Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

As you all know, I love, love, LOVE Christmas.  In fact, I'm one of the few people in the world that gets excited about seeing Christmas decorations in stores before Halloween's even arrived.

Whether you think that makes me crazy or not, you have to admit that with still being in school and having our first baby due in less than a month, it only makes sense to start thinking about Christmas now- our gift list, the gift list for our family and friends, the Christmas party, our Christmas cards...

Although I'm still working on the rest of it, I know exactly where I'm getting my cards this year- Shutterfly.   They have a huge selection of cards from traditional to retro to modern and everything in between.  They even have cards that blend your Christmas card with your annual Christmas letter!  AND to top it all off, they have some great special offers going on now and throughout the holiday season (and they're not just on cards!).

For this Foto Friday, I'd like to show you some of my favs:

Since this year's cards are doubling as birth announcements for us, I particularly love the ones with spaces for multiple pictures.

But I wanna know what you think- what are your favorite holiday cards from Shutterfly??


While Shutterfly has sponsored this post, I must say that I have worked with them before and their service is fantastic, as is the quality of their cards and photobooks.  My sister-in-law also recently used Shutterfly for her birth announcements and was quite pleased with her purchase, as well as the large selection of cards available.  

MrsDrPoe: Holiday Coffee

It's another What's for Dinner Wednesday where 'dinner' isn't so much dinner but a drink.  As you all know, I love the Christmas season with all it's sights and scents, and this year, I experimented with creating a coffee that encapsulated all of it.

Ingredients: 1 cup coffee beans (OR ground coffee), 2 tablespoons mulling spices (OR approximately 2 tablespoons combined of orange rind, cinnamon sticks, fresh nutmeg, and allspice OR 2 tablespoons combined of orange zest, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice).

If you have a coffee grinder- place the beans and mulling spices (or first substitute) in your machine, and grind the mixture to your desired constancy.

If you don't have a coffee grinder- place the grounds and second substitute for mulling spices in a small bowl or coffee filter, and stir to combine.

Brew the seasoned grounds as normal, and serve up your cup of Joe with sugar and creamer if desired.  Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: The Ultimate Hot Cocoa

Another week has reached its midpoint, which means it's time for What's for Dinner Wednesday.  Tonight, I'd like to share with you a family recipe that might be useful to you as we forge through the chilly nights ahead...hot cocoa.

Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1.5 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tsp sugar (or sugar substitute).

Combine cocoa and sweetener in the bottom of a microwave safe mug with a spoon:

Add about 2 tablespoons of the milk to the cup; combine to form a liquid-y paste.  Pour in the rest of the milk and stir to combine.  Microwave for 1 minute on high, then remove, stir, and microwave for another minute to minute and a half.  Enjoy!

I love this recipe for several reasons:

1) It's simple and preservative free.
2) It's easily dressed up- top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and maybe a peppermint stir-stick and you've got a fancy, festive treat!
3) It fits any diet- if you're watching your weight, use skim milk and Splenda for a happy ending to your day with 100 calories or less!
4) It makes a great gift- if you're looking for homemade gifts or party favors, combine cocoa, sweetener, and 1/3 cup powdered milk in ziplock bags (for individual packets...or multiply the recipe and put in mason jars).  Give as gift along with instructions to add 1 cup water and the contents of the packet (about 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon of mix from a larger container) to a mug and microwave.

MrsDrPoe: Being a Responsible Receiver

It's another Money Monday here at the blog and the final installment of "Giving Gifts without Going Broke."  So far in this series we've talked about some gift-giving basics, as well as cost-effective purchased and homemade gift ideas.  Today, we'll be examining the other side of the coin- how we can be responsible receivers. 

While we may not be in a position that requires us to find most cost-effective ways to give, we must be consious of the fact that others may be.  There are two major aspects to being a "responsible receiver":

Being PROACTIVE

The proactive receiver realizes ahead of gift-giving-time the financial situation of those on his/her list.  To help the giver avoid the awkward conversation of, "I can't afford to buy you x, y, or z this year," the receiver develops a gift list for the giver that falls well within his/her budget limitations, noting possible cost-effective solutions, such as specifying whether or not a used product is acceptable.  If the giver is particularly strapped for cash, a proactive receiver also may suggest having a homemade holiday or "alternative" gift ideas.

For instance: 

"I really want some of the Manheim Steamroller Christmas CDs...I usually find used - good condition ones on Amazon for a decent price."

"I would love a night out with Mr. Poe...the best gift ever would be a few nights of free dog-sitting."

Being RETROACTIVE 

The retroactive receiver may not realize a financial situation until after gifts have been exchanged.  He/she gratefully accepts whatever token is presented, keeping in mind that it's the thought that counts and, as Paul told the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20:35, "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

For instance:

Gifts often given to parents by their small children (like small porcelain figurines from the dollar tree) are accepted readily and thankfully...we should simulate this behavior.

While we're discussing that this attitude is important for the recipient of an obvious "giving without going broke" gift, the role of the retroactive receiver is surely not limited to this group of individuals.  We should all be thankful for everything we have been given, realizing that love and service to/from those around us (and to/from God) are so much more important than stuff.

MrsDrPoe: A Homemade Holiday

This Money Monday we'll be continuing the series on "Giving Gifts without Going Broke."  Last week we exhibited some cost effective gifts ideas that could please our loved ones as well as our budgets; as I shared, I always have the hardest time purchasing gifts for my dad.  Because of this, I often put the most time and effort into his presents, which are typically homemade and sentimental.

One of my favorite examples is a poem I wrote Papa Wolgemuth many years ago titled 'Butterfly Kisses.'  I printed the poem in pretty colors and font on a small piece of paper that was credit card size when folded in half.  I laminated it with tape, and when I gave it to him, I shared my intention that he could carry it with him in his wallet and think of me.  I had a few minutes alone with my dad on my wedding day- he used that time to show me that he still keeps the poem in his wallet...

Based on the joy that I've had giving and that my dad's had receiving these gifts, I've always had the desire to try having a 100% homemade holiday where those involved make the gifts for everyone else, only purchasing supplies.  Upon hearing this, some folks automatically think either: "What a cheapskate!" or "I couldn't do that because I'm not good at anything that anyone would want!"  

In response to the first thought: since the theme of this series of posts is about trying to find ways to save on gift-giving, I will mainly be focusing on cheaper homemade gifts. But a homemade holiday does not have to be cheap!  One of our dear friends does carpentry in his spare time; his gift of an beautiful end table for our wedding took a lot of time and money to make, and we continue to appreciate it so much!

In response to the second: Everyone's good at something.  Part of what makes a homemade holiday difficult and meaningful is that you have to put extra effort into the gift...it's not as simple as buying the latest CD or this winter's must-have fashion items.  It takes time to think about the person and how you can help him/her.  In fact, I think homemade Christmases would greatly aid us in directing our focus to spiritual things and serving others.

While I'm not sure that either side of our family would go for it, I've never attempted to bring this desire to fruition because Mr. Poe is completely opposed to the idea.  There are probably lots of Mr. Poes out there who, for whatever reason, dislike the idea of making Christmas presents themselves, but even if your family has one or more of these folks, that shouldn't stop you from giving homemade gifts, especially if it's the best thing for your wallet.

For a Homemade Holiday 

1) List the things you're good at...and not just the usual suspects- list everything.

To get you started: knitting, crocheting, sewing, photography, cleaning, organization, poetry, painting, babysitting, cooking, woodworking , jewelry making, automotive repair/maintenance, accounting, math, engineering, your college degree in ___, couponing, grammar, landscaping, singing, playing an instrument, manual labor...



2) Think about your gift recipients and what they like, need, and want...and to help you think outside the box, answer the following questions:

What do they complain about: doing taxes, needing a night out without the kids, auto repair bill, mowing the yard, helping the kids with homework...

What do they compliment you on/ask for help with: decorating, clothes/jewelry, organization, couponing, photography, landscaping...


3) Match your recipients with an appropriate gift, plan, and save.

Your mom's garden is full of weeds, she always tells you that she wishes it looked like yours but she doesn't know where to start - a voucher for your landscaping service (you could pair this with some pots or small plants you find on sale)

Your sister just had her third child under the age of 5 - a few "coupons" for free babysitting (perhaps coupled with some popcorn from your couponing stash and Blockbuster express codes for a free movie or a Retaurant.com voucher)

Last time Uncle Jimmy took his car to get the oil changed, they charged him fifty bucks...he's had it - offer him "coupons" for your service free if he buys the oil (you could even spot him the first month's oil)


Your mother-in-law loves clothes - you sew like a champ...new skirt coming right up

Your brother loves cars and has empty wall space - you take great pictures and live in a huge metropolitan area where fancy sports cars run rampant...



You love your husband, and he loves chocolate - type of 365 reasons why you love him, buy 365 Hershey's kisses and replace the "Hershey's" tag in each one with a reason


Your niece just moved to NYC - get to work on a knit scarf, hat, and mittens set




While a homemade holiday takes more time and effort, it will definitely help you to think more about others while also helping you to give without going broke.


What types of homemade gifts do you give?

MrsDrPoe: Lavish Gifts on a Budget

It's Money Monday once again, and today we'll be continuing the series about how to give without going broke.  Last week we discussed the necessity of having a gift budget and planning to ensure that you can stay within that budget while still giving gifts that your loved ones would like.  While your brainstorming sessions have probably given you some great ideas for the people on your list, this post will hopefully give you some more...or at least some suggestions as to where to look for some fantastic deals/sales.  As you're perusing, remember...when you're on a tight budget, it's okay to be cheap!

Ladies

There are several ladies that I buy for during the holidays.  It's always relatively easy to think of something they'd love to have, but sometimes hard to follow through with the more expensive items (without coupons and black Friday, that is).

Food Baskets -  My family loves food, so baskets overflowing with it are definitely a great gift idea for them.  Through couponing, I obtain all types of goodies that would make the perfect basket for any member of the family.  If the member doesn't cook- a basket of his/her favorite snacks and just-add-water foods is perfect; if the member does cook- a basket of noodles, staple items, and exotic ingredients works wonderfully. 

Bath Baskets - As I've mentioned before, couponing allows me to purchase name-brand toiletries for less than store brands.  Through playing the drug store game, I've also had the opportunity to purchase items such as lip balms, nail polishes, etc. for free.  By combining my couponing bounty in a lovely basket (check the Dollar Tree for cute, cheap ones), I've got a lovely gift that any woman would love to pamper herself with! 

Spa Treatment - If the ladies on your list prefer to be pampered by someone else, you can look for deals on massages, manicures, pedicures, and the like.  Perhaps one of the most obvious resources to use is a deal website such as Groupon, LivingSocial, or HalfOffDepot.  Another option is to check the phone book for local beautician schools; since students are performing the service, you get a discounted rate- in case you're wary of this suggestion, I haven't had a bad experience with this yet. 

Framed Pictures - This is one of my favorite gift ideas for moms and grandmothers...I mean, really, who doesn't like pictures of their kids/dogs or grandkids/granddogs?  Department stores (Khols, Sears, JCPenny) and craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby) often sell frames at greatly discounted prices, especially around black Friday (don't forget to check the clearance section!!).  And drug stores (CVS, Wags, Rite Aid) frequently offer fantastic deals on photos that you can order online and pick up in store to save you time in line and shipping costs.

Clothes - As you may know, I have zero fashion sense...so I typically don't give clothes as gifts (especially to women).  But for those of you who are fashion savvy, this is always a budget friendly gift option if you look at the right times and places.  Many department stores now offer store rewards: Khols sometimes gives $10 Khols Cash for every $50 spent, JCP Rewards always gives $10 for every $250 spent, and around Father's Day, Sears often gives a $50 gift card for men's clothing for a $50 purchase of qualifying men's clothing.  These stores also give out coupons in the paper, in the mail, and online.  One way to ensure you're getting the best deals no matter where you shop is to shop in the off-season...now is the perfect time to start stocking up on summer clothes.  (Clothing makes a great gift for kids and guys too!)

Kitchen Gadgets - I love to cook, and all the ladies on my list get some level of enjoyment out of it as well.  In the past, JCPenny has been my go-to place for kitchen appliances- on black Friday I've found slow cookers, panini presses, waffle irons, fondue pots, etc. for $10-$15.  Williams Sonoma outlet stores also have great deals like 50% (or more) off All-Clad or Apilco.

Gents
 
As the family's grown we've added a lot more guys to the mix.  I find it much harder to figure out a suitable gift for them than I do for the girls, especially my dad (more on that next week).

Restaurant Voucher - All the guys we get gifts for enjoy eating.  While restaurant gift cards are great for more common restaurants, vouchers from Groupon or Restaurant.com are good for more local fare.  Often (like now for instance) Restaurant.com has amazing 80% off sales where you can get $10 vouchers for $1 and $25 for $2-$3.  These vouchers typically require you to buy more than their worth, like $20 and $35 respectively, but they still make a nice gift for both the giver's wallet and the receiver's.

Tools - Mr. Poe and Papa Poe especially love opening tools on Christmas morning.  Of course, this gift can be particularly expensive if you just go buy some; however, if you're patient, you'll very likely find some great prices.  Harbor Freight sells cheaper, decent quality tools; Sears often has fantastic deals on Craftsman tools on black Friday.

Oil - If the guys that you're buying for are automotively inclined (yes, I just made up that word), oil changing materials are a practical gift that you can often find at a decent price at any standard auto parts store (Advanced Auto, Auto Zone).

Sporting Equipment - Another idea for the guy on your list is some type of sporting equipment.  Even if he doesn't play on a team with a uniform, that doesn't mean he doesn't play something- Mr. Poe played intramural water polo, softball, football, Frisbee, etc. at MSU; more than once he needed receiver's gloves.  You can find decent deals on sports items on Craig's List, as well as at sporting goods stores (Academy, Dicks) on black Friday and immediately after that sport's season ends.  (Of course, this is a great idea for athletes in any of these groups.)

Kiddies

This is one area that our family hasn't breached yet, but we will in the next few years, Lord willing.  I'd be particularly interested in your comments related to this category!

Games - If you know a child that loves games, there are almost always coupons on coupon sites (and at store sites) that can help you get some great deals on games at big box stores (Walmart, Target).  Thrift stores and yard sales often have a few gently-used games that are almost as good as new.

Movies/Video Games - What kid doesn't like digital entertainment these days?  I'll tell you right now that the best deal you'll ever get on movies is waiting until black Friday when BestBuy has tons of movies ranging in price from $3-$10.  If I still haven't convinced you that you need to be up way before dawn November 25 this year, I've seen some blue ray coupons online as well, and Amazon usually has good prices on used, like-new media.  Please check the parental advisory ratings before making your purchases.

Books - It seems as though the gift of books is not as popular as it once was; however, if there's a kid (or guy or gal) on your list who loves to read, these make a perfect, low-cost gift.  Often thrift stores have little used books ranging in price from $0.50-$3.00; Amazon is another option for both new, used, and digital books.  Crystal comes across free digital books (typically for adults/older kids) quite frequently, and if you blog, Booksneeze is a nice way to get free books (digital or hard copies) in exchange for a review.    

Candy - If you're not the one dealing with the resulting sugar rush, candy is another idea for children of all ages.  Again with the drug store game, I've been able to purchase all different types of candy and gum very cheaply.  If you feel too cheap giving just candy, this pairs nicely with a movie or Netflix gift subscription.

Trips - An nontraditional gift for a child is a trip to a local theme park, zoo, museum, etc.  Deal sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and HalfOffDepot often offer vouchers for these types of excursions at a greatly reduced price.  If you're considering purchasing this for a child on your list, you may also get one for his/her parent or guardian.

Gift Cards -   For the kid that has everything (or the kid who's hard to buy for), just about every store has gift cards these days.  Sometimes restaurants have deals on their gift cards (buy one and get a free drink, buy a $40 card and get an extra $10 card, etc.).  We've also seen great deals on itunes gift cards through CVS* and Coinstar in previous years (buy $40 get a card for $10).  AND if you use Swagbucks, you could always donate some of your Amazon gift card codes as a gift (to pretty it up a bit, make up a certificate with the digital code on it).  Gift cards a fantastic idea...for kids and adults; I would advise that before you purchase one, however, that you double check to make sure a fee won't be charged to the card for a period of inactivity.  

*This very week, CVS has a deal going where, if you purchase $50 in itunes gift cards, you can get $10 back in ECBs.

Pets

Dogs are one thing we have tons of...on Mr. Poe's side there are two others and on my side there are three others in addition to our two.  Whether we get these 'kids' something or not depends on how the budget is looking as we draw closer to Christmas...but we have definitely found some great deals on pet gifts in the past.

Stuffed Animals - Mr. Fargus (Mrs. Luke's "son") LOVES stuffed animals, but if you try to purchase one at a pet store, you could pay up to ten dollars for a toy that he'll have un-stuffed in a week.  To stretch my dollar, I check out thrift stores and yard sales for stuffed animals.  I can typically find some for $0.50-$1.00, which makes Mr. Fargus and I both happy.  Do be sure to wash any animals you bring home. 

Rope Toys - Monster (aka Layla) loves to play tug of war with anything- particularly pieces of rope.  Just like with the stuffed animals, though, these toys are usually not cheap entertainment when purchased at a pet store.  Instead, try picking up a piece of rope from a hardware store (Home Dept, Lowes).  They sell whatever length you want from big spools of different types of rope...just make sure you get softer rope not made of plastic or your furry friend might hurt himself/herself.

Food or Treats - If you're a more practical gift-giver (or if your gift recipient is like Sascha and doesn't particularly care for toys), food and treats are always an option.  Pet stores typically have better sales on these 'every day' items than the toys, and you can typically find coupons for them as well.  We love our local PetSmart- it seems like they always have some type of dog food sale or promotion going on.  Before purchasing these gifts, however, check with the owner to see what brand(s) the pet usually eats and if he/she is allergic to anything.




What nice (cheap-er) gifts have you bought in the past?  Where/when do you find your best gift deals?

MrsDrPoe: Giving Gifts without Going Broke

It's Money Monday, and I'd like to start things off today with the surprise I mentioned last week. As you know, today is September 5, Labor Day, and 3 months and 20 days away from CHRISTMAS! I absolutely love Christmas. In fact, I listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies year-round. While I realize this is pretty weird, I'm going to suggest to you today that you start thinking about the holidays year-round as well (although perhaps not to the extent that I do) and before you stop reading, let me tell you why.

Christmas is a time of giving, but giving can be hard if you're: a student, unemployed, living on one income, etc. As you can imagine, planning and thinking more often about Christmas gifts will greatly help you stick to your budget (no matter how small) around the holidays. It's for this reason that I've decided to focus September's Money Monday posts about giving gifts without going broke. Of course the tips and tricks discussed will be applicable to any gifts you give throughout the year, but I hope that it'll definitely help out this holiday season. Please feel free to comment with more thoughts/suggestions!

The future topics I have planned for the rest of the month are: how to afford more lavish gifts on a budget (for everyone on your list), how to have a homemade holiday, and how to make sure you're a responsible receiver. This first post in the series will be a brief introduction on how to give without going broke.

Evaluating your situation

Keeping a budget and knowing where you stand with your income, debt, investments, etc. is as important to giving without going broke as it is to any subject of purchasing. If you don't have a working budget, you need to make one. Right now. And I suggest you read this to help you do so. Make sure that when you're creating yours that you include a gift giving category- Mr. Poe and I decided how much we could to spend on parents, siblings, etc. for birthdays and holidays, added everything up, and divided it by 12 to see how much we needed to save each month to spend what we could* on everyone throughout the year. Each time I make a gift purchase, I deduct it from our gift savings.

*Keep in mind that what you want to spend on family and friends might not be fiscally possible for you. If you want to save $30 a month, but you can only save $20 because the remainder of your monthly budget is going toward bills, debt, etc. that's alright. A thought: if you get into financial trouble trying to give your family their 'dream Christmas,' you're not doing them any favors because they'll probably be the ones you go to for help...or the ones who will inherit your debt.Having said that, we need to keep in mind that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). If the reason you can only save $20 a month to give to others (family or otherwise) is because you have 3 car payments in a two-driver house, a boat payment, and you're saving $300 to go skiing next winter, you might want to rethink your priorities (and maybe sell a few things). It's good for us to enjoy the fruit of our labor, because it's a gift from God (Ecc 2:24, 3:13, 5:18) but not at the expense of our service to others (remember Jas 1:27).

Being honest

Once you've looked over your finances and established a gift budget, you need to be honest with yourself and with the people you want to give to. If people on your list usually spend mega bucks on you, and you can't reciprocate this year like usual, put your pride aside and tell them. It'll be much less awkward to have this discussion now before most people have purchased presents than waiting till these folks open a manual can opener after giving you a 60" flat screen.

Don't feel bad if you can't give your loved ones the world right now. It really is okay to be 'cheap'- especially if you're not hording what you have for your own enjoyment.

Jumping into action

So now you've figured out how much you can afford to give and you've had some possibly difficult conversations...what next? The answer is one of things I'm best known for: planning. Start by visiting your list of people you'll be shopping for and brainstorm about these people's hobbies, careers, likes, needs, wants, etc. A second brainstorming session should immediately follow producing a list of gift ideas.

Just because you write something down doesn't mean that's definitely what you'll end up purchasing, but having ideas will greatly aid you in your deal scouting. For instance, if Uncle Jimmy loves golf, I know that I'll want to keep my eye on daily deal sites that may get him a free game at his favorite course and/or sporting goods store sales. Who knows...I may find a fantastic deal on golf balls and tees next month that will allow me to get him something he'd like at a price that's in my budget. (FYI I don't have an Uncle Jimmy.)

I'm sure you can see how planning ahead and scouting for deals can quickly become a year-long task.  One of my favorite times to spot fantastic prices on gifts is black Friday.  In years past I've been able to get kitchen appliances like waffle makers and crockpots for $10-$15, dvd players for $10.00, dvds for $3, and the list goes on and on.  Great deals are definitely there to be found on the most wonderful shopping day of the year; however, not every sale that goes on during black Friday is the best sale...or even a good sale.  Again by keeping your eye out, you'll become aware of what constitutes a 'good' sale on the gifts you're looking for.

However you find your deals, I hope that these tips on budgeting and planning ahead will help you give gifts without going broke.  Stay tuned next week for some lavish but thrifty gift ideas!

MrsDrPoe: Another Holiday Arrives

It's holiday time once again! Mr. Poe and I would like to wish everyone a safe and

Happy Fourth of July!

We hope you enjoy some fireworks, BBQ, and a day off with the ones you love.

MrsDrPoe: Holiday Wishes

Happy Memorial Day to all!

I pray everyone has safe travels to their celebration destinations. I will have some great material to post this week, so hang on to your hats!