Toys R Us, Hot toy picks for 2008

Click here to see 2008 Hot toy picks.

Also, if you didn't see the Sunday sales paper for this week you need to take advantage of the great deals they have going on. You can look at the sales paper on there websites home page.

They are also offering some FREE SHIPPING deals.

They have board games on sale, and there Art Easels are on sale which I am going to take advantage of this week.

Go check it out. It is time to save and catch those deals for Christmas gifts, so you can start marking some of those names off your list.

Budget Wise Wednesday: Beginning Budget Figures

I love Christmas but I don't love thinking about how much money it can cost. I especially don't like thinking of all the money I've spent in the past only to sell the "things" at the next summer's yard sale or a donate it months later to Goodwill. And when buying for nieces and nephews, sisters, moms, dads, and grandparents I don't want to think that I'm giving them something that will just take up space, cause clutter, or worse yet, not be used at all. I want to spend my hard earned money on good things that we and others can enjoy and enrich our lives. That's sometimes hard on a tight budget.

Sometimes we bargain shoppers, in the hunt for a great deal, buy stuff that is a super good "deal" but in the long run wasn't such a good deal because it wasn't useful at all or was just clutter after all. This year we have a budget of $1,000. For some families that $1,000 would be seen as a huge amount, for others it wouldn't be seen as much at all. It is a smaller amount than we usually spend but it is what it is.

Taking Jennifer's advice, I made a list of people we are buying for this year. I put it in my purse and I am now beginning (slowly) to cross names off the list. I haven't even begun to think about what my own children will get because I just can't hide their stuff like I used to. They are too good at finding little receipts, or my list on a scrap of paper, or even the actual goods. So they are on hold.

Here's my list of people to buy gifts for this year. I don't think any of them are reading this and if they are, oh well, you might know what you are going to get ahead of time. And, the entire $1,000 can't just include these gifts. It has to include a myriad of other things that I will post about later, such as cards, photos, food, baking supplies, etc.

My side of family:
Niece Gabby
Cousin Hayden
Cousin Preston
my mom
my mom's fiance
my dad and step-mom
niece Kaylee
sister Dana
sister Amber
granny
poppie
uncle jon
granny

his side:
niece Chloe
nephew Preston
niece Leanna
nephew Justin

non-relatives:
secret santa
teacher 1
teacher 2
my kids:
christin
caleb
ciarra
camryn
For everyone on this list, other than my kids, I plan to spend between $5 and $10. Hopefully I will find some great deals on things that meet the criteria above of not cluttery, not junky, and actually useful!

Happy Birthday to you Angie!!!!!!!

I know this isn't Christmas related but just had do a quick post to say Happy Birthday to you Angie. Hope you had a good one.

Jennifer

Budget Wise - Wednesday

K ladies you have SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, & DECEMBER, left before Christmas gets here.

I have come up with a way for you to get motivated to start your Christmas list now. Write your list down for all that you have to buy for. Then divided your list into 4 parts ( 1 for each month left before Christmas). Each month concentrate on that part of your list until you get it done for that month. Then October start on your next list and so on..............

This will help you not be so overwhelmed with worrying about your whole list at once. The financial end of it to will be a help not have to come up with a lot of extra money for that month. All you will need is what you have budgeted for your list for that particular month.

Another suggestion would be to start with the least or most expensive list first for the month of September, whatever fits your budget the best. I know in our house it would be best to start with the most expensive then wait till December for the least expensive. We don't get a Christmas bonus or anything in December so it is a little tight for us. Plus, December is the month that all the extra things pop up that you were not expecting to have to buy (dinners, parties, little gifts, etc.) So if you get the most expensive out of the way first then you will be prepared to handle anything that comes up. If you get a Christmas bonus, then you may want to wait till December to do your most expensive list.

Stick to your list, PAY CASH FOR EVERYTHING, be firm on your budget, don't give into other things that you or your kids really don't need. You will be so glad you did when January comes

and you don't owe anything for all that you have bought for Christmas. You can start the New Year out fresh and CHRISTMAS DEBT FREE. You will have the best Christmas you have ever had knowing that you are not having to pay for Christmas long after it is over.

Memory Making Mondays: Ask the family time

What is most important to you and your family during the holidays? Chances are it is not gifts and probably doesn't cost much if any money. It is making last memories and spending time together!

One thing I did last year with my kids who were then 10, 7, and 6 was ask them what things they really enjoyed doing together each Christmas. I was a little surprised by their answers, as I thought presents would be at the top of their list but it was not.

Their favorite thing to do: open the tiny boxes on our Advent Calendar every evening. They really like it because it counts down the days until Christmas and they like putting together the little Christmas scene it makes. This year each of the kids will have their own Advent calendar to count down the days in addition to our family calendar. Here's the Advent Calendar we use as a family. We've had it for 5 years now and it is still in great shape. We are making the individual ones this year. I will post those directions Friday.


Other things they loved and don't want to give up:
Driving around looking at Christmas lights in our pajamas
Christmas Eve Birthday Cake for Jesus
Making sugar cookies
Annual excursion for their new Christmas ornament
decorating their rooms for the holidays on the day after Thanksgiving

Ask your kids (if they are old enough) what things they love doing as a family during the holiday. It might just surprise you what memories they enjoy making the most.

So, what are your favorite traditions for the holidays that you just can't imagine it would be Christmas without them? We'd love to hear your stories!

Tipster Tuesday: Shop Summer Clearance

(Images From Kimba's blog)

Now is a great time to get things on summer clearance. I found some awesome deals at the strangest place- Tractor Supply Store! They had all of their summer outdoor decor marked down 80% off. I bought 2 solid metal birdbaths for only $6 each, 3 outdoor solid wood planter boxes for $5 each, and 1 copper-colored wind vane for $8. One of the birdbaths is for my birthday present (I love picking out my own stuff!). The other one is for my mom for Christmas for her new house's backyard. The planters are going on my front porch and the wind vane I have no idea but it will make a great gift for someone.


Another idea I am stealing from the very sweet Kimba at A Soft Place to Land. She bought these bright green, metal boxes that I think were originally for candles? Then she spray painted them for fall. Love it!

So, keep your eyes out for items on summer clearance that you can turn into items for the holidays and for gift-giving!


Angie :)

Great Gift idea

If you are computer savvy and know how to make a slide show then you have the tools to make a great and meaningful gift for those that are closest to you. I mention this now because this is a project that takes a little time. If you get started now you will have it done by Christmas.

If you are like us, and live away from all your family and closest friends then the perfect gift is to give them a DVD slide show of your family. 2 years ago I did this for our families and it was a huge hit to everyone that got it. I just got several pictures, some Christmas music to play in the slide show, and I made a Christmas looking DVD label for the front of the CD. It is a great personalized gift that they will have from now on. Then they will get caught up on what all you have been doing, all the fun things you did this past year, & all the big events that happened. It is a great way to keep your family in touch with all that you have going on in your life. And are you kidding what grandparent wouldn't enjoy getting a slide show of there grandchildren. If you have babies put all the big mile stone in the slide show, them sitting up, walking, doing funny things, they just love that. Or, if you moved show pictures of your new house or new car, you get the idea....

Just an idea I thought I would share with you.