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.

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

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

**Sorry for posting late!  Our family, including myself, came down with the sickies!  Don’t miss the BIG NEWS at the bottom!**

I absolutely fell in love with Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint last year after redo-ing my old metal dresser. Remember it?

I don’t know why I spaced it at the time, but all along I’ve had the mirror that once belonged this dresser hanging up in my laundry room. The past few weeks we’ve frantically been finishing up last minute details of Project MAD so we can finalize our home loan and get a lower rate.

That was when it finally hit me that I never painted the ugly white mirror! In less than 30 minutes it went from this::

To this::

All the while I kicked myself for taking SO long on finishing such an easy project!

I challenge you to look around your home this week–find a project you’ve been putting off and tackle it! Not only will you proud you’ve finally accomplished it–but, next week I’m opening up Salvaged Sunday as a Linky!

You can come back here and share your projects with all of us!  Please don’t leave me all alone!

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Salvaged Sunday {Metal Mirror Re-Do} 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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FREE Printables for Valentines Day! is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

I seen this project on Pinterest and I instantly fell in love! We have a ton of scrap wood left over from various projects during Project Major Home Addition {I think Project MAD is a better fit! }

What a wonderful way to resurrect an old piece of wood!

What do you think?

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DIY Chalkboard Menu Board {Salvaged Sunday} is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

One of my favorite parts of Winter is snow.  I know some people think I’m weird, but I’m okay with that. {I like to think of myself as a limited edition } An impromptu snowball fight on a snow day {or weekend} is great fun!

To show off our love of snow–we created a snowball bucket for our front porch for every guest to see.  Originally we were going to use varying textures of yarn.  But once we got started, I realized that it wasn’t the look and feel and I was hoping to create. 

Thankfully I kept onto an old pillow!  The stuffing quickly became our “snow”. Which made this entire project come from salvaged materials.  Yippee!

 Our snowballs kind of got out of hand {I blame that on my 9 year old assistant. }.  But, this picture does make them  look a little crazier than what they actually are.  

To create your own Bucket of Snowballs you will need::

Scrap Newspaper or other Scrap Paper {or you could use foam balls}

Batting or Pillow Stuffing

Bucket {we spray painted an old metal bucket we already had}

Spray Adhesive {or other glue}

Foam Board/Markers {for sign}

Spray your foam balls with adhesive and attach the batting.  Fill up your bucket about 2/3 of the way with old newspapers or boxes.  Add in your snowballs.  Make your sign out of a small piece of foam board.  Attach some batting to the top for the final touch.

Too bad they aren’t real!  I’m ready for a snowball fight.  What about you?

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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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Bucket of Snowballs {Salvaged Sunday} 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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Visit the Clever Housewife for Saving and Stretching a Buck.
{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!

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.
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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Visit the Clever Housewife for Saving and Stretching a Buck.
Holiday Entertaining Guide Sale {This Weekend Only} is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt