How to Give BIG by Shopping All Year

Yes, I know we JUST did Christmas. But it is never too early to start on gifts for next Christmas, especially if you are stocking up to donate to charities. You can make your dollar stretch further if you shop all year for the best deals on toys, clothes and hygiene items.

This year, I signed up to be on the Operation ChristmasChild email list for our region. They have wonderful ideas for how to start collecting items now. Here are a few tips:

1. Shop the post-holiday sales.
After Christmas, after Valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter…. You can usually find a lot of fun trinkets and toys on discount after these special occasions. Look for stickers, pens, notebooks, ornaments, craft kits, and small decorations. 

2. Check out clearance items from bulk vendors.
Online stores like Party City or Oriental Trading Company are great places to try. They also will offer free shipping deals. Right now Party City has Winnie the Pooh bouncey balls (8 ct) for only $0.50! And Strawberry Shortcake pencil sharpeners (12 ct) also for $0.50.

3. Make gifts.
Maybe you have some scrap wood, left over string and buttons, or you love to sew. There are so many great ideas for making shoe box gifts. My local OCC region has a Pinterest page with ideas. Check it out: http://pinterest.com/sfrt/

Of course, as you are out running errands for your family, always check clearance racks for random low-priced items. Clothes, toothbrushes, combs, toys can all be collected a saved for months.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to stash away gifts all year without spending a ton out of pocket!

 

Are you starting to shop early for Christmas giving? Share any money-saving ideas you have in the comment section below!

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift Six: Vanilla Extract

Back in June 2012, I started my own pure vanilla extract made from vanilla beans and vodka. After steeping the beans for six months, the vanilla was perfect to dole out in little amber bottles for Christmas gifts.

(For instructions on how to make homemade vanilla extract, you can check out my post HERE.)

This vanilla is rich in flavor and so much better than buying cheap, artificial (or the expensive, pure) stuff at the store!

The amber bottles I found are these 4oz boston round bottles on Amazon.com. I love the size, the color of the bottle and their quality. Out of my vodka bottle of vanilla extract, I was able to fill six amber bottles, plus some left over for me to still use (...and I have been using small amounts of vanilla prior to Christmas as well). Plenty to go around!

Now that my bottle is almost empty, I'll be able to refill with vodka and start again! I know you can reuse vanilla beans, but I am not sure for how long. It will be an experiment!

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I hope you've been able to get some fun ideas for homemade gifts! It's never to late to start planning for the next holiday season (or even birthdays along the way). I do have one more bonus post coming - a homemade gift for those who love to run. So check back soon!

For now, if you missed any posts about my Christmas gift baskets, you can check out the links below:

Gift One: Lotion
Gift Two: Rice Bags
Gift Three: Balsamic Strawberry Jam
Gift Four: Soy Candles
Gift Five: Sugar Scrub

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift Five: Sugar Scrub

The fifth gift in my homemade Christmas gift baskets is one I've briefly posted about before. So I won't spend too much time on it, but just remind you how easy it is!

Sugar Scrub
I love gifting this because it can be so simple to make, yet feel so luxurious! The sugar naturally exfoliates your skin, while the oil moisturizes. Use in the shower and you are left with smooth, healthy skin! I made two "flavors" this year:

Pumpkin Pie Spice Scrub
2 Cups Brown Sugar
1 Cup White Sugar
2 Tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Cup + 1 Tbsp Sunflower Oil

Lemon Sugar Scrub
3 Cups White Sugar
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
1 Cup + 1 Tbsp Sunflower Oil

Instructions:
1. Combine dry ingredients first.
2. Add oil(s) and mix thoroughly.
3. Store in a tightly sealed glass container. I like to use baby food jars for mini-gifts, or half-pint mason jars for larger sizes.
4. Use as a hand or body scrub. Avoid getting water in container as this can promote bacteria growth.

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift Four: Soy Candles

I love candles! I enjoy all the various scents, the playfulness of the fire dancing on the wick, the warm glow.

The only problem is that most conventional candles are packed with carcinogens. From the lead based wick to the paraffin wax, candles may not be as friendly as they seem. There are plenty of safe, soy wax candles on the market, but they are definitely more expensive.

So last month I made my own and gifted some for Christmas. It was so easy - just melt and pour! I even experimented with adding essential oils for varied scents. I need more practice with oils. But the scent is subtly there and the candles are still beautiful!

Supplies:
half pint mason jars
lead-free wicks
soy wax flakes
essential oils

Note: I purchased my soy wax and wicks at Michael's craft store. Their 4-lb box of soy was around $22 which I only purchased because I had a 40% coupon. I also used a coupon on the wicks (originally $5ish). You might be able to hunt the internet for some cheaper deals.

I don't have the ability to measure wax by pound, so I just decided to wing it. Based on online research and my guesstimating, one pound yields about 3 half pint jar candles.

Directions:
1. Prepare jars and wicks. Make sure jars are clean. Secure wicks to the bottom of the jar. You can buy special wick tab adhesive....or just do your own little dab of glue. (I used a tiny bit of hot glue.)

2. You will want to make sure the wick stands up straight. You can buy a little tool for this too. Or you can just do this:

It totally worked and I have a few more bucks still in my bank account. ;)

3. Pour soy wax into a double boiler. Or (continuing the frugal theme) rig a large glass measuring cup over the side of a larger pot.

4. Stir the wax as it melts. I let it set in the double boiler for a minute after melting just to be sure.

5. Remove from heat and stir in essential oils if you choose to use them. I can't yet tell you exactly how much to use because mine didn't turn out as strong as I would like. I read that 20 drops per pound of wax is good...it might depend on the scent as well. Give it a try!

6. Pour the wax...very slowly...into the jars. Go slow to avoid air bubbles.

7. Leave the jars to cool, then trim the wicks and seal them up!

Cost:
Just so you have an idea of how inexpensive this project can be, here is what I spent:
Wax (4lbs) - $13.99 after coupon
Wicks - $2.54 after coupon
3 Flat jelly jars - $1ea
9 Quilted jelly jars - $0.75ea
Essential oils - ? maybe used $1-$2 worth
TOTAL $28.28

I made nine candles and it looks like I have enough for three more candles. So it the cost was around $2.35/candle! I think that's pretty good for an 8oz soy candle! The cheapest I've seen for purchase is $4. Plus I got the joy of making them. :)

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift Three: Balsamic Strawberry Jam

Today I want to share with you another gift I made for my family this Christmas: Balsamic Strawberry Jam. It is delicious! Strawberry and balsamic vinegar complement each other so well, drawing out the rich flavors inherent in one another. Reducing the balsamic adds a new level of sweet tang to the jam. Check out the recipe:

Balsamic Strawberry Jam

Supplies:

6-9 half-pint freezer safe canning jars with lids and bands
tongs

ladle
potato masher or hand operated food chopper
funnel
large pot
Sterilize all equipment prior to use; you can do this in a dishwasher or in a pot of boiling water for 20 minutes.

 

Ingredients:
4 cups crushed strawberries
1/2 cup white grape juice
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 1/4 cup raw honey
3 Tbsp no sugar pectin

Directions:
1. Mash/crush strawberries by hand. Do not use a food processor because it will change the consistency of the jam.
2. Cook balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan on medium heat until reduced to 3/4 cup.
3. Have your sterilized jars ready by the stove. Keep the lids in a small pot of simmering water.
4. Pour white grape juice and pectin into pot, and bring to a boil on the stove top, stirring frequently.
5. Once the mixture is boiling, stir constantly for one minute.
6. Then gently stir in the mashed berries, honey, and balsamic. Bring to a boil. Stir for one minute while boiling, then remove from heat.
7. Ladle jam into the jars through the funnel, leaving at least 1/2 inch head room at the top of the jar.
8. Use the tongs to remove the lids from the pan of simmering water and place on top of the jars. Screw the rings on until they are just finger tight.
9. At this point you have two options: Wait for the lids to "pop", then refrigerate or freeze. OR you can place them in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to make them shelf-stable. Here is a good how-to for water bath canning.

Enjoy your delicious, gourmet jam!

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift Two: Rice Bags

You were probably wondering what in the world a rice bag is when you saw it listed in my first post about homemade gifts. That is, unless you follow similar homemaking/all-natural blogs...or Pinterest. You might have seen them there. That's where I got the idea!

Rice bags are simply cotton cloth bags filled with rice that you can heat up or freeze for use on sore muscles and injuries.

They are easy and inexpensive to make. The heat lasts for a long time (so I read...I actually haven't tried mine yet!), and they are very portable. Plus you can easily personalize the bags with fun fabric colors and designs. I made mine with changeable covers to help keep the bag clean and so whoever is using it can pick a design they like!

Here is how I did it:

Rice Bag Hot/Cold Pack

Supplies:
11"x13" cotton fabric for the bag
13"x16" cotton fabric for the cover
3 cups of white rice

(I don't suggest using brown rice as it has a higher moisture content and can spoil faster.)

How to Make the Bag:
1. Get some 100% cotton fabric and make sure it is pre-washed and shrunk.
2. Cut out a 11"x13" rectangle from your fabric.
3. Fold the fabric in half long ways so that it is inside out.
4. Sew along all edges of the fabric, leaving about one or two inches of space at one corner.
5. Use the opening to turn your fabric right side out.
6. Smooth it out and crease the edges. Sew a straight line, long ways, down the middle of the bag, leaving about two-inch gaps from each edge. This will keep the rice evenly distributed within the bag.
7. Place a funnel in the opening and pour in rice. I guesstimated 3 cups, but it should be about 3/4 full, not completely full.
8. Finally, stitch the opening closed either by hand or machine (keep close to the edge so it is not noticeable.)

How to Make the Cover:

1. Get some 100% cotton fabric and make sure it is pre-washed and shrunk.
2. Cut out a 13"x16" rectangle from your fabric.
3. Fold over one of the short ends about 1 or 1 1/2 inches and sew to make a hemmed edge.
4. Fold the fabric in half long ways so that it is inside out.
5. Sew along all edges of the fabric except for the hemmed edge.
6. Turn your fabric right side out.
7. Slide your rice bag in to make sure it fits.

How to Use the Rice Bag:
1. Heat the bag in the microwave for about 2 minutes (depending on the microwave -- know your machine and be careful not to get it too hot!)
2. Place the bag in the cover.
3. Sprinkle essential oils on the cover if you choose. Lavender is great for soothing and healing sore muscles.
4. Relax with your heating pad!

Note: Be sure to not get water on the rice bag itself. Doing so can spoil the rice. Always use it with the cover and wash the cover when soiled.

You can also use the rice bag as a cold pack. Place your bag in a plastic bag (to protect it from moisture) and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour to get it cold.

Happy Healing! :)

Six Homemade Gifts // Gift One: Lotion

I'm excited to finally share with you my projects from this last month! Of course, I couldn't reveal surprises before Christmas, but here they are...

I made gift baskets for my family members with six different homemade goods:

Lotion
Rice Bags
Soy Candles
Strawberry Balsamic Jam
Sugar Scrub
Vanilla Extract

It was so much fun to personalize the gifts and make things that I love and I know are good for you! I have a hard time giving people things with sketchy ingredients. So I enjoyed learning how to make some everyday items in my own kitchen for those I love.



Over the next couple weeks I'll explain how I made each of them. Today we will start with...
  
Homemade Lotion
I've posted about lotion before, but I modified the recipe a bit this time around. This version is creamier and full of rich moisturizers. The recipe is more about proportions than actual measurements. If you want to just try a small amount, make "one part" equal to 1/8 - 1/4 cup.

Homemade Lotion Recipe
One part Beeswax
One part Shea Butter
One part Coconut Oil
Two-Three parts Almond Oil & Jojoba Oil
(I used mostly Almond with a few squirts of Jojoba. You can use Safflower, Sunflower....any oil you choose.) 

1. Start by melting the beeswax in a double boiler. I usually rig my large glass measuring cup in a pot of water.
2. Add shea butter and coconut oil. Stir frequently to incorporate everything.
3. Add the remaining oils. Mix thoroughly and keep it on the heat for a couple more minutes.
4. Remove liquid from heat. Add essential oil at this time if you want a scent. Be sure to mix it in well!
5. Pour liquid into a container. I use little glass containers with air tight lids or mason jars.
6. As the liquid cools, it will thicken. Stir frequently to keep it creamy. You can stick it in the fridge to speed up the process.
7. You are done! Keep in mind the lotion will be thicker when it's cool and creamier when it's warm. Either way, it melts easily on skin and feels GREAT!

(DP)

Photo Friday // Operation Christmas Child

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child has finally arrived! At our church we had a packing party earlier in the week to get boxes ready for shipment. Since September, we've collected donations of shoe boxes and gifts, preparing for the church-wide packing party.

Setting up an assembly line for the packing party.

We also had a kids-only packing party in our Kidz church one Sunday. The children loved hearing about boys and girls in other countries, and they had so much fun filling out coloring sheets to put in boxes with gifts they picked out. The kids put together a little more than 20 boxes themselves!

So Tuesday we finished the children's boxes, sealed up the donated boxes and filled a bunch more with remaining toys, hygiene items, clothes and school supplies. By the end of the night we had 60 boxes ready to ship! Praise God!

60 boxes ready to go!

The best part of this experience is knowing that 60 little boys and girls around the world will be able to hear the Gospel, perhaps for the very first time. The gift box they receive will let them know that we love them, but also that God loves them. And they will have the opportunity to complete a discipleship program to learn about a life of faith in Jesus.

We are praying that every child that receives a box will fall in love with their Savior. Will you pray with us?

As coordinator of this event, I did encounter one "thought" that almost caused me to pull back some: What if we pack more boxes than we have donations to ship them? Because for every box there is a $7 shipping cost. The last thing I wanted was to have boxes we couldn't ship.

But God told me to trust Him. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And every box we packed is paid for. God bless all those who were faithful to His call to give!

Holiday Shopping & Swagbucks

I know, it's only September. School just started. Sometimes it is hard to think about the holidays right around the corner.

But I love giving - I get excited about it! And I love being able to give generously without depleting our savings account.

One of my favorite tools to use for reaching this goal is Swagbucks. It's easy to use and has a pretty good return. In 2011, I was able to cash in on $75 worth of Amazon gift cards. This year, I am up to $40 so far. What a great way to make our gift money stretch further!

If you have not heard about Swagbucks, here's the scoop:

Swagbucks.com is a site where you can earn points (Swagbucks - SB) and redeem them for rewards. Bucks are earned in a seemingly endless number of ways: online surveys, daily polls, web searches, playing games, couponing...

It can be time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be. Everybody seems to have their favorite way to earn bucks, but here are my tips:

1) First you need to sign up for an account. Go here to get started!  (Note: This is my referral link, which you do not have to use.) If your friends and family aren't signed up, send them your referral link. You will earn bucks for every buck they earn!

2) Every day take the Daily Poll for 1 SB.

3) Every day follow the path through the No Obligation Special Offers (NOSO) for 2 SB.

4) Print Coupons or add them to grocery savings cards. Every coupon redeemed in store is 10 SB.

5) Use the Search Engine. At random times (not each search) you'll earn various amounts of SB - usually around 7-10, but sometimes more. I got 28 SB the other day.

6) "Watch" Swagbucks TV. The key is, don't watch it. Instead, if you are on the computer for a long period of time (or just sitting and watching real TV), keep the SB videos running in the background. The SB meter usually goes up every 30 seconds, after which you can switch videos. When the meter reaches 10, you get 3 SB. I work on the computer all day so sometimes I can earn up 40-50 SB just by clicking the next video once in a while. Doesn't take any extra time - just a click!


You can redeem your SB for all kinds of rewards - gift cards or actual items. You can even donate them to charity. For my use, I believe the $5 Amazon gift cards are the best value at 450 SB each.

Yes, it's only September. But now is a good time to start earning. By the time December comes around it is quite possible to have $40 or more in gift cards, just for a few clicks a few minutes a day!

Have fun!

More Operation Christmas Child Deals

I am so excited about Operation Christmas Child this year and eagerly looking forward to our church's packing party in November. What a joy it will be to stuff shoe boxes full of goodies for children in need all around the world!

Wondering what Operation Christmas Child is? Click here!

In case you are planning to participate, I will continue to periodically post deals on shoe box appropriate items. There's not a lot this week, but all you need a little bit here and there...before you know it, you'll fill a box!

Need some inspiration? Last year I was able to fill two boxes for less than $15 total!

(As always, please check your local store ad before shopping. Prices vary by region and even store-to-store. Most deals listed below are adapted from SouthernSavers.com.)

WAL-MART
I do not have specific sales to share, but heard that many school items are on sale for 50¢ a piece! Also you can get plastic 6-qt shoe boxes 5/$4. Great deal!


WALGREENS
$1 RR WYB (2) Crest Toothpaste 6.4 oz or Oral-B Indicator Toothbrush, $1.50
  Use Coupon: -.50/1 Crest toothpaste or liquid gel, 4 oz+, from P&G Insert 8/26

Ivory Bar Soap, 3 pk., 99¢
  Use Coupon: -.30/1 Ivory or Safeguard cleansing item, P&G Insert 8/26
  OR Use Coupon: -$1/3 Ivory or Safeguard cleansing item, P&G Insert 8/26
  (use .30/1, makes it 69¢)



CVS
$2 ECB WYB (2) Colgate Cavity Protection, Baking Soda/Peroxide Whitening, or Kid’s Toothpaste, 4.6-6.4 oz, $2, limit 2
  Use Coupon: -.50/1 Colgate kids toothpaste printable
  OR Use Coupon: -$1 off Colgate toothpaste, 4 oz, SmartSource Insert 8/26
  OR Use Coupon: -.75/1 Colgate toothpaste, 4 oz, SmartSource Insert 8/26
  (buy (2), use (2) $1 off, makes both FREE)

Mentos Gum, 15 ct., 99¢
  Use Coupon: -$1/3 Mentos bottles, 15 pc+, SmartSource Insert 8/05
  (buy 3, makes it .66 each)

  
Don't forget to check out the dollar spots and clearance at Target, Wal-Mart and Michael's Craft Store. The Dollar Tree has pretty good things too (socks, hair accessories, toys).

Deals // Operation Christmas Child

My church has been posting deals and collecting items for Operation Christmas Child for about a month now. We have a nice pile of pencils, erasers, pens, water colors, crayons, markers, rulers and notepads ready to pack into boxes! The deals are still coming too.

If you are just now getting started, check out my previous posts about Operation Christmas Child. It is a great ministry opportunity to share the Gospel with children around the world, while blessing them with basic essentials for everyday life.

Here are some deals for this week:

(Remember, all deals are adapted from SouthernSavers.com. Please check your local ad as prices may vary store to store.)

OFFICE MAX

o  12” Ring Binder Ruler 6¢

o  Paper Mate Pink Pearl Erasers 3pk 75¢

o  Paper Mate Retractable Pens $1

o  Schoolio Colored Pencils 24-pk $1

STAPLES

o  Bic Mechanical Pencils 5-pk 50¢ (limit 2)

o  12” Plastic Ruler 50¢ (limit 2)

o  3" x 4.25" memo pad with magnetic closure, 60 sheets $1

     With $5 minimum purchase…

o  #2 Yellow Pencils 8-pk 1¢ (limit 4)

o  Cap Erasers 12-pk 1¢ (limit 4)

o  Slider Pencil Box 1¢ (limit 4)

 

WALGREENS

o  Wexford Legal Pad 5×8 in. or 8.5×11.75 in., 50 sheets, 49¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 3)

o  Wexford or Penway, Carry All Pouch, 99¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 3)

o  School Supplies Box, 99¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 3)

o  Sharpie Highlighters, 4 ct., 99¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 2)

o  Penway Colored Pencils, 12 pk., 79¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 3)

o  Wexford Pencil Sharpener, 50¢ (w/ in-ad coupon, limit 4)

CVS

o  Ivory Bar Soap, 10 pk. B1G1 50% Off
  Ivory Bar Soap, 10 pk., $4.59 (online price)
Use coupon -.30/1 Ivory found in P&G Insert 7/29 (EXP 08/31)
Use coupon -.30/1 Ivory found in P&G Insert 8/26
(buy (2), use (2) .30/1, makes it $3.14 ea.)

Deals // Operation Christmas Child

Here are some more great deals for Operation Christmas Child. My favorite this week is for Toys R Us…

(Note: All sales and coupon match-ups are adapted from SouthernSavers.com. Please check your local ad before shopping!)

TOYS R US

**HOT **

Print a $5 off $5 coupon

Maybe get some free toys or school supplies!

WALGREENS

$3 RR WYB 2 Oral Care products

o  Crest Toothpaste, 5.8-6.2 oz, $3
-$1 off Crest toothpaste, 4 oz +, from coupon booklet on product
-.75/1 Crest toothpaste, 4 oz+, PG 7/29
(use (2) $1 off, makes it 50¢ ea.)

o  Oral-B Complete Toothbrush, $3
-.50/1 Oral B Stages manual toothbrush, excl trial size, PG 7/29
(use (2) .50/1, makes it $1 ea.)

o  Wrigley’s 5 or Orbit Gum, 39¢ w/ in-ad coupon

o  Crayola Crayons, 24 pk., 99¢

o  Paper Mate Profile Retractable Pen, 2 pk., 79¢ w/ in-ad coupon, limit 3

o  Wexford Pencil Sharpener, 39¢ w/ in-ad coupon

o  Wexford Highlighter, 19¢ w/ in-ad coupon

TARGET

o  RoseArt Colored Pencils, 12 ct., 52¢
-$1/3 RoseArt products, RP 7/29
-$1/3 RoseArt products printable
(makes it 19¢ ea.)

o  Fruit of the Loom Socks, 6+2 pk., $5.50
-$5/3 Fruit of the Loom Underwear or Socks Target In-Ad Coupon 8/12 (EXP 8/18)
(makes it $3.84 ea.)

o  Fruit of the Loom Boys Crew T-Shirts or Girls Underwear, 5+2 or 9+2 pk., $6
-$5/3 Fruit of the Loom Underwear or Socks Target In-Ad Coupon 8/12 (EXP 8/18)
(makes it $4.44 ea.)

OFFICE MAX

o  Sharpie All Singles, 25¢, limit 3

o  Schoolio Colored Pencils, 12 pk., 25¢, limit 2

o  Just Basics #2 Pencils, 12 pk., 25¢, limit 3

o  Just Basics and OfficeMax Ballpoint Pens, $12.99, limit 2
-$12.98 in MaxPerks Bonus Rewards

o  Duracell CopperTop AA or AAA batteries, 20 pk., $16.99, limit 2
-$16.98 in MaxPerks Bonus Rewards
-.75/1 Duracell Coppertop, excl trial size, PG 7/29