It doesn't matter what time of year it is, there always seems to be gifts to wrap for one occasion or another! I know that I happen to enjoy when I'm given a gift and I can tell the gift giver spent a little bit of time making the wrapped gift look beautiful. Interesting wrap does two things:
It gives the recipient of a gift the feeling that the giver went the extra mile.
Even though wrapping paper generally gets ripped to shreds, it add more suspense to the surprise.
So when it comes to your loved ones, friends, or even business associates on any special occasion throughout the year, think twice before you settle for some cheap wrap from the dollar store. Think outside the box!
The truth is, there are plenty of recyclable materials around that make crafting your own wrap easy with barely any cost. Wrapping can even become great projects for kids. Take a look at these recyclable ways to wrap gifts:
Flowers or flower petals. How awesome and sweet smelling would this be!
Old family photos you don't want anymore.
Photos printed out from a digital camera.
Old posters are great for wrapping.
Leaves. New or just fallen there’s no cost, no problem finding them (depending on the time of year), and they are biodegradable.
Old mail: Most of it goes into the recycling bin but there could be some great pieces to cover a gift. For example, make an envelope for a check out of old bills!
A collage from newspapers and magazines.
Cereal boxes: remember the prize in the box when you were a kid!
Old fabrics, cloths or clothes the recipient of the gift can reuse or donate.
Toilet and paper towel rolls. Cut up and paint them creating an unusual texture with their cylindrical shape.
Tea bag wrappers. Tape them over the box of a new kettle.
Carpet samples or leftovers from an installation make a furrier presentation.
Old cassettes: stack and glue them together making a box for a gift.
Reuse old greeting cards.
Egg cartons. Need I say more? Paint them, glitter them, just go wild with them.
Old sheet music for a musical surprise. You could even write out a song as part of the gift.
Paper bags can go a long way when wrapping.
Milk or juice cartons: wash out, decorate and use them as a gift box.
Maps. These can be great for travel related gifts like a new bike helmet or backpack.
Scraps from a wood shop, metal shop, or printing company. There’s usually a lot of waste at these venues that can easily be converted into something useful like wrapping up a gift.
While some items listed above are simple to use as the main wrapping material others may need some help being attached. If you’ve chosen one of the latter here’s a suggestion:
First use newsprint or other recyclable material to encase a gift. Older used wrapping paper will also do and it’s the perfect time to recycle it.
Apply the chosen material such as flower petals, leaves, or photos with, glue, tape, or string, as you see fit.
Good luck gifting, wrapping, and making others happy! Do you have any other creative wrapping ideas to share?
How to create a simple budget plan for debt repayment
A budget plan can easily help you to overcome past debt issues and pay down debt so you can become financially free. There are many ways to accomplish this, but a simple and straight forward budget plan will help make it even easier to manage. These tips for how to create a simple budget plan specifically for debt repayment will help you to get out of debt easier and faster than ever before.
Take a serious look at all expenses.
The best and most simple budget plans begin when you get serious about what you have coming in and going out each month. It's time to get serious and focus not only on your expenses but also on what you can do to increase your income.
If you see that you are living outside your means no matter how you arrange your budget, it's time to start downsizing or making major changes. Unfortunately, this can mean a second job for some people. For others it may mean cutting out a gym membership, special events, eating out or even selling the second family car. Whatever you do, you need to look at each and every expense and evaluate the necessity and ability to change it to improve your budget plan for debt repayment.
Make savings a major priority.
A savings account cannot be an option. It has to be a must-have and a priority on your list. For most people, the lack of savings is what has resulted in higher debt. If there was more money in savings, many expenses would not have occurred and would have easily been provided for. A savings account should be set up to create an emergency fund and backup plan should anything happen where you have unexpected expenses.
You can easily set this up by having funds direct depositedout of your paycheck. If you feel there is no room in your budget for savings, look to some of the things mentioned above to eliminate some expenses to create a savings budget. Even if you can only save $25 a week or even a month, this is a great beginning to a savings account that can help save the day when something unexpected occurs.
Set aside 5% toward debt repayment to begin and move upwards.
It seems like a small amount, but if you make $3000 per month that is still $150. That amount can easily be set aside to pay off debt once you've assessed your necessary expenses. Over the course of one year, you can pay off $1800 in debt. That is a significant amount for many families.
As you are able, you can increase that monthly percentage in 5% increments. A 15% - 20% debt repayment plan can make a huge difference in no time toward your family being debt free.
Building a functional but simple budget plan is easy. You truly only need to know what your income and expenses are, then work those numbers until you are able to also make room for savings and debt repayment. The difficult part comes in ridding yourself of unnecessary expenses. Because really, that's not fun, but I'm positive you will feel so happy once you get your debt payments rolling and knocked off!
Everyone wants to include cheap groceries in their menu plan to help stretch their dollars a bit further. This list of cheap groceries include items everyone will eat that can be purchased inexpensively and used in multiple meals. The idea is to build on low-cost items to create budget friendly meals that are satisfying and simple to prepare.
Dry Beans:
Dry beans are one of my most used pantry items. They are very inexpensive and can be used in so many ways. In fact, dry beans are probably the most versatile, inexpensive and healthy item that can be stored in your pantry. They can easily be cooked in batches in a pressure cooker or slow cooker (or the Instant Pot!) to create easy to assemble meals and snacks. While you can season and prepare them to have a simple bowl of beans or bean soup, they are much more versatile than that. Beans can be mashed and mixed into ground meat to make enchiladas or tacos go further. They can be added to soups and chili, or mashed and seasoned for dips. Mix black beans with diced tomatoes, onion and jalapeño for a simple and hearty salsa.
Some beans to consider adding to your pantry:
Pinto (great by themselves, refried as dip or in burritos, mashed into ground meat for tacos or in chili)
Garbanzo beans (great for curry, hummusor roasting and snacking on
Kidney beans (great by themselves, in soups and chili)
Black beans (great by themselves, in soups, chili, mashed for dip or in salsas)
Lentils (great in soups, salads, or as a base for a vegetarian burger)
Split Peas (great in soups)
Black eyed peas (great by themselves, in soups or salads)
Ground Meat:
Ground meat is the ultimate inexpensive meat cut that helps stretch your budget further. It can be added to soups and casseroles or in things like meatloaf, hamburgers or meat pies for a high protein meal. Ground turkey or ground chicken is slightly more expensive than ground beef, but still affordable.
Potatoes:
Quite possibly one of the most versatile foods around, the potato can be a meal in itself, a carrier for other ingredients, the base for a casserole and a much needed filler when times are lean. Potatoes are not the most nutritious food, but when you pair them with other healthy options and leave off the bacon and cheese you will find them satisfying and fitting perfectly into your menu plan.
Frozen Vegetables:
Since affordable fresh produce isn't always available year round and it's vital to have a healthy diet with nutrient-dense ingredients, frozen vegetables are particularly handy. There are many ways to invest in frozen vegetables that are low-cost. You can easily freeze fresh produce when it's in season to use later, or purchase your store brand. Items I find best in the frozen vegetable arena are things like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, peas, corn and spinach. Chopped frozen spinach can go into soups and stews, mixed in with eggs or even added to a taco or spaghetti sauce to add some nutrients while not changing the flavor. Frozen vegetables are surprisingly affordable groceries that fit into almost any budget.
Pasta:
Much like the potato or dry bean, pasta is one of the most versatile foods you can keep in your pantry. It's inexpensive, filling and easy to adapt to many flavors. It's the base for many meals, and can provide you with a great way to stretch your budget. In fact, pasta with some frozen vegetables and herbs can be a fast, cheap and easy meal your entire family will enjoy.
These cheap groceries are just what you need to build amazing menu plans your entire family will enjoy. Use these items as a great base around your favorite herbs, sauces and cheese to build family friendly meals that fit into your budget with ease.
What are some cheap foods that you like to always have on hand?
Being able to give gifts is tough on a budget, but these are the best baby gifts anyone can afford. Not only are they going to be useful for the new mom and dad, they will fit easily into any budget. Thinking outside the box is important, but it can be tough to come up with a fun idea that doesn't break the bank. These ideas are ideal for you to give one of the best baby gifts without going outside your budget.
5 Best Baby Gifts On A Budget
Meals for post-birth.
One of the best baby gifts you can give a new mom is relieving her stress by cooking a meal or two to help out after she has the baby. This is budget friendly, easy for you to accomplish and great for the new parents. Ask about their dietary preferences, and then create a simple meal that they can slip into their freezer until needed.
Baby wipes.
You can never have enough baby wipes. You will be using them well into toddler hood, even after potty training is finished! Baby wipes are available in multiple package sizes as low as $1 per pack. Quite literally any budget can afford to purchase baby wipes. I recommend buying only unscented wipes since they are safest on sensitive skin, and buying in various package sizes is a great idea. Moms may prefer to have a few of the smaller packages to go in purses, cars or even to have on hand in their own bedroom for those emergency cleanup situations. A simple bundle of baby wipes with a pretty bow is a great gift.
Gift Cards.
These can easily fit into any budget you may have. Even a $5-$10 gift card works great for things like diapers, a fast lunch on the go or other needed items post-baby. A card with a note of encouragement is a great choice to go along with your gift card, and I promise that every parent will appreciate even the smallest gift cards.
Sleepers or onesies.
Babies will live primarily in sleepers and onesies in the first few months, and both of these are fairly inexpensive. Having a bunch on hand will make it easier for new moms not have so much laundry to worry about doing right away. They are also easy to personalize with iron on patches, fabric paint or embroidery for an extra special take on one of the best baby gifts around.
Baby first aid kit.
Many new parents are prepared for dirty diapers and needing blankets, but those rarely used items that are often needed at the most inconvenient times may not be in their arsenal. Things like nail clippers, a syringe to clean noses (I love that one!), cotton swabs for cleaning the umbilical cord and even infant fever reducers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can all come in handy. Don't forget a thermometer and a list of emergency numbers for things like poison control or a 24 hour nurses hotline.
These are the best baby gifts that are useful and affordable for any budget. They will be great for any new parent to receive.
Did you know that Amazon offers a Baby registry? It's free to sign up and you get to choose items from the earth's biggest selection. They have over 270,000 baby items! Plus, they offer easy 45 day returns.
Your grocery budget probably needs a little revamping like mine does, and so I came up with a few tips for creating what I believe, is a functional grocery budget. This method of dividing up your expenses will help you to make sure you aren't overspending, and of course, help you to make the most of your money.
3 Steps to creating a grocery budget:
Track your grocery spending. Track your spending over a couple of months and come up with an average. Or look at your receipts from the last couple of months to figure out an average. You will want to look at what you are spending at the grocery store and restaurants. It will be a big help to have these separated so you can see where you need to cut down your spending most.
Set your grocery budget - Because you now know the average amount you spend at the grocery store and restaurants each month, you can set your goal for your grocery budget. For example, if you've discovered you spend on average $800 a month, you might want to set your goal at $700 by cutting down on restaurants and prepackaged grocery store food. I don't recommend drastically trimming your grocery budget right this instant. Give yourself some slack and don't put pressure on yourself to come up with an impossible-to-stick-with number. You'll get discouraged and may end up giving up.
Make your grocery list with your new grocery budget in mind. Having a plan for your grocery budget is how you are going to succeed. Pick recipes and ingredients that are simple. Plan for leftovers to stretch the budget.
In addition, here are some practical tips to help you stay within your newly created grocery budget:
Don't forget to budget for all meals and snacks, not just dinner.
Many menu plans include only 1 meal a day – the evening meal. This doesn't help you to create a shopping list or functional grocery budget when it doesn't provide for breakfast, lunch or snacks. You need to focus not just on the menu plans that give you low budgets for one meal a day, but also plan for your breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
Make healthy foods a priority.
One thing often seen in a grocery budget is not enough room for healthy foods. If you are sacrificing your health to save a few dollars each month, it isn't worth it. Feeding your family great nutrient-dense meals and snacks isn't an option – it is a necessity. Consider the 40/30/30 rule when shopping for groceries. 40% of your grocery budget is fruits and vegetables. 30% of your grocery budget is lean meats and dairy. 30% of your grocery budget are things like dry beans, rice, spices and other items to fill in gaps in the menu plan.
Use coupons only on items you need.
While I'm a fan of couponuse, when it comes to your grocery budget it is important to not get carried away. The thrill of the coupon hunt can quickly become a reason to spend more money for the sake of the “deal”. Make sure you are couponing for items that truly are needed and the best deal possible. Just because there is a coupon available doesn't mean that they should be used.
Plan meals that can be used multiple ways.
Not only do you want to plan low-cost meals, but you want to plan for things that will provide you with leftovers for lunches or a second evening meal. You may also want to look for meats and protein sources that are versatile. Things like a roast or hamburger can be used in multiple recipes making them easier to buy in bulk packages and stretch further. A roast cooked on Monday can have leftovers used in a quick beef and vegetable soup, stew or even tacos or chili. A whole chicken can be shredded and added to soups, casseroles, salads and sandwiches. Using every bit of the cheaper cuts of meat throughout your weekly menu plan can easily make your grocery budget manageable.
Follow your local sale cycles to stockpile as needed.
Sometimes it's beneficial to buy extra of select items when they are at their lowest prices. This could be vegetables and fruit in the summer months to freeze for later, or could be canned goods in winter months. Watch your local stores' sale cycles and stock up accordingly to provide your family with food at the best prices possible year round.
These tips for creating a functional grocery budget are just the beginning. To really do well you also need to take into consideration your area, sale cycles and your family needs. A functional grocery budget is one that provides your family with great meals while staying within the expense plan you can afford.
If you are able, living below your means to pay off debt is a great way to make sure you are financially secure for years to come. This is truly one of the easiest ways to maintain a healthy financial outlook. Learning to live below your means gives you the ability to focus on bettering your life, saving for the future and become satisfied with what you already have.
Don't upgrade even if you can afford to in your budget.
This is truly the biggest part of living below your means. When you can afford an upgrade, it's hard to resist doing it. The truth is, very few upgrades are needed. A larger home is almost always unnecessary. A new phone every time the latest version is released is rarely necessary. Even new shoes, pants or seasonal wardrobes aren't really needed for most people every year. Stop competing with those around you. Truly focus on buying only what you need instead of what you want.
Upgrades to avoid when you're paying off debt:
New vehicle when your existing one is sufficient and/or paid for and able to be repaired for less.
Upgrade to larger or nicer home or apartment when your current home is sufficient for your family size.
Upgrades to cellular phones, televisions, gaming systems and other electronics
Upgrades to adult wardrobes when clothing owned is in good condition and wearable. Kids grow fast and upgrades are expected. Most adults can wear the same items for much longer than children.
Never pay full price for anything.
I'm always trying to share the best deals with you and of course, trying to encourage coupon use. Before you buy anything, from groceries to new clothing or a car, check for sales, coupons, rebates and any promotional discount available.
When you pay off a debt, apply that payment toward other debt.
One way to continue living below your means is to put any “extra” money toward other debt or savings. When you pay off one debt, it may feel like you have extra money to spend. Instead of looking at that money as more you can spend, look at it as if it is more to save. You can apply that money toward other debts, or directly into your savings account if debt has been alleviated. You can then continue as you are in your monthly budget, effectively living below your means and saving more for future needs.
Have extra wages directly deposited into savings.
If you receive a raise, or have extra funds in your paycheck each pay period that don't apply directly to budgetary needs, then ask your employer to direct deposit part of your paycheck right into your savings account. This way you can create a quality savings account to help pay off debt or to be there for an emergency fund in the future as needed.
You can easily begin living below your means to help pay off debt even if your budget is paycheck to paycheck. Focus on what you can save and put as much as possible toward your debt payments to create a better financial future for yourself.
I'd love to hear your tried and true ways that you have used to pay off debt. Let me know in the comments!
