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Buy Smart

THM Kroger Deals 1/17/21

January 17, 2021 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Save money on your favorite Trim Healthy Mama products this week. Here are the best THM Kroger Deals 1/17/21.

Best THM Deals @ Kroger THis Week - 1_17_21

When I was in my mid-20’s, I moved across the USA from Tennessee to Texas. I spent what seemed like a ton of money at the time to move. And I also quit my job before I left with no job in TX waiting on me. Smart, right?

So after spending a bunch of money and no way to replace it (remember no job!), I had to find a way to survive while I found employment.

I found out about these cool things called blogs and started reading some that taught you how to save money and coupon. I even took a class in Houston by one of my favorite bloggers, Tiffany at MyLitter. 

She taught me (and a bunch of others in the class) the grocery game. How to get tons of products for very little OOP (out of pocket) money. And it helped me eat and pay my bills during that time period!

And now that I’m a Trim Healthy Mama, I want to show you how to get the best THM Kroger Deals 1/17/21.

Never Miss a THM Deal – Join the Protecting Your THM Pennies Facebook page.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

THM Kroger Deals 1/17/21

*Prices listed are my local prices in West TN. Check your store for accurate pricing.

Bubbly Sparkling Water $3.99 (Buy 2)
Coupon 1: Save $3 on 2 (With Pickup or Delivery)
Coupon 2: Save .75 on 1 (Best Customer Bonus May not be available to everyone)
Expires: 2/7 
Total Cost: $4.23 or $2.11 per 8 pack

Chobani Complete Single Cup $1.25 (buy 4)
Coupon 1: Save $1 on 4
Ibotta Rebate: .75 Back 
Expires: 2/16
Total Cost: $4 OOP + .75 Back on Ibotta (.81 per cup)

Need a free Ibotta Account? Get one here & start earning rebates that transfer directly to your bank account or Paypal.

Simple Truth Organic Sprouted Bread $4.00
Coupon 1: Save 0.75 on 1
Expires: 1/26
Total Cost: $3.25
*This is probably my favorite on plan bread

Prego No Sugar Added Sauce $2.00 (buy 2)
Coupon 1:$1 off 2
Ibotta Rebate: .75 back
Expires: 1/26
Total Cost: $3 OOP + .75 Back on Ibotta ($1.12 per jar)

Bai or Bai Tea 18 oz Bottle $1.99 (Buy 2)
Coupon 1: .50 on 1 (will take off twice)
Ibotta Rebate: .50 back
Expires: 1/26
Total Cost: $2.98 OOP + .50 Back on Ibotta ($1.24 each)

Try this Bai Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet.

Truvia Naturally Sweet Calorie-Free Stevia Sweetener 9.8 oz $6.49
Coupon 1: $1.50 off 
Ibotta Rebate: $1.50 off 
Expires:2/28
Total Cost: $4.99 OOP + 1.50 Back on Ibotta ($3.49)

Love Grown Original Power O’s Cereal 8 oz $4.59 (Personal Choice)
Coupon 1: $1 off
Ibotta Rebate: $1.50 Back
Expires:2/21
Total Cost: $3.59 + $1.50 Back on Ibotta ($2.09 per bx)

See how I like to eat Love Grown O’s on this THM No Cook Meal Plan.

Banza Chickpea Pasta $3.00 (Buy 2)
Coupon 1: Save $1 on 2
Ibotta Rebate: $1 back (will be redeemable 2 times per receipt)
Expires:1/26
Total Cost: $5 OOP +$2 Back on Ibotta ($1.50 per bx)

Lily’s Chocolate Bar $2.99
Coupon 1: Save $1 (Use up to 5 times)
Expires: 1/26
Total Cost: $1.99 per bar **Great Price**

Who says you can’t eat well on a budget!?!

Tips for Saving the Most Money

There are a few things to make your couponing journey a little easier & to ensure you get your deals. 

Download Ibotta & Check Rebates On Shopping Day

Sign up for a free account here. Ibotta rebates do expire so it is best to search the app on the date of your shopping trip to ensure everything is still available. 

It is no fun to think you are going to get a rebate only to find it expired after you bought the item. 

Remember that at this time, Ibotta doesn’t allow the pick up receipt from Kroger. This means you have to shop in store and get a traditional receipt for the Ibotta rebate items.

Check the Current Sales Price + Coupon Expiration

The expiration date listed is for the coupon. However, if the item is on sale right now, buying it before the next sales cycle would be beneficial to get the best price. For example, the Lily’s bars are on sale this week so when you combine with the coupon, you get the best possible price. 

Never Miss a THM Deal – Join the Protecting Your THM Pennies Facebook page.

Filed Under: Buy Smart, Discounts, Featured, Trim Healthy Mama Tagged With: Cooking through THM, Kroger, THM Deals

Skin Care Routine in Your 30’s Under $10 Per Product

November 2, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

A quick and easy, once a week skin care routine to use in your 30’s. It is so affordable with each product being $10 or less!

Easy Skincare Routine in Your 30's For Glowing & Youthful Skin - All products are Under $10

When I am working I often have background noise on in the background. In the mornings, the Today Show is what I always have on. I love the mix of real news, uplifting stories, and style/self care segments. 

A couple of months ago, they had a beauty segment about 6 steps anyone can follow to get glowing skin.  That sounds great and all but it isn’t what hooked me. 

What grabbed my attention was that this plan was for those of us (like all of us) that have limited time during the week for self care and our facial routine.

Bobbie Thomas  talked about how this is a great routine for those of us that consider a makeup wipe our evening face care routine. Uhm, slow hand raise. And I am absolutely terrible about not even using the makeup wipe and sleeping in my makeup. I know, I know. My mom tells me all the time how awful this is. 

So this segment grabbed my attention. She promoted it as a once a week routine to renew your glow and take care of your face. 

Once a week was doable so I decided to try it. 

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Check out these 30 gift ideas for women in their 30’s!

Skin Care Routine in Your 30’s Under $10 Per Product

So once a week she wants you to do a series of things to your face to remove old makeup, exfoliate, work on fine lines, moisturize and glow. 

I love that it is a simple routine and although it has several steps, it is quick. And it is economical. Bobbie Thomas showed 3 different options for each item that she suggested. I chose to try out the least expensive product for each one. 

Here is what you do to complete this 6 step skin care routine in your 30’s Under $10 per product (and I recommend running a bath and relaxing while you do it!). 

  1. Melts – Pond’s Cleansing Balm                                                                                                                                                               Pond's Cleansing Balm

    Melts were not only a product that I had never tried but also one I had not even heard of. And it is probably my favorite item in this list! 

    I was pretty hesitant about trying the Pond’s Cleansing balm. Mostly because I grew up watching my Mom take her makeup off with the traditional Pond’s Cold Cream and I don’t like that product. 

    But the cleansing balm is totally different! You apply a small amount to dry skin until it “melts” into your skin. It does a really nice job removing mascara and other makeup without leaving residue.

    It has a pleasant and soft scent (not overpowering like the original cold cream). It also leaves your skin feeling very soft and moisturized. 

  2.  Exfoliating – Bliss Jelly Glow Peel                                                                                                                                                      Bliss Jelly Glow Peel Exfoliator

    This product was another one that I had not tried before. A jelly peel is just what the name suggests. The product is jelly like.

    When you rub it in, you will feel a very light exfoliate but it definitely doesn’t have that sandpaper feel that some scrubs have. It is much more gentle and comfortable to use.

    When you wash the jelly off, it kind of rolls off. The texture is very different from a traditional exfoliator. The peel has a pleasant light fruit scent.

  3. Bakuchiol – Bakuchiol Regenerating Facial Sheet Mask 

    Bakuchiol Regenerating Facial Sheet Mask
    I was familiar with sheet masks so this wasn’t different for me. This is the longest part of this skin care routine because you need to wear the mask for about 15 or 20 minutes (this is where that bubble bath comes in). Bakuchiol is a plant based alternative to Retinol which will help with the fine lines that start to pop up in your 30’s! 

  4. Sunscreen – Pond’s Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF

    Pond's SPF Moisturizer
    The sunscreen on the Today show segment is >$10 and I like the sunscreen that I use so I didn’t try this part out.  

    The Pond’s with SPF is the moisturizer that I use daily and it is >$10!

  5. Illuminators – Milani Soft Focus Glow 

    Milani Soft Glow Illuminator
    They said to mix with your moisturizer on the Today show before applying to your skin. I may have used too much regular moisturizer the first time but I couldn’t see any illuminating effects when using this method. 

    I ended up trying it like this and love it. Apply moisturizer/sunscreen combo. Once that is dry, I apply the Milani to my cheekbones to give a gently highlight and shimmer. 

If you are looking for some new products to try, this Skin Care Routine in Your 30’s Under $10 Per Product is worthy of review. Do you have any favorite beauty products that are $10 or less? Tell me about them in the comments! 

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Filed Under: Buy Smart, Featured

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Women in Their 30s

November 21, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These 30 Christmas gift ideas for women in their 30s are at the top of their list this holiday season. And now you know what to get them (or what to put on your own list)!

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for woman in 30s

I don’t know about you but this time of year I am always struggling what to buy others and even what to put on my own Christmas list. 

My sister is a 30 something year old as am I. So as I was trying to come up with gift ideas for her and things to put on my own list, I thought I would share some of my favorite things this year with you. 

These presents range from about 5-$10 to total splurges (and everything in between)! There is surely something in your budget that will be well received and loved this Christmas season.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Check out this easy face care routine that I use for women in their 30’s.

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Women in Their 30s

The year of 2020. Ah, what a year. Where else better to start in the list of 30 Christmas gift ideas for women in their 30s than the pajama aisle! 

1. Women’s Perfectly Cozy Pajama Set

Target. Target. Target. Oh how I love thee. These pajamas are amazing! so soft, comfortable and reasonably priced! I’ve literally worn these every single night since I got them. 

My husband grabbed them the other morning & was like can I please wash these. Haha – only if you can get them dried by 9 pm. 

Fit: the fit is generous. I wouldn’t say big but definitely a comfy/pj style fit. I’m a medium & 5’4. They are a bit long on me which doesn’t really matter to me because they are pj’s but these would be great for taller women that don’t want their ankles hanging out. 

They also have flannel and nightgown options in this same “Perfectly Cozy” line. I asked my husband for the leopard print PJs for Christmas.

2. Hanacure All In One Facial Set 

When women hit their 30s and especially mid 30s into the 40s, tiny fine lines start popping up that you are not used to. Skip the Botox and try this home facial kit. 

Admittedly it is is a little strange but better than a bunch of needles to the face! You simply paint the product onto your face using an included brush. Then I hop in the tub with a good podcast. 

Here is the weird part, as the product starts to dry it pulls your skin and feels tight. You are supposed to keep your facial muscles still – no talking, smiling etc. 

I don’t think it hurts at all. Just feels tight. I do it at night because my face is typically a little red immediately after doing a mask. 

When I wake up the next morning I can tell such a difference. My mom is in her early 60’s and she uses it and always gets compliments about how she looks much younger than her actual age. 

This is definitely a worthy splurge and one kit will be 4 applications. I space mine out to around 1 a month so that would last me for four months! Pretty economical when you look at it like that. 

3. Apple AirPods Pro

When you are in your 30s, sometimes you buy a little splurge for yourself! Sometime during the COVID lockdown, these ear pods made their way into my cart. Great for women that love listening to music or those true crime podcasts! 

I use them on my walks, at my desk and even in the bath tub! Don’t skimp on these and get the lower cost model. The AirPods Pro have the cushioned ear piece and that comfort is worth the extra money!

4. C.C. Ponytail/Messy Bun Caps

Love these messy bun/pony tail caps. They are great for early morning at the ball field or Saturday morning errands. 

Being able to pull her ponytail through the top is so much more comfortable & just makes it look cuter! Don’t love the leopard? They have tons of different colors and prints. 

5. Boxycharm Subscription Box

Boxycharm is one that I have subscribed to before but there are tons of options out there. In the monthly Boxycharm box, she will receive 5 full size makeup or skincare products. 

I love getting to try new products and the fun of the surprise every month is exciting. Several items that I received over the months became favorites and I wouldn’t have known about them without this subscription service. 

6. Brumate Slim Can Coozie

If she loves the Truly or White Claw spiked seltzers, she will love this can coozie! The stainless steel design keeps your drink cold and the slim design fits the cans perfectly. 

7. Bissell Crosswave

I know, I know. It is a big joke to give a woman a vacuum cleaner. But this is one of my top picks because it is so amazing. You can read the complete review of this product from my perspective here.

It is a time saver and cleans so much better than my steam mop does.

8. Bamboo Charcuterie Board

Women of this age grew up eating Lunchables at school every day. And now they love the grown up appetizer version of their old lunch staple. 

This charcuterie board has a hidden utensil drawer that holds the spreaders and cutlery. Here are some ideas for things to put on a charcuterie platter.

9. Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

This product is so moisturizing and easy to use. It is great especially in the winter months when your skin faces all the harsh elements of winter. 

The little bottle goes a long way too & will last much longer than you might expect.  

10. Sweet Water Candles 

A nice burning candle and a bubble bath is one of my very favorite ways to relax. These candles are hand poured in Pennsylvania & I always like supporting American made. 

11. Belif Eye Bomb 

I received this product in an Influenster Vox Box and it is amazing. After a particularly stressful week, I noticed the skin around my eyes was looking tired & the fine lines seemed a little more bold then normal. 

After just a couple of applications, I could see a difference in the appearance of my face. It also has a nice and light scent without being overpowering. 

The product is very moisturizing and a good consistency without being greasy. 

12. Love Beauty and Planet Hand Cream 

The size and price of this hand cream makes it a great stocking stuffer. It is a clean product that is Vegan, Dye-free and paraben free. I love it because it has a light scent that smells nice but doesn’t overwhelm. 

It is a good consistency without being greasy or watery. My skin is looking much better being hydrated!

13. Dry Bar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush

Love the idea of a blow out but no time to do it or hate spending the money on it? This Dry Bar blow out brush combines a blow dryer and a round brush in one. 

It works great to add volume and make my daughter’s very thin hair look fuller and healthier. I found it to be a bit more of a learning curve for my thick and wavy hair. But once you get it down, it offers a sleek look. 

14. Aerogarden Havest Elite 360 Herb Garden

This one is on my list for this year! It is a counter top unit with a sleek design that grows herbs using an LED light. Which makes it perfect for growing in apartments or condos with low natural light! 

They have larger units if you have a bit more space and want to grow up to 24 different pods. The idea of having fresh herbs at my fingertips without the worry of killing them sounds lovely. The units even have a vacation mode! 

15. Ello Stemless Wine Glasses

When we were on vacation a couple of years ago, the condo that we stayed in had these wine glasses. I used them once and was hooked. 

You get a wine glass made of glass that is wrapped up in a silicone cover to protect it. Making it great for outdoor use by the pool or even just indoors without a coaster. 

The cute colors don’t hurt either! Not a wine drinker? They have glass tumblers with the same silicone cover, great for water or sweet tea.

16. Tile Pro Pack

Always losing keys, purse or iPad? I know I do and these tile locators allow you to track any of your lost items with the app. 

Such a a great tool to help on those busy mornings when you don’t have time to look for those lost keys. 

17. Modern Monet – Adult Paint By Number

A few years ago, the adult coloring books were all the rage. This year the stakes have been raised with this Modern Monet kit. Everything that you need to create your masterpiece is included. 

18. Weighted Blanket

This one from West Elm is definitely a splurge but I love that it is so beautiful in addition to being functional. If the splurge isn’t in your budget, you can still have a more moderately priced weighted blanket this year for less.

19.  Ugg Slippers

If she loves her boots, these house slippers will amaze her on the weekends. They have tons of styles and colors from the traditional brown Ugg color with cream fur to more fun and wild options like leopard or multi colored sequins.

20. Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

I have been really wanting to break away from the coffee maker that I use. This Ninja looks amazing and delivers coffee house style mugs of deliciousness to you at home. The fact that it does iced & hot coffee is enough to make me want it – not to mention all the other benefits like no pods. 

21. Pomchies Face Masks

Ok, I don’t know if this is actually going to be on her Christmas list but I have to mention it. These are absolutely, hands down the best facial covering out there. My step daughter came home from college with some and I immediately ordered a cart full for me and another daughter. 

The masks are made of a swim wear material. The most comfortable & breathable mask you will ever wear and they dry super quick when you need to wash them with no shrinkage. 

Throw a 2 pack in her stocking. It is 2020 after all – kinda like underwear, you just gotta have it. 

22. A Mother’s Necklace

I was looking through a group that I’m in on Facebook and people were stating their Christmas wishes. Tons of mamas wanted a necklace with their children’s names on it. 

I have a piece from Lisa Leonard that represents my kids and love it. My favorites are the bar necklaces personalized with names or the necklace with just the children’s birthstone for a little more subtle look.

23. Wine

She needs something to go in those cute wine glasses you got from #15 in the list! A nice red or white from Wine.com is a great place to start looking for the perfect bottle. 

24. Le Creuset Dutch Oven 

She can make soup or even sourdough bread in this versatile piece of cookware. There is no seasoning of the pan like you have to do for cast iron – making it easier to care for. 

And there is a lifetime (yes lifetime) warranty on the product. Doesn’t get much better! Oh and the colors! I smile every time my red pot hits the stove. 

25. Diamond Stud Earrings

Everyday earrings that look classy and nice and that can be worn all the time are a stable for a 30 something year old. 

I like these mostly because they are reasonably priced. You can spend thousands of dollars on diamond studs but for me, I like something small and affordable (but still with some glitz).

I’m just always scared I will lose earrings and if I lost one that was crazy expensive I would be devastated. 

26. Datebox Club

This is something I have wanted to try for a while. Now more than ever since date nights out are a little harder to do these days. 

This subscription service sends you a monthly box filled with ideas and supplies for a date night at home with your significant other. I would love to receive this as a romantic gesture – how fun and sweet to have date nights planned. 

27. Echelon Stationary Bike

An interactive smart bike is definitely an investment but I absolutely love it. You can read all about why I chose and Echelon over a Peloton here.

28. Bartesian 

If she likes cocktails at home (and don’t we all – hello 2020 where no bars/restaurants are allowed), she will love this innovative gadget. 

It makes cocktails and margaritas with the push of a button. Pretty much a Keurig meets happy hour. 

29. Marley Spoon Subscription

Your 30s usually come with lots of responsibility. Maybe a busy job, a family and a mortgage. The stress of getting it all done can be overwhelming and Marley Spoon makes it easier. 

I’ve personally used Marley Spoon. It is a food/meal service company where you go online, select a few recipes that look good & then Marley Spoon sends you a box with the recipe and all the ingredients. 

No grocery shopping. No buying a lifetime supply of some weird ingredient that you may never use again. Just exactly what you need to try new recipes and have a mindless dinner each night. 

30. A Me Time Experience

I wrote a post about what moms really want on mother’s day and I feel like it holds pretty true for any gift giving season. You can read that whole post here for more ideas on what moms really want.

Wrap up a hotel reservation print out, a bottle of wine and some cozy slippers or a gift certificate to the spa. She will love it. 

Filed Under: Buy Smart, Featured, Holidays Tagged With: 30s, Christmas ideas, list, women

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition – A Unique Advent Calendar Countdown

October 23, 2018 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Traditions have come to be one of my favorite aspects of a holiday. The familiarity and anticipation of making a special dish or doing a family activity year after year is so special.

Our newest holiday activity is our 24 days of Christmas books tradition – a simple and educational twist on an advent calendar.

No Toys, No Junk, No candy Christmas Advent Calendar for Kids

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition Advent Calendar - Easy Holiday Tradition for Kids - Educational Christmas Activity for Kids to Countdown Christmas in December

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Last year I started this new countdown to Christmas for our family. I wrapped 24 Christmas books and put them under the tree. Every night before bed, the kids got to choose a package to unwrap and we read it together.

Sometimes a cup of hot cocoa or a warm chocolate chip cookie was included as a treat to go along with our book. It’s so fun!

I have tried other advent calendars in the past but it seemed like I was just spending $20 on junk that was not getting played with or used. With the books, I felt good about buying something that we would definitely use and is educational for the kids.

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition

The best thing about this tradition is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot. My plan to obtain the books for this DIY Advent Calendar is simple and easy.

1. Use What You Have. Find Christmas books that you already have at your home. I was shocked to find we already had 19! We love books, what can I say?

2. Shop for Cheap Books. Go to Thrift stores or use Facebook/Online Garage sales to find seasonal books. I can often find these for just a dollar or two which makes it an inexpensive option.

3. Buy a Few New. I am using Amazon for this because I find their prices on books to be pretty good and they are delivered right to my door.  If I am going to buy something new for my kiddos, books are always something that I don’t feel too guilty about and there are many on Amazon for $3-4 dollars.

4. Library You could even use the library to expand your Christmas book selection for free! Just make sure you use care not to get tape on the books (so that you don’t damage the cover). And be sure to keep up with the return due date so that you don’t get charged any late fees. 

Creating the Christmas Advent Book Calendar

My daughter absolutely loved this activity last year. She spent tons of time picking out the package that she wanted to open.

It is like 24 days of Christmas blind bags (are your kids obsessed like mine?) with an educational twist. And instead of some dinky toy, we get to read a book together as a family.

First, find 24 Christmas books.

Next, wrap each book individually.

Each night leading up to Christmas, your child selects one book to unwrap and then you read it together.

It is so much fun! And while it may seem like a lot of work to wrap 24 books, it goes really quick and adds so much excitement to the evenings leading up to Christmas.

New Books for Christmas 2019 (2020 Update Below)

Since my oldest will be 6 this year, I am updating and adding a few new books this year. We will still reuse quite a few of the books listed below but will add a couple of new ones to keep things fresh and age appropriate. 

Here are the books on my list: 

Katie the Candy Cane Fairy

The Mouse in the Hammock, a Christmas Tale

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Poke A Dot – The Night Before Christmas – This one looks like something my 2 year old will adore. 

2020 Update

Here are the updates that I made this year to our library. 

Splat the Cat Christmas Countdown

Cocoa’s Cranky Christmas 

A Very Fiona Christmas

One Baby Jesus

What If I Don’t Want to Do 24 Days of Books?

Don’t! You can totally customize this to whatever time period that seems reasonable for you. I think 12 days would be a nice intro into this DIY Christmas Advent Calendar. 

Original Books for Christmas Advent Calendar

Here are ideas for books that we are reading this holiday season or that we may purchase. After shopping our house for Christmas books, I will search some thrift stores and Amazon for a few fresh books to put into the mix. I hope you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition!

Look & Find Christmas Bible Stories – We have the Rudolph version but I love this biblical version to remind us of the reason for the season.

Touch & Feel Christmas – I got this for my daughter a few years ago and now it is perfect for our newest little one. And my older one still loves to touch and feel the book! So it entertains us all.

Frosty The Snowman Board Book – No list is complete without the classic Frosty the Snowman. I like this one because it plays music and my kids just love to push a button!

Frozen Olaf’s Night Before Christmas – A friend gave us this book last year and it is a favorite. If you have a Frozen obsessed little one, I think they will love this book/cd combo.

My Snowman Book – Not really Christmas but I usually include it since it goes with the winter theme. It is a cute little book with vibrant pictures. I bought this a few years ago for my oldest that will now be passed down to the baby.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – A couple of years ago, my daughter discovered the Grinch movie at Christmas time. In June, we were still watching Grinch at least a couple of times a week. Despite that extreme we didn’t ruin a good thing. We still love this book!

Llama Llama Jingle Bells – The entire Llama Llama series is so good. Those silly llamas always have us giggling.

The Berenstain Bears & the Joy of Giving – The message in the Berenstain series is a good one that I like sharing with my kids.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – You will be reminded of your childhood while reading to your kids with this book. It is a great price too!

Elmo’s Countdown to Christmas – Lift the flap books are great to keep the attention of younger kids. This will be a new one for us but it gets great reviews.

The Sweet Smell of Chrismas – Eeek! It is a scratch and sniff Christmas book! Did you have this as a kid? Scents of hot chocolate, Christmas trees, apple pie & more.

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas – Since the Fancy Nancy show debuted on Disney Jr. my daughter has been obsessed. The Halloween book was a winner, so this one is going on my list. There is also a Disney Jr. Fancy Nancy Ice Skating book if you don’t mind a winter theme.

Happy Holidays, Bubble Guppies – A lift flap book! We have a non-holiday Bubble Guppies lift flap book and it is always fun to read.

Weird but True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts – This National Geographic kids book would be fun for the Elementary school child. I may add this to our list in the next year or two.

The Begginer’s Bible, The Very First Christmas – A great way to teach younger kids why we celebrate Christmas. This book is such a great price!

A Charlie Brown Christmas – I love bringing some of my childhood memories into my kid’s childhood.

Pete the Cat’s 12 Days of Groovy Christmas – We have other Pete books and they are so funny. We may try this one for our preschooler this year.

Merry Christmas, Mouse – The mouse series is so much fun. I love how they do one for most holidays.

Paw Patrol Holiday Helpers – Paw Patrol is one of those cartoons that actually doesn’t get on my nerves! Here is a cute little holiday book with your kid’s favorite pups.

Just A Snowman – The Little Critter books are a cute series and always so affordable.

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas – The story of one family that is having trouble getting their act together. The author possibly modeled this after my family?! It feels like that sometime. We enjoy this funny take on a classic.

River Rose and the Magical Christmas – The Today show featured this book written by Kelly Clarkson. It also comes with a link to listen to a song recorded by Kelly.

The 12 Engines of Christmas – This Thomas the Train book will entertain both my kids which is always a win.

Christmas Cookie Day – Like many, making Christmas cookies is one of our most anticipated traditions.

This twist on a traditional advent calendar was a complete success at my house last year. Will you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition this year? Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

If you love to give books as gifts, check out this unique baby shower gift idea.

Filed Under: Buy Smart, Featured, Holidays Tagged With: 24, advent calendar, books, Christmas, educational, Holidays, kids, traditions

Merry Money – A Lesson in Earning and Giving

November 1, 2019 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Merry Money bucks allow kids to earn “money” by working hard and then giving generously by redeeming their Merry Money for gifts for others. 

Merry Moneys Bucks - A lesson for kids in earning and giving this Christmas - Free Printable Christmas Coupon

Christmas is such a magical time of year when you have young kids. The lights, shiny new toys and Santa bring tons of fun to the season. 

But as we move through the calendar towards Christmas, I want my kids to remember the true reason for the season. 

We talk about and celebrate the birth of Jesus but I also want to encourage them to begin to understand the joy of giving. That may be a little over my 2 year old’s head but I want to start early. 

And since my daughter will be 6 this year, I wanted to start to teach her not only about giving but also earning (which is a lesson that is good all year round). Learning that a piece of what you earn should be used to give to others. That there is joy in seeing happiness on the face of others. That it is better to give than to receive. 

So that is where the Merry Money concept was born. A fun and easy way to teach kids about earning money through hard work and then giving to others. 

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Merry Money – A Lesson in Earning and Giving

As a kid, my mom always let us pick a sibling gift for each other at Christmas. 

We would each get to shop and choose a gift that would be fun for the other. An arts an crafts kit or a small toy was typically what we chose. We still do it to this day as 30 something’s, our gifts just look a little different nowadays.

I wanted to continue this tradition with my children but decided to take one more step this year! I’m introducing the Merry Money earning system to our kids this year. 

What is Merry Money? 

Merry money is a Christmas currency for kids that can be earned by doing chores or other tasks.

It is then used to buy gifts for others. 

It could be for children’s siblings or they could even use their Merry Money to buy gifts for Mom and Dad or as a donation to kids in need. 

The only restriction for Merry Money is that it must be used to purchase things for other people. Merry Money can’t be used on yourself. 

You can print this free currency here.

Merry Money Dollars

Earning Merry Money

So how do kids earn with this system? 

As the parent, you can set up your rules/reward system to work best for your family. Here are some ideas on ways that my kids will be able to earn Merry Money this holiday season. 

Ideas For Kids To Earn Merry Money

Toddlers/Preschool

  • Help Tidy Toys 
  • Help Dust Furniture (this is never done great but for some reason it is one of my kids favorite chores)
  • Put socks away in drawers 
  • Wipe up Spills 
  • Help remove laundry from dryer 

Elementary Kids

  • Play nicely with sibling (while you get Christmas wrapping or other chores done)
  • Clean Room
  • Put clothes away
  • Wipe Down Counter tops 
  • Put Dishes away 
  • Help Make A Meal for the Family 

Pretty much any age appropriate chore can earn some holiday cash. 

How Much Is Merry Money Worth

Again, you decide. 

I plan to have each printable Merry Buck to be worth $1. This will give my kids a few weeks to earn several sets of Merry Money. 

Our sibling gifts are usually somewhere between $10-20 each. So if you start in mid-November, the kids will be able to do a few things a week and hit that 10 or 20 dollar mark. 

If you are short on time, you could have the bucks be worth 2 to 5 dollars. Your choice.

Using the Christmas Bucks

Once you are happy with the amount of Merry Money that your kids have earned, they can cash it in for a gift for their family member. 

You can do this 2 ways, at a retail store or online.

Online Shopping

Since online shopping is my jam, I will just have the kids count the number of Merry Money bucks that they have. 

So ten Merry Money bucks will equal $10 in our house.

Then we will spend time searching online together for something perfect that falls into the price range of the amount that they have earned. I will collect the Merry Money from each child and then just pay using my debit card. 

Retail Shopping 

Since Target will not honor a Christmas currency at their cash register, you will need to make a modification. 

I would still have the kids count their Merry bucks and then you can convert that to actual cash. 

Go to the store, select a gift and they can pay using real US dollars. 

Lessons Learned Using Holiday Cash

The kids will learn several valuable lessons with this Christmas activity. 

Hard Work 

They will work hard doing chores and other tasks in order to earn their Merry Money. 

Kids will learn that hard work does not always result in instant gratification. 

Saving 

Kids will work on saving up for a “big” item vs. blowing their money as soon as they earn it. 

Giving Is Better Than Receiving 

They will also partake in the art of giving.

Yes, they will receive a gift on Christmas from their sibling too, so technically they will be equally reciprocated (or could be if their sibiling did equal chores and earned the same money). 

But at the time of purchase they won’t receive anything and that is definitely a lesson for a young kiddo. Spending your hard earned “money” on someone else is something I want my kids to learn to find joy in.

You could take this even a step further and have your kids buy an item to donate to your favorite Christmas charity with their Merry Money. 

More Fun  Christmas Activities

Christmas time brings lots of fun treats, gifts and activities. Here are some of our favorites!

24 Day Christmas Book Advent Calendar

Elf on the Shelf Gifts Under $5

UPS-Fedex Delivery Driver Gift

Stocking Stuffers for A 1 Year Old

No Junk Stocking Stuffers Under $5 for 3-5 Yr Old Girls

Merry Money Bucks - Teach Kids the Importance of giving after earning money this Christmas season

 

Filed Under: Buy Smart, Featured, Holidays

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Hey - I'm Stacy! Join me on a journey to buy smart, plan and save so that you can also PLAY!

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