Happy New Year! I have not kept up too much with my blog over the holidays, but am ready to jump back in and get 2009 off to a great year for savings!

So today I thought I'd share a batch of new and not so new tips for saving and being frugal--Enjoy!

1. Do not throw away old socks with holes--use them for dusting and washing floors. Much cheaper than buying those mops and sweepers!
2. Buy some seeds and grow your own garden.
3. Make extra batches of pancakes from scratch and then freeze for breakfast during the week. Much cheaper than buying brand name frozen pancakes and waffles at the market.
4. Make burritos and freeze them snacks, dinners and even breakfast. Cook the ingredients for your burritos, wrap in flour tortillas, and lay them side by side on a cookie sheet. Freeze completely. When they are completely frozen, place the burritos in sealed freezer bags. Just heat in the microwave (usually 1-2 minutes, but be careful as microwaves heat differently)and enjoy. Cheaper and healthier than fast food!
5. Consider doing shopping for upcoming birthdays throughout the year in January. The stores almost always have great toy sales in January, so shop and stock up for the rest of the year.
6. February is a big month for clothing sales, so shop then and buy ahead if the sale is exceptionally good. If you are buying size 4 now for your little one, buy an extra at size 6 if the sale is a good one!
7. Remember to make at least 3 meatless meals for dinner each week. Take the money you would have spent on chicken, steak or hamburger, and put it in your savings acc't.
8. If you do not make your own bread yet, why not make this the year to give it a try? You will find this to be a true money saver!
9. Line dry clothes when you can. Turn the TV off an hour earlier each evening and read instead. Turn off the computer at night. Unplug appliances not being used. Use the crock pot once or twice a week for cooking. All these things will help cut down on your electricity use.
10. Always empty out your pockets every night and save that change! It will add up, especially if you do not touch it!

Feeling some Pre-Christmas stress kicking in? Here are a few tips that can help stretch a tight Holiday budget a little more. I will be adding more tips during the next couple of weeks, so check in often!

Popcorn and Cranberries make a beautiful, fun and tasty decoration! Use these to decorate your Christmas Trees.

Collect Pine cones to decorate with. Pine Cones and candles make great easy inexpensive decorating options for Holidays.

Use children's artwork for wrapping paper.

Have children decorate plain butcher paper with painted hand prints, stamps, crayons, markers, etc., and use as wrapping paper.

Buy inexpensive T-Shirts (plain white works well), and using tempra paints, have your kids decorate with hand prints, flowers, hearts, etc.. These would make great presents for Grandparents!

You can cut up old Christmas Cards and use for holiday tags on presents.

Christmas books from the library can make a cute decoration displayed in a basket, or simply on a coffee table. Check out some free Holiday movies from the library too and spend a fun family evening together (while stringing popcorn!!).

A fun inexpensive Christmas decoration is wrapping empty boxes, and containers like Quaker Oatmeal, in wrapping paper and display around the house. If you have some sturdy gift boxes that are deep enough, you can also use them to toss miscellaneous items into when unexpected company shows up!

Tea candles inside glass jars make cute inexpensive Holiday decor. Tie a red or green ribbon around the jar for a festive pretty look instantly.


Remember, I'll be posting many more ways to save money this Christmas, so check back soon!!