Christmas for Less

[dab_20]

What I'm doing for Christmas is making blankets. We use flannel material, two layers. One solid color and one printed. Then you cut about 1 inch thick strips about 3-4 inches up in the material all the way around the blanket. You cut a .5 inch slit in the middle of each cut and fold each little strip into the slit. Makes for a cute, warm blanket!! And very cheap

http://www.ehow.com/how_4854333_tied-felt-blankets.html

[sparks19]

This is a great find.

A 6 ft HDMI cable on amazon (regular $39.99) for $1.75 shipped

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B0002L5R78

[Karen]

Sparks, you can actually get them just as cheap - and in your choice of colors! See http://www.monoprice.com/ for a direct source (not Amazon.com) for all cables - you can get them in orange or pink or whatever!

[sparks19]

Uh ok? well either way good for people to know

[kittycats_delight]

I love using this site as well. The prices are reasonable and some of the things are super cute and the biggest bonus...it goes toward helping animals.

This is one of my favorite items on here. I have asked my mom to get me 2 for Christmas. 1 for me and 1 for my hubby.
It's the against animal cruelty ribbon pin

[sparks19]

Here is a great deal on some photo christmas cards. you can get 20 4x8 cards for $1.49 shipped using coupon code 25cards. Just go to "create photo card" and pick your pattern in 4x8 and during check out use that code and it should total $1.49

https://www.seehere.com/user/login.j...or+SeeHere.com

[happylabs]

I love using this site as well. The prices are reasonable and some of the things are super cute and the biggest bonus...it goes toward helping animals.

This is one of my favorite items on here. I have asked my mom to get me 2 for Christmas. 1 for me and 1 for my hubby.
It's the against animal cruelty ribbon pin

Oh I love that pin!!!

[Randi]

Oh I love that pin!!!

So do I - what a great idea!

[pomtzu]

I love using this site as well. The prices are reasonable and some of the things are super cute and the biggest bonus...it goes toward helping animals.

This is one of my favorite items on here. I have asked my mom to get me 2 for Christmas. 1 for me and 1 for my hubby.
It's the against animal cruelty ribbon pin

I have this pin - love it! The Animal Rescue site has an awesome amount of very reasonably priced gifts, and every purchase goes to helping our friends in need that can't help themselves. I've purchased quite a few items there, both for myself and for gifts, and they are always well received by the recipient.

[Freedom]

Received this email earlier today, and thought it fit in nicely with this thread 0 it has lots of ideas, for folks who have it all, folks who NEED it all, and folks you don't want to spend a fortune on:

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes
there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin’s on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?