As tax season approaches, many people are getting ready to do their taxes on their own.  We did ours using Turbo Tax for years until ours got too complicated and I got too nervous:)  If you do yours on your own Turbo Tax is great  and really makes it easy. 

Right now you can get TurboTax Deluxe Federal + State 2009 + efile for only $44.99 with FREE Shipping!  You can then submit the rebate HERE for $10 back, bringing the total to only $34.99.  That is a pretty good deal since it is normally $59.95.  Thanks BargainBlessings!

Year Round Christmas Shopping & Organization

Today we have a great guest post from Renae at Madame Deals about how to start your shopping for Christmas next year and plan ahead for all the rest of the gifts you will need throughout the year!

“Have you started your 2010 Christmas shopping yet? Yes, I know Christmas just ended and we have a whole year ahead of us. However, if you start shopping now and build a gift stockpile, you will be less stressed and spend less! Not only can you start shopping for Christmas, but think about birthdays and other holidays. I can hear you grumbling, as I know you don’t want to think about Christmas 2010 yet. Stick with me for a minute and I will tell you how I spend less and organize my gift stockpile.

After Christmas sales are a great time to stock-up on gifts and gift packaging materials. Making homemade goodies is a big part of our Christmas giving. Last year I bought tins, plates and ceramic mini loaf pans at a fraction of the retail price. I used these items to package up homemade cookies, candy and mini bread loaves. Other items to look for are baskets. I love making gift baskets but they can be pricey. Find gift baskets on clearance. Fabric napkins make great basket liners and mismatched fabric napkins can often be found on clearance. Think about the packaging materials you will need next year and buy them now.

Many stores will have marked down toys, gift sets and gifts. If you have the money available, stock-up on a few of these items. I have a gift closet that I keep stocked. It comes in very handy when a birthday or special occasion sneaks up on me! If items are in Christmas themed packaging, just take them out. Many times the gift sets will be in Christmas packaging. Take them out of the package and make a gift basket. If your gift baskets have a holiday themed liner, take out the liner and use a fabric napkin as a liner (or tissue paper).

During the after Christmas sales last year, I was able to buy my nephews all of their birthday presents. I found great toys on clearance and I was able to buy more for less money. It was a big relief to know that their birthday presents were secure. However, there are some rules to stockpiling gifts.

The most important part about gift stockpiling is organization. Keep track of the gifts you have bought and who you have bought them for. I have a special day’s book that is categorized by month. Each month has a spot to list birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. If I have a gift in my stockpile for someone in my special day’s book, I write their name and the gift item on a sticky note and then stick it to the page in the book. Using a sticky note keeps my book neat and free off crossing out items from previous years. Writing down who the gift is for is important! Otherwise, six months down the road you will most likely say “Who did I get this for?”.

If you have bought items that are not specifically for someone, place them all in one place. I have a box that is full of gift items that are not assigned. When a special occasion comes up, I know I can go to my gift box and most likely find something. For example, many times I will get free bath and body items from CVS or Rite Aid. If it is not something I will use, it goes in the stockpile gift box. My box has saved me numerous times when “mommy brain” took over and I forgot a birthday!

Another rule for stockpiling gifts is don’t overdo it! It is tempting to just keep buying and buying. If you have purchased enough gifts for a certain person, do not continue to buy for them no matter how good the deal is. There will always be another bargain down the road. It is easy to overspend if you continue to buy, buy, buy. There needs to be a cutoff point. Set limits and stick to them.

I do my Christmas shopping throughout the year. Thinking ahead and planning allows me to buy the most for my family members for the money I allocate to each person. I am able to provide my family more for the same amount of money by shopping all year. It is also easier on my bank account to buy a little at a time, rather than in one lump sum.

So hit the stores, check the clearance items and think about what you could use as a gift down the road. If you do decide to stockpile gifts, remember to set up an organizational method. Otherwise you will forget about items or not recall who you bought them for and overspend!”

Renae is a mom to two young boys, a dental hygienist and co-owner/ blogger at Madame Deals. She is addicted to coupons and on a journey to frugal living by making dollars out of change. Remember, it is not what you save, but what you spend!  Thanks Renae!

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