When money is tight, we often give the least to those who mean the most.  Instead of forgoing neighbor gifts or teacher gifts, we decide not to do anything special for our spouse.  Sometimes the stress of thinking of another gift causes us to enter into a gift-giving truce with our husband or wife.

Here are some strategies to save on spouse gifts, while still giving thoughtful and meaningful gifts.

Focus on Needs

When finances are tight, we often avoid buying things for ourselves even when they would normally be justifiable needs.  Chances are, if money is tight, both you and your spouse have legitimate needs that are going unmet.

If you have a little bit of money set aside for Christmas gifts for each other, focus on things that your spouse really needs instead of spending it on frivolous niceties.

Make Something for Each Other

If you enjoy a good challenge, setting a “handmade challenge” for Christmas gifts might be totally up your alley.

Even if you aren’t crafty, a thoughtful love letter, a creative book of the top ten things you love about your spouse, or a compilation of favorite photos or memories is something anyone can do.  You’ll find that handmade gifts from the heart will mean much more than any gift you could have bought.

Give the Gift of Time

Most of us are spread so thin these days that the people who mean the most sometimes get very little of our time.  The gift of time, especially when it’s scarce, is more valuable than what you could buy in the store on any budget.

Remember when you were a kid and you made coupons for mother’s day that your mom could redeem for breakfast in bed, mowing the lawn, or a big hug?  Why not do the same for your spouse?  You can get creative and make it fun, thoughtful, and personal.

How About You?

• Do you and your spouse give each other gifts?
• Do you have a price limit or rules about spouse gifts?

Originally published 17 Dec 2014, but updated to be included in the Frugal Festivities series.

Next in the series:

Day 14: Frugal Gifts for Your Grandchildren (that don’t cost much)

The post Frugal Spouse Gift Ideas appeared first on Six Figures Under.

A gift that fills a need or a want is good, but with some extra effort you can make that gift great.  The best part is that taking your gift from “good” to “great” doesn’t cost any extra money.

Adding a personal touch takes a gift up a notch or two.  For me, the personal touch involves words. Words that convey feeling and emotion.

Most people say the same things in their cards– the standard greetings, the same well-wishes, just enough to fit nicely in the card without being too full or too sparse.  We figure the purpose of the card is to say who the present is from and share an appropriate customary phrase or two.

Have you ever been at a gift-opening occasion (birthday, Christmas, baby shower, wedding, etc) where the gift opener read the cards out loud?  Amidst all the standard greetings, the recipient starts reading an un-assuming card, when she suddenly stops reading aloud and becomes emotional.  There may be smiles, there may be tears.  Her face lights up, there is a giggle or a thoughtful sigh.

That card was different from the others.  It conveyed more than just the appropriate seasonal phrases and the to/from details.  That card warmed a heart and touched a soul.  The gift in the box will take on a new level of meaning because of the depth and the thoughtfulness of the card.

Has this happened to you?

Let me tell you how my husband made a good gift great a couple of years ago to illustrate this principle.

My birthday is in August, around all of the back-to-school mayhem. As I was picking up school supplies for my kids (and of course stocking up on extras), I fell in love with a set of 21 different colored Sharpie markers.  I was tempted to buy it for myself, but I felt silly buying something for myself when my birthday and anniversary were just around the corner.

There was no way my husband would ever think to get me colorful Sharpies as a gift, so I dropped some hints.

You might remember that I’m not a list-maker when it comes to gifts, which my husband thinks is funny because I make lists for everything else you could possibly make a list for.  He really appreciates hints, though, so I dropped some hints about the Sharpies that I wanted.  There is no way he would ever think of that one on his own.

I told him how I really wished that I had Sharpies in lots of colors when the kids made shirts to enter in the fair.  Did you know that if you draw dots with Sharpies on T-shirts, then spray them with rubbing alcohol, they bleed and make cool designs?  They do.  You can see a tutorial here.  There are also cool mugs you can make with Sharpies.  The list goes on and on (do a Pinterest search for Sharpie crafts if you don’t believe me).

I figured my hints were obvious enough, that he would probably get me the markers I had my eye on.

I was right, but he did much, much better than that.

My wonderful husband is very vocally affectionate, always telling me the many things he loves about me. He has an amazing gift to always speak kindly.  He has honestly never said anything hurtful to me, ever. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he never says hurtful things about anyone.

My point is that I really am blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine, so I should be content with the love he showers on me.

Yet I still ask for more.

I always tell him that I want him to write love notes to me so that if anything ever happens to him I can have his precious words to read over and over.  He knows that heartfelt, written love notes mean so much to me.

Instead of just giving me the set of markers, he made it personal.  For each of the 21 colors, he wrote several sentences sharing something thoughtful, meaningful, or sentimental. It brought tears to my eyes and is a special treasure of memories and love through his eyes.

I love the markers– they are useful and just what I wanted.

The three typed pages oozing with love and memories?  They are priceless.  I love that man!

Go the Extra Mile

As you are giving gifts this holiday season, take a little extra time to put sincere thought into them.  Whether it’s a gift for your spouse, your kids, or your next-door neighbor.  Really touch someone’s heart by giving a piece of yours.  The words you share will likely outlast the gift itself, as they become a pick-me-up later down the road.

How About You?

• Have you given or received a good gift that was made great with heartfelt personalization?
• Is anyone else a sucker for love notes?

This post contains affiliate links for products or services that we use and love.  For more information, see our disclosure policy.

Originally published 18 December 2015 but updated to be added to the Frugal Festivities series.

Next in the series:

Day 9: Hosting a Christmas Party on a Budget

The post Making Good Gifts Great (without costing more) appeared first on Six Figures Under.

I love staying in touch with the people I love by way of Christmas cards.  I enjoy hearing from friends far and near around the holidays.  However, sending Christmas cards out to family and friends can get expensive, especially if you have a tight budget.

Today I want to share with you 6 tips to save lots of money on your Christmas card tradition!

Here are 6 ways you can save money on Christmas cards:

1- Make it Digital

While getting something in the mail adds a special touch these days where “snail mail” correspondence is infrequent, it really increases the cost of Christmas cards.  If your budget is tight this year, consider making the switch to a digital holiday greeting.  Emailing a family picture and annual letter out to your family and friends won’t cost you anything.  We have family friends who create a video montage of their year with a creative narrative twist and then publish it on YouTube and email the link to everyone on their list.  You can still make a digital Christmas card personal and thoughtful even without sending it in the mail.

2- Trim Back Your List

It’s always hard for me to take someone off of the Christmas card list, but the truth is that I do it every year.  There are always people on the list who we haven’t heard from in years (or decades) and our lives have clearly drifted apart.  Every year we get some Christmas cards returned to us because the address has changed.  Trimming down your list is a practical way to save money on Christmas cards.

3- Hand Deliver to Locals

In addition to sharing our annual card with friends and family who live far away, we have local friends and family that are also on our list.  To save on postage, consider delivering your cards to those who are local.  Now driving from house to house certainly won’t be cheaper than a stamp, but bringing cards for co-workers to work or church friends to church will save you money.

One of the best ideas I’ve seen was at our church when we were in law school.  Every Christmas they put a wooden mailbox in the foyer with card-sized mail slots for each letter of the alphabet.  On Sundays during the holidays each family could check the slot that corresponded with their last name to retrieve any Christmas mail that other members of the congregation had “sent” them.  Even now, I send a stack of cards for friends in our old area to one friend who distributes our cards through the church Christmas card system.

4- Make Your Own Photo Cards

Photo cards are very popular these days.  I love the personal touch that photo cards give.  It’s fun to see how families change as kids grow or new ones come along.  Instead of buying actual photo cards, consider creating your own.  Using simple photo editing programs like PicMonkey, Canva, or even Picasa, you can add a greeting and signature to your family picture, then have it printed as a regular 4×6 print.  The costof a 4×6 print is much less than an official photo card, especially when you’re printing in bulk.

You can often find great deals on 4×6 prints that will make them even cheaper.  Walgreens often has a deal where you can get 10 cent prints when you buy 75+ prints.

5- Get a Great Deal

During October through December, there are loads of great deals on photo (or just personalized) Christmas cards.  Here are a few tips for getting the best deal:

• Choose your picture early, so you are ready to pull the trigger when a great deal comes along.  In the past, I have had to pass on some great deals because we hadn’t taken family pictures yet.  Now I have learned to get pictures early (though we haven’t done so yet this year).
• Watch for deals and freebies.  Every year there are awesome deals and freebies for photo Christmas cards.
• Don’t be afraid to diversify.  You might be able to get 10 free cards from one company and a great deal on 20 cards from another company.  That’s fine!  You don’t have to get all your cards from the same company.  Your recipients don’t care if the card they get is slightly different than the card someone else gets.

6- Skip the Tradition All Together

I know there are some of you out there who are thinking the best way to save money on Christmas cards is to not send any.  It’s true that this option would save the most time and money.  If money is tight and time is limited, keep this in mind as a real possibility.  You can always jump back on the Christmas card bandwagon next year.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved the tradition of Christmas cards.  My family never sent them, but I loved receiving them and reading all the family updates from friends and relatives.  Sending an annual Christmas card has been a priority for me.  In fact, I put a lot of time and effort into writing an annual poem to send along with a photo card.  I write a stanza for each of us along with  general family updates.  Besides sharing with family and friends, I love having the annual poem as a snapshot of each person’s character and accomplishments that year.

How about you?

• Do you send out Christmas cards?  Are they photo cards?  Do you send along a letter or poem as well?
• How do you save money on your holiday cards?

Originally published in November 2014. Updated December 2019 to include in Frugal Festivities: 25 Days of Christmas Cheer on a Budget.

Next in the series:

Day 5: Fun and Frugal FAMILY Gift Ideas (that you can DIY)

The post 6 Great Ways to Save Money on Christmas Cards appeared first on Six Figures Under.

It’s the time of the year when budget-minded people start thinking about how their finances will accommodate the extra expenses of the holiday season.

Actually, the really budget-minded people have been preparing financially for the Christmas season all year long.  Divided over twelve months, the holiday expenses are barely noticeable.

If you’re in debt, then chances are good that you haven’t been saving all year for Christmas.

In fact, if you have debt, you might be tempted to say, “What’s a little more debt?” when it comes to holiday spending. Don’t do this!  Don’t lose momentum in your debt payoff and definitely don’t go deeper into debt in the name of the holidays!

This is why you need to think ahead and budget for Christmas now.

What holiday expenses do you anticipate?

Think through past Christmases and write down what you plan to spend money on.  Here are some common categories to help spark your memory.

• Cards— Include price of cards and postage
• Travel— Include all expenses of your trips
• Gifts— Who are you planning to give to?  Immediate family, extended family, neighbors, teachers, friends, co-workers?  Include:
  • Stocking stuffers
  • Wrapping supplies
  • Shipping
• Treats— For your family and to share
• Meals— Are you hosting a meal or attending a holiday potluck?
• Decorations— Do you buy a live tree?
• Charitable Giving— Holiday-related giving
• Other— Does your family have another tradition that involves an expense?

For gifts, I recommend writing out an inclusive list of everyone you plan to give gifts to, whether they are large or small expenses.  Even though this is an expenses list, I would still write down people who I’ll be giving handmade gifts to.  Then you can happily put a big $0 next to those.

Prioritize your list

Once you have your list, start prioritizing it.  You probably won’t have the time or money to do everything on your list, but there will be some items that are more important than other things.

For example, it would be nice to give a hostess gift to Great Aunt Mildred, but if push comes to shove, you’d probably rather get your daughter a doll and some new pajamas. Or, while it would be nice to bring treat plates to all of your neighbors, it’s more important to pay for gas to get to grandma’s house for the family dinner.

I like to prioritize in three tiers.

The “gotta” expenses are the bare essentials.  They include the gifts, decorations, or food that is most important to me and my family.

The “wanna” expenses are not absolutely essential for a happy holiday, but they are pretty standard for our family and we would really like to do them.

The “would be nice” expenses are ones we’d enjoy if we had the time and money, but are really just extra.

Even though it would be nice to do everything on your list, both time and money will pose limitations. How you prioritize is completely personal. By prioritizing your list now, you’ll make sure that the most important traditions are included before you spend money on things that don’t matter much.

How much will you have available spend?

If you have been budgeting and tracking your expenses for more than a year, it’s easy to go back and look at previous years to see what you’ve spent. But what if you’re new to budget and tracking expenses?  That’s when it gets tricky, but that’s when the need is the greatest!

If you haven’t budgeted (or kept track of expenses) for Christmas in the past, then you probably don’t have any idea how much you actually spend on the holidays.  In fact, you would probably be pretty shocked to see how all those little (and big) purchases added up.

Instead of choosing an arbitrary number or even an amount that you think you’ll need, look at what you have available to spend.  Maybe right now you have $0 in your Christmas fund.  There’s no better time to start saving than now (well, besides yesterday, but we won’t dwell on that).

In the weeks before Christmas, you can add to your Christmas Fund by cutting costs and earning extra.

What costs can you cut between now and Christmas to contribute to your Christmas fund?

Here are a few ideas:

• Don’t spend any money (or drastically reduce spending) on unnecessary categories like clothing and entertainment.  What are some expenses that you can cut quick to free up some cash?
• You could even plan a no-spend month for November and put all the money you save toward Christmas.
• If you haven’t tried to negotiate (or eliminate) your regular bills, now is a great time to lower your bills.
• Stop eating out.  Pack your lunch and cook simple meals from scratch.

What can you do to earn some extra income between now and Christmas?

• Sell stuff that you don’t need or have sitting around.  This is a great season to put the toys your child has outgrown on Craigslist, Facebook, or Ebay.  Not only are you decluttering, and earning extra income for your Christmas fund, you’re helping out other parents who are looking for cheaper-than-new gifts for their children.
• Sell your specialty.  Do you make great pies or rolls?  Maybe you make cute hair bows or personalized ornaments.  Try selling on a local Facebook group or to friends and neighbors.
• You could offer babysitting for friends who would want to go Christmas shopping together without their children.  Set a block of time on a Saturday and offer your services to several families.  With lots of kids, they’ll have fun playing together, making it easier on you too!
• Do you have a job that offers overtime?  Could you pick up an extra shift?
• Here are some more ideas for earning extra money that you can get paid for quickly.

Simplify

Accept that it’s okay to simplify.  It’s okay if this Christmas looks different than in years past.

Decide that your financial goals like getting (or staying) out of debt are more important than giving expensive gifts and having the perfect table spread.

Realize that those who love you would rather have you get closer to financial peace than have a costly gift from you.  There is nothing more awkward than getting an expensive gift from someone who you know can’t afford it.

How About You?

I’m excited to hear your ideas and experience in managing your holiday budget!

• Do you start saving early for Christmas?
• How do you decide on and prioritize your Christmas budget?
• Has debt affected your Christmas budget?

This post was originally published 19 October 2015, but has been updated to be included in the Frugal Festivities series.

Next in the series:

Day 4: How to Save Money on Christmas Cards

The post Budgeting for Christmas When You’re in Debt appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Truly Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but some years we are so busy that we miss the most important parts of the season.  It’s easy to let presents and decorations and travel and parties and making everything perfect crowd out the calm and joy that should come when we spend time with our families and contemplate the life of the Prince of Peace.

On top of the usual busy-ness, when finances are tight the holidays can become stressful, even dreaded.  Instead of seeing a time to join with family and celebrate the birth of the Savior, you worry about how you will manage to make ends meet with all the extra costs brought on by Christmas.

It’s okay to scale back on Christmas.  You definitely don’t want to add to your debt by going overboard on holiday expenses.  As an added benefit, you might find that a simpler Christmas is more enjoyable and meaningful.

Here are 7 practical tips for having a simple, low-stress Christmas:

Limit and prioritize your activities.

One way to minimize the busy-ness of Christmas is to talk with family members about the one activity that is the most important to each of them.  If they could each only choose one holiday activity what would it be?  When planning out your December schedule, prioritize each person’s most important activity.  You might choose to add in other activities, but they will be secondary.

Give of yourself instead of spending money on gifts.

Think creatively about how you can give thoughtful gifts through service without spending a lot of money.  One of my favorites is to offer to scan old family photos (the ones gathering dust in your parents’ garage) and put them on a CD or USB drive for family members.  What a treasure!

Do you remember making coupons for your mom for mother’s day that she could redeem for a hug, breakfast in bed, or a chore of her choice?  You can still give those as grown-ups too!  The important part is to make sure that you follow through.  Don’t wait for the recipient to ask you.  Keep reminding them.

Resist the social pressure to give gifts that are outside of your budget.

Don’t compare what you are giving to what someone else gives you.  I know this is easier to say then do, as we naturally tend to compare ourselves to others.  Remember the purpose of a gift is not to impress or to get praise.  The purpose of a gift is to show love.  Your gift does not need to be expensive or match any monetary standard to show love.

Give fewer gifts to your children.

Children can be easily overwhelmed by the hubbub of receiving.  In fact, sometimes we do our children a real disservice by over-giving.  I like the advice, “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.” We stick to that pretty well, though we usually give some family gifts as well, like a game or a special experience.  Giving is fun and it’s easy to want to shower our children with gifts, but too much of a good thing stops being good.

Trim down your giving list.

Some years it is fun to include the postman, the plumber, and every teacher your kids have ever had when you’re giving treat plates or “neighbor gifts.”  Other years you just need to simplify and be more selective.

If you’re feeling the need to simplify this year, whether out of time or budget, give yourself permission to cut your giving list down.

Give where it matters.

A couple of years ago, my husband told me that one of his co-workers announced that he and his wife decided that instead of spending the $200 they usually spend on making goody plates for all of their co-workers, friends, and neighbors, they planned to take that money and donate it straight to the food bank.

What a wonderful idea!  Not only are you saving yourself all the time and stress of making and delivering treats (and let’s be honest, no one really needs more treats during the holidays), but you’re giving in a way that makes a bigger difference.

If you’re hosting, make it a potluck!

Many hands make light work.  In many families (including mine) this is standard, but often the burden of the entire elaborate meal is left on one person’s shoulders.  Don’t hesitate to ask others to contribute to the meal.

If you’re that person, don’t hesitate to ask others to contribute to the meal.  They will feel happy to contribute and you will have more time to actually enjoy their company instead of slaving in the kitchen the whole time.

Those are just a few of the ways we’ve simplified Christmases.  I would love to hear what you have done to simplify, whether it was motivated by time, energy, focus, or finances.

How About You?

• What do you do to simplify Christmas?
• How do you keep from getting too busy?

This post was originally published 9 Nov 2015, but has been updated to be included in the Frugal Festivities series.

Next in the series:

Day 2: Random Acts of Kindness for Any Budget

The post 7 Tips for a Simpler Christmas appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Is it possible to give too many gifts?  As parents, could you be over-gifting at Christmas time?  Will giving too much spoil your child or set a precedent you can’t keep up?

For our oldest daughter’s first Christmas, like any new mom, I was eager to buy her lots of cute and fun things.  Of course I would be sure to get a great deal on everything (because I just can’t help it), so I knew there wouldn’t be a problem with overspending.

My wise husband was not worried about money either, but he was concerned with overgifting.

“She’s 9 months old,” he reasoned.  “She already has plenty of toys and books and clothes.  She doesn’t need anything.”

I couldn’t disagree.  She didn’t need anything, but I wanted to give her something.  I wanted her to have presents to open like the other cousins, aunts, and uncles.  We all know that kids (and grown-ups) love tearing through colorful paper.

We compromised by making her something.  Together we made her a simple sock puppet we ended up calling “Monster.”  It wasn’t fancy, didn’t cost anything, didn’t create clutter, and wasn’t excessive.  It was made with lots of love by mom and dad.

That was enough.  That was what she wanted and needed.  And that’s what I needed.

Since then, we’ve been careful not to over-give to our kids at birthdays, Christmas, and everyday occasions.

Because we held back our (my) initial desire to spend and spoil, we have maintained reasonable expectations while keeping enthusiasm high and the true spirit of the holidays strong.

Maintain Reasonable Expectations

We don’t give our kids the latest and greatest of everything, so they aren’t constantly expecting more and more.  Not having TV helps, too.  Our kids are excited about what they receive even if it isn’t brand new and doesn’t have fancy big box store packaging.  We buy some things new, but many of the gifts we give were purchased second-hand.  Our kids don’t know the difference.  They are also happy to get clothes and necessities at holidays (yes, even socks and underwear).

A few years ago we gave our two older children (then ages 4 and 5) bikes that we got at the thrift store for a few dollars each.  With a little cleaning up and adjusting, they were just fine.  The kids were thrilled and did not even notice that they weren’t brand new.

Another way we maintain reasonable expectations is by avoiding wish lists.  I am not a fan of Christmas wish lists.  I don’t ask my kids what they want for Christmas.  Because I know my kids, I have a pretty good idea of what they’d like.  I want my gifts to be thoughtful and heartfelt, not just checking off someone’s requests.

Keep Excitement High

The natural result of maintaining reasonable expectations is that excitement remains high.

Since my kids don’t have a list of expectations for gifts, they are pleasantly surprised with whatever they get.   They are not de-sensitized to true thoughtfulness.

It might seem counter-intuitive (which is why spoiling can be so tempting for parents), but, in my opinion, kids who don’t get everything they want are happier and more grateful than those who do.  Does Veruca Salt ring a bell?

It’s actually good for kids to not get everything they want.  It teaches them to be content and grateful for what they do have.  Kids (and adults) who always get what they want are always wanting more and more (and bigger and better).  When kids grow up getting everything they ask for, real life hits pretty hard.  Learning gratitude, contentment and compassion comes easier when we start young.

For most of our children’s birthday parties with friends, we have asked guests not to bring gifts, but instead bring donations for the local food bank.  The kids were excited to enlist their friends’ help do something important for their birthday, and they LOVE going to the food bank to deliver the food they collected on their birthday.  They still got gifts from us and from grandparents, but we didn’t have new toy overload after birthdays.

Keep the True Holiday Spirit Strong

Instead of talking about what we want for Christmas, we talk a lot about what we want to give at Christmas.  Our kids love making gifts for others and really pour themselves into it.  They are as excited to see us open gifts they made for us as they are to open their own gifts.

When my oldest was 5, she “made” me a shirt by adding some sparkly embellishments.  She enlisted Daddy’s help to reach her vision of what she wanted it to look like.  She could barely wait for me to open it up.  Of course I put it on immediately.  Whenever I wear it, it gets a lot of attention.  She just glows.  I love that.

Focusing on service is another great way to keep the true holiday spirit strong.  Instead of focusing on our own wants, we can teach our kids (by word and deed) to give of themselves in service to others. Our family was inspired by this video to be more intentional about serving others this Christmas season.

The Biggest Favor We Did Ourselves

Giving a simple, thoughtful, made-with-love sock puppet to our daughter eight years ago was the perfect gift-giving precedent to set.  

I’m thankful that my wise husband steered us away from the slippery slope of extravagant over-gifting.

Of course it helps our budget, but more importantly it is helping us raise grateful, happy, and thoughtful children.

Is it too late to scale back?

I don’t think it’s ever too late to scale back on holiday giving extravagance, no matter how old you or your kids are.

Start by changing the expectations.  Talk to your family about simplifying Christmas giving this year.  You can make it about money if you want, but it’s perfectly fine to simplify for simplicity’s sake.

Help the discussion to be a positive one.  Be excited about the opportunity to be more thoughtful and intentional with your gifts, rather than spending and spoiling.  Help your children focus on others and use their talents to give meaningful gifts.

There may be some growing pains as you scale back, but I would rather console my child who didn’t receive an iPad like his kindergarten classmates now, than deal with a full-blown Veruca Salt later.

How about you?

• How has your gift-giving precedent helped or hurt your holidays?
• How have you made your gifts more heart-felt or less commercial?
• Is anyone else a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas wish lists?

Disclaimer

This probably goes without saying, but just to be clear, I don’t claim to be any sort of expert on parenting.  Just like you, I’m figuring things out as I go.

This post was originally published Dec 8th, 2014.

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The post Are you giving your kids too many gifts? appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Not long ago on a drive in the car, I was explaining to my kids that many people in the world have never even ridden in a car, let alone owned one.  That blew their young minds.   I told them a few other things about “poor countries” (kids don’t speak PC).  A little bit later, my six-year-old asked if we live in a poor country.  Obviously, they still didn’t have a grasp on the wide disparities between the life we enjoy and hardships that many suffer.

When my husband and I were first married we lived in Guatemala for about four months.  We taught employment and entrepreneurship workshops throughout the country and trained others there to continue teaching when we were gone.  I knew our kids had seen pictures of the rural areas we lived and visited, but apparently they hadn’t put it all together.

That conversation in the car really got me thinking about all we take for granted.  We have so much, but we rarely realize it because it’s our natural tendency to compare ourselves with those who have more.  I wanted my kids not only to notice and be grateful for the plenty that we have, but also experience the joy of giving and sharing.  While we’ve done food drives and donated to local causes, I thought this year we would do something a little different.

I was inspired recently by the unconventional gift catalog from CARE.org.  CARE is a global humanitarian organization that fights poverty by empowering girls and women.   The gift catalog is full of gifts that represent the many things CARE is doing to make a difference.  I enjoyed looking through the creative symbolic charitable gifts you can give.  I loved being able to envision my donation as a fruit tree seedling or as a chalkboard in a rural classroom.  It really made even a small monetary contribution feel like it mattered and made an impact.

We talked about our family giving one of these unconventional gifts this Christmas.  We decided on a pair of ducks.  We have enjoyed raising the ducks we got for Easter, and have especially enjoyed having tasty ducks eggs.  This is a donation that our kids can really relate to.  In fact the kids were so excited that they wanted to use the money they had saved from recycling cans for our next gift.

Share the Good by Honoring Someone with Your Gift

Giving a charitable gift feels good.  When we do good, we feel good!  You can share that good feeling with someone on your gift-giving list.  Through CARE’s Gifts of Lasting Change online catalog, you can give a gift in behalf of someone you love.  You’ll be able to print out a card or send a special email to let them know of the gift you gave to honor them.

Choosing the Perfect Gift

Start by thinking about the person you want to honor through your gift.  Why is that person special to you?  How has that person inspired you?  What passions does that person have?

While you have that person in mind, take a look at the holiday giving catalog and see if there’s a gift that speaks to you.  You can search by interest, occupation, relationship or other categories to find a great fit to honor your recipient.

Here are some examples to get your wheels turning.

3 Packs of Drought-Resistant Seeds

A CARE Package of drought-resistant seeds is like making it rain for a poor family that depends on subsistence agriculture. With rainy seasons becoming more unpredictable and crops failing as a result, families need hearty seeds that will withstand long dry spells to produce nutritious food.

Train two Mothers’ Groups on Pregnancy Care and Birth Preparedness

Childbirth can be a frightening and even life-threatening experience, particularly for poor women in rural areas who haven’t had adequate prenatal care or learned how to prepare for delivery. To help make pregnancy and childbirth safer, both for mothers and their babies, CARE trains women on pregnancy nutrition, how to identify signs of potentially dangerous complications, and birth preparedness.

A Set of Library Books for a Refugee Camp

Among the millions forced from their homes to live in refugee camps are hundreds of thousands of children who can no longer attend school. CARE works to equip refugee camps (e.g., in Jordan) with libraries so kids can read and study, so that when the war ends they resume their education more easily and build a better future for themselves and their families.

Family Garden 

Good nutrition starts at home. With a family garden, CARE teaches poor families how to diversify their families’ diet with small-scale vegetable gardens that also allow them to experiment with new crops. This CARE Package grows over time!

A Cow 

There’s a reason farm animals are called livestock. A cow is a valuable investment that pays dividends for years in the form of protein-rich milk, cheese and yogurt. It’s a source of income and and a store of wealth. A gift of a cow can change a family’s life.

These are just a few examples.  As you look through the catalog, you’ll see that there are gifts for every budget.  In fact, with higher-priced gifts, you can use the drop-down menu to choose to pay for half or a quarter of the amount.

Whether instead of, or in addition to, a physical gift wrapped in holiday paper, a Gift of Lasting Change is the perfect way to share the holiday spirit and give a little of our abundance to someone in the world living in poverty.

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The post The Unconventional Gift We’re Giving This Christmas appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Normally people think of Fiverr as a place where bloggers, business owners, and entrepreneurs can get specialized work done like logos, images, coding, etc.  There is so much more though.

Having my eyes opened to Fiverr recently (thanks to the #FiverrHustle challenge), I started exploring the site for unique, personalized, thoughtful Christmas gifts and I was overwhelmed.  With prices starting at just $5, there are so many great options for both digital and physical gifts.

Since most of the gigs are personalized, you can find great gifts for that person on your list that already seems to have everything.  Personalizing a gift is a way to give something thoughtful that the recipient surely doesn’t already have.

Here are some examples of some gigs that caught my attention.

Digital Items

Family Tree Art— You provide up to 110 names that will be organized randomly into a tree.  For $5 you receive the high resolution digital image, which you can print and frame.  This would make a wonderful gift for grandparents or parents.

Birthday Chronicle— The seller will create a mock newspaper front page with the then-president announcing the person’s birth and headlines and stories from the person’s birth year.

Pet Portrait— Have an artist turn a photo of a loved pet into a beautiful pencil drawing.  Any pet owner would be happy to receive such a personalized gift.  For $5 you get a black and white drawing, or for another $5 you can get it in color.

Make a Font from your Handwriting— For $5, you can get a font made from your handwriting that can be used in Word or any other text editing software.  I think this would make such a fun, unique gift!

Physical Items

Did you know that people buy and sell physical items on Fiverr?  I didn’t.  You will pay a small shipping charge, but most of them are very reasonable.

Engraved Coffee Spoon— Have a small spoon personalized with your name.  An engraved spoon would make an original gift.  Shipping to the US from Europe is $4.

Hogwarts Acceptance Letter— If you have a Harry Potter fan on your list, a personalized Hogwarts acceptance letter arriving at their door would be so fun!

Crocheted Beard— Facial hair is all the rage these days.  A crocheted beard isn’t just fun, but it also serves as a face-warmer in the winter.  Amazingly you can get a hand-crocheted beard for $5 with $4 shipping.

Personalized Bangle Bracelet— Handstamped bendable bangles are made by a Fiverr seller in Norway, but she ships to the US for just $2.

Get Your First Fiverr Gig Free

Do you have a favorite among the ones I mentioned?  I really only touched on a handful of the many great giftable Fiverr gigs out there.  Now I want to show you how you can get one for free (or get $5 off of a higher priced gig)!

1- Go to Fiverr and sign up for a new account.  It’s free and simple.

2- Then, go to whatever Fiverr gig you want to buy. Click “Order Now $5.”  You can add any extras that you want.  In that case, the coupon will take off $5.

3- Click “Apply Promo Code.”  Enter SIXFIGURESUNDER2015 (or SixFiguresUnder2015, capitalization doesn’t matter) and click the green box with the arrow. Update: If that doesn’t work, try SIXFIGURESUNDERDEC

4- There you have it!  Your $5 discount should show up now.  From there click “continue” and the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

If for whatever reason you’re having trouble, just let me know in the comments and I’ll help you out!

For the visual learners, here’s how it goes:

Fiverr Hustle Update

For the past two months, I have been taking part in the #FiverrHustle challenge.  I set up a Fiverr business doing Etsy shop  reviews.  It has been fun to have the chance to look at lots of different Etsy shops and be able to give custom advice for their shops.  I will (finally) be publishing my ebook Earning on Etsy in the beginning of next year, and it’s been great to look at lots of different shops.

Getting customers in the beginning can be tricky, especially if  you don’t already have a platform like a blog or social media following.  Everyone wants to read reviews before purchasing, so it can be hard at the beginning before your first customers have taken a chance on you.

If you haven’t already, I would love for you to vote for my gig in the #FiverrHustle challenge.

A big thanks to Fiverr and Kasai media for sponsoring this challenge.  While I am compensated for participating, all the ideas and hustle are my own!

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When my husband was in school for his JD/MBA, we had one of my husband’s classmates and his family over for their first American Thanksgiving dinner.  The Korean couple was interested to learn about the traditional meal and try foods they’d never tried before.  The bright orange color of sweet potatoes was particularly curious to them.  They also thought it that turkey was an odd meat to eat.

Somehow even with two small children (20 months and 3 months at the time) we managed to cook all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings ourselves.  Besides the rolls, we even had everything hot at the same time.  That being said, we are pretty laid back and informal hosts.  No tablescapes, placecards, favors, or fancy clothes.

I had never met our guests before that day.  After we made introductions, they said they had something for us in the car.  I was shocked when they came in with Costco-sized packages of paper towels, laundry detergent, and a few other useful household items.

What a great idea!

I don’t know if this is normal in Korea, or anywhere else, to bring a hostess gift of household essentials, but I must say that I thought it was pretty cool!

We made that package of paper towels last for-ev-er.  We were super frugal even back then, so paper towels were a luxury item (that sure came in handy with two little ones).

Practical Gifts

Being on the receiving end of such a generous practical gift opened my eyes to the idea of giving everyday useful household products as gifts.  While it might not be everyone’s style to give or receive, there are definitely lots of people who would love such gifts!

Giving useful household products has some great benefits.  I love getting practical gifts because:

• They are consumable–  I love gifts that won’t turn into clutter or fill my house with stuff!
• They save me money–  I won’t have to buy the product out of my own budget.
• I get to try new products–  Others share brands or products I haven’t tried.

If you’re the creative type, you can put together a clever presentation for a practical gift.  If you’re not, that’s okay too!  Our Korean friends just gave us their gifts as if they were simply unloading groceries we had ordered.

Here are some ideas of household products that you could give:

• Laundry detergent (commercial or your favorite homemade)
• Dishwasher detergent (commercial or your favorite homemade)
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Dish soap
• Diapers/wipes

Some people are particular about brands or scents of certain items.  If you know their favorite, then you can personalize your gift.  When in doubt, get something that you would like to receive.  It’s always thoughtful and appreciated to share your favorites with someone you care about.

Some years we make goody plates.  Some years we’ve done mason jar mixes.  This year, I decided that sharing some soap as a friend / neighbor / teacher gift would be a frugal, practical gift.  I’ll be giving some Mrs. Meyers hand soap that I got from ePantry, as well as some Method dish soap.

If you’re interested in quality natural household products, you should check out ePantry.  You can get a $10 credit when you sign up.  That will go toward several hand soaps to give away (or keep for yourself)!

Soap Poem

I enjoy writing little rhymes for all sorts of occasions, the most notable being our annual family poem where I chronicle our family’s year in rhyming verse.  No occasion is too small for a Stephie rhyme, which is why I even have a verse for gifting soap.  Don’t laugh.

My kids are really into riddles these days, so they thought it was fun to wrap the soap so people would have to try to figure out the riddle.

This year instead of a holiday treat,
We’re giving you something you won’t want to eat.

You’ll use it each day when you are at home;
With each application there’ll be lots of foam.

Surely we’ve given you plenty of clues
For a holiday gift you’ll be able to use.

We’ve never had a color printer (because we’d have to buy ink for it!), so while fancy, colorful printables are cute, they aren’t practical for me.  Maybe I’m the only one like that though, because cute free printables abound these days!

Suffice it to say that this is not one of them.  Just black and white.  Plain and simple.  You can print it on colored paper or print on plain paper,  cut it out, and mount it on scrapbook paper or colored cardstock.

If you’re interested in this no-frills prinable, you can download it here.  That’s the “we” version for giving as a family or couple.  If you are giving alone (single, child giving to teacher, etc), this version uses “I” instead.

How about you?

• Have you ever given a household essential as a gift?
• Are hostess gifts the norm in your family or circle of friends?  (They aren’t in mine)

Note: This post contains my referral link or affiliate link.  For more info, see my disclosure policy.

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Does anyone else think it’s sad that kids these day spend so much time glued to screens?  Between cell phones, tablets, televisions, consoles, and computers, there is very little time they aren’t in front of (if not holding) something electronic.

You don’t have to look very far to figure out where this phenomenon comes from.  Most of us are probably guilty of a little too much screen time.

So far we’ve managed to keep electronics for our kids to a minimum around here.  While our kids enjoy watching a DVD on the computer, playing educational games on Starfall.com, and using a drawing app on our phones every now and then, they spend most of their time having outdoor adventures, creating things indoors, playing something imaginative, or reading.

Here are some great kid gifts that are worth unplugging for.  They might just encourage the adults to be unplugged more, too.

Books

Some of our favorite books also have great themes that pique kids’ interest in topics that will lead them to other unplugged activities like exploring the outdoors and being self-sufficient.

Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I read the series aloud to my kids several years ago before they could read.  Even the younger ones were hooked and following along with the story.  I have to admit that I had a lot of fun going back through the series with new eyes.  The kids loved learning about the olden days and it really sparked an interest in pioneering and self-sufficiency.  Now they are reading them again on their own.

Be sure to look for the 9-book set.  There are lots of sets that just include the first five books and leave out the last four.  Your family will want to follow the story beyond just the first five books.  If you aren’t particular about your books being new or a matching set, you can probably put together a set by scouring your local thrift stores.

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

We read several books that took place in the 1700s and talked about the relationship between the Native Americans and the white settlers.  We enjoyed them all, but Sign of the Beaver was the favorite.  Even though my children are much younger than the 13-year-old protagonist, they loved reading his story of outdoor survival and how he learned to hunt from his Indian friend.  It’s no wonder that this is a Newberry Honor book.

Toys

Legos

We prefer the Lego sets that just contain lots of bricks, wheels, and basics as opposed to the sets that are designed to build a specific creation.  That way the kids feel free to create whatever their hearts desire, rather than feel boxed into what they are supposed to create.  I got two of these sets that have just the building basics two years ago when they were on sale great price (the price isn’t so impressive anymore).

I just ordered this set of 20 generic Lego people (for less than $5!) which I am really excited about.  I think we only own two Lego people (that’s the downside of only buying the big sets of basics) and that doesn’t go over well when you’ve got three kids playing Legos together.  Lego people stocking stuffers are sure to be a hit here!

I have been reading the reviews and am considering these big sets of generic bricks that are compatible with Lego, but not nearly as expensive.  Legos are really the only “toy” that my kids play with these days, so it would be nice to increase our collection so they can do more with them.

Kids Charades

My kids love this sturdy version on charades.  The cards are thick cardboard tiles that hold up well and fit nicely in the game tin (which is way better than a box when it comes to kids).  Charades is great for even young kids who can’t read because the cards have really great pictures that make the clue very clear.  Apparently this is supposed to be a travel version, but we only use it at home.  It’s definitely a favorite here.

Crafts

My kids can make crafts out of anything, but sometimes it’s nice to have a structured craft that has supplies besides what comes out of the recycle bin.

Rainbow Loom Bands

A couple years ago my mom got my kids interested in making rainbow loom bracelets.  Knowing that the colorful rubber band creations were popular among tweens and older kids, I was surprised that my young kids could do them, and do them well.

Lately my kids have been using the finger loom, which is less complicated than the bigger loom because it doesn’t require a hook.  They whip out bracelets and necklaces in no time at all and love sharing them with everyone!

Beads

We have lots of different kinds of beads: wooden, plastic, colorful, letters, etc.  All of my kids like making things with them.  We have a set that my daughter got for her birthday, but surprisingly my son is much more interested in.  Just like the rainbow loom bracelets, my kids love making beaded gifts for friends and family.

Outdoors

My kids spend lots of time climbing trees, building forts, and looking for bugs and animals.  They like camping and survival too.

Bear Archery Youth Bow Set

For Christmas last year we got each of our kids this bow and arrow set.  They had been asking for Daddy to make them bows for months (he had previously made one, but it eventually broke).  They LOVE their Bear Archery bow and arrows sets!  They are great quality and provide hours of outdoor fun.  The grown-ups enjoy them too.  They do a great job of following the safety rules that we have.

Daisy Slingshot

When the slingshot that Daddy made from a stick and an old bicycle tube broke, a new slingshot was high on my six-year-old’s list.  We got him a Daisy slingshot for his birthday and he couldn’t have been happier.  We laid down some serious ground rules about the slingshot since it’s not technically a toy.  With rocks and acorns there is plenty of ammo all around.

Confession

If you made it all the way through last month’s budget report, you might remember that I ordered three of the $49 Kindle Fire tablets for Christmas (I haven’t even taken them out of the package yet).  One is for me, one is for my husband, and the third… will be for my kids to share.

My deal-seeking side kind of wanted to take advantage of that buy five, get one free deal, but I really didn’t want each kid to have their own tablet.  I love how screen-free they are and I want to keep it that way.  I plan to fill the kids’ Kindle with educational kid apps and kid books. It won’t be an open-access, free-for-all, but they will be able to earn time.

How about you?

• What are some great gifts you’ve given or received that encourage kids to unplug?

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