes doing something nice for a loved one is better than giving a gift that they might not even like!
Get creative and make homemade gifts!
For the kids (and maybe husbands too), try to get things that they will not tire of easily and quickly, and consider quality vs. quantity.
Do you have another FAB tip? Share your favorite tips & suggestions in the comments!
What Do You Pack in a School Lunch? {I LOVE all the ideas!}
Thermos Dual-Compartment Hello Kitty Lunch Kit
When I was a kid, cold lunch consisted of:
- Sandwich: PB & J, tuna, ham and cheese, and even sometimes a meatloaf sandwich!
- Fruit: apple, banana, or an orange
- Treat: home made almost always, and sometimes we’d get lucky and get a hostess treat after my mom went to the bread store!
- Drink: NONE… if we were thirsty, we’d walk to the drinking fountain!
I need some help!
Not gonna lie, for the past several years we’ve either qualified for free or reduced price school lunches. For the first time, we don’t qualify. This is a BLESSING! But now I’ve got to get my thinking cap on! School lunch can get expensive… even if you’re brown bagging it!
- String Cheese – if I put it in the freezer and then threw it in their lunch bag in the am, would that work? Or does it make it gross? {Here is a $.40/1 Frigo String Cheese Coupon}
- Applesacue, Mandarin Oranges, Veggies and Ranch Salad Dressing - I was thinking it’d be a lot cheaper to just buy some Ziploc containers for the aforementioned items, rather than buying the individually packed stuff. But I’m not sure my kids will be good about returning the containers. {Here’s a coupon for $1.50/2 Ziploc containers}. I’ll also just buy whatever fresh fruit is on sale that week.
- Sandwiches - (I always spell that word wrong)… my kids just want PB & J and Ham & Cheese (have you printed your coupon for $1/2 pounds of cheese - ID and UT only)? Target has a free bread deal going this week. I like to freeze loaves of bread when I see a good sale. I’m excited to see Tuna on sale at Fred Meyer again!
- Chips - not much of a chip eater, but if I was, I would buy the big bag and pack a serving in a small ziploc bag. {Here’s a Ziploc bag coupon}
- Drinks – am I a bad mom to tell my kids to go use a drinking fountain? I see that Target has a Capri Sun deal this week, and there is also a coupon for $1.00 OFF any one (1) Minute Maid Juice Box 10-pk, any variety (Update: OK – you’ve told me I would be a bad mom if I made my kids drink at the fountain… I’ll be scouring Amazon for some good drink containers)
- Treats? - I think my children would go on strike if they didn’t get a small treat. If i DO buy something, I’m going to make sure it’s off limits for anything but sack lunches! {Do you think these are any good? $1.00 OFF any ONE BOX of any flavor WhoNu? Nutrition Rich Cookies}
*Update* Your comments have inspired me! Look at these fun little cutters!
Have you ever used a sandwich cutter for your kids sandwich? Are you looking to make your child’s packed lunch a little more exciting? These Lunch Punch food cutters are great for sandwiches, toast, cookies and more! The Lunch Punch is a food cutter specifically designed to capture the most amount of bread when it cuts the crust off your sandwich. 
Lunch Punch Whimsical Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4)
Lunch Punch Transport Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4)
Lunch Punch Animal Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4)
Lunch Punch Puzzle Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4)
What do you put in your child’s lunch? What tips do you have to share?
CafeMom The #1 Place For Moms Online
Have you joined CafeMom yet?
CafeMom is a fun community where moms come together everyday to chat, share photos, make friends, play games and more. My favorite groups are Baking 101 and The Family Piggy Bank.
It’s free to join. Go HERE to sign up.
Lifestyles Of The Fabulessly Frugal…
It’s no secret I love to entertain… but I think there’s a lot of people out there who are put off by entertaining because they think they need to spend a lot of money to have a good time. It’s sooo not true. I recently had a gathering of 15 woman over at my house for a committee meeting and asked each person to bring an appetizer or dessert to share. I provided the plates, glasses and beverages. Not only did we have a great time… but there was plenty of food. Wanna know what I served? Iced Tea and Strawberry Lemonade. Wanna know how much it cost me? Less than 2 dollars!
Last summer I was able to pick up a bunch of frozen lemonade concentrate for free. I also purchased a bunch of farm fresh strawberries which I sliced and placed in reusable containers and tossed in the freezer to use throughout the year. All I did was combine 2 cans of lemonade, 1 box of frozen berries…added water… packed my 2 gallon beverage canister with ice… and I was ready to go. And for the iced tea? I simply brewed a couple tea bags, added a few snippets of mint (from my garden) poured ice over the top… and I had more than enough drinks to go around.
I just goes to show… you don’t have to spend bookoo bucks to live the FABulessly FruGAL life.
Creativeware 3-Gallon Unbreakable Beverage Dispenser
Travel Tip Tuesday…
If you’re planning on flying Southwest Airlines anytime soon… you may want to look into purchasing a gift card from Albertsons this week. You’ve heard about their gift card promotion that runs through June 18th right? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well… basically buy a gift card for $100 (or smaller denominations that equal $100) and you’ll receive a $20 Albertsons store coupon good of your next purchase of $20 or more. This mean FREE groceries!
Are you headed to Disneyland this summer or planning a purchase from the Disney Store? They’re included in the deal too
FYI> Cheesecake Factory is on Katella Avenue just a few blocks from Disneyland…
Maybe your not flying anywhere… or planning on staying in a hotel… But maybe your car needs a little tune up before you hit the road? Albertson’s also has Jiffy Lube gift cards!
Just remember… This deal excludes Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Albertsons gift cards. Everything else is included
Not traveling this summer? How about a subscription to Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel
FREE Alaska Travel Planner
Thinking about traveling to Alaska anytime soon? Go HERE to get your free Alaska travel guide. And if your travel plans include Anchorage, be sure and check out the Alaska Zoo… the tiger exhibit is amazing.
Another family favorite of ours is the 1,500ft boardwalk at Potter Marsh. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll.
Couponing in a Small Space
Many of my friends have been asking me the same question over and over. Where do I put it? My husband, our one year old, our 35 lb Lab/Mini Schnauzer and I live in a 1,000 foot, 2 bed, 1 bath apartment, so sometimes we have to get a little creative on where we put things! But, it totally keeps me from being a hoarder, and organization is KEY!
Personal Care Stockpile
First, My “Linen” Closet. As you can see… not many linens But, our daughter’s crib sheets are kept in her room, and we limit ourselves to 2 sets of sheets… 1 on the bed, one off, and then hand towels, and kitchen linens. The rest is where we store our personal item stockpile.
Some close ups:
All of my “cleaning” stockpile is on the top shelf, along with the actual basket of cleaning supplies, and a few full size samples of sinus products I’ve received. On the 2nd shelf is my entire personal care stockpile. If it won’t fit, I can’t buy it. Just a quick note on the Precise and Thermacare patches (so as not to cause a riot) I have been in over 10 serious car accidents in my life (most of them not my fault) so I deal with CONSTANT back pain. I know it looks like a lot, but they really are one of the few things that help, and if I were to snap another picture in a couple of months, they will all be gone (so hopefully the sale cycles quickly!).
The third and fourth shelves include everything someone would normally see in a medicine cabinet. However, being a couponer, I don’t just have one of an item, (usually) so it’s sorted into these bins, to make it easy to find, and to keep our one bathroom neat and tidy. The wicker basket in the back is where I toss my samples (check out my Freebie Friday post here to find out where I’m getting my samples!). If say the Tooth”Care” bin is full (where I keep our toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss), I simply don’t buy anymore, even if it’s on sale for “FREE”. It also makes it super easy to tell when I’m getting low on something! Plus I got the bins during a B1G1 sale, for $.50 each (those sales usually happen in January, if you are interested)!! 
The floor holds my paper towels (oh please, oh please, oh please, let there be another “Round Up” sale soon at Albertsons!) and excess laundry items. Our washer and dryer are in our bathroom, so our towels, laundry soap, and open dryer sheets hang out there.
Food Stockpile
When moving from our house into a smaller apartment, I knew I couldn’t have a 6 month or a year stockpile. However, I do still have a 3-4 month stockpile. I keep it all in my pantry, and my husband is cool with me using 1/2 of our kitchen table for the bigger, bulky items.
(So, sometimes, when I special order a case of something, my husband thinks it’s funny to put the display together.) We usually just keep our extra cereal, and bottled water/soda on the table.
We have a 2 door pantry in our apartment. The top part contains 4 shelves. The top shelf is where we keep our open cereal, crackers, and baby food. The 2nd shelf is for our snackie (snacky?) items, the 3rd shelf gets all our pasta, potatoes, and other “boxed” products. The bottom shelf keeps all of our canned goods, pasta sauces, items like that.
The bottom portion of the pantry is the same size at the top, but we keep our pots, pans, and mixing bowls in the bottom half. The top shelf gets all of our “condiment” type foods, bbq sauce, salad dressing, mayo, salsa, spice packets, stuff like then. Then the last shelf gets our baking items, pancake mixes, brownie/cake mixes, frosting and extra spices.
Now, with only buying fresh produce, milk, eggs, and other perishables my family could live off what you see for at least 3-4 months. And almost all of the items you see? Cheap or free with coupon .
While the system isn’t perfect, it’s what works for us!!
But I want to know: How do you store your “goods”? What secret organizational skills have kept your stockpile from taking over every inch of your house? Email me pictures at BeckyFabFruGal at hotmail dot com!! I wanna see!! (let me know if it’s okay to post them, to give others ideas on how to organize their stockpile too!!)
Edit:
One of the Facebook Followers asked if I could name the bins, so here they are!!
In no Particular order (well, okay, we put the ones we use most on the top, and the ones we use least on the bottom)
- Medical Rubs (icy hot and the like)/Lip Balms
- Bath Salts/Massage Oil
- Pain Relief/Acid Reducers/OTC
- Pain Relief/Acid Reducers (this one is a double, because when we moved, I couldn’t find the first one, so had to go out and buy all new stuff… Then I found it
- Prescriptions
- Lotions
- Nails/Makeup
- Vitamins
- Cold and Cough Relief
- Travel Items
- Band-aids/Ointments
- Sun Care
- Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Floss
- Cold Sores/Sinus Relief/Ear Pain
Freebie Friday
Each week I’ll compile a list of the best freebies and sweepstakes that are available!
A few words of advice:
- Create an email account for “freebies”. Use this email for freebies, and you won’t have to give our your personal email, and have your personal account spammed with the emails from all of these companies. I get over 200 emails a day from companies I’ve signed up to receive freebies from. I don’t want to have to sift through all of those when I’m looking for an important email from FabuLESSly Frugal!!
- Don’t give out your personal phone number. And don’t give out anyone’s number by mistake. I use my actual area code, then 555-5555, so (208) 555-5555. Using the 555 insures it’s not someone’s actual number. Giving your phone number out to these websites authorizes them to call you. Even if you are on the National Do Not Call List. HOWEVER, if you are entering a Sweepstakes, it is important to give your real phone number, so they can notify you.
- DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Ever! If you have to give them that kind of information then the Freebie is just not worth it. I won’t be posting any that ask for this info, but should you find a freebie, keep it in mind.
- Samples take time. Your mailbox will start filling with wonderful freebies after about 4-6 weeks. Some can take up to six months. Don’t get upset with the company sending the freebie, be gracious, and try to say thanks! Also, after I sign up for a freebie, I try to forget about it, so I get a surprise each day in my mailbox
Freebies
- Borders is giving away a free book when your child reads 10 books over the summer (between 6/1-9/5). Fill out the form verifying your child has read the books, and take it into your local Borders. Click here to get the Borders form.
- Get a free sample of Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy dog food. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free kids bike Helmet at Key Banks, Saturday May 21st, from 10-2. Call your local Key Bank to make sure they are participating.
- Get a free sample of Philosophy Anti Aging Retinoid Eye Cream. Click here to get your free sample.
- Get a free sample of Tena. Click here to get your free sample.
- Get a free one week pass to Curves. Click here to get your free pass.
- Get a free sample of Prilosec OTC. Click here to get your free sample. (You need to have heartburn to qualify for this one)
- Get 2 coupons for a free pint of paint each at Benjamin Moore stores. Simply like them on Facebook, and print the coupons to take into the store to redeem your free paint. Click here to go to their Facebook page.
- Free Nursery Water Bag (think reusable grocery bag, that fits in your purse). This giveaway goes live everyday at 12 EST (10 MST). Click here to get your free sample! (this one really does take MONTHS to ship to you)
- Free sample and coupon of Carefree liners. Click here to get your coupon and sample.
- Free sample of Aveeno Nourish+Shine or Living Color Shampoo and Conditioner. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free cup of Yoplait Yogurt. Click here to get your free sample. (Idaho (and other) dairy laws prevent us from getting an actual free cup. They send a coupon for B2G1 Free). This is a Facebook App.
- Free NeilMed Neti Pot. Simply like them on Facebook and fill out the form to request your free Neti Pot. Limit 1 promotion per mailing across all NeilMed products/promotions. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free online videos of Baby Sign Language. This is a dictionary of more than 100 signs you can teach your baby to help ease frustration. Plus, they are fun! Click here to go to the online dictionary. My daughter picked up diaper change in less than a week! Now she tells me when she’s wet or stinky.
- Free Shout Color Catcher Sample. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free sample of Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free year long subscription to Thriving Family Magazine. Click here to start your subscription. As with all magazines, this “sample” takes a little more time to fill out.
- Free sample of Garnier Fructis Pure Clean. Click here to get your free sample.
- Free sample of Playtex Body Wipes. Click here to get your free sample.
Sweepstakes
Southwest Airlines is giving away a trip for 4 to Sea World. Entry period is May 12, 2011 through June 21, 2011. You may enter only once. Click here to enter.
Amazon is giving away prizes that ship for free with Amazon Prime every week through June 19th. Just click here to “Like” Amazon on Facebook, then enter your Name, Email and Phone number! It’s really that easy! This week you can win a Kindle 3G, Kindle Cover and a $50 Amazon.com gift card! Entries must be received by Sunday 11:59 PT. You may enter once per week.
Hershey’s is giving away 113 Weber One-Touch® Gold Kettle Grill. You can enter every day through Sept. 5th by clicking here. Good luck! You have to register first.
Bic Soleil is giving away prizes every day for 100 days (until 8/8). Today’s prize? $1000 American Express Gift card. Not to shabby! You can only enter one time per day, and only between the hours of 1-5 EST (11-3 MST). Click here to enter to win the prizes.
CBS is giving away a 50″ Flat Screen TV!! Simply sign up, watch 4 previews (about 10 minutes of video) and then enter to win! Click here to get started!
How I Save on Travel
I am planning a trip to New York to see my little sister. She is spending a few months in New York doing an internship at Fox News. I have never been to New York and I think this will be a great time to go. So it is time for me to plan my trip! With summer time and Memorial weekend coming up you may be planning a trip too. So I decided to share with you some of my process for finding the best deals!
Flights and Package Deals:
I will start my travel deal search by looking at flights and package deals. I like to check out several sites to be sure that I get the best deal in the end.
Travelocity.com
has deals to save you money on Flights, Hotels, Car Rentals, Cruises and More. So I will start with looking for flights.
Southwest Vacations
offers package deals the more you book the steeper the discount. You can sign up to get their 48 hour trip deals if you are a flexible traveler.
Airfare.com offers 70% off published airfares.
Priceline Flights
allows you to select your Exact Flight & time or name your own price! You bid on the trip based on what you are willing to pay. If they do not like your bid they will offer you their own deal. This is a great way to save, but you have to be committed to buy before you bid.
I love Trip Advisor because not only do they offer me travel deals they share tips on different airport options for my destination and ideas for getting from the airport to the city! They also compare prices for me at the other travel deal sites!
I hate being charged for my bags so it is always worth it to take a peek at JetBlue where my bag flies for free!
Transportation:
Once you reach your destination city you will need to find away to get around. This could mean, family, buses, subway or a rental car. Booking rental cars online can save you money. In New York I will save more taking a taxi from the airport and riding the subway once I reach the city. Parking is expensive and hard to come by in New York so it would not be worth the daily rental fee. If you are traveling to a city that does not have good public transportation a rental car is a must!
Avis.com
will give you a better deal if you book ahead online.
Budget.com is offering 10% off to book online.
Hotel Deals:
Back to Travelocity again to browse New York top secret hotel deals! If I book my flight through Travelocity they will give me a package deal on my hotel, but I always like to check.
TripAdvisor has hotel deals too. You can customize your search by pricing, location or the luxury level.
Priceline Hotel deals can be fab. I used them when we went to Seattle a few years ago. You set your price and bid on the hotel options. You can customize by location, luxury level and set your price. Remember you must be committed to buy when you start to bid.
Here are a few discounts I found for some national chains….
Motel6.com
Save 5% at Motel 6 this summer with coupon code CP550806
- Best Western
AARP members save 10%, AAA members save 20%.
- Westin Hotels & Resorts
Save 40% on your next stay.
- Ramada Save 15-20% when you book online!
- Knights Inn Stay 2 nights and save 20%.
- Howard Johnson Stay 2 nights and save 20%.
Attractions and Dining Deals:
I can get in to 6 New York attractions for just $79.00 with a CityPass. This would normally be $144 if I had purchased individually. I love CityPass! They offer discounts on attractions in many different cities including Los Angeles and Seattle! You buy a package of attractions for huge discount compared to buying them individually.
Undercover Tourist I probably will not use this site in planning a trip to New York but it is great for Disney attraction discounts in Southern California or Florida.
I love to use Groupon.com to save money. I will be keeping an eye on the dining, and experience deals on the New York page of groupon leading up to my trip.
Entertainment Book offers coupon discounts on dining, hotels and fun! If you are going to be at your destination for more than a week it might be worth it to order an Entertainment Book to save you money in your destination city.
I will certainly buy Restaurant.com Gift Certificates to use while I am on vacation. I bought about 10 of these when we went to Seattle. We ate breakfast in our hotel and then used certificates to help pay for our lunches and dinners!
OK OFF TO PLAN MY TRIP! I will let you know how I do!
FABULESSLY FRUGAL FRIDAY: Making Your Own Cleaner
I originally posted this last year, but recently got into a discussion with some friends about making your own household cleaners. I was surprised at how many of my friends made their cleaners from scratch.
I know we can often find cleaners for cheap or even free, but they all contain chemicals that are so harsh! And if any of you have a sensitive-skinned child like I do, finding a gentle alternative is important. Here are a few recipes for homemade cleaners that work like a charm. As a bonus, these cleaners are also environmentally friendly!
All-purpose Cleaner
Mix equal parts water & white vinegar in a spray bottle. Mix well.
Why This Works
The acetic acid in vinegar kills viruses, germs, bacteria and mold. It also dissolves tough mineral deposits and stains like those found in sinks, toilets and tubs. This mixture can also be used as a cleaning solution in steam cleaners for carpets.
Warnings
1. Do not use on marble
2. Test on a small area before using on finished wood surfaces or tile
Scented All-purpose Cleaner
1/4 cup of dish washing soap
1/4 cup of white vinegar
2 tsp of Borax
3 1/2 cups of hot water
Lemon or citrus essential oil (5-6 drops or more)
This can be used in every room of the house!
Homemade Spot Remover
Mix white vinegar and baking soda together to form a paste. Then, work the paste into the carpet stain with an old toothbrush, or something similar. Allow the paste to dry; then vacuum up the baking soda, and the stain should be gone.
You can also sprinkle baking soda directly on carpet, let sit for 15 minutes and vacuum up to eliminate carpet odors.
Note: Some stains may need to be treated more than once.
Warnings
1. Test on a small area before using on the entire carpet
2. As with any cleaner, you should avoid all contact with the eyes and prolonged contact with the skin
Furniture Polish Recipe
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
Preparation
1. Combine olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl or spray bottle.
2. Use a clean cloth to rub a small amount of the polish into your furniture.
3. Wipe dry with another cloth.
Tips and Warnings
1. Do not reuse spray bottles that have contained other chemicals
2. Shake before each use to recombine ingredients
3. Cheap olive oil works just as well as more expensive grades
4. Smaller batches can be made, if you prefer to use fresh polish each time you dust – just maintain the ratio found in the recipes
All-natural Bleach
Replace that bulky bleach jug with something better: a lemon.
To Whiten Clothes:
Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to boost the whitening action of your laundry detergent.
To Remove Stains From Clothing:
Pour lemon juice over the stain. Then, rub the area with salt; and place the garment out in the sun for several hours. Wash as usual.
To Remove Stains From Countertops and Other Hard Surfaces:
Create a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Then, apply the mixture to the stain, and allow it to sit for several hours. Wipe clean, and the stain should be gone.
Note: Some stains may require a second treatment.
To Sanitize:
Rub half of a lemon over the surface that needs to be sanitized, or apply lemon juice straight from the bottle. Then, rinse with water.
Tips and Warnings:
1. Do not clean marble surfaces with lemon. This can lead to etching.
2. Use a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to remove stains from plastic storage containers.
Thanks about.com!
And there you have a few FAB recipes for homemade cleaners. Do you have any that pack an all-natural punch?
