Post-Holiday Savings and Safety Tips

I hope this post finds everyone enjoying the holiday giving season. I still have to pinch myself when I think of all the wonderful blessings that 2008 has brought to me and my family. I hope you all have been blessed as well and have an ever better 2009! Here are just a few tips to ensure that you start off 2009 in the black and begin your smart shopping for an entire year of gift giving with a solid plan and strategy!

• Establish an annual gift budget in addition to your annual household budget. Set up a separate debit card account that you can deposit into regularly throughout the year so you can snag up great bargains when you see them without the guilt or stress!
• Eliminate the evidence! Never put boxes that contained high ticket items out for the trash. Doing so is an invitation to get robbed! Either break the boxes down or take them to a dumpster off-site to ensure your family safety.
• Snag up on the post holiday sales right now and get your pick of holiday cards, wrapping, bags, and decor at a minimum of 50% off. Selection is best right now, so stock up now on red, silver, and gold wrapping, bags and tags that are multi-seasonal and can be used for all occasion gift giving.
• Use gift cards from obscure shops and retailers ASAP just in case they close their doors in 2009. I wouldn't worry too much about the bigger retail chains, but play it safe and use the cards and treat yourself to a shopping spree now!
• Organize your gift closet. Clean out the gifts that you know you'll never give, including some of the awful gifts that you may have received this year that didn't come with a gift receipt. Donate them to your favorite charity or Goodwill store. Make room for up to date and dazzling items that you find on the clearance racks now for great gift giving later.
• Send Happy New Year Cards to folks who didn't make your holiday gift list. Surprise them with a heartfelt 2009 greeting.
• Never overlook sending "thank you" notes to relatives who may have sent you a long-distance gift. Better yet, call and thank them personally!

I wish all of you a fantastic 2009 filled with much love, generosity and gratitude! And as always, happy giving!

Take it Down a Notch: Relieving your Holiday Stress

If you are feeling a bit stressed out right about now, you are not alone. With the holiday less than a week away, their is definitely a sense of panic in the air among some of you folks out there. But take a deep breath, focus on the "reason for the season" and use your thought stopping techniques so you can make it through this post...LOL! Dr. Ron sent me this product to review a little while back and wanted to share it with you just in case you need a little dose of holiday therapy! Now available as a download for only $2.97, this is definitely one of the best gifts you can give yourself this year! This three part download contains three timely topics:

• Better Holidays and Resolutions
• Holiday Relaxation
• Mastering Resolutions

Buy one for 99 cents or all three for $2.97...it just keeps better and better! To view more and download your choices, please visit Amazon by clicking HERE
Happy Giving!

Three Super Easy Last Minute Gifts TO GO!

It's bound to happen. You accept a last minute invite to a hip holiday party that you just can't refuse. But you can't go empty handed, right? And you don't won't to arrive with the traditional bottle of wine that screams "LAST MINUTE!!!" Here are three things you can put together for under $20 that are sure to be a hit and put you on their priority guest list next year!

• The Bountiful Bread Basket: Fill a large basket with gourmet breads and rolls of various shapes and sizes. Check your local Walmart for a great selection and fantastic prices. Top off the basket with gourmet spreads, olive-oil dipping sauces, or hard cheeses. If you have the time, save money and make them yourself!
• After-dinner Basket. Instead of wine, look for a unique after dinner liqueur and pair it with hard peppermint candies and chocolate covered mints. You can also use an antique pail with a handle of the appropriate size to make it really stand out!
• Bag Full of Fun: Classic board games, classic comedies, 80's music CD....and don't forget the super ugly holiday sweater that you know you have buried in your closet! Aim to bring laughter and fun to the party!

So there you have it! I'd love to hear your ideas...let 'em roll! Happy Giving!

Awww...Charlie Brown!

It's Christmastime, and what better way to celebrate than with the Peanuts Gang!Inside you'll find Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree, Linus' blanket to keep it warm, and a pretty red ornament to make it feel loved. Plus, you'll enjoy a collectible Miniature Edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas, to cherish year after year. Only $8.95 over at the Lemonade Stand. Perfect grab-bag gift or office ER gift! Happy Giving!

Get your 42 Cents Worth

If you are planning to send holiday cards this year take heed of the following advice...a greeting card can be a real gift if you just put some thought into it! How many times have you received a holiday card (or special occasion card) with only the signature of the person who sent it to you? Don't even get me started on the pre-printed ones with a laser printed signature. How do you feel about that? I don't know about you, but when I receive a card like that, it kinda hurts my feelings sometimes, especially from people that I haven't connected with in awhile. (I'll let my mom and in-laws slide! We communicate quite regularly.) In my minds eye I can see them sitting at the table in front of an assembly line of pre-addressed labels, stamps, and stack of cards just awaiting to be autographed...Thanks for adding me to your fan club...LOL! But seriously, I do appreciate the thought but would much prefer a quick phone call or email instead :) So take note...GIVE MORE this year by adding a personal note to your card. As about them and their family...try not to focus on you! Try these conversation starters if you draw a blank:

• I thought about you this week when...
• Remember when we used to...
• I think of you during the holidays because...
• I wish I could see you because...
• I'll bet your children are...
• My holiday wish for you is...
  

See...It's not that hard and it's a very rewarding exercise. I gaurantee you won't dread holiday card writing ever again. And at 42 cents it's a bargain basement gift...so be sure to get your money's worth and really let your friends and loved ones know how much you care this year!

The Gift of Survival

I love to receive great gift ideas from my readers! Today, my friend and loyal Bargain Zone member Angela Watson from www.yourpersonalposter.com sends the following tip:

"Hi Jen,

I just remembered another gift that is relatively inexpensive that I gave my neighbors last year for Christmas. Here in S. California we live under the spectre of earthquakes constantly. So I bought some small red insulated lunch bags shaped roughly like a cube, and bought some survival items to put in them, including:

• a couple of glow sticks (snap them and provide light for several hours)
• hard granola bars & beef jerky (long shelf life)
• a whistle
• a small pre-made first aid kit
• a bottle of water (rotate it about once a month or so)
• a disposable face mask (to not breathe the dust)

Then I also gave them a special wrench that is specifically for turning off your gas at the meter. Total cost, less than $25 bucks (and I didn't even shop at Wal-Mart [Mall-Wart]!). I gave one each to my grandparents, my mom, my neighbors on either side of me and a couple of other family and friends.

Something like this could be adapted to be a blizzard, tornado or hurricane kit, depending on your area of the country."

This survival theme can translate to virtually any "sticky" situation and now many manufacturers are catching on. If you have the time and creativity, definitely put one together yourself and save a ton of cash. If not, look for pre-made kits at your local discount department store. I've done survival kits for the office, girl's night out, and new mom's. What are you ideas?

The Friendship Treasure Ball

Most of you already know that I am a sentimental sap! I love to give gifts that evoke emotion, laughter or anything sentimental. What I love about this ornament is that it opens up so you can place something thoughtful inside. Planning on a holiday engagement, fellas? Put the ring inside or a family heirloom for the bride to be! Found on GiftTree for only $19.99, you can also have it engraved for an additonal $9.99. For more great gift ideas that will pull at your heart strings, and theirs...click here

Happy Giving!

When to Buy Restaurant Certificates

Research, research, and do more research before you buy restaurant certificates through online outlets such as restaurant.com. Whether or not to buy them is entirely up to how and when you plan on using them. Overall, I really believe they are a great bargain for the average couple who enjoys dining out, but how do these certificates fare in the gift giving world? Here are some helpful tips:

Before you take the leap and make a purchase, be sure to research first. Most, if not all of the restaurants require a minimum order or total that must be spent. For example, in order to use your $100 gift certificate, you must spend $200. The best deal so far is the $25 certificate that can be used on the purchasing of two entrees or total bill of $35. Be careful, some restaurants only allow you to use these gift certificates during the week, so be sure to look at the restrictions for each restaurant before you buy!

Would I purchase these as a gift? Probably not. Seems a little tacky to gift a gift with such heavy restrictions. If the recipient isn't aware of them, they will likely be embarassed if they have to fork out extra money because they didn't read the fine print. This makes you look really bad as well! I may consider purchasing one for someone that I know really well and frequents a certain restaurant on the list. But I would be very clear on how it can be used with them before they actually go there.

Would I buy restaurant gift certificates? Absolutely! My husband and I love to dine out and try new places. This is a wonderful discount if you plan on spending at least $15-20 on a meal. Remember the $25 gift certificate usually requires a purchase of $35, so add in tax and tip and that should take you up to about $20-25. Can't get away with a total like that at Eat'n Park anymore!

The bottom line...research before you take the leap! Visit their site today and check out their NEW FEATURE! Dinner of the Month on Restaurant.com.
Your husband or best friend just may love it!

For the Beer Lover on Your List

How many men do you know that don't like a ice cold beer every now and then? I happen to know quite a few that LOVE beer and would make it themselves if they could. Starting at just $39.95, Mr. Beer has you covered! From starter kits to the more elaborate complete brewing systems for $149.99, why not get a group together and pitch in and give the beer lover on your list something they will really love this year?

The Mr.Beer Ultimate Addition Beer Kit comes complete with everything you need to brew and bottle 7 great-tasting batches of beer -- this Brew Kit also contains all of our brewing tools and lots of extras. Designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind -- Mr.Beer provides reliable results every time you brew. With over 650K kits sold Mr.Beer is the most popular home beer brewing system in the world!

For a limited time, they are offering free shipping on orders over $100!

Giving the Universe...

For the future scientist or astronaut on your list, for $39.99 you can give them their own solar system...well kinda! With the animated solar system mobile, kids can explore the wonders of the solar system right in their own room! They just have to look up at the ceiling and watch as all nine planets (well, eight planets and one sad ex-planet) orbit around the light-up sun. And listen as the audio CD takes them on a fascinating tour of our solar system. Use the included light-pointer to locate each planet and make comets and meteors streak through the night sky. And with the auto shut off feature, you can set it and forget it (while your little star babies drift off to sleep) and the planets will whirl and the sun will shine and the whole thing will stop after your children are in the land of nod. Zzzzzzzzz. VERY COOL!

Visit


today and get yours while they last! Happy Giving!

The Friendship Stone Jewelry Collection

I talk about it a lot, but I just love the concept behind the Friendship Stone. The Friendship Stone is a Christmas present that can make a difference. A gift that will make your friends and loved ones focus on the real valuable treasures in life! In an era of uncertainty, financial insecurity and perhaps even emotional turmoil, The Friendship Stone makes a unique and timeless holiday gift. Small enough to be carried around or put in as stocking stuffers, The Friendship Stone is meant to be kept always. When the recipient holds The Friendship Stone in their hands they will recall that their loved one is always there for them - in both good times and bad, despite their physical presence lacking.

And now the girls have added a new line of Friendship Stone jewelry that is a must see and must have. Suspended on a variety of 14k gold filled chains or genuine leather (my favorite!), no two necklaces are alike. To view their new Friendship collection, CLICK HERE!

The "No Fail" Gift of Food

Sundried Tomato and Garlic Pesto Mix...is your mouth watering yet? I just whipped up a batch to go along with my ravioli dinner to use as bread dipper in lieu of frozen garlic bread and WOW! This stuff is pretty spectacular, affordable, and would make a fantastic gift. I met Jen Stover from Tastefully Simple at a recent fundraiser. Since I have heard wonderful things from friends, I decided to stock up on a few of the highly recommended products. I can't wait to try the beer bread! This dipping/pesto mix is only $8.99 and makes up to 12 servings. Just add oil, water, and a bit of cheese when ready to serve and you're done. So simple and so delicious! Check out Jen's website and be sure to let her know the Gift Therapist sent ya! Gift Therapist Approved!
Click the link below ans show her some love:
Tastefully Simple by Jen Stover

Play Around with Coupon Codes

I know you folks are probably going to do a lot of online shopping this year, and why shouldn't you? The deals are great and you don't have to get all prettied up to go out in the blustery cold weather. But here's a tip that I can't reinforce enough. Lots of online retailers will be boasting free shipping this year (yippee!) but look around on other sites for cash discounts or percentage off coupons as well. With a large order, that discount will add up to much more in savings than the free shipping, unless your item is huge or very heavy! For example, I saved an additional $20 just today at Macy's by using their 20% off $100 or more coupon code rather than choosing to use their free shipping coupon. So play around with a few codes until you find the one that gives you the greatest savings. And don't forget to do great things with the money you save!

Recommended Site: www.ratherbeshopping.com
Fast, reliable, and very consumer friendly :)