Did you know that on Friday's you have a much higher chance to win big? You can win 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 or even 5,000 Swagbucks on any given search. You just never know what search term or phrase will be a winner.

New to Swagbucks? Read more about it here and sign up today to start earning!

Time for your money saving tip of the day!

We've talked before about how buying seasonally saves. What is in season come winter? Let's have a look:

-Clementines and a variety of oranges

-Cranberries

-Pears

-Pomegranates

-Bananas

-Grapefruit

-Kiwi fruit

-Sweet potatoes

-Brussel sprouts

-Butternut squash

-Parsnips

-Broccoli

-Escarole

-Lettuce

-Turnips

One lucky winner will be chosen at random and posted here on January 7th. In 2011..doesn't THAT sound odd? That's gonna take some getting used to!

It's that time again...for tip of the day!

Need new linens and bedding? Hold out a few weeks because January means white sales are coming! What's a white sale? It is an annual sale when towels, sheets, and more go on sale for up to 60% off.

Time for that money saving tip of the day!

Make this the last year you go with a green tree. Ditch buying a tree every year (boy, that adds up!) and buy an artificial tree. With after-Christmas sales you can really find a great price on a really top of the line tree. And think outside the box with this one. Don't just check out Walmart and Target's sales. Be sure to hit up the craft shops because they sell trees, too. My last nice tree came Michael's and it was a steal!

This post has been linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Christmas might be over, but the shopping isn't! Check out this tip of the day and save for next year.

Holiday wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue, and gift bows can be found at 50, 75, and in some cases 90% off over the next week. Stock up on the these great prices and save on wrapping goodies for next Christmas.

And keep an eye out for solid colored present wrapping supplies that can be used year-round!

Tip of the day is back!

Did you get any gift packages in the mail? Before you throw out all those packing peanuts, read this! Save them and add them to the bottom of a planter before adding in soil. You will get great drainage for your houseplants and use less potting soil this way.

I think my five year old said it best at today's pre-lunch prayer,

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5-6

Savor today. Whatever you and your immediate family feel like doing today, do that and do it on your own time. Cherish the moments with you and yours and enjoy them to the fullest. Let the kids stay in their jammies a little longer this morning...linger over coffee and your traditional breakfast. The world will not come to a crashing halt if you are a little later than expected. And when you do get to where you are going today savor that, too! These days are what memories are made of. Enjoy the many blessings you've been given!

Wishing you a peaceful holiday, frugal friends...Merry Christmas to all!

It's Christmas Eve!

Let's throw a birthday party for Jesus. Stop. Don't panic. This is a simple advent, remember? Jesus doesn't need balloons and streamers and a fancy 3 layer cake with marshmallow fondant (although if you want that, then go right ahead).

Bake a simple cake. Read the Christmas story, from the Bible or your favorite children's books adaptation. Sing "Happy Birthday". Say a prayer and blow out the candles.

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New to Swagbucks? Read more about it here and sign up today to start earning!

Here's today's tip of the day:

Grab your calendar and mark off a spot a day or two after Christmas to go shopping. I know, I know...you JUST finished this year's shopping and I am telling you to shop some more! But the days after the holiday are the best time to pick up heavily discounted items for next year. Even if you don't have enough time for a full-day shopping excursion carve out an hour and hit all the drug stores and pick up themed gift baskets, decorations, and the like on clearance.

Shop and save!

P.S. This is the last tip this week since the holiday is nearing. The daily frugal tip of the day feature will resume again after Christmas, on December 27th!

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Quiet yourself and your family today. Do whatever it takes to do that. Maybe you and your family will unplug from all media today. Maybe you'll all spend the day in your jammies. Maybe you'll have a reading day or a movie day at home.

Whatever you do, take time to rest and regroup before the hurry begins. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and then the excitement of the big day will be here. Along with that fun comes some stress, so relax while you can.

This will be me and the hubby's first time traveling the DW with kiddos in tow. So I am calling out to all my frugal friends and asking for your tips, tricks, and must-see websites for planning a magical trip without breaking the bank! I will be sharing the very best tips right here at Free 2 Be Frugal, along with a guest post or two if anyone is interested (and I hope you are!)

Please email me your tips/guest post submissions by clicking below

Give yourself permission to let something go. It is getting down to the line now. Haven't baked yet? It will really and truly be okay to buy cookies to nosh on instead. Haven't finished shopping yet? Your kids will be just fine with what you have already gotten them. They will never know the difference between 10 presents versus the 13 you were planning.

With the time you have granted yourself, do something fun with your family. Go ice skating, drive around to see some lights, etc. Whatever you do, let yourself be present and in the moment. These simple gestures, putting your family ahead of busy work and tasks, means so much and makes for wonderful memories!

What can you let go of, with only a few days left?

Time for another tip of the day!

When you are out and about and see small holiday gifts that are generic in nature (think inexpensive ornaments, box of candies, etc.) pick them up and wrap them or put them in small gift bags. Keep them in a tote bag in your trunk for those last-minute presents you may forget about. You never know when you might realize you forgot that bus driver, teacher's aide, hairdresser, Sunday school teacher, etc.!

People often think of Advent as a time of peace. How many Christmas cards have you seen (or sent) in the past few weeks that tout "Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men"? But do you practice peace? Are you a peacemaker?

It's not too late to make peace with that someone in your life that you've had a difference of opinion with this past year. Or last year. Or five years ago. Don't let anything get in the way of a holiday full of joy, love, and peace. Make peace with that person and plan to see him or her over the course of the holidays. You'll feel better yourself, too.

Sometimes people give you gifts that just aren't your style or you know you won't use. Is it okay to re-gift them? I say absolutely!

Here are some tips on how to re-gift tactfully:

1. Be sure the item is brand new and fresh, if applicable. (Nobody wants a coffee sampler pack from last year's holiday!)

2. Do not give the gift back to the giver or anyone in the original giver's circle of friends. It would be embarrassing to be caught! (I always label who gave it to me before putting it in the gift closet!)

3. Only give the gift to someone you know will use it. (Even if it is the nicest lotion set, giving it to someone with sensitive skin allergies is a bad idea.) If you wouldn't actually pay money to buy that item for that person, then do not give them that gift.

If you feel bad about re-gifting, then why not just give it to someone you know would like it? It is less wasteful than throwing it away and it lets the other person know you were thinking of them. Simply hand it to them unwrapped and say "I know I won't use this even though it is very nice, and I thought of you and thought you might use it."

Sometimes people give you gifts that just aren't your style or you know you won't use. Is it okay to re-gift them? I say absolutely!

Here are some tips on how to re-gift tactfully:

1. Be sure the item is brand new and fresh, if applicable. (Nobody wants a coffee sampler pack from last year's holiday!)

2. Do not give the gift back to the giver or anyone in the original giver's circle of friends. It would be embarrassing to be caught! (I always label who gave it to me before putting it in the gift closet!)

3. Only give the gift to someone you know will use it. (Even if it is the nicest lotion set, giving it to someone with sensitive skin allergies is a bad idea.) If you wouldn't actually pay money to buy that item for that person, then do not give them that gift.

If you feel bad about re-gifting, then why not just give it to someone you know would like it? It is less wasteful than throwing it away and it lets the other person know you were thinking of them. Simply hand it to them unwrapped and say "I know I won't use this even though it is very nice, and I thought of you and thought you might use it."

Do you love your neighbor? God's word tells us that we should "love our neighbors as ourselves". But do we remember to this? Even in the busy-ness of the holiday season?

Today think how you can love your neighbor. What could a neighbor do for you or your family that would be a day changer? Something simple that could leave you in better spirits. Why not bring in their trash cans so they don't blow down the street? Or take them a batch of your homemade cookies?

With less than a week until Christmas, Tip of the Day goes holiday!

Low on cash now, but need a thoughtful gift for a loved one?

How about a cookie of the month club gift, from you? Or cake of the month, pie of the month, or treat of the month or whatever your specialty is. Make one yummy treat now and wrap it up with a note or certificate, entitling the recipient to one delicious goodie each month in 2011.

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

There is about a week left until Christmas and many of you probably don't consider yourselves "finished" shopping. Please stop and think before you buy more stuff. Don't go into debt over Christmas. If you don't have it, then don't spend it. Did you know that there are millions of Americans still in debt from LAST Christmas? Don't be a statistic; spend wisely.

You really need to get yourself some frugal friends. And not just so you'll have a coupon buddy to swap with either!

It helps to have friends who are in the same boat as you if you are trying to save money. A frugal friend will talk you out of buying stuff you don't really need. A frugal friend will share your interest in searching for free entertainment (and won't wrinkle her nose at it). A frugal friend knows how to have fun other than walking around the mall. Catch my drift?

God had hope for his creation. It hadn't gone exactly the way he had planned, but he still had hope for the future.

As this year closes out and another approaches, what is your hope for the coming year for your family? Ask each member of your family to list a few things they hope for in the year to come. Post them where they can be seen and remember to pray for those hopes.

Time for your money saving tip of the day!

Need a couple of items from the store? Grab a basket, not a cart. Having a cart in tow makes it so much easier to mindlessly toss unnecessary things in.

Do you know what the candles in the Advent wreath stand for?

Hope

Preparation

Joy

Love

Christ

A friend of mine recently shared an email with me about the concept of Joy. You see joy is not merely a state of happiness, but a way of thinking. Put Jesus first in your life, then Others, and Yourself last. If you do so, JOY will be yours.

How does this apply to Advent?

Well, what is your main priority this season? Is it churning out a thousand cookies? Buying each person on your list the best gift? Having the most lights on your house of anyone else on your block? Now there is nothing wrong with any of those activities, but Jesus should be at the top of your list. Advent is a time for drawing nearer to Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Remember that in planning your days before Christmas.

From the gift shopping to the grocery getting and all the driving in between there are ample opportunities to show your ugliness. But in the same token you have an equal opportunity to show your good side. To show how a true Christian can (should) be. Instead of being agitated and fussy when things aren't going the way you planned in your Christmas errands and preparation, try showing others you encounter (yes, even the grumpy ones) a little grace. Some people may never step into a church or have any faith. So you just might be the only "Jesus" a person ever sees. Think about that.

Of course this JOY equation does not mean you shouldn't consider yourself at all. Quite the contrary! Be sure to make some quiet time for yourself each day during Advent. Give yourself time to pray, reflect, relax, etc. Whatever will help you be a more positive and peaceful person to be around. This way you and your whole family can enjoy the season!

NATION-WIDE

-Bass Pro Shops Winter Wonderland continues (every day), free

-Lowes Build & Grow Workshop is gearing up to make a train engine (Sat), free

-Lakeshore Learning has a craft workshop to make holiday crackers (Sat), free

SOUTH JERSEY

-Dickens Carol Fest at Burlington Festival of Lights (Fri/Sat), some free/some low-cost

-Walk Through Bethlehem and Live Nativity in Williamstown (Fri), free

-Mount Laurel's Living Nativity (Fri/Sat/Sun), free

PHILADELPHIA AREA

-Christmas Light Show at Macy's in Center City, and Dickens Village (every day), free

-Comcast Holiday Light Show (every day), free

Did you know that on Friday's you have a much higher chance to win big? You can win 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 or even 5,000 Swagbucks on any given search. You just never know what search term or phrase will be a winner.

New to Swagbucks? Read more about it here and sign up today to start earning!

Here is an interesting tip of the day, one I was introduced to by reader and frugal friend Donna. Donna writes, "Did you ever run out of ice melt in icy weather? You can sprinkle baking soda (every frugal girl's friend) on sidewalks and it will melt the ice just as well and will not damage your concrete!"

Time for the tip of the day, frugal friends!

If you have out of town friends or relatives, do you dread shopping for them? Oh, it isn't the gifts that are the actual problem, but the price of shipping your fabulous finds. The worst is when that big ole box costs more to ship than it did to purchase what's inside.

My solution?

Media gifts. You can send books, music or computer CDs, DVDs, and BluRays through the mail at a cheaper rate than first class mail. Send it via media mail and save a ton!

It's time for your tip of the day, here at Free 2 Be Frugal!

Sugar cookie making with kids can be a wasteful activity. Sprinkles go everywhere..the floor, the table, everywhere but on the cookies. And you run out fast! Now before you think I am the Frugal Grinch Who Stole Christmas, I am NOT advocating to stop baking with your kiddos.

On the contrary, I am going to suggest an alternate to rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters. Instead, use heaping teaspoons to scoop out dough, then allow children to roll into a ball, then dip each ball into a bowl of sprinkles. Then place on a cool cookie sheet and bake as usual. Not only will you make less of a mess, but you will probably even have sprinkles left over!

Time for the tip of the day!

Did you know that too many credit requests in a short amount of time causes you credit score to drop significantly? If you try for a new credit card, apply for a car loan, and decided to go for a consolidation loan all within 6 months you can be sure it will effect your score negatively.

The only exception here is if you are applying for several of the same form of loan, like while shopping for a new car. Then all the requests count as one credit inquiry.

Just on the other side of the front door hangs my ribbon wreath.

Then you'll be greeted by the child sized Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread.

This Advent calendar came from Deals, a store owned by the folks at Dollar Tree. It was $1.

We have no chimney here, so the stockings are hung by the doorway with care...on a rack from Goodwill (another fave store of our family!) Our stockings are from Walmart.

We are a mantle-less home. But our computer armoire is fun to decorate! Ooops, should have dusted before taking pictures. Tomorrow is cleaning day! Love the peppermint hurricane.

My tree is my treasured decoration for Christmas. It was so many ornaments. My mom always told me you can never have too many ornaments. So true.

Our living room tables have to have non-breakable things on them. Read: I have a 5 year old boy living here! My plastic candy dish is home to delicious Candy Cane Kisses, yum. And check out the foam gingerbread house my kiddo made for me.

I just picked up these candy dishes today. They were on clearance at Big Lots. Faith is woven right into our decor, right along with Santa and the elves.

This window peeks straight through to our kitchen.

Our kitchen also has a faux mantle/shelf type thing I love to decorate for the holidays. Our mini tree is simply decorated with mini candy canes. If only they would stop getting eaten!

Is there no place I will not plop down some candy canes? My milk glass collection always ends up part of our seasonal decor, too.

My dollar store dish towels include our theme, too.