Holiday Gift Giving Planning - Helping to Stay on Budget

There are 170 days until Christmas!!  Whoo-hoo!  I can hear the groaning....."ugh...grrrr...really?  Christmas, already?" 

Though Christmas comes at the same time every year....it always seems to sneak up on me.  I love to shop for everyone, that is, everyone who I KNOW what I'm going to get them.  Some people are harder to buy for than others.

Every year, my husband watches over me to make sure I stay on budget.  Without fail, somewhere along the gift buying, he backs away.  It is too confusing to keep track of everything and everybody.  I tell him it's "all up here" referring to my super memory. lol Well, that "super memory" can fail.  There have been SEVERAL times I buy a gift for someone FORGETTING I already purchased their gift 2 months ago.   Both gift ideas were good, so I end up giving both and going over budget.  :0)

This year will be different! Whoo-hoo!  Queenbee Coupons has taken gift buying for the holidays to a new level for our family! It's called, organization.   She has made up FREE spreadsheets to help keep track of ideas, budget, and what you have bought.  She also has some great gift buying tips. Thank you, thank you, thank you.  It beats out my mental list that seems to have some major glitches, especially the closer to Christmas we get.

Check out all Queenbee Coupons blog to help save money this upcoming holiday by being organized! 

Thank you,  Queenbee Coupons!

Surviving A Job Loss Series: Ideas For FREE Fun

Being unemployed does not have to bring gloom and doom to the household.  Yes, the cable may be disconnected for awhile, your vacation may be postponed, and shopping has been restricted, but life can still be fun.

 FREE family fun at the fountains downtown.

Though technically, your job right now is to find a job, there will be down times.  Use these times to have fun with the kids.  Kids are so perceptive, they know it is not a good thing to be out of work, but make it fun for them.  You do not want them to worry.

Keep your eye out for FREE things going on in your area. Here are some ideas of where you might find free events.

1. In the summer, there are free music lunch concerts and movie nights at local parks.
2. Visit your local library. There are free events at your library -  movies, story times, and classes.  Ask at the front desk.
3. Check the website of local attractions.  Sometimes, zoos, museums and special parks (like nature centers) will have promotion days with FREE admission.  Free days can be crowded, but arrive at opening time, and you can beat some crowds.
4. In our area we have a fish hatchery which has a family fun pond where the kids can fish for free.  The hatchery itself offers tours for free, too.
5. Parks that have hiking or biking trails can be fun.  Pack a picnic and make a day of it.
6. Do you have a GPS unit?  Try geocaching.  A fun scavenger hunt that can be done in any city using a GPS unit.
7. Feed the ducks at your local park with bread you find either at the day old bread store or from the discounted section in your grocery store bakery.
8. Volunteer at the local Human Society walking dogs.  (call before you go, to see if they use volunteers to do this)
9. Check your city website.  Many city websites have a calendar of events that are free.
10. Be creative.  Come up with something fun and out of the ordinary to do at the house.

When hubby was laid off, our local Chick-Fil-A had FREE food when you dressed like a cow.

You haven't lost the most important job....being a parent.  A job loss CAN bring a level of stress, but it can also bring many fun memories.  Take time to make those memories.