Starting February 15, you can snag great deals on granola bars, cookies, popcorn, fruit snacks and more. Image courtesy of Liz West.

Shopping the Valentine’s Day clearance racks is a great way to buy items you can use all year at a fraction of the price. Valentine’s items are different from Halloween and Christmas products because they often don’t scream “holiday.” Sure, some of the items are predominately red and pink and often feature hearts, but they can still be used year round without looking out of place. Here are some Valentine’s clearance items to toss in your cart if you see them.

Food
Look for foods with Valentine’s packaging on clearance after the holiday. You may be able to find Oreos, plastic storage bags containers, Pillsbury refrigerated cookies, cake mixes, graham crackers, fruit snacks, fun-size candy, popcorn and granola bars. They’re the exact same products you normally buy, just in different packaging, so now is the time to stock up! Many of these items can be frozen for a few months as well. Check out some handpicked coupons to pair with the clearance prices. You may be able to score a completely free item!

A potted plant is an original gift that will be enjoyed much longer. Image courtesy of Thomas Tolkien.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and while you might be feeling the love this year, you still might be looking for ways to save on typical purchases like cards, small gifts, flowers and candy. Spoiling your sweet doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune!

Get Creative
First of all, feel free to think outside the box. You don’t necessarily have to get something traditional this time of year. A more heartfelt gift might be a gift of service with a handmade card. Offer to do a household chore your love hates to do, or give the gift of a massage or foot rub. If your honey is a football fan, now is a good time to buy – football gear goes on sale at the end of the season. You can also often find good deals on hats, mittens, and scarves – a great way to keep your sweetie warm during the chilly winter months.

Flower Power
If you’re going to get flowers, steer clear of traditional flowers, which can be really expensive right before the big day. Some retailers put flowers “on special,” which is just a marketing ploy to get you to buy them. Check the [Read more...]

Bring reusable bags with you when you shop to avoid using paper or plastic bags. Image courtesy of Michael Carthy.

of us are taking some time over the New Year’s holiday to look back at the past and dream of the future. We evaluate what has worked for us and what we want to work for in the future. New Year’s Day is a time for new beginnings and there’s no better way to start off your year than with New Year’s Resolutions really worth making.

Greening in the New Year
This year, make an investment in the future and the environment with eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions don’t have to be complicated or expensive to make a difference. When it comes to the environment, just like your savings account, every little bit helps. Try one of these ten environmentally-friendly resolutions – and enjoy the savings benefits, as well.

• Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Wash clothing in cold water and hang your clothing to dry.
• Start using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic.
• Use eco-friendly cleaning products or make your own. [Read more...]

Snowman cracker snacks are a fun way to entertain your kids. Image courtesy of Michelle Pegram.

The holidays have come and gone but the kids are still on break. What can you do to keep them entertained without breaking the budget? Sure, they just got new toys but odds are, they will be bored and climbing the walls within just a couple days.

1. Take out the toys. Since the holidays were just here, your kids probably got some new toys to keep them occupied, or have some old ones to play with. One idea I like is to only give them a choice of a few to play with each day. That way they aren’t overloaded with choices, nor have multiple toys become boring and stale within just a couple days.

2. Cook together. One of my favorite memories as a kid was being able to bake and cook with my mom or grandmother. Having your kids help cook a meal or snack will not only make them more excited to eat their creation, but also help teach them skills they will use their whole life.

3. Go for a walk. If the weather outside isn’t frightful, head to a local [Read more...]

Holiday goodies are always welcome and can come in handy for last minute gifts. Image courtesy of Eric Chanel.

As the holidays get closer, our gift list tends to grow longer. Someone always has a new girlfriend or a new baby and we always need last minute gifts. To avoid an awkward moment or a frenzied trip to the mall, I always keep gifts on hand. See below for a few quick and easy gift ideas.

These hot chocolate snowman spoons are a quick and thoughtful gift for the holiday season. Image courtesy of Michelle Pegram.

One of the biggest gift-giving days of the year is just days away. Every year, it seems like I can’t come up with a gift to buy for someone, or I forget to buy for someone (oops!). Here are 5 of my favorite last minute homemade holiday gifts to put together.

1. Gift Baskets – Gift baskets are one of my favorite gifts to both give and receive as they can be completely customized for the person. The list of gift basket ideas is endless but here are a few easy ones:

• Baked goods, cookies and/or candies for those with a sweet tooth.
• Trail mix, chips, pretzels and nuts for those who love snacking.
• Fresh fruit for those that are watching what they eat.
• Craft beers and ales for those that enjoy trying new drinks.
• A homemade recipe book with some ingredients (perhaps using a slow cooker as the basket!) for newlyweds or [Read more...]

Creating your own wrapping paper will not only save you money, but bring the family together as well. Image courtesy of Gillian Maniscalco.

Have you ever found that saving money can also be fun? Some of the most fun we have had together as a family happens especially around the holidays as we try to put a personal touch on our gifts and gift wrapping. There are several ways to save money on gift wrapping and still give a gift with flair.

1. Make your own gift wrapping paper

For just pennies you can make your own gift wrapping paper. Start with white butcher paper or contractor’s paper and decorate with stickers, stamps, paints or even old Christmas cards.

When the children were little and paper bags from the grocery store were common, we would cut out the bottom of the bag and then make sure to decorate the inside, leaving the store brand label to be hidden when we wrapped. To use old Christmas cards, cut out a design such as the house, snowman or Santa and then glue down to paper. Wait to dry and wrap!

2. Think outside the box

Look around your home and you may find that there are quite a few [Read more...]

Use ornaments you already have to compose a festive centerpiece. Image courtesy of Mary Edwards.

Entertaining is a big part of the holidays at our house. Many holiday parties, dinners and even Christmas brunches are hosted at our home every year. I always try to make the table look warm, inviting and festive. Here are a few tips to to create an impressive tablescape without spending a fortune.

Use What You Have

Choose items you already have on-hand. Many families decorate trees this year with colorful ornaments. These tree ornaments can double as table décor. Grab some of the ball ornaments in festive colors (red, green, silver, gold) and place them in a clear bowl from your kitchen. Mix the colors or make a bowl for each color.

Get Outdoorsy

Bring the outdoors in! Spray paint some pinecones and place them in a bowl or on either side of a strand of garland in the middle of the table. If you live in an apartment or other area without much greenery, head to the local craft [Read more...]

Find cheap and easy stocking stuffers for the whole family. Image by Jim Hammer.

In addition to unwrapping the presents under the tree, going through all the stocking is one of the best parts of Christmas morning. Fill your family’s stockings to hang by the chimney with care – without breaking your budget. These are some low cost items that are always a hit at my house. Check out my creative ideas to put a smile on the faces of the big and little loved ones in your lives.

1. CVS Green Bag Tag

This only costs $1.00 at CVS and can be found at the registers. This is the gift that will give back. Each time you use your own reusable bags, or no bags at all, the cashier will scan the Green Bag Tag. Every 4th time it’s scanned, the owner of that tag gets a $1.00 ExtraBucks reward. (Note: Learn about how to maximize your savings at CVS with ExtraBucks and other strategies.)

2. Tire Pressure Gauge

This is a must-have tool for anyone who drives. You should always keep the [Read more...]