Holidays Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

11 Acts of Kindness This Christmas (without spending a lot of money)

December 13, 2019 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Giving Back To Others During the Holiday Season

My favorite memories from my childhood Christmas’ are the ones when we participated in simple acts of kindness to those in need. I remember one Christmas in particular when I wanted to deliver a 12 Days of Christmas to a family who needed a little extra cheer that year.

My dad helped me choose a family, and I tenderly picked out 12 special gifts with a note to go along with each one. I remember the excitement as my dad drove me to their house each night. We always left after dark and drove slowly over the gravel driveway.

My heart pounded as I tip toed up to the doorstep, quickly rang the doorbell and ran away.

I constantly imagined their faces as they opened the door every night to the gifts. I wondered if they had any suspicions about who their “secret santa” was. Were they anxiously waiting for the doorbell to ring? Were they secretly peeking behind the curtain? More than anything I hoped that this act of service brightened their December.

Frugal Acts of Kindness

Ever since those young Christmas memories I have wanted to continue to serve and give to others each Christmas. I once thought that the only way to give back was to have a lot of money to spare. But, that’s just not true.

There are many many acts of kindness that you can do this holiday season, without even spending a lot of money, and I want to share those ideas with you!

1. Stock The Food Pantry

One easy act of kindness is to check with your local food pantry to see if they can accept donations. Most food banks love receiving canned goods during the winter months to help feed the community. Look through your cupboards and pick out a few cans you are willing to spare and drop them off.

A fun way to make the donation even bigger is to ask a few co-workers or neighbors to donate along with you!

2. Serve Food At The Homeless Shelter

Volunteer at your local homeless shelter to serve food to those in need. This is such a humbling experience to take care of others and be reminded of just how blessed your life is.

3. Visit Nursing Homes

Bring some joy to the elderly by visiting them in the nursing home. You can join them for a game of cards or simply sit and listen to their stories.

You can even bring your kids to sing a few carols while there. This is such an easy and rewarding way to brighten someones day!

4. Shovel Your Neighbors Driveway

My husband once told me, “If you are out shoveling your own driveway, you have time to stop by and shovel another neighbors driveway too.”

This has always stuck with me and I love when I look out the window to see him and my kids shoveling a neighbors driveway. The next time you get all bundled up to shovel your own driveway, consider shoveling one or two others while you are at it.

5. Send A Card

You do not have to buy expensive fancy cards to send out Christmas Cards. Simply, buy a pack of blank note cards from the dollar tree, think of a few people who might need a little extra love, and then send them a thoughtful note in the mail.

I love receiving mail and would be thrilled to receive a card full of cheer! Words are my love language!

6. Drop Off a Frugal Treat

I love when someone drops off a surprise treat or gift. It’s such a fun surprise and warms my heart. Check out this list of frugal gift ideas for some inspiration. Choose something cheap, yet thoughtful, and give it to a friend or neighbor who needs a pick me up. Remember, it’s the thought that counts when it comes to serving, not the price tag!

7. Bring Someone a Meal

Drop off a meal to someone in need. This might be someone who hasn’t been feeling well, or who might be extra busy, or just someone who has been on your mind. You can deliver a freezer meal for them to stick in the freezer to use another day, or a hot warm meal to eat immediately.

8. Donate Gently Used Clothing

Look through your closets and pick out a few items you can donate to others. A few places I like to donate are:

Local Thrift Store: Donate used clothing, toys, home decor, etc. to a local thrift store. A few common stores in my area are Savers, DI, and Goodwill. This is a great service to others because it gives them good clothing to buy for a cheap price.
Facebook Free Cycle: Search “Freecycle (type cities name)” on Facebook. Most communities have a free Facebook group to share and request items in need. These groups have a no selling allowed rule, I’ve given many items away through this resource.
Homeless Shelters: Call around and ask what your local homeless shelters need for donation. If you have any of the requested items laying around your house, consider donating to this great cause!

9. Light the World

My family loves participating in the Light the World campaign each year. This campaign runs through the month of December and shares easy ideas to serve others, without having to spend a lot of money.

I signed up for the daily text messages and each day I’m greeted with a simple prompt about how I can serve someone and spread goodness this month.

Some days I don’t participate in the prompt, but other days I do. Yesterday the prompt was to tell my parents I love them. So simple, yet so beautiful!

You can sign up for Light the World here!

10. Giving Jar

Fill up a jar with coins throughout the year. Use this jar to serve someone in need during December, we call this jar our Giving Jar. You can secretly leave the jar on someones doorstep, or exchange the coins to purchase presents for a Giving Tree around town.

11. Candy Cane’s on Windshields

Last year our family came up with one of our favorite acts of kindness ever!

First, we typed up a little note that says, “Merry, Merry Christmas and a Ho, Ho, Ho! You’re simply amazing and we want you to know! You’re loved beyond measure, you make the world bright! Happy Holidays to you and have a wonderful night! Love, The Candy Cane Bombers”.

We printed out a bunch of these notes and attached them to candy canes. That night we went out in the dark and put these candy canes/notes on random cars. We chose a few cars parked on the streets in our neighborhood and a few from a store parking lot.

This is such a frugal way to give! Candy canes are really cheap, and you can brighten so many people’s day without spending a lot of money!

Frugal Giving is Possible!

In short, it is possible to serve and give to others in need without having to drop the big bucks. Use your imagination, but most importantly use your heart! The moments that mean most to me in life are the ones when someone gave me a hug, a smile or a simple kind act of service.

What Christmas Acts of Kindness do you enjoy each year?

Cheap Gift Ideas for Teen Boys All Under $25!

November 22, 2019 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Need a gift idea for a teen boy?? Check these out!

Are you looking for a gift idea for a teen boy? Trying to find something he will like and use without spending a lot of money can be a little stressful (ok maybe very stressful)! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I’m sharing 18 Gift Ideas for Teen Boys, and everything is under $25!

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Sport Gift Ideas for Teen Boy

Bring soccer indoors for the sport lover with this Light Up Air Power Soccer Disk. It’s sure to bring hours of fun and enjoyment to your teen. And, it’s less than $20!

Another fun gift for the sport lover! This hanging basketball hoop can provide hours of fun, without even having to leave his chair! Great deal at under $15!

Even I want to play with this Light Up Football! No need to end the football game when it gets dark if you are playing with this ball! It costs less than $25 on Amazon!

Gifts to Read

I had someone gift me the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens years ago and I was so appreciative. I think all teens should read it. It is full of so much wisdom and good advice. The paperback is less than $10.

Every teen needs to learn how to cook, right???? This is a fun recipe book to get teens cooking in the kitchen. The paperback costs less than $12.

This Big Life Journal is a fun interactive way to encourage your teen to journal and learn more about themselves. It’s just under $25 and a great deal as a hardcover high quality book!

Gifts for the Room

What about this awesome waterproof Bluetooth speaker? It’s perfect for the shower, or a day at the lake or pool. It’s only $10!

Get your teen something he will use regularly with this clip on light. It’s perfect for clipping on a table or next to the bed. If he’s heading to college soon, this light will be put to good use for sure! It’s currently on sale for $15!

Gifts to Wear

Does your teen boy love tacos? He just might love these hilarious taco socks for just $12!

I love this shirt for any gamer lover with a sense of humor! It’s a good buy priced at less than $15.

Stranger Things is all the rage among teens. If your teen loves this popular show he might enjoy this Stranger things hoodie. $9 on Amazon!

How cool is this bluetooth wireless headphones beanie??? I mean does it get any better? This is perfect for all outdoor use or for someone who likes to stay active year round. It’s currently priced at $24.

A lanyard is both hip and convenient, two important things for teen boys. I loved the subtle yet cool look of this lanyard for only $12!

This leather wallet is stylish and functional. I’m all about teaching kids how to manage money and a wallet is the right step in that direction! And, it’s less than $20!

Related: Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Girls under $25

Fun Gift Idea for Teen Boys

Codenames is one of our family favorite games! It’s fun for teens and requires some thinking, which is a fun challenge. It is actually on sale right now for $13!!

Do you have a Star Wars fan in your home? He just might love this Star Wars paper planes kit! It’s a great deal at $14!

Escape rooms are so fun, what’s even more fun is having an escape room on the go! This game includes three different escape rooms in one for your teen to enjoy with friends, wherever they want! It’s only $24, much cheaper than going to an actual escape room!

Outdoorsy Gifts

For the outdoor lover get him this portable hammock. It’s lightweight making it perfect for hiking and camping use. This hammock is a great deal at under $15.

It’s always fun to get something personalized and this engraved pocket knife is perfect! There are so many different styles and colors to choose from so you can find the right knife for your teen. Only $24!!

Need more Gift Ideas? You might also like:

7 Easy Ways to Save For Christmas

October 23, 2019 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Christmas comes every 12 months. We know that every 52 weeks Christmas will come again. It’s never a surprise, and is a fact of life. I absolutely love the Christmas season. I love the traditions, the lights, the love shown to others. What I don’t love is the cost (anyone with me on this??). When you include holiday parties, gifts, travel, etc. the expenses add up fast. One of the best things I have learned is to plan for this holiday well in advanced (like a year in advance). Today I want to share with you 7 Ways to Save for Christmas so that you can enjoy a stress free holiday!

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1. Set Up a Sinking Fund

Every January I recommend you set up a Christmas sinking fund in your budget. This is fairly simple to do and extremely effective. A sinking fund is setting aside a small amount of money for a longer period of time in order to save up for something specific. A few common sinking funds arefor: travel, buying a car, etc. A Christmas sinking fund will give you the confidence to spend for the holiday guilt free because you already have the money saved and ready.

To set up your Christmas sinking fund simply add up how much money you spend on Christmas and divide it by 12 (for 12 months).

Example: If you spend $500 on Christmas your equation would look like: 500/12=$42

Starting in January you will need to save $42 every month for the next 12 months. By the time December comes you will have the money you need for a guilt free holiday!

2. Use a Credit Card

I know many people in the finance world look down on the use of credit cards, and I get it! If a credit card is a spending temptation to you then do NOT use one. If however, you are able to stay in budget with a credit card and pay it off in full monthly than this is an easy way to save for Christmas.

My husband and I prefer to purchase half of our expenses on our Discover Card. With each purchase we earn cashback (usually somewhere between 1%-5%). We allow this cashback to accumulate throughout the year and only use it to help us pay for Christmas.

This is such an easy way to save because it never feels like a sacrifice! We spend as normal and earn free money at the same time!

3. Save Your Pennies (literally)

Every year our family chooses a family to give Secret Santa presents too. These are names that we hear of in the community that need some extra love during the holidays. I love teaching my kids that giving is more important than receiving.

Years ago we decided to start a “Giving Jar.” The concept is simple really. Starting in January we begin saving every coin we get throughout the year (using cash envelopes helps with this). The goal is to have a jar full of coins by December. We use this money to pay for the presents we buy for to give to the family in need.

Now, your family doesn’t have to use your coins for Secret Santa presents. But, you can save your coins throughout the year and use them in December to help pay for the holidays. Get your kids involved in the fun and use the coins on a fun family activity or treat!

4. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is one of my favorite ways to earn cashback. Mostly because it is just so easy! Download the app here, scan your receipt after you go grocery shopping and points are automatically put into your fetch account (this seriously takes less than a minute to do!).

These points can be redeemed for gift cards to all of your favorite stores (like Amazon and Target in my case!). Save up these points throughout the entire year and when the holiday season comes around redeem them to use at stores to help you pay for Christmas presents. Amazon is where I do most of my Christmas shopping, so obviously I will be redeeming for an Amazon gift card.

Download Fetch Rewards here and enter code WC1TU for BONUS 2,000 ($2) points when you scan your first receipt!

Related: 20 FREE or FRUGAL Family Christmas Traditions

5. Take Advantage of Cash Back

Similar to Fetch Rewards (where you earn points to redeem for gift cards) are cash back apps. These apps will give you actual cash back on items you buy during regular shopping trips. Two of my favorite cash back apps are Rakuten and Ibotta.

Rakuten is so easy to use, you usually don’t even realize you are using it! First, sign up for Rakuten here. Now, every time you shop online do it through the Rakuten website. To do this just log into the website, select the store you want to shop at (again…Amazon is usually my first choice). You will be redirected to the store you clicked on; now just shop as normal and then you’re down! You will automatically earn cash back! Easy right?!?! Sign up for Rakuten here and you will receive a bonus $10 after you spend your first $25.

Ibotta is just as easy (if you can believe it!). Download the ibotta app here. Now, every time when you shop at a grocery store simply log into the app, check the grocery items you bought, and then scan your receipt. You will be rewarded with cash back on any qualifying rebates.

I like to save up my earnings from Ibotta and Rakuten until the end of the year. Then I use this money to help us pay for Christmas. It has truly been a huge blessing for our family!

6. Start a Side Hustle

Consider starting a side hustle as a way to earn some extra money in addition to your current form of employment. A side hustle will be something you will do in your spare time. Save everything you earn from this job to be spent on Christmas.

I know someone who started a Christmas lights hanging business and every penny goes towards their Christmas. I’ve always thought that was an excellent idea for a short term side hustle. If you are needing more ideas check out these side hustle ideas listed here.

7. Sell the Clutter

Clean out closets and basement storage rooms to find items to sell. My personal rule of thumb is, “If we haven’t touched it for a year then we don’t need it anymore.” You can sell these online using any of these websites or have a yearly garage sale and get rid of the junk in one day. Save the money you earn from selling your clutter and put it in your Christmas Sinking Fund.

You can pick and choose which of these methods will help you best to save for Christmas each year. Or, use all 7 of them for an even less stressful Christmas. The most important thing is that you have a plan and you implement it.

How do you save for Christmas each year? Let us in on some of your secrets in the comments! I would love more inspiration!

Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

October 17, 2019 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Christmas is coming, and with that comes added expenses. With gifts and parties and food (oh how I love the food) the costs can add up quick. One of my biggest passions is to help people see that gifts do not have to cost a lot of money. A gift should come from the heart, not from a credit card. I would much rather have a friend give me a nice note than have them feel stressed about money but felt they needed to buy me something expensive. Here are 15 Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Friends and Teachers.

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1. A Jar of Homemade Hot Cocoa

Whip up a batch of this homemade hot cocoa. Put it in a jar with a cute card and note. You could even attach a bag of marshmallows or box of candy canes.

2. Hand Soap

Look for sales at Bed Bath and Beyond, or other stores, and stock up on a few nice hand soaps. I love getting these as gifts! You can never have to much soap.

3. Wrapping Paper

Buy a few rolls of wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree. Attach a big bow and thoughtful note. Everyone is always needing more wrapping paper during Christmas time!

4. Journal

Give your friend a pretty journal. Make it even more special by writing a kind note on the front page. This one from Amazon is less than $5!

5. Soda Pop

a 2 liter of soda pop makes a fun gift for neighbors, especially for the New Year holiday. Download this free printable and attach to the pop.

Download Pop Gift Tag Here.

6. Nail Polish and Emery Board

This is a fun gift for a girl friend. Give the gift of pampering with a cute jar of nail polish and a emery board. You can get these both for fairly cheap at the Dollar Tree. Tie them up with ribbon (everything looks fancier with ribbon) and give them along with a kind card.

7. Homemade Candy

Whip up a batch of this easy Christmas Candy for a fun sweet treat. It’s so easy to make, and different from the more popular Christmas goodies. Put it in a gift bag and tie it off with ribbon.

Related: Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Girls under $25

8. Bath Bombs

I love a good bath bomb. It turns bath time into spa time (for reals!). This bath bomb gift set is a great gift for your friends or teachers. You could make it even more frugal by putting each individual bath bomb in a cute gift bag with a ribbon attached, this would give you 6 gifts in one!

9. Pineapple

We did this a few years ago and attached a card saying “Mele Kalikimaka.” You can find the printable I used here.

10. Throw Blanket

What better way to enjoy the cold winter months than with a new throw blanket. You can find these for fairly cheap, such as this one I found on Amazon. So cute right?!

11. A Bag of Clementines

We have always received a lot of great reviews when we gift a small bag of cutie clementines. Attach a note that says, “Merry Christmas CUTIE.”

12. Box of Muffin Mix

This sound so simple, but I love it! Like I said before, practical gifts are my favorite gifts. Give a box of muffin mix with a note attached that says “You’re getting muffin for Christmas.” I found a cute free printable here.

13. Homemade Bread

There is just something about a loaf of homemade bread that makes my heart happy. This banana bread recipe is quick easy and cheap. Make up a couple loaves for teachers or neighbors.

14. A Cute Scarf

You can never have to many scarfs, at least that’s my opinion! They are practical, cute and trendy! Plus, they are affordable! This one from Amazon is less than $10!

15. Plate of Cookies

There is something special about an old fashioned plate of cookies! When I know something has been handmade it feels a little more special to me. I just love gifts from the heart! Try out this Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe for a fun cookie plate.

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16. Growth Mindset Conversation Starters

This Conversation Starter Cards is a fun gift to give someone with a family. The set of cards is just under $15 and includes 52 cards each with a different question on it. These questions encourage conversation and are the perfect addition to family get together’s, long car trips or dinner conversation. My kids love when we pull these out and I love gifting them for other families to enjoy!

25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

January 3, 2019 By: Sweet Frugal Life21 Comments

Enjoy a frugal winter with these free family winter activities!

I absolutely love the snow! There is nothing better than waking up to a fresh blanket of new snow and seeing the sparkle it makes in the sunlight. The only negative about the snow is that it’s so cold!! Unfortunately, I live in an area where it stays cold for many many months! We all get a little stir crazy around here being cooped up for so long. I’ve learned to get creative during these cold months to help us stay sane and stay in budget! Here are my favorite free family winter activities.

2019 Goals

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Fun In the Snow

1. Sledding

Try a few sledding hills around town. See if you can find a new favorite. Enjoy spending the day laughing with friends and family.

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2. Snow Cave

Spend the day outside building a snow cave as a family. You could even have a contest to see who can build the best. Turn it into a castle, add some stairs or windows. Get creative and have fun!

3. Snow Candy

We fell in love with Snow Candy a few years ago after reading the Little House on the Prairie series. Simply place a bowl outside while it’s snowing. When the bowl is full of fresh clean snow, immediately bring it in and pour pure maple syrup on top. The syrup will harden to make a sweet treat!

4. Winter Walk/Scavenger Hunt

Bundle up and go for a walk in the freshly fallen snow. Make a game of it by putting together a list of different items to find; a pine cone, icicle, boot tracks, animal tracks, a snowman, etc.

5. Snowball Fight

Have a family friendly snowball fight. This is guaranteed to bring a lot of laughs and memories!

6. Build a Snowman

Why build one snowman when you can build a family of snowmen??? Have everyone build the snowman that fits their unique personality!

7. Snow Ice Cream

Search Pinterest to find hundreds of easy snow ice cream tutorials. It is a simple recipe using a few cheap ingredients. This is a fun way to enjoy the snow…while staying indoors!

Fun in the Snow for Families -free winter activities

Fun at Home

8. Movie Night

Snuggle up together, pop some popcorn and have a family movie night. Watch a few old classics or try something new. All that matters is that you are spending time together.

9. Bake Bread

I love spending cold winter days in my kitchen baking something warm. Try baking a loaf of homemade bread! Lather it with homemade butter and eat it together as a family.

10. Homemade Cocoa

It only takes a couple of minutes and a few ingredients to make a big batch homemade cocoa. Make the hot chocolate together as a family and enjoy sipping it next to a warm cozy fire.

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11. Family Slumber Party

Haul blankets, pillows and sleeping bags onto the living room floor. Have a large family slumber party together. Your kids will remember this forever!

12. Read a Novel as a Family

My family loves to read a novel together every winter. I usually pick a classic and read it to the kids for 20-30 minutes every evening. A few favorites have been Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little.

13. Paper Snowflakes

Spend an afternoon cutting out paper snowflakes and hanging them around your home. We like to tape a few to the windows and use invisible thread to hang some from the ceiling. You can find countless Youtube video tutorials. This is such a fun, cheap and easy craft!

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14. Play Dough

Make some homemade play dough at home! Use it to build snowmen or other fun creations. You can use my favorite recipe or search pinterest for other variations!

15. Indoor Picnic

You don’t have to have warm weather for a picnic! Spread a blanket out on the floor, bring a few of your favorite picnic foods and enjoy a picnic indoors!

16. Make a Fort

Gather all the blankets and chairs in your house and build a gigantic blanket fort. Play games, read stories and spend the day hiding out in the fort.

17. Make a Sock Snowman

All it takes is a little creativity and a few random items found around the house to turn an ordinary sock into a snowman!

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18. Board Games

We love board games in our family! You can find some cheap ones at your local thrift store, but there are plenty of fun games played with just a deck of cards or dice.

19. Make Friendship Bracelets

My kids love spending an afternoon making friendship bracelets! You can do an easy braid or something fancier. Be sure to make two bracelets! One to give away and one to keep.

20. Family Dance Party

Sometimes our family (or maybe just this tired mom! 😉 ) just needs a good old fashioned dance party! We crank up a few of our fave dance tunes and dance the grumpy faces away!

Fun in Town

21. Visit the Library

The library offers a lot of free activities for everyone in the family. Take advantage of all the many free programs and be sure to check out a book or movie while you are there!

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22. Serve a Meal at a Homeless Shelter

There is nothing better for a child to learn than how to care for others. Pick a day as a family to help serve a meal at the local homeless shelter. This is such a humbling experience!

23. Visit a Pet Store

It’s so simple, but so fun! We love walking around the local pet store and visiting the cats, dogs, and birds. My kids ask to go regularly and I never complain!

24. Donate to a Thrift Store

As a family go through all of the toys, clutter, and household items. Fill up a large box of items to donate to a thrift store. It feels so good to start the new year fresh and clutter free!

25. Visit a Neighbor

Do you have an elderly neighbor who might need a visit? Or maybe someone new to the neighborhood? As a family pay a special visit to someone needing company. It’s a great way to brighten their day and get to know someone new!

Liked what you read? Pin it for future reference!

Free Family Winter Activities

What do you like to do with your family during the cold winter months????

Easy Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

December 5, 2018 By: Sweet Frugal Life24 Comments

A good hot chocolate mix recipe makes everything better!

Hot cocoa is such a fun staple to have in your home during these cold winter months. My kids will spend hours playing outside in the snow and the first thing they ask for when they come inside is some hot chocolate! Back in my “spender” days I use to buy hot chocolate mix at the store like it was nobody’s business! Once I started learning how to save and live a frugal life I learned how to make hot chocolate mix from scratch with this easy hot chocolate mix recipe and I have never looked back! Not only does making your own hot cocoa save you money, it is also so quick and easy to do. It also tastes much better than what you will buy from the store!

Print Recipe

Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup powdered creamer
1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in a tightly covered container.
To make hot chocolate: Stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 cup boiling water. Enjoy!

Related: 25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

We usually make this mix for our family to enjoy all winter, but it would also be a really frugal Christmas gift for friends and neighbors. Whip up a large batch, portion it into cute jars and tie a bow around it. Done!

Related: Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

Let me know if you make this hot chocolate! I would love to hear how it turns out!

20 FREE or FRUGAL Family Christmas Traditions

November 19, 2018 By: Sweet Frugal Life10 Comments

Christmas is just my very very favorite season. I love the lights, the snow, the family Christmas traditions planning that perfect gift for a loved one, and the joy I feel from everyone around me. It truly is the most magical time of the year!

December is the perfect month for establishing family traditions. My hope is that one day my little family will look back on their childhood and remember the sweet memories and traditions we made together.

You do not have to spend a lot of money to make these memories with your family. A lot of activities can be done completely FREE! Here are 20 FREE or FRUGAL Family Christmas Traditions!

Free or Frugal Family Christmas Traditions

1. Decorate the Christmas Tree

Each year our family hikes through the forest to cut down our Christmas Tree. After finding that “perfect” tree we bring it home, turn on some Christmas music and spend a fun evening decorating it together. Our Christmas tree is decorated with salt dough ornaments, candy canes, and all the things that bring sentimentality and love to my life. The ornaments made by the hands of my sweet children are ones I will cherish forever!

2. Christmas Stories

Every night for the entire month of December we turn off the lights in our house, sit in front of the lit up Christmas tree, and read a Christmas Story. Short stories can easily be found and printed from the internet, or you can usually find Christmas books at your local thrift store.

3. Christmas Lights

Take a drive as a family and look at all of the Christmas lights around town. We have found a few favorite neighborhoods that we enjoy visiting each year. I always pop popcorn for the kids (and me!) to snack on during the drive and the kids bring a blanket and wear their pajamas. Of course, we have our favorite holiday music on in the background. It is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enjoy the holidays

4. Holiday Baking

I mean really, does it get any better than holiday baking?? I think NOT! With hundreds of different recipes and treats to choose from, we could be baking all month long!

Holiday baking is a fun tradition to do with your kids. My kids love to help in the kitchen, ESPECIALLY if they know treats are involved! A few of our holiday favorites are gingerbread men, peanut brittle, pretzels dipped in chocolate, and homemade toffee.

5. Neighbor Gifts

After all the holiday baking it’s so fun to deliver those yummy goodies to friends and neighbors. We like to get the kids involved in this. We package up the plates together, make cute little cards and spend an evening bringing some joy to our little neighborhood. I love this tradition and the way it brings a community together.

6. Advent Calendar

Years ago I made a Christmas Advent calendar. It was quite a bit of work and honestly, there are so many cheaper and easier options out there. But, my kids love this calendar. It’s nothing fancy. They don’t receive a treat or activity each day, they just put a little felt ornament up on our felt Christmas Tree. When the tree is full, Christmas is here. It makes the long wait a little bit easier for the excited kids!

7. Christmas Movies

Have a Christmas Movie night. I love snuggling up with my family and enjoying a feel good holiday movie. We enjoy classics like; It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas; or a newer family favorite is Elf. Netflix has a lot of great options, or check out a few from your local library.

8. Christmas Crafts

There are hundreds of darling Christmas Craft ideas all over Pinterest. I like to do a few of these during the school break with my kids. You can always find some ideas using items you already have in your house.

9. Paper Snowflakes

Cut out paper snowflakes and hang them around your house. You can find many tutorials on YouTube. These are usually easy enough for younger kids to enjoy. I will usually fold the paper for my preschool kids and then let them be in charge of cutting out the fun shapes. It’s such a joy to see every snowflake with a different unique design.

10. Christmas Eve Dinner

I like to have a big fancy dinner with my family on Christmas Eve. When we have our big dinner on Christmas Eve, we are able to just relax and enjoy Christmas day stress free. We invite over extended family and everyone brings a side dish to share. When everyone helps contribute to the meal, it keeps the costs low.

11. Letters to Santa

My kids like to write letters to Santa Clause every year. I am personally not a huge fan of the traditional letters to Santa, where the kids ask for all the things they want to be brought to them. Instead, I have my kids write to tell Santa about all of the good and nice things they have done throughout the year. I have told them this is how Santa decides if he will bring them a present or not. My hope is this will encourage them to focus more on being kind and less on materialist things.

12. Light the World

We have been participating in Light the World for the past few years. Light the World is a campaign sponsored by my church. It encourages families to look for ways to serve within their family, community and in the world. It is absolutely open to EVERYONE! The focus is less about religion, and more on service.

There are so many different ways to serve and love others. Bake cookies for your local fire department, participate in Operation Shoe box, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or become “Secret Santa” for a family in need. I love having my kids participate in this and have found it really brings the true spirit of Christmas into our home.

13. Act out the Nativity

Every Christmas Eve, after our special dinner, my kids act out the nativity as an adult reads the story out of Luke 2. The kids dress up as mary, joseph, donkey etc. I love this tradition!

14. Make a Ginger Bread House

Spend an afternoon making a ginger bread house with your family. You can usually find fairly cheap kits at your local grocery store. One year we just used graham crackers and homemade frosting. For decorations we used items already in my pantry, like chocolate chips, marshmallows and almonds. It really doesn’t matter how fancy of a house you build, all that matters is that you’re spending time with your loved ones.

15. Christmas Cookie Exchange

Invite some friends over for an annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Ask everyone to bring a dozen cookies and enjoy socializing and taste testing all of the different holiday cookies. You might even find a new favorite recipe!

16. Send out a Christmas Email

Ditch the traditional Christmas card and instead send out a Christmas e-mail. You can include a few pictures and a short update of what your family has been up to over the past year. I have even seen some free email card services you could look into!

17. White Elephant Party

Host a White Elephant Party at your home. Ask everyone to bring a wrapped gift (something they already have around their house). Play a fun gift exchange game (these can be found on Pinterest) to decide who will open which present.

This is a fun way to exchange gifts with friends, without having to spend a lot of money on everyone. It also brings a lot of laughs!!

18. Hot Chocolate Bar

Set up a hot chocolate bar on Christmas Day. Keep it simple to prevent overspending. A few peppermint sticks, some marshmallows and whipped cream are all easy ideas. Search Pinterest for easy homemade hot chocolate mix.

19. Christmas Concerts/Events

Look to your community for free Christmas Concerts and Events happening around town. Does your community put on a free nativity, light parade or other special concerts? You can usually find at least a few Christmas Concerts at the local high school.

20. Cookies for Santa and Reindeer Food

Set out milk and cookies for Santa Clause on Christmas Eve. Go one step further and make Reindeer Food. Mix together oats and glitter for magic reindeer food. Sprinkle it out in your yard to help the reindeer find your house.

I am always searching for fun new traditions! What are some of your families favorite holiday traditions??? Let me know in the comments!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Girls under $25

November 12, 2018 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

Are you needing a gift, maybe a Christmas present or a birthday present, for the teen girl in your life? Are you on a budget and don’t want to overspend? Well you have come to the right place! I have researched all of the best gift ideas for teen girls! The best part? Everything is under $25, so you can stick to that budget!

Gifts for Fun

This Karaoke Microphone would be so fun for some teen girl parties or for anyone who loves to sing! It is compatible with both android and iOS. It is only $17.99.

Adult Coloring Books are so fun and relaxing. I loved the inspirational sayings in this book. Every teen (and adult!) needs a good motivational quote every now and then! this coloring book is a really good deal at $6.22.

What teen girl wouldn’t love a itunes gift card. This way she can pick and choose what she wants! You can decide how much money you want on your gift card, with the lowest gift card at $25.

Let’s face it, teens love to take pictures! This Phone Tripod looks so fun for setting up cute group photos or selfies. It is currently only $13.98!

Accessories

CC Beanies are all the rage right now with teen girls. These darling CC beanies are only $9.99, with dozens of colors to choose from.

These blanket scarves are so popular right now and would be perfect for the cold months. This one is less than $15, and there are many other color options to choose from.

I never thought scrunchies would come back, but they did, and are super popular with the teen crowd right now! These Scrunchies are darling and only $7.99.

I’ve seen so many people wearing a bag similar to this Mini Backpack Purse. They are really cute, and a fun alternative to the traditional purse. This backpack is only $24.99!

Beauty Gifts

This set of bath bombs comes with 6 different scents and colors. It’s a fun “luxury” gift for your teen. The entire set is only $12.99

This Tabletop Makeup Mirror would be such a fun gift to receive as a teenage girl. I was excited to see the price was only $24.49!

What teen girl wouldn’t like a makeup kit??? This one includes a little bit of everything; blush, lip gloss, and eye shadow. It is only $17.35!

The 20 Piece Makeup Brush Set is a great deal at only $7.99. You will never want for a makeup brush again! Such a fun gift ideas for teen girls!

I love the colors in this Gel Nails Set. This kit is the perfect way to get beautiful gel nails, but for only $17.99 it is at a fantastic price.

This Curling Wand has over 7,000 positive reviews and makes the most beautiful curls. It is currently only $21.73!

When you are not wanting to curl your hair, this Hair Straightener is amazing! My daughter has had this same one for a couple of years, and I love it. (yes, I might “borrow” it from time to time! 😉 ) It’s very easy to use, and works great! It is a great deal at $19.99.

I have had an ipsy Subscription off and on for 4ish years now. It is a fun beauty subscription service where they will send you 5 beauty products and a cute makeup bag every month for only $10! When you set up the subscription service you will feel out a form detailing what types of beauty products you would prefer, your coloring and more. This would be a fun gift for a teen girl to receive, even if you only sign up for 2-3 months worth of subscription. It’s a great way to learn new makeup skills and try out new products.

Books

I bought this hair styling book for my daughter last Christmas. She loved it! It gives easy to follow instructions for fixing hair. It is currently $12.98

The Fault in our Stars is a story of a sweet teen romance. It has been a best seller for a few years. The paperback is just $7.59

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Legacy is the newest (just released in November) of the hit series Keeper of the Lost Cities. If your daughter is a fan of this series, she would be thrilled to receive this newest book. It is currently priced at $13.24.

I am so in love with the Big Life Journal for Teens. It encourages teens to reflect on themselves and their emotions. Doing this gives them the confidence they need to be themselves through and through. This hardcover journal is just under $25.

Room Decor

I love this Bluetooth Nightlight and is a fun gift ideas for teen girls. It has so many functions including night light, speaker, handsfree calling and more. For only $19.95 it really is a great deal!

Felt Boards are super trendy right now! Most teen girls would love having them in their room to be able to make fun and cute sayings. It is only $16.99!

You can choose any letter you want with the Marquee Letter Sign. It would make such a fun room accessory! It is currently only $9.99.

Practical Gifts

This Duffel/Sports Bag comes in a dozen different colors. My daughter has been wanting a bag like this to carry her sports gear to school, it would also be great for a teen that is on the go or traveling. This bag is $24.99.

I love the rich colors on these Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles. They are practical and cute! These water bottles are currently $15.95.

It’s always fun to change up the look on your cell phone. These marble Cell Phone Cases are only $8.99, and have a few different designs and colors to choose from.

You might be interested in a few of my other gift lists!

25 Gift Ideas for 5-7 year old boys under $25

10 Valentines gifts for him under $10!

10 Valentine Gifts for Her under $10

25 Gift Ideas for Tween Girls; all under $25!

Easy Pumpkin Craft Tutorial For a Fun Fall Decoration

October 17, 2018 By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Yesterday I pulled out all of our fall decorations and had fun getting the house looking a little more festive. After that I decided I wanted a few more small decor items, but didn’t want to spend very much money. So, I decided to make this easy pumpkin craft!

My friend showed me how to make these toilet paper pumpkins a few years ago, and I knew they would be the perfect addition to my house this fall. The best part about these pumpkins is they cost less than $1 to make! Yep, you read that right, $1!

The only item I bought for these pumpkins was the fabric for 97 cents each. If that’s not frugal, I don’t know what is! Not only are these crazy cheap to make…..they are also one of the easiest crafts ever! Most importantly, I spent less than an hour making all three of these darling Halloween Pumpkins.

Halloween Pumpkin DIY

For each pumpkin you will need:

One roll of toilet paper

One square of fabric (I bought the fat quarter fabric from Walmart for $.97)

Hot glue gun

A twig for the stem

First you will lay the square of fabric right side down on the table. Place your toilet paper in the middle.

Next, tuck the ends of the fabric into the middle of the toilet paper. I try to pull the fabric tight as I go, this helps makes some cute textures and creases for the pumpkin. Keep stuffing the ends of the fabric into the toilet paper roll until all the ends of the fabric are hidden.

You are almost done! For the stem, I simply went into my backyard (or you can try to search a park) and cut a piece of a twig to the size I wanted. Hot glue a small amount of glue into the middle of your pumpkin. Stick the twig into the hot glue, making sure it is sticking up correctly.

And you are done! Easiest thing ever, right?!?!

Try playing around with the toilet paper to make different shapes and sizes. For the polka dot pumpkin, I took off about 1/4 of the toilet paper to make a smaller pumpkin. I also wrapped some toilet paper loosely around the entire roll. This gives it a slightly more rounded look.

I wanted my other black pumpkin to be a little bit larger so, I added extra toilet paper to the roll, and tried to give it a rounded loose look.

I loved the way this one turned out! There really are some many possibilities! And for a whopping 97 cents…..you can make a dozen of these without breaking the bank!

Have you ever made a toilet paper roll pumpkin before??? It truly is such a fun and easy pumpkin craft! Let me know if you try it out, I would love to hear how they turned out.

Happy frugal crafting!

Budget Friendly Pancake and Pajama Birthday Party!

October 8, 2018 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

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Why is it every time my kids have a birthday I get so emotional???? Please tell me I’m not alone in this! It is so fun to watch my kids grow into amazing people, but oh how my heart hurts to see just how fast time passes and how quickly my babes grow!

We celebrated my daughters 10th birthday last week! I definitely shed a tear or two, but I mostly enjoyed celebrating her sweet life!

The rule at our house is that I will throw my kids a birthday party with their friends every other year. This year happened to be the year for my daughters party. It took us a few days to come up with a theme that felt a little more “grown up” for her. Take a look at my article Fun Birthday Traditions for Small Budgets for a few other ways we celebrate birthdays.

We finally decided that a Pancake and Pajama Party would be the perfect party for young tween girls.

Like all of my parties (LEGO Birthday Party for Under $20), I try to plan simple, fun and FRUGAL. I want it to be a special day for my kids and all of the party goers….but I also want it to be the least amount of stress possible for me! (that’s just how I roll!)

The Invites

I spent $2 on the invitations.

I found the cutest invites at the Dollar Tree! Seriously, how cute are these?!?! They were perfect in every way, cute enough to keep my daughter excited and cheap enough to keep me satisfied!

The Decor

By using items I already had at home I was able to spend $0 (yes, zero!) on decorations for our Pancake and Pajama Party!

With the help of the birthday girl we chose the colors turquoise, pink and white. I hung a few streamers and balloons around the house, and made some tissue paper pom poms for a fun statement over the dining room table.

Check out this easy tutorial for my Tissue Paper Pom-Poms.

It turned out beautiful! I was so happy the way the colors all went together.

The Table

I spent $5 on the table decor/paper plates.

The plates, utensils, cups, napkins, and table cloth were bought at Walmart for $.97 each.

The centerpieces were put together using items I had at home. I simply filled a mason jar with fruit loop cereal and put a flower inside. So easy! So cute! The girls loved munching on the cereal while they were waiting for the food to be ready.

The Food

I used food I already had at home and as a result, I only had to spend $10 on a few remaining items.

Beings how this was a Pancake party, I tried to make the food a fun part of the party. (and…while I was so busy doing that….I failed to take any pictures of the food, oops!)

I cooked up a large batch of pancakes, and provided a fun array of toppings for the girls to choose from. We had nutella, strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream, maple syrup, raspberry syrup, and sprinkles (it was a birthday after all 😉 ).

I overestimated the amount of food these girls would eat. We ended up with a lot of leftovers!

The Games

The activities were my biggest budget item. I spent $40 on the activities. A few of these activities doubled as the “goody bag.”

After eating, the games began! We played Silent Football, Human Knot, and “The Cereal Game.”

The Cereal Game was my favorite of all of the games! It was based off of the popular White Elephant Game.

I bought 9 mini cereal boxes 9 mini cereal boxes (1 for each girl) and made 9 slips of paper each with a number on it (1-9).

The girls sat in a circle and each picked a number. The number they drew was the order when they would be able to choose a cereal.

The first girl was able to choose from all of the cereals. The next girl had the option to choose from what was left in the middle or steal from the first girl. Play continues in the same way until all the girls have each had a turn to steal or choose from the middle. If a cereal is stolen from you, you will receive a turn to steal from another person or choose from the middle. A cereal can only be stolen twice until it is “dead,” meaning it can not be stolen again.

This game was a huge hit! The girls loved having a mini cereal box to take home with them.

The Craft

Next came the craft! I gave each of the girls a white pillow case and then using fabric markers, they were able to color and decorate it. Honestly, before the party I wasn’t sure how long they would want to sit still and color, but they surprised me! They sat quietly for a good 20 minutes decorating their pillow cases. They loved this craft! This activity was the biggest expense of the party, but I decided it was well worth the money. I found the cheapest pillowcases were in bulk on Amazon.

The Results

I spent $57 on this party.

The Pancake and Pajama Party ended up being a huge hit! I loved seeing all the girls show up in their darling PJs and have a “mini sleepover”!

Now, I get to enjoy my sweet girl at age ten…..and keep hoping someone invites a special potion that will make kids stop growing!

Giving Back To Others During the Holiday Season

Frugal Acts of Kindness

1. Stock The Food Pantry

2. Serve Food At The Homeless Shelter

3. Visit Nursing Homes

4. Shovel Your Neighbors Driveway

5. Send A Card

6. Drop Off a Frugal Treat

7. Bring Someone a Meal

8. Donate Gently Used Clothing

9. Light the World

10. Giving Jar

11. Candy Cane’s on Windshields

Frugal Giving is Possible!

What Christmas Acts of Kindness do you enjoy each year?

Need a gift idea for a teen boy?? Check these out!

Sport Gift Ideas for Teen Boy

Gifts to Read

Gifts for the Room

Gifts to Wear

Fun Gift Idea for Teen Boys

Outdoorsy Gifts

Need more Gift Ideas? You might also like:

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1. Set Up a Sinking Fund

2. Use a Credit Card

3. Save Your Pennies (literally)

4. Fetch Rewards

5. Take Advantage of Cash Back

6. Start a Side Hustle

7. Sell the Clutter

How do you save for Christmas each year? Let us in on some of your secrets in the comments! I would love more inspiration!

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1. A Jar of Homemade Hot Cocoa

2. Hand Soap

3. Wrapping Paper

4. Journal

5. Soda Pop

6. Nail Polish and Emery Board

7. Homemade Candy

8. Bath Bombs

9. Pineapple

10. Throw Blanket

11. A Bag of Clementines

12. Box of Muffin Mix

13. Homemade Bread

14. A Cute Scarf

15. Plate of Cookies

16. Growth Mindset Conversation Starters

You might enjoy these other budget friendly gift guides:

Enjoy a frugal winter with these free family winter activities!

Fun In the Snow

1. Sledding

2. Snow Cave

3. Snow Candy

4. Winter Walk/Scavenger Hunt

5. Snowball Fight

6. Build a Snowman

7. Snow Ice Cream

Fun at Home

8. Movie Night

9. Bake Bread

10. Homemade Cocoa

11. Family Slumber Party

12. Read a Novel as a Family

13. Paper Snowflakes

14. Play Dough

15. Indoor Picnic

16. Make a Fort

17. Make a Sock Snowman

18. Board Games

19. Make Friendship Bracelets

20. Family Dance Party

Fun in Town

21. Visit the Library

22. Serve a Meal at a Homeless Shelter

23. Visit a Pet Store

24. Donate to a Thrift Store

25. Visit a Neighbor

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