Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

A lot of people are faced with stress from additional expenses at the holidays.

Here are a few great inexpensive ideas from the book I co-authored with Susan Volpe called Creative Money Saving Ideas.

A Gift of Your Time

“The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want.” T. Harv Eker

Is there something you could give in the way of a service or something you could teach that would make a wonderful gift?

You might be able to give someone tennis, sewing, or cooking lessons, or plant a small flower cutting garden for them. You could give them a day of spring cleaning or help them to organize a closet.

What do you know how to do that may be appreciated?

Make sure, though, that you follow through on your promise. Once you have given your gift of time, set a date and make sure the date is on both your calendars.

Cookie of the Month

It can be difficult to find gifts for people when they have everything they need.

One year, we gave my husband’s parents a batch of homemade cookies with a certificate stating they would receive their “cookie of the month” gift for the next 6 months. We sent them a different kind each month. It was a big hit!

Flavored Vinegars

You can make some interesting seasonal fruit vinegars. When strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or other fruit is at its peak and in season, you can make and bottle the vinegar and store it in a cool place until the holidays.

The other bonus is you will have less to do when the holidays arrive. One year, I made a delicious Cranberry Champagne Vinegar. Cranberries are usually available by early November.

Include a favorite salad dressing recipe and other ways to use the vinegar.

Jar Gifts

These look great and are easy and fun to make. Last year I gave a tray with a chocolate cake, cranberry rice, and a spice blend and we got a great response!

Look on the internet for layered jar recipes and you’ll find a host of recipes for cookies, dessert bars, brownies, soups, bath salts, etc. The ingredients are layered in a mason or other clear jar.

There are also recipe books with countless variations. You might want to test the recipes first to make sure you like them!

Also if you have your own recipe that you know you like, you can convert it into a jar gift. Layer the dry ingredients in a jar, and add a card explaining what fresh ingredients to add and how to complete the dish.

Check out the Discount stores like the 99 Cents and Dollar Stores or Big Lots for inexpensive containers and jars. Or buy a case of canning jars from the grocery store.

Check out Creative Money Saving Ideas for more inexpensive gift ideas and a lot more!

Continuing in my series of Ten Reasons Not To Have What You Want, reason #2 is “I can’t afford it.”

As we look at each of the reasons you may have put in your way about why you can’t have the life you want, let’s see if we can change your perspective.

Because the way you think will have a definite impact on getting what you want.  As the old saying goes, if you think you can’t, you’re right.

How much would you need to get what you want?

Let’s say, for example, one of your goals is to use your talents to start a business but you feel like you can’t quit your day job.

Well, who says you have to quit your job?  Many people who start a business do it on the side until they have built up enough momentum to take the leap.

It also doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation.  What are some other ways you could make some small steps toward doing what you want?  Could you take one small action a day?

See Reason #1 It Will Be Too Hard to spark some other ideas.

Maybe you can figure out a way to reduce your hours at work, but still get as much done.  Can you work from home part of the time?  Can you offer another service for additional income?  Can you get a raise?

There are always possibilities that open up when you look at your situation with fresh eyes.

For instance, you may have a situation where you need a specific amount of money to achieve your goal.  Maybe you have a trip or something in mind that you want.

There are a few avenues to take to get more money.

Earn it.

Earning the money you need offers lots of options and I’m just touching on the concept here.

You can do something full time, part time, seasonal, have an internet business, do something on the side, etc.  Check out my post on Blogging to Earn Money as one interesting possibility!

You can do something temporarily to earn extra money or add it permanently to your repertoire. Do you have a product or service you can offer?

Can you make more from what you are already doing?

Sell Something.

Do you have stuff laying around that could bring in extra money?  Maybe gold jewelry you no longer wear, clothes or furniture in great condition to take to a resale shop, a used car, treasures in the attic?

Speaking of selling gold jewelry, I was just at a party at my friends house where you bring your unwanted gold jewelry. Since I usually only wear the jewelry I make now, I’ve already given away a lot of my old jewelry.

I had a few tangled up thin gold chains that didn’t weigh much and I wasn’t going to bother bringing them. I did anyway, and happily walked out with an extra $100. Lots of people walked out with substantially more.

I realize something like that won’t change your lifestyle but once again, thinking small may add up to bigger results. You may have a lot more money “laying around” than you think.

Save It.

Where might there be some hidden opportunities for your to save money in your current situation?  It’s easy to have habits you aren’t even aware of where you may be spending more than you need to or to make some small changes that can really add up.

Or depending on your situation, you could even make some big changes with big results like moving into a less expensive home or trading your gas guzzling car for a fuel efficient one.

Consider this.  If you earn $100 and pay $25 in taxes, you end up with $75.

When you save money, you are able to put the whole amount “in your pocket”.

Coming soon is a book my sister and I have written on Creative Money Saving Ideas where we give all kinds of strategies to save money without sacrificing or feeling deprived.  I can’t wait to share it with you!

What if you combined all three strategies above and found a combination of things you could do to get the money you want or need?

What are some ways you can think of that will eliminate your reason of I can’t afford it?

Last year I gave some ideas for holiday gifts in my ezine and I got several comments from my subscribers about how much they  enjoyed them so I create a whole new list that I’ll share with you.

Here are some ideas that might make your gift giving a little easier this year.  Great gifts don’t have to cost a lot.

Experiences

You can create great memories by giving a gift of an experience or outing.

• Tickets to a Play or Concert

• Tickets to a Sports Event
• A weekend Get Away
• A Hotel or Bed and Breakfast Voucher
• Write up a certificate for a special day with you…maybe to the zoo, a theme park, fishing, or something you know they would love to do.

For the Movie Lover

• Gift certificates to a convenient movie theatre
• Gift basket with a DVD, popcorn, and candied nuts
• A 3 month subscription to Netflix.   http://www.netflix.com
• We got this for my Mother in law for her birthday with a list of our favorite movies we thought she would enjoy. She loved it.

Handmade for the Holidays

• Relive a special memory with a Photo book of a trip or event.

You can put one together with photo prints or download your pictures and plan your album at a site like Shutterfly http://www.shutterfly.com

• Jar Gifts are a fun way to give a gift of food that they can enjoy AFTER the holidays.

You can make some with your own favorite recipes, layering the ingredients for a nice presentation.

This month’s issue of Food Network Magazine has a nice selection of ideas like a curried lentil soup and a holiday panetone bread.

• Holiday Treats.  You may want to play with a new idea and be creative with your gift.  The picture above is cupcakes that my son and I made.  We tried to use melted candy wafers to create designs.  It takes a little practice not to just make blobs but we had a lot of fun.  We will definitely try that again!

• Handmade Jewelry

Check out my handmade jewelry at www.SallyEvansArt.com
Earrings make a great gift. I’ll even gift wrap and ship it for you.

If you would rather let them choose, I have gift certificates available.

Embellish A Ready Made Item

This is a fun and quick way to add a personal touch.

• Add ribbon trim or buttons to the neckline of a nice T-shirt.

• Add embellishments from the craft store to a frame.

• Create a design on a candle with wonder tape and microbeads.

Give a Gift of Laughter

For your loved ones with a sense of humor….

• Freudian Slippers from Uncommon Goods http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=12062

• Anxiety Sculptures from Uncommon Goods http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?source=family&itemId=17074

Note: these are direct links to those items. I do not have any association or experience with ordering from Uncommon Goods. These were just a couple items I came across that I thought looked fun.

• Your favorite funny movie or book that you think they would like

Gift of Inspiration

• A book of favorite quotes or a book that has inspired you

• Barbara Winter’s Winning Ways newsletters for those on the Joyfully Jobless Journey. I’ve been enjoying a subscription for several years. Check out a free sample here http://www.barbarawinter.com/winning-ways.html

• A CD  of Inspired Artists and Creative Entrepreneurs.  These are interviews I’ve done with some amazing people that are sure to leave you inspired!

A Personalized Gift

How about a silhouette of a loved one or even your whole family including your dog or cat on a set of cards, stationary, or a print?

You could have the children’s silhouettes for Grandma.

Or you can even have a silhouette Needlepoint kit printed to make into a pillow or wall hanging.

These are all available from http://www.Petiteprints.com

Special Gift Card Offers for the Holidays

The last couple of years, several restaurants and some stores have had special offers for gift cards during the holidays.

For example, if you buy $100 worth of gift cards, you get a bonus $20 gift card* for free. You could get five $20 gift cards, two $50 gift cards, or any combination.

You might just want to get one for yourself while you are at it.

This year I’ve seen this deal offered for Macaroni Grill, which you can also use the card for Maggianos, On the Border, or Chiles.

https://giftcard.brinker.com/maggianos/GiftCert.asp

It seems to only come up on certain pages so I gave you the link to the Maggianos gift card.  You can click on the other restaurants at the bottom of the page if you want the gift card to show from Macaroni Grill or one of the other restaurants.

Note: *$20 bonus card must be used toward a purchase of $50 or more between 1/1/10 – 2/28/10

Also, the Container Store is offering another similar special. If you purchase $100 worth of gift cards, you will recieve a $25 bonus card.  http://www.containerstore.com/giftcard/index.htm

Check their site for details.

I hope these trigger some ideas and inspiration for you!