| Have you ever said "I wish we didn't have to | | | | inside lids and bottoms with wallpaper, |
| spend so much money on Christmas?" or "I wish | | | | newspaper or wrapping paper.When buying |
| we could have Christmas without going into | | | | clothes out of season, buy them a little |
| debt!" Well here is your answer - tell your | | | | larger for next year. Also if you find a |
| family that next Christmas no one is allowed | | | | really good buy but it is a |
| to buy a new, expensive gift for anyone! | | | | |
| Yes, I really said that. Tell them that all | | | | little large get it anyway. If it will save |
| presents must be from garage sales, tag | | | | you money when the child gets a little |
| sales, yard sales, auctions, handmade or made | | | | larger, it is worth the storage. Bed |
| over.You really need to start now, or start | | | | |
| next spring/summer, hit all the garages sales | | | | spreads; comforters and sheets are always |
| and auctions that you can. Find items that | | | | found at sales. This is a good buy if you |
| your family collects, things from sports | | | | find your color or design. Used |
| teams that they like, such as T-shirts with | | | | |
| silly sayings, posters, glasses, etc. Pick | | | | sheets, etc., are also great to send off to |
| up craft items that will look cute around | | | | college, camp or in kids rooms.Educational |
| someone's home. You can find games for the | | | | toys abound at garage sales. Be sure and ask |
| kids by the carload and puzzles abound for | | | | if they work, even better carry a couple of |
| that person who lives to do puzzles. You | | | | batteries with you |
| won't believe how many golf clubs you can | | | | |
| find, bicycles, tricycles, baby toys and | | | | and try them out. Dead batteries are |
| clothes. You can find records, cassettes and | | | | usually the reason toys don't work. If you |
| videos (old classics make great gifts). Did | | | | need to find baby things, go to |
| you know that a 45 record of Elvis in the | | | | |
| cardboard cover was found for a quarter | | | | neighborhoods that tend to have younger |
| recently and a collector offered the person | | | | families. Older neighborhoods with older |
| $150.00 for it. Think how many gifts you can | | | | homes will have more things since |
| collect over the summer for a quarter to a | | | | |
| dollar. The person who collects cats or | | | | they have had longer to collect. Older or |
| bears can double their collection just from | | | | middle aged families will also have good |
| items you find. You will be amazed at the | | | | children's furniture such as playpens, |
| silly things you can find at garage sales for | | | | |
| that special brother, sister or best | | | | high chairs, etc., since they usually have |
| friend.Look at items as they will look | | | | grandchildren who have outgrown these |
| cleaned up or painted. Pieces of furniture | | | | items.My family did this several years ago |
| like cabinets, bookcases, dressers can look | | | | and the floor was covered with gifts, |
| terrific if sanded and restained or painted | | | | hundreds of them. What fun you can have |
| the color of someone's room theme. You can | | | | |
| make them match by adding | | | | opening something silly or watching the face |
| | | | of a family member as they unwrap a |
| wood cutouts, decals, or ornaments. Cute 2 | | | | collectible. The people in your family |
| and 3 drawer end tables for playrooms, a home | | | | |
| office or kids room can be | | | | who are crafty can present everyone with a |
| | | | beautiful handmade item that they will |
| painted with each drawer a different color | | | | treasure for many years. The year |
| or painting stripes. Knobs can be painted or | | | | |
| replaced. Old trunks, foot | | | | we did this we had absolutely NO BILLS, NO |
| | | | CREDIT CARD DEBT or empty bank accounts. Try |
| lockers, old part metal suitcases can be | | | | it one year and you will |
| made into neat storage or toy boxes. Be sure | | | | |
| to fix lids so they won't fall on | | | | probably be hooked plus you will be amazed |
| | | | how nice it is to not have to worry about |
| children when they are open. Decoupage the | | | | paying for it the rest of the year. |