Winter Holiday Money Saving Tips
Here are some simple holiday money saving tips:
Home made snow – beat together a solution of water and your choice of natural powdered soap flakes. You can find this product in your laundry isle, but to make it even better, buy powdered natural soap flakes from your local health food market…especially if little ones are involved in the application of the home made snow. I did this last year at my son’s school and I was really surprised at how beautiful the project came out.
Anyway, you can hand mix this recipe but an electric mixer is better and quicker. The consistency seems to come out smoother and easier to apply on the tree. Mix until the solution is thick, followed by spooning on ends of tree branches. You can cover most of the branches if you’d like more of a white tree effect. You’ll be really surprised how great it works, and actually ends up being lots cheaper, and you get larger amounts for less money investment.
Here are a few ways to make your Christmas trees last a little longer.
One way to make sure you’re buying a really fresh tree that in turn will last longer anyway, is to rub the base and feel for moisture content. If it feels really ooey and gooey, you’re buying a really fresh tree.
Extending the color life of the needles can be achieved by trimming the base of your tree and putting it in a bucket of cold water (just the bottom part of the tree) with any cup of sweet substance mixed into the water. I prefer organic brown sugar but you can use maple syrup, regular sugar or even honey. No fake sugar products.
Keep in mind, before going to pick out your tree, that certain varieties last longer and stay greener than others. Spruce and Scotch Pine are some of the best.
Homemade gift tags – use your unwanted cards with pretty pictures printed on them and cut out in squares. Fill the blank side out like you would a store bought gift tag.
If you have a newspaper subscription, save the paper to be used as wrapping paper. Use the funnies for kids and apply your homemade tags… free of charge and readily available. Anything to keep you away from the crowds is worth it.
Hoping your Holidays are inexpensive and creative. Later,g