I have been out of work for 1 1/2 years and my sick leave pay ran out last March. I have 7 siblings and their families plus my 2 kids to buy gifts for on birthdays and holidays.
Here's my solution!
I get free samples off the web, choose the appropriate ones for certain people and ages. I buy small gift bags from the dollar store and chock them full of various samples and other free stuff.
Children, teens and adults love them! (And it's like Christmas everyday in my mail box!)
By Gwen from Palatka, FL
Gwen, do you get free samples from WalMart site? Your idea is wonderful. I wish you the best.God Bless. (08/03/2008)
By Keeper
I LOVE my "freebie sites"! I've done this once or twice as gifts and are they great to have around as 'stocking stuffers' at Xmas time, too! (08/04/2008)
By doodles
I was wondering what some of your favorite freebie sites are. I basically only get free samples from Walmart but would love to find other good sites. What do you suggest?
(08/04/2008)
By Cindy
It sounds like you are smart to do what you can to give gifts. Here is what I have been doing since I have not been able to work. I spent 25.00 dollars at the fair to make a nice, "old thyme" photo of myself. Then, I took it home and scanned it. The relatives close got a print out with a home made or Dollar Tree frame I fancied up. Those far away got an attachment that they printed and framed themselves. They understand and love the fact that I am practical. Another cool thing to put in those gift bags is your favorite recipes. Check out google for "graphics" and you can find some who are copyright free and they are recipe cards, or you can find them pretty cheap at thrift stores.
Gwen, some years ago, with growing families and dwindling budgets, one of my sisters suggested that we eliminate the holiday gifts to each other and all children over the age of 13 and to limit the amount we spent on each child younger than that, except for our own immediate families. Then, we had a drawing and each person got to pick the name of one adult to get a gift for and an affordable dollar amount was set. This worked wonders!
We were all relieved of the running around and the stress, we had more time to choose something appropriate (and sometimes hilarious); even the children appreciated it. They, in turn, had to present each of the adults with a homemade gift and were they clever! Paintings, poems, drawings, origami. They amazed us all and our annual celebration was spent with each other without the frenzy that had taken place in the past and has become one of the most beloved times we have together every year. (08/04/2008)
By
Another great "freebie" site is Startsampling.com. Also, you can google "samples", "free samples", or "freebies", and you will find a list of freebie sites. Good hunting. (08/04/2008)
By Jana
My favorite sites are: justfreestuff.com shop4freebies. com and freecycle.yahoo.com or just type "free samples"in your search engine and it should show many, many free sites! (08/05/2008)
By Gwen Smith
3 of the best sites I visit everyday (and sometimes more!) are:
www.mommysavesbig.com
www.spoofee.com
www.todaysfreebies.com
These are great; no "gimmicks" attached (08/06/2008)
By doodles
I get freebies off the internet, too. Some friends and I swap our freebie finds info. One pal says she gives what freebies she doesn't use to her local VFW and the Vets then send the freebies off to our troops stationed in other countries. Another pal says she gives what freebies she doesn't use to her neighbor who has children in college and they're the recipients of her extra freebies. So all get used. (08/07/2008)
By badwater
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