Save Your Money – It’s FREE SHIPPING DAY!

 
If you still have Christmas gifts to buy, your procrastination pays off today!
 
It’s Free Shipping Day 2012, and over 1500 merchants are offering free shipping and promising delivery by Christmas Eve! It’s a Christmas wish come true, but don’t procrastinate any longer!

Just a few of the 1500 merchants include:

Harry & David
Barnes & Noble
Best Buy
Land’s End
Godiva
Red Envelope
Brookstone
Boston Proper
Tom’s
L.L. Bean
Tervis Tumblers

Happy Shopping and Happy Saving!

If I had to choose my favorite festive and frugal gift idea, it would have to be free printables!

“What are free printables,” you ask?

It’s like having your own personal graphic artist, and in 3 easy steps you’ll have a great looking gift for next to nothing!

1. Do a web search to find a free printable that you like or use one of mine below.
2. Print using your home printer.
3. Frame in an inexpensive frame.

 
If you’re looking for a completely FREE gift, re-use an existing frame…remember, black spray paint is a miracle worker! Inexpensive frames are always available at The Dollar Store, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Big Lots, Michaels or Hobby Lobby (don’t forget your coupon).

Feast your eyes on a few of my favorite Christmas free printables, and if you like it…just click and print! The first click will take you to my Pinterest board, click the image again, and you’ll be able to download the image for printing.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What’s not to love? Free Printables are festive and frugal gifts that are perfect for teachers, neighbors or just about anyone on your list. Don’t limit yourself to seasonal printables, there’s a whole wide world of free printables waiting to be discovered!

This offer valid through 9:04am on Monday December 24th, 2012

Festive and Frugal Gift Ideas

Here’s a gift giving guide with unusual gifts that you won’t find in any ads, and these gifts are sure to please!

The Budget Diet girl’s gift guide includes: annual gifts, collections, semi-homemade gifts and fun things to do! Of course, all items are budget friendly!

Annual Gifts – gifts you can give year after year! Once you discover the perfect annual gift, gift giving is easy!

• Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificate – Our parents are in the downsizing stage of life, and they have made it clear that they don’t need any more stuff! Our answer has been to give them a mini-vacation at a Bed and Breakfast Inn. They know to expect the Bed and Breakfast gift certificate, but they are surprised each year by the destination. I call this an annual gift, and it’s one less gift idea we have to come up with each year! Good news, Free $75 B&B Gift Card with Purchase! of a $250 gift card from BedandBreakfast.com – how’s that for stretching the gift giving dollar? Even better, have all your siblings split the cost! If your parents aren’t the bed and breakfast type, check out the Groupon Getaways on the right side of this page for some amazing travel deals!

Collections – start a collection for someone, and each year add to it! After the first year, it’s a no-brainer!

• Charm Bracelet – Start a charm bracelet for a pre-teen, and you’ll know exactly what to give her for years to come! Sterling silver charms can be purchased for as little as $6.
• Junior League Cookbooks – Ideal for a newlywed that enjoys cooking! Start her a collection of Junior League cookbooks from across the country, and you can add to it each Christmas!
• Christmas Ornaments – Who doesn’t love a beautiful ornament? Start a collection of ornaments for a loved one, and add to it each Christmas. My sister-in-law started my daughter on the Reed & Barton crosses the year she was born! She now has 12 beautiful ornaments, and our tree will miss those ornaments when she is grown! Of course, the Budget Diet girl doesn’t recommend starting an expensive Reed & Barton collection, but how about a beautiful Waterford Heirloom ornament for less than $10 at Homegoods, T.J. Maxx or Marshalls or starting a collection of Angel ornaments? Christmas Ornaments are great for young girls and even better for newlyweds!

Semi-Homemade Gifts – it’s more than just the thought! These gifts will provide memories for years to come!

• Create A Cookbook – It’s an ambitious project, but once you’ve typed all the recipes in your computer…you’ll be able to print a copy for any occasion! You might start this project in the New Year, and you’ll be ready for bridal showers, graduations and next Christmas! Learn how to write your own cookbook for as little as $5!
• Photo Book – Did you have a big family reunion this summer or did you go on a family vacation with the whole gang? Put together a photo book, it’s a gift that will be treasured for years to come! Right now, Shutterfly has photo books for 40% off!

 
Fun Things to Do – think outside the gift box! Some of my favorite gifts over the years have been gift certificates for fun things to do like a pedicure or a day at the zoo!

• Family Gift – Think about giving a family gift instead of individual gifts…who wouldn’t love a family trip to the zoo? To save on this gift, make sure to check Groupon since they specialize in discounts on fun things to do! I’ve seen golf outings, tickets to sporting events, day spa gift certificates and more on Groupon.
• Gifts with Activity – How about a children’s cookbook with a note for them to choose a recipe and come over to make it? Do you enjoy scrapbooking or knitting? I’m sure there’s a little girl in your life that would love for you to take the time to teach them how to scrapbook or knit!

I hope this gift guide has helped you check some folks off your list!

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Image courtesy of: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

TODAY ONLY from e.l.f. Cosmetics Get the Collections Holiday Gift Giving Set for just $24 with coupon code GIFTS 12/5 only!. WOW…that’s 52% off, and this deal is only available while supplies last.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Western Union for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Who could you send a Western Union Gift/Greeting card to?

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The Western Union gift card is issued by MetaBank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.  MetaBank; Member FDIC.  A $2.50 per month servicing fee applies after 12 consecutive months of non-use. This blog post is paid for by Western Union.

Father’s Day, gifts for men…always a challenge!

Got gifts?

Need ideas?

Read on!

In my opinion, men are the most difficult to shop for, so I’ve come up with a solution that’s perfect for Father’s Day, Dad’s birthday or any special day for the man in your life! It’s called…A Day For Dad!
 
A Day For Dad

• Plan a day that revolves around all dad’s favorites…favorite foods, favorite activities, favorite movie & more!
• When dad opens his homemade Father’s Day card (in the morning) have a note with a clue about his first activity! Once he figures it out…let the fun begin!
• After he finishes his first activity, present him with clue #2!
• The day will continue with clues & fun!
• If your children are old enough, let them each plan an activity or cook one of the meals.
• Younger children will love making homemade Father’s Day gifts to give!

Take a look at some of our most memorable “Days For Dad”…yes, they all revolve around his favorite things!

• Camping!
  My husband loves to camp, so we surprised him with a family campout, and a few small camping items for his gifts!
• Golf
  We surprised him with a round of golf at one of his favorite area courses, & we’ve established it as an annual tradition! It’s called “The Bucket Tournament”, and the winner gets to fill the bucket with his favorite snacks!
• Beer
  For his 40th birthday, we gave him 40 beers, for 40 years! With the help of the local liquor store, I selected 40 different beers along with a book called “The Beer Lovers Guide”.
• Favorite Food
  My husband loves a good hamburger, so when we first moved to Houston I found the restaurant that was supposed to have the best burgers in town. This was our dinner stop after the round of golf!
• Tools
  My husband is not a handyman, but one year he wanted a drill (I still don’t think he’s used it!). Instead of traditional gift wrap, we had him follow a “string trail” throughout the house until he arrived at his toolbox which we had cleaned out, organized & put the new drill in!
• Homemade Father’s Day Gifts
  Over the years, a few of our favorite homemade Father’s Day gifts have been: homemade picture frame for my husband to take to his office, a hand-painted #1 dad t-shirt, a shoe box decorated to be a “catch all” in his closet and a painted rock paperweight!

 
So, think outside of the traditional “gift box” and certainly think beyond the necktie!

Go make a list of dad’s favorites, and soon you’ll have a plan for Father’s Day!

If you have a favorite Father’s Day gift…do tell! Simply click the title of this post, and a comment box will appear!

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Image courtesy of: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net