Valentines Day is here again.  Kids have a blast celebrating the Day of Love, but it can get expensive.  Save money while celebrating on February 14th to make the Holiday enjoyable for kids and parents alike!

Valentines Day Savings Tips:

1.  One of the best ways to save on Valentines Day is to shop in advance.  Purchase products after holiday sales & store them for later use.

• Most schools allow children to exchange Valentines Day cards.  Purchase boxes of timeless cards (such as Disney Princesses or Race cars) to use the following year.   I have eight boxes of Valentines Day card boxes that I picked up for $0.10 each!
• Look for lollipops & other individually wrapped candy after Halloween to distribute with Valentines or contribute to the class party.  Wait for prices to be reduced by 50% or more and stock up on candy that isn’t in holiday wrapping.
• Pencils, Play-Doh, stickers & erasers are fun gifts to have on hand when you’re asked to contribute to goody bags.  In addition to purchasing these items after Valentines Day, Christmas stocking stuffer items such as eight-packs of mini Play-Doh, will put a smile on any kids face.

2.  Too late to shop ahead?  Have kids make their own Valentines Day cards.  Most kids enjoy creating art and it’s a quiet activity that could be done while younger children are napping or while you prepare dinner.

3. You can find great deals on items such as holiday tableware, gifts and cards by shopping at the Dollar Store.  Just remember that you need to shop early so that items don’t sell out.

4.  Sign up early to choose the items you want to bring to the class party.  You don’t want to get stuck with the last item on the list.  You’ll probably end up paying twice as much!

5.  Enjoy a “night in” with the kids instead of going out to eat.  Not only will you save money, you’ll also avoid overcrowded restaurants.  Try cooking a special dinner, having an indoor picnic or watching a family movie together.

You can save money while spending quality time with your children on Valentines Day.  Get creative and think ahead to make sure your child’s next Valentines Day celebration stays within the budget.  Now you can go spend your savings on your spouse 🙂

What are your ideas to save on Valentines Day with kids?

14 Days of Love starts tomorrow, February 1st!

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Wondering What Food You Can Freeze?  You’d be surprise how much will stay fresh in the freezer.

Utilizing your freezer is a great way to save money.  You can purchase more items when they are at a rock-bottom price, keep leftovers longer and cook in advance to save time.

Not sure what foods you can freeze?   Below are some unusual foods that freeze well.  A few of the items came as a complete shock to me when I learned about them a couple years ago.

What Foods Can You Freeze?

• Eggs (not in shell – ice cube tray works well)
• Butter
• Hard or semi-hard Cheese (crumble when thawed – best for cooking or shred a block before freezing)
• Coconut
• Nuts
• Garlic (peel and slice)
• Ginger (peel and slice)
• Onions (chopped)
• Mushrooms
• Fresh Herbs
• Squash/zucchini
• Asparagus
• Peppers
• Corn (off cob)
• Tomatoes (boil to remove skin)
• Yogurt (my kids prefer frozen tube yogurt!)
• Milk (I freeze buttermilk for baking)
• Berries – raspberries, strawberries, etc.
• Bananas (sliced is best)

If you’re not sure how to freeze a food  – a quick Google search will get you all the information you need to make sure your foods stay fresh in the freezer.

What foods have you found that freeze well?

Unfortunately, there are going to be times during the year when most of us are going to be holding the household budget together with some creative money management. Whether the holiday rush has just happened or a special vacation cost a little more than you expected, there is no need to panic – you can still have fun shopping on a low budget.

Take Advantage of Online Shopping Perks
More consumers are turning to their computers for the bulk of their shopping. This is great for consumers, because many retailers offer online incentives and shopping perks that were unheard of in the past. Most shopping chains offer a membership program or a rewards program to build a relationship of loyalty with you. But there are other factors to consider, like shipping and handling fees. Often times, you can find a Kmart, Macy’s or JCPenney coupon for free shipping. These online perks allow you to make a purchase online and save the money you would have spent on gas to get to the store.

Substitute Cheaper Products
Even today, many consumers are still dead-set against substituting less expensive products that provide the same product for a better value. When you are stretching your pennies, one of the most effective methods for savings is to find less expensive products. This can be as easy as bargain shopping between brands and buying the one that happens to be on sale that week, regardless of your personal feelings about a particular brand of product. All supermarkets offer their own brand of products for almost any item you are looking for. Many times you can save 50 percent or more just by purchasing the generic brand of a product. This is a playground of savings that can provide immediate relief to your budget without forcing your family to go without anything they need. There is always a cheaper alternative to what you are used to, all you have to do is look for it.

Widen your shopping search
This is simple but few really do this. When you are looking to save money widen your shopping search to include stores you may not routinely frequent. This can be done online or in person, but to save money it is a guaranteed money saver. It only makes sense that the more establishments you visit the better chance you have of finding the least expensive alternative. In today’s online world, this doesn’t even have to take a lot of time, because you can do most of your comparison shopping right from the comfort of your own computer. It doesn’t matter if it is groceries or a basketball hoop, widen your search and you will invite the lowest price to find you!

You don’t necessarily have to go without
Having low funds for a week or two does not necessarily mean that you will have to go without. Simply use a little more care in your shopping decisions, and your family won’t even know the difference.

Disclosure:  Compensation was provided for this post.