There were so many great Holiday Money Saving tips. I have to say, however, that some stood out above the rest! There were 372 entries, but I could only choose 10 of my favorites… Very hard to do!
Rachel Heart was one of the 10 I chose. She had some great ideas for saving money on Christmas gifts. Here’s what she said:
*For Christmas- Give from the heart. The most priceless gifts can be the least expensive. This holiday, give creative gifts that come from your heart. Videotape a message of love, make a CD of favorite songs, create a photo album or scrapbook of special memories. Be a sweet and hide little notes for your loved one to find. Make gift certificates redeemable for thoughtful services: breakfast in bed, a day free of chores, a romantic homemade dinner, a massage, hugs and kisses. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
* For New years eve- Go to Consignment shops and thrift stores that offer designer deals for discount prices and are the secrets of the best-dressed most the time. Some retail boutiques will rent evening wear for a small fee, so call around. Or, if you have a very fashionable best friend who happens to be your size, maybe he or she will let you borrow an outfit, maybe even shoes:) if you ask kindly.
I wish I could have awarded each of my top ten picks a gift card, but I had to draw just one. Actually, Ethan ended up drawing the winner. So, without further ado, watch this video to see who won…
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Here’s the winning tip –
To save $$$$ this Christmas consider this:
When purchasing gifts for hard-to-shop-for cousins, neices/nephews, or coworkers, purchase a Nalgene wide-mouthed water bottle ($10) and fill it with candy, lip gloss, a $5 Starbucks gift card, movie tickets, earrings, dress socks, or any other small (and inexpensive) goody. Give yourself a price limit and stick to it! No wrapping needed–just tie some curled ribbon to the Nalgene lid and voila!
We did this for Christmas a few years ago for our extended family and it was a HUGE (cheap) hit. We spent about $25 per bottle, purchased a different color for each person, and gave the boys and girls different goodies inside. Our family STILL raves about their gifts that year—and we didn’t break the bank that Christmas!
Congratulations to Karen, of 
