The Frugal Free Gal

How to Save on Your Christmas Meal

What’s the difference between Christmas dinner and Thanksgiving dinner, and why can’t the holiday-scheduling people put a little more time between the two holidays? The Turkey Day meal is usually a little more elaborate, but both require a whole lot of preparation and can cost a whole lot of money.

Just like Thanksgiving, there are several tricks you can employ to save 20, 30 or even 40 percent on Christmas dinner. Here are just a few:

GET A HEAD COUNT – Knowing how many people to expect is important. Why? Because if you don’t know how many people are coming to dinner, you can’t possibly know how much food to make. Speaking of which…

MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE – When you’re cooking a feast for four people or even 14 people, it’s easy to overbuy on groceries and cook way more food than you need. Sure, the leftovers will eventually get eaten, but if you plan your menu wisely, you can probably save 20 to 25 percent on your grocery bills – and still have plenty of leftovers to go around.

BRING YOUR OWN… – If you want to save both time and money on groceries (and why wouldn’t you?) consider asking your guests to bring their own alcoholic beverages. Why? Because drinks – especially the “adult” kind – can be the most costly part of any party budget. If you’re not serving drinks, you might ask your guests to bring a side dish. That’s right, potluck style. How much time and money can you save by eliminating four or five side dishes from your to-do list? Plenty!

START BUYING NOW – As any grocery bargain hunter can tell you, the key to saving money on groceries is to stock up when things are on sale and not wait until the last minute to buy what you need. The same is true when it comes to Christmas dinner. By buying early, you can get fill up your pantry with items on sale and save lots of money along the way.

Pop quiz: How much money did the average family spent on Christmas gifts last year?

1. $455
2. $646
3. $815
4. $1,090
5. $425,000

If you guessed B — $646 – you’re right. If you also think that number seems a little low, you’re not alone. If you think it seems a little high, you’re a savvy shopper who’s figured out how to save a few bucks during one of the biggest spending sprees of the year. Maybe we can grab coffee sometime and share our secrets! Oh, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to share a few of those secrets with the following list:

1. MAKE YOUR OWN GIFTS – Homemade gifts not only cost less than most other gifts, but they mean that much more because they’re, well, homemade! The only cost associated with these gifts are the supplies which, if you buy wisely, should cost somewhere between $10 and $20. Need some ideas? Try a personalized book of coupons, a fabric-covered notebook, or an assortment of cookie cutter soaps. Need 97 more ideas? Check out this website!

2. BAKE YOUR OWN GIFTS – If you’re good in the kitchen (specifically with the oven), you should definitely consider baking your own gifts. A dozen cookies in a nice tin are an ideal present for just about anyone, including friends, family, neighbors or co-workers.

3. TRY A GIFT EXCHANGE – Got a big family, a large pool of friends, or a few dozen close co-workers? Instead of buying a gift for each person in the group, suggest a gift exchange. You’ll only have to buy one gift – and, yes, you’ll only get one gift – but you’ll save plenty of money. Perhaps you’ll save enough to buy a few “just because” gifts throughout the year!

4. MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE – It works for Santa, and he should know a thing or two about making the most out of a limited budget (I assume he has a budget, those elves don’t work for free!). Start your list by writing your total Christmas spending limit at the top. Then write everyone you’d like to shop for and how much you’d like to spend on each person. And then – here’s the hard part – do whatever you have to do to stick to that budget.

Are you looking around to find cheap kids clothes? 

Kids grow fast and kids clothing is not always cheap! By the time you buy shirts, pants, shoes, socks, dresses, belts and more, it may feel like you’ve spent a fortune! However, you can find kids clothes reasonably priced and in gently used condition to brand new at several places.  Here is a list of places where you can find cheap kids clothes.

1. Thrift Stores or Consignment Stores:

Visit your local thrift stores or consignment stores. You can usually find cheap kids clothes for under $5 a piece at Goodwill. New items are placed on the shelves or in the bins on a regular basis, so check back often.

You can also check out consignment stores that buy or sell children’s clothing. There are a lot of brand name quality kids clothes for a great price that are clean and in great condition.

Related: Create Extra Income Through Consignment

2. Garage Sales or Yard Sales:

Take a weekend to find cheap kids clothes at garage sales in your area. Most clothing is priced very low at garage sales. You can even negotiate with the seller to bring the price down.

3. Walmart:

Find cheap kids clothes at Walmart. If you are looking for cheap clothes for a baby or toddler, shop the Garanimals line at Walmart. They are usually priced below $5 per item. Walmart places kids clothing on regular clearance, too. You can find clothing on clearance racks for $1-$3 many times!

6. Online Sales:

Check for sales on kids clothing often online. Every now and then you will find them offering free shipping on all orders.

My favorite places to shop for online deals: 

Target

Amazon

Walmart

Kohl’s

JCPenney

The Children’s Place

Other ways to find cheap kids clothes:

1. Shop the Tax-Free weekends. 

Many states offer tax-free weekends. Find cheap kids clothes at your favorite stores and shop tax free!

2. Swap with friends.

If you have a friend with children, try swapping kids clothes or asking politely for hand me downs if they usually give the clothing away.

3. Make your own.

Are you crafty? Do you like to sew? Make your own kids clothing! Find pattern pieces at thrift stores or check for sales on fabric.

4. Shop the clearance at end of season.

Find cheap kids clothes for the next season when they go on clearance and stock up.

5. Buy bigger clothing.

Buy clothing in a size up if you know your child grows out of clothing too fast. By doing this you may be able to save the clothing through two seasons if you bought them larger to begin with.

6. Save clothing if you know you will have more kids.

Hold on to clothing if you know you are planning to have more children. Then, use the clothing for your next child, saving you a lot of money.

Where do you find cheap kids clothes? 

Creating Extra Income Through Consignment

Being a pet owner comes with a lot of benefits. Not only do pets offer love and companionship, but they can also improve your family’s health, reduce your stress level, teach your children responsibility and help you stay in shape.

Unfortunately, however, these benefits do come at a cost–pet ownership can be very expensive if you don’t take steps to keep it affordable. Here are six ways to do just that.

Choose the Right Pet for Your Budget

The cost of purchasing and caring for a pet can vary widely, depending on what type you get and where you get it. If you have a tight budget, you may want to consider purchasing a smaller, less expensive pet, such as a hamster, bearded dragon or fish. These pets provide several benefits without all of the expense.

Alternately, you may consider purchasing your next pet from the humane shelter, from a friend or from a newspaper or Craigslist ad. Find a good pet that needs a new home and you can save significantly over simply stopping by the pet store over the weekend.

Consider Overall Cost, not Just Purchase Price

When trying to figure out what type of pet you can afford, don’t just consider the purchase price. You’ll also need to factor in the costs of pet supplies and routine care. Consider one-time expenses such as spaying/neutering, training, microchip implantation and trips to the vet as well as recurring expenses such as food, toys, leashes and other essentials.

Will you need to fence in your yard, build a shaded outdoor area or pay for trips to a kennel while you’re out of town? Are you likely to need to replace or repair furniture, shoes or other belongings while your new pet is adjusting to your home? Is your pet likely to need any special medications as he or she ages? Be sure to factor in those costs as well.

Shop Around

Very rarely is the price you see the price you have to pay for pet supplies. Shop around and you may just be surprised by how much you can save. You don’t have to buy all of your pet supplies at the pet store. You can often find a bargain by shopping at a supercenter, dollar store or online retailer. Look for pet supplies on Amazon or check out various online pet supply subscription companies as well.

I personally love Chewy.com for my pet needs!

Use What You Already Have

Of course, the fewer items you have to buy, the less money you will need to spend. Instead of purchasing several items specifically for your pet, try to make do with items you already have on hand. For example, you likely already have bowls that will work for food and water, and you may have a baby gate you can use instead of purchasing a special puppy gate.

Look for Deals, Rebates and Promotions

For those pet supplies you do have to buy, be sure you get a good deal. Many stores regularly offer sales, rebates, coupons and other promotions. Ask for free samples and inquire about free shipping, membership discounts and bulk purchase discounts. Even small savings can really add up over time.

Visit the Vet

Visiting the vet may be expensive at first, but keeping regular check-ups can save you significantly over your pet’s lifetime. Not to mention the fact that routine check-ups will keep your pet healthier and happier as well. Don’t wait until your pet has had an injury or is in severe pain to bring them to the vet. Schedule and keep routine check-ups instead.

Get a FREE pet visit to Banfield Pet Hospital!

Related: 6 Ways to Save on Vet Bills

Just because your pet is worth every penny you spend on him or her doesn’t mean that you should have to spend every penny you have to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe. Use these six money-saving tips and tricks to keep your pet costs low and your time with your pet enjoyable.

What type of pet do you own? How do you keep it affordable?

If you are trying to save money, then you’ll probably hear about the importance of having an emergency fund. An emergency fund is just that – a fund set aside for emergencies only. You never know when you’ll need to use the emergency fund (your car breaks down, your AC goes out, etc.) Whatever the reason, the money will be there if you set it aside for a rainy day. Many experts will say that it’s a good idea to save at least $1,000 in an emergency fund if you are starting out. Then, once that fund is set and you’ve paid off your debts, you can always add to it and create a solid emergency fund of up to 3-6 months expenses.

Funding your emergency fund doesn’t have to be difficult! Here are a few ways to build your emergency fund.

1. Earn extra income.

Find a second job or work a few side jobs. Work a few extra nights a week and add the extra money to your fund. You can even try babysitting, mowing lawns, washing cars, etc. Here’s a list of 5 Ways to Earn Extra Cash.

2. Sell your belongings.

Go around your home and start finding items that you and your family can live without. You’d be surprised with how much you can find. Then, either sell those items at a yard sale, online through eBay, or consign the items.

Related: 5 Easy Steps for Throwing the Perfect Yard Sale

3. Avoid Eating at Restaurants.

If you are in the habit of eating fast food on a regular basis, I challenge you to add up your restaurant expenses for one month. Then, try to cut that amount in half, or avoid eating at restaurants at all. Here are a few articles on dining out if you’d like to save on dining out.

Related: 5 Ways to Save Big When Dining Out

Related: How to Cut Back on Eating Out (and Save Money, Too!)

4. Set up automatic payments.

Treat funds going into an emergency fund “like a bill” and set up automatic payments from your checking account. You don’t have to add a lot, but start small, maybe $25 each month. Set the payments up automatically and have it go to your savings account each month. You can increase this amount if you’d like until your emergency fund is where you want it to be.

5. Cut your grocery bill significantly.

Food can be one of the highest expenses in your household. Create a budget for food and stick to it. Most food budgets I’ve seen run around $200-$400 per month for a family of 4. Use coupons to save even more at the grocery store.

Related: The Best Places to Find Online Printable Coupons

6. Shop at thrift stores instead of retail stores.

Thrift stores are a great place to find items you may need or want. Instead of paying full price for items at a retail store, shop at thrift stores. I actually buy the majority of my children’s clothes at thrifts stores, paying only $1.79 per item. This beats paying $10-$15 per item or more at the mall or other retail stores!

7. Start a No Spend Challenge.

Buy only the things you truly need during a no spend challenge. Here’s a list of free activities to take advantage of during a no spend challenge.

Having an emergency fund in place can certainly help on a “rainy day.” Start as soon as you can to get your emergency fund in place.

BONUS TIP:

Read more about Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps to saving money. It helped us GREATLY over the last few years. We became “gazelle intense” with our finances and paid off our debts. We are completely debt free!

Do you have an emergency fund in place? What tips would you add to the list?

One of the most popular pets in America, dogs are a natural favorite among young and old alike. Unfortunately, this love often comes at a price. According to americanpetproducts.org, Americans spend an average of $1,641 on their dogs every year between the toys, food, vet visits and everything else that dogs need. Thankfully, just because some people spend thousands of dollars on their pets every year does not mean that you have to as well. Here are seven ways to save on dog-related pet expenses that you can try today. Try one or try them all–your wallet will thank you.

7 Ways to Save on Dog Expenses

1. Sign Up for Store Loyalty Programs

Do you find yourself shopping at the same pet stores time and time again? Ask if they offer any sort of loyalty discount for shopping at their store. The sign up process is usually quick, easy and free, and you can start saving money right away. Do be careful about signing up for store credit cards or any type of program that requires you to spend a certain amount, however. You don’t want to pay more in fees or interest than you save by using the card or program in the first place.

2. Shop in Bulk

For dog supplies you go through quickly, particularly dog food, you may want to purchase in bulk, preferably when they are on sale. You can save yourself a great deal of time and money by purchasing large quantities less often than by grabbing the small bag every time you are about to run out. Check stores like Costco, Amazon and other online pet supply retailers to see what sorts of bulk discounts you can find. I personally love Chewy.com!

3. Purchase Quality When It Counts

Do keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always a bargain, however. Purchase cheap dog food and you may find yourself with vet bills after a while. Purchase cheap dog toys and you may find yourself replacing them constantly. Don’t consider just the price when purchasing items for your dog; consider the value as well. Some things are worth spending a little more for. Check out the reviews on dog toys before buying!

4. Ask for Discounts

While the price of pet supplies is often non-negotiable, the cost of the services your pet needs can sometimes be negotiated, especially if you choose an individual provider or small business for your services instead of a corporation. The next time you take your dog for training, grooming or to the vet, don’t be afraid to ask if the price is flexible. You may be able to take advantage of a two-for-one or percentage off deal, or you may be able to get certain upgrades or extra services for free.

Related: 6 Tips for Saving Big on Pet Expenses

5. Request Free Samples

Are you considering choosing a new brand of dog food but you aren’t sure which type your dog will enjoy? Why not write a few dog food companies and request a free sample? While you probably won’t get a large amount of food this way, you can save yourself a fair amount by not having to buy several full sized bags to find the brand your dog likes. If you’d like to try a few new products, this is a great, low-risk way to get them.

Related: Freebies and Free Samples

Get a FREE visit at Banfield Pet Hospital!

6. Consider Dog Insurance

You pay for health insurance for yourself and your family. Have you ever considered purchasing health insurance for your dog? Every dog will need to visit the vet at some point, and you never know when that huge, unexpected expense will occur. Arm yourself in advance by looking into dog insurance, especially if you have reason to suspect that your dog may have health issues either now or in the future.

Related: 6 Ways to Save on Vet Bills

7. Start a Pet Blog

If you love dogs and dog products and want a great way to get tons of great, new products for cheap or free, you may even consider starting a blog about pets in general or dogs in particular. Oftentimes companies will send bloggers free products in exchange for their honest review. Grow a quality blog and you may just be surprised at how many free products and opportunities you receive.

8. Try Products

Sign up for a BarkBox subscription box for your dog so that you can have products sent to you to try. Every BarkBox has at least 2 innovative toys, 2 all-natural bags of treats, and a chew, curated from each month’s unique themed collection.

Your dog may be your baby, but that doesn’t mean that he needs to be as expensive as another person. Use these seven tips to keep your dog costs low and spend your days enjoying your dog–not working to afford him.