Each year we give our neighbors something little for Christmas. Sometimes it's just a plate of goodies, but other years we've gotten more creative. These ideas are relatively inexpensive and can also be used for co-workers. My husband did the wrapping paper and the extension cords at work and they were very well received. After all, they don't add to the waistline, and there tends to be plenty of food that will do that each holiday season.
1. Gift idea: A roll of Christmas wrapping paper and a roll of Scotch tape. (The tape is optional. You could just give the wrapping paper.) Shop for good sales. We actually bought ours at an after Christmas sale and then stored the paper until the following year. Here is the poem that goes with this gift:
Since November you’ve been shopping
Barely sleeping, hardly stopping.
Now it’s late – you’re in a scrape.
Out of paper, out of tape.
Hope this wrap helps save the day!
Have a happy holiday!
2. A hot baggie (or 2): See HERE for how to make one. We gave one red hot baggie and one blue one, but you can adjust the poem however you'd like. If you don't want to do 2 hot baggies, then just omit the part about the blue sack (the 3rd stanza). The poem I wrote for this gift went with these went like this:
‘Tis the season of hustle and bustle
Which gives a good reason to ease a sore muscle.
The miracle contents of this red sack
Will please and soothe your aching back.
Just heat by microwave three minutes on high
Then for one hour kiss sore muscles good-bye!
Or take it along when you go see the lights
To keep out the chill of Jack Frost’s cold bite.
Store the blue sack in your freezer where it’s out of your way
And when your head is throbbing at the end of the day
You’ll be amazed at how it can relieve your stress
When you have a splitting headache and just aren’t your best.
Your family is great and we want to express
How much we appreciate your love and kindness.
We treasure your friendship at this Christmastime
And send warmest of wishes to your house from mine!
3. An extension cord. Let's face it. Everyone can use an extra extension cord, especially at Christmas. We shopped for a good sale and even found some for 2 for a $1 once. I also found the large orange exterior kind (that are normally about $5 each) on some rebates and I was able to get them for free, so shop around. Here's the saying that I put with this idea:
Here's an "extension" of holiday cheer.
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year!
4. Click here for 103 Gift Ideas that are creative and inexpensive.
5. Homemade holiday breads. Click here for some great recipes. I have made the Candy Cane Bread before and it was really yummy. My neighbors liked having hot sweet bread dropped off at their door. Not a lot of people go to that much trouble anymore, and this is certainly a very inexpensive way to give something.
*
Ok, well, that's all I can think of at the moment. I may remember other things sometime when I am not so tired. If you have more ideas, please comment. We'd love to hear from you. Merry Christmas!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Free Exercise Workouts and Nutrition & More
If you are looking to get fit but can't afford the gym, (or maybe your lifestyle is such that you can), you might want to check out http://www.sparkpeople.com/. It's a totally free website that demonstrates fitness exercises (both printable and video), gives nutritional information from dieticians, and includes an exercise tracking system and a calorie counter.
Again, it's completely free. Check it out and find some new information that can help you on your way to a healthier body -- because a fit, healthy body not only makes you feel great and relieve stress, it also can help keep your medical costs down --and that's being frugal! :)
Again, it's completely free. Check it out and find some new information that can help you on your way to a healthier body -- because a fit, healthy body not only makes you feel great and relieve stress, it also can help keep your medical costs down --and that's being frugal! :)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I'm Dreaming of a Tight Christmas
This is an excerpt of ideas taken from the book The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn, pages 493-496.
If you give in to the pressure to buy expensive gifts despite your wishes, understand why you are doing this; and why you lack the courage to say =no. You may believe people perceive inexpensive gifts as signs that you are "poor," "cheap", and/or "thoughtless." Self-esteem becomes entangled with gift giving.
In addressing the perception of being "poor," consider that inexpensive gifts are often a sign of different values and priorities. You can afford the expensive gifts, but you prefer to spend your money on things that have a higher priority for you. Or you prefer to work fewer hours so that you can have more quality time with your family.
If you fear people will think you are "cheap" or "thoughtless", ask yourself if you would be happy with the quality of the gift you are giving. If you buy yourself expensive goods from Bloomingdale's, people will justifiably feel that it's inconsistent for you to buy them bargains from the dollar store. In contrast, if you always seek out bargains for yourself, others will be far more likely to accept them as presents from you.
Having a clear vision of your financial goals and making sure that frugal gifts are consistent with your whole lifestyle provide the self-esteem that's essential in dealing with those who make expensive demands of you.
Once we gain the confidence to say no, we further desire that our coworkers, friends, and family will accept, and perhaps even adopt, frugal gift giving themselves. There are two ways I know of to achieve this:
THE UP-FRONT PLAN
Talk about it.
Your first inclination may be to hold the discussion on Christmas Day, since everyone is in one place, but that isn't the best time. People could easily interpret what you say as a rejection of what they just gave you. Bring it up at a graduation party, a summer reunion, or some gathering that's at least a couple of months before Christmas.
You may be surprised to find how receptive other people are to the idea. Many people feel that Christmas is too commercialized, but they believe other people like it that way.
If you all agree that gift-giving has gotten out of hand, the next step is to decide on an alternative.
Many of these may sound familiar to you, but you can use this list as a tool to guide the discussion.
1. For acquaintances and friends who have become distant geographically, you might simply decide to exchange cards rather than gifts.
2. Draw names within families or between extended families, rather than buying for and receiving from everyone. (NOTE -- this is not in her book ---: you may wish to agree on a $$ limit in advance so that those who have less to spend don't feel badly when someone else can afford to spend more. For example, in my husband's family we rotate names of his siblings and there is a $30 spending limit for the entire family.)
3. Shift to "household" gifts, rather than gifts to everyone in a household.
4. Try alternative gifts. Make a rule that only food can be exchanged. Suggest more swapping of services such as baby-sitting. Money that would be spent on a gift could be used to take a family trip or donated to charity.
(Again a note from me -- not in the book: One year I "gave" my brother a certificate for a year's worth of mending. His wife does not sew. She was thrilled. He bought several pairs of dress pants and I shortened them for him as his length is 29" and it is difficult for him to find pants that are 29's not, 30's. Another "service" I gift I do is taking my parents a "casserole" 2x a month for a year. My mother is quite ill and it helps my dad a lot to know that dinner will be there for him to just stick in the oven. It also helps me spread out the cost of my gift over time. I have been known to arrange/compose music for people or record my piano playing onto a CD. My parents were thrilled, and the cost to me was almost nothing. :)
So use your imagination and think about what talents you have that you could give as a gift.)
5. Set a spending limit, say $5, and then challenge yourselves to see how wonderful and creative you can be within that price range.
THE COVERT PLAN
If it's too late to discuss the problem with your family this year, or if you are sure the discussion would be fruitless, try showing them.
Although extravagance has seldom been a problem in my family, if it were, I would regard frugal gift giving as my mission to show others how much more fun inexpensive gifts can be....
...If you chose the covert plan, consider these points:
1. To successfully convert people, your gift must be excellent. Gifts that are inappropriate or poorly made will fail. Frugal gift giving usually requires more time and/or thought. Let your desire to prove your point drive your efforts. If those on your gift list think inexpensive equals inferior, make and extra effort to "bowl them over" with your cleverness.
2. Start slowly. In some families, where extravagant, commercial holidays are deeply entrenched, change can require several years....Each tiny success will slowly erode their prejudice.
3. Provide information. Although it's generally considered tacky to divulge the cost of a gift, it's essential if you want to educate the receiver. I always tell my children how much I paid and how much the equivalent would have cost. If my friend thinks my homemade fits is store bought, I "accidentally" let it out of the bag that I made it....I might also add share how easy the gift was to make, how much the materials cost, and offer a set of instructions. (Note -- me again-- Personally, I wouldn't take this approach, but to each their own. You have to carefully consider the recipient and how they will receive such information. )
4. Be confident. Never apologize for the "humbleness" of your gift. Don't even let the thought enter your mind. If you think giving your children gifts from yard sales is a sign that you are "poor", they will pick up on your feeling and believe the gift is inferior. This is also true when giving to adults. The way you feel about the gift will, to some degree, be reflected by the recipient.
In attempting either the upfront plan or the covert plan, it helps to explain why you want to save money. If you choose the upfront plan, this reason should be a part of your discussion. If you choose the covert plan, frequently mention your financial goals to those around you. If you let everyone know you are saving for a down payment on a house, what reasonable person could fault you?
But if others still see your frugal gift giving as "poor," "cheap", and/or "thoughtless," use....
THE BUZZ-OFF PLAN
It's unreasonable for others to expect you to spend in accordance with their values.
And it isn't written anywhere that the cost of your gift has to match the cost of theirs. In some cases, both parties can be comfortable with the "inequity".
But even if you do encounter hostility, consider this to be their problem, not yours. If everyone had the courage to ask for a change, Christmas could be transformed from a marketing opportunity into the holiday it was meant to be.
Me again: That's the end of that passage from the book. I will keep thinking of some frugal gifts I have given or seen others give, and I will try to post them very soon. If you have some suggestions, please comment! We can all benefit from new ideas. Thanks!
If you give in to the pressure to buy expensive gifts despite your wishes, understand why you are doing this; and why you lack the courage to say =no. You may believe people perceive inexpensive gifts as signs that you are "poor," "cheap", and/or "thoughtless." Self-esteem becomes entangled with gift giving.
In addressing the perception of being "poor," consider that inexpensive gifts are often a sign of different values and priorities. You can afford the expensive gifts, but you prefer to spend your money on things that have a higher priority for you. Or you prefer to work fewer hours so that you can have more quality time with your family.
If you fear people will think you are "cheap" or "thoughtless", ask yourself if you would be happy with the quality of the gift you are giving. If you buy yourself expensive goods from Bloomingdale's, people will justifiably feel that it's inconsistent for you to buy them bargains from the dollar store. In contrast, if you always seek out bargains for yourself, others will be far more likely to accept them as presents from you.
Having a clear vision of your financial goals and making sure that frugal gifts are consistent with your whole lifestyle provide the self-esteem that's essential in dealing with those who make expensive demands of you.
Once we gain the confidence to say no, we further desire that our coworkers, friends, and family will accept, and perhaps even adopt, frugal gift giving themselves. There are two ways I know of to achieve this:
THE UP-FRONT PLAN
Talk about it.
Your first inclination may be to hold the discussion on Christmas Day, since everyone is in one place, but that isn't the best time. People could easily interpret what you say as a rejection of what they just gave you. Bring it up at a graduation party, a summer reunion, or some gathering that's at least a couple of months before Christmas.
You may be surprised to find how receptive other people are to the idea. Many people feel that Christmas is too commercialized, but they believe other people like it that way.
If you all agree that gift-giving has gotten out of hand, the next step is to decide on an alternative.
Many of these may sound familiar to you, but you can use this list as a tool to guide the discussion.
1. For acquaintances and friends who have become distant geographically, you might simply decide to exchange cards rather than gifts.
2. Draw names within families or between extended families, rather than buying for and receiving from everyone. (NOTE -- this is not in her book ---: you may wish to agree on a $$ limit in advance so that those who have less to spend don't feel badly when someone else can afford to spend more. For example, in my husband's family we rotate names of his siblings and there is a $30 spending limit for the entire family.)
3. Shift to "household" gifts, rather than gifts to everyone in a household.
4. Try alternative gifts. Make a rule that only food can be exchanged. Suggest more swapping of services such as baby-sitting. Money that would be spent on a gift could be used to take a family trip or donated to charity.
(Again a note from me -- not in the book: One year I "gave" my brother a certificate for a year's worth of mending. His wife does not sew. She was thrilled. He bought several pairs of dress pants and I shortened them for him as his length is 29" and it is difficult for him to find pants that are 29's not, 30's. Another "service" I gift I do is taking my parents a "casserole" 2x a month for a year. My mother is quite ill and it helps my dad a lot to know that dinner will be there for him to just stick in the oven. It also helps me spread out the cost of my gift over time. I have been known to arrange/compose music for people or record my piano playing onto a CD. My parents were thrilled, and the cost to me was almost nothing. :)
So use your imagination and think about what talents you have that you could give as a gift.)
5. Set a spending limit, say $5, and then challenge yourselves to see how wonderful and creative you can be within that price range.
THE COVERT PLAN
If it's too late to discuss the problem with your family this year, or if you are sure the discussion would be fruitless, try showing them.
Although extravagance has seldom been a problem in my family, if it were, I would regard frugal gift giving as my mission to show others how much more fun inexpensive gifts can be....
...If you chose the covert plan, consider these points:
1. To successfully convert people, your gift must be excellent. Gifts that are inappropriate or poorly made will fail. Frugal gift giving usually requires more time and/or thought. Let your desire to prove your point drive your efforts. If those on your gift list think inexpensive equals inferior, make and extra effort to "bowl them over" with your cleverness.
2. Start slowly. In some families, where extravagant, commercial holidays are deeply entrenched, change can require several years....Each tiny success will slowly erode their prejudice.
3. Provide information. Although it's generally considered tacky to divulge the cost of a gift, it's essential if you want to educate the receiver. I always tell my children how much I paid and how much the equivalent would have cost. If my friend thinks my homemade fits is store bought, I "accidentally" let it out of the bag that I made it....I might also add share how easy the gift was to make, how much the materials cost, and offer a set of instructions. (Note -- me again-- Personally, I wouldn't take this approach, but to each their own. You have to carefully consider the recipient and how they will receive such information. )
4. Be confident. Never apologize for the "humbleness" of your gift. Don't even let the thought enter your mind. If you think giving your children gifts from yard sales is a sign that you are "poor", they will pick up on your feeling and believe the gift is inferior. This is also true when giving to adults. The way you feel about the gift will, to some degree, be reflected by the recipient.
In attempting either the upfront plan or the covert plan, it helps to explain why you want to save money. If you choose the upfront plan, this reason should be a part of your discussion. If you choose the covert plan, frequently mention your financial goals to those around you. If you let everyone know you are saving for a down payment on a house, what reasonable person could fault you?
But if others still see your frugal gift giving as "poor," "cheap", and/or "thoughtless," use....
THE BUZZ-OFF PLAN
It's unreasonable for others to expect you to spend in accordance with their values.
And it isn't written anywhere that the cost of your gift has to match the cost of theirs. In some cases, both parties can be comfortable with the "inequity".
But even if you do encounter hostility, consider this to be their problem, not yours. If everyone had the courage to ask for a change, Christmas could be transformed from a marketing opportunity into the holiday it was meant to be.
Me again: That's the end of that passage from the book. I will keep thinking of some frugal gifts I have given or seen others give, and I will try to post them very soon. If you have some suggestions, please comment! We can all benefit from new ideas. Thanks!
Things to Make: Free PDF Patterns
I found a website that has a lot of free patterns for burb cloths, doll clothing, hot pads, a chef's hat, crochet, window coverings, pillows, lacing cards, purses, applique, hats, scarves, etc. Lots of things to choose from, that could be made as gifts for Christmas.
The website is http://www.youcanmakethis.com/. Click HERE for the link for the free pdf patterns. Looks like some fun ideas!
The website is http://www.youcanmakethis.com/. Click HERE for the link for the free pdf patterns. Looks like some fun ideas!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Napkin Skirt Tutorial
Years ago I was given 4 Christmas napkins (probably for my wedding?? Who knows). But four? Really? That's not really enough for entertaining, and I have 6 people in my own family, so they have sat in a drawer for 13+ years (yes, I know, many of you would tell me I should have gotten rid of them a long time ago. I'm working on it!! LOL) But what do you do with only 4 napkins? And the pattern is such that I would have to have a very plain tablecloth, so they just sat there.
Enter the napkin skirt. Stay with me here. I know that sounds a bit bizarre. I didn't have a pattern; I just kind of made this up as I went along, so if you have a better way, please let me know!
Because I like a bit longer skirts on little girls,I used two napkins to make mine for my 2 year old, but you could use one napkin and cut it in half if you'd like a knee-length version. My napkins are a bit thicker than regular napkins, but you can judge for yourself the quality of the material you have.
Measure your napkins. Mine were 17" x 18". If necessary, trim them so they are perfectly even on the edges. (Mine were not). Also, measure your little girl. You want to know her waist measurement (my daughter is 2 years old and her waist is 19" if that helps), her waist to knee measurement so you can know how long to make your skirt (she was 11"), and her waist to ankle measurement if you want something longer (again, my 2 year old was 22").
If you don't want to add the ruffle, then you can save one of the hemmed edges of the napkins for your skirt hem. Just be sure you don't cut it off. Pin right-sides together and sew the two side seams. 
I used 5/8" seams because those are standard in garments while sewing, but you can adjust as necessary if you'd like. If you have a serger, that would certainly be easier (and I am jealous!)
Press the seams open (unless you have a serger). 
Press a casing along the top edge of the skirt. Press the edge under 1/4" and then again 1 1/4" (this is what I used because I used 1" elastic. If you use 3/4" elastic, you can adjust your casing.) You could also create button holes and simply stitch the casing in place, then use a drawstring instead of an elastic. That would also be very cute, but since my skirt is for a potty-training 2 year old, I wanted something that was easy for her to do by herself.
Press a casing along the top edge of the skirt. Press the edge under 1/4" and then again 1 1/4" (this is what I used because I used 1" elastic. If you use 3/4" elastic, you can adjust your casing.) You could also create button holes and simply stitch the casing in place, then use a drawstring instead of an elastic. That would also be very cute, but since my skirt is for a potty-training 2 year old, I wanted something that was easy for her to do by herself. 
Pin the casing in place. Mark with 2 pins where you plan to start and stop. You need to leave an opening to thread the elastic through.
Stitch casing in place, making sure to backstitch at each end and leave an opening.
For the ruffle, I used 1/4" yard of red polka dot fabric. This was just something I had lying around in my scraps. It measured 9 1/2" x 44", but one edge was jagged, so I squared that up and then cut the ruffle into 2 strips measuring 4.5" x 44" each. If you need more detailed instructions on adding a ruffle, click here.
Pin right sides together at the short end and stitch a 5/8" seam.
Press the seam open. 
Fold the bottom edge of the ruffle under 1/4" and press and then under 1/4" and press again. Pin in place and hem the bottom edge of the ruffle. It will be much easier to do at this step than after it is gathered and attached to the skirt.
Fold the bottom edge of the ruffle under 1/4" and press and then under 1/4" and press again. Pin in place and hem the bottom edge of the ruffle. It will be much easier to do at this step than after it is gathered and attached to the skirt. 
Loosen the top tension & use a very long stitch length on your sewing machine and sew two rows of stitches. Sew one row 5/8" from the raw edge and one row 1/4" from that row of stitching (closer to the raw edge). Do NOT backstitch at the beginning of the row. Grasp the bobbin thread and pull gently to slowly gather the ruffle. Be careful so you don't break the thread. Adjust the gathers to fit the bottom of the skirt and pin into place (right-sides together).
Readjust the stitch length and tension to normal stitching. Stitch the raw edges of the skirt and ruffle together using a 5/8" seam. This will hide the gathered stitches.
Remove the pins and press the ruffle. 
Thread the elastic through the casing. It is a good idea to measure it on your little girl before you sew the ends, but if not, you can always still adjust it before you stitch the opening closed. Once you are happy with the fit of the elastic, stitch the casing opening closed and you're done!
Why is this frugal? Because for me this project's total cost was: $0.00. Yup. Seriously. I had everything in my house. It's all about recycling & repurposing what you already have. Look around and see what you have. Maybe you have a tablecloth with a tear in it. Even if you had to purchase the napkins and elastic and ruffle fabric, you'd still be under $5.00, especially if you shopped clearance sales or thrift stores. I also made a very cute one from some fat quarters (a quilting term for those of you who may not know), but I don't have any elastic right now. I will post some pictures of that one as soon as I get it done. Sorry about that.
If you decide to make this skirt, email us a photo of it. We'd love to hear from you. Happy sewing!
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