Blogging Away Debt

Homemade Gift Idea – Magnets or Coasters

I know we are now past the gift giving holiday, but I couldn’t resist sharing this idea. My cousin created these adorable handmade magnets as gifts for our extended family. And I couldn’t help but steal the idea for myself.

Are they not adorable? I thought one of the BAD members might like the idea for down the road as well!

When my grandmother first opened the present, she wasn’t sure what they were. At first, she thought they were coasters, which would actually be a good idea too. But in this case, they are magnets, featuring my cousin’s adorable kiddos.

How to Make these Magnets

The supplies needed are items most people have around their homes:

Can lid
Cardstock or thin cardboard
Glue
Pencil
Scissors
Magnet strips
Pictures
Modge Podge (optional, but necessary if you want to make them coasters instead)

Directions to Make Magnets

The directions are pretty straightforward and of course, you can modify as you see fit for your own project.

Trace the outline of the lid on the cardstock/cardboard and on the back of the photos.
Cut them out and glue the photo onto the cardstock/cardboard.
Glue the cardstock/cardboard into the inside of the lid. It should fit snug. (My cousin used the two part Ball can lids which made this step even easier.)
Add the magnet strips to the top of the can lid.

And voila, you are done. A completely homemade, customized gift for your favorite loved one to enjoy daily when they look at their refrigerator covered with smiling faces!

Make it a Coaster

Modifying this project to make a set of coasters instead of magnets is pretty simple.

Skip step #4 above.
Instead put several coats of Modge Podge on the images. Don’t spread it too thick or it may smear or tear the photo. And let each coat dry completely.

No promises on these coasters lasting forever, but as long as they don’t get soaked, they will make a very cute set of coasters.

Did you get any cute, homemade gifts this Christmas? Or make some yourself?

A Merry Christmas That Was Under Budget

by Ashely L

Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope that everyone is having a pleasant holiday season. I had a great and simple Christmas this year and spent it with my mom. We did a bit of grocery shopping, retail browsing, and spent most of our time at home. We discovered that Christmas Eve seems like the best day of the entire year to find movies on television, and not just Christmas movies. There were so many movies showing on TV that we ended up watching many old classics like the Wizard of Oz, all three versions of Scrooge, Shrek, Polar Express, and of course, a Christmas Story many times over. On Christmas day we opened presents, ate a nice dinner, and went to the movies. I also think that we were sincere when we answered the question of what a great holiday blessing was this year as simply being able to spend the holiday with each other.

I am also happy to be below budget for Christmas this year so I am feeling like a master budget-er this time. I saved $350 for the holiday this year, starting by saving $75 in October. My personal gifting philosophy is a balance between quality gift giving and frugality. I believe that people have to find what works for their budget, lifestyle, family traditions, family size, etc. For me, I like to give quality gifts to the most immediate people in my life, such as my parents and boyfriend, even if that means splurging a bit. For my family and friends, I seek to give gifts that are still meaningful, but don’t have to be amazing.

For example, this year I am gifting smart watches to my parents. It’s no cheap gift. However, it is worth it to me, especially because I want to push my parents to remain active, and also to answer all of my calls and texts immediately, of course. I got the Fitbit Charge 2 on sale on black Friday for about $125 for my dad and a Fitbit-type smartwatch that has different features that my mom would like and is cheaper on Amazon. This turned out to be a great choice, because a few days before Christmas, my mom told me that she wanted a Fitbit. I think she reads my mind sometimes.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, personalized gifts work well as a frugal option for me. I got an engraved cutting board for my stepfather. He really enjoys to cook and likes collecting any type of cooking paraphernalia. The total cost came to under $10. I also got gifts for my supervisors. I ended up finding three nice gifts and a set of gift bags from Burlington for a total of exactly $25. After my spending is totaled, I ended up having about $60 left. My original plan was to put this entire remainder toward my credit card, but then I got a bill about balance from a recent doctor visit and I will put it toward that and the leftover will be absorbed.

Another reason that I ended up below budget because I was not sure where I was going to spend Christmas this year. Sometimes I am with my mom and just the two of us exchange gifts. One year, I was with one side of the family and we decided ahead of time that none of us would exchange gifts and we all pitched in for a gift for my grandmother only. Another year, I was with other family members who traveled to Disney World and had a magical time and we all exchanged gifts with everyone. This is where family size and tradition comes into play and when I know ahead of time, I can budget accordingly. This year, with just my mom and I, I remembered the beauty of simple times spent with loved ones.