What I love most about the after Christmas sales is the I can stock up at Walmart on items such as bubble bath sets for $3 or less and huge makeup kits for less than $5 that have enough makeup to last for the next year. Second cheese and sausage sets and other festive food is marked down and me and my fiance can always find frugal ways to use them in meals. Lastly I stock up on marked down "stocking stuffer items" that I can use as good behavior prizes for when my daughter has received green lights at school for the week.
One year I got a $20 emergency car kit for myself for $5 (at Target) because it was one of those Holiday Packaged Gifts that really can't be sold any other time of the year (red box with snowflakes on it). There was a lot of other "easy holiday gifts" on that same shelf that would have worked well for a gift later on in the year (if you could find a new box to put it in) that was easily 75% or more off. And because it wasn't the normal things people stock up on in the early morning hours on the day after Christmas (like wrapping and decorations) there was plenty of selection at noon. Plus, I needed an emergency car kit, so it was perfect!
one year i bought a 3 foot tall mint green tinsel christmas tree from urban outfitters for $5. it's awesome and i've used it for many many years since.
I never hit the after Christmas sales to stock up on wrapping paper and such. I know I probably should since you can score great deals but, after the holiday, I'm just relieved it's over and plan on worrying about next Christmas next November and December. I will, however, go shopping with any gift cards I've received if I want/need something for myself. But my birthday is in mid-January, so I usually wait until after that.
Another big factor is how much the town needs the money. Cops in some areas are notorious for finding any little fault (or in some cases just making stuff up) because they need the revenue. I think all fines should go to charity so that the cops don't have a financial incentive to give tickets.
I feed my dogs kibble and make a a soft food out of brown rice, ground turkey and carrots. I think if you do your research and consult your vet making your own food is great. I worry about the bone piece. As my vet points out "bones are harder than teeth so to avoid broken teeth don't give bones" and bone splinters can cause internal damage. I will try the slow cooker recipe with boneless meat.
i like to give services that i know a person cant do. like my moms arthristis is too bad to really clean her car, so give a certificate to get her car detailed.
earlier this year i overheard a conversation between coworkers that revolved around the person only haveing crackers in their house to eat, and they used up the last of their bread to make toast for dinner. i went out that night and bought a gift card at our local grocer and snuck it into her coat pocket when she was out of the room.
these are the type of gifts we should be giving. it just means more than the sweater. (ok, yeah, i did go ahead and by my mom a sweater too) =)
Let this be a lesson to anyone who drives a Hummer. Ever.
I got pulled over the other day for going 8 miles over the speed limit. I was given a lecture, which was pretty good, considering I couldn't find my registration OR proof of insurance (they were on the kitchen counter). Maybe the cop assumed I was going to be a doctor; it WAS my dad's car.
Home made coupon gifts are great. Especially for older people. My grandparents can no longer do deep cleaning like light fixtures or heat vents for instance, or their yardwork. So i am always getting phone calls to come do things for them. This year, they are getting a coupon book filled with 1 hour coupons to use on me and my children. They can redeem them with us, get the work done they need, and we get to spend time together as a family. Cost=scrap materials around your house and your time *Free*
My dad is extremely busy with his job, but loves to cook at the same time. He also has every tool and gadget and electronic that is out there. So i got a nice glass lasagna dish. Bought non perishable gourmet food items for the lasagna. Included the recipe. And a gift card to a local grocery store to buy the perishable items. I also included a dry mix and recipe for the dessert. Almost all the items were right there and it was a new recipe he got to try. He loved it. Cost=very minimal
Another thing i never thought of until a family member moved out of the area- Getting a local paper subscription from their hometown. The company will mail the paper out. To keep this simple and not spend a lot...only do the sunday subscription. The cost will be minimal to you, but the person on the receiving end will appreciate being able to keep up with the news from their hometown.
Do you have someone saving to go to college, or buy a house, or another big purchase? Open a savings account in their name. Depostit $10 a month, and at the end of the year, they have $120 they didnt have before. That can be a big help that most dont realize. Start this young for a grandchild or neice or nephew, and they are going to have funds built up over a longer period that is going to benefit them greatly in the future.
LED Headlamp: Okay, I was going to not comment on this one, but every time I see it I burst out laughing. These have been around for at least 15 years, if not more. Years ago my brother got one from his in-laws ( now ex-in-laws). We all thought it was a gag gift, but no they thought he could really make good use of this. That New Year's Eve he and his then wife had a party, and everyone who entered had to have their picture taken wearing this goofy thing. Years later, he got custody of the photo album, and we look at those pics of all of us wearing that thing and burst out laughing all over again!
It really does not throw off that strong of a beam. I have a guy who rides his bike all year in our neighborhood ( MN), and he wears one, you can just vaguely see it on a dark night. So I would not suggest this for late night use on a bike.
I didn't have the same system of threes, but I did used to give books and music and random items as gifts together - when I was in my 20s-early 30s. I do find it hard to find new music I like. Thanks for the reminder of "She and Him" - if I get an iTunes gidt card for Xmas, I'll be downloading that.
Linden, I totally agree with you. If I donate, it is my chosing and not someone's elses. I may not support the causes someone else does. And you are right, they get the tax write-off, and all I get is the endless calls, and mailings from whatever group it was they donated to in my name, wanting more money from me.
As a rule I prefer to give food to food shelves, to adopt a family at the Holiday's, or to just leave food on friend's doorsteps that I know are struggling. That way I know my donation of money, food, toys etc. it reaching the recipient who really and truly needs it.
Great ideas. You confused me for a second with the portable router, didn't know it was a word working tool. It made me realize I spend entirely too much time around computers.
I'm a big fan of the charity gift and surprising them. I usually keep a list through out the year of potential gifts. Either things they mention or things I can tell they definitely need.
I think it is presumptuous to give a charity donation as a gift---how wonderfuul that you get a nice feeling and a tax write off, but as the recipient it leaves me cold. I want to be the one who decides what charity I want to support and when and how much.
I have used SnagIt at the office for a couple of months now and find it very helpful. I use it when I have a report that I've run which only contains a few lines of data. Its much faster and simpler to "SnagIt" and attach to an e-mail than to download the report to Excel, save the file, attach to the e-mail and THEN send it.
Several of other of these sound interesting as well, thanks for sharing the list!
Loved this. I used to give mix tapes constantly and my husband made cds for a while. We actually own Jenny Lewis but still feel like we haven't found new music that rocks our world. Last great find was Res. So now instead of music, I bake while listening to music. Tomato pie, cheese crackers, derby pie...
Thanks fellow Gen X, you make your generation proud
I shop after the holiday's to get the best discounts possible. I left a msg. on twitter.
"I’d say you may just be better off taking the bus for the next few weeks."
Or you could just, you know, stop speeding.
What I love most about the after Christmas sales is the I can stock up at Walmart on items such as bubble bath sets for $3 or less and huge makeup kits for less than $5 that have enough makeup to last for the next year. Second cheese and sausage sets and other festive food is marked down and me and my fiance can always find frugal ways to use them in meals. Lastly I stock up on marked down "stocking stuffer items" that I can use as good behavior prizes for when my daughter has received green lights at school for the week.
Amber
I always buy Christmas Cards at half off or more for the next year. It works out great for me and the stores don't have to store the items, either.
One year I got a $20 emergency car kit for myself for $5 (at Target) because it was one of those Holiday Packaged Gifts that really can't be sold any other time of the year (red box with snowflakes on it). There was a lot of other "easy holiday gifts" on that same shelf that would have worked well for a gift later on in the year (if you could find a new box to put it in) that was easily 75% or more off. And because it wasn't the normal things people stock up on in the early morning hours on the day after Christmas (like wrapping and decorations) there was plenty of selection at noon. Plus, I needed an emergency car kit, so it was perfect!
I haven't hit the after Christmas sales in a long time, but when I did, I would wait until a couple days after Christmas to avoid the crazy returns.
one year i bought a 3 foot tall mint green tinsel christmas tree from urban outfitters for $5. it's awesome and i've used it for many many years since.
I never hit the after Christmas sales to stock up on wrapping paper and such. I know I probably should since you can score great deals but, after the holiday, I'm just relieved it's over and plan on worrying about next Christmas next November and December. I will, however, go shopping with any gift cards I've received if I want/need something for myself. But my birthday is in mid-January, so I usually wait until after that.
will this work for ps2 games?
@Roy - Keep believing....your brilliant chance is waiting...
Another big factor is how much the town needs the money. Cops in some areas are notorious for finding any little fault (or in some cases just making stuff up) because they need the revenue. I think all fines should go to charity so that the cops don't have a financial incentive to give tickets.
I feed my dogs kibble and make a a soft food out of brown rice, ground turkey and carrots. I think if you do your research and consult your vet making your own food is great. I worry about the bone piece. As my vet points out "bones are harder than teeth so to avoid broken teeth don't give bones" and bone splinters can cause internal damage. I will try the slow cooker recipe with boneless meat.
The biggest factor, of course, is if you are speeding or not.
i like to give services that i know a person cant do. like my moms arthristis is too bad to really clean her car, so give a certificate to get her car detailed.
earlier this year i overheard a conversation between coworkers that revolved around the person only haveing crackers in their house to eat, and they used up the last of their bread to make toast for dinner. i went out that night and bought a gift card at our local grocer and snuck it into her coat pocket when she was out of the room.
these are the type of gifts we should be giving. it just means more than the sweater. (ok, yeah, i did go ahead and by my mom a sweater too) =)
Let this be a lesson to anyone who drives a Hummer. Ever.
I got pulled over the other day for going 8 miles over the speed limit. I was given a lecture, which was pretty good, considering I couldn't find my registration OR proof of insurance (they were on the kitchen counter). Maybe the cop assumed I was going to be a doctor; it WAS my dad's car.
Home made coupon gifts are great. Especially for older people. My grandparents can no longer do deep cleaning like light fixtures or heat vents for instance, or their yardwork. So i am always getting phone calls to come do things for them. This year, they are getting a coupon book filled with 1 hour coupons to use on me and my children. They can redeem them with us, get the work done they need, and we get to spend time together as a family. Cost=scrap materials around your house and your time *Free*
My dad is extremely busy with his job, but loves to cook at the same time. He also has every tool and gadget and electronic that is out there. So i got a nice glass lasagna dish. Bought non perishable gourmet food items for the lasagna. Included the recipe. And a gift card to a local grocery store to buy the perishable items. I also included a dry mix and recipe for the dessert. Almost all the items were right there and it was a new recipe he got to try. He loved it. Cost=very minimal
Another thing i never thought of until a family member moved out of the area- Getting a local paper subscription from their hometown. The company will mail the paper out. To keep this simple and not spend a lot...only do the sunday subscription. The cost will be minimal to you, but the person on the receiving end will appreciate being able to keep up with the news from their hometown.
Do you have someone saving to go to college, or buy a house, or another big purchase? Open a savings account in their name. Depostit $10 a month, and at the end of the year, they have $120 they didnt have before. That can be a big help that most dont realize. Start this young for a grandchild or neice or nephew, and they are going to have funds built up over a longer period that is going to benefit them greatly in the future.
For the record, this is not a forum for exchanging advice on specific state's unemployment laws.
LED Headlamp: Okay, I was going to not comment on this one, but every time I see it I burst out laughing. These have been around for at least 15 years, if not more. Years ago my brother got one from his in-laws ( now ex-in-laws). We all thought it was a gag gift, but no they thought he could really make good use of this. That New Year's Eve he and his then wife had a party, and everyone who entered had to have their picture taken wearing this goofy thing. Years later, he got custody of the photo album, and we look at those pics of all of us wearing that thing and burst out laughing all over again!
It really does not throw off that strong of a beam. I have a guy who rides his bike all year in our neighborhood ( MN), and he wears one, you can just vaguely see it on a dark night. So I would not suggest this for late night use on a bike.
Thanks for the pointers.
My favorite is the printer which looks great and so easy to carry around.
I didn't have the same system of threes, but I did used to give books and music and random items as gifts together - when I was in my 20s-early 30s. I do find it hard to find new music I like. Thanks for the reminder of "She and Him" - if I get an iTunes gidt card for Xmas, I'll be downloading that.
Linden, I totally agree with you. If I donate, it is my chosing and not someone's elses. I may not support the causes someone else does. And you are right, they get the tax write-off, and all I get is the endless calls, and mailings from whatever group it was they donated to in my name, wanting more money from me.
As a rule I prefer to give food to food shelves, to adopt a family at the Holiday's, or to just leave food on friend's doorsteps that I know are struggling. That way I know my donation of money, food, toys etc. it reaching the recipient who really and truly needs it.
Great ideas. You confused me for a second with the portable router, didn't know it was a word working tool. It made me realize I spend entirely too much time around computers.
I'm a big fan of the charity gift and surprising them. I usually keep a list through out the year of potential gifts. Either things they mention or things I can tell they definitely need.
I think it is presumptuous to give a charity donation as a gift---how wonderfuul that you get a nice feeling and a tax write off, but as the recipient it leaves me cold. I want to be the one who decides what charity I want to support and when and how much.
I have used SnagIt at the office for a couple of months now and find it very helpful. I use it when I have a report that I've run which only contains a few lines of data. Its much faster and simpler to "SnagIt" and attach to an e-mail than to download the report to Excel, save the file, attach to the e-mail and THEN send it.
Several of other of these sound interesting as well, thanks for sharing the list!
Loved this. I used to give mix tapes constantly and my husband made cds for a while. We actually own Jenny Lewis but still feel like we haven't found new music that rocks our world. Last great find was Res. So now instead of music, I bake while listening to music. Tomato pie, cheese crackers, derby pie...
Thanks fellow Gen X, you make your generation proud
Robin