Never pay full price. Buy used, save the difference.
Bargain shop this year. Save money. Shop Freecycle, Paperback Swap and CD Swap for gifts this year. Great deals can be found at the Goodwill too. Most of my shopping this year was done at the General Dollar and Family Dollar with coupons!
Bargain shop this year. Save money. Shop Freecycle, Paperback Swap and CD Swap for gifts this year. Great deals can be found at the Goodwill too. Most of my shopping this year was done at the General Dollar and Family Dollar with coupons!
During these tough financial times, families don't have to go in debt to have a good Christmas. This year, avoid crowded malls, one day sales and the day after Thanksgiving madness. Look around town and keep a close eye online for deals too good to pass up.
Online Shopping Ideas
Freecycle : Everything offered is free. Freecycle is nationwide. Find a local group, sign up for emails or log on to the main website to post items offered and items wanted.
Paperback Swap: This site makes it easy to obtain books needed for school or enjoyment. Members post books they no longer want and in return, each time someone request and receives a book from a member's account, the member gets to request a book. There is a little cost involved. Members have to pay to ship out books requested. However, media mail is used and the average cost is never more than $3 a book.
CD Swap and DVD Swap : These are sister sites of Paperback Swap. They work on the same premise. Members post CDs and DVDs they no longer want and in return, each time someone request and receives a CD or DVD from a member's account, the member gets to request one in return. There is a little cost involved. Members have to pay to around $.50- $1.50 for each CD or DVD they request. Compared to $10-$20 each to buy a new CD or DVD, that's not bad. Members pay to ship out CDs or DVDs requested. However, media mail is used and the average cost is never more than $2 each.
Ebates : Get cash back for shopping online stores through Ebates. Many of the big online names have teamed up with Ebates to offer savings. Instead of going straight to the store website. Go to Ebates first and shop the store through them. Ebates gives a percentage off the total purchase. Customers receive a check from Ebates similar to old fashion rebate checks.
Swagbucks: This is a search engine that pays people to search through them instead of others. It's easy. Simply go to the Swagbucks website and search for things needed there. Every now and then, Swagbucks will award 1-5 swagbucks to an individual's account. These swagbucks can then be exchanged for gift cards or Paypal payments. For example, 45 swagbucks can be exchanged for $5 cash from Paypal.
My Points: Similar to Ebates and Swagbucks, this site rewards customers for shopping through them. Customers accumulate points that be exchanged for gift cards. Some of the offers are not free and require signing up for clubs and memberships to receive points. However with patience and diligence, points can be earned by reading emails, completing free online surveys. Easy points are earned by printing out and using grocery coupons from My Points. There are several big name gift cards available. Some customers choose Target or CVS gift cards because those stores offer great coupon deals. Learn to get the most for your money.
Ebay and Half.com : Anything and everything can and probably has been sold on Ebay. Before heading out the door to shop local stores, check to see if the item is on Ebay. However, beware of shipping cost. Look for free shipping deals. Half.com is Ebay's sister site offering books, CDs and DVD or VHS movies at discount.
Alternative Shopping Ideas
Goodwill and Salvation Army: Almost every city has a local Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift Store. All profits earned go to help people in need.These are great places to find gently used clothes, books, toys and furniture.
Re-Sale and Consignment Shops: These stores take in gently used clothes, books, toys, furniture and household goods people would like to sell and sell it for them. Customers come in and shop, buy the merchandise and the original owner gets a percentage of the sale.
Garage Sales: One man's junk is another man's treasure. It's true for a garage sale fanatic. Like Ebay, almost anything can be found for sale at a garage sale. But unlike Ebay, customers are dealing directly with the owner and can negotiate price on the spot.
Something to Blog About
There are many out there blogging about money saving, deal seeking, coupons and gifts for free. Search for these blogs and sign up to follow them. Some people blog as a way to earn money. Others write for the pure joy of sharing what they've learned. It's an easy way to find the best deals on the web.
Many have learned sharing and giving comes from the heart. Christmas presents don't have to be expensive, new or the latest and greatest thing. Some of the best gifts in life are the ones that don't cost a dime, but their worth is unmeasurable.
Resources
The following is list of blogs dedicated to saving others money.
Money Saving Mom.com
Deal Seeking Mom.com
The Krazy Coupon Lady.com
Mommy Snacks.com
Feeling Frugal
Online Shopping Ideas
Freecycle : Everything offered is free. Freecycle is nationwide. Find a local group, sign up for emails or log on to the main website to post items offered and items wanted.
Paperback Swap: This site makes it easy to obtain books needed for school or enjoyment. Members post books they no longer want and in return, each time someone request and receives a book from a member's account, the member gets to request a book. There is a little cost involved. Members have to pay to ship out books requested. However, media mail is used and the average cost is never more than $3 a book.
CD Swap and DVD Swap : These are sister sites of Paperback Swap. They work on the same premise. Members post CDs and DVDs they no longer want and in return, each time someone request and receives a CD or DVD from a member's account, the member gets to request one in return. There is a little cost involved. Members have to pay to around $.50- $1.50 for each CD or DVD they request. Compared to $10-$20 each to buy a new CD or DVD, that's not bad. Members pay to ship out CDs or DVDs requested. However, media mail is used and the average cost is never more than $2 each.
Ebates : Get cash back for shopping online stores through Ebates. Many of the big online names have teamed up with Ebates to offer savings. Instead of going straight to the store website. Go to Ebates first and shop the store through them. Ebates gives a percentage off the total purchase. Customers receive a check from Ebates similar to old fashion rebate checks.
Swagbucks: This is a search engine that pays people to search through them instead of others. It's easy. Simply go to the Swagbucks website and search for things needed there. Every now and then, Swagbucks will award 1-5 swagbucks to an individual's account. These swagbucks can then be exchanged for gift cards or Paypal payments. For example, 45 swagbucks can be exchanged for $5 cash from Paypal.
My Points: Similar to Ebates and Swagbucks, this site rewards customers for shopping through them. Customers accumulate points that be exchanged for gift cards. Some of the offers are not free and require signing up for clubs and memberships to receive points. However with patience and diligence, points can be earned by reading emails, completing free online surveys. Easy points are earned by printing out and using grocery coupons from My Points. There are several big name gift cards available. Some customers choose Target or CVS gift cards because those stores offer great coupon deals. Learn to get the most for your money.
Ebay and Half.com : Anything and everything can and probably has been sold on Ebay. Before heading out the door to shop local stores, check to see if the item is on Ebay. However, beware of shipping cost. Look for free shipping deals. Half.com is Ebay's sister site offering books, CDs and DVD or VHS movies at discount.
Alternative Shopping Ideas
Goodwill and Salvation Army: Almost every city has a local Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift Store. All profits earned go to help people in need.These are great places to find gently used clothes, books, toys and furniture.
Re-Sale and Consignment Shops: These stores take in gently used clothes, books, toys, furniture and household goods people would like to sell and sell it for them. Customers come in and shop, buy the merchandise and the original owner gets a percentage of the sale.
Garage Sales: One man's junk is another man's treasure. It's true for a garage sale fanatic. Like Ebay, almost anything can be found for sale at a garage sale. But unlike Ebay, customers are dealing directly with the owner and can negotiate price on the spot.
Something to Blog About
There are many out there blogging about money saving, deal seeking, coupons and gifts for free. Search for these blogs and sign up to follow them. Some people blog as a way to earn money. Others write for the pure joy of sharing what they've learned. It's an easy way to find the best deals on the web.
Many have learned sharing and giving comes from the heart. Christmas presents don't have to be expensive, new or the latest and greatest thing. Some of the best gifts in life are the ones that don't cost a dime, but their worth is unmeasurable.
Resources
The following is list of blogs dedicated to saving others money.
Money Saving Mom.com
Deal Seeking Mom.com
The Krazy Coupon Lady.com
Mommy Snacks.com
Feeling Frugal
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