Holidays on a budget

[stacey79]

What do you do to save money at the holidays? I'm looking for ideas for baking, gift giving, decorating and more -- all with IC. I am compiling these things into an article for IC Optimist, the magazine of the IC Network. However, I'm on a pretty quick deadline for this. I need to have all information by Friday (Oct. 21)! You can post on this thread, send me a PM or e-mail me at schr3ib3r@gmail.com.

Please let me know if you're willing to have your name used in the article. If not, I can use a pseudonym.

Thanks!

[ICNDonna]

Home made jellies make excellent gifts --- and you can cut a piece of colorful fabric in a square, placing the square to cover the lid --- and add a ribbon tie to hold it there. It's fairly easy to make a small "crate" to hold two or three small jars.

Donna

[stacey79]

Thanks, Donna. Do you have any recipes that you use for jams or jellies? I know that's something that I've always been intimidated to make thinking it's too hard and labor intensive. However, I've not really looked a recipes, just made assumptions. And, is it OK for me to use your name in the article?

[kadi]

Instead of buying boxes to wrap presents, take clean cereal or cracker boxes & turn them inside out, retape seams.

[ICNDonna]

I don't mind your using my name at all. When I make jelly I purchase pectin and use the recipe on the enclosure.

Another suggestion is to purchase the paper lunch bags and decorate them with holiday giftwrap or magazine pictures --- do about a dozen that can be used as gift bags throughout the year --- I also cut pieces of brown bags into about 3 by 6 inches, fold in the middle and decorage one side, hole punch a corner, add a ribbon and include matching "gift cards" with each bag.

Donna

[stacey79]

Thanks! Those are some great ideas! Keep them coming!