So unless you have been living under a rock, you know that today is Black Friday. Twenty-seven days are left until Christmas. The holiday season is unfolding...

There was a time when I would brave the crowds and hit the stores that would open at 5 a.m. My mom and I thought it was fun and it really got us in the mood for Christmas. Most people were pretty friendly and would give you tips and share the news of which stores were offering which deals. And then one year it turned ugly for me. I was in line at Walmart (at 3 a.m. mind you) by myself since my mom was in line at Toys 'R Us. Crowds were insane. The long long line started to turn into a mob squeezing and pressing closer and closer to the door as the opening time approached. We heard someone was crushed up against the glass. No one backed up. The "line" behind us kept pushing forward and made many stumble. Those of us with carts already were getting shoved forcefully ahead into the people in front of us. People were getting into arguments about the crowded conditions of the so-called line. A lady threatened to kick my butt if I didn't get rid of my cart. She started screaming at me, cursing up a storm and before I knew it I was circled by a posse of 6 or 7 other women who were with her. A bullhorn announced Walmart decided to open their doors 10 minutes early and the mob pressed onward.

Saved by the bell.

I had never been so scared in all my life. A mob is an ugly thing. Are any deals worth the risk? Would you normally hang out outside in the dark at 3 a.m.? Alone? I heard late that day when I was safe at home that a man had actually been trampled to death at Walmart. The police had to come to break up fights.

My tip? Shop online for Black Friday. Or head to the stores the day BEFORE and take advantage of price matching. Walmart is the king of this practice! Take in the ads from any other store and show them to the cashier. I went out and about with a few friends last night and watched as people got everything they needed, sans crowds, and got the deals from Target, Toys 'R Us, Kohl's, and A.C. Moore honored. One-stop shopping is the way to go!

Lately I've been saving up all my 'Bucks for Amazon gift cards to do my Christmas shopping online. How great is that?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my frugal friends!

May all of God's blessings be evident to your family this holiday season and always. Know that, above all else, He always provides!

Scratch that. I love anything made of potatoes.

Making mashed potatoes is a drag, though, with all the peeling and cutting and boiling and..well, you get the picture. So I made up a better, easier way. Smash potatoes.

You'll need:

-8 red potatoes

-butter

-milk

-garlic powder

-salt and pepper to taste

Wash your potatoes well. Peel off only the bag parts or "eyes" of the potatoes. Leave some of the skin on. Red potato skin is actually pretty tasty and it is full of fiber. Stab each potato a few time and put on a plate. Place in the microwave for about 15 minutes. Toss them into a bowl and put butter and the spices on top. Using a fork and knife to cut up the potatoes some. Add milk until they get to be the consistency you desire. Continue smashing the potato pieces with the back of the fork. Enjoy!

So I keep on talking about Christmas even though another holiday is just around the corner. I have not forgotten Thanksgiving, my frugal friends. No, not at all. It's just that Christmas is a much grander occasion that requires much more planning.

Even so, I am aware that turkey day is merely days away. Here is my biggest tip for Thanksgiving done frugally:

DO NOT OVERSPEND ON GROCERIES THE MONTH BEFORE JUST TO EARN A "FREE" TURKEY!

I normally shop at Aldi or Save-A-Lot and spend anywhere from $40-50 a week on groceries for my family. That is $160-200 for a whole month of food. Most larger grocery stores in the area run promos that promise a free turkey. If you spend a certain amount (usually $300) that is. I know lots of people who will shop elsewhere the month before and add extras to earn that turkey. But that is silly!

Turkeys are not that pricey, considering how much you are paying per pound. There are sales around if you look, but even regular price isn't all that bad when you consider how much meat you are getting. So I spent my usual $175 on groceries this month and then shelled out an extra $13 for a turkey, bringing my grand total to $188 for A MONTH'S GROCERIES, plus holiday trimmings.

Beware of deals that aren't, my frugal friends!

Congrats!

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Oh my gosh! I cannot believe I have not yet shared my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe yet! I have tried lots of recipes, but always go back to my Mama's recipe for this. It is easy and pretty much cooks itself.

41 days left until Christmas!

How are you doing with your Christmas budget? I think I just heard a collective group of sighs and groans through my computer screen! Never fear, frugal friends. I have some suggestions on how to save this holiday season on presents for the kiddos.

Lately I've been saving up all my 'Bucks for Amazon gift cards to do my Christmas shopping online. How great is that?

Does your house get stinky? Of course it does!

From last night's fish fry to damp dogs to sweaty gym shoes, there are lots of odoriffic things that make their way into your home. How can you combat this frugally? Make your own homemade simmering potpourri.

Are you curious about why your home energy bills are so high? Call and ask for an energy audit. Many companies offer it for free, but even the ones that charge typically charge a small free of $10-20. They will come out and do a survey of your home to see where in the house you are losing valuable energy. Then they will give you suggestions on how to stop the loss. Some of them will even give you some free materials to help you get started (like pipe wrap and outlet insulation).

I volunteered to bake and deliver holiday cookies to a group of folks in an impoverished community not too far from my home.

I gave my time to teach a weekly bible study for children.

Today I am sorting through our closets to find old clothes to donate to those bins that benefit veterans and their families.

Cold weather means more hot water usage. But don't fret! You can cut down on costs by insulating your hot water pipes. The foam tubes slip on easily and cost 30 cents per foot on average. By adding this insulation you can expect to see saving of about $50 per year.

This past weekend presented many chances to give.

Our family gave:

Put defrosted chicken in a bowl with Italian dressing poured over it to marinate. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Heat frying pan on medium heat and add oil. Coat chicken in the dry mix. Brown chicken on both sides until done.

Day 2 of the Giving Challenge.

We have too many toys in our house. Doesn't everyone? Now is the time to declutter and clear out before the holidays hit and more toys infiltrate your home. After a chat with my son about how blessed we are with friends and family who spoil us so, we mutually agreed to sort through and give the toys he no longer plays with to a family who doesn't have enough money for toys.

I'm off to grab some boxes!

It's Frugal Friday!

So Christmas is 48 days away. My number one tip for Christmas? Less is more.

Yep, a simple one. But the most important one I have to offer you this holiday season. Christmas is exciting, a delight to the senses for children. But it can easily become overwhelming for them. And in the midst of the rush it is easy to overdo it. Especially in the present department.

My son is 4 so we are planning on getting him 5 presents (4 are from Santa and 1 from Mama and Daddy). We know from past years that this is just enough gifts to hold his interest on Christmas morning. We also know that he will get plenty of other things (oodles and oodles, really) from other relatives and friends, too.

So right now, before you hit the stores, make a decision as to how many presents you will buy each child. Seriously. Otherwise you will keep tossing "just one more thing" into your cart. This tip will save you some money and keep your family satisfied but not smothered.

If you know me at all in real life, then you know I have a tendency to run a little late. Just seems to be a thing with me since starting a family. Before that I was Ms. Punctuality. Now....not so much.

Like with most things, I am a little late to the party with Kingdom First Mom's 30 Day Giving Challenge. And that's okay. Because as I always say, "Better late than never!"

I like to think that I have a generous and giving spirit in my heart. But as the holiday season rolls around it is easy to forget that in the rush and hub-bub of daily life PLUS lots of added activities and things to do. I truly believe that you have to make an effort to take time to slow down and count your blessings and remember that not everyone in the world (or even in your own community) can do the same. Because of this I adored the idea of this challenge from the moment I heard about it.

With this economy it can be hard to find room in your budget to give, can't it? That is why here at Free 2 Be Frugal we are going to be brainstorming ideas for how to give frugally, and in some cases, free. So today here is my first act of giving, and it is a free one.

Today I am perplexed about what to make for dinner. Some other people today will face the same dilemma, though they are troubled with how they can afford to put food on the table, while I cannot decide what I feel like eating. I have a full pantry, refrigerator, and chest freezer. Not everyone is that fortunate.

My act of giving today is to go through that pantry and see what I can spare. Do I need all 10 cans of soup? All 5 jars of spaghetti sauce? Every one of those 6 boxes of spaghetti? Not really. I have learned tricks of the trade from savvy shoppers so that I can stretch my money and stock up with the use of coupons and sales. Why not share the bounty?

I encourage you to see what you can spare, and donate it to your local food bank. Not sure where one is? Contact a local church, they will know. Give today.