Valentine’s Day is about love, but nobody loves spending a lot of money to make it great! Take a look at all the free offers that are sure to provide you with a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

I remember when I was a kid, for our class parties we would make our own valentine’s mailboxes out of shoe boxes. But these are just absolutely adorable and I wish my daughter’s class made boxes for their party. “LIKE” Print Candee Illustration & Design on facebook for a free download of this adorable Valentine’s Day mailbox.

These printables are perfect for the valentines your child plans to pass out to friends. And they’re free! Earlier this month we offered FREE Printables for Valentine’s Day {including bag toppers, candy bar wrappers and a coupon book}.  If that’s not enough  Shindig Parties TO GO  has many printables and party ideas. You’re sure to find just what you’re looking for! {No need to buy special bags for this idea, just use sandwich or snack sized bags that you probably already have in your kitchen.}

Source: Shindig Parties TO GO 

Who says your child has to pass out candy valentine’s to their friends? Make these fun heart crayons just by melting broken crayons that you already have around the house. The only cost is buying a heart shaped cupcake mold/pan if you don’t already have one.

Show your friends and family how much you care by sending them a free movie rental courtesy of RedBox. Maybe one of them is your Valentine and will cuddle up on the couch with you and share their free rental with you.{This is a Facebook offer with a limit to one code per friend. The code is only valid 2/14/2012.}

Valentine Amazon.com Free Downloads

No Kindle Necessary!  Free Kindle App download  Use on your Web Browser, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, or Android Phone.

Books

Instructions for Love  by June Shaw

You Make Me Proud by Umesh Shukla

Vintage Cookies Recipes by Amy Renee

Candy Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch

Games

BlackJack

Number Slide

You can find more FREE Kindle Downloads here.

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for continuing to support this site! Written by Contributing Writer Kristina.

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It doesn’t take a lot to incorporate Valentine’s Day into your meal plan. Just a few simple tweaks and your everyday meals look like they were made especially for Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank.

Breakfast

Use a cookie cutter or knife and cut a heart shape out of a piece of bread to jazz up your everyday breakfast. Cook an egg in the middle and create Valentine’s Day Eggs in a Basket. Serve it along side some heart shaped strawberries and you’ve shown your Valentine just how much they mean to you, and it’s only breakfast!

Ham, Eggs and Cheese In a Basket

Strawberries
Milk or Juice

Lunch

Kids love it when you make their lunches fun. And what’s not fun about sandwiches shaped like hearts and red applesauce?

Turkey & Cheese Box Lunch

Turkey and Cheese Sandwich Hearts
Cheese Puffs or Carrot Sticks
Red Applesauce
Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Hearts

Dinner

You don’t have to spend a lot on dinner to make it special. And you don’t have to go out to a fancy restaurant to have a delicious steak dinner either.

Source: bellalimento.com via Phoebe {GettingFreedom} on Pinterest

 

Steak with Shallot, Butter & Balsamic Sauce
Twice Baked Potatoes {Make these the day before, which will save you from having to spend all evening in the kitchen preparing dinner.}
Cream Cheese Corn

Dessert

Ahhh, dessert. Who doesn’t love dessert? Last year I made strawberry lemonade cookies that were to.die.for and I might still make them again this year. But for dessert after the steak dinner I plan on making, I can’t wait to try this yummy looking pink lemonade pound cake.

Source: sugarbabyaprons.com via Kristina on Pinterest

 

 

 

Have a great Valentine’s Day!

 

Written by Contributing Writer Kristina.

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Valentine’s Day Menu Plan is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

Valentine’s Day is coming up in less than 2 weeks.  Hard to believe, isn’t it?  I thought it would be fun to share with you some FREE Printables to help you create a Frugal Valentine’s Day.

Free Printable Candy Bar Wrappers  

These are perfect for teacher gifts.  Or for a friend, bus driver, or neighbor.  There are two separate designs to choose from.

Free Printable Bag Toppers

Add these cute bag toppers to the top of your Valentine’s Day Goodie Bags and create a frugal alternative to purchased Valentine Cards.  All the while knocking out 2 birds with one stone–candy and a valentine!

Printable Coupon Book for your Spouse

Print off this free printable coupon book to give your spouse exactly what they want for Valentine’s Day!  It comes filled with some ready made ideas, and blank coupons for you to add just want you want!

This post is part of Frugal Friday.

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Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

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FREE Printables for Valentines Day! is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

Homemade Jams and Jellies are perfect for giving as gifts.  To add a little spice to the same-ol’-same-ol’–this year I decided to try out Carrot Cake Jam.  I cannot recall where I seen it first–but I do know that the insant I seen it, I had to try it.  Homemade Carrot Cake {not the stuff out of the box} is one of my all time favorite cakes.  Having it in jam form?  Oh yes!

This jam is perfect on hot biscuits, scones, or even as a cake filling {it’ll be gone before you know it!}.  For extra richness top a piece of toast with cream cheese and slather on Carrot Cake Jam.  Oh heaven!

Carrot Cake Jam

1½ cups finely grated carrots

1½ cups chopped/cored pears

1 3/4 cups canned pineapple–including juice {I used diced pineapple because I always have that in the pantry. I just threw it in the food processor to dice it up a bit.  And measured out what I needed.  There will be a little bit leftover.  Which is perfect to use as pancake toppings or cake toppings.}

3 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp ground cloves

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans {optional}

1 pkg. pectin

6 cups sugar {You can also do 4 cups granulated sugar and 2 cups brown sugar}

In a large deep stainles steel pan–Combine the carrots, pears, pineapples/juice, lemon juice, and spices.  Bring to a boil over high–stirring frequently.  Reduce heat and cover. Boil gently for 20 mins–stirring occassionally.

Remove from heat and whisk in pectin until dissolved.  Bring to boil over high heat–stirring frequently.  Add sugar all at once and return to a full rolling boil–stirring constantly.  Then boil hard–stirring constantly for 1 minute.  Add in the nuts, if desired.  Remove from heat and skim off any foam.

Ladle hot jam into prepared jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.  Remove air bubbles–add more jam if needed.  Wipe off any spills and add the lids/rings.

Process in a water bath for 10 minutes. 

Makes about 6 Half Pints.

Enjoy!

Are you a Facebook Fan? Download your FREE Printable Carrot Cake Jam Labels!

Jelly Recipes Perfect For Gift Giving

Jalapeno Jelly {Not Spicy!}

Corn Cob Jelly {Don’t knock it till you try it!  Tastes similar to honey and makes a great glaze.}

Seedless Blackberry Jelly

Apple Butter {not a jelly–but yet perfect for gift giving!}

 This post is part of Frugal Friday.

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Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

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{Easy Homemade Gift} Carrot Cake Jam is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

A few years back I was flipping through a magazine and found a Christmas Tree made out of an old Tomato Cage and I immediately tore out the page and added it to my Seasonal Binder for later use. This was also long before Pinterest!  We have a large collection of tomato cages that are doing nothing more than taking up space in my garden shed {they never seem to work for actually holding up the tomato plants}–so I was thrilled to realize that they were something more than useless.

Now if everything would have went according to plan this year–I would have up all of my Christmas Decorations {including the tree}, all of my Christmas shopping would be done, and I would be counting down the days until Christmas with no care in the world.  {ahem. That’s not the case.   It couldn’t be any farther from our reality.}

Thankfully–other people are on top of it and there is Pinterest so I can share with you. 

Make Your Tomato Cage Christmas Tree

Tomato Cage

Garland

Lights

Bow

Zip Ties

Tie the loose ends of the cage together using zip ties.  Wrap in Garland {easily found at Dollar Stores} and add in lights {you can secure these with zip ties as well}.  Top with a bow or even cascade ribbon down from the top.  You also embellish with fake poinsettas.  It’s your tree!

No Garland?

Clean up the tomato cage and spray paint with Silver Spray Paint, hang some silver and single colored ornaments and top with a bow.  Just as stunning!

No Spray Paint?

Wrap with lights and enjoy at night.

Perfect for your front porch! Or you could even use them to add additional trees to your home at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one.

Somebody please tell me I’m not the only one behind this Christmas! 

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DIY Christmas Tree {Salvaged Sunday} is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

My 8 year old daughter made this picture in art class at school. It has to be my favorite one so far this year and I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees her artwork hanging on the wall in her room. Right now, the Canvas People are offering a 16×30 canvas for $37 or an 11×14 canvas for $27 (both prices include shipping).  What a great way to preserve these precious pieces of art!

{Order by Midnight December 10th to Guarantee Arrival before Christmas}

A one-of-a-kind piece of art doesn’t have to be enjoyed by just us!

Vistaprint makes it’s easier than ever to put your child’s art on canvas tote bags and other items. Grandparents love their grandchild’s artwork–so why not share it?  Can you imagine the excitement of Grandma and Grandpa when they open their gift at Christmas and it’s a one of a kind original from one of their grandchildren.

Sometimes the best gifts are the simplest ones. 

This post is written by Contributing Writer Kristina.

This post does contain affiliate links. Thank you for continuing to support this site!

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Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

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Turn Your Child’s Artwork into a Lasting Momento is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

This weekend only! The $5 Dinner Mom is offering her Holiday Entertaining Guide for .49¢

What to Expect from the Holiday Entertaining Guide 

• How to budget for your holiday meal.
• Tips to outsmart the grocery stores.
• The perfect plan to have everything cooked.
• How to turn your leftovers into even more meals.
• How to make beautiful decorations and centerpieces that cost next to nothing.
• How to get the kids involved AND be excited.
• 5 proven ways to reduce the holiday stress.
• 30 simple recipes { all the way from appetizer to dessert and everything in between}. 
• FREE Holiday Planners
• FREE Christmas Ebook from Lynn’s Kichen Adventures

All for 49¢–This weekend ONLY!  What are you waiting for?

 Click Here to get YOUR Copy! Use the code COOKIES at checkout.

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I always have so much fun decorating for Christmas–or even just bringing out all the things that have winter written all over them.  Then, after I have everything out and I complain about how much stuff I have, I always find new things to create or add to the collection. I’m sure I’m not alone!

But DIY Snowglobes do not take up much space. And better yet?  You can unassemble {if that’s what you want to call it} them, use the supplies for other things throughout the year, and create them again come December.  Now that’s my kind of decor!

Their price tag is just icing on the cake!  I made these 3 for nothing out of pocket.

Supplies::

Recycled Jars or Mason Jars from your collection {no cost}

Epsom Salt {I used some that I had leftover from making bath salts.  Purchased for around $3}

Assorted Trinkets {I use Pinecones, mini cookie cutters, cinnamon sticks with a ribbon tied around it, greenery from fake tree} {no cost}

From there it’s pretty self explanatory.  Arrange the items until you are satisfied.  Sit back and drink hot cocoa and dream of snow.

This post is part of Frugal Friday.

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Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

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Make Your Own Snowglobes is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

 I know it’s Monday–but I’ve been trying to post this post forever, to no avail.  Between camera and computer issues, I’m about to swear off technology.  Ok so maybe not really.

I’ve been so excited to share this project with you!

Don’t let the name fool ya.  A Tin Can Flower Arrangement is rather stunning on your front door, decorated up for fall.

Materials Needed

3 Tin Cans {I used 2 larger cans and 1 smaller can}

Ribbon/Burlap

Fall Flowers

Craft Foam

Hot Glue/Velcro

Decorate the tin cans as you see fit.  I just wrapped mine with thin strips of burlap and some fall ribbon, and hot glued it in place.  Put the craft foam inside your cans and start placing in the flowers.  My daughter and I had a great time arranging flowers and chatting it up.   

Once you have your flowers as you like, attach additional ribbon/burlap to hang it from.  Hang it up and enjoy!  I had to use velcro squares and some hot glue on my door {they both with come right off!} to get my arrangement to stay as I wanted it to.

I can’t stop looking at my front door.  I just love how it turned out!

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Salvaged Sunday–Tin Can Flower Arrangement is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

A little known fact about me is that if I had all the time in the world, I would fill my spare time with sewing.  I seriously love creating things with fabric, I just don’t have  make the time for it.  As soon as our {continued} craziness ends {please tell me it will end!}, I plan to change that and sew, at a minimum, once a week for atleast an hour. 

My latest project, which unfortunately was back in Decemember, only took me right over an hour to complete.  And that’s cutting out and everything!  I still consider myself to be a beginner, so I found that to be impressive.  Maybe it isn’t, but I’m going to pretend it is.

I made this reversible tote bag to give my daughter as one of her Christmas gifts.  She absolutely fell in love with it!

Shown "right" side out

Now that I see how much she loves it and how often she uses it, along with how easy it was to create–I can’t wait to get started making more!  As a matter of fact, I bought all the material a few months back to make another, bigger version to use as a diaper bag.

Reversed!

Total Cost of this Reversible Bag:: Right around $5!

For full instructions, along with pictures {for us visual people}–You’ll have to check out Cindy’s tutorial over at Skip to My Lou.

Now, to clean the living room, so I can make a diaper bag!

This post is part of Frugal Friday.

Have you purchased your copy of the Home Management Binder yet? It's not too late!

Thank you for supporting our February Sponsors!

Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

{Mountain Rose Herbs}--Organic Spices, Herbs, Teas and Essential Oils {Plus MORE!!}

Visit the Clever Housewife for Saving and Stretching a Buck.
Reversible Tote Bag is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt