I know the holidays are about much more than gifts, but come on, who doesn’t enjoy giving great gifts to those we love?! The problem can be, though, that a generous spirit isn’t always accompanied by a bulging wallet. Fortunately, one can have a give great gifts and have a meager budget, too! So if you’re in the market for some great gift ideas sure to please those on your list while keeping your bottom line in tact, keep reading.

Think outside of the box to put great gifts inside the gift box

Often the gift of an experience is far less expensive and yet even more valuable than a tangible item. A home cooked meal, movie tickets (purchased at a discounted rate via coupons at Entertainment.com or a club warehouse) or a gift of your skills and talents such as sewing, gardening or automotive work should not be devalued simply because they can’t traditionally fit inside a wrapped box. Heighten the excitement for the receiver and your enjoyment in giving the gift by creating and printing a coupon or letter describing the gift experience and then box and wrap it as you would for any treasured present.

Cash in reward points to reap great gifts to give

Maybe you use a credit card that features reward points. Perhaps you frequent a store that pays your loyalty back by providing you with rebates and discounts. The holidays can be an ideal time to take advantage of such reward programs. You can cash them in for great gifts for friends and family without having to fork over a lot of, well, cash.

Divide your gift giving needs and conquer them in one place to save money

Whether you like to shop online or in a traditional store doesn’t matter. Either way, chances are very good that you can likely safe a good chunk of money simply be tackling all your shopping in one spot. Many sites such as Amazon.com offer free shipping if your purchase totals a minimum amount, saving you money that would otherwise simply go to mailing costs. Some brick-and-mortar stores also offer “cash coupons” that can be earned by purchasing a pre-established amount in order to receive coupons that can be used like cash in the store towards other purchases. In any case, you can often save yourself time and the need to stave off unnecessary purchases by committing to purchasing your gifts in one place.

Consider throwing a “re-gifting” gathering

All of us likely have a number of items around the house that are in new condition that we either received as well-meant gifts ourselves or simply never put to use. And, in this economic climate, many of us could use the financial break that re-gifting can bring. Get rid of the guilt and return to the real meaning of giving a gift – surprising someone you love with something they’ll use, enjoy or treasure. To throw a re-gifting gathering, invite a few trusted friends over and ask them to bring a few items that are in new, gift-giving condition that they themselves would be proud to give to someone. The more people you invite the larger the pool of items to select from for future gift giving. Establish the rules in advance such as each guest can only select the same number of new gifts to take as they brought and agree on discretion, please. While there’s no shame in re-gifting, there’s no need to announce it either. Make the gathering even more festive with holiday music and a gift wrapping station complete with tags, ribbon and fun wrapping.

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Hey, I like getting out and about just as much as the next guy or gal. Maybe even more so. As a work-at-home mom, I’m usually confined to the four walls of our smallish condo all day, every day, leaving only to take my kids to school. This and staring seemingly endlessly at my computer screen can, yep, leave me feeling very stir crazy. Getting out, though, can cost a tidy sum especially in this economic climate. From the price of gas to the cost associated with various entertainment options, the anticipatory costs could scary anyone right back into staying at home. Take heart, though, because with a bit of planning and an adventurous spirit, you can give into your need to get out without hanging your budget out to dry.

Take advantage of who you know to increase your potential savings. Carry any and all association and organization membership cards with you at all times. You’d be surprised how much money such associations can save you. Take homeschooling parents, for example. A small upfront investment in homeschool ID cards reap savings throughout the year such as educational discounts on books, travel and – at some restaurants – even dining! With such an ID, homeschool parents are entitled to the same discounts available to public and private school teachers, and that can add up to a whole lot of savings! (To find out more about low-cost, professional ID cards for homeschooling parents and children, check out HomeSchoolID.com.)

Planning an outing with friends and family can also save you cash as many establishments offer discounts to larger groups. From discounted movie tickets to a discount on museum admittance to a better price on cruise tickets, sometimes committing to sharing the fun at the same time can also mean more cash in your pocket. Hey, the more the merrier, right?

Get online to click and print savings prior to leaving home. Take a moment to do a quick search online for printable coupons that you can use once you reach your destination. Businesses that count on your discretionary spending to make a profit are competing heavily in this economy and this usually shows up in the form of coupons and discounts ready for the taking. Make these companies work for your dollars by helping you save more of them. Visit their websites frequently to print off any available coupons. Not doing so is simply throwing money away. Found a great coupon for a favorite location? Bookmark it and use it again and again to enjoy the outing and the savings.

Traditional coupons are now more plentiful (and useful) than ever. From the Entertainment book to coupons that find their way to you via the mailbox, tried-and-true coupons can be a budget minder’s best friend. And don’t forget to check the back of your grocery store receipts, either. From coupons for dining out to local beauty salons, these small coupons can reap you big savings and big fun. Is nothing but blank paper staring you back in the face? All is not lost. Check out RTUI.com and MyPoints.com for click-and-print coupons accessible via your local zip code.

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It’s no mystery that secondhand shopping can be a boon to your bank account. As the ultimate “go-green” option, thrift store and garage sale shoppers can reap even bigger savings and better value with the following list of strategies.

Not sure, keep it in your cart anyway. While shopping in traditional stores, consumers have the option to mull potential purchases over before finally placing them in their cart. Not the case with successful secondhand shopping. If you’re on the fence about a particular purchase, place it in your cart while you decide. Leave it on the shelf, and you might as well say goodbye because chances are pretty good that someone else may very well pick it up and place it in their cart while you decide.

Know when to take a risk. There are definite benefits – even outside of the financial ones – to secondhand shopping. I love being able to tell right on the rack whether or not a shirt is going to need ironing after each wash, for example. That said, due to the nature of pre-owned clothing, much of what’s on secondhand racks will have small stains and or need minor repairs. Know what kinds of stains you are adept at removing with your arsenal of products at home and be willing to replace buttons here or there or even make minor alterations to size and fit.

Know when to walk away. Just because something’s cheap, does not make it a good deal. Avoid making impulse purchases simple because the price is good. Admittedly, it’s a good idea to always keep your eyes open for items you may need in the future, it’s not a great idea to over purchase and fill your home with superfluous stuff while depleting your bank account. Like with any other shopping, stick to a list. Successful secondhand shoppers maintain a list of current and potential future necessities from which to shop from.

No price? No problem, ask and ask again. Come across a great find, but despite your best efforts you cannot find a price on the item anywhere? All is not lost, in fact, it might be a great opportunity to snag an even better deal. Ask to speak to a manager and have the item priced on the spot. Don’t like the price quoted? Suggest the price you’d be willing to pay for the item. Smart shoppers know that secondhand is not retail and bartering, to some extent, is allowed. Smart managers know that a ready and willing to pay customer on the spot is worth a reduction in price. So, speak up! Those who don’t A-S-K don’t G-E-T!

Know your stores schedules. Usually inventory and selection is at its best on Mondays and after any major holiday, but that may not be true for the thrift stores nearest you. Ask employees when they usually receive the bulk of their donations and when those donations are priced and hit the shelves. Unlike traditional stores when inventory and stock are usually a constant, great thrift store finds are often left up to chance. Increase your luck and tip probability in your favor by figuring out your store’s schedule.

Check alternate sections of the store. Even the most organized of secondhand stores, have occasional misplacements where items are put in an incorrect area of the store. Thrift stores are truly organic in that the inventory always changes and it’s often a matter of employee preference or decision making as to what items really go where. That said, it can be both a blessing and a bane for shoppers. If you’re really in need of a particular item, go out of your way to check out different areas of the store. Looking for a mirror? Check out the furniture section and the picture frames or wall hanging section. Need a pair of pants for your child? Check out both the girls and the boys racks. The extra few minutes it takes you to check could very well leave you happy with the desired item in hand.

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I took a stroll through the mall the other day and noticed what most of you are probably noticing at stores everywhere – all of the Christmas decorations and merchandise are out in full force.  Heck, I saw our mall putting up Christmas stuff in the middle of August.  I guess it’s never soon enough to prepare for the busiest shopping season of the year.

Researchers are already rolling out the pessimistic forecasts for this year’s Christmas shopping season.  A report from America’s Research Group indicates that 43% of shoppers surveyed plan to spend less than last year while just 11% plan to increase their holiday spending.  That’s one of the more pessimistic readings the group has published in recent years.

While it’s still unclear whether or not this economy is still in recession, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of where their dollars are going.  This season, shoppers are expected to do more comparison price shopping and look for additional internet or early bird specials.  Expect to be hit especially hard in the stores, in the mail and online with circulars and advertisements.

Retailers for their part are expected to be up to the challenge.  Many of them remain optimistic for robust sales.  Big retailers like Macy’s and Kohl’s have announced that they plan to ramp up their seasonal staffing.  Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas expects that overall holiday hiring will rise when compared to 2009.

In an effort to bring buyers in the doors, retailers are expected to make huge doorbuster offers similar to those on Black Friday last year.  Big box stores like Walmart and Target are expected to again offer deals on everything from electronics and TVs to smart phones and GPS units.

Another trend that can be expected to continue is that Black Friday will kick off earlier and earlier.  In fact, Amazon started a possible trend by turning Black Friday into Black Friday Week.  Instead of kicking things off in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving, they began offering deals throughout the week in an effort to keep consumers shopping over a longer period of time.

And this year, expect a comeback from something that hasn’t been popular in many years – layaway.  As the credit crunch continues to hit more and more households, consumers are looking for alternatives to finance their Christmas lists without loading up on credit.  Cue the return of the layaway plan.  Shoppers can now purchase items by putting a percentage of the purchase price down on a regular basis until it’s paid off while avoiding running up a credit card bill with huge finance charges in the meantime.

This holiday shopping season should give us a good idea where we stand from the standpoint of economic recovery.  As the national unemployment rate continues to hover around the 10% mark, retailers should be cautious with expectations.  That could put spenders in line to get some great deals along the way.

Let the holiday madness begin!

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Seattle is deemed to be one of the most expensive places to live and it is. But unlike many of the very high price places that require you to at least earn a middle or high income amount, Seattle is an exception along with a few other cities. If you are wondering if there is a way to slash the prices of at least 50% or more, it can be done. You do not need some coupon but just do price comparison and I can tell you what places are worth buying food from which is affordable or cheap.

One of the places is Grocery Outlet which charges you cheap compare to the big name brand stores such as Safeway and QFC. Almost everything is worth getting with the exception on some fruits and veggies which you need to keep an eye on if it is still fresh. QFC may be a bit pricier but they always have fresh fruits and vegetables while throwing away the ones that are going bad. You don’t see that all the time in most grocery stores.  The milk and meat products charges more which you may consider buying them at Safeway or somewhere that may be much cheaper.

Most stores have some organic fruits and vegetables, which is much healthier compare to the regular kind because they do not use pesticides and other chemicals.  But most people can’t afford to buy them since they do charge a bit more. If you are willing to pay more by eating healthier fruits and veggies, you may consider getting some organic ones. Forget buying some junk food that is covered with nasty chemicals such as partially hydrogenated oils or monosodium glutamate.

I consider eating healthy stuff for most of the time but once in a while, would go nuts such as on chocolates or ice cream. Personal trainers like to tell their clients to eat naughty kinds of foods once a week on one of the meals on a day that you can cheat. That way, you won’t lose track of your progress. It is sad to see that there are many people who forego buying cheap items on junk food instead of buying healthy foods which may seem somewhat expensive. But in my opinion, I prefer living healthier than to get so run down on unhealthy stuff all the time. It was that way when I was pregnant with my first kid. And she would be nine years old this month.

My hon and I tend to go grocery shopping for most of the time at Safeway because it is just a couple of blocks away. I like their customer service where they have friendly people working there but sometimes, they don’t keep track on the fruit and vegetable areas all the time. But that doesn’t happen often since we still go there to shop. My two and five year olds love to ride the two-seater shopping cart where kids can go in front of it and sit down. Sometimes my shopping experiences go good while on the other hand, if they are very active, I would get mad. But I wouldn’t change it for the world since I appreciate having my kids with me when do.

I hope that you decide to take my advice on where to go for grocery shopping whether you are a tourist or not. And if you combine that with the days that they have certain items on sale, you would save more money too. If you want to learn more on how to eat healthy, there are many places to learn it from online and offline sources. I may consider writing about that on the next article.

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