Debt-Free Christmas

We are having a debt-free Christmas again this year. I love the feeling of no guilt on Christmas morning. Here are a few of the ways that we are keeping Christmas debt-free: - Kohl's cash. (I give all my Kohl's cash to hubby, who uses it to ship for me, for free!) - Disney Movie Rewards. (Cashed in our rewards for a cool gift for each of the kiddos with free shipping!) - Bank Rewards Points. (Cashing these in for gift cards to use on Black Friday.) - Kids are selling things that they no longer want at Once Upon a Child to "earn" money to buy gifts for each other. - Aldi's has a great selection of toys at good prices. - Three Bags Full children's consignment sale. (This sale is one of my favorites and this year they are having a holiday clothing and toy sale here in my city.) - As always, I am hand-making some gifts. - I am using my checks from my Scentsy business to provide the gifts my kids really want. My business has been such a blessing to our family! - We are limiting our kids to only asking for 3 gifts each from Santa. We have done this every year and found it to be very reasonable. - I am using coupons to purchase household gift items like Pyrex, beauty products, etc. What is your game plan to survive the holiday? PS (For my readers, I am planning on coming back...I really miss this outlet of mine. Watch for a post per week regarding life, faith, family, and savings. I've missed you all!)

Advent Traditions: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

As we prepare for the birth of the Savior of the world, I thought I would take a little time to share with you one of our favorite, frugal traditions.

Around the 25th of November, the kids and I haul out the leftover wrapping paper from last year's gifts. We then make 25 tags from craft supplies like card stock and stickers. Each tag is numbered from 1-25. We then lovingly wrap 25 books with paper, tag them, and place them in a basket by our tree. Every night before bed, the kids get to open a book and we read it as a family.




This is so special because it is a great time to wind down, cuddle up, and learn together. Some of our most precious discussions have come during this time. We have a great variety of books, but some of our favorites are:

-The Night Before Christmas (read on Dec 24th)
-Thomas Kincade's Away in a Manger
-Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree
-Merry Christmas, George (Curious George)
-The Crippled Lamb
-The Snowbelly Family of Chillyville Inn
-The Little Drummer Boy
-...and, on Christmas morning, before we open our stockings we read book #25: The Christmas Story

I hope this tradition inspires you to do something fun to make memories with your little loves this year. It's never too late to start something meaningful.

Oh, and isn't it wonderful that this Savior wants to have a real relationship with me? Not just on my good days, my nice days, my super-mom days, but my EVERY day! We are created to be in love with Him - He is the only one who can fill your heart with peace, your life with joy, your home with unconditional love.

Merry Christmas, Friends! May God bless us, everyone.

A Fun, Frugal Gift

I just love the thought of the oatmeal cookies and milk bath for my dry, itchy winter skin. GO HERE to see step-by-step instructions on how to make this for your favorite friends (or yourself - you deserve it!)

The Motherload is an awesome site filled with a wealth of information that won't have you spending all of your own wealth. Check it out!

If you have a Rite Aid...

Make some money on your stocking stuffers. Puzzles, Disney figurines and more! GO HERE to read all about this fantastic deal that I am pouting over. BOO HOO!

Start Watching Target for TOY Clearance

It's time to start watching Target for toy clearance! Typically things will go in this order: 30% off, 50% off, 75% off. Toys do not go to 90% off unless they are considered seasonal (like stocking stuffers.)

As the stores clearance items, you can find toys in: the toy dept (duh!), all end caps, seasonal section at front of the store, back corners of housewares - by rubbermaid stuff, even in the electronics on end caps. Just make sure to look high and low!

Don't forget to look for seasonal books to be clearanced also. This is the time to start buying for next year...

Another tips: many of the seasonal stocking stuffer toys will work for Easter baskets or Valentine's Day gifts. Think outside of the box. If it is removed from the Christmas packaging, no one will be the wiser.

Happy (bargain) hunting!

Another FREE Game

If you don't already own Pictureka - HEAD OVER HERE - and see how you can score it for FREE at Meijer!

Thanks, Moms by Heart!

A Couple of FREE Games for Santa to Bring...

GO HERE to see how you can get a FREE Hungry, Hungry Hippos Game.

GO HERE to see how you can get UBuild Battleship for FREE at Toys R Us.

Thanks, For the Mommas, for these great deals!

Got the WII, Got the WII. Got, Got. Got the WII!

Can you hear this chant? Come on now, you know you can! Got the WII, {SNAP} Got the WII. {SNAP} Got, Got. Got the WII!

Target's 4 day sale had a WII for $199. In the ad there was a $20 off coupon. I also had a $15 gift card coupon when you spend $150. Net cost would have been $164.

However, I found a WII on clearance for $139.99. Still used my coupon. Bought an extra remote for $39. Earned my gift card. Net cost (with additional remote) $143! :)

NICE! I am super excited.

Games - 1.25 each after rebate

GO HERE to read an awesome scenario from Couponing to Disney on how you can get kids games for 1.25/each after rebates and gift card at Toys R Us - do you have any little ones to buy for or donations to make? This is your time, people!

FREE Veggie Download from Amazon

GO HERE to see how you can download some Veggie-licious Christmas music for FREE. Thanks, Thrifty and Thriving!

Crayola Rebates for Christmas

GO HERE to read about the Crayola rebates that came out in time for Christmas. Thanks, Moms by Heart; our little artists will be happy Christmas morning!

Organized Christmas

Something that has really helped me to enjoy the Christmas season in our home is my holiday planner. I found this planner template through the site Organized Christmas and it has truly cut down on my stress level and helped me organize my holiday life from Halloween through New Years Day. The best part of this system is that it is free and down-loadable on the web. You can customize it by being crafty if you wish. I am bring this up, because, believe it or not, it is time to start prepping for the holidays. On Organized Christmas, there are names for every week with checklists of things to do NOW to make the actual week of Christmas more manageable. This week is "Get Organized" week. The weeks following are: "Reality Check," "Gifts and Giving," "Get Cooking," "Decorate," and "Celebrate." Check it out and see how it can help you out this season!

3 Fab Christmas Finds

Need jeans for Christmas? Go HERE to read about a great promo on Levi's at Meijer!


Getting ready to decorate? Get Command hooks for super cheap this week at Dollar General. Go HERE to read the details.


Game night? Trade in an old game this week at Toys R Us and get 30% off of a new game...paired with a coupon this makes for a sweet deal. Go HERE for the scoop.



Thanks a million to Cincinnati Cents, Moms by Heart, and For the Mommas for these awesome deals. I love your blogs!

My Toys R Us Deal Today

*I purchased Beauty and the Beast on Blu-Ray for 22.99.
*I pre-ordered Toy Story 3 on Blu-Ray for 5.00

-I received $10 off for pre-ordering another movie.
-I used a $10 MQ from the Disney Movie Rewards site on B&TB.

*I paid 2.99 for B&TB (plus received a free coupon booklet for purchasing.)
*I paid 5.00 for the preorder of Toy Story 3 (which will be deducted from my purchase when it becomes available.)

***Total 7.99 + tax for a blu-ray that originally costs 29.99.

+++I will also submit B&TB for the $5 Campbell's soup rebate and possibly for the $5 bagel rebate. With only one of the rebates, my Blu-Ray of B&TB is completely FREE (with an overage). That is good savings, folks! Need a Christmas gift or something new for family movie night?

HOT Vera Bradley bags for $19 - Christmas Gifts

Go HERE to read how you can score a $63 Vera Bradley bag for $19!!! What a deal! Thanks, Saving and Giving.

TOYS R US DEALS

Toys R Us has some awesome deals this week - think Christmas!

Playskool Weebles 2-pk Figures — $5.99
Buy 2 and use B1G1 from 9/26 Play-Saver Insert
Total: $2.99 ea

Littlest Pet Shop Collectibles — $4.12
Use B1G1 from the 9/26 Play-Saver Insert
Total: $2.06 ea

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Cruiser RC — $14.99
Use $10/1 from the 9/26 Play-Saver Insert
Total: $4.99

My Little Pony Rainbow Dash Plane — $14.99
Use $5/1 form the 9/26 Play-Saver Insert
Total: $9.99

NEW Printable TOY Coupons Available

Think Christmas and GO HERE to see a complete list of Hasbro toy coupons that are available now. These coupons include HOT items like: My Little Pony, Spider-man, and Mr. Potato Head!

Thanks to Alyssa at Keeping the Kingdom First for the heads-up on this.

Dave Ramsey Fans, Take Note

Today only, Dave Ramsey is offering his envelope system deluxe for $12 instead of $19.95. In addition, you can use the PROMO code MORE to get his book More Than Enough for FREE (think gifts, folks!) I personally would LOVE this system as a Christmas gift - hint, hint. :)

Thanks to She Saved, for the heads up on this awesome deal!

HOT Games at Toys R Us this Week

GO HERE to see how you can get games for $1.33 each this week at Toys R Us! This is a good time to stock up for the holidays or your gift stash...

Thanks to Savings and Stewardship for posting this great deal!

For Scott: Man's Mag for 3.73!

Do you like cars? Racing? Does anyone on your Christmas list? Go HERE and read how you can get a one year subscription to Motor Trend Magazine for $3.73. This deal is good for 9/18 only!

Thanks, Saving & Giving for this deal!