Saturday, December 31, 2011

Frugality and Peace of Mind

Frugality and Peace of Mind

So here we are, about to embark on a new year. As the old year ends and a new one begins, we tend to reflect upon what we've accomplished and what we failed to accomplish. But what we really need to do is feel confident about the progress we've made toward our goals, even if it's slight.

It's a time for planning and setting new goals. I've had a little reflection time, too. I began to think about how this year has been the busiest year yet for me and I wondered how I kept up with all I had to do. I did not accomplish everything that I wanted to, but I did accomplish a lot. There were a few short falls and challenges-but such is life. As it turns out, I had a great year and made great strides-in my personal life as well as in my professional life. It made me think about what I needed to keep in mind this year to continue to meet my goals and made me examine the reasons why I enjoy a frugal lifestyle so much. The ultimate reason that came to light was that living a frugal lifestyle gives me peace of mind. To me, that is more valuable than anything.

It then occurred to me that there are a few key concepts that lead to peace of mind, and when practiced-peace of mind will naturally come to you.

Each of the key concepts flows into the next and they all work so cohesively together. Frugality and peace of mind go hand-in-hand, but it is recommended that if you are just getting started in your life of frugality-baby steps are best. If you take it slow, and discover what methods work best for your lifestyle, then you will stick with it. Don't let frugality be a fad in your life, let it be with you to stay.

Key Concepts to Frugality with Peace of Mind

  • Organization
  • Efficiency
  • Conservatism
  • Simplicity
  • Creativity

The second article in the series focuses upon organization. I will continue to expand upon each of these concepts in future articles, and I hope that some of these ideas lead to peace of mind for you in the coming year.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

After-Christmas Sales and Clearance Deals!

Here are a few details about some of the many, many post-holiday deals out there!
 

World Market: Holiday Clearance is 50% off or better right now. If you are a World Market Explorer member, check your email for a 10% off already reduced clearance coupon. There are also some really good sales on sweets and food.

Clothes Mentor: $25 gift card for $20! You get a 10% off discount if you check in on Facebook before you finish your shopping. There is a 50% off clearance rack in the back of the store you should check out and make sure to get your frequent shopper card stamped-you'll get a discount once it's filled.

Amazon.com: Check out the Year-End Deals at Amazon.com. Free Super Saver Shipping when you purchase $25 in eligible items!

Coldwater Creek: 50% off everything in-store and online with code SAVE50

Gymboree: Everything is $15.99 and under in stores and online. Free shipping over $50. Earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 spent!

Home Depot: End of Season Savings on overstock items!

Jones New York: Up to 80% off original prices. Prices as low as $12.25!

Kohl's: After Christmas Blitz and Clearance (40% to 60% off) plus shop the 3-Day Specials. Take an extra 20% everything when you spend $100 or more with code SLED20 OR get 15% off everything with code SLED15. Print your in-store shopping pass good through January 2, 2012.

Macy's: Extra 10% off sale and clearance apparel and home items with coupon. $10 off $25 savings with coupon until 1PM December 27, 2011.

Sephora: Extra 20% off sale items online with code EXTRA. (Ends 1/3/12) Free shipping over $50.

Old Navy: Up to 50% off online, free shipping over $50. Up to 75% off in-store, and earn $10 Super Cash for every $20 you spend! (Redeem Super Cash from 1/27/12 through 2/8/12)

Family Dollar: Clearance on Seasonal Merchandise-includes many toys and food items! 40% off fragrance and bath gift sets and select personal appliances. 50% off toys $10 and up, and select Christmas items.
Tuesday Morning: Take and extra 50% off select Christmas items. Starting December 28th, take and extra 50% marked clearance items. (A total savings of up to 92%!)




MALL DEALS:

Acadiana Mall, Lafayette, LA: Hallmark: 40% off greeting cards. Journeys: 20% - 50% off select styles. Journeys Kidz: 20% - 50% off select styles. Talbots: Winter Sale! 40% off everything! Check out these Student Discounts that are available now!

Prien Lake Mall, Lake Charles, LA: Club Tabby-Entire Store is Buy 1 Get one half off, (equal or lesser value). Underground Station: 20% - 50% off select styles through January 4, 2012. Journeys: 20% - 50% off select styles through January 4, 2012. Mastercuts: Save up to 55% off on all Holiday Gift Sets. Purchase a Matrix Gift Set and get a FREE Biolage Conditioner.


There are clearance deals all over town on seasonal items. This includes the obvious: décor, wrapping supplies, gift sets and toys-but you should also think outside of the box and look for seasonal air fresheners, soaps, and baking items. Even if these items are not marked as clearance, sometimes they are discounted as well.

Tip: Gather coupons for these items and take them with you when you venture out today, you are sure to find some super deals!



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Plan your Christmas Dinner Menu Now

Plan Christmas Dinner now! Why? Oh, there are so many reasons why...

You are hosting Christmas dinner, and chances are that you are going to do your shopping a couple of days before and get everything you need in one fell swoop. That approach certainly gets the job done, but it could very well blow your budget.

By taking the time to plan your Christmas dinner menu now, you will save yourself money, time and stress. You will be prepared and you may even be able to enlist some help. Then you'll have a chance to actually enjoy the dinner. What a novel idea.

  • Make your menu. You probably already have a pretty good idea about what you'd like to serve. Make a list of dishes, then make an ingredient list based upon your menu. 
         
  • Take inventory. Take note of what you already have on hand in your freezer, refrigerator and pantry. Mark those items off your ingredient list. 
  • Create a shopping list. This is different than your ingredient list, because it only contains those items that you actually need. This is key to staying within your budget.
  • Gather coupons. Pull those coupons that will give you a discount on your needed items and place them in an envelope labeled “Christmas Dinner” along with your shopping list. Keep it handy.
  • Now, for the next couple of weeks, keep a close eye on the grocery sales ads and drug store ads and start buying the items that are on your list when they are at their lowest price. Be sure to check your coupon envelope!

Tip: Another way to stay within your budget is to request that your guests contribute a dish to the menu. You already know who has a specialty, right? Aunt Penelope can make a green bean casserole with her eyes closed, and Mom makes a delicious fig cake. Pick up the phone and make your requests now before it's too late.

You need to account for the fringe, too. Are you going to break out the fine china-or the plastic cups and the punch bowl? Either way, you'll probably need napkins. Those weren't on your list, were they?

Lastly, I know this sounds crazy, but it's beneficial to actually have Christmas dinner in your mind. You'll have a mental picture of what you really need, and you'll probably have a few laughs along with a few epiphanies.

See? Now that you think about it, you vow that you absolutely will not serve grape juice to the children this year. Though traditional, it is a detriment to furniture and clothing and therefore to the production of viable Christmas pictures. Remember last year? Even though you tried with all your might to convince your very formally dressed grandmother over two glasses of eggnog that sweet little Susie's dress was in fact the latest in red and purple tie-dyed Christmas fashion, she was not to be fooled.  The look on her face in the pictures proves it.

Yes. You can scratch grape juice off your list now. 
You're quite welcome.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Frugal Gift Wrapping Ideas




The truth is, I know you must be very proud of yourself because you've done so well on your Christmas shopping. You got some great deals and you even came in under budget. That's great! Now you've got to wrap all those presents.

Unfortunately, I also know something else. You opened your closet where you usually keep the gift wrap and you found...tumbleweeds. Believe it or not, it happens to us all. Fear not, there is hope.

Next year, you'll be able to avoid this situation with a little preparation and creativity. Until then-these ideas may inspire you.

Frugal Gift Wrap Ideas:

Comics: Tried and true and predictable, but effective. You get the newspaper delivered to your home at a discount every week if you are any kind of frugal-ite, so save those comics and put them to good use.

Tissue paper and tulle: Inexpensive and it lends itself to coverage of odd shaped gifts. Just wrap the gift in tissue paper, surround with tulle and tie it off with a ribbon. Cute!

Small paper bags: If you have small gifts, you can put them into small paper bags. You can find the patterned and printed ones on sale for less than 15 cents each, or you can buy a package of lunch sacks and embellish them with stickers. Here's an idea: Use a hole punch and weave ribbon through the top for a nice touch.

Recycled boxes: Yes, I already know you knew about this one. But it is kind of fun to see the recipient's face when they are led to believe that their present is what is pictured on the box.
I am aware this could go either way-but 'tis one of the joys of Christmas! One of my personal favorites is a teenage girl thinking she's getting a toaster when it's really her favorite cosmetics. The face-morph is truly something special to witness.

Tins: You will receive food gifts in tins. It's a guarantee. Clean them out and recycle them by using them as gift receptacles for others.

Fabric Remnants: You can get some really cute fabrics in the remnant section of your craft store for under $1 per yard. Use some pinking sheers to trim a piece of fabric down to the size you need and wrap away. Finish it off with ribbon (which you can also find in the remnant section-true story).

Dish towels: You got it. I fear nothing. This is an especially great wrapping option when you are gifting kitchen themed items or food gifts. Everyone can use dish towels. Not only does it serve as the wrapping, but it's also part of the present. No worries, because if the recipient personally finds the towel unattractive for use in the kitchen-it can be used as a cleaning rag. Everybody wins.

Large paper bags from the grocery store. You might have to ask for them, and they still exist. They are not but in fairy tales. All you need to do to turn them into wrapping paper is to cut them and turn them inside out if they are printed and then you can embellish with paint, crayons, stickers or you can even stamp them. Here's where is gets fun: If you don't have children of your own, borrow some-and let them paint, stamp, glitter, hand print, fingerprint and splatter paint away. Who said you had to do your own dirty work? The kids will have so much fun, they will never equate it to child labor. Besides, if you borrowed the children, you gave their parents a much needed reprieve. This is an especially notable fact should you return them in a state of less than pristine cleanliness.


Now that you've had your fun, let's be practical:

Keep these tips in mind:

Buy clearance gift wrap after Christmas. Set aside $10 solely to purchase clearanced gift wrap. Wait until it goes to 75% off or better and get a few rolls. You can also pick up ribbon and bows at a great discount too.

Use Artificial flowers. Flowers make a nice embellishment, and will dress up even the most modest wrapping job. So add a few to your collection when you find them on sale at different times of year.

Holiday Clearance. It doesn't have to be Christmas themed. You can find red boxes and bags after Valentine's day and purple, green and gold items after Mardi Gras and green items after St. Patrick's Day. If you find a couple of items (boxes, bags, tissue paper, ribbon) at other times of year that would be suitable for gift wrapping-then add it to your stash.

Recycle gift bags, bows and ribbon. Statistics show that you will receive at least one gift with a borderline ridiculous amount of bunched ribbon attached to it. This will adorn many, many presents in the future. Guard it with your life. This highly esteemed type of ribbon possesses the superpower of multiplicity when activated with scissors, just so you know.

Many gifts you receive will come in gift bags, most of which will be in perfect condition after your gift has been removed. Save them for later use. Hopefully the gift-giver has not gotten excited with a permanent marker and written your name boldly upon the bag...if so, a large sticker over the hieroglyphics would serve as the perfect remedy. There have been less effective cover-ups in our history.

No, the special built-in “sticky stuff” on gift bows won't work twice. But I heard tape has sticky stuff, too. So don't be afraid to give those bows a second chance, they just need a little help-I assure you it will all work out.

The possibilities are endless now! Well, maybe not endless-but at least at this point, you have a few new options, right?

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Fundraising Raffle to Benefit Residents of Village du Lac

There are only a few more weeks to purchase your tickets!

One of our long-time members is doing great work in our community! I wanted to get the word out about the fundraiser she is involved with, and she has explained it quite well in the message below.  Please take the time to read it, and thank you in advance for your support!!


A message from one of our members, Lisa:


"Some of you know that I volunteer with the deaf and deaf/blind but you probably do not know where I do my volunteering at. I volunteer at the Village du Lac here in Lafayette, LA which is housing for the elderly and disabled adults, in particular the deaf and deaf/blind. You probably also do not know that Acadiana has the highest number of deaf/blind residents in the United States.
I am trying to raise money to help these residents as they do not receive many, if at all, donations or assistance from the government. Due to lack of funds, they have had to discontinue many programs, activities, etc. 
 
I am selling raffle tickets for $50.00 each for a chance to win $500.00 CASH every Saturday for an entire year....that’s 52 chances for only $50.00. Yes, that’s right you can win $500.00 CASH every week for an entire year with no limitations, i.e., you can win once, or 52 times. That’s a 1 in 1,000 chance to win $500.00 weekly for an entire year.

Beginning on January 7, 2012, which is the first Saturday in 2012, watch the Louisiana Pick 3 drawing at night to see if the last three numbers on your ticket number match the Pick 3 drawing held on each Saturday and if it does match you will win $500.00 cash. If you win, you can contact us or if we do not hear from you, we will contact you. The raffle will continue on each Saturday until the last Saturday in 2012, which is December 29, 2012.
 
There are only 1,000 tickets available and all tickets must be sold in order for us to have this raffle. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket (or two), you (or friends/family) must be 21 years of age, a legal resident of the U.S. and a resident of Louisiana. Please use the contact information below if you are interested in purchasing a ticket to help the residents of Village du Lac. I have provided a flyer with some important dates and/or information. Feel free to share this and/or the attached flyer to your friends, family or co-workers. If we do not sell every ticket, we will refund your money. Please help us to make this raffle a success for the deaf and deaf/blind adult and elderly residents of the Village du Lac.

You can contact Paulette for tickets or questions at (337) 654-4193 or vdl_activities2011@yahoo.com. Your support is greatly really appreciated by us and the residents of Village du Lac."


Thanks again and good luck!!!
Lisa B.


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Albertsons Deals and Coupon Match Ups (12/7-12/13)

ALBERTSONS

3 DAY SALE (Friday-Sunday, December 9th-December 11th)

$3.88/lb TOP SIRLOIN STEAK
$4.99/lb Chef's Net Large Raw SHRIMP (41/50 ct) (Sold in a 2 lb. Bag at $9.98 each)
$1.99 ASPARAGUS
$2.88 Niagara WATER (24 pack, 16.9 oz) (Limit 3)
$1.99 Flavorite BUTTER (16 oz) (Limit 2)
$4.99/lb Manda ROAST BEEF (Deli)

Good Deals with in-ad coupons: 
.57 Good Day BREAD (Limit 2)
.88 7UP, Diet or Canada Dry or Ginger Ale (2 liter) (Limit 4)  
.59 Bright & Early ORANGE DRINK
.99 Flavorite Frozen VEGETABLES (16 oz) (Limit 10) 
$1.99 Nestle BAKING MORSELS (10-12 oz) (Limit 2) 
($1/2 RP 11/6)=ALA $1.49 
$1.88 Mission Brown Bag TORTILLA CHIPS (13 oz) (Limit 4)
.89 Pillsbury CAKE or BROWNIE MIX (Limit 2) 
$1.99 Borden SHREDDED CHEESE (8 oz) (Limit 2) 
.99 Luxury or Ronco PASTA (12-16 oz) (Limit 4)
.79 Tony Chachere's DINNERS (Limit 4) 
$1.49 Mezetta PEPPERS (16 oz) (Limit 6) 
(.50/1 August All You Magazine)=ALA .99 
$3.99 Scott PAPER TOWELS (6 rolls, choose-a-size) (Limit 2) 
($1/1 SS 11/13)=ALA $2.99 
$4.99 Quilted Northern BATH TISSUE (12 double roll) (Limit 2) 
$5.99 Energizer BATTERIES (16 pk) (AA or AAA) (Limit 2) 
($1/1 SS 11/20)=ALA $4.99

In-store Specials:
Hungry Jack POTATOES (Cheesy Scalloped or AuGratin Casserole)
.49 each WYB (4) with in-store manufacturer coupon

Kraft Velveeta SKILLET DINNERS
.99 each with in-store manufacturer coupon

Other Weekly Deals:

Produce
$3.99 Navel ORANGES or GRAPEFRUIT (8 lb bag)=.49/lb
$3.99 Red Delicious or Gala APPLES (5 lb bag)=.79
.99 BLACKBERRIES (6 oz)
.79 Hass AVOCADOS 
.99/lb PEARS 
$2.50 Sunburst YELLOW TOMATOES
$1.50 Fresh Express GARDEN SALAD (12 oz) or 3 Color SLAW (6 oz)
.69 CILANTRO
.49/lb Green CABBAGE


Meat & Seafood

$1.98/lb Assorted PORK LOIN CHOPS
$1.98/lb PORK SHOULDER Butt ROAST
$1.69/lb Carolina Pride Butt Portion HAM
.99 Carolina Pride LUNCHMEAT (4-6 oz)


Refrigerated & Frozen

$2 Coffee-Mate CREAMER (16 oz)
(.55/1 RP 10/30)=ALA $1.45
$1.50 Flavorite CRESCENT ROLLS or SWEET ROLLS
$1.25 Albertsons CREAM CHEESE (8 oz)
$3.33 Edy's ICE CREAM
$4.99 Red Baron PIZZA (2 pack)

Pantry 
.99 Albertsons HAMBURGER or HOT DOG BUNS (8 ct)
$1.99 CHEEZ-IT CRACKERS
$2 Swanson BROTH (Carton)
($1/2 or .40/2 SS 11/6)=ALA $1.50
$2 Luxury LASAGNA or EGG NOODLES (12-16 oz)

Rouses Deals and Coupon Match Ups (12/7-12/13)

ROUSES

December 10th is Local Produce Day in Rouses Produce Department
Sample locally grown citrus and vegetables! From 8AM-4PM at all Rouses Markets.

Produce 
.50 CUCUMBERS
.88 Hass AVOCADOS  
$2.50 Honey TANGERINES (3 lb bag)
$1.99 LEMONS or LIMES (2 lb bag) 
$1.99/lb Organic Granny Smith, Gala, Fugi, Gold Delicious or Honeycrisp APPLES 
 
Meat & Seafood
$1.37/lb Boneless, Skinless CHICKEN BREAST
$1.69/lb Whole Fresh PORK PICNIC
$1.69/lb PORK STEAK
$2.50 Smithfield SMOKED SAUSAGE (16 oz)
$4.99/lb Louisiana SHRIMP (16-20 count) (Head-On)
$3.99 Louisiana GUMBO CRABS (16 oz)

Refrigerated & Frozen 
.99 Pictsweet VEGETABLES (12-16 oz)
$1.99 Coffee Mate CREAMER (16 oz)  
(.55/1 RP 10/3)=ALA $1.45 
$1.99 Pillsbury TOASTER STRUDEL 
(.75/3 or $1/3 GM 10/2)=ALA $1.66 
$2.99 Michael Angelo's ENTREES (11 oz) 
(.50/1 October All You Magazine)=ALA $2.49  
$1.99 Best Yet Frozen POTATOES (28-32 oz) 

Pantry 
.78 Domino SUGAR (16 oz) (Confectioners, Light Brown or Dark Brown) 
(.50/2 RP 12/4)=ALA .53  
$2.49 Blue Plate MAYONAISSE (18 oz) 
$1.98 Hershey's CHOCOLATE CHIPS (10-12 oz) 
($1/2 SS 11/13)=ALA $1.48 
.58 Campbell's GRAVY (10.5 oz) 
($1/8 or .25/4 SS 11/6)=ALA .46
.99 Zatarain's YELLOW RICE MIX 
$1.99 Lucky Leaf APPLE JUICE (64 oz)
.79 Best Yet CRANBERRY SAUCE
$2.50 Archway HOLIDAY COOKIES 
(.45/1 or $1/2 SS 11/13)=ALA $2 
$2.50 Snyder's PRETZELS 
($1/1 or $1/2 SS 12/4)=ALA $1.50

Household
$4.77 Bounty Basic PAPER TOWELS (8 roll pack)
($1/1 PG 11/27)=ALA $3.77

Super 1 Foods Deals and Coupon Match Ups (12/7-12/13)

SUPER 1 FOODS

Produce 
.39 BELL PEPPERS
.39/lb SWEET POTATOES
.98 EGGPLANT
.98 ICEBERG LETTUCE
.33 GRAPEFRUIT

Meat & Seafood
$3.97 Pilgrims Pride Boneless, Skinless CHICKEN BREAST FILLETS or TENDERLOINS (3 lb bag)=$1.32/lb (Limit 3)
.97/lb Family Pack CHICKEN WINGS
$1.97 John Morrell BACON (12 oz) or Owens Country Style SAUSAGE (16 oz)
($1/1 peelie coupons)=ALA .97
$4.97/lb Boneless RIBEYE STEAK
$9.97 GROUND BEEF (5 lb chub)=$1.99/lb
$3.97 Big Easy Foods SHRIMP (71-90 ct) (16 oz)
(.55/1 SS 12/4)=ALA $3.42

Refrigerated & Frozen
$2.50 Red Diamond TEA (Gallon)
.68 Banquet POT PIES or FRUIT PIES (7 oz)

Pantry
$7.99 Southern Belle RICE (Medium or Long Grain) (20 lb bag)=.39/lb
$1 Manwich SLOPPY JOE SAUCE (15.5 oz)
$1 Hunt's PASTA SAUCE or Food Club PASTA (12-16 oz)
.88 Super 1 Foods BREAD or BUNS
$2.88 Crisco VEGETABLE OIL (48 oz)
(.50/1 or $1/2 RP 11/6)=ALA $2.38
$1.98 Gold Medal FLOUR (4.25-5 lbs)
$2.48 Kraft MAYO or MIRACLE WHIP (30 oz)
($1/1 blinkie coupons or $1/2 peelie coupons)=ALA $1.48

Household 
.99 Hefty DINNERWARE (Selected Varieties and Sizes)
($1/2 tearpad coupons)=ALA .49

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Our coupon swap is tonight!

Just a reminder that our coupon swap is tonight!



The Budget Queen December Coupon Swap
Tuesday, December 6th
6PM
Conference Room (last room on the left)
South Regional Library
6101 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA


I'm bringing lots of extra coupons to help with your holiday baking...Baking powder, mixes, eggs and more!

Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Our Coupon Swap is tomorrow night!

Just a reminder that our coupon swap is tomorrow night!



The Budget Queen December Coupon Swap
Tuesday, December 6th
6PM
Conference Room (last room on the left)
South Regional Library
6101 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA

Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Trimming the Tree the Frugal Way

Trimming the Tree the Frugal Way

The purchase of a tree and all the trimmings can contribute to the challenge of staying on your budget each holiday season. Some people prefer an artificial tree and some people prefer a live tree but no matter which you prefer-it must bear decorations. The frugal approach would be to purchase an artificial tree that you decorate year after year with decorations that you recycle from the past season. However, I've taken into consideration that everyone is not equipped with a full tree trimming set-up, so I have come up with some frugal tree trimming ideas for you.

Let's start with a pop quiz.

Please read the following questions, and answer truthfully and carefully:

1) Have your decorations succumbed to the attic troll? (Cousin to the garden gnome-this troll resides in your attic and loves to hide and misplace things until they are out of season.) Example-you know you have a tree stand, and after an intensive and exhausting search in late November-you concede that it's missing. Then, that Easter-you find it just where you thought you tucked it away in the first place.

2) Have some of your ornaments met the perilous “clumsy hands”? (These hands may belong to an adult, teenager, child or infant. Please be aware that “clumsy hands” is a non-discriminatory affliction.)

3) Are many of your ornaments currently boycotting your tree due to repeated ridicule in the past by other family members on the basis of their color, size, shape or theme? (You know-ornaments have rights, too.)

4) Have your pets used your tree as a recreational monument thereby sending a slew of ornaments plummeting to the ground at regular intervals? (Obedience training seemed unnecessary at the time, I'm sure.)

5) Are you just starting out in your own place and you truly believe that Charlie Brown's tree looks like a majestic redwood in comparison to your immediate holiday decor selection? (Let's face it. We all have to start somewhere.)

6) Is your house a hot spot for the “disappearing box phenomenon”? (Very similar to the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon, yet it only affects non-seafaring boxes.)

If you've answered “yes”, “maybe” or “no” to any of the questions above, then keep reading....


Ideas for frugal tree decorations:


Make your own garland! (Cranberries, Popcorn or Buttons)
Use embroidery thread, dental floss or fishing line to string your garland and let the kids help! Tips: Let the popcorn sit out and become a bit stale so it's easier to string, and you can also color it with food coloring if you like. Cranberry garland is beautiful-and don't forget to hang a bit outside on the tree for the birds to enjoy too!


Raid the sewing box and grab some colorful buttons, you can space them out and tie a knot after each button to keep them in place.

Bows and Pom Poms- You can make big bows or simple garland with wide ribbon and you can use scrap yarn to make pom poms of any size. Just slip a hook through the pom pom or fashion a loop with yarn and it's ready to hang on your tree.

Candy Canes- They come with a built-in hanger, and you can find them in a variety of colors. Just try not to eat them all before Christmas.

Foil Ornaments- Children love this project. Take a piece of thick foil and fold it into a star, square or any shape you like. Etch or decorate with permanent marker and you have a masterpiece!

Origami- If you're adventurous and have nimble fingers, why not have a go at creating some origami ornaments?

Photos- There are always a plethora of photo deals available this time of year and quick turn-around on photo developing these days. Get creative and make some homemade photo ornaments.

Christmas Cards- Christmas cards have beautiful scenery and I'm sure you have some that would make really nice embellishments for your tree.

Artificial Poinsettia Flowers- Very affordable and easy to attach to the tree with a little floral wire or ornament hook.

Glitter Construction Paper or Foam Snowflakes- A throwback to first grade. Come on, you know you want to do it. Just make sure you wipe the glitter from your face and peel the glue off of fingers before you go out on the town.

Glitter Pine Cones- Just take a trip outside, gather a few small pine cones and take them on a trip to Sparkle City. The squirrels won't even miss them, because-as we all know-squirrels have never been influenced by glitz and glam.

So...now you have no excuses left. Go turn up the holiday music and decorate that tree!

Make-It-Take-It Events at Michaels Arts & Crafts Store

Get crafty this season!

Now that Christmas is approaching, Michaels has a whole line-up of fun holiday themed events for the month of December:


Rudolph's Kitchen
Sunday, December 4th
1PM-3PM
Decorate a Chef's Hat and Apron




Santa & Rudolph's Treat Bag

Sunday, December 4th
3PM-4PM
Make a treat bag for all the goodies you make for Santa!


See more upcoming Make-It-Take-It events in December.


Tip: Arrive a few minutes early so that you can get what you need and get set up.  

I hope you very much enjoy your festive fun family time together!

Our coupon swap is coming up on Tuesday!

Our next coupon swap is coming up on Tuesday, December 6th at 6PM in the conference room at the South Regional Branch of the Lafayette Parish Public Library.



The Budget Queen Coupon Swap
Conference Room (last room on the left)
South Regional Library
6101 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA
6PM


All you need to do is bring the coupons you want to swap and a little container to pass them around in, and we will all share our coupons, tips and advice on saving money!

Hope to see you there!