Rather than buying a Christmas gift for your cousin, a gift for her husband and a gift for each of their three children, why not give one Christmas gift to the five of them that they can enjoy as a family? You’ll be amazed how much money you can save this Christmas season by giving one family gift rather than several individual gifts. Christmas can be cheap with these gift ideas.

Let your friends and family know that you’ve decided to create special gifts for families this year, so that you don’t have to worry about anyone feeling awkward when it comes time to exchange gifts. Hopefully they’ll like the idea and jump on the bandwagon.

Here are some cheap Christmas ideas for for families:

* A gift card to Blockbuster or your local video store. Pair the passes with some microwave popcorn or candy. The entire family will appreciate the idea of a movie night together.

* A book of passes to the movie theater. How about throwing in a homemade coupon good for a night of babysitting so Mom and Dad can enjoy a show without the kids one night?

* Board games make great gifts for families. Choose a few to cater to different family member’s ability level. Don’t forget classic card games like Uno and Old Maid.

* A gift certificate to a nice, family friendly restaurant. Mom and Dad will appreciate the opportunity to get out of cooking for an evening and doing dishes.

* A donation in their family’s name to a charity that’s important to them. Most organizations have cards that can be mailed for contributions made as gifts. Did a hospice help them in their time of need? If so, the donation on their behalf will be appreciated more than another Christmas gift to clutter up their home.

Think of the people on your Christmas shopping list. Imagine how much you can reduce your holiday budget by buying a gift for a family rather than separate gifts for everyone. Christmas can be cheap!

Giving family Christmas gifts is a super effective way to cut back on holiday spending and can often be more personal than your run of the mill gift. Here’s to making your holiday cheaper and more fun!

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For the Bath Salts Recipes -

General Instructions:
1. Collect your jars, remove labels, then wash and dry thoroughly.

2. For most bath salts recipes you can use your choice of epsom salts or sea salt, with baking soda, if desired, or a combination of all three. One good mix is one cup of epsom salts, with 1/4 cup of sea salt, and two or three tablespoons of baking soda. A little more or less of each ingredient is fine for most bath salts. Epsom salts and sea salt are soothing for tired muscles, while both will gently soften the water for a luxurious bath experience. You could also add a tablespoon or two of finely ground regular oatmeal (not quick cooking) for silky, skin-softening water.

3. Fill each jar to the top with the combination of bath salts that you plan to use. Empty the salts into a mixing jar and add a drop or two of glycerin, if using. Add your choice of essential oil – how many drops you use is a personal preference, but start with two or three drops and see if you like the fragrance. The same goes for the liquid food coloring; sometimes I use quite a few drops of food color to get the strong hue that I like, but so far it hasn’t stained the bath tub or anyone’s skin. Remember that the color and fragrance will be much diluted in the bath water. Stir the salts vigorously until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

It is well known that most people spend far too much during Christmas, but with a little imagination and budgeting you can still enjoy Christmas on a budget. Here are 10 top Christmas money saving tips to help you enjoy the holiday season without the worry of being hit with a huge credit card bill in January.

1) If children are demanding the latest expensive ‘must have’ gift and you can’t afford it, you should start to manage their expectations well in advance. This will let them know what is possible and prompt them to make more realistic Christmas lists.

2) If money is tight you can have an agreement that only the children receive gifts. Sort the kids you want to buy something for into groups, such as siblings, or nieces and nephews, and decide a budget for each category.

3) Set your budget for presents and leave your credit card at home, draw your cash and deal in cash only for each shopping trip. Let’s face it if you don’t have the money with you, you can’t spend it.

4) When on a tight budget, there is no need for buying wrapping paper that will be ripped and thrown away at first instance. You can buy a dozen sheets of colourful tissue paper instead which is easier to dispose of and much better for the environment. Also don’t buy gift tags but instead recycle old Christmas cards by cutting around the main image, punching a hole and adding some ribbon.

5) Christmas cards can be quite costly to buy and post especially with loved ones abroad. Instead you can send free internet cards through various sites on the internet.

6) Instead of just thinking Christmas money saving you could instead spread the cost by arranging for a special treat in the New Year. Good examples include going for a meal to a fancy restaurant, making a trip or evening at the theatre. You can wrap a memento of the proposed teat and give it as the present to retain the excitement during Christmas.

7) Home-made treats are another way to save money and fill stomachs. Making jam, cooking special cakes, shortbread biscuits or just gingerbread men you will be showing off your culinary skills and creating a point for discussion.

Make sure you check out Christmas money saving deals on the internet. The internet has revolutionised shopping making it easier to compare prices and is frequently cheaper than buying on the High Street.

9) You can shop for good-as-new items in car boot sales, charity shops and local papers but you will find a greater selection on the internet. Look for specific items at sites like Amazon and auction sites like e-bay for nearly new unwanted gifts. If you are selective about the quality, the goods can be as good as new.

10) Make use of discount vouchers and money off coupons available from dedicated websites, newspaper and magazine adverts, leaflets or flyers. One of the best ways for Christmas money saving online is discount voucher codes sites which entitle online shoppers to money off, or some other incentive such as free delivery and it all helps to stretch the budget further.

Robin Lancaster is a UK based freelance writer on money saving ideas and online shopping.

A budget is a plan on how you expect to spend and to save. As with all plans it takes careful consideration to ensure that you have included all items that are required and that what is being planned is real, that is it is practical and can be done. Most households have debt and to remove that debt you need to plan.

A budget is probably one of the most important processes you could undertake in managing your finances. The benefits of a budget is to avoid spending more than what you receive as income. It highlights where you money is being spent and helps to establish the baseline of what is mandatory expenditure and what is discretionary expenditure.

Discipline in sticking to a budget pays back a huge reward to you. You find that you are spending less, your debts are decreasing whilst savings are increasing and that you have more control of your life. The first thing you need to do in establishing a budget is to identify and record all income and all expenses. For expenses that are not regular each month, you can either expense their total over a 12 month period for a monthly budget or to record them as when they are expected to fall due.

Take a good hard analysis of what you think are mandatory expenses and discretionary. As an example the purchase of lunch every day at work is not mandatory, its discretionary as you could take your lunch to work, thereby saving a considerable amount of money each month. Remove all the non-discretionary and replace them with cheaper options, if required. Then you have established your baseline for your budget. Stick to the budget plan and reward yourself with little treats when you achieve your budget milestones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Peters

These are great tips!  For more tips, be sure to check back often, we do tips and home budget ideas daily.  Please leave some feedback so I know how I am doing or if you have any tips or budget ideas to share.  If you would like a free home budget google doc to keep track of your budget, please email me and I can send you one via email.

Are you looking for a creative way to save money? You should be.

It is 2009 the economy is a mess, supposedly getting better…tell that to the unemployed. No one can afford to waste money, at least not now. Here are some tips that our family has used for many years. We are retired and saving money is extra important to those of us on a fixed income.

1) Study your newspaper…make sure this becomes a ritual, especially on the day, usually Wednesday or Thursday, where the grocers try to lure you in with their ads on what will be specially priced for the next week.

2) Make a list of sale items that you can and will need in the future…then buy those items in bulk. It is a crime to run to the store because you are out of toothpaste, shaving cream, paper goods…any item that you use everyday should be stockpiled when a good price turns up…If you study the paper you will know what a good price is.

3) Use coupons and shopper cards…If you do not have a shopper’s card at your favorite store, get one, they are free from customer service. If you do not use coupons, it is the same as burning money. Furthermore, shop on double or triple coupon days. Shop only one day a week; plan your stops to save gas.

4) Goodwill, is that a word in a Christmas carol to you or where you should be shopping for clothes? In addition, no, your child will not suffer irreparable harm if his or her clothes were purchased there.

5) Question every expense…We cut down from two cell phones to one, this will save us $200 a year. Magazine subscriptions are a waste if you have a library nearby. Can you cut back to one car? Question all your expenses…that means you need to know where your money is going. Keep a log of all expenses, that means all, for a month. You cannot identify savings unless you know where all your money is going.

Hope you have found a creative way to save money. Enjoy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Pierce

• Use throws: Use cozy throws for table toppers, or drape them on chair or sofa arms.
• *Light your fireplace: Nothing’s more beautiful or soothing on a crisp, cool day or evening than the orange glow of a fire. Be sure to place some cookies and tea or cider on a nearby table for visitors to snack on. It adds to the overall visual effect.
• *Use candles: Place a few autumn leaves on a surface and then start piling on a grouping of a few candles in staggering heights. (Make sure that you’re not piling so many on that you cause a fire hazard!) Toss a few nuts (in the shell), cranberries, and/or some moss at the base of the candles, and you’re set. Even better, use battery-operated candles for worry-free ambiance.
• Reuse uncut Halloween pumpkins: If you used an assortment of pumpkins for Halloween decorations, and they remained uncut, reuse them in a fall arrangement. You can also place these in a simple grouping of three or more for an impact of color in your décor, or stack them vertically (on top of each other on a sturdy garden urn) for an instant pumpkin topiary.Core apples and mini pumpkins for impromptu candleholders: Carve out the centers of each and place taper, votive, or tealight candles in each one. If you’re worried about tipping, place each apple or pumpkin in a martini glass, or wedge them into the cups of an old muffin tin and cover the exposed tin areas with moss and small red berries.
• *Add a table runner to a dining or sofa table: Purchase or make one in velvet or soft, scrumptious chenille in autumnal colors such as dark gold or aubergine. This tiny splash of color adds a big punch to your décor.
• *Arrange a few bare branches in a pot or urn: Place them in a corner or on top of a dining table for a dramatic statement. If you have a chandelier, weave the branches in between the arms to reach toward the ceiling. The light will cast shadows and highlight the branches beautifully on a cool Thanksgiving evening.
• *Gather birch logs, twigs, and pine cones in large baskets: Set them by the fireplace. Not only are they great for stoking the fire, but they also add a casual touch of nature in a beautiful way. Scent them by adding a few drops of cinnamon or vanilla oil for an added bonus!
• *Add small touches in neutral colors: Filling a tall clear glass vase with acorns, pecans, and other assorted nuts in shells adds an autumnal touch that really makes a big statement in smaller spaces.
• Enlist the kids for these decorating tasks:Gather autumn leaves: Shove a rake in the hand of every willing and able body to gather autumn leaves for decorating. Freshly fallen leaves are perfect ¯ flaws and all ¯ for spreading out on a table around candles and centerpieces or stringing one on top of the other for a stacked leaf garland.Create centerpieces: Kids will love creating individual centerpieces. This project is quick and easy to do ¯ perfect for placing on small tables and keeping little hands busy. Gather an assortment of mini pumpkins, gourds, nuts, batter-operated candles, and baskets or plates for each child. Place a large pillar candle in the middle of the basket or plate and then let each child start placing the items around the base of the candles until he or she gets the desired look.

The holiday season will soon be here. You don’t even need a calendar to know this – you can simply tell by the number of ads in your Sunday newspaper.

Yes, everyone and their brother are pushing their products in hopes that they will get your business by having you shop at their place.

So with all these stores advertising so much stuff, how do you know where or how to get the best deal in the most efficient amount of time. This is a long way of saying you could go store to store to store comparing prices and items and after a few hours of comparison shopping you finally decide on something, when you realize that you only saved a few dollars after spending a whole day shopping. Not a very good way to spend your precious time during a holiday season.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you start your holiday shopping.

As stated above, it is good to shop around, but there is a limit on how much of this you want to do. A little preparation beforehand goes a long way.

If you are looking for a specific item, make sure to take along the model number, manufacturer and other details about the item you want. This is one way stores get you. They say they will match their competition on any product, but, it has to be the exact same model or item, and, as you probably can guess, this very seldom happens when multiple stores carry the same identical make and model of a particular item. It happens, but more often than not, it doesn’t.

Before you leave home, check the ads again. Make sure the store actually has what you want. If you know exactly what you want, call ahead and see if they have it in stock. Sometimes they sell out and sometimes some stores may not even carry what is advertised in a flyer.

Weigh the costs of traveling all over the city to save a few dollars to buying the same item, for a little more, at your local merchant. Your time and gas are worth something so consider it when doing a lot of shopping.

More and more stores are offering price matching., i.e., they will match the price of an identical item advertised at a competitor and give it to you at the lower price. While this sounds good, it sometimes is, but again you need to know the fine print and policies of this policy.

If you are computer savy, check out the online stores. There are a bunch of sites who compare prices between stores (although they might be online stores) Then again, sometimes the merchant’s web site will have their actual store prices of an item. Also as web site technology continues to improve, merchants may also have the actual number of products they have in stock listed on their web site. Lastly, at some merchants, you can order online and have it delivered to your local merchant to which you can go and pick it up.

Things you need to be aware when shopping online like this are the shipping costs. Sometimes you have to pay them and sometimes not. It all depends – but you need to check it out.

Don’t be swayed by “super” deals. Sometimes the merchant will offer “two for one”, or “buy one get something free”. Make sure you really need it. Don’t buy it just because it is free.

If you follow these few things, your holiday shopping will be much more pleasant and you’ll end up with the best deals possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Cash

You should add a realistic amount for food and other essentials such as diapers for your little ones or any other costs that you have to pay on a regular basis. These are your essential monthly costs.  Then simply take away your monthly costs from your monthly income. The difference between these two amounts is you disposable cash or how much you have to spend on everything else. Of course this amount might actually be negative and this is actually more often the situation for many families where you suddenly realize you can’t afford your living.  But don’t worry because there are lots of things you can do to reduce the costs. The first place to start is on the list of items that you made for you essential monthly costs.

We made a great home budget worksheet.  I use it every day to do my finances and budget.  I think its better than any of the ones you pay for online.  Ours is completely free just email us and we can send you one via email.

Everyone must make that extra effort to stay within their budget. Some of the things that might help you are:

• Plan the menu for the month.
• Then go through your coupons and see how you can apply them and put them in an envelope for production when you shop.
• Check the local grocery shopping options and who is having sales and make use of them.
• If they offer a membership which entitles you to a discount, then take it.
• When sales are available, buy more and stock them for the next month.
• Shop only once a month.
• Write out a list of your requirements. More often than not, you can use the same list with a few variations.
• Buy the store brand wherever possible unless well known brands are on sale for the same price or even less. There is no reason to pay for the advertising of well known products when you can buy the same thing with an unknown brand.
• Watch the cashier when she is entering the items as you may able to catch an error while being billed.
• Check the markdown area for items that are sold for next to nothing. You will be able to buy the meats also at a lesser price if it is marked down.
• Select items which are needs versus wants.

If you would like a free budget worksheet please email me, I can send you one via email.  Its one that I believe is better than any one out there.  Ours if completely free too.  So if you would like one please email me.

Tips for Sticking to a Family Budget

You have a family budget in place. Now the hard part begins—sticking to your family budget. With the demands of all the wants and needs of kids, it can be challenging to keep a close eye on your money matters. Here are some simple tips to save money and help you stick to your family budget:

* No satellite – On average, the least expensive satellite package can run anywhere from $35-$40 per month. Multiply that times twelve months and you end up with a whopping $420-$480 per year! Do away with this single bill and your family can save almost $500 every year. Now that’s an incentive!

* Limited video rentals – Many families choose to rent movies for a family night instead of going to the movies. While rentals are a huge money saver, it can still get expensive if you go overboard. Limit your rentals to two every two weeks, for example.

* Return videos early – Another cost that adds up quickly is overdue rental fees. For the cost of a few past due days on one movie, you could purchase that movie and watch it forever if you wanted to. Write yourself a note so you won’t forget to return your movie rentals on time. Even better, try using an online video rental service like Netflix. You’ll pay the same each month, pay no late fees, and get new movies every time you return one.

* Plan meals before shopping – Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You will want to buy everything you see on the shelves. You may think it’s silly, but you will be amazed at the results if you try it.

* Buy off-brand products – Most off-brand products taste much the same as their counterparts. There are a few, like mayonnaise for example, that taste slightly different. For the most part, if you are trying to stick to a budget, buying off-brand products can save you a lot of money. And don’t forget to clip and use coupons, too!

* Bring your lunch to work – Once again, let’s do the figures. If you spend a minimum of $5.00 per day on lunch (that’s a cheap lunch!), at the end of the week, you’ve racked up $25.00. With gas prices on the rise every day, that extra $25.00 could come in handy if you drive to work, too. Instead of eating out, fix your lunch to bring with you.

* Drink water – Sodas are easy to grab and run with, but water is much healthier for you. Instead of spending money on canned drinks, buy a family-size pack of bottled water. You’ll save money and drink healthier.