This article, entitled Beautiful Ways to Save on the “Little Extras” for Gift-Giving comes from SavingsAngel.com.

There are “little extras” when gift-giving that can add up to big bucks. Use these suggestions to save and still have lovely packages.

1. Save on gift tags by using up the odds and ends of Christmas card sets. You can either cut out the pictures on the front or use them whole. By using them whole, your children will enjoy lots of blank space for a keepsake-worthy personal message to their loved ones.
2. Instead of buying gift wrap, use papers that come home from school or unneeded pages you have from printing items out at home. Wrap small gifts, blank side out, and decorate with personal messages – use stickers, markers, Christmas cards, anything you can think of. This is another way for kids to be involved in gift-giving as they go crazy with their creations.

   Another idea to replace the expense of gift wrap is to use fabric you do not need. Scrap fabric pieces from various projects can make pretty wrap. Or consider cutting the sleeves off a stained shirt for a nice gift “bag”. Creative options like this make for interesting conversation and great holiday memories.

3. Instead of buying ribbons and bows, use handmade ornaments or ones you thin from your holiday collection. Add fun to the mix by creating homemade ornaments with your children. These make lovely package embellishments and add a festive touch.
4. Photographs make special stocking stuffers or package “decorations.” Keep them inexpensive and easy for the recipient by giving the photo already framed. The easiest are magnetic frames. They come in various styles, the simplest being clear acrylic for full photo viewing.
5. Forget adding an expensive greeting card. Greeting cards have gotten outrageous these days – and aren’t really necessary when giving a gift. Consider using one of the options above instead, to tag your gifts OR write the person’s name and a little note write on the outside of the wrapping.
6. Use different gift wrap patterns for each person, instead of tagging every gift. For example, if you have 2 children: wrap one set of gifts in one wrap, the other set in different wrap. This saves time, and receivers can immediately tell which gifts are theirs.

Whatever you do to make your holidays special, remember, the joy of family and friends is what matters – and that is the most beautiful!

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The best couponers save hundreds of dollars every month at the grocery store. However, extreme couponers can end up living very extreme lifestyles to get those savings. For over five years, SavingsAngel.com has equalized the playing field – giving extreme savings to busy families who don’t have the time or ability to be an extreme couponer. Each week, SavingsAngel.com’s over 70 angels combine over 2,000 products on sale at local grocery and drug stores with an enormous database of over 2000 different manufacturer coupons. These combinations result in our members getting access to over 300 products each week for 50% off or better. Simply log in, choose the deals you want, print or clip only the coupons you need, and save hundreds of dollars a month at regional and national stores. Our angels will personally work with you to craft a plan that will help you buy healthier food at lower prices – helping you keep $200 to $400 in savings each month.

Josh Elledge is the Chief Executive “Angel” of SavingsAngel, Inc. – launched from his home in January 2007. A husband and father of three, he now appears each week on television, in eight newspapers, and a number of radio stations across the country teaching families how to cut their grocery bill in half using the Internet. Elledge created the technology found on SavingsAngel.com through the need to save his own family’s money. Successfully able to cut his own grocery bill from $600 a month to less than $300 a month, his message has reached hundreds of thousands of families. SavingsAngel.com is now growing rapidly throughout the country. You can watch a short video at SavingsAngel.com that will explain more information about how to cut your own grocery bill in half with the help of SavingsAngel.com!