Almost everyone’s done it from time to time, overspent and over-splurged during the holidays. Whether it was a great new outfit to wear to all the holiday get-togethers, a party you hosted yourself or maybe just purchasing one too many gifts in an effort to be generous, the holidays can paint things other than holly berries and giftwrap red. It can leave your budget in the red too! Now that they’re over, give yourself a gift and your budget a break with these easy ideas to help put your budget back in the green:

Plan around the pantry. This is no time to fill it! Unless you live in an area of the country where nature may leave you stranded due to bad weather, this is no time to worry about stocking your pantry. Instead, strive to plan an entire week (or more) of meals using only the food you currently have. If you must purchase additional groceries, set a very strict and small budget to do so and stick to it. Slashing your grocery costs for a week or more, generally speaking, is the single most effective way to find extra funds fast to put elsewhere. If you have to play “cash catch-up,” do so by slowing down the trickle of cash out! (Pssst! And while we’re on the topic, do everything in your power to avoid taking out a payday loan. Sure, they may very well seem like the ideal short-term solution, but that’s just it. They’re not only expensive, they’re short term. You’re much better off going to extreme measures yourself for a short period of time rather than paying someone else even more money to just “float” you financially for a few weeks or so.)

Related: Pentry Savings All-Stars

Take advantage of much more lenient return policies. Maybe you received a gift that doesn’t work, is damaged or isn’t just quite right for whatever reason or perhaps you have an item or two you’ve been meaning to return but just haven’t yet, now’s the time to jump on it! Yeah, yeah, yeah, the lines are long and it does admittedly take time to drive on out to the store, but never is it easier to make a return. So turn whatever it is into a bit of extra pocket cash and fast! Even if you have to accept store credit or a gift card, it’s certainly more usable than whatever it is you can’t use to begin with.

Got kiddos? Tuck away a few of the less “stellar” items they received as gifts. I’m certainly not advocating taking away a kid’s toys! But so many kids are fortunate enough to receive so many wonderful gifts, that a handful of them seem to get pushed to the side and not given their fair due or time in the spotlight! Remedy this and help your budget, strategically pick up a few of these items when they’re not watching and tuck them away to pull out when they’re bored or hankering—or downright pestering you—for something new! And—Aha!—the next time you’re at the store and they’re asking for a new toy or a treat, you can strongly say, “No” but follow it up by reminding them of “that great…” they received during the holidays but never played with! Your budget is spared, you’re the hero and your little one happy.

Related: The Basics of A Budget

Prioritize the funds that have to go out. If there’s just not enough funds to make all your ends meet, then own it. Call your creditors. Ask if it’s possible to divide payments over time, even if it’s only for a month or so. Ask if there’s an opportunity to change your due date, especially if it matches up better to when you get paid. Whatever you do, don’t let things go. Don’t bury your head in the sand or in the pile of bills.

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There’s no doubt about it. The holidays inevitably mix things together that just shouldn’t: expensive clothes and textiles and lots of stain opportunities! Whether it’s a beautiful (and expensive) holiday sweater, your child’s finest “dress up” outfit, your carpet or your very best tablecloth, they’re all likely to take a beating during the holiday season. How could they not? From wine to hot chocolate to tree sap, the holidays are ripe with ways to completely ruin what you’ve already spent a pretty penny on.

Have no fear, though, and certainly don’t halt the festivities. Should something fall victim to a holiday “Ho, Ho, NOOO!”, just read below for ways to fix it fast.

To remove red wine that’s freshly spill  blot it first with cold water or even dab it with a little white wine to help neutralize the red. If it’s your carpet that fell victim, then pour salt over the spill and let it sit overnight. The next day, vacuum up the salt and clean with a combination of 1 Tbsp dishwashing liquid, 1 Tbsp white vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. Blot until the stain is gone. If clothing or a tablecloth has the offending stain, rub liquid detergent or laundry stain remover onto the stain and wash with fabric-safe or color-safe bleach.

To remove candle wax, relax. It’s easier to remove it when it’s cool and solid, so let it do so. When it’s hardened, scrape as much of the wax off as possible. (The edge of a credit card works great for this!) If it’s colored wax and it’s not adequately removed by scraping, seek out a special cleaner for just this purpose available at most retail or hardware stores.

If chocolate has left its (unwanted) mark, scrape up as much as you can right away. Next, apply a laundry stain remover and rub it in well using your fingers. If it’s something machine washable, wash it using fabric-safe or color-safe bleach. If, however, the chocolate stain is on furniture, then sponge it clean with a solution of 1 Tbsp liquid hand soap mixed with 2 cups of cool water. Chocolate on the carpet? Then sponge it clean with the same solution used for furniture described above, but use warm water instead of cool.

Gravy’s good on the potatoes and the plate, not anywhere else! But if it has landed elsewhere, scrape off as much as you can because it’s the grease in the gravy that will leave that dreaded grease stain that just lingers like a nasty ghost of great meals past! Next, when able, apply a laundry stain remover and work it into the fibers using your fingers. Next, allow it to soak overnight in the washer filled with a combination of warm water and fabric-safe or color-safe bleach.

In short, the very best guard against these textile memories of holidays past is being swift and prepared. As soon as a spill occurs (with the exception of hot wax as described above), do all that you can wipe up the offending spill. Next, be prepared with a reliable laundry stain remover. (If you’re curious, I like the Oxyclean gel stick. It’s reasonably priced. It’s easy to use (even for my arthritic hands), and does a great job and getting out even set in stains.)

Photo credit: Artis Momentum

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When my “text and talk” phone went out, I was excited at the prospect of finally getting a new phone. I was tired of looking at that darn scratch that drove it’s way clear across the entire length of the screen. And as a thrifty person, I was even more excited about getting a brand new phone for free or as close to it as I could get. Yeah, I was excited. That is, until I realized that I pretty much would be forced to go with a really rinky-dink phone or upgrade to a smartphone.
Sure, I liked the idea of a smartphone. It sounded fun and as a self-employed mom of two, the convenience of it was certainly compelling. But when my carrier started informing me of the monthly service charge, I was less than thrilled.

I took a month off and asked friends and family who all said that these smartphones—and their hefty monthly price tags—were well worth it. I even asked complete strangers in the store for their undiluted opinion. Heck, an employee at Target was very frank. “Oh, man, it’ll change your life! Seriously, I was just like you…A doubter…” Long story made short, I took the leap. And that guy at Target was right. My smartphone has changed my life. But not in the ways I thought it would.

You see, I’ve discovered a handful of ways that my smartphone helps me save money as a parent, and that combined with all the other conveniences it offers me actually do justify the monthly bill at least for me personally. So if you’ve got kiddos and a smartphone, too, keep reading. Make sure you’re taking full advantage of the various ways it can help you save money too.

Put the fear of Santa in them (if your family does the “Santa thing!”). I admit it. I love using scare tactics. It’s not that I enjoy putting my kiddos in a panic or instilling fear. I love them because—well—they work. Whether you tote iPhone or an Android, both platforms feature “Santa scanner” apps that will scan your child (or you, for that matter!) to determine whether you’re naughty or nice. Is your kid acting up? Threaten to scan them regardless of locale!

Occupy your pint-sized family members without guilt. Our youngest child has a mountain of special needs, so it’s exceedingly difficult to find a babysitter. As a result, my husband and I haven’t been out alone in over 5 years. So we dine out once in a while in an effort to give ourselves respite. But as anyone who’s done this with kids knows, this can be expensive and anything but relaxing. From pining for an appetizer to claiming they’re bored, kids and dining out somewhere other than McDonald’s doesn’t always mix. So installed on my phone is several apps and games that are only accessible to my kids when I need them quietly sitting still and pronto!

Put your phone to work while shopping for holiday gifts. Looking for that one hot holiday gift your child is really hoping for? Trying to track down the best possible price? Before you head out, install a barcode scanning app on your phone so that you can scan it right there in the store. Immediately ensure that the price you’re about to pay is the best one. If you arrive at the store only to find the store shelf empty, scan the tag on the shelf to locate what stores in the area do have it in stock. Then, call to have the item held for you at customer service before even leaving your current location. Save time, save gas and save your sanity!

Photo credit: Paul Jacobson

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Collections can be fun. There’s the thrill of the hunt, looking for that all-important piece to round out the collection and then the excitement of finally landing it. They give a sense of accomplishment. Accumulating a collection can take time and effort. Real collections are created over time and are not for those who give up easily. They can help build community. Whether it’s between family members or friends, collections can immediately create a common bond. But collections can be great monetarily speaking, too. And here’s just a few ways how:

Collections can build value through appreciation or rarity. As it turns out, many collections can collect a whole lot more than dust. They can collect some serious cash too. And it needn’t just be precious metals either. From vintage video gaming equipment from the 1980s to old metal lunch boxes to even your old toy collections tucked away in your attic from when you were young, nostalgia can rack in some serious money. Wonder just how much? Visit or call your local pawn shop or click on over to Ebay to find out. Generally speaking the older and the more rare an item, the greater its value. What’s sitting in a box and collecting dust bunnies for you might very well be worth its weight in gold to someone seeking that “just right” item for their own collection or that one perfect thing to help recall great memories of the past.

They can be a quick source for emergency cash should it ever be needed. Collections aren’t just fun. They can be an insurance policy, too. Whether you’ve thought about it or not, a collection of nearly any kind can be counted on as a quick and liquid source for emergency cash. Whether you piece it out or sell it in its entirety and whether it’s postage stamps, Pez dispensers or precious stones, collections are a convenient way to get cash when you need it and without having to incur the cost of paying interest or loan fees.

Capitalize on your collection knowledge, too. Knowledge is power, and—believe it or not—it can be cash also! If you’ve got a collection, chances are pretty darn good that you’ve got some expertise, too. Put it to use to earn some money. Provide your services as a knowledgeable consultant. Enable others to hire you to seek out, find and secure elusive items for their own collections (for a finder’s fee, of course!). If your particularly tech-savvy, consider starting a blog focused on your collection or a similar topic. Place a PayPal button on the site for donations and consider placing ads on the site to bring in additional revenue. Collections can be a lot of fun, but they can also be profitable too.

Collect it solely to flip it for a profit. It can be profitable in real estate, but it can be profitable with collectables too. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt, but not so much the taking up of real estate in your own home? Then profit by helping others fill out their own collections. Hunt down, locate and secure collectibles to sell to others looking to build or fill in their own collections. Just be sure to have a buyer in mind and a good idea of what is and isn’t a good deal on items before plunking down your own cash to try to sell it for a profit later on.

Photo credit: Jeff Belmonte

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If your household budget is anything like mine, you’re watching your expenses inflate faster than a helium balloon but said balloon might as well be red because that’s where all these costs threaten to put you. No more than ever, it’s important to put into full-force any and all things that can help protect your bottom line and your budget from going bust. So this week, I’ve dedicated to those ultimate pocketbook protectors that can help whittle down these costs while at the same time protect your precious resources.

Store brand magic erasers are inexpensive and effective. They can rescue you from scuffs and writing on walls, countertop stains and can even make old, dingy appliances look new again. In turn, saving you TONS of cash.

Rubber or silicone spatulas help you easily get every last drop out of condiment jars, mixing bowls and leftover containers. (Another big plus? Makes cleaning recyclable containers easier too.)

Hand sanitizer is inexpensive and exceedingly convenient. Obviously, nothing can replace washing one’s hands frequently and correctly, but hand sanitizer certainly fits the bill when the prior is impossible. Additionally, if you’ve got kids, you’ve got germs—a LOT of them. Keep them at bay and your entire healthier by keeping it handy and using it often.

Organization cannot be overly appreciated when it comes to its ability to save you money. Organize and plan your driving routes to maximize your gas mileage and minimize your time out. Keep track of when to pay bills so that you’re always on time. Avoid missing appointments to not incur fees. Plan your meals in advance so you can take advantage of sales and minimize or completely eliminate the temptation to eat fast food.

Simply using your phone can help protect your bottom line too. Looking for a specific item? Don’t even think about getting in the car before you’ve called around first to figure out where it’s in stock. Despite your best efforts, are things still too tight? Call to arrange a payment plan or change a due date with a creditor. Don’t wait and incur a late fee—or worse—risk a higher interest rate simply because you didn’t call.

Generic products are a fail-safe for saving money. From prescription drugs to toilet paper to pasta sauce, generic or store-brand products are usually the same high-quality item, just without the fancy packaging and advertising. If you can skip colorful labels in exchange for a few extra bucks, then go ahead and reach for the no-frills off-brand item.

Multi-purpose and multi-tasking items almost always trump their “one-trick wonder” counterparts. You work hard and the products you purchase should too. Opting for products and tools that will function in more than one way not only ensures you’re getting a greater value for your money, but you can purchase in bulk with peace of mind too to save even more. This is truly a win-win-win situation. You’ll be purchasing a product you know you’ll use, you can get it at a better price by purchasing a larger quantity and you’ll minimize the risk of running out and having to pay a premium for convenience later on.

Photo credit: jridgewayphotography

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