Second uses for your Christmas tree

Now that you've enjoyed your holiday dinner, and returned those un-needed gifts, what do you do with the Christmas tree? It seems such a waste to put it out for the trash.  There are some second uses for your tree that you can consider.

Haul your tree to a recycling center.  They will put it through a chipper use the mulch in your community for hiking paths and the like.

Other communities sink used trees into ponds and lakes to create fish habitats.  This use is not as wide spread as it used to be, as there are other materials that make better reefs.  

Check with your local parks and recreation department to see if they are looking for trees to recycle this year.

Other uses include stripping the fragrant needles from the tree and making sachets to use in closets, etc.  However, you should still recycle the rest of the tree.

A good money and tree saver for future Christmases is to buy a nice artificial tree now at the after Christmas sales.  You can find really life like trees at as much as 75 percent off this time of year.  Considering that a real tree may cost anywhere from $50 up, over time you'll save plenty and also save the environment.  

This is the time of year when you want to reach out and keep in touch with family members and friends living all around the world. It can get expensive to make long distance calls to all of these people. But don't despair, you don't have to break the budget to talk to them.

There are several wonderful Websites on which you can make calls Free:

1. Skype.com – make free computer to computer calls, or extremely low-cost calls direct to mobile phones or landlines all from your computer.  It's easy, it's fun, and it will save you money.  We use this free service nearly daily to keep in touch with friends, family, and co-workers all over the world, and the quality is great! Make cheap calls to landlines and mobiles – Buy SkypeOut credit here
2. Yahoo Messenger – besides instant messages, you can also use Yahoo Messenger to make computer to computer calls.  For a small fee, you can purchase credits to call mobile and landlines too.  The quality is great, and it is cheap. Download Yahoo Messenger.
3. TextaCellPhone.com – like to send SMS messages?  You can send free SMS text messages online. This service works with many cell phone carriers in the United States and many other countries around the world. 
4. EQO.com – Works like Skype and Yahoo Messenger but you can use it from your cell phone.  You must have the data service on your cellphone for this service to work.  Many of my friends use this service and they love it.  Voice quality is good, and the service is easy to use.

We are quickly approaching the time of year when many people start getting into trouble over using their credit cards.  We go out and buy new furnishings for our homes because we are expecting guests for the holidays.  Or we party a bit too much and over-spend in restaurants, or sometimes we are just too generous, and over spend on holiday gifts, or maybe we do all of the above!

Don't be one of those persons holding their head in their hands when the credit card bills start arriving in January.  You can take preventative measures now to avoid overspending during the holiday season.  Remember, you can have a good time without overspending, and you'll be much happier come January 2009!

Here are a few tips.  First, plan ahead.  Make a reasonable budget that you can afford.  Make shopping lists, and stick to them.  Also, think about your reasons for overspending.  Do you think your family or friends will love you less if you don't buy expensive gifts?  That's probably not the case.  If you need to cutback from the type of spending you have done in past years, talk to your family and plan how to handle gift giving.  Maybe a gift exchange is in order.  Gift exchanges can be a lot of fun.  Another idea is to have the adults buy only for the children this year.  However you decide to handle gift giving this year, you'll feel much better about it in the end.  You may find out that everyone else is having the same idea to cut spending anyway.

If you are worried you will have trouble over using your credit cards, just don't carry them with you.  It's as simple and as easy as that.  Make a budget, use lists, and then stick to your plan.  

Have a happy, safe and frugal holiday this year!

When you think of Thanksgiving do you think of the Norman Rockwell painting of the mother serving a perfectly browned turkey to her adoring family? Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays that brings family and friends together for an often all-day feast, football and fun and games. A frugal Thanksgiving can be fun and memorable, too. Just keep the focus of day on giving thanks for your family and friends without breaking the bank.

Make it a potluck Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the most perfect occasions for a potluck-style dinner.  We usually make the turkey, while my mother brings her “famous” stuffing (which is technically called dressing since it is cooked outside the bird).  My sister is in charge of the pies, her specialty, bringing apple and pumpkin pies for sure.   Aunts  bring mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables.  A potluck dinner not only divides the work, but also spreads the costs among the families attending.

Forget about the supermarket’s free turkey offer

Many grocery stores will give you a  free turkey if you spend over a certain amount over several weeks. CAUTION:  this not a good deal if you’re spending more than your usual budget on groceries in order to meet the free-turkey threshold.  If you must go for the free bird, like my husband who can’t resist a freebie, just make it work for you.  Stock up on staples, frozen goods, and baking ingredients which are usually good buys at this time of year and have a longer shelf life.

When you are buying your turkey, plan on 1 – 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person.  If you are not expecting a crowd, use turkey parts such as legs, thighs or just a breast.  This will save you have having too much leftover turkey that you may not be able to use.

Make your own decorations

Let the kids decorate with nature – have them collect pinecones and other seasonable natural products like gourds and pumpkins, colorful leaves and the like to create lovely table centerpieces.

Avoid Disposables

Avoid using disposable dishes, cutlery, and napkins.  Even if you have to run the dish washer more than once, you’ll still spend less than you would on disposables, and it is much better for the environment.

Frugal Wine

Consider using boxed wines, which are a surprisingly good, and low-cost option.  If you don’t like the look of the box, I suggest serving a Beaujolais Nouveau.  It becomes available the third Thursday of November each year, is not overly expensive, and is fabulous with a heavy turkey dinner.  Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau runs around $6-$8 per bottle.    Our other favorite is a Sauvignon Blanc Marborough.  This wine is from New Zealand, and the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough runs around $10, you may even find it for less.

Focus on the spirit of the day

Spend time with family.  Talk, play games; watch football; look at old family photos.  Give thanks for the good fortune you have to spend this time with your loved ones.