Guest Post: Creative Grocery Deal Gift Ideas!
Guest post by Candra from Creations Made By MOI:
My name is Candra and I have been reading Collin’s blog for about 6 months now and cannot thank her enough for all the money she has helped me save. Almost a year ago I quit my job to stay at home with my daughter, 3 and was expecting our son, now 4 months old. Quitting my job was a big leap of faith and at times I felt foolish for not helping contribute towards our income while my husband is going to school for dentistry. I wanted to find a way that I could contribute and help stretch our money without having to be at work 40 hours a week. A friend introduced me to Collin’s blog and I have been hooked ever since. I love going to the various store’s and watching people astonished when they see the total on the screen verses the things in my cart. It really gets some good conversations going let me tell ya! Coming home and telling my husband that I spent $5 and saved $40 feels so good, and I now feel confident that I am a contributor to making our pay checks go as far as possible.
I know most of us get stressed out around the holidays. There is so much to do…. Decorations, cooking, shopping, getting the house ready for company etc. and for me, it’s the one time of the year that my budget generally goes out the window. Not on purpose, but because there are so many “little gifts” and extras that really add up. You know the “little gifts” that I’m talking about…. you or your spouse’s work secret Santa exchange, the many of gifts you hand out to your neighbor’s and friends, the gifts for all of your children’s teachers etc. The list goes on forever. It’s important to give those gifts, but more important not to break your budget by doing it. This year I gave myself a challenge to set a budget for the “little gifts” and STICK TO IT (that’s the hard part!)
So here are some cute ways I found to jazz up those GREAT DEALS Collin has helped me find!
First off, remember the sparkling cider deal at Walgreens a few weeks ago? I got 2 bottles for $1. Well I made a tag that says “Wishing you a Sparkling Holiday Season”. Put a couple of rhinestone’s on it, a ribbon and its ready to be delivered to a friend of mine that LOVES sparkling cider!
The next one is from a Target deal on Chex Mix. I got each bag for $0.50. The saying that goes with this pretty thing is “Remember Santa “chex” his list twice to see who’s been Naughty or nice… So be good for Goodness Sake! I got 6 bags and these are going to my husband’s co-workers!
This last one is my favorite, mostly because its light hearted and funny and we all need that around the stress of the holidays. This would be a great gift for the friend that has a great sense of humor, a white elephant gift ect. It is a bottle of Root Beer that I got at Walgreens this past week for $1, and a can of pork n beans that I got from my local Fry’s for less than a $1. The saying that goes with this is, “Have a ‘Rootin’ ‘Tootin’ Christmas.
There is nothing like homemade goodies during the holidays. Last week my Fry’s had raspberries on sale for $1 each. I grabbed as many as the limit would allow, went back a few more times, and threw together a couple of batches of raspberry jam. Now I know from experience that any of my friends would take this delicious sweetness off my hands so I made my list and got to work. I made 9 containers of jam, and put this saying on top, “Jelly is like Love, you can’t spread it around without getting some on yourself!” Happy Holidays.
This jam would go REALLY well with some homemade bread. Here is a loaf that my sister did for me attached with the saying, “For being there when you were ‘kneaded’, For ‘Rising’ to the occasion, for never ‘Loafing’ on the job. No matter how you ‘Slice’ it, we hope you have a Merry Christmas”
This would make a great gift for extended family members that you want to do something for, or a teacher that has gone above and beyond.
I hope this gives you some ideas for cute, inexpensive gift ideas. It is so important to tell all those special people in your life how much you love and appreciate them and as always it’s the thought that counts. I am a big believer in doing those “little” things that will brighten someone’s day. Thanks to Collin for helping me be able to do all the little things in a budget friendly way. I hope everyone has a great holiday!
If you are interested in seeing more ideas for simple Holiday gift ideas or to purchase the tags shown on the gifts above you can visit Candra’s blog at www.creationsmadebymoi.blogspot.com!
Okay, off topic but just wanted to say the Vocalpoint giveaway is happening on facebook right now for the Swash product. It just posted about 5 min. ago. 🙂
Very cute idea! Thanks for your guest post!
LOVE THE IDEAS!!!! I WILL DEFINATELY USE THEM!!! THANKS!!!
This is absolutely adorable! I’m going to do the bread one! These are awesome ideas. I totally understand how she feels about contributing to her family without a job. I felt the same way but now that I’ve been able to save us so much money (through this blog, especially!) I feel so proud! I’m a sahm to our 2 yr old son and LOVE that I’m able to help our family out. I’m definitely doing these cute little gifts! Thanks Candra for the ideas, and thank you Collin for your blog and sincere dedication! You rock girl!
Thanks for the cute bread idea. I have been looking for an idea to go with some jam that I made.
These are such cute ideas. I will have to save them for next year or use them as little filler gifts this year. Thanks to all of Collins awesome posts I have had been Christmas shopping done for weeks. I started getting items back in August and have really made a big Christmas out of alot less than it would have usually cost me! I am sure people will be so excited to recieve 4 times as much because I got it at such a deal! Love you Collin! Keep them coming!
These are all great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
My dad will totally appreciate the Rootin’ Tootin’ rootbeer/beans idea. hehehe 🙂
What great ideas! Does any have any ideas for a clever saying to go along with a gift basket of candles/room fresheners etc.
Thanks for the reminder of the Swash giveaway Anon!
LOVE, LOVE the ideas – TOO cute!!! Thanks for sharing!
Wow- Love these- so funny and cute!! I ditto what Lisa said- I would love a cute saying to go with all the glade candles I have!!!
Love the ideas and thanks for te reminder Anon 8:45…I just got mine!
These are wonderful!! omg I love the rootin tooten, I may do that for my uncles, they will LOVE IT!
I love all the cute great ideas. They are so creative. Never thought of something like that lol. Will definately try it this year. =]
Thanks Anon 08:45:00 AM for pointing out the Vocalpoint giveaway. Just got mine! yay!
I love your guest post. My baby is also 4 months and I just recently decided to stop working. I felt the same way about contributing to the family income. But now I feel that I’m saving us so much with the use of coupons and the help of this blog. I love your holiday gift ideas, so original. I like the rootbeer and beans the best. How cute! Thanks for this best!
Everyone check their email. I just got an email for Entemanns that I will receive a $4 coupon. Woo Hoo
Awesome ideas! Love them all!
I grabbed myself ALOT of the glade candles this year with the Target special. I like to wrap them in colored sulafane (spelling?) with a ribbon and card for friends I dont usually exchange with or just to give when we visit.
Awesome ideas! Love them all!
I grabbed myself ALOT of the glade candles this year with the Target special. I like to wrap them in colored sulafane (spelling?) with a ribbon and card for friends I dont usually exchange with or just to give when we visit.
Thanks ANON @ 8:45 – I got in on the SWASH freebie!
Candra,
Really great ideas…thanks for sharing with us.
Anon,
Thanks for the Swash reminder.
Lisa,
Depending who it’s for: You “light” up my life, You are a “bright” spot in my life, I hope these “brighten” your Holidays.
Thank you for the ideas!! That is awesome and very creative! 🙂
Great ideas! Thank you for posting!!
Thanks Anon about the Swash reminder! Just got mine!!
Great ideas – thanks for sharing!
Anonymous at 8:45 – thanks for the reminder! Appreciate it!
What a fabulous post! Great little ideas!!!!!
Thanks!
anybody have an idea for a saying to go with some bath & body works antibacterial soap?
Very cute, I have at least 20 bags of the Chex Mix and I was wondering what the heck I was going to do with them. Now I know. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
I teared up on the bread idea. These are great ideas! Thanks! I love em.
Great ideas! Thanks!
And thanks to the first Anon for the Swash product reminder!!!
Off subject but did anyone see the “groupon” piece on the today show? It’s great if you live in one of the cities. Maybe Colin can post something about it??
http://www.groupons.com
awesome,awesome,awesome ideas!
love the ideas, especially the jam and bread. Anyone have an easy jam receipe? the local international market has black and blue berries on sale for .99 right now!
Great ideas! Not only is Collin giving us ways to get things for free, but ideas on how to use them as great gifts! Thanks Collin!
Off topic, but if you love Hip 2 Save as much as I do, go over to https://www.divinecaroline.com/awards/Aug-09/2984 Sign up and vote for Hip2Save as your favorite website!! Have to vote today b4 4pm MST. Sorry I just found the site yesterday!
Off topic but quick question— Does anyone know of any stores that will take target rain checks??? I should have just price matched but got a raincheck and now it doesn’t look like they’ll ever get that toy in again! I was counting on it for Christmas and just wondered if anyone had any ideas??
Awesome post and ideas! Thank you so much for posting Collin!
Nate, Jessica, & Maya
are you talking about the Fisher Price Nativity? I am so frustrated with Target about that one! I too got the rain check I called Target corporate and they said they have discontinued that item. Yes I too would love to know if anyone else would accept my Target raincheck.
By the way I have to add I adore this guest post on these creative ideas. So cute!!!
Great post!
Love, love the post! Thank you Candra!!
Awesome post, love all the ideas! Thanks so much 🙂
BEST IDEAS EVER!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Hi Abby
Yes it is the nativity! When I spoke with the lady at the store she said that Target makes up their ads about 6 months in advance and if the item was “bought up” before the ad came up then they have no control over that. How frustrating.. I think its almost fraudulent advertising!
Great post Collin- I needed some good ideas for Christmas gifts!!
How creative! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. For the ones looking for an idea for your candle gifts, go to Candra’s blog, she has a really cute tag made up for a candle gift.
I was searching for an idea for my kids teachers and found this one. Make a homemade wreath for them. you can make one that has teacher related items on it for the classroom or you can go to the craft store and by doll house minatures that are teacher related also. or combine the two together.. I thought this was an awesome idea.
Such creative ideas…thank you!
I LOVE IT! I also wanted to do a Christmas Challenge of $100 for everyone in our families. I love this ideas a gift box for the neices and nephews. And I have lots of Chex’s coupons this month. Score!
Fabulous ideas! Thanks for sharing them!
Really cute ideas! I have a few gift baskets started and those are some really cute ideas to put in with them for cheap!
Awesome ideas!
I have a great hot fudge recipe that would be a good gift idea…what could be a saying to go along with that??
This is absolutely awesome ideas! Thanks for the post I’ve gotta copy & paste so I don’t forget!
The Vocalpoint giveaway is done already…they are all gone. Thank you to Anon 8:45am because I got one!!
Thank you Collin for all you do girl!