Coins and Cleaners
Save up your coins- every night drop your change in a bucket or jar. Take them in to a Coinstar location near you. If you choose a gift card instead of cash, you get the full value (occasionally they run specials, so check back regularly. There are a few grocery stores, CVS pharmacies, places like Old Navy or Lands End, and, my personal favorite, Amazon. Click through the link to see what's available in your area.
Then I use Amazon gift cards (which I also get through swagbucks) and buy Baby
Or I use them to buy the ingredients to make a home-made detergent for our dishwasher that actually works, and works better than store-bought.
I use many of those ingredients to make our own laundry detergent, and other cleaners, too.
Of course, you can always just sort the coins yourself and turn them in at the bank for cash or deposit them.
Whichever you do, be sure to double check your dimes and quarters (and larger coins, if you have them) and keep any pre-1965 (and some other dates) silver coins because they are, in fact, mostly silver and are worth more than their face value.
Packing Returns
Opening the box and removing the returned product, I was overwhelmed by the smell of popcorn. This package had been diligently packed with the cushioning power of popped corn! As Husband's helper from time to time at his place of employment, I have had the opportunity to open and describe the condition of returned products. This process can be entertaining and enlightening and I thought I would share some pointers from this experience.
One thing that amazes me is how many people do not "count the cost" before they return an item. Many times I will notice that the money spent on mailing a product back that someone has changed their mind about, can cost almost as much as the product!
Be mindful that if you are seeking full credit for the item returned, you should be diligent to return it in such a manner that the product can be sold again. Take care when opening up the packaging of an item if there is any doubt about keeping it. Also, be careful as to what you adhere to the packaging. I have seen many a product returned in fine condition only to be ruined for resale because a label or note have been affixed to it and cannot be removed without damage.
Do be sure to include your order number to ensure proper credit will be served to your account and keep in mind many establishments have a 30 day return policy. I have actually seen a few items returned without even a name included in or on the box!
How an item is packed in a return is very important. Keep these things in mind:
Popcorn may be a fun filler for family and friends but may not be appreciated by retail businesses, especially if buttered
Newspaper may cushion objects well, but the ink can damage anything it touches
Packing peanuts can create quite a mess and stick to everything
Small grocery type bags offer great protection, just be sure to use enough of them
Air pillows are great but if they appear soft, chances are they will deflate before reaching their destination
If using the brown kraft paper many establishments are using, be sure to tuck the paper under the item
Most likely the best material to use is what the package was originally packed with so save it at least until you know you are keeping your purchase
After packing your item for return, be sure to carefully shake your box. If packed well, the item should not move in the box. Many an item may leave home in fine condition but arrive at its destination with dings and chips due to improper packaging.
Also, keep in mind that if the box the item came in did not weather the trip to your house well, chances are its return trip may be a disaster. A too small box or envelope will produce an item that appears to have been "stuffed" and a too big box needs to have the excess space padded with some kind of material.
One more bit of advice. When sending a package to someone, always double check the zipcode you enter. Many a time I have seen a sender add their own zipcode out of habit to the address of someone they are mailing a gift to. This will definitely send your package into the mail abyss and create hassle for you and the company from whom you purchased.
Hoping these tips will help better ensure your packages will return in great shape!
Thrift
Never waste a single penny, and you'll then save many a pound ;
Never leave a pin or needle lying useless on the ground ;
Never lose a single moment, and an hour you'll never lack ;
Never waste in foolish fancy what should hang upon your back ;
Never let a heap of ashes lie to smother up the grate ;
Never waste the scraps and morsels that are left upon the plate ;
Never buy what is not needed just because " it is so cheap " ;
Never waste or lose the "mickles" and the "muckles" then you'll keep ;
Never throw away in drinking what should go for food and rent ;
Never puff away in smoking what should otherwise be spent ;
Never live beyond your means, never make a foolish bet ;
Never purchase without paying, and never run in debt ;
Never be extravagant and then to want you will not drift ;
Never dispense with industry, and never give up Thrift.
The above ditty comes from something called The National Thrift Society, which seems to have been an organization devoted to helping people learn thrifty habits. It was established in the 1880s in England. It was still extant in the first decade of 1910. I am not sure what happened after that.
Questions:
Do you think this goes too far?
Would your life be different if your or your parents had lived like this?
Do you follow all these maxims? Which ones do you particularly agree or disagee with?
My favorite is 'never live beyond your means.' Yours?
Soup Days!
Answering Husband's call, I smile at his request: " Let's put a log on the fire and drink hot chocolate tonight!" Winter has come to Texas and as transplants from the East Coast, we try to savor the colder moments.
Positively commenting on his meal that evening, Husband found great delight in his meal of potato chowder. He shared how he much prefers to eat soup meals in cooler months. Although a big fan of soup, eating it on hot summer evenings bring much less culinary satisfaction.
This conversation brought to mind a previous post on the frugal seasons of life. Again I was reminded how I find cooler weather cooking to be kinder to our food budget. Perhaps because soup warms the cockles of my frugal heart, soups are my favorite meal to cook.
I save the water from cooking vegetables, juices left in the crockpot after cooking meat and even onion skins in the freezer for my soup creations. Any or all of these ingredients simmered in homemade or even store bought chicken broth add flavor and richness.
Rarely do I use a recipe when making soup. I often glance at cookbooks to get a feel for how ingredients are combined, but I like to devise my own soup creations usually with what is on hand. I often pick up some organic chicken broth at Costco to use if needed for a quick soup base, but I also save all the liquid after boiling chicken and make homemade broth.
A can of V-8 juice or tomato juice are wonderful soup starters. Evaporated milk can be used if a creamy soup is desired. Lentils are an inexpensive protein, do not need to be soaked and add flavor to most any soup. Beans and pasta are soup stables and can be used in many different ways. Cabbage, corn and frozen veggies are also on my list of soup goodies. Even sauerkraut can make a tasty addition.
Although many of the soups I make are meatless, soup is a great way to stretch most any meat. Leftover spaghetti sauce makes a great minestone and a pinch of cayenne pepper really gives a great "kick" to most any pot of soup.
When the weather is cool, we often eat soup a couple of days a week. Soup also makes a great lunch! Winter passes quickly here in Texas so I will be taking advantage of the cooler days and making soup!
Often a salad and some bread are served with our soup dinner. But crackers and corn chips also get their turn with our soup bowls on our table.
How about you? What are your favorite soup ingredients?
Food for thought from some old books
Economize defined in an 1890 dictionary:
"Managing frugally or to the best effect...." "To practise economy; avoid waste, extravagence, or excess, be sparing in outlay."
To manage your own income is to make it work for you, to sort out the dollars ( think of those greenbacks as your troops or your employees) and, like any good manager, set them to their proper work. In the same way, we should 'manage' our desires so that we aren't spending what we don't have for instant gratification.
Living on other people's means: or, The history of Simon Silver By Hannah Farnham Sawyer Lee, 1837, has a description of poor, or perhaps unscrupulous management:
Hence it is that we find so many for the sake of obtaining the darling object of living without manual labor ready to live up to their means, beyond their means, without means, and upon the means of other people. These drones in the political hive not only do not produce any thing themselves but as they must live and generally like to live pretty well they diminish the means which would otherwise contribute to the support of the honest and industrious portion of the community.
Cheerful homes, how to get and keep them; or, Counsels to those about to marry By John William Kirton
It is the bounden duty of every woman who has charge of the money industriously earned to do all she can to make it go as far as possible. It should be a constant study with her to sec how much she can get out of it, how it can be laid out to the best advantage. Some women like finery and feathers better than flannels and furs but it will not take much to find out which is the warmest or which will answer the purpose best. Some men like walking canes and rings but they are a very poor substitute for shoe leather and tidy clothe. Ever be on tho look out to dose the door against little vices like these, or you will find they will open tho door and let larger ones in long before you are aware of it.
It is no disgrace to be poor if it is the result of circumstances over which we can have little or no control. It is however, a very great disgrace to spend what is not your own or what does not justly belong to you, and yet how many there are who never seem to realise this to be the case. They prefer to be thought better off than they are even though it may entail upon them expenses they know beforehand they will be unable to bear. The desire for show, keeping up appearances, not to be thought shabby, and not to be considered mean has led to the ruin of thousands. Better by far to be lost sight of in a crowd and pay your way than to have your name blazing before tho world in the list of bankrupts through living beyond your means. You will very quickly find how true it is that there is no companion like a little money of your own and that it is better to pay as you go than not to pay at all...
I love this one:
Make it a constant study not only to make both ends meet, but if possible to have a little to spare, inasmuch as you will find that it will be much better to say "Here it is than Here it was. It is better to keep a little now than to have to seek it by and by, for it is too late to spare when the cupboard is bare."
The secret of rearing a large family on a small salary will be found to consist in taking very great care of very little things, for a penny saved is twice earned. As one well remarks,' Thrift should underlie the whole of our work. No nation can be prosperous unless it be thrifty, no nation can be thrifty unless its individual members are so, and not only must thriftiness be found among the upper ranks of society but the spirit of foresight and providence must permeate the entire stratum of the population and reach even the poorest in the land. Seek therefore to be on the watch to keep within your means. Remember that loose habits make tight fetters.
Sometimes we splurge on things we can't afford because we chafe against living within the restrictions of our actual income. But we have only changed one form of restriction for a worse form of bondage. 'Loose habits make tight fetters.'
Debt-Free Journal
Closing the notebook, I considered the fact that I had never shared about our debt-free journal with my fellow frugal livers. With a heart to live with a multi-generational vision, Husband and I seek to share our convictions and principles with the generations to follow. As I have previously shared, keeping journals specifically written to be read by grandchildren and their grandchildren provides a simple, cost effective way to share wisdom and insight gained through years of purposeful (or not so purposeful) living.
One thing I have noticed in life is often choices and decisions that bring much blessing in life, can later be rejected or lost by the generations to follow. I know my children understand the blessing in the lives of Husband and I since becoming debt free over six years ago. Our children lived out this process and know the challenge of living within the bondage of debt. Their children however, most likely being raised without debt, may not fully comprehend the blessing of the debt free life. Hopefully, my keeping a journal written to describe how we paid off our debt and how we continue to seek to live debt free, and making copies to be passed down through our generations, will provide motivation to continue this legacy.
Although I did not think to start this until after the sale of our home which completed our debt free process, for those still seeking to develop their debt free plan, why not document your journey? I know many seek to do this with blogs, but if you are a bit old-fashioned as I am, a paper and pencil also work well!
My journal is not of the lengthy variety. It begins with the date of March 15, 2006 and the intro reads:
This Journal is to be a recording of God's hand in our lives regarding our finances and our desire to live debt free. May all the generations that read this, give honor and glory to the Lord for His handiwork.
I give our names and the date our home was sold. I continue to make entries sharing the challenging process of finding our present home without a mortgage, how our financial needs were met after a medical emergency, the weddings of our children and even the creative ways Husband found to make our 30th anniversary celebration debt free!
It pleases me to know our debt free legacy can be shared and passed down through the generations, written in my hand with love and with a desire to see this blessing carry on.
How do you share your debt free vision with your generations?
Free Sign Language Class
I realize the class itself may not be for everybody, but the principle of free education is something all of us can learn from. I'd also like to suggest that you give it a second glance if you've decided sign language is not for you.
Why Sign Language: nobody knows for sure, but it seems there are about about 11,000,000 people in the United States over 5 years of age are deaf or hard of hearing. It is vastly easily for you to learn to sign than for them to learn to communicate with you- after all, probably have two good hands, they probably do not have two working ear drums. It's the right thing to do.
The Deaf are a tightknit community with strong social social networking skills. If you know sign language and are employed somewhere, word will get around. 30 years ago when I first was learning sign, I had a summer job in a clock and music box shop in a little tourist trap town. The first month I worked there, one or two deaf came by the shop (the cuckoo clocks were especially popular). I timidly signed a little, they kindly slowed down their signing to a snail's pace, and we had a friendly, albeit basic conversation. The next month, a few more came by. Thereafter, every month I worked there, a small number of deaf customers dropped into visit. The owner told me he'd never had any deaf customers the previous years. Signing is a marketable skill.
I taught some sign to all my children before they could talk. My grandbabies now use it as well. It's wonderful for babies to be able to communicate their wants and needs with words rather than tears, and this language on the hands is a lovely tool for you to use with your little ones. It's also nice to be able to get your family's attention from across the church building and sign, "I'm going to the bathroom, and then out to the car" without shouting your personal business to the world. Studies indicate it increases cognitive abilities as well.
It also seems that the chances that you will be among the deaf or hard of hearing in your old age are increasing dramatically. Learn sign with your family now so you won't have to resort to the tedious use of pen and paper all the time when your hearing goes.=)
This online signlanguage program gets rave reviews. There are 30 lessons, each expected to take about 3 weeks. Completing them carefully should give you the equivilant of ASL 1 and 2. There are also ways the webmaster/teacher will work with your local institution of learning to help you get credit for those courses, although I suspect that will no longer be free. You wont just be learning sign language. You will learn about Deaf Culture along the way. It's American Sign Language, which won't help as much as you might think if you live in Britain or Australia, and it's American Deaf Culture as well. So if you live outside of the states, you might want to find something else.
Why learn something free online? Because education, is never amiss. You may be surprised at the doors it opens for you, and for your kids. It keeps the brain sharp and ready for other things. Learning builds on itself, as you learn, connections are made between seemingly unrelated topics and disciplines.
You can look into open courseware at MIT
You can study math, science, finance, and some humanities and philosphy courses at the Khan Academy
A friend of mine learned to coupon, saving hundreds of dollars, using blogs and the internet
You can learn to crochet on youtube. Google learning to knit, macrame, paint, do calligraphy, cook a souffle, bake bread, whatever, you can find out how online.
One of my New Year's Resolutions this year is to get through Sign Language 1 and 2.
Is there something you'd like to use the internet to learn?
TheTightwad Gazette And My Frugal Perspective
Reflecting back upon past years of living economically, I couldn't help but consider how I developed my present frugal perspective. All my lifetime memories include needing to approach finances with care. However the book by Amy Dacyczin, The Tightwad Gazette, changed my perspective and attitude towards living the frugal life.
I still recall reading The Tightwad Gazette for the first time. This book opened my mind to the benefit of seeking to approach my financial struggles purposefully. Mrs. Dacyczin lent a certain dignity to careful consideration of expenditures both large and small. She artfully described how practicing the art of delayed gratification provides ways to meet goals and perhaps to even make dreams come true. I realized that I could find a way to make even challenging cirumstances work.
As I not only put to use some of the many ideas suggested in the book on how to live a frugal life, I also developed a better understanding on how being financially challenged can give one a penchant toward wise resourcefulness and stewardship. I must admit I probably do not live as extreme a frugal life as those whose ideas are shared in this book, but the challenge, perspective and examples were really life changing for me.
Today, after taking some time to review my budget and needing to find someway to add a little extra to Husband's FSA account, I decided to spend some time again with my aging copy of The Tightwad Gazette. Alas, as I searched my bookshelves, I was reminded that this was one of my books shared that never came back. Guess I will be making a trip to the library soon!
The beginning of a new year always give me more zest to continue to develop and practice my frugal living skills. What books help you to renew your frugal vision?
Frugal New Year’s Resolutions
According to my vague internet research, get out of debt is in the top ten New Year's Resolutions each year. Save more money would have to be another. Reduce consumption would be related. Simplify your life would be another. Improve your use of time would be another.
Here are some suggested resolutions that might help with any of those goals.
Simplify your life and the budget by picking one low-budget, simple meal and fixing it one night each week for at least four weeks. My suggestion is 'savory vegetable pie,' which kind of like a cross between a pot pie and biscuits and gravy. Frugal Tip: make your own biscuit mix.
Save more money: Pick one thing to cut back on, just for one month. It could be your heat, your use of lights, using the dryer or dishwasher, unplugging the laptop for an extra hour or two, turning off the stereo, or being more careful to keep the freezer running efficiently. Here are some winterizing tips (I realize some of you live in the southern hemisphere, so you'd rather have tips on keeping cool).
Simplify while improving your use of time: Download the free e-book (you don't need an e-reader, you can download the program for free at Amazon) How to Live on 24 Hours a Day
Learning new skills:
Try Spanish
Or Sign Language (ASL here. If you live outside the US, you should look for your own country's sign language)
Find free ways to have fun.
Are you making any frugal New Year's REsolutions this year? How do you plan to keep them?
Helpful Skills In the Frugal Life
Turning through the pages of a book on nursery knitting projects I couldn't help but think how blessed I am. Both of my "grandsisters" were friends before our children married. Both these women are very creative and have many craft skills. I will never forget years ago seeing the curtain made by New Daughter's mother for a missionary home. The curtain looked professionally designed and the sewing was impeccable. This friend can also make beautiful baskets and paints adorable wooden houses.
My other friend and grandsister can knit, crochet, sew, spin wool, and weave. What a heritage in life skills my grandchildren will have! As I have shared before, my handwork talents are minimal. Yet my practical utilitarian heart finds great satisfaction in making toothbrush rugs. I am sure if life permits, my grandchildren will be making rugs with me!
As the economy seems to be shrinking daily and my married children desire to live on one income, I am grateful our next generation has grandparents that will share their handwork skills and provide opportunities for developing talents that can be used for a lifetime.
Considering this blessing, I decided to encourage those who may be beginning to live on the frugal path, to consider learning a skill such as knitting or sewing. Even if finances are tight and available cash for materials nonexistent, dishcloths can be knit from old t-shirts, rugs crocheted from rags and items made from the wool of unraveled thrift shop sweaters.
Not only do these skills provide gift possibilities or items that can be useful in the home, but they also give rhythm to the frugal life. Handwork can be an immensely satisfying process, and having something to show for your labors is gratifying.
What handwork skills would you recommend for someone new to the frugal life?
Quick and Easy Frugal Christmas Ideas (Not just for Christmas)
Last week I mentioned my daughter using a fleece blanket instead of paying the price for yardage fleece. Here's what she made with it:
She used some cotton baby shirts that were on sale (it's a brand that can be rather proprietary about their name), fleece blankets, some ribbon we had from the thrift shop, and thread. Adorable, isn't it?
Here's a quick and easy decoration craft- this is something the kids could do on Christmas day with leftover wrapping paper.
I mentioned this last year- you can carefully tear off the front of a Christmas card you've received and repurpose that card as a post card. Post cards are cheaper to mail, too! Obviously, you can do this with any cards, so long as they are the right size. Check with your post office (also obvious, I don't know the postal rules for other countries).
Just for fun- did you see my amazing five dollar thrift shop find? It's a high chair. Flip it over and it's a rocking horse. Flip it again and it's an old fashioned school desk.
Using What You Have In Your Hand For Christmas Decorations
Being greeted at the door by New Daughter with a welcoming smile on her face, I entered the apartment with anticipation. The dining room table was laden with an array of snacks and as I turned to view the living area, my eyes of course fell upon a precious almost 7-month-old baby boy with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. Sitting contentedly on his aunt's lap and cuddling close to his cousin in womb, he definitely brought a smile to my heart.
Now surveying the festive scene before me, I enjoyed New Daughter's creativity and resourcefulness. The tree in the corner was decorated with ornaments both New Daughter and Firstborn Son had been gifted with through the years. A beautiful bow sat as hat to the tree and a lovely red tablecloth whose previous life had been a curtain in the kitchen, cuddled round the base of the tree.
The mantle held a collection of red and green napkins, greenery, and an adorable tree made from a stick and pages of an old book. A special Christmas card added to the scene. The smells emanating from some candles brought pleasure to my senses as I noticed the small white lights hanging from the ceiling. Firstborn Son and New Daughter had used sticky hooks to adhere these lights to the wall. This small economical touch gave such ambiance to the overall atmosphere and again I was blessed by New Daugher's ability to use what in in her hand to create such beauty.
Of course what made our evening most special was the love long nourished in our family and our commitment to live our lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. And who needs entertainment when you have a baby and a calico cat? Their antics kept us laughing throughout the evening.
Rocking my precious grandson to sleep for an evening nap, I rejoiced in the blessing of family and that God grants such creativity for all to enjoy.
How do you decorate for holidays with what is in your hand?
Frugal Fabric
Yesterday our Jenny-Any-Dots was at Walmart looking for fabric to make some fleece pajama pants for the toddler and infant grandbabies. This is a present she's made before- the pajama bottoms don't take her much time, and then she buys a t-shirt in a complementary color to complete the p.j.s Sometimes she will add an appliqued heart or other shape to the t-shirt, using the p.j. fabric.
The fleece in stock wasn't really in the colors or patterns she wanted, and it was more than she'd planned on spending. She wracked her brains, looked around, and found that found these
were on sale for 5.00, and there were blankets in colors and patterns she liked better. Since the fabric was over 7 dollars a yard, and there's more than a yard in one of these
Other sources for fabric:
thrifted or yard sale sheets, curtains, or tableclothes, or perhaps some you have at home but don't need any more
You can get some very soft and comfy baby pajamas from a well worn adult sized flannel shirt.
Receiving blankets- once more thrifted, yard sale finds, or some old ones of your own- I've cut these down and sewn around the edges for wash cloths, diaper wipes, and layered them for women's hygienic needs.
Skirts- also thrifted, yard sale, or some of your own you are finished with.
I've turned sheets into tablecloths and curtains, and curtains into tablecloths. Our tree skirt is an old white sheet (this is also what my mother used when I was a child)
What are your ideas for frugal cloth sources? Do you reuse textiles? How?
P.S. If you're an American, this is the last month you can buy 100 Watt Incandescant Light Bulbs
“Courageous” Movie Free With Vision Forum Order!
Do you remember when I gave you a heads-up about the movie, Courageous? How would you like to be able to receive a "free" copy? Yes, there are some strings attached, but don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! I want to be clear that the DVD Courageous is not scheduled to be released as a DVD until January 17th, 2012, and your free copy would not arrive until sometime after that date.
Are you wondering how to be a part of this deal? Well, VisionForum.com, is offering the DVD Courageous as a free gift to anyone who spends $75.00 or more! What makes this is even better is the $5.00 flat rate shipping*on most orders. As I have shared before, I am a Vision Forum affiliate and if you go through my links my grandmother fund will get some commissions.
VisionForum.com is also offering 25% to 60% off on over 200 items! This really is a great sale! If you are in the market for gifts or products that encourage your family, check out these deals.
One item that I would really consider purchasing if I had some young boys in my home are the High-Impact Medieval Long Sword set. Made of a very durable molded black plastic these swords are an investment in fun and adventure, and should last for years. I also really like the High-Impact Roman Sword set!
If you're looking for answers to questions on how to build a family culture in your home or just want some encouragement, I wholeheartedly recommend Family Strategies, And if radio drama is as popular in your house as it is in mine, the Lamplighter Audio Stories Set One or Lamplighter Audio Stories Set Two may be just what you are looking for!
Remember a copy of the DVD Courageous is yours for free after making a $75.00 purchase from VisionForum.com!
*Our “$5 flat-rate shipping” offer is valid for UPS ground shipping and applies only to the 48 contiguous United States and Canada, and is not applicable to the 70-volume Henty Set, the 20-volume Ballantyne Set, or other “Specialty” and “Drop Ship” items. Does not apply to past orders, and may not be combined with other coupons. Please note that shipping in-stock items ahead of backordered items will result in additional shipping charges to you.
**Applicable for orders of $75 or more.
10 Free (or nearly free) Christmas Decorating Ideas
1. Make some potato stamped wrapping paper with the kids (or by yourself). Use for wrapping gifts, but you can also wrap up one of your framed pictures on the wall, and attach a bow for a frugal holiday decoration. Really cute in a child's room.
2. Fold old magazines or catalogs into Christmas trees. You don't even need to spray paint them if you're using colorful catalogs.
3. Fold Christmas cards into cunning cardboard boxes- use these little Christmas packages to decorate your tree, tie a ribbon them and add gift tags for place setting cards, use to hold gift cards, fold tiny ones and put them in the dollhouse, put them a Christmas village, make in graduated sizes, tie a ribbon around a stack of them and put on the mantel, or....?
4. Make a cardboard tube Christmas village- my cheater method? Don't use paint, cover the tubes with paper and draw the details on with markers, adding puff paint (if you have it, or maybe you have the ingredients for making it) for a few details
5. Recycle old crayons and bits of candle ends to make these pretty tree ornaments- as simple or elegant as your cookie cutters (or use objects with a raised pattern to imprint the still warm wax with a design).
6. Glue, flour, cornstarch, and food coloring- the ornaments made from this home-made mixture are better (and more long lasting) than salt dough.
7. Recycle an old songbook, sheet music, or print out sheet music to make these sweet decorations.
8. and 9. If you can tear up a book (or maybe a catalog), this wreath and pennant are charming. I think for Christmas, I'd use rubber stamps and stamp something like JOY! on the pennant pages.
10. Nothing warms a home like loving acts of service, kind hearts, and cheerful smiles. You can probably come up with plenty of those on your own, but if you want a little help, there are some ideas here, and also here.
Have any frugal decoration ideas to share? Good ideas for acts of service this season or any time of year? Share in the comments!
