Save on Holiday Gifts and Prevent Overspending

Are you thinking about Christmas yet? I know it’s early.  Some of you may even be complaining about the Christmas items showing up in store already.  However, if you want to save on your holiday gifts and prevent overspending, you need to start planning now. Don’t get stuck with a mound of bills and buyer’s remorse during the new year. These easy tips will help get you on the right track to rock your holiday budget this year.

Last year the average family of four planned to spend over $600 on gifts for immediate family! Join the #DIYHolidayChallenge to save on holiday gifts and prevent overspending this season!

The Numbers

According to an article published last December on Mintlife.com “mothers expect[ed] to spend $224 on average for gifts for each child” and a similar amount on their spouses (How Much to Spend on Christmas Gifts for Kids by Mary Hiers).  For a family of four, that adds up to over $600!  That number doesn’t even include extended family, friends, and coworkers.  Also, that is just what the women surveyed planned to spend.  How many people do you know (or perhaps have had it happen to you) that have been remorseful of overspending after the holidays?  Planning early can help you avoid this because remorse has no place in a season that is supposed to be filled with joy and love.

 

[bctt tweet=”Save on your holiday gifts and prevent overspending by planning now with these tips! ” username=”diyadulation”]

 

Determine Your Total Budget

The first step in planning is determining your total holiday budget.  This step is crucial to preventing over-spending.  Before you buy any gifts or even brainstorm gift ideas, sit down and think about what you realistically have to spend on gifts.  If your budget looks too small to fulfill all of your gifting needs/obligations, don’t worry.  I can help you achieve an amazing holiday on a small budget.

 

Join the #DIYHolidayChallenge to save on holiday gifts and prevent overspending this season!

Allocate Funds

Once you determine what you truly have to spend, it is time to divide that total amount among all of the people on your list.  Obviously your immediate family is going to get more of the budget than friends or coworkers and that’s okay.  Don’t worry if you are staring at only five to spend on a friend.  Again, I can help you with that.

 

Plan for DIY Projects

The caveat is that a small budget requires early planning and often a lot of do-it-yourself ideas.  Lucky for you that you have a secret weapon: DIY Adulation.

Starting now, subscribers will have access to a VIP only holiday page that will have a new frugal DIY gift idea every Saturday!  This exclusive page will help you create beautiful, handmade gifts for every person on your list that they will actually want.  How do I know it can be done?  I know because I have been doing this for our family for years now.

The Challenge

Every year we have saved more and more on gifts.  This year’s goal is a $500 budget.  Yep, $500 for all of the 30 people on our shopping list.  Sign up for our newsletter and be a part of this holiday journey now with a free printable Holiday Gift Budget available only to subscribers.  You will also get to see our family’s budget at the end of the season to see if I achieve the $500 holiday goal!  Join the challenge and save on holiday gifts this year!

Make this your most joyous holiday season ever by avoiding the overspending remorse later.  You can do it and I’ll be here to help you along the way.

See where I’m linking up!

 

DIY Marriage Wall Art

Sometimes it can be difficult to remember that marriage is a partnership.  In our family, my husband works third shift at his civilian job in addition to being a member of the Army National Guard (and having served two tours).  This pretty much means that our time together is coveted.  It also means that I am in charge of most of the day-to-day workings of our home and family.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple #DIY #marriage #wallart.”]

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

If you are anything like us, you and your spouse can get caught up in your respective roles and forget that you’re supposed to be in this together.  Instead of traveling on an intertwined path, you and your spouse being living parallel lives separate from each other.  This is dangerous for your marriage and sometimes takes a conscious effort to avoid.  This DIY marriage wall art can be a prominent reminder in your home to not only keep your marriage on track but also provide and excellent model for your children as well, especially when they see you and your spouse living it.

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

Materials

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

Step 1

Cover entire canvas with black acrylic paint, including the edges.

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

Step 2

Once the paint has dried, write the word “MARRIAGE” vertically down the center of the canvas with your pencil.

Tip:

  • Start in the middle and work your way to the top and bottom of the canvas.  This will help you achieve more even spacing with your letters.

Step 3

Still using your pencil, write the remaining horizontal words on your canvas:

M EANS

p A rtnership

wo R king

fo R giveness

fr I endship

l A ughter

encoura G ement

(means, partnership, working, forgiveness, friendship, laughter, encouragement)

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

Step 4

Carefully go over all of your letters with white paint.  It may require 2 or more coats.  Just continue adding coats of white paint over your letters until you achieve your desired look.

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

Step 5

Stamp hearts onto the canvas, also with white.

Tips:

  • To keeps stamped images from being too heavy with paint, use a paint brush to put of thin layer on the stamp and then stamp on canvas.
  • Be sure to turn your stamp various directions when stamping (occasionally stamping partially off of the edge of the canvas) to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing look.

Step 6

After paint has fully dried, create the distressed look using a dry brush technique.

Tips:

  • Dip your brush into the white paint then brush back and forth on a scrap piece of paper 2-3 times, leaving only a small amount of paint in the bristles.  Then brush onto canvas.
  • Brush over the entire canvas (including words and stamped images) during this step.

 

Step 7

Choose floral stems that match the décor in your home and glue them along the edges as pictured.  Try to arrange them in a way that does not cover the words on your painting.  If some flowers or leaves do cover your words, pull them back and glue them into place.

 

Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own using this simple DIY marriage wall art.

This simple DIY can have such an impact.  Make one for your own home and make another to give as a beautiful wedding gift to newlyweds to help them start their marriage on the right path.  Let’s build marriages up any small way we can, starting with our own.

See where I’m linking up!

Invest in You First with the Military Spouse Wellness Summit

Invest in yourself with the first ever free, online Military Spouse Wellness Summit

We all know the importance of taking care of ourselves to be at our best for our families.  When it comes to actually doing this, however, we struggle with putting ourselves first.  It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and put our own needs on the back burner.  That is why I am an ambassador for the First Annual Military Spouse Wellness Summit.  I want to help you start putting your personal wellness as a top priority.  Want to know the best part?  This event is online and 100% free thanks to InDependent, The Army Wife Network, and The USAA Educational Foundation.

Military Spouse Wellness Summit 2015

What is the Military Spouse Wellness Summit?

It is a free online event that will give you access to 10 interviews with experts about health, nutrition, fitness, and finance.  These are all designed to help you be the best version of yourself each day.

Military Spouse Wellness Summit 2015

When and Where is the Summit?

The Summit begins Monday, October 19 and ends Friday, October 23 with a bonus day Saturday when they announce the big-prize winner!  Listen online! You can join up while on a walk enjoying the fall weather or tearing it up on the treadmill at the gym. The recordings will available during the week of the event (Oct. 19-24).

[bctt tweet=”Mark your calendars for the #MilSpouse Wellness Summit, October 19-23. It’s a free online event with gifts! @independent_org #MSWS15″]

What Do You Get When You Register?

EVERY REGISTERED participant receives a 1-year membership to Thrive Market (Retail Value $49) and a chance to win tons of PRIZES by MetLife Dental, MSB New Media, SpouseBox, Elva Publishing, QALO rings, Lucy Activewear, and many more.  Registration is easy!  Simply click on any of the pictures in this post or click here!

Bonus for DIY Adulation Readers

In support of this event I’m starting a new series exclusively for you to help promote your wellness in the weeks leading up to the Summit.  Check back on Monday for the first article, a tutorial for a DIY Yoga Mat Bag!  Join me and many others at the 2015 Military Spouse Wellness Summit and start putting your best foot forward every day!

Military Spouse Wellness Summit