holiday

Beyond Wrapping Paper -- Post-Holiday Bargains

Posted 26 weeks 4 days ago by Carrie Kirby

holiday stickers, lip balm and other items bought at steep discount

It doesn't take a frugal bloodhound to seek out half-price wrapping paper and holiday cards in early January. But don't stop your discount shopping there. Recent years have seen an explosion of holiday-themed products. In catalogs, I was amazed and slightly disgusted to see holiday bedsheets and area rugs in addition to the more traditional decorations such as tableclothes and towels. In the grocery store, you'll see Christmas tree-shaped crackers and Santa-printed everyday napkins. All this is decidedly unfrugal at full price. Do we really need a whole alternate set of housewares stashed away for use during only one month of the year?But after Christmas, this wasteful trend becomes a boon to the frugal. The following are some of the things I've picked up at deep discount this year, mostly from the clearance cart at my local grocery, but also at drugstores and Target.

full story 11 comments

Holiday Lessons Learned: Advice To Avoid Rip-Offs NYC

Posted 27 weeks 4 days ago by Joann Hong

Budgeting

This holiday season has been rough for me. I moved out to New York for a few months and thought I'd be set with my savings and supplementary, lucrative temp work. However, at the approach of the New Year I still felt the financial strains. Looking back now, I want to hit my head at some of the foolish mistakes I could of avoided as a city newbie. I've learned that you've got fast to be quick city -- I mean this in a financially saavy way-- and hopefully my experiences with rip offs can help those who are planning a trip or a move to NYC avoid learning the hard way.

full story 2 comments

5 Cool DIY Christmas Gifts for the “Under 6” Crowd

Posted 30 weeks 3 days ago by Linsey Knerl

Frugal Living, Shopping

Handmade gifts are becoming cool again (even if you’re not talented enough to try.) Kids, however, don’t often appreciate the time and effort that goes into a gift crafted by the hands of the giver. Whether you do it because you’re frugal, or you do it because you care, here are five gifts for smaller children that will be loved long after the season is over.

full story 16 comments

25 great gifts for $5 or less

Posted 32 weeks 2 days ago by Julie Rains

Shopping

Need some non-crafty, hardly homemade gift ideas, all for less than $5? Here are 25 with something suitable for nearly everyone on your gift list.

full story 19 comments

Additional smart, frugal people

Posted 1 year ago by Andrea Dickson

Filed Under: Lifestyle

I love the plethora of frugal ideas that people are happily posting, for free, all over the internet. I'm sharing some of my favorites here. Because I can. And because Mr. Chen's rather prolific posting of late is bringing out my long-buried (and possibly imagined) sense of competitiveness.

Also, we don't technically have a blogroll yet (or as highly technical people call it, "that-list-of-other-blog-sites-on-one-side-of-the-page-linky-thing"), I thought it might be good to prove that we are not threatened by the plethora of frugal advice online. We embrace it.

Some of these links are to main blog pages, and others are to specific blog entries that I thought were worthy and frugal without being tacky.

Continue reading "Additional smart, frugal people"

Permalink | 2 comments

Holiday shipping deadlines coming up

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Shopping

Start shopping now if you want to get your stuff before December 25 and use free or standard shipping. Deal Hack reminds us that holiday shipping deadlines are fast approaching.

This year, Christmas falls on a Monday, so in determining the deadlines, we assumed delivery on Friday 12/22 (unless Saturday delivery is specified). As a result, the deadlines are earlier this year.

Several deadlines for standard shipping have already passed, and a few biggies are coming up fast.

Continue reading "Holiday shipping deadlines coming up"

Permalink | 2 comments

Quick Notes: Saving on the Holidays

Posted 1 year ago by Sarah Winfrey

Filed Under: Lifestyle

It’s that time of year again. Right…the time of year when I alternate between being over-the-top excited about whichever amazing gift I’d love to buy because it’s Just Absolutely Perfect for Someone and being in the depths of hopeless despair because there’s no way I can afford ONE of whatever item I want to purchase, let alone something that nice for everyone on my list.

Continue reading "Quick Notes: Saving on the Holidays"

Permalink | 2 comments

Have more to say? Join the discussions at Wise Bread's Finance and Frugality Forums.