Friendship Jar DIY Cheap but Chic Gift

I made a friendship jar for each of my friends who had surgery last year.  I had maybe $1.50 in the entire gift, but it was a hit with each of my friends as well as their families.  I was told by one of the family members that I was the most thoughtful person she had ever met.  That made me feel good. 

I enjoy giving gifts.  I always have.  Now that money is tight, I have to think outside of the box.  This can def be a good thing because instead of picking up something from the store to give to someone, 9 times out of 10 I'm gonna make it.  I can honestly say that every handmade gift I have ever given has been well-received.  I think the reason is the recipient knows more thought was put into other than shelling out a few bucks.

Anyway, here you will see original instructions and where I got the idea from.  I am going to post the directions to their original concept, but I'm going to tell you have I modified to fit my situation.

Both of my friends had gastric bypass surgery.  Having had the surgery myself in 2005, I know how much their lives are going to change.  With that being said, on each slip of paper I included in their jars I wrote a positive mantra that they could look forward to.  .
Here are some examples:

• Eating to Live, Not Living to Eat
• Finding your size at thrift stores.
• NOT paying more for your clothing just b/c you can afford that extra cheeseburger!
• Fitting comfortably in a booth.
• Not checking the weight limit on everything you buy, stand on, sit on, etc.

There were many more that only obese or formerly obese people will get!  Anyway, each of my friends took the jar to the hospital to read the days after surgery when they were in pain.  They both told me that it helped them to get through the worst of it.  :)

Here's their original.

Materials:

• Decorative Jar with wide mouth I got mine @ Dollar Tree
• Ribbon or other embellishment
• Handwritten or computer generated positive words on slips of paper  I used small pieces of cardstock and decorated them with stickers
• Paper  See above
• Pen or Computer with printer  For above
• Scissors or Fiskars Personal Trimmer  I used the scissors that cut in the cutesy patterns-$1 each!

Instructions:

1. You can find fun jars at thrift shops and garage sales, you just want a wide mouth jar so it’s easy to put your slips of paper in and out of the jar. You can tie ribbon or embellish the jar with your favorites.
    
2. Handwritten messages: Cut slips of paper with scissors or personal trimmer. You can use one color of paper or use several, personalize this to the event or person getting the Friendship Jar. Write out positive words or statements. For example if this is for a special aunt you could write out all the things you love about her from her pretty smile to her fabulous chocolate chip cookies. Fold up the slips of paper and place in jar. I always recommend handwritten notes because the message and words just seem more unique written by you!
    
3. Computer generated messages: This is easy and quick, and if you are a neat freak using a computer will make you happier. Have fun and play with fonts and font size! Write out positive messages and words like described in Step 2. Print. Using your scissors or personal trimmer cut into slips of paper, fold, and place in jar!

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com/Gifts-in-a-Jar/Friendship-Jar/ml/1#46aCRl3v0PRSDGjL.99

Friendship Jar - Used from Favecrafts.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday's Bento...a Day Late!

Yep...I'm late but what can I say?!  Rich had a pretty simple bento yesterday.  He is a tad bit picky so it's tough at times.  I love him no less, though!!  Hubby took the pic at work so I apologize for anything you can't see very well!  Here we go....

Starting in the large compartment in my $1 lunch container with built-in utensils on the lid:  Heart and flower shaped cukes with a cute heart pick in the white silicon muffin cup (Dollar Tree - huge pack for a buck), a Tony's Ham & Cheese stuffed Sammie (I wrote his nuking instructions on it w/ marker so he'd know), bunny rabbit-shaped boiled egg.  Filling in the spaces around it all are 2 Hershey's Kisses and a handful of mixed nuts.  In the smaller compartment I put a cut up Gala Apple (sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning - and it held up nicely from the previous night when I made it) and a little container of Cookie Butter underneath to dip the apples in.  All topped off with a cute flag/star pick from a big pack of stuff from Big Lots!  Cheap is good!  Rich loves to have a boiled egg each day....I'm happy to oblige because it is great, lean protein!

There ya have it!  :)  Oh, I'm going to include a cute pick from a couple of weeks ago.  My niece, Taylor, and I decided to try our hand at homemade sushi.  I really wish I liked it!  Tay and Rich thought it was yumm!

It's pretty, though!  It had avocado, cucumber, and red bell pepper in it (if I am remembering correctly)!

Have an awesome weekend!!  Oh, btw, my birthday is coming up on Monday...know what I want for my bday?  More followers!  Help a sister out!  :)

Peace!
Joy

FREE Stuff for What you would do anyway???

So, I am a SKEPTIC!  When I first heard about SWAGBUCKS, I was in COMPLETE denial that folks would give me something for not doing anymore work.  I am SO glad to say that I was WRONG!  Here is a list of things I have "purchased" through Amazon.com using ONLY gift certificates used that I earned FREE from SwagBucks:

Tascam DP-004 Pocketstudio Digital Recorder (Rich's Christmas Present)

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $119.95 Shipping & Handling: $6.58   ----- Total Before Tax: $126.53

Sanyo HPS-SG3 200-Square-Inch Electric Indoor Barbeque Grill, Black (My Birthday Present)

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $39.99 Shipping & Handling: $10.30 Super Saver Discount: -$10.30   ----- Total Before Tax: $39.99

Honeywell 16216 HEPA-Type Replacement Filter for 16200 Desktop Air Purifier

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $9.00 Shipping & Handling: $4.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $13.99

Sinus Rinse Refill Packets 100 Ea

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $11.09 Shipping & Handling: $4.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $16.08

On a Dollar a Day: One Couple's Unlikely Adventures in Eating in America, Christopher Greenslate, Kerri Leonard

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.85 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.84

The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel, Nancy Pickard

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $2.46 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $6.45

The Tightwad Gazette III: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle, Amy Dacyczyn

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $3.48 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $7.47

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table (Random House Reader's Circle), Ruth Reichl

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $3.65 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $7.64

For You Mom, Finally, Ruth Reichl

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.06 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.05

Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.01 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.00

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, Dave Ramsey

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $7.65 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $11.64

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It, Participant Media, Karl Weber

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $1.21 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $5.20

Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder, Jerry Bledsoe

Payment Method:
Gift Certificate/Card

Item(s) Subtotal: $0.01 Shipping & Handling: $3.99   ----- Total Before Tax: $4.00
HOLY CRAP!  I didn't realize until I just did all of that copying and pasting from my Amazon account that I had earned that much stuff!!  That's right at...what...$300 of stuff that costs me NOTHING!! 

Here's how it works:  You use the SwagBucks search engine like you would "google" or whatever one you use, and you are awarded sporadic bucks for searching whatever you normally would.  This could be 7 bucks or 30 bucks a pop!  They have a store online where you redeem your bucks for TONS of stuff (kinda like earning tickets at the arcade) for various "prices".  The only thing I EVER buy are $5 Amazon gift cards.  They costs me 450 bucks and I buy them, wait for them to appear in my SwagBucks account, then I copy and paste the card number into my Amazon account.  I save up for various things I want.  Right now, I think I have around $30 in my Amazon account that will NEVER expire!  If I can STOP buying books, my goal is to earn enough for a new Keurig coffee maker!  NO STRINGS ATTACHED!!  I even added the SwagBucks toolbar to my internet window so I always have the search box available.  I never type in web addresses...I use that search box so I can earn bucks!  There are tons of ways to earn more as well.  I usually have Rich logged in on our home computer because he signed under me and when his account earns bucks for searching, I earn them too!

SPECIAL RIGHT NOW:  sign-up code “SummerSocial” for a 70 Swag Buck bonus upon registration.  This will allow you to start out with 100 Swag Bucks already in your account – 70 for the sign-up code and the 30 everyone starts with.  This code is only good for NON-MEMBERS and expires Thursday, June 28th at 5pm PDT.  The link below will allow me to earn bucks when you earn them for searching which helps me reach my goal.  I have been a member for probably a year and a half and I wish I would have known about it sooner!  If you have questions or question the validity, please asks me!!

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/PirateGirl342

Father's Day...on the Cheap!

Father's Day is coming up on June 17th..any idea what you're gonna get your dad...or your baby's daddy??  If your dad is like mine was, he has everything!  Unfortunately, I will miss my daddy like crazy like I do everyday, but my Furrybabies always get their dad something.  Here are some FRUGAL Father's Day ideas:

Make a Daddy Caddy: use a recycled coffee can to make a decorative tool caddy for Dad to store things like nuts and bolts for DIY projects.

 Photos for His Desk: give Dad something that he can show off on his desk at his office at work. This cute photo cube is one idea, but use your creativity!

Other Homemade Ideas: a personalized blanket, a cool scrapbook or a duct tape wallet may be the way to go this Father's Day.

A Freshly-Detailed Car

Here are a few sites for Craft Ideas for the Kids!

Family Crafts

Family Fun

Martha Stewart

Father's Day Freebies

TCBY: head to your local TCBY location to pick up a free frozen yogurt on Father's Day! 

Free Personalized Cards: send dad a free Father's Day photo card from Cardstore.com. Just enter in coupon code LUVDAD2 at checkout after you've selected you card. Offer is good through June 8th and shipping is also free. 

Make Your Own Free Cards: print your own cards for free from one of these 20 great sites. 

Vistaprint Freebies: find free customizable gifts, like business cards, mugs, t-shirts and more over at Vistaprint.

Frugal Ways to Pay It Forward (PIF)!

How good does it feel to Pay It Forward (PIF)?  I have paid for the guy/gal behind me at the drive thru or printed out an extra coupon for Michael's and brought it with me to give someone.  Just because your broke doesn't mean you can't Pat It Forward!  Sometimes all it takes is time.  TipHero had a few ideas on how to frugally Pay It Forward and I wanted to share them with you!

• Roll Spare Change. Collect all of your spare change and roll it up. You can take half of what you gathered to a favorite charity or an animal shelter. You'll be surprised by how much you find and you won't even miss it when it's gone.
• Coupons. You might get coupon inserts in your Sunday paper or in the mail. Maybe you use them and maybe you don't. There might even be many that you don't have a need for such as ones for pet food or diapers. Many grocery stores have coupon exchange bins at the entrance where you can drop off your unwanted coupons or you can give them to families that you know of that use products that you don't.  I also leave coupons tucked beside the product they are for around the store.  
• Time. Giving your time doing a bit of yard work for an elderly neighbor, or watching a friend's small children while she runs errands are very valuable gestures. Volunteer groups are always looking for additional help.
• Food Pantry. Food pantries need contributions year-round. The next time you see grocery items at rock-bottom sale prices or a buy one get one free promotion, just toss a few extras in the cart. Every time you've collected a small amount, simply swing by a food bank and make you donation.  I do this all of the time, usually to friends/family/neighbors.  I clean out my pantry and freezer every time I know someone I know is having a hard time.  I appear on their front porch with several bags of groceries and a smile.  It makes me feel so good to see them smile!
• Clothing Drive. While donating your old clothes to clothing drives, women's shelters, and the Salvation Army is charitable in itself, why not take it a step further and throw some new items into the mix. Snagging heavily discounted toys after the holidays or hitting up end-of-season clearance sales will offset your out-of-pocket expense.  Recently, Wal-Mart had T-shirts and shorts marked down to a buck!!  I stocked up on various sizes and brought them to school.  SEVERAL kids truly needed a few new items.  

What are some other ideas do you have for PAYING IT FORWARD?  What are some things you have done??  After all, we are in this thing called LIFE together!

Cheap Mulit-Guitar Stand!! DIY

As many of you know my hubby is a musician.  He only has about 482 guitars...so maybe I'm exaggerating a little but he has A LOT!  He has a guitar stand that holds 5 but he had outgrown that.  He went searching for multi-guitar stands online but they were right at $100!  He knew I'd have a baby cow so he went searching for a way to cut costs....did I tell ya' I taught him right!?  

He found the instructions on how to create one online using PVC piping.  He made me a list and I went to Lowe's and picked it up because I was off work that day.  You will not believe how little this thing costs!  It would also make a great gift for any friends/family that you have who are musicians.  Check out the break down:

All Piping and fixtures are 3/4 inch in diameter.

1  10 Ft PVC Pipe  $1.68

5  caps  .20 each = $1.00

1  piece (6 ft) insulated pipe wrap  $1.18

14  T's  .29 each = $4.06

6  elbows  .28 each = $1.68

4 oz (smallest you can buy) jar of PVC cement  $3.38 for the jar, he used 1oz = $.95

GRAND TOTAL (tax included because I had to pay it too) $11.29

Estimated Savings = $88.71 = almost 89%

How cool is that?!?!  As I mentioned, this is a GREAT gift idea!  It took hubby about 1 hour to complete it and it looks awesome as you can see below:

If you want to cover the white piping you could always do so with all of the various colors of Duck Tape they have out now.  I suggested the Tie-Dyed one to hubby.  I think that will probably be done later! 

NOW for the PIMPED out Guitar Stand....

We have some kinda black n' white zebra thingie going!  CUTE!!

Until Next Time...Rocking Out w/ Our Cheap Guitar Stand,

Joy

Bargain Crafts - Candy Bouquet

I mentioned earlier that I love to give things to people for no special occasion.  I especially like homemade stuff!  :)  I have a friend (you KNOW who you are) that is SO creative you just wanna smack her!!  lol  BUT you wouldn't because she's so awesome and generous.  :)

I wanted to share with you something I made recently for "someone" special for a birthday (I haven't given it to him/her yet).  I have had several people try and convince me I needed to give it to them!  It was so much fun and cheap to make - if you know where to go for supplies.  I'm going to list the supplies needed, where I got them, and how much I spent.  I'll be glad to tell you how to make it...just comment and let me know!

Candy Bouquet

9 full size candy bar (including a pack of reese's pieces) $1.50 (6 for $1) @ Michelle's Grocery

3 pks of Oreos (2 in a pack) .15 (20 pks for $1) @ Michelle's Grocery

4 little individually wrapped candies less than .01 each=.02 (a huge bag for .49 after Christmas) @ BJ's

3 Lindt Chocolate Truffles .24 (30 pk for $2.50 after Christmas) @ Walgreens

10 hard candies in the bottom of vase .14 (bag of about 70 for $1) @ Dollar Tree 

2 sheets of colored tissue paper .05 (40 ct. for $1) @ Dollar Tree

1 vase $1 @ Dollar Tree (and it's heavy glass)

1 squiggly bow .25 (4 on card for $1 after Christmas) @ Big Lots

19 bamboo skewers .37 (50 in pack for .99) @ Wal-Mart (I think..I've had them for a while)

2 mini glue sticks .10 (20 in pack for $1) @ Dollar Tree

1 small foam cylinder .50 (2 in pk for $1) @ Dollar Tree

Total (including tax on the items I was charged it on) =  $4.51  :)  VERY happy with that total!!

What are some other ideas you have for cute gifts on a budget?  Please share them!

Still peeling glue off my fingers,
Joy

I finally did it!

I've always wanted to blog about various life experiences, but fear of the unknown has stopped me until now.  I figured what better time to start it then on the 1st of a brand new year!  I am still trying to figure out what to do so please be patient with me!

I have always loved reading blogs....especially those about living on less $$ because...well....I'm cheap!  I have to be though...I am a teacher!  :)  My niece, Rosemary, who is also my shopping partner, bff, etc always says that even if she was rich, she'd still seek out bargains!  I agree!  Whenever I feel I have gotten something as cheap as I could get it, I feel accomplished!  Funny, huh but you understand, don't you? 

Things I would like to accomplish using this blog:

• Sharing my finds with friends as well as receiving tips from you!
• Challenge myself as well as all of you to do various things to save money or live a happier lifestyle.
• Being the Queen of Cheap, I am always on the lookout for new ways to save, esp. ideas that will help me with my "giving" issue.  I LOVE to give gifts to people out of the blue so being able to find good deals is imperative! 
• Going along with the previous reason, I love to create handmade, thoughtful gifts for people I care about.  I love sharing my ideas as well as hearing yours.  I am so not your normal "crafty" person.  I have to work at it...big time!

With all that being said, I truly hope we can build a relationship of give and take.  I welcome you to share your tips and idea with me so that my other friends will see them as well.  I also would love to hear your ideas as to what you would like to see in this blog.  I'm a newbie!  I have ZERO experience with this!  As a matter of fact, I haven't created my profile yet!  I'm heading to do that as soon as I'm finished here.  Let's do this together!  I am SO excited!!