Disclosure: I was compensated for my time writing this article. All options are 100% my own and may differ from others.

If you’re looking to save money on gifts this holiday season, pop over to Groupon Goods. You’ll find a ton of deals for everyone on your shopping list.   Explore a wide range of gift options such as sunglasses, bedding, toys, electronics, groceries and more.

You can even get inspiration for those hard to shop for family members. There always seems to be someone on your list that you have no clue what to buy for them. That happens with my mom every year. I usually just end up getting her a gift card – BORING!

How about getting dad a Beer of the Month subscription or Burberry perfume for mom? My son would flip if he opened Beats by Dr on Christmas morning. Lucy would adore the My Little Pony Crystal Empire Castle. I even found some super cute maternity t-shirts if you know someone who is expecting.

Please note that the offers are only available for a limited time. Some specifically state an expiration date others just mention a limited time offer. If you see an item you want, go ahead and grab it before it disappears.

You’ll also get FREE shipping with a $34.99 purchase. What gift ideas did you find on Groupon Goods?

The holidays can be a stressful time. Purchasing food for holiday dinners, buying new decorations and finding the perfect gifts can wreak havoc on your budget.  If you don’t prepare, you could end up overspending and paying for all those holiday purchases long after December has passed. The good news is, you don’t have to get stuck in a cycle of unease. Use these simple holiday budgeting tips to prepare for the upcoming holidays and add more holiday cheer for less money and stress.

Start planning early: You should budget for the holiday season throughout the year. Christmas is not a surprise. It happens every year, so start saving in January. When saving for a holiday, budgeting a small amount each month will spread the expense throughout the year.

If you’re just starting a holiday budget now, it’s still okay – you have time!

Set up a holiday shopping savings account: Put all the money you’ve allocated to holiday spending in a separate account. Keeping the money separate can help deter you from dipping into the Christmas cookie jar.  Consider setting up an automatic transfer, so you don’t have a chance to miss the money.

Set a holiday budget and stick to it: Creating a holiday budget is critical to success. It’s easy to fall victim to the blinking lights and “must have” toys of the year.  Look at past spending to get an idea of how much money you need to budget for, then stick to that amount. If you budget $10 for each niece and nephew, than spend NO MORE than that amount. Which brings us to the next holiday budgeting tip…

Create a gift list: Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for. Write down a maximum amount to spend on each person.  It can also be helpful to talk with family and set gift giving guidelines. During the discussion, consider only buying for the kids or organize a Secret Santa, so you only purchase a gift for one adult instead of four. With my brother-in-law, we’ve established a $5 per child Christmas rule and $10 per child birthday rule. If you know how much you’ll be spending in advance, you can create a more realistic budget.  If you keep your list on your phone and you see a gift or come up with a gift idea anytime during the year, you put that gift idea next to their name. When it comes time to buy, voila, no stress!)

Don’t forget about gifts for teachers, friends and coworkers. Add these to your list and consider budgeting a little extra money for people you’ve forgotten.

Purchase throughout the year: Watch for sales throughout the year to purchase gifts when prices are low. Pick one area of your home to store the gifts, such as a closet, and add to it each time you find a deal.  Again, keep your gift list with you at all times, so you can mark off people as you purchase presents.  When it comes time to buy, joila, no stress!)  Before putting the gift away, write the name of the recipient on a sticky note and attach it to the gift. You might not remember who you intended a gift for if you purchased it in June.

You can also shop in advance for your holiday dinner. Turkey’s go on sale at huge discounts right before Thanksgiving.  Purchase an extra and put it in the freezer for your Christmas dinner. Stock-up on baking goods, canned veggies and boxed goods when they go on sale. Watch the sale papers each week to find the best deals. Using coupons can help stretch your dollar even further.

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My area is prone to hurricanes this time of year, so I wanted to share ways to save money while preparing for a hurricane.    If you’re new to the area, a hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone that forms over tropical or subtropical waters such as the Caribbean. If the storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph then you have a hurricane. Tropical storms are also common and are characterized by having a maximum sustained winds of 39 mph+.

These severe thunderstorms can cause massive damage. One of the worst hurricanes in VA, that I can remember, was Hurricane Isabel in 2003. With Tropical Storm Hermine moving up the East Coast, I wanted to remind everyone of these tips to prepare for hurricanes.

How to Prepare for Hurricanes:

1.  Develop a family plan: Get together as a family and talk about your emergency plan and what to do in case of a hurricane or natural disaster.  Where will you meet, what is the safest location in your house, what if you need to evacuate, what should the children expect, etc. See a checklist here.

2.  Prepare early: The best way to save money is to be proactive and look for necessary items year round. Pick up flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, candles, paper plates and cups when they are on sale.  Even if you haven’t prepared beforehand, don’t wait until the day of the storm to get supplies.  Not only will you probably pay more and find many items out of stock;  you don’t want to be stuck in the last minute craziness in the stores.  Word of a hurricane hits my area and the shelves are literally cleared within hours.

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I asked my mother-in-law to contribute a post about tips for shopping yard sales.  She is a veteran yard sale shopper who has been scouring neighborhoods for the past, well, I might get in trouble if I tell you that 😉

Yard sales are a great way to find household treasures, tools, sports equipment, baby furniture, toys and clothing at a bargain price.  Follow these tips to help maximize your time and savings:

Know your area:  Location is important!  A neighborhood with young families equals infant, toddler or children’s clothing and toys. Children’s clothing and toys resale easy and are usually in excellent condition. An older, established neighborhood could be good for antiques.

Map your area: Mark the newspaper advertisements with your yard sale choices or use an app to help plan your route. Next, check the map for directions or enter the addresses in your GPS/phone, and number each yard sale in the order you will visit. It is usually best to start closest to your home, traveling out to the furthest yard sale of the day.  However, if there is a large neighborhood sale in one of my preferred areas, I will usually venture there first.

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