Saving on the Tannenbaum

If you're like me, and enjoy decorating for the holidays, the Christmas tree is probably the focal point, and also the biggest expense.  If you're interested in saving money in general you probably already know to save your ornaments from year to year, and not rush out every year for the newest theme at full price.  We've slowly collected our ornaments over the years on clearance (often 90%), as gifts, or at discount shops.  And we've managed to have beautiful ornaments without wrecking the budget.  Plus, it adds sentimentality to the tree.

Then, of course, there's the cost of the tree itself.  Our first family tree was an artificial one bought at a garage sale, then another fake one from a family member.  Then, finally came the year that no matter HOW we used the lights, ornaments, and tinsel we just couldn't make it look nice.  So out we went and got a real tree.  It was beautiful!

Even with a real tree we found ways to save.   Sometimes there were rebates.  We often picked a slightly "sad" tree that cost less for the same size, maybe it had a side that was kind of flat (which we hid by the way we set it up or ornaments) or had a split trunk.  We also were careful to cut the bottom off and put it in water, and carefully kept it watered so we got our full use out of expense with a beautiful tree for a month or so.

A couple years ago we started having allergy problems with a live tree, and decided it was time to go back to artificial tree.  Honestly I was a bit worried how it would look and how much it would cost.  We ordered a sample pack of branches from Balsam Hill, some were really nice, but not that affordable.  Then I started going to all the stores in town to see what they had for what price.  We ended up going with a three piece tree on sale from Kmart, and we've been very happy with it.  It cost more than a real tree, but less than 2 years worth of real trees, and we've had it for more than that now, so it's a savings!!  Plus it saves time as it's pre-lit, and we don't have to water it and "time is money" haha!  Can you tell the tree is not real?  Of course!  But, once you light and decorate it, it is beautiful!  I think one thing that helps with a face tree is having lots of ornaments.

So, if you're trying to save on your holiday budget I would consider a fake tree over a real one, but there are a few things to consider:

1. Do you have a place to store it?
2. Is your family united to use a fake tree for at least long enough to make it a savings?
3. Do you have the money to buy one right off? (it's not going to save money if you have to pay credit card interest on in!)

If you decide to use a fake tree, I would suggest picking one or more you'd be happy with, then watch for a deal on it/them.  I've seen ones at Kmart 90% off before!!  Even if it's not exactly what you want, it might work for a couple years while you save up (from not having real trees) for a better one!

Grocery Savings thru Blogs & Online Communities

Groceries are one of our household's largest ongoing monthly expenses.  It is also the place we can consistently save the most.  By using resources like printable coupons, Ibotta and SavingStar we cut our grocery bill  by a nice amount each week.  To cut it even more I often check out these online blogs and communities:

Blogs

Southern Savers

They offer coupon match-ups and unadvertised deals for many grocery stores.

I Heart Publix

I do not have a Publix, but wanted to share this with you in case you did.  It is a great resource for not missing any of the great deals at Publix.

Online Coupon Communities

Hot Coupon World grocery forums & We Use Coupons grocery forums

Thousands of couponers join forces to find all the current deals.  Many forums are very active, some not at all.  You can just visit or sign up for free and become a part of the posting community.

I hope you find some of these helpful in saving money on your groceries.

Saving Money on Bakery Buns

Our family likes to make submarine sandwiches at home often.  We like to make them on bakery buns, but that can get expensive.  Recently I was at the store trying to find good ones, none looked too good, and they were pretty expensive.

Then I realized there was an easy way to save,  and get something that looked even better!  Instead of buying a package of rolls, I bought a package of two long narrow loaves of (not sure if it's French or Italian) bread.

It was easy to cut each into two or three sandwich buns, and a package cost half as much as the buns!  Hard to beat that!   You can also adjust  your potion sizes between different family members who want to eat different amounts.  Your store may not carry that kind, but most do have big French Bread loves or something of the like.

It can also be an fun and easy thing on which to make big subs.  You can see more about that in the post Party Sub Sandwiches - The Recipe from one of our old blogs.

One Inexpensive Option to Give to Others this Christmas

Most people like to give at Christmas to those not as fortunate financially as themselves.  And many like to give to kids at Christmas.  Operation Christmas Child is a way to do both.

Since 1993 OCC has delivered over 146 million shoeboxes in 160 countries.  Their collection goal for 2017 is 9.5 million in the US and 12 million worldwide.  The program is simple:  fill an average sized shoebox with a variety of items (see image below for some examples) and drop it off the week before Thanksgiving at one of 5000 local drop off areas across the country.  You can find one near you thru this link at the Operation Christmas Child website.

Our family has been packing boxes yearly since we sent our first two in 1993.  We shop deals all year long as well as craft for our shoeboxes so we can send dozens each year.  We are so hooked on Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing that we blog about it at Simply Shoeboxes.  You can find more information there including:

• What Is Operation Christmas Child?
• Craft Tutorials
• How to Pack Three Shoeboxes for $30 from the Dollar Tree
• OCC Distribution Stories
• Why We Include a Stuffed Animal in Every OCC Shoebox We Pack
• Examples of packed shoeboxes including these for 10 to 14 Year Old Girls

And many more Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Tips!

If you want a simple way to make a difference in the life of a child in crisis, packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child may the answer.  And it is a great way to teach our own children about giving.

Join Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club ~ Enjoy Member Only Exclusives ****

Dollar Tree is one of our favorite stores to shop at.  We never have to wonder what price we will see on the product we find we'd love to have.  It's always a dollar!  Except when Dollar Tree offers clearance or their 10% off shopping days.  These special deals we find out from being members of the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club.

Click banner to join the
 Value Seekers Club today.

It's free and easy to join and members are kept up to date with members-only contests, sneak peeks at new products, in-store specials and special events and even money-saving party ideas, recipes and crafts!

So if you love a bargain and ideas on  how to utilize Dollar Tree's selections for parties or crafts, join the Value Seekers Club today.

Links in this post are affiliate links.  All opinions are my own.

Reaching Impossible Financial Goals in Time

Setting financial goals can often seem daunting.  Saving for Christmas shopping or next years' vacation can be a difficult task and takes a little time, under a year, to accomplish.  Larger financial goals, like saving cash for a new car, paying off a home mortgage or investing for retirement, can often seem impossible.  But truth is, they are reachable goals, they just take longer.

By believing that what seemed impossible was most likely possible, we have been able to pay cash for our last three cars and pay off our home mortgage several years early.  It took time, perseverance, sacrifice, planning and a lot of clipped coupons, but the impossible became possible.

I have read that "nothing is impossible unless you believe it to be so."  This is not true in all areas of life, but when it comes to financial goals we often miss out because we believe them to be impossible.  If we would only believe, and fight our way to the finish line, we can reach many financial goals.

So remember the words of Fridtjof Nansen the next time you feel defeated by a financial goal before you get started; "The difficult is what takes a little time.  The impossible is what takes a little longer." Time is on your side, take it one day and one dollar at a time, and in time, you will reach your goal.