Live on WCCO This Morning: Frugal Gift Ideas
I was live on WCCO This Morning this past week talking about frugal gift ideas, which you can read more about here.
Here’s the video:
Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
December can easily be the most expensive month of the year. We all know the reason for the season and what really matters, such as time with our loved ones. But most of us like to give gifts to show our love and appreciation for each other. How do we do so without breaking the bank?
Here are some frugal gift ideas to help you give meaningfully without spending a fortune!
I also talked about these ideas on WCCO This Morning!
Here’s the video:
10 Gift Basket Ideas (from my earlier post, Frugal Gift Ideas)
Themed gift basket ideas are frugal, fun and fully customizable.
How to start? Go to your local thrift store, where basket selection is usually pretty good (there are plenty in the Twin Cities – I like Savers, Arc’s Value Village, Goodwill, to name a few).
Buy a simple basket there for cheap. Then come up with an appropriate theme for the recipient. Here are some ideas for themes and suggestions for contents, though the possibilities are endless:
Other Frugal Gift Ideas
Make a DIY Gumball Machine Christmas Ornament
Make this Homemade Christmas Tree Pop Up Card:
Or these Peppermint Marshmallow Cocoa Spoons:
Also check out these 20 Tips for a Festive & Frugal Christmas (and Free Printable Gift Coupons!)!
More Ideas
Bible Money Matters has a great list of “100 Frugal Gifts You Can Give This Christmas.”
Saran Wrap Ball
This has been circulating around the Internet as a new party game, but I think it works equally well as a gift.
Basically it’s a big ball of Saran Wrap with goodies layered throughout the ball and a big prize in the middle, like a $20 bill.
You basically wrap up small gifts in plastic wrap and then keep wrapping to make a ball, adding new gifts along the way. I think it makes a great gift just like this for one or more people to open up.
There’s actually a game you’re supposed to play with it – basically 2 or more people take turns opening it while the next person rolls dice until they get doubles. But you can either do the game or just give as a gift, I think.
Great items to put in a Saran Wrap ball:
We put one together (above) and filled it with little dollar items from Target and ornaments.
Here’s an instructional video:
You can learn more at this website, awesomejelly.com.
Homemade Gift Ideas from Fellow Bloggers!
How to Make the Best DIY Homemade Bath Bombs Recipe – from SavingsLifestyle.com
Have a “Scent”sational Holiday Gift Basket Idea – from Mission to Save
How to Make a DIY Pedi in a Jar Gift (Including Free Printable Tags) – from Mission to Save
Here are some articles from other bloggers about how to give gifts and save money!
Christmas on a budget: $250 for six kids – from AtlantasFrugalMom.com
13 Gift Ideas That HELP Save Money – from InspiringSavings.com
Add fun FREE printable photo booth props to your gifts! Just print on thicker white paper and attach to a stick or straw.
Savers has a great sale this Friday, December 16th and Saturday, December 17th – Save 40% on Books, Movies, Music and Toys! You may find some great last-minute, frugal Christmas gift ideas.
You have to have a Club Card to get the savings – it’s free to sign up and you can sign up in the store.
For info and locations go to savers.com.
It’s that time of year, Holiday Bonus Gift Card Offers! Many Restaurants (and some retailers) will offer bonus deals when you buy gift cards. Use the bonus for your self or pass it on as a gift too. Either way, now is the time to stock up. Most are available till the end of the year, unless otherwise noted. (Thanks to Mary from Mission to Save for most of this list’s Bonus Gift Card Offers!)
Applebee’s: receive a $10 bonus card when you buy $50 gift cards thru 1/7/17. Bonus card expires 3/6/17.
Avenida Cocina & Bar: Buy $100, get $25 at Avenida Cocina & Bar. Avenida gift cards are sold and valid at Avenida Cocina & Bar in Minnetonka, Minn.
Benihana: receive $10 bonus card when you buy $50 gift cards. Promotional cards are valid from 1/2 – 3/31/17.
BJ’s Restaurants: receive a $10 bonus card when you buy $50 gift cards or $25 bonus with $100 purchase thru 12/25/16. Also receive a 20% off VIP card delivered via email. Bonus card and VIP card valid 12/26/16 – 2/13/17.
BLVD: Buy $100, get $25 at BLVD. BLVD gift cards are sold and valid at BLVD restaurant in Minnetonka, Minn.
Bonefish Grill: receive $10 bonus gift card when you buy $50 in gift cards. Bonus card redeemable 1/1-2/8/17. (There’s one location in St. Louis Park.)
Thanks to A Frugal Home for these great ideas! These are all available from Amazon.com and MOST are under $15 and FREE shipping eligible! Prices current 11/4/15 and are subject to change.
See all of my Holiday Gift Guides at the end of this post + stay tuned for more guides to be posted in the next couple of weeks!
1. Jollylife Star Wars Silicone Ice Tray Set of 6 $14.29 + FREE Shipping Eligible [Read more…]
Thanks to A Frugal Home for these great ideas! These are all available from Amazon.com and MOST are under $15 and FREE shipping eligible! Prices current 11/4/15 and are subject to change.
See all of my Holiday Gift Guides at the end of this post + stay tuned for more guides to be posted in the next couple of weeks!
1. Mr. Coffee 8-Piece Cafe Americano Mug Set with Spoons $14.97
2. Black Cup Coffee Wall Clock $5.72 (down from $79.99!) + FREE Shipping
3. Coffee Condiment and Accessories Caddy $18.99 + FREE Shipping Eligible
4. Primitives By Kathy Box Sign – I Drink Coffee $9.45 + FREE Shipping Eligible
5. Morning Heat-Changing Mug $5.82 (down from $32.10!) + FREE Shipping Eligible
6. KONA French Press $25.98 + FREE Shipping Eligible
7. Go Away Novelty Mug $17.87 + FREE Shipping Eligible
8. Black Steel Coffee Time Wall Mounted 3 Hook Key Rack $6.34 + FREE Shipping Eligible
9. Automatic Self Mixing Cup $9.40 (down from $39.99!) + FREE Shipping Eligible
10. Handmade Soap For Coffee Lovers Made With Real Kona Coffee Beans, A Hint Of Chocolate, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Shea Butter & Pure Essential Oils/Fragrances $12.95 + FREE Shipping Eligible
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)
Stay tuned for more Holiday Gift Guides to be posted in the next couple of weeks!
These are all available from Amazon.com and are FREE shipping eligible! Prices are current as of 11/4/15 & subject to change)
1. Wilton 415-0906 Dessert Decorator Plus $11.99
2. Farberware Nonstick Bakeware 3-Piece Cookie Pan Value Set $9.99
3. Silicone Mini Muffin Pans, Makes 24 $8.99
4. Wilton ColorSwirl 3 Color Coupler $6.82
5. Baker’s Secret Nonstick Cooling Rack, Set of 2 $7.16
6. Wilton Nonstick 6-Cavity Donut Pan $9.99
7. Wilton Angled Icing Spatula $8.22
8. Wilton 300 Count Rainbow Bright Standard Baking Cups $6.27
9. Lecoolife 24-pack Reusable Silicone Baking Cups / Cupcake Liners $6.89
10. AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mat – 2 Pack $13.95
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)
A beautiful spring Minnesota garden in winter? YES!
Bachman’s Floral, Gift & Garden creates what’s called a “Watch ’em Grow” garden, which is pretty much exactly how it sounds: they’re small container gardens planted with a bunch of spring bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Muscari) which are designed to bloom in the winter, so that Minnesota homes can have fabulous color and fresh live plants during this often long and dreary winter season!
We received a “Watch ‘em Grow” garden to review in our own home during this cold winter. It arrived 2-1/2 weeks ago in a nice clear plastic gift package. My family and I were excited to open it up and learn about our new garden. The bulbs had already started visibly growing above the soil.
Caring for our garden has been simple. All we’ve had to do was keep it in a well-lit area (by our kitchen window has worked) and keep the soil damp. Some days it doesn’t need watering. [Read more…]
(Note: Availability of these items subject to change.)
(Thank you to Midget Momma for compiling & sharing this list!)
Vegetable Fruit Peeler Parer Julienne Cutter Slicer Kitchen Tools Gadgets Helper $2.08
Zjskin Strawberry Stem Leaves Huller Remover Removal Fruit Corer Kitchen Gadgets $2.58
ensunpal store Tool Slice Cutlery Kitchen Onion Vegetable Cutter Sharp Scallion Cutter Shred $2.32
Monkey Business Karoto Sharpener & Peeler – Orange (Orange) $1.95
New Creative Egg white separator egg white filter Egg Sieve $1.92
SODIAL(R) Strawberry Folding Fold up Reusable Compact Eco periodic duty Recycling use Shopping Bag $1.68
Wine Enthusiast Pulltap’s Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew $1.86
World Pride 5 Bits Electric Manicure Nail Drill File Grinder Grooming Kit $2.98
Niceeshop(TM) Upper Lower Lash Mascara Applicator Guide Eyelash Comb $1.29
SODIAL(R) Useful Easy To Use Eyebrow Stencil Makeup KIt DIY Template Stencil Shaping Tool $1.94
MASH Rhinestones 2400 Piece 12 Color Nail Art Nailart Manicure Wheels $1.59
Sexy Lip Kiss Bathroom Tube Dispenser Toothpaste Cream Squeezer $1.65
BhB(TM) Beauty Flawless Makeup Blender Comestic Sponge Puff Color Pink $1.00
New Waterproof Eye Liner Eyeliner Shadow Gel Makeup Cosmetic + Brush Black $1.80
BhB(TM) Beauty Flawless Makeup Blender Comestic Sponge Puff Color Blue .99
Chopmall(TM) 10 Pair Natural Long Black False Eyelashes $1.59
niceEshop(TM) Stainless Steel Extension Eyelash Applicator Tool Fish Tail Clip-Silver $1.69
UrbanSource Black Seamless Skull Face Tube Mask BUFF $1.12
Topone(TM)Housweety Unique Dots Pattern Double Layer Cosmetic Bag Black $1.95
USB2.0 Memory Card Reader Writer for MicroSD Micro SD T-Flash TF Card $1.47
eForCity SDHC / SD / MMC Memory Card Reader to USB 2.0 Adapter, Smoke $1.99
SODIAL(R) New Smart Touch Screen Winter Stretch Gloves For Smart Phone iPhone High Quality $2.99
Black Plixio Magic Touch Screen Texting Gloves, iPhone, Tablets, & GPS $1.87
SANOXY® Memory Card Reader (10-in-1 USB 2.0) $1.55
UST Marine 5-in-1 Tool $2.25
Chinese Finger Traps 1.90
SE MT908 11 Function Credit Card Size Survival Pocket Tool $1.55
3pcs Colorful Magic Flexible Bendy Soft Pencil for Kids $1.83
40mm Clear Liquid-filled Camping Compass Hiking Outdoor scouts kit $1.65
Key Chain sling Mini Camping Compass Hiking Hiker Hunting Navigator $1.56
Mushroom Christmas LED Night Light Lamp Battery Party Decor $1.20
Strap On LED Fingers – Set of 4 $1.40
Bottle Opener Ring $1.20
Portable Pocket LED Card Light Lamp Put in Purse Wallet $1.65
New Cute Child’s Children Waterproof Apron Cartoon Frog Printed Painting Cooking $2.59
niceeshop(TM) Fashion Vintage Oversized Frame Sunglasses,Dark Brown $2.22
Lingstar(TM) Retro Classic vintage Bronze butterfly pendant necklace chain$1.54
World Pride Key to My Heart Cute Couple Keychain Love Keychain Key Ring .55
I Love You Design Pair Couple Key Chain with Heart Pendant $1.60
niceEshop(TM) 1 Pair Couple Keychain Love Keychain Key Ring , Silver $1.60
Chopmall Vintage Camera Chain Necklace in Black $1.47
600 GLOW IN THE DARK LOOM RUBBER BANDS BRACELET MAKING CLIPS TOOL COLOURFUL BAND $2.59
Vintage Silver Infinite Bracelet Love White Blue Leather Rope Cross Infinity (2) $1.10
Lingstar(TM) Retro Bronze Red Heart Earrings Vintage Palace Angel Wings A pair $1.45
Caetle(TM) Women’s Fine Silver Stud Earring With Diamond Mounted $1.59
New High Quality Fashion Women Cute Mini Coin Bag Wallet Hand Pouch Purse $1.99
New Girls Wallet Clutch Change Purse key coins bag small Pouch Handbags $1.83
Lingstar(TM) Retro Bronze Chain Red Heart Vintage Palace Pendant Angel Wings $1.58
(Note: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you.)
I just heard about a new book that would make a great Mother’s Day gift for the frugal mom. It’s called The Recipe for Radiance: Discover Beauty’s Best-Kept Secrets in Your Kitchen by Alexis Wolfer.