4 Money-Saving Tips for the Holidays

 

It's that time of the year when folks are shopping for special gifts for family and friends.  Some brave souls took the challenge of entering retail establishments on Black Friday looking for those unbeatable bargains.

I am not one of those souls!  I have no desire to become part of the madness that Black Friday--well, really it starts on Thanksgiving evening--has become.  I prefer to shop from the comfort of my home in pj's with a cup of coffee in hand.

There are so many good deals to be had online that it doesn't make sense to me to even consider fighting the crowds.  Plus I am saving the money I would have spent on gas.

When I shop online, there are 4 steps I take to get the best deals:

1)  Look for the sales--do an internet search for the item you are looking for.  This will find various stores that carry the product.  Scan through the sites looking for the best price offered.

2)  Next, do a search for "coupon code" and the name of the store--or you can go directly to such sites as RetailMeNot or CouponCode or such.  (I have no affiliation with any of these.) I usually just do a generic search and work my way through a couple of sites to find the best code deal.  You will find codes for percentages off and/or free shipping.  Some online stores allow you to stack multiple codes, others permit only one.  If they only allow one, do a calculation to see if you will save more using the free shipping or percentage off.

3.  Once I find the above-needed info, I log into my Ebates account to see if the store is a registered store.  There are a lot of retailers registered with Ebates and offer a percentage of your purchase back in cash (paid to you periodically by Ebates via check.)  During the holiday shopping season, a lot of the stores offer double the value--even more savings!  If you are not an Ebates member, you can check them out via the link below--please note, I will receive compensation for anyone who signs up through this link.  Just want to clarify that in this case, I am putting a plug in for Ebates.  :)

FYI:  sometimes it will save you more cash to choose a different store that is registered with Ebates if they offer a higher percentage back that offsets the starting price of the item.  You will have to calculate how you can achieve the highest savings.  Takes a little math, but it all adds up to more cash in your pocket.

4)  And last, when I check out, I use my cash back credit card--yes, yet another percentage back!  But vow to yourself to pay the credit card balance in full when the bill comes, or watch your savings go out the window.  :(

 How's that for stacking savings? I'm all about saving money wherever I can and love it when I can take advantage of all these ways to multiply my savings and lower the cost of the item.

How about you?  What money-saving shopping tips do you have?  Please do share.  I'd love to hear them.

Get this Great Deal on a Photo Book--$7 + free shipping!

Hi everyone...just wanted to share a great deal from livingsocial for a 20-page photo book from York Photo.  Only $7 and free shipping!

I love a bargain and thought some of you may be interested too.  Check it out...here's the link:

Photo Book from York Photo--$7 & free shipping

I love these deals...I've created several photo books of my granddaughter through similar offers...this one will be used to show off my soon-to-be-born second granddaughter...we get to meet her in just a few weeks--can't wait for another baby to love on!  

"Babies are such a nice way to start people."

-- Don Herrold

Have a better-than-average week!

Sunshine and smiles...Bev

Old-Fashioned Lye Soap

Here's a batch of old-fashioned soap I made a couple of weeks ago--all sliced up and curing.  

I can remember my mom making homemade soap when I was little.  She used it for our laundry and dishes.  We always had a saucepan on the stove with chunks of soap--we would add water, heat it 'til it melted into some "soap jelly", then add that soap jelly to the dish water or the washing machine.  Back then, I wasn't much interested in the process.  Just as I wasn't much interested in washing dishes or laundry! :)

When I opened my shop back in 1996, I started experimenting with homemade soap.  I purchased a couple of books to learn more of the process and "science" behind soap-making.  I also was interested in making hand-milled soaps for my shop.  I even taught a class on soap-making at our church's State Family Camp Meeting one year--they were celebrating the history of the campground and old-time traditions.  Our pastor asked if I would share during one of the morning sessions for anyone interested.  You see, my mom had always made soap to sell at the "Missionary Cottage" during camp meeting week.  The funds raised from the sales of handcrafts, etc. at the cottage were used to run the Ladies' Missionary Society projects throughout the year.  There were folks who specifically headed to the cottage to buy soap each year.  After my mom passed away, I continued making soap for several years to send to the cottage.

 

Many folks believe that since it is called "lye" soap, it is harsh.  In fact, my hubby always tells people it will eat the skin right off of you!

I think he is just kidding?!?!

  However, nothing is further from the truth.  This is a cold-process soap, so all of the natural glycerin, which is a natural by-product of the soap-making process, remains in the soap.  This makes it much kinder to your skin than many commercial soaps.  In the manufacturing process of commercial soaps, the glycerin is often separated out to sell in that form.

Many commercial "soaps" are not soap at all--they are detergents.  Detergents are made from petroleum distillates.  Homemade soaps are made with fats or oils.  When fats (an acid) are mixed with lye/caustic soda (an alkali), soap results.  When the alkali is diluted with water and added to the acid, saponification occurs.  Once this happens, the alkali is being neutralized...and after curing for several weeks, should no longer be in evidence.  Thus the soap, which was made with sodium hydroxide (lye), does not contain it in the end.  

There is a local woman who purchased my soap because she has sensitive skin and the old-fashioned soap is all she could use.  When she told me that, I tried it for bathing and washing my face and wow, what a difference!  No more dry skin issues in the winter! 

I have grated some of the bars to make hand-milled gardener's soap for an upcoming show in May.  It is May Mart  sponsored by the Indiana Garden Club.  I will be selling handcrafted goodies as well as vintage wares that can be used to decorate your garden or porch.  This is my first time participating in the show--can't wait to see how it goes! 

So...how's that for a brief primer on soap making!

My Latest Rug Project

I finished another rag rug.  This one is 2' by 3'.  It is made from various cotton fabrics I rescued from thrift stores--curtains, sheets, shirts, etc.

Shades of brown, burgundy, tan, sage green...a lovely mix...when I am in the process of choosing the various colored rag strips to use, I wonder if they will work together into a pleasing combo.  So far, each one I have completed has turned out great.  The colors have blended nicely. 

This color scheme would work well with primitive decor.

  

I have another rug started--just trying to find a few more colors to use in it.  I picked up an old sheet this morning while junkin'--I am on the hunt now for fabric that I can reclaim for these lovely rugs.  

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy making these, but I am finding that it's rewarding to take cast-off fabrics and make new creations!

If anything you see interests you, please contact me.

Thrifty Finds

Wanted to share some of my finds from my weekend of thrifting...some of the items will be revamped and others will be listed in either my Etsy shop or on Ebay.  Stop by and check out my shops.

 Some neat old books...

There is a cute little Shawnee vase, a Lipton creamer,

an old cobalt bottle...and that wicker tray is so neat!

Some neat square candle holders waiting to be painted and primmed up!

Look at that little mini toleware tray!



Books for Sale...

Here are a few odd books I've had lying around--if you're interested in any, email me and I'll get back to you. If you want more than one, I will combine to save you shipping. They will be sent via media mail. Prices quoted include shipping to US addresses, will consider shipment to Canada but may require additional shipping $. First come, first served!

Cut the Clutter and Stow the Stuff--$8.00 shipping included

Make It Last--$8.00 shipping included

American Country Living, The Ultimate Lifestyle Compendium
$12.00 shipping included

Complete Guide to Gardening--$8.00 shipping included

Christmas Thoughts and Ideas

I don't know about you all, but I am finding it hard to believe it is almost Thanksgiving, with Christmas close on its heels! Talk about time flying as you get older--that has been amplified to me again and again as I watched this year slip by.

Each year I vow to get an early start on my Christmas shopping as some of my friends do (I really hate how they wreck the curve by doing that!!). And each year, I am still scrambling to complete my list right up until Christmas Eve. How do they do it?!?!

I have been hearing so much lately how a lot of folks are scaling back due to the economy. I know we have been forced to scale back and that just adds to the stress of making a list, trying to be creative in your gift giving and stay within a budget at the same time.

I get frustrated by all the commercialism that has built up around Christmas, thus obscuring the real "reason for the season". However, I still do believe in Santa (I'll never grow up!) and love to see the smiles on the faces of loved ones as they open a special gift from us.

So where do you find yourself? Any ideas, suggestions or thoughts on how to tackle Christmas this year? Feel free to post your ideas so others (and I) can take advantage of your creativity/suggestions.

Until next time...may smiles and sunshine fill your days!