Frugal Retirement-My $500 Holiday Update #2

While I in no way have completed my Christmas shopping or cooking, I know my plans and have good knowledge of what I will be making and buying. To that end, I thought it was time for another update.  remember, I allocated $500 for Christmas. That was to include gifts for seventeen family members and my two adult and college aged children. It also included gift exchanges  with two social groups, an Angel child, and cooking and baking  and entertainment requirements.  At the time I gave myself this challenge, I believed that I would be hosting a prime rib Christmas dinner as well.  I am not hosting Christmas, which gives me a lot more leeway in money savings-I would obviously like to end up with money left over

Again I will say that gifting this many people is a concious decision, and that I appreciate that others may have had different choices. Our gifts are often not lare, and are just one part of a whole celebratory season.

In terms of my Christmas expenses, there are really two types of costs.  The first, is out of pocket cost.  That is, the money it cost me now, in cash, to purchase or make a gift.  There is another cost, and while I don't want to call it real cost, I have also figured that into the equation. That is the cost of things I already have in my stockpile/pantry/sewing room that I am using. I guess I will call that the value cost. However, in figuring my Christmas expenses, I am using the first, out of pocket cost figure for my tally.

Adult and kid gifts (not mine) purchased or made (almost all on requested lists) My out of pocket with explanations follow

• Couple one:  Restaurant gift Certificate and short sleeved navy sweater 80.00
• Couple two:  Cowboy coasters and mug rug for him, set of six place mats and napkins in fall tones for her.  Out of pocket cost zero.
• Couple number three:  New house, lifestyle with lots of entertaining.  A large longaberger serving platter I won at a silent auction years ago and never used, still in box. For her, a snowman wall hanging to match her year around collection of snowmen. No out of pocket cost, made from my supplies of fabric and thread
• Couple number four:  $25 Barnes and noble GC for him (cost $15.00 from a group buying site), and coasters, hot pads and kitchen accessories in their colors-red, navy, orange yellow and purple.  No out of pocket cost, supplies again from me.
• Couple number five, in Denver:  Still working, won't go up till the day after Christmas. They are going to commission me to make a quilt for their bed......maybe offer to make something with it for free. Or bring $25.00 worth of stuff from the German deli fresh.
• Couple Number Six, In Seattle:  with a toddler and a newborn, most of what I give them will be to the kids, see below.
• Single Sister in Denver:  No idea as of yet. she is extremely easy and would be happy with a free trip to the local thrift store or gourmet food store and an extra twenty to spend.  Working on it.
• College Age Niece:  I got a twenty dollar gift card from Vera Bradley in my birth month (see why you should get on an email list from your favorite stores?).  I got an onsale wristelt.  No cost.
• College Age Niece:  a like new gourmet cookbook for my chef student.  Cost 3.00
• High School Age Nephew:  He is at that age, who on earth knows.
• Toddler Niece:  have a $10.00 Toys r US gift card, just haven't gotten there yet
• Newborn Nephew:  Set of baby blankets that match.  No cost, fabric from my stash.

My kids $100 each:

•  Thirty something daughter:  book on holistic eating she requested, kitchen utensils and accessories to match her new apartment including a small drying rack, and a set of yoga clothes from target (see below). More but I don't know what yet.  A $25 gift certificate to amazon at no cost to me because I earned it with swag bucks
• Twenty Two Year Old Unemployed Son:  Clothes, clothes and more clothes.  He's lost weight but unfortunately he is six six-that still means a trip to the big and tall store for shirts so they cover his waist and belt. Other stuff when I am done.

Quilting friends:  fabric collections unused from my stash and wrapped with a ribbon.

Women's Group:  Homemade cookies and some kind of canned item-I am thinking cranberry walnut conserve but am not sure yet..........if so I will only have to buy the berries and nuts. Jars, decorative items, and other food ingredients on hand

Baking:  I have no idea how to figure this. My pantry is full of loss leader bags of sugar, brown sugar, flours, chocolates and the like.  Out of pocket cost will be minmal.

Entertaining:  Unsure.  Dinner group will be lasagna. Have whole grain noodles, ground pork and ground beef, tomato sauce. Will need buy the cheeses and garlic bread. Cost minimal.

Angel "Child":  My angel person is a senior who has put a her need as a blender and her wish as an alarm clock. I have allocated $25.00 to outreach and we will see how far it gets me.  See below.

At this point my out of pocket costs are $298 if I have done the math correctly.  That includes the $200 allocated for my children even though it is not all spent.  The budget for couple number one (my in laws) is abnormally high and may come down. I would really like to get them a restaurant gift certificate.  Mom in law wanted a specific sweater and doesnt ask for much. They did so many things for me when I arrived in Texas. I still may be able to get a free restaurant certificate but if not, so be it.

I anticipate future costs to be a maximum $25.00 for the angel child, $50 for Denver gifts, and a small unspecified amount in terms of groceries for entertaining and gifting. Obviously there will be some additional costs and stocking stuffer items but so far I would say I am meeting my goal with ease.

My estimates on costs above are a little uncertain because I have a $10 off 50 certificate for Target. My plan is to get the blender and daughter's yoga clothing there and then add to the pot in terms of kitchen items.  I also have a $10 off $10 certificate for Penney's, a $25 off $25 at Casual Male Big and Tall, and $20.00 off $20.00 at Victoria's Secret.  I still have extreme couponing skills and coupons, grouping buying offers to take advantages and other deals I will be looking out for. I may even find a deal on that gift certificate, lowering costs by $50.00All in all it should be a VERY Merry Christmas.

Note:  at some point I'll figure those real material costs and let you know what I come up with. Since I buy fabric year around on sale, real costs should still be very, very fair.

The Frugal Shopaholic

I am by nature a "spender" at heart. I like to shop - I shop for clothing. I shop for seasonal updates for my house, for things for the yard and garden. I shop for craft items of all kinds especially good quilting fabric. I shop for nice gifts for my family-individualized gifts that I know they would appreciate.  I shop for books, although I'm learning to appreciate the library. I shop for souvenirs and mementos when I travel.

I'm not a hoarder-I use the things I buy and I rotate things in and out. I have no debt, and live within my income.  Awhile back, that income was much different than it is now.  But you know what?  I've decided that living on a pension doesn't mean no more Christmas gifts, or not having my house be comfortable.  So what happens when a spender meets a pension?  She relearns how to get what she wants.

I'm very patient.  I have a list, sometimes in my head and sometimes on paper, of the things I need and want. This ranges ranges from Christmas ideas (For my $400 holiday, on which I'll expound later), to clothing to fit my fifty pounds less body (knowing that my goal is fifty pounds more). It includes items to update my home (both needs and wants). In my case it even includes places I want to go and things I want to do that would not otherwise be affordable-prime time movies, museums, the occasional dinner out. This article however, is mainly about the purchase of things.

I take advantage of every possible offer and opportunity. This means that I actually LOOK at the offers that come from companies I shop at (like the $25 CG for my birthday from Vera Bradley that got me the wristlet in the photo below for free, or the coupons mentioned below). I take a few minutes to check out various freebies, group buying sites and like on the web, and I keep track of my rewards through my debit card and hotel preferred customer accounts.  This doesn't mean I have no life and spend all day on the computer or shopping. Remember I have three business, a college student at home, a house to maintain, quilts to make, books to read, a dog to walk and play with, gourmet meals to cook and a life to live. Saving money does take some time, but it doesn't always take a lot.

I shop when the item is available, not necessarily when I need it. This means that I shop ahead and store things. Just as some folks (including me) buy food at loss leader prices, I buy other things, big and small, large and expensive.  Silly example?  We've broken four coffee carafes in past year. While we have one now, if I see one for a quarter, you're darn right I'm buying one (or maybe two or three, knowing myself).

This week as been a perfect example of taking advantage of deals and steals.  I had available to me the following coupons: $10 off $10 at JC Penny, $25 off $25 at Casual Male (my son is six foot six), a coupon for a free pack of undies at Adidas, a $20 coupon to Old Navy (for which I paid $10) and a $40 coupon to the Body Shop (for which I paid $20). I also had two $5 Kohl's cash coupons.  For a total out of pocket expenditure of $45.00 (plus tax) I purchased a summer shawl, a good quality designer style"Americana" polo shirt, a pile of jewelry, a three pack of boxers, a pair of good tall men's swim trunks, a quality wallet, the linen tablecloth shown below, the picture frame shown below, and two large bath and body sets.  Some of these items will be used now, and some put away for Christmas.  The extra five bucks was for the tablecloth-originally 29.00 at Kohl's, marked down to 11.99 before my five dollars Koh'ls cash.

Note: some folks, as evidenced by the comments to Donna's article over at Get Rich Slowly, seem to think that buying gifts in advance is somehow less personal, or less Christmassy. My comment to the first is that I think it depends on your family. In my greater family, we know each other's interests, hobbies, and general needs, so for the most part, its appropriate for me to buy ahead. My six foot six inch son will ALWAYS need extra long Polo's to play golf in, for example. As to the second, I love Christmas and gift buying. By shopping this way, not only do I save money, but I free up Christmas for the relaxing fun stuff-including window shopping with spiced wine afterwards.

I don't consider used a "bad word", and I know well that much stuff in the used market is new and like new.  I understand that for some people this is a reach.  But I have found like new, brand name items in thrift stores since I was buying my now 22 year old Tommy Hilfiger ten years ago. The designer label I wore to church last week on my thinner (not thin, thinner) body came from a consignment shop and cost less than ten dollars.  On my last trip to the thrift store I spend four dollars, got five books, a Longaberger chip and dip bowl and spreader and the candles shown here (a quarter, five bucks each originally at home goods, and like new with the the tags still on.

Shopping is a small part of my life.  As I mentioned above, I have three small income streams I am trying to start, I volunteer and have a full life. More importantly, my needs have lessened. My kids are grown or growing and almost out of the house. I've had a lifetime to build my household and the items in it, although having lived overseas has certainly cut down on the amount of "stuff in my possession.  But I still enjoy getting new things and spiffing up my house on occasion, and being able to gift usable, needed items to family members. More importantly, the tips I use can be used by anyone. By being patient, shopping ahead and being aware of all the deals out there, most folks can lots of stuff, for a little bit of outlay if they play their cards right.

How to Get High Value Coupons and Discounts-Part I

When I share with people about available discounts and high value coupons in a post, or mention a shopping trip, the first comment is generally, "Where do you get these deals?  I never get coupons like that!".

The short answer is,  I ask for them. I take the few minutes to register as a preferred customer at the website of every single store I shop at or that I know carries items my family will like. This takes a few minutes and sometimes requires my filling out a small survey. It also means that I get small amounts of unwanted mail on occasion.

To me though, the upside of this well worth the small hassle and minimal time involved. Just a few of the things that I have received in July include: Two $10 off $10.00 coupons from JCPenny in the mail, a $15.00 off $25.00 coupon for Yankee Candle, a coupon for a free body lotion at Victoria's secret,  a coupon for a free twelve pack of coke, for a free suave shampoo, and fifteen dollars in rewards from the tall men's shop.

Lest anyone think otherwise, I do not use these coupons just to use them. Some expire, and some never get used. Most of the time though, I am able to combine these coupons with clearance deals to get something for free or close to free for a gift. In the JCPenny case, ladies shawls were marked down to $11.00 from $20. On two different occasions I went to the store (as part of my routine), and got a shawl for $1.00 plus tax. Although both of these would have made lovely gifts, my church has "Texas air conditioning", meaning I use either the brown or the black almost every week. In the case of the Yankee Candle, they have an end of season sale, as well as 25 percent off selected jars. My daughter loves Yankee Candles and they are on her gift list yearly. I will combine the coupon and sale and put the candles in Ziploc bags to retain the scent. In the Victoria's Secret case, I will do the same. When I get a free pantie from Vickies Secret I put it away-I generally get a few a year and wrap them in a ribbon as a stocking gift. Even though they were free, I combined the free coke coupon with a BIGIF sale, and am holding off for a sale on the Suave. I keep track of dates, and if I have not gotten a sale by the expiration date, will buy just the one.

Let me say that I do not get huge amounts of spam and that from what I can see these companies are not forwarding my stuff to other sites. I do get emails regarding sales, specials and special invitations (I am not a credit card customer, just a registered member). I make reading my emails part of my routine and can generally tell at a glance if I want to keep it. I have a coupon folder in my email. Some people use a separate email, for freebies and this kind of thing. I have considered this, but I find that since I use Outlook, reading and sending to folders or trashing takes no more time than reading my freebie sites or answering email.

If you want to start slowly and see how it goes, get a special email address and sign up at a few regular stores. Wait a month or so and watch the deals come in, and I'm sure you'll be ready for more. Especially in the current economy, stores need us more than we need them, and they will use any marketing tool that they can to bring in customers. Obviously, when they send me a $10 of $10 coupon, they hope that in addition to that shawl I'll find ten other things that I need. Many people would, perhaps even yourself. But if you can limit yourself to using your deals in combination with sale items and limiting your purchases, you can have lots of good stuff for pennies. Start now to fill that gift closet with ease!!