2nd Hand Gifting - By Trish Berg

This week we are talking about second hand gifts. Onw year I found a cashmere swetaer just my daughter's size at the Goodwill store. She wore that for over 2 years and loved it.

But the BEST 2md hand gift place is FREECYCLE.com. You can register for free, sigh up to the freecycle in your area, and you get updates as to what people wnat to get rid of or want. (Offer or Wanted)

We got a beautiful 2 story dollhouse for fREE last Christmas for our six year old.

We got a free loveseat that has become our favorite sitting spot in the WORLD.

And we have been able to give away the toys and clothes and household things we have outgrown.

It is the PERFECT place to shop...it's FOR FREE!!!!

www.FreeCycle.org

Garage Sale Time!

Since we are getting a jump-start on Christmas planning, now is the time to find the little extra cash that's hanging out in your drawers and closets and basements. I'm not talking about the coins you find in pockets or purses although that could easily accumulate in a loose change jar over the year and provide some extra Christmas money. I'm talking garage sale!

While the weather is still cooperative, take some time to go through toys, clothes kids have outgrown (and maybe you too), knick-knacks, mismatched china, etc., and gather it together. Clean it up nicely. Hang clothes on hangers or fold for display on tables and organize your nicely cleaned garage or yard for a sale. Put a sticker on each item with a reasonable price. (You might go to a few garage sales and see what things sell for.)

Be sure to have some change ready. I'd suggest keeping it in a wallet or small envelope and on your person rather than a cash box that might disappear. Enlist your kids and/or a couple of friends or relatives to help you the day of the sale especially in the morning when you will have the biggest rush of people wanting a first look.

My daughter-in-law has a garage sale the beginning of summer each year and what they earn pays for the kids fun excursions during summer vacation. She even has them bake cookies and make lemonade to sell at their own little table. This could be a way for kids to earn some money to buy Christmas gifts or supplies to make gifts.

Be sure to check with your local authorities to see if you need a permit.

If you're not up to having your own garage sale, perhaps you could take advantage of the ones you see this summer and fall. There are good bargains to be had for gently used toys and clothing.

Creative Christmas Celebrations- By Trish Berg

Sometimes, we put way too much money into celebrating Christmas. What should be a celebration of the birth of Christ soon becomes a "keeping up with the Jones'" race to the checkout counter.

This year with so many people out of work, underemployed or budgeting so they can get out of debt, we all need to be thinking more creatively, more sensibly about how we celebrate Christmas.

And now is the time to start planning. Now is the time to start making lists and budgeting. Now is the time to make some creative plans on what you will spend your money on and what you won't.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the 13 years that I have been a mom is that gifts come and go. They gather dust. They break and they are lost. Even the most beloved presents become garage sale fodder and in the end, a waste of money.

Think about your own childhood. Can you think of the Christmas presents you received each and every year? All the boxes you opened...all the wrapping paper you tore through.

I know I can't.

I do remember a few meaningful ones, like the stick horse I wanted one year or the leather coat my mom got for me when I was a teenager.

But for the most part, the gifts are all forgotten, gone from my memory.

And our kids are no different.

But what does last? The memories you make. The time you spend with your children. Those are the things that will last a lifetime.

And those are the things we can all afford to give our children this Christmas.

So, even though it is July, I want you to start thinking about what you can do to budget this Christmas, and give more memories. Spend less so you can give your family MORE.

Here are my top ten Creative Christmas Celebration Tips.

10 Creative Christmas Celebration Tips

1. SAVE NOW - Start putting some cash aside now. Even $10 each week will add up so that by Christmas, you will have over $250. Saving $20 each week will give you $500.

2. CASH ONLY - Commit to only spending cash this Christmas. No credit cards. No additional debt. It is a big commitment but well worth it.

3. MAKE LISTS - Make a list of everyone you buy a gift for, and then set an amount you will spend on each gift. i.e. I will spend $10 on my nephew, and $25 on my brother. Setting and sticking to these limits will help you stay within your budget.

4. SHOP NOW - Shop now for those gifts when they are on clearance. You can find some fantastic deals online and in the stores on the clearance racks.

5. WISE MEN - Give your children 3 gifts only. One for each of the gifts the wise men gave Jesus at His birth. It will cut down on the gift giving and help you focus on Jesus.

6. TIME - Give the gift of time to your children. Plan on going places and doing things with your children. Spend some of your budgeted Christmas money on those things because they will build memories that will last a lifetime. (examples: go to an indoor water park in December; Take a weekend trip to a national landmark, etc.)

7. NAME DRAW - Ask extended family if they are willing to do a gift exchange to reduce gift giving and spending. Have all the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents put their name in a hat on Thanksgiving (0r sooner) and randomly have each person draw a name out. Set a price range and do not over spend. That way each person only buys one gift, puts more thought into it, and saves each family money. Other ideas for saving money through a Christmas gift exchange can be found here.

8. HOMEMADE - Homemade gifts are always more meaningful than store bought ones. If you cross stitch, start now making some cross stitch patterns for gifts. If you sew, sew some throw pillows. If you craft, make some fun crafts you can put away for simple Christmas gifts to neighbors and friends. Family Fun is a great resource for homemade gifts.

9. BAKE - My mother-in-law makes these amazing tea rings for gifts every year. Find something you would enjoy baking, from cookies to coffee cake, and make some sweet treats to give as gifts. You will save money and people will appreciate having home baked treats around the holidays. Cookie mixes in a jar are simple and delicious.

10. INDIVIDUALLY WRAP - I wrap every part of a gift individually so when the kids wake up Christmas morning, there appear to be more gifts than there truly are. Kids love tearing open the paper, and I am still within budget! (i.e. I wrap socks in a shirt box; wrap the shirt separate from the pants; etc...) Other wrapping tips can be found here.

Think Outside the Gift Bag

Since I love helping moms simplify motherhood, saving money is a part of my everyday life. And, as a stay-at-home-mom, I have had to get creative when it comes to Christmas shopping.

I have learned a few lessons over the years.

Lesson #1 DO SOMETHING

Kids will remember memories much more than gifts.
-DO you really remember what you received for Christmas when you were 8? Probably not. But you might remember a trip you took with your family. So one year, we cut the clutter of gifts in half, and took the kids on a fantastic train ride in December. We told them the train ride was a part of Christmas, and they were great with that. And now they have a neat memory to share.

Lesson #2 BUY USED

Kids don't need everything new under the tree. My sister-in-law was married last year, and she and her husband are selling a bunch of things they had double of, like a very nice digital camera...for $50. So we are buying that for Hannah for Christmas . Shhhh...don't tell her. Be sure to check out garage sales, used clothing stores, even Goodwill. I once found a beautiful cashmere sweater for Sydney at Goodwill for $3. Yep, that was a find.

Lesson #3 WRAP EVERYTHING INDIVIDUALLY

My kids love coming downstairs and seeing the gifts all wrapped in piles under the tree Christmas morning. And since we open one gift at a time, one person at a time, we can enjoy each one. So, I wrap everything separately. If I buy several books for my child, I would place each book in a larger box, cover it with tissue paper, and wrap it up. I wrap each shirt, or pair of pants separately. The kids simply love the excitement of opening the gifts.

Lesson #4 BUY AFTER CHRISTMAS

I know it's too late for this year, but buy all your wrapping paper, ribbons and bows AFTER Christmas has passed. You can find rolls of wrapping paper for under $1, and tons of bargains you can put away for next year.

Lesson #5 SIMPLIFY

Most of all, keep life simple during the holidays. Don't eat out when you go shopping, that wastes money. Eat and then go. Make homemade gifts when you can, like Cookies in a jar, and just relax. Your kids don't want a stressed out mom. They want mom - happy and content. And your attitude reflects through the entire family. Simplify what you can, relax and enjoy the time with your family.

Enjoy the journey-Trish
Psalm 118:24
www.TrishBerg.com

Five Money Saving Tips for December

You guessed it. This week's theme is saving money in December.


I've noticed that my December grocery bills tend to go up, up,up, and my December 2008 pantry bill will be even higher than last year because of high fuel and delivery costs.

$$$$ Five Tips for Lowering Grocery Bills in December $$$$

1. $ Plan special party menus, Christmas dinner, and baked gifts by mid-November. Watch Thanksgiving sales for your December needs. One or two items bought on each grocery ticket will be more pleasant than hurried trips to the store and being tempted by all the extra products that squeal, "Take me home." I go after one pound of butter and come home with the whole cow.


2. $ When cooking in October and November, make extra for the busy month of December. A casserole from the freezer is tastier, most likely healthier, and yummier than a fast food meal. Check our easy December recipes here . Have ingredients on hand to make Leslie's seven can soup or make Brenda's sausage and rice ahead of time and freeze for December.


3. $ If you have baking ingredients stocked well ahead of December, you might even get in the mood to pre-mix homemade cookie dough or bake a carrot cake and freeze it (frost when thawed). Those luscious goodies in your freezer might keep you from buying a $12.00 store bought pecan pie when you need to take a dessert to Aunt Trudy's.


4. $ What? You don't think you can use a full 5 pounds of chopped walnuts? Ask a neighbor or close friend if they'd like to split the costs of bulk baking items.


5. $ Use the china. Use the fancy serving dishes. Use your Christmas dishes the whole month of December. Save on paper goods by enjoying whatever glassware you have. Be it humble or fancy. I remember a church Christmas party where we brought our best dishes and decorated round dining tables, seating six. One woman only had some plastic ware (Melmac or some other brand). I remember one of our elders, Bob, steering his family away from a fancy table and on to the more humble place settings. He was so congenial and friendly, his whole family was, to the woman who brought her best that night. Bob's gone on to be with the Lord, now. I imagine his cup runs over.

Most of the five tips are mere reminders of what we already know. Whether you're on a strict budget or have money to spare, planning ahead makes good sense, because buying and baking ahead gives you more time for people. Whether you serve popcorn and Kool-Aid or caviar and wine, you and your family can fill someone's Christmas cup with goodwill--maybe for a little less than last year.