So this idea is not original to me. I found the link through a post on a mom's forum that posted a link to pinterest which led to a blog who shared this idea. Did ya follow that? Basically, what I'm saying, is that this is not an original idea. Well it is, it's just not MY original idea. Ok then, moving along.
I had been planning to make KOJ a booklet of coupons but I was coming up blank on how to make them and what all to put on them. Then I saw this idea and thought that it was so much more perfect. So I'm going to create a year of date nights. Now the website: year of date nights created this as a wedding gift (which is also a fantastic idea) but it made a lot of the date ideas implausible for us due to cost and childcare. So I thought it would be much better to find 12 date nights that we could do here at home after the kids are in bed. So I went to the handy dandy pinterest and searched "date night ideas" - give it a try there are some awesome sites out there. And I read through lots of ideas and this is what I have so far (please follow the links to see the original inspiration).
January - we're going away for a night for our anniversary so that will be our January date night but I will be bringing the Date Wheel in case we run out of ideas for things to do. lol
February - fondue date night - this one really appeals to me and seems appropriately romantic for Valentine's day too!
March - Lord of the Rings movie marathon - ok to be honest this doesn't appeal to me at all but I found these for KOJ for Christmas and he loves these movies so I'll probably try to get a child free day so we can watch them all in a row. Maybe. I could be convinced to find another date idea for this month. hahaha But this is really about KOJ not me. Right? Right. Oh and this was an original idea that I did not find on a blog anywhere.
April - Date Wheel - what can I say, the date wheel just seems cool.
May - Dinner and a Dance - this appeals to me and it's something we've never done before.
June - Wii sports night - this was my own original date night idea. I mean I'm sure a blog out there somewhere has offered up this idea before but this particular week I thought of it all on my own. lol I mean we own the wii and we really should use it for something besides netflix.... at least once a year.... right?
July - Christmas in July - we will watch It's a Wondeful Life as we both love this movie and have hot cocoa and some yummy holiday type snacks.
August - Garage Sale - for this one we will get a sitter for the kids on a Saturday morning. We both love garage sales so this will be fun for both of us. This idea came from the original idea link above.
September - Asian night - we'll watch a Jackie Chan movie (we love pretty much all of these) and I'll make something yummy and Chinese for dinner - probably stir fry, we love stir fry. But the egg rolls I'll splurge on from the actual Chinese restaurant. This is also an idea in the original link.
October - Clue Night - this just looks fun and simple. Now I've gotta find some friends who would likely agree.
November - Board game night - frankly this is one of KOJ's favorites, he loves board games. So I pulled this out of previous personal experience and not from a blog though one or more of the blogs linked might also suggest this as a date night idea.
December - Baby It's Cold Outside - love the simplicity and the idea of just snuggling up and enjoying a relaxing night together in all the hustle and bustle that tends to be December in our home.
So the top things to notice about our dates: All but two are at home. They use things we already have. Are mostly things we haven't ever done for dates before. Can be done after the kids are in bed so that childcare isn't necessary.
I'm learning something about myself while putting this project together for KOJ - that while I want romance I feel like it has to come in some big package or something but really just spending time together, laughing together, talking together is what dating is really all about. It's really that simple and I can't believe I've missed that all these years. Here's to hoping that these monthly date nights make our 8th year of marriage even better than the previous 7.
Also I should note that I have asked KOJ to stay away from the blog the rest of the month so this gift will still be a surprise but it was too fun and simple not to share with anyone who might still be looking for the perfect frugal gift to give their husband (or wife).
Also fun to note this gift costs me nothing in my 100.00 holiday.
Showing posts with label 100.00 holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 100.00 holiday. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
November 100.00 holiday update
Well since it is mid-November and it's been a while since I've updated about our 100.00 holiday I thought I should do so.
Green = have, purple = making, black = need to get
DH: Something I am making for him that he will like.
DS1: Little Bear book , a shirt or outfit (need), hot wheels dynamite blaster and hot wheels triple launch jump, Postcards from Buster season 1 dvd, and a decorate your own bank kit
DS2: Little Bear book, All About dvd, Cars 2 duplo blocks set, bank kit, and shirt or outfit (need)
DS3: Sunflower Parable book (have), DC superhero and friends trio sets: Mr Freeze and batwing (have), all about dvd (have), bank kit, shirt or outfit (need)
DD: Parable of the Lily book, an outfit (need), a super hero cape (the boys got theirs a couple of Christmas' ago), little tikes doll high chair, winter coat and hat , toddler purse (need)
I have these bought, and here in my closet:
Mom: (have gc for)
Dad: (have gc for)
FIL: (have gc for)
SIL: (have gc for)
I made these last week! I spent 1.99 on the last piece I needed to make these. I need to purchase containers for them that will 1.00 each.
Sis1 and fam: fun family gift
Sis2 and fam: fun family gift
Sis3 (4yrs): not at all sure honestly - I'm leaning towards making her a tutu although a cape like Sierra's might be a fun gift too come to think of it.
Brother (18): no idea!
I had 29.90 in cash left at last check in.
29.90
-3.00 (shipping and handling for the hot wheels thing)
-1.99 (the family gifts)
-3.00 (containers for the family gifts - one for our house too)
-6.00 (tulle for tutu or fabric for cape)
-1.00 (hot cocoa packets for stockings)
-1.00 (snickers for KOJ's stocking)
_____
13.91 left -
I haven't figure out yet what to do for bank kits for the boys. I also need to get a few more things for the stockings - I haven't bought any holiday candy yet other than the snickers for KOJ's stocking.
I'm probably going to go over my 13.91 left in cash for stockings and the banks but not by a lot and we will have still had a very nice Christmas at a super low cost. I'm so glad that I planned ahead. I feel so happy that I don't have to stress about whether or not we'll have the money for nice gifts or even what to get them. As much as I enjoy black Friday shopping with my mom I'm especially thrilled that I don't have to be desperate for some hot toy item and subsequently when I don't get one of the five of them my store bothered to stock.
I'm still working towards my inbox dollars and I earned a cash rebate through a shopathome.com for a magazine subscription. But I won't see either of those until the new year so I might try to set them aside for next year's Christmas shopping. I am of course as always working on the swagbucks to earn up some more gift cards.
Someone might notice that I took the hotwheels car holders off my list and that was because I told my mom about them and she's going to make those as gifts for the boys which I am thrilled about and they will be too! Even without them I think we've gotten the kids plenty. I think I may go ahead and find an ornament pattern and make the kids each an ornament for their ornament collections. It's a tradition I had planned to start next year but no reason to wait now.
So how are you doing on your holiday shopping??
Green = have, purple = making, black = need to get
DH: Something I am making for him that he will like.
DS1: Little Bear book , a shirt or outfit (need), hot wheels dynamite blaster and hot wheels triple launch jump, Postcards from Buster season 1 dvd, and a decorate your own bank kit
DS2: Little Bear book, All About dvd, Cars 2 duplo blocks set, bank kit, and shirt or outfit (need)
DS3: Sunflower Parable book (have), DC superhero and friends trio sets: Mr Freeze and batwing (have), all about dvd (have), bank kit, shirt or outfit (need)
DD: Parable of the Lily book, an outfit (need), a super hero cape (the boys got theirs a couple of Christmas' ago), little tikes doll high chair, winter coat and hat , toddler purse (need)
I have these bought, and here in my closet:
Mom: (have gc for)
Dad: (have gc for)
FIL: (have gc for)
SIL: (have gc for)
I made these last week! I spent 1.99 on the last piece I needed to make these. I need to purchase containers for them that will 1.00 each.
Sis1 and fam: fun family gift
Sis2 and fam: fun family gift
Sis3 (4yrs): not at all sure honestly - I'm leaning towards making her a tutu although a cape like Sierra's might be a fun gift too come to think of it.
Brother (18): no idea!
I had 29.90 in cash left at last check in.
29.90
-3.00 (shipping and handling for the hot wheels thing)
-1.99 (the family gifts)
-3.00 (containers for the family gifts - one for our house too)
-6.00 (tulle for tutu or fabric for cape)
-1.00 (hot cocoa packets for stockings)
-1.00 (snickers for KOJ's stocking)
_____
13.91 left -
I haven't figure out yet what to do for bank kits for the boys. I also need to get a few more things for the stockings - I haven't bought any holiday candy yet other than the snickers for KOJ's stocking.
I'm probably going to go over my 13.91 left in cash for stockings and the banks but not by a lot and we will have still had a very nice Christmas at a super low cost. I'm so glad that I planned ahead. I feel so happy that I don't have to stress about whether or not we'll have the money for nice gifts or even what to get them. As much as I enjoy black Friday shopping with my mom I'm especially thrilled that I don't have to be desperate for some hot toy item and subsequently when I don't get one of the five of them my store bothered to stock.
I'm still working towards my inbox dollars and I earned a cash rebate through a shopathome.com for a magazine subscription. But I won't see either of those until the new year so I might try to set them aside for next year's Christmas shopping. I am of course as always working on the swagbucks to earn up some more gift cards.
Someone might notice that I took the hotwheels car holders off my list and that was because I told my mom about them and she's going to make those as gifts for the boys which I am thrilled about and they will be too! Even without them I think we've gotten the kids plenty. I think I may go ahead and find an ornament pattern and make the kids each an ornament for their ornament collections. It's a tradition I had planned to start next year but no reason to wait now.
So how are you doing on your holiday shopping??
Thursday, September 22, 2011
another update on 100.00 holiday
What our holiday looks like gift wise so far:
Green are items I've bought, purple are items I'm making, black are items I still need to get.
DH: Something I am making for him that he will like.
DS1: Little Bear book , a shirt or outfit (need), hot wheels dynamite blaster and hot wheels triple launch jump, Postcards from Buster season 1 dvd, a hot wheels car pocket holder to hang on the wall , and a decorate your own bank kit
DS2: Little Bear book, All About dvd, Cars 2 duplo blocks set, bank kit, hot wheels car holder (making), and shirt or outfit (need)
DS3: Sunflower Parable book (have), DC superhero and friends trio sets: Mr Freeze and batwing (have), all about dvd (have), bank kit, hot wheels car holder, shirt or outfit (need)
DD: Parable of the Lily book, an outfit (need), a super hero cape (the boys got theirs a couple of Christmas' ago), little tikes doll high chair, winter coat and hat , toddler purse (need)
The hotwheels holders I'll make will be like this:
I got the idea from A girl and a glue gun blog and instead of using pattern fabric for the pockets I plan to use clear vinyl fabric so they can SEE their little cars. Click the link to the blog to see the tutorial for it. I also plan to use flannel that I already have in my closet for the back piece of the holder. Over all the cost of this is going to be super low.
Mom: (have gc for)
Dad: (have gc for)
FIL: (have gc for)
SIL: (have gc for)
Sis1 and fam: fun family gift
Sis2 and fam: fun family gift
Sis3 (4yrs): same as sis1
I've abandoned the group gift of the doll house type thing for this:
I got this at another blog on the interwebz and I LOVE that she used the already colored set of Melissa and Doug wooden blocks for these. Check out her tutorial here at Crafty Erin.
Brother (18): no idea!
I'll do some baked goods for friends at church and my grandma etc.
I'm going to use my amazon gc from swagbucks to buy DD's purse and the items for the sister gifts.
So far I have spent 70.10 and I will use 27.07 on amazon for the purse and sister gifts. I currently have 35.00 in amazon gc's earned and am working to trade one or two for an outfit for Princess. I will easily earn two or three more in the next month and a half.
So I have 29.90 in cash left, and an unspent 8.00 in amazon gc so far. I am also still working on the 30.00 inbox payout but I'm still at 23 and change for earned there so I don't think I'll have it in time for holiday spending.
That 70.00 includes some stocking stuffers for all four kids too.
I'm trying to keep my holiday spending under 100.00 cash and whatever amazon cards I've saved up from swagbucks. So far so good. I might go over in materials for the cape and car holders but as long as I stay pretty close I'm happy. I will also need to spend cash on stickers for the sister gifts and buy the boys each a new shirt. It will be close and I might go a little over but still if I'm able to keep it under 150.00 all together - gifts and stockings etc. then I'm going to be very happy.
I'm linking up over at The Saved Quarter's 100.00 holiday link up. Go see how others are doing the holidays for less this year too!
Green are items I've bought, purple are items I'm making, black are items I still need to get.
DH: Something I am making for him that he will like.
DS1: Little Bear book , a shirt or outfit (need), hot wheels dynamite blaster and hot wheels triple launch jump, Postcards from Buster season 1 dvd, a hot wheels car pocket holder to hang on the wall , and a decorate your own bank kit
DS2: Little Bear book, All About dvd, Cars 2 duplo blocks set, bank kit, hot wheels car holder (making), and shirt or outfit (need)
DS3: Sunflower Parable book (have), DC superhero and friends trio sets: Mr Freeze and batwing (have), all about dvd (have), bank kit, hot wheels car holder, shirt or outfit (need)
DD: Parable of the Lily book, an outfit (need), a super hero cape (the boys got theirs a couple of Christmas' ago), little tikes doll high chair, winter coat and hat , toddler purse (need)
The hotwheels holders I'll make will be like this:
Mom: (have gc for)
Dad: (have gc for)
FIL: (have gc for)
SIL: (have gc for)
Sis1 and fam: fun family gift
Sis2 and fam: fun family gift
Sis3 (4yrs): same as sis1
I've abandoned the group gift of the doll house type thing for this:
I got this at another blog on the interwebz and I LOVE that she used the already colored set of Melissa and Doug wooden blocks for these. Check out her tutorial here at Crafty Erin.
Brother (18): no idea!
I'll do some baked goods for friends at church and my grandma etc.
I'm going to use my amazon gc from swagbucks to buy DD's purse and the items for the sister gifts.
So far I have spent 70.10 and I will use 27.07 on amazon for the purse and sister gifts. I currently have 35.00 in amazon gc's earned and am working to trade one or two for an outfit for Princess. I will easily earn two or three more in the next month and a half.
So I have 29.90 in cash left, and an unspent 8.00 in amazon gc so far. I am also still working on the 30.00 inbox payout but I'm still at 23 and change for earned there so I don't think I'll have it in time for holiday spending.
That 70.00 includes some stocking stuffers for all four kids too.
I'm trying to keep my holiday spending under 100.00 cash and whatever amazon cards I've saved up from swagbucks. So far so good. I might go over in materials for the cape and car holders but as long as I stay pretty close I'm happy. I will also need to spend cash on stickers for the sister gifts and buy the boys each a new shirt. It will be close and I might go a little over but still if I'm able to keep it under 150.00 all together - gifts and stockings etc. then I'm going to be very happy.
I'm linking up over at The Saved Quarter's 100.00 holiday link up. Go see how others are doing the holidays for less this year too!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Blog design and 100.00 holiday
First let me start by saying - I have NO idea what I'm doing with the whole blog design thing. I'd rather have a totally cute and custom design on my blog but since my blog isn't a business I can't justify the expense of that. If any of my readers could explain to me how to make the freebies work on my blog I'd totally appreciate that a TON. But for now it is how it is and it will stay this way until I figure out how to use a freebie (not blogger) template to create the background and header.
Now onto my 100.00 holiday. It's been a while and I think I normally update more around the middle of the month but I've been side tracked and well I hadn't really bought anything more yet. But as I just made another holiday purchase a few minutes ago I figured I could update now.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need: banks (so that we can start giving an allowance and have a place to put it lol) I'm going to create kits for each of the boys with three tootsie roll cans or pringles cans and stuff to decorate them. It will be a fun activity we can do together on Christmas day.
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift.I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time. UPDATE: I found a bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend for 2.00. I will switch it out for one we already have that is made of real wood. I will remake the one we already have into the "doll and people house". Update 2: I have abandoned this plan. lol I'm using the bookshelf for storage in my closet and frankly I don't have the time or energy for this kind of project SO I think I'm going to make a fold and go house from a vinyl tablecloth. I saw something similar only it was roads. I'll square the table cloth off into rooms and keep my eyes out for some doll house furniture. This solves a few problems - 1 space, I don't really have space for another large stationary toy. 2 - space - with a regular doll house or even a bookshelf dollhouse at best two people could play without it being necessary to shove each other to get their hands into the house. This layout is open on the floor, they can each have space and it folds up for storage. LOVE right? I'll share pics when I manage to get it done.
Something you want/for fun: Hot Wheels Dynamite Blaster Launcher on clearance for 10.49 - this spit out a rebate for a free Hot Wheels Triple launch jump so he'll get both of these for this gift. - 3.00 for shipping total: 13.49
santa: DVD - Postcards From Buster - 1st season 1.40
Howler:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need: banks
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Cars 2 Duplo block set 12.48
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read: The Sunflower parable
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need: banks
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: DC super hero friends trio sets Mr Freeze and Batwing 4.98+2.24 = 7.22
Santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Princess
Something to read: The parable of the Lily
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need: winter coat and hat - bought on clearance at the end of last winter
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. 1.00
Santa: I would like to get her a little toddler purse with some of my amazon money.
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions. I have a plan here but on the off chance that KOJ comes and reads this I'm not posting what it is. lol
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-2.00 (bookshelf)
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
-9.00 (books for all four kids)
________
49.00 left as of July 20, 2011
-12.48
-7.22
-1.40
-13.49
+ 2.00 (not using the bookshelf for Christmas)
________
I plan to do some baking for church and other friends but I'm not going to count those supplies in this dollar total.
I'm doing so-so on inbox dollars at about 22.00 even today. I need to be more aggressive on that to get the last 8.00 earned so I can cash in. I have no idea how long it takes for the check to get to me. I'm hoping to have it before Christmas but I may borrow the money from myself and pay it back with the check whenever it does get here.
For amazon cards right now I have: 30.00 built up and I'm almost halfway to another 5.00 card already. I used 10.00 of my gift cards for a book for school or we'd have another 10.00 too. The purse I'm looking at for Sierra is 11.24 right now. I'll probably go ahead and grab this in another couple of weeks if I haven't decided on something different by then. That leaves me with 18.76 of amazon money that I might let KOJ use to get me something if he wants.
The remaining cash will be split between my sisters - all three of them. Yeah, I know I don't have Em listed at the top there but I do plan to get or make her something for Christmas. Not sure what yet. I'm leaning towards a tutu.
I've got a few things for stockings but lets say the 30.00 from inbox is for stockings.
I picked up a few stocking stuffers for the kids at the Target summer clearance! 7.88 total
I've picked up toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids' stockings: 7.12
I also have toothbrushes and toothpaste for KOJ and I but I don't know offhand how much they were - I do know that I got them on sale, with coupons, and they earned me extrabucks at CVS. lol lets say 5.00 for all of it.
I found two more stocking stuffers for Princess in the closet at 5.00 total.
So I have 5.00 left of the 30.00 check from inbox that I'm working on earning to spend on the rest of the stocking stuffers. 2.00 of that will buy hot wheels cars on black Friday - one of our stores always has them for .50 a piece that day. Even Princess will get one. So I have 3.00, lol.
They'll each get mandarin oranges, and I watch for sales on the fun hot cocoa and peanuts for the stockings too. If all else fails and I need more to fill the stocking (which I don't think has EVER happened) I toss in some new school supplies from our school supply stockpile. Coupons for holiday candies always abound closer to the season and I just pick up a few things. I try not to go too much on candy.
Another project I'm going to be making is a car holder for their hot wheels. I have TONS of flannel so I'll use that for the backings and I have some clear vinyl but might need to purchase more to make the pockets with. I have two dowels already in the laundry room and I have ribbon. Once I decide what size I'm making I might determine that the dowels are long enough to have a friend saw in half so I would not need to purchase much for this project. Each boy will get their own and they will hang in their bedroom I think.
So in current conclusion I will probably end up over the 100.00 BUT not by a lot and it's still a HUGE improvement from what we normally spend at the holidays. We'll see though. I have something else I'm going to try in the near future that might earn me some more income to put towards this. Cash income even.
Now onto my 100.00 holiday. It's been a while and I think I normally update more around the middle of the month but I've been side tracked and well I hadn't really bought anything more yet. But as I just made another holiday purchase a few minutes ago I figured I could update now.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need: banks (so that we can start giving an allowance and have a place to put it lol) I'm going to create kits for each of the boys with three tootsie roll cans or pringles cans and stuff to decorate them. It will be a fun activity we can do together on Christmas day.
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift.
Something you want/for fun: Hot Wheels Dynamite Blaster Launcher on clearance for 10.49 - this spit out a rebate for a free Hot Wheels Triple launch jump so he'll get both of these for this gift. - 3.00 for shipping total: 13.49
santa: DVD - Postcards From Buster - 1st season 1.40
Howler:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need: banks
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Cars 2 Duplo block set 12.48
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read: The Sunflower parable
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need: banks
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: DC super hero friends trio sets Mr Freeze and Batwing 4.98+2.24 = 7.22
Santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Princess
Something to read: The parable of the Lily
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need: winter coat and hat - bought on clearance at the end of last winter
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. 1.00
Santa: I would like to get her a little toddler purse with some of my amazon money.
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions. I have a plan here but on the off chance that KOJ comes and reads this I'm not posting what it is. lol
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
-9.00 (books for all four kids)
________
49.00 left as of July 20, 2011
-12.48
-7.22
-1.40
-13.49
+ 2.00 (not using the bookshelf for Christmas)
________
29.90 left as of August 31, 2011
I plan to do some baking for church and other friends but I'm not going to count those supplies in this dollar total.
I'm doing so-so on inbox dollars at about 22.00 even today. I need to be more aggressive on that to get the last 8.00 earned so I can cash in. I have no idea how long it takes for the check to get to me. I'm hoping to have it before Christmas but I may borrow the money from myself and pay it back with the check whenever it does get here.
For amazon cards right now I have: 30.00 built up and I'm almost halfway to another 5.00 card already. I used 10.00 of my gift cards for a book for school or we'd have another 10.00 too. The purse I'm looking at for Sierra is 11.24 right now. I'll probably go ahead and grab this in another couple of weeks if I haven't decided on something different by then. That leaves me with 18.76 of amazon money that I might let KOJ use to get me something if he wants.
The remaining cash will be split between my sisters - all three of them. Yeah, I know I don't have Em listed at the top there but I do plan to get or make her something for Christmas. Not sure what yet. I'm leaning towards a tutu.
I've got a few things for stockings but lets say the 30.00 from inbox is for stockings.
I picked up a few stocking stuffers for the kids at the Target summer clearance! 7.88 total
I've picked up toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids' stockings: 7.12
I also have toothbrushes and toothpaste for KOJ and I but I don't know offhand how much they were - I do know that I got them on sale, with coupons, and they earned me extrabucks at CVS. lol lets say 5.00 for all of it.
I found two more stocking stuffers for Princess in the closet at 5.00 total.
So I have 5.00 left of the 30.00 check from inbox that I'm working on earning to spend on the rest of the stocking stuffers. 2.00 of that will buy hot wheels cars on black Friday - one of our stores always has them for .50 a piece that day. Even Princess will get one. So I have 3.00, lol.
They'll each get mandarin oranges, and I watch for sales on the fun hot cocoa and peanuts for the stockings too. If all else fails and I need more to fill the stocking (which I don't think has EVER happened) I toss in some new school supplies from our school supply stockpile. Coupons for holiday candies always abound closer to the season and I just pick up a few things. I try not to go too much on candy.
Another project I'm going to be making is a car holder for their hot wheels. I have TONS of flannel so I'll use that for the backings and I have some clear vinyl but might need to purchase more to make the pockets with. I have two dowels already in the laundry room and I have ribbon. Once I decide what size I'm making I might determine that the dowels are long enough to have a friend saw in half so I would not need to purchase much for this project. Each boy will get their own and they will hang in their bedroom I think.
So in current conclusion I will probably end up over the 100.00 BUT not by a lot and it's still a HUGE improvement from what we normally spend at the holidays. We'll see though. I have something else I'm going to try in the near future that might earn me some more income to put towards this. Cash income even.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
100.00 holiday updates
It's time for another update on my 100.00 holiday. I can't believe it's been another month already. Wow.
So this month I bought the books for the children. I got all four books for 9.00 shipped from another mama. I'm very excited about it. They are great books and it's one less thing I have to think about. I need to find two more decent DVD sales for the Santa gifts still.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time. UPDATE: I found a bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend for 2.00. I will switch it out for one we already have that is made of real wood. I will remake the one we already have into the "doll and people house".
Something you want/for fun:
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read: The Sunflower parable
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa:
Princess
Something to read: The parable of the Lily
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need: winter coat and hat - bought on clearance at the end of last winter
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. Like this only the tray is a much brighter (and cooler IMO) pink -1.00
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions. I have a plan here but on the off chance that KOJ comes and reads this I'm not posting what it is. lol
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-2.00 (bookshelf)
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
-9.00 (books for all four kids)
________
49.00 left as of July 20, 2011
Now for extra income I had 25.00 in amazon gift cards saved up but I'm going to use them for Princess' birthday gift this coming month. I will have one 5.00 card still saved up after that and should be able to save up another five 5.00 giftcards before crunch time in November. Which should still give me another 30.00 in giftcards. I did not end up using my gift cards for Sierra's gift. I made her a dress and bought her a few flower clips from a wahm friend. So I still currently have 25.00 in amazon cards. I'm a few days away from another gift card and plan to get there before August first. I haven't been going at it quite as hard as I was because the kids and I have been out and about more. So I'm going to estimate 3 more gift cards earned before the holiday shopping crunch.
So my outside income looks like this:
Amazon gift cards: estimated 45.00
Inboxdollars: currently 19.16 - I need a 30.00 earned balance in order to cash out so that's what I'm aiming for.
Mturks on amazon - a new thing I'm trying. We'll see where it goes and I'll update more about it next month. I did a few tasks on this and it took several days at least to see the credits and I kinda forgot to keep checking back. I looked just now and I got the credits and made .15. Woot. lol I might try to give this another go now that I know I'll earn the money. I can't find anywhere on the site that lists a minimum amount before "cashing out" and I can have the money transferred to either an amazon gift card or to my bank account. LOVE that option.
Now go check out the site that this challenge originated on and see all of her great ideas! The Saved Quarter She has some other great posts too about being frugal and what not.
So this month I bought the books for the children. I got all four books for 9.00 shipped from another mama. I'm very excited about it. They are great books and it's one less thing I have to think about. I need to find two more decent DVD sales for the Santa gifts still.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time. UPDATE: I found a bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend for 2.00. I will switch it out for one we already have that is made of real wood. I will remake the one we already have into the "doll and people house".
Something you want/for fun:
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read: Little Bear book
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read: The Sunflower parable
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa:
Princess
Something to read: The parable of the Lily
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need: winter coat and hat - bought on clearance at the end of last winter
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. Like this only the tray is a much brighter (and cooler IMO) pink -1.00
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions. I have a plan here but on the off chance that KOJ comes and reads this I'm not posting what it is. lol
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-2.00 (bookshelf)
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
-9.00 (books for all four kids)
________
49.00 left as of July 20, 2011
Now for extra income I had 25.00 in amazon gift cards saved up but I'm going to use them for Princess' birthday gift this coming month. I will have one 5.00 card still saved up after that and should be able to save up another five 5.00 giftcards before crunch time in November. Which should still give me another 30.00 in giftcards. I did not end up using my gift cards for Sierra's gift. I made her a dress and bought her a few flower clips from a wahm friend. So I still currently have 25.00 in amazon cards. I'm a few days away from another gift card and plan to get there before August first. I haven't been going at it quite as hard as I was because the kids and I have been out and about more. So I'm going to estimate 3 more gift cards earned before the holiday shopping crunch.
So my outside income looks like this:
Amazon gift cards: estimated 45.00
Inboxdollars: currently 19.16 - I need a 30.00 earned balance in order to cash out so that's what I'm aiming for.
Mturks on amazon - a new thing I'm trying. We'll see where it goes and I'll update more about it next month. I did a few tasks on this and it took several days at least to see the credits and I kinda forgot to keep checking back. I looked just now and I got the credits and made .15. Woot. lol I might try to give this another go now that I know I'll earn the money. I can't find anywhere on the site that lists a minimum amount before "cashing out" and I can have the money transferred to either an amazon gift card or to my bank account. LOVE that option.
Now go check out the site that this challenge originated on and see all of her great ideas! The Saved Quarter She has some other great posts too about being frugal and what not.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
100.00 holiday update
And here it is the middle of June and another month has past since the last post about the 100.00 holiday challenge. Not a lot has changed in the month but I do have a few things to add. I am also thinking about adding another gift to each child's list. Something they want/or for fun. Mostly because I found something for Princess at a yard sale and it doesn't fit in any of the other categories.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time. UPDATE: I found a bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend for 2.00. I will switch it out for one we already have that is made of real wood. I will remake the one we already have into the "doll and people house".
Something you want/for fun:
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa:
Princess
Something to read:
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. Like this only the tray is a much brighter (and cooler IMO) pink -1.00
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions.
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-2.00 (bookshelf)
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
And I will want to make/have assorted gifts on hand for friends at church and what have you.
Now for extra income I had 25.00 in amazon gift cards saved up but I'm going to use them for Princess' birthday gift this coming month. I will have one 5.00 card still saved up after that and should be able to save up another five 5.00 giftcards before crunch time in November. Which should still give me another 30.00 in giftcards. So my outside income looks like this:
Amazon gift cards: estimated 30.00
Inboxdollars: currently 17.82 - I need a 30.00 earned balance in order to cash out so that's what I'm aiming for.
Mturks on amazon - a new thing I'm trying. We'll see where it goes and I'll update more about it next month.
Edit: I completely forgot to re-link to the site where I first got the idea for the 100.00 holidays so let me do that now. The Saved Quarter she has tons of other fantastic posts on her blog too.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time. UPDATE: I found a bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend for 2.00. I will switch it out for one we already have that is made of real wood. I will remake the one we already have into the "doll and people house".
Something you want/for fun:
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun:
Santa:
Princess
Something to read:
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Something you want/for fun: Little tykes doll high chair. Like this only the tray is a much brighter (and cooler IMO) pink -1.00
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions.
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
-2.00 (bookshelf)
-1.00 (doll high chair)
________
58.00 left as of June 21, 2011
And I will want to make/have assorted gifts on hand for friends at church and what have you.
Now for extra income I had 25.00 in amazon gift cards saved up but I'm going to use them for Princess' birthday gift this coming month. I will have one 5.00 card still saved up after that and should be able to save up another five 5.00 giftcards before crunch time in November. Which should still give me another 30.00 in giftcards. So my outside income looks like this:
Amazon gift cards: estimated 30.00
Inboxdollars: currently 17.82 - I need a 30.00 earned balance in order to cash out so that's what I'm aiming for.
Mturks on amazon - a new thing I'm trying. We'll see where it goes and I'll update more about it next month.
Edit: I completely forgot to re-link to the site where I first got the idea for the 100.00 holidays so let me do that now. The Saved Quarter she has tons of other fantastic posts on her blog too.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
$100.00 holiday more thoughts and updates
Yes I know it's mid-May, NO I'm not in a hurry for the holidays, but if I plan well and shop now we will have a fantastic and blessed holiday with $100.00 as the title suggests.
When I first read about it on the blog The Saved Quarter I thought it was a marvelous idea but wasn't sure I had it in me because I ADORE black Friday shopping. Yeah, I'm nuts, I know. Last year Walmart's big sales started at 12 midnight and I was in the store with my mom at about 11pm. We got home at about 10:30/11am. At the time my precious girl was sleeping through the night so she has not experienced her first black Friday yet. On the one hand I liked not having to miss the big openings of the sales we wanted to go to because they all started at different times but on the other hand it made for a very long night. My husband, love the KOJ!, came up with a brilliant plan. I could save my own personal blow money the couple of months before Black Friday so that I could still go black Friday shopping and have a bit to spend. LOVE it. So that's my plan for Black Friday. Having that in place I have embarked on the 100.00 holiday. I'm not posting specifics because I know some of my relatives read the blog and it's far too early in the year to ruin their Christmas surprises but I'll post generalities.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time.
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa:
Princess
Something to read:
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions.
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
And I will want to make/have assorted gifts on hand for friends at church and what have you.
Now the rules of the "game" are that I can also use any "income" that I am able to generate that is not part of our normal income. So far I have earned and saved up 25.00 worth of amazon gift cards through Swagbucks. I'm also slowly earning change at inboxdollars.com and since I have to have total earnings of at least 30.00 before I can ask for a check to be sent I hope to have earned at least 30.00 through them by the holidays. At the rate I'm going I should have 55.00 in amazon cards and hopefully the 30.00 from inbox dollars to add to my 100.00 start up amount.
Tune in next month for another update on the holiday progress!
When I first read about it on the blog The Saved Quarter I thought it was a marvelous idea but wasn't sure I had it in me because I ADORE black Friday shopping. Yeah, I'm nuts, I know. Last year Walmart's big sales started at 12 midnight and I was in the store with my mom at about 11pm. We got home at about 10:30/11am. At the time my precious girl was sleeping through the night so she has not experienced her first black Friday yet. On the one hand I liked not having to miss the big openings of the sales we wanted to go to because they all started at different times but on the other hand it made for a very long night. My husband, love the KOJ!, came up with a brilliant plan. I could save my own personal blow money the couple of months before Black Friday so that I could still go black Friday shopping and have a bit to spend. LOVE it. So that's my plan for Black Friday. Having that in place I have embarked on the 100.00 holiday. I'm not posting specifics because I know some of my relatives read the blog and it's far too early in the year to ruin their Christmas surprises but I'll post generalities.
I buy for:
Squirrel:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt - I'm making these, already have most of the supplies and they are more than half done.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house - this will be a group gift. I hope to find a used bookshelf at a yard sale this summer and decorate it with different colors of paint and wall paper samples to look like different rooms in a house. The boys love to play with the little people toys we have so this will be great for them and Princess will grow into it over time.
santa: All about Dvd 2.00
Howler:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa: All About dvd 2.00
Spider:
Something to read:
Something to wear: I spy quilt
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa:
Princess
Something to read:
Something to wear: a dress and matching bow - I will make the dress, might try my hand at the bow too.
Something you need:
Something to share: doll and people house
Santa:
KOJ: Not a CLUE! Open to ideas and suggestions.
SIL: groupon deal*
Sis 1 and BIL: Have a plan here
Sis 2 and BIL: Have a plan here
Mom: groupon deal*
Dad and Mom2: groupon deal*
FIL: groupon deal*
*groupon deal 35.00 for 100.00 at a certain website. Great deal.
100.00
-4.00 (All About dvd's)
-35.00 groupon deal
________
61.00
And I will want to make/have assorted gifts on hand for friends at church and what have you.
Now the rules of the "game" are that I can also use any "income" that I am able to generate that is not part of our normal income. So far I have earned and saved up 25.00 worth of amazon gift cards through Swagbucks. I'm also slowly earning change at inboxdollars.com and since I have to have total earnings of at least 30.00 before I can ask for a check to be sent I hope to have earned at least 30.00 through them by the holidays. At the rate I'm going I should have 55.00 in amazon cards and hopefully the 30.00 from inbox dollars to add to my 100.00 start up amount.
Tune in next month for another update on the holiday progress!
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