Tightwad Tuesday

Take time to plan your holiday meals, decorations, gifts, last minute drop by gifts, family activities, and you will find you save money ( less impulse spending), and have less stress over the holidays.

Planning the Holiday Meals!

Plan ahead to avoid spending more. Grocery items go up in price around the holidays. It is also very tempting to buy the "holiday" only items at the store. ( such as specific spice flavored items) Plan your menus ahead. Buy only the items you really need. Here are some web pages on frugal holiday meals.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/holidayrecipes.htm

http://www.stretcher.com/holiday/index.cfm

http://www.frugal-families.com/Recipes/

http://www.menus4moms.com/frugal/index.php

 

Holiday Decorating

Decorating your home for the holidays does not require a trip to the store. I actually thrift shop and yard sale all year for holiday items. Most of mine I aquired for free. I also use nature in my decorating. Pinecones, nuts, dried seed pods, pine boughs. I use my pantry. Popcorn, noodles, beans, candy, nuts, ect. Here are some sites on frugal holiday decorating. Planning ahead and being resourceful is the key to saving money.

http://organizedchristmas.com/frugal-holiday-decorating-tips

http://holiday-entertaining.suite101.com/article.cfm/christmas_decorating_on_a_budget

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/decorating/christmasideas.htm

http://www.stretcher.com/holiday/index.cfm

Holiday Gifts at my Door for neighbors and friends.

The holidays are a time when folks just drop by. You want to be able to give a gift. We prepare something small each year and keep it in a basket by our door. Here is what we are making this year. ( cookie, soup, drink mixes. Still undecided as to which ones!)

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftsinajar/a/122099a.htm

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/giftsinjar.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Soups-Stews-and-Chili/Dry-Soup-Mixes/ViewAll.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Instant-Russian-Tea/Detail.aspx

http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/CountryCottage/HomemadeJarMixes.htm

http://www.fabulousliving.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&category_id=276&article=21585