5 Frugal Yet Memorable Last Minute Gift Ideas

December 20, 2011 · Filed Under , · Comment 

Inexpensive and frugal Christmas gift ideas don’t always have to look cheap and rushed. By putting just a little bit of time and effort into it, you can create some very thoughtful last minute gifts for people on your shopping list. Here are five easy to implement examples.

Personalized Photo Calendar

For less than $20, you can use photo services like Snapfish.com and Shutterfly.com to create custom photo calendars that will be a huge hit with parents and grandparents. Essentially, you take your photos and plug them into a custom calendar, the process couldn’t be easier. Also, be sure to take the time to enter birthdays and anniversaries dates to make the calendar even more useful for the recipient.

Magazine Subscription

Use websites like Magazines.com to order bargain magazine subscriptions for people on your shopping list. For example, if you have a handy guy or gal on your list, you can order a 1-year subscription to Family Handyman for $19.97 which is a savings of 54% off the cover price. Side-note: This is by far my favorite magazine and was given to me as a gift last Christmas. A nice touch is to buy the current issue and wrap it with the magazine subscription certificate.

Gift Card Option

For those serious procrastinator, a gift card makes for a nice gift option. Key point with gift cards is to make sure it’s a store that the recipient frequents often and has easy access to. To cut down on your costs, use gift card reselling websites like Plastic Jungle.com (which I mentioned last week) so you can purchase the gift card for less than the face value.

Get Your Bake On

Food and baked goods always makes for excellent gift ideas for neighbors, friends, and family. If you are handy in the kitchen, whip up your Grandma famous Christmas cookies and hand out as gifts. Or if you don’t fashion yourself as a Julia Child wanna-be, just put a bow on your favorite bottle of wine, box of chocolates, or favorite hickory smoked butcher-shop bacon. The idea is to pass along something that you really enjoy to a person who would otherwise not have an opportunity to try it.

Pocket Knife/Tool

Perhaps the most useful gift you can give someone is a handy pocket tool. For less than $30, you can buy someone a Leatherman or Swiss Army tool which will literally be used thousands of times to open bottles, repair sunglasses, pull splinters, and cut thread. They are just expensive enough that most people will not buy a good one for themselves and resort to using their teeth for everything. So save someone a chipped tooth this Christmas and buy them a pocket tool. They will thank you for years to come.

Also, keep in mind that most online stores will be able to ship gifts in time for Christmas right up until December 21st. Always make sure to verify guaranteed delivery dates with the individual retailer before making a purchase.

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4 Ways To Finish Christmas Shopping on the Cheap

December 13, 2011 · Filed Under , , · Comment 

Cheap Stocking Stuffers

After you have finished your Christmas shopping list you will often be hit over the head with expensive stocking stuffers which can really add up and blow your spending budget right out of the water. A solid solution is to take advantage of dollar stores and discount stores which always have fun little stocking stuffers at REALLY low prices. Also, as a father of 3, I have found that Santa’s key to filling a stocking is to add useful items that are fairly large. Some of my favorites include tooth brushes, socks, and stocking caps. Combine those with some fun little toys and Santa will have happy little kiddos on Christmas morning.

Free Expedited Shipping

If you are a shopping procrastinator be aware that most online stores will allow you to shop through December 17th and still get guaranteed Christmas eve delivery. Be sure to always look for free shipping coupons as close to 80% of stores offer some type of shipping offer. Also, be aware that a new trend is free expedited shipping coupon codes which will often allow you to shop through December 22nd or 23rd. Keep an eye on our homepage at Rather-Be-Shopping.com as we will be highlighting retailers that offer free express, overnight, or expedited shipping coupons as they come into us.

Gift Card Deals

If chosen carefully with the recipients needs in mind, gift cards can make very thoughtful gifts, especially for those with limited time to shop. Are you aware that you can often buy gift cards for less than the value of the card? Pretty cool, huh? Just visit sites like Plastic Jungle.com and buy gift card for an average of 5% less than the cards value.  If you are going to buy someone a gift card this year you might as well get the best deal possible and save the most money.

Handmade Spouse “Coupons”

Not handmade spouses, but rather handmade coupons for your spouse or loved ones. Although a handmade spouse would have several great benefits, but that is a different post for a different day. Are you looking for last minute gift idea for your spouse that will only cost you time and sweat? Try making a few personalized coupons for them and wrap them under the tree. A few that jump to mind include coupons for back rubs, feet rubs, car washes, house cleaning, complete days-off, and dinner out. Get creative with it and have fun. This is especially a great idea if you have a practical understanding with your spouse that neither of you are going to spend a lot of money on each other this Christmas.

Do you have any other practical ways to finish Christmas shopping on the cheap? If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to reading your 2 cents!

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December Buying Guide: 10 Things To Buy Now

December 5, 2011 · Filed Under , · Comment 

As we head into December and you wrap up your Christmas shopping (literally), it is worth noting some of the better products that offer the best savings this time of year. If you have gift recipients on your list and are still unsure what to buy them, perhaps this will help you maximize your savings this December.

Automobiles

2012 models are already on the lot and year-end quotas are trying to be met, all of which makes December an excellence time to purchase a new car. Dealers are trying to get rid of 2011 models and the deals right now are amazing. Zero % financing is available with many manufacturers and salesman are eager to close deals before the end of the year. Key is to do your research with online sites and figure out what the invoice is on the model and make that you want and offer $500 to $1000 over invoice. Then bargain, bargain, bargain. Don’t be afraid to walk away if the deal doesn’t feel right.
Key websites to check: Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book.com.

Tools/Hardware

Christmas is a HUGE time of year for tool and hardware sellers. Tools and power equipment are at the top of many guys (and gals) Christmas wish-lists. To spur on sales, your Home Depot’s and Lowe’s of the world are offering some fantastic deals this month to encourage additional consumer spending.
Key stores to check: OSH.com, Home Depot.com and Lowe’s.com.

Laptop Computers

We have noticed that computer deals, especially on laptops, continues to be very strong since the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. Why you ask? Well, as consumers gobble up the VERY popular tablet products like the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy, the price point on less-popular laptops are better than ever. Simple supply and demand makes you a BIG winner when shopping for a new laptop this Christmas.
Key stores to check: Walmart.com, Target.com, BestBuy.com, and Amazon.com.

Small Appliances

Small appliances also top many Christmas lists and seasonal sales are available everywhere right now. We have seen coffee makers at 75% off the original price and brand name waffle makers for less than $5 at Walmart. They all make great gift ideas on the cheap.
Key stores to check: Walmart.com, Target.com, and Kohl’s.

Airline Tickets

Thinking of planning a trip for next Spring? If so, December is your best time to book airline tickets and price compare hotel rooms and rental cars. If you wait until January, you will definitely pay more.
Key stores to check: Orbitz.com, Cheap Tickets.com, and Expedia.com

Bicycles

With the exception of bikes for kids, bicycles for adults are really great deals right now. Nobody is buying them and bike shops and sporting goods stores are slashing prices to try and entice purchases. Buy your bicycle now and store it for a couple months in your garage in preparation for those great Spring bike rides. You will be glad you did and so will your pocketbook.
Key stores to check: Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Walmart.com

Home Theater Systems

New models are unveiled every Spring, so consumer electronic retailers and trying to clear out 2011 models. Then throw in the Christmas hoopla over electronics and some really good deals are to be found. Expect deals on home theaters systems and HDTV’s to get even cheaper in January as retailers try to get rid of old inventory to make room for new models.
Key stores to check: BestBuy.com, Amazon.com and J&R.com.

Christmas Decorations

Wait a little while on this one! Starting December 26th, you will get Christmas decorations and ornaments for practically nothing. 70% to 80% off is very common. This is also a great way to buy wrapping paper for pretty much, um……FREE
Key stores to check: Home Depot.com, Lowe’s.com, Macy’s, and Crate & Barrel.

Plants (Perennials)

If you can buy plants now and store them in a warm spot, you will save a ton of money compared to buying them next spring.
Key stores to check: OSH.com, Home Depot.com and Lowe’s.com.

NFL Tickets

If you live in or near an NFL city and your local team sucks out loud, you can score a great deal on NFL tickets right now. Stadiums all across the U.S. are struggling to fill the seats, especially teams that are NOT playoff bound. You can often find tickets for below sticker value at the websites listed below.
Key stores to check: StubHub.com, Tickets Now.com, and TicketMaster.com.

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Christmas Shopping Giveaway: Win a $75 Walmart Gift Card, Just Gotta “Like” Rather-Be-Shopping.com & Share to Enter

December 1, 2011 · Filed Under · 587 Comments 

Lets kick off December with a Christmas Shopping Spree Giveaway! Here is all you have to do to be entered to win a $75 Walmart Gift Card:

We have a WINNER! Congratulations to Sara C. on winning the $75 Walmart gift card! Go do some Christmas shopping Girl! With over 500 entries, this was a huge success, thanks to all who entered. Look for another giveaway coming SOON.

1- Just ‘Like’ Rather-Be-Shopping.com on Facebook (Like box is below) and then SHARE this Giveaway on your Facebook wall. You can share this giveaway on Facebook by clicking on the ‘Share/Save’ button at the bottom on this post or by manually sharing http://www.rather-be-shopping.com on your Facebook wall! Tell them how great Rather-Be-Shopping.com is and how they can win a $75 Walmart card for their Christmas shopping! Just let us know you “Liked” us and shared this Giveaway by LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW and you are entered. All entries will be verified. Thanks, this will be fun!

2- If you already “Like” us, all you have to do is share this giveaway with your Facebook buddies, then leave a comment telling us that you did so, and you are entered as well.

3- Giveaway ends December 12th at Midnight PST. At which point we will use Random.org to pick a winner. Must be 18 and a U.S. citizen to enter.

Want Extra Entries?

If so, you can do the following:

~ 1 Extra Entry – Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/RatherBeShop – Tell us you are following us on Twitter by leaving a comment below.

~ 1 Extra Entry – Google +1 Us. Just visit any page on our website (http://www.rather-be-shopping.com) and Google +1 us by pressing our +1 button. Our Google +1 button is on the left side and at the top of all of our coupon pages. Tell us what page or store you Google +1′d by leaving a comment below.

~ 2 Extra Entries – REGISTER for free ‘Coupon Alerts’ with Rather-Be-Shopping.com. Then ‘Sign In’ and click on ‘Create or Change your ‘Coupon Alert’ Settings’ and pick your favorite stores to get ‘Coupon Alerts’ for. That’s it. Here’s the link to REGISTER NOW! Leave a comment telling us at least 2 stores you registered for and you get 2 extra entries.

Good luck and thanks for coming by and ‘Liking’ us. We like you too! Merry Christmas to all!

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