This is the best time to buy holiday wrapping paper. Credit: bonnipink/Flickr

This post is brought to you by Area Vibes which can help you find the cheapest places to live.

Judee shared a quick tip:

FIY the Christmas gift wrap at Target is about .30 cents a roll right now. Great time to stock up for next year :O)

The post-Christmas holiday deals only last so long before they sell out or get cleared out to make room for new merchandise. Get on it if you haven’t already (myself included!)

Got a hot tip? Email us.

So many HOT sales today!

There are 30 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!

Freebie - Sign up for a free membership to UPS My Choice and avoid the hassle of missing packages.

Free Lancome – Sign up to receive an invitation to get a free sample of Lancome Visionnaire.

Free mag - Get free magazine issues of Ladies Home Journal in digital format through ValueMags.com. No purchase necessary! Bargain Babe has scored many free subscriptions through this site.

Freebie - Get a free sample of Splenda Essentials No Calorie Sweetener through All You magazine.

HOT! Victoria’s Secret – The semi annual sale is on, with panties starting at $4, bras for $15 and up, and lots more deals. Now going on online, in stores starting Jan. 3. Free shipping with $100 or more and coupon code FA1128873. Otherwise shipping is a flat $5.

Ikea deal - TODAY only! Get a Jall laundry bag with stand for $0.99! Regular price is $4.99. Plus, Kids eat free at IKEA till Jan 1, 2011. Valid for kids 12 years old and under.

Snapfish coupon – Get up to 65% off select items in the Year-End Clearance Sale. Use the Snapfish coupon code YEAREND65. Sale ends Jan. 4, 2012. Get an extra 20% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

HOT! Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $2 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code SALE. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. Gift cards are not eligible for this promo code. Here’s how Restaurant.com works.

Original Penguin coupon – Get 40% off at with this OriginalPenguin.com coupon code OPSALE40. Ends Jan. 7, 2012.

Zantac coupon – Print this Zantac coupon to get $3 off their products.

HOT! Philosophy – Save up to 40% off at the Philosophy year-end sale! Ends Dec. 31. Philosophy offers free ground shipping on all orders $50 or more.

Harry & David sale – Save up to 33% Off at the Harry & David winter sale!

Chegg.com – Ship your old textbooks to Chegg for free and earn cash!

Expedia discount – Escape the Winter! Save up to 30% on your vacation to a WARM destination with this click through Expedia discount. Expires Feb. 29, 2012.

PacSun coupon – Shop the PacSun New Years Sale and save! Get 15% off a $50 purchase, 20% off of a $100 purchase, and 25% off of a $150 or more purchase. Use PacSun promo code NYSALE11.

HOT! Parents Magazine – Pay $7 for a two-year subscription to Parents Magazine (a $24 value)! This Parent Magazine deal is through Living Social. You will need to sign up for the daily deal site to get it.

HOT! Ugg boots sale – The Walking Company is having an UGG Boots sale! Save up to $50 on select styles! Love these! They are super comfy. Save up to $50 on select styles. You can also get up to 60% off on women’s clearance items.

Lowe’s sale – Save up to 50% on select heating clearance at Lowes.com, whiles supplies last.

HOT! New Balance sale – Get up to up to 50% off in the New Balance New Year, New You Clearance Sale and get free shipping over $75 with New Balance promo code SNBFS75. Good thru Jan. 23, 2012.

Sally Beauty Supply – Save up to 70% on ALL Red Tag Clearance items in the Sally Beauty Supply sale with promo code 555367. Sale Ends Dec.31.

Ghirardelli coupon - Save 10% off SITEWIDE and in stores with this Ghirardelli coupon code LASTMINUTE. Expires Dec. 31, 2011.

Entertainment Book deal - Save $10 off all 2012 books with this click through Entertainment Book coupon which includes free shipping. Plus, additional books are just $15 each. Save an extra 25-35% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

Gap – LAST day! Get 30% off regularly priced styles. Online only in this Gap sale. Get an extra 2% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Kohl’s – Save 15% on any purchase or save 20% when you spend $100 or more at Kohl’s. Valid on-line or in-store. Ends Jan. 2, 2012. Save an extra 4% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

100 Swagbucks – Get 100 Swagbucks just for joining when you use code HOLIDAYSWAG during registration. If you use the code after you’ve registered, you will NOT get the extra 100 Swagbucks. Normally you only get 30 for joining so this is a HUGE increase. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. This site feeds our Starbucks habit!

Free museums with B of A card - Get into more than 150 museums nationwide on the first full weekend of every monthwith your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as part of its museums on us program. The freebie includes general admission and excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events. Only the cardholder gets in free.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Freebie - Get a free sample of Eucerine Daily Skin Balance Lotion from All You magazine.

Freebie – Get a free photo book or photo calendar from My Publisher. Use coupon code YEAREND241 at checkout. Offer ends Dec. 31.

Freebie – Get a free sample of Welch’s Fruit Snack through Freefly’s. If you do not already belong to Freeflys, you will have to join.

Ikea deal - TODAY only! $20 Antonius basic drawer unit is $10. Plus, Kids eat free at IKEA till Jan 1, 2011. Valid for kids 12 years old and under.

HOT! Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $2 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code SALE. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. Gift cards are not eligible for this promo code. Here’s how Restaurant.com works.

HOT! Bed, Bath & Beyond – The after-Christmas sale continue at Bed, Bath & Beyond in-store and online! Get 50% off select Christmas merchandise. Start getting ready for Christmas 2012! Plus, don’t forget to use their 20% off coupon that comes in the newspaper for extra savings.

Sally Beauty Supply – Save up to 70% on ALL Red Tag Clearance items in the Sally Beauty Supply sale with promo code 555367. Sale Ends Dec.31.

Free mag - Get free magazineissues of Cosmopolitan in digital format through ValueMags.com. No purchase necessary! Bargain Babe has scored many free subscriptions through this site.

Free Seventeen Mag – Get a free Seventeen magazine digital subscription! Get 11 months starting with the January 2012 issue. You can read it on your iPad, iPhone, Mac, and PC!

Toys “R” Us – The Toys “R” Us after-Christmas sale continues through Dec. 31. Get 50% off ALL holiday items, including decorations, wrapping paper and more.

Carter’s – The Carter’s year end sale is going on right now! Save up to 70% off on hundreds of styles online and in-store.

HOT! MaxStudio.com – Save up to 50% off with this click through Maxstudio.com coupon link. Ends Dec. 28!

Best Buy sale – The Best Buy Christmas Sale end TODAY! Get free shipping on everything! Shop through Ebates to get an extra 1-3.6% back.

Target sale - Target stores are having a clearance sale on women’s and kids’ apparel, plus home and holiday décor. There’s savings of up to 50% off! Sale ends Jan. 7, 2012.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Girardelli coupon - Save 10% off SITEWIDE and in stores with this Ghirardelli coupon code LASTMINUTE. Expires Dec. 31, 2011.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

Picaboo coupon - Get 25% off everything with coupon code BYEBYE11. Ends Dec. 28, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Land’s End – Now through Dec. 28, get an additional 20% off over Land’s End Canvas styles that are already on sale! Get an extra 6% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Entertainment Book deal - Save $10 off all 2012 books with this click through Entertainment Book coupon which includes free shipping. Plus, additional books are just $15 each. Save an extra 25-35% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

100 Swagbucks – Get 100 Swagbucks just for joining when you use code HOLIDAYSWAG during registration. If you use the code after you’ve registered, you will NOT get the extra 100 Swagbucks. Normally you only get 30 for joining so this is a HUGE increase. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. This site feeds my Starbucks habit!

Free museums with B of A card - Get into more than 150 museums nationwide on the first full weekend of every month with your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as part of its museums on us program. The freebie includes general admission and excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events. Only the cardholder gets in free.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

I wonder what this person received. jessamyn / flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Okay, so you didn’t get exactly what you wanted for Christmas or Hanukkah. So what’s a cheapskate supposed to do? Below I share five options to deal with unwanted Christmas gifts and gift card.

Re-gifting

I’m not a fan of re-gifting because I’ve received really bad gifts. But, I confess I’ve done it – the right way. The trick is to make sure you pass the gift to the appropriate person that will appreciate it. When done properly, it

shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Note that not everything can be re-gifted. Don’t pass along one-of-a-kind items or anything that is monogrammed, unless you know someone with your initials. If you’re going to find another home for a gift, make sure to read my five rules for re-gifting.

Returning / Exchanging

Heading to the mall after the holidays can be a hassle, but if you feel up to the challenge make sure to take your gift receipt with you (if you got one). Otherwise, before you head to the mall, go online to familiarize yourself with the store’s return and exchange policy. Some stores are lenient with their return policies after the holidays, but others won’t budge. Doing some research will help you avoid the crowds. Head to the mall pronto! I’ve stood in the checkout line for about 45 minutes to get the right size of a gift I loved, but was too snug. If all that waiting is not worth it for you, how about you make some dough from that gift?

Selling

Try putting the gift up for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. There’s someone bound to like it and want it. Don’t expect to make back the full price, but, hey, a few bucks is more than what you had. Someone give you a gift card to a shop you’ll never patronize? You can also sell gift cards online. There are several sites where you can put the cards up for sale, if there’s no one you know who can use them.

Trading / Swaping

Today is gift card exchange day, scheduled for Dec. 26 because “cardholders will receive the best rates from resellers,” according to GiftCardGranny, which arranged the event. Christmas yields one or more gift cards for most Americans, and recipients are eager to part with unwanted cards in exchange for cash. You can also trade your gift cards for ones you’ll actually use online. Sites to try are GiftCardRescue.com and PlasticJungle.com. We’ve mentioned these before as you can buy discounted gift cards from them. If you have clothes or electronics, you can also swap or trade them. Check out Swap.com as you’ll find local swap enthusiasts looking to exchange goods. I’ve also hear that Best Buy has a trade-in center online and in-store where you can get gift cards for your electronics.

Donating

Gag gifts that include cleaning supplies can be donated to local homeless or animal shelters. A good website to check is TheGivingEffect.com, which lists about 1,450 charities that are in need of a wide range of items like blankets, books, and even art. To boot, you may qualify for a tax deduction.

Trashing

Any homemade goodies that look past their prime should be trashed. Don’t even think of donating them! Giving volunteers at soup kitchens or other donation centers more work by going through useless donations is a big no-no.

I’m dying to know… What’s the worst present you received and what do you plan to do with it?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Happy holidays!!! Credit: cassie_bedfordgolf/Flickr

This weekend I’m looking forward to making gingerbread men, whipping up a batch of my Mother’s chocolate crinkle cookies, and opening presents.

My adorable husband has been asking everyday if he can open his presents and I’m not sure how much longer he can wait!

With warmest holiday wishes,
Julia
Aka Bargain Babe

$1 gift certs at Restaurant.com (value $25!!)

There are 34 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!

HOT! Pay $10 for $20 at Old Navy!!! Get this hot Old Navy Groupon deal while you can! The only catch is that you have to use it in store by Jan. 28, 2012.

HOT! Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $1 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code JOY. Expires Dec. 24, 2011. Gift cards are not eligible for this promo code. Here’s how Restaurant.com works.

Freebie gift tags - Learn how to make and print out free gift tags from a craft blogger.

Free Christmas music - Amazon has 25 days of free Christmas music downloads. Awesome!

Free Santa tracker - Use Norad to track Santa as he delivers gifts to millions of children on Christmas Eve.

Freebie pads - Here is another (non Walmart) offer for freebie Poise pads. While supplies last.

Free call from Santa - Let Santa know your special someone wants a free call from Santa. You can personalize it and make it quite funny and cute! The freebie is brought to you by Gmail, so it’s unclear if Google will use your phone number later.

Free Sephora - Get a FREE upgrade to second day shipping with coupon code UPS2DAY. Expires Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Free Baby mags - Get a free copy of American Baby magazine free. You can also get free copies of Baby Talk magazine.

Free Alaska - The freebie Alaska travel guide is back!

HOT! Mag deals - DiscountMags.com has a ton of hot magazine deals for last minute gifts for $4-$5. Buy a copy off the newsstand and make a card saying a whole year is going to follow. The following deals are available Dec. 23-25, 2011 with prices noted: Better Homes & Gardens $4; Rachel Ray $4.50; Good Housekeeping $5; Reader’s Digest $4; Wired $4; GQ $4.

Target coupons - THe LOOPZ game is on sale today only with this Target coupon.

HOT! MAC freebie - Get free overnight shipping with MAC coupon code TMR. Order by Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. EST (3 p.m. PST) to get Dec. 24 delivery. Doesn’t look like there is a minimum spend required!!! Holiday gift wrap is free too!

OfficeDepot deals - There are a number of in-store only deals going on through Dec. 24, including a Blackberry PlayBook$199.99 (ORIGINALLY $499), Asus laptop computer $379.99, HP Officejet Wireless all in one printer $99.99,Lenovo K1 IdeaPad K1 tablet $299.99, Buy 2, Get 1 FREE all snapware plastic storage, Tech Depot offer – $50 off all repair offers, and 25% off all desk lighting.

J.Jill sale - Clothes are up to 70% off at J.Jill ending today, Dec. 22, 2011.

Free Ikea deal – Kids eat free at IKEA Dec. 26-Jan 1, 2011. Ages 12 and under. Every day Dec. 26-30 there is a special daily deal. Dec. 26: 8pk wood hangars are $.99 (limit 2); Dec. 27 $20 drawer unit is $10; Dec. 28 $30 shelving unit is $10; Dec. 29, $5 laundry bag with stand is $.99 Dec. 30 $.99 champagne glasses are $.25 each (limit 12)! Some limits to how many you can buy.

Disney sale - The twice yearly Disney toy sale is on! Hundreds of items are up to 50% off. Get free shipping with $50 or more and coupon code SHIPTODAY. Expires Dec. 25, 2011.

QVC post-Christmas sale - Take a sneak peek at the QVC post-Christmas sale Dec. 26-27, 2011 only.

Kohl’s sale - Save 15-30% off at Kohl’s online and in stores through Dec. 24, 2011. Get 30% off when you pay with your Kohl’s charge card, 20% off on $100 or more, or 15% off a smaller purchase. Print the Kohl’s coupon here. Online, use coupon code STOCKING15 or STOCKING20, depending on if you hit $100 or not. Through Dec. 24 you’ll earn $10 in Kohl’s cash for every $50 you spend. And through Dec. 23 you can get the following discounts in store: Save 15% on fragrance sets for men and women. Save 25-55% off watches. Save 40-60% on Apt. 9, AB Studio and daisy fuentes sportswear for misses, petites and women. Save 50-60% on slippers and slipper socks for her.

All You mag $5 - Get a subscription to All You mag for $5 when you buy one subscription at the regular price, $20. That means each one will average out to $12.50, which makes a nice gift!

Snapfish coupons – Buy one photo book and get two FREE through Dec. 26 with Snapfish coupon code YOURBOOKS. Get an extra 20% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Jetblue getaway sale - Jetblue has cheap 3-day vacation packages on sale for as low as $165 per person. Book by Dec. 25 and travel by Sept. 4, 2012. Use Jetblue coupon code MYGIFT for the extra savings. Taxes and fees apply. Exclusions.

Entertainment Book deal - Save $10 off all 2012 books with this click through Entertainment Book couponwhich includes free shipping. Plus, additional books are just $15 each. Save an extra 25-35% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

NYTimes 50% off - Get a 12-week subscription to the New York Times for 50% off. Generally these types of NYTimes subscription deals are for new subscribers only.

Shape mag deal - Shape magazine subscriptions are on sale today only through DiscountMags.com for just $3.50 for an entire year. Use promo code 3868 when you buy the mag to get this deal. Hot!

Lucky mag deal - On Monday, Dec. 26 only, you can get a cheap subscription to Lucky magazine for just $4 through DiscountMags.com. Use promo code 9582 to get this price.

The Walking Company coupon - Get free next day shipping from The Walking Company with $200 or more. Ends Dec. 23 11 a.m. PST.

Zantac coupon - Print this Zantac coupon for $3 off. While supplies last.

Perry Ellis coupon - Save 40% off clearance items with this click through Perry Ellis coupon. Online only. Expires Dec. 23, 2011.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

100 Swagbucks – Get 100 Swagbucks just for joining when you use code HOLIDAYSWAG during registration. If you use the code after you’ve registered, you will NOT get the extra 100 Swagbucks. Normally you only get 30 for joining so this is a HUGE increase. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. This site feeds my Starbucks habit!

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Are you ready for Christmas? Credit: boneandjay/Flickr

I’ve divided all our Christmas and holiday-related posts into five categories: presents; stocking stuffers + gift tags; things to do; extras; and post-holiday.

If you are still finishing your shopping, good luck! Got a last-minute holiday dilemma? Let the Bargain Babe help!

Presents

Best holiday gifts: gift cards + more

Unique and quirky gifts

Electronics gifts

White elephant gifts under $10

Frugal and homemade gifts and more frugal gift ideas

Value gifts at Sears

Toys for kids

Mens’ shavers

Gifts for teens

Restaurant gift certificates

Men’s and women’s gifts

Stocking stuffers, gift tags, and more

Three creative ways to wrap gift cards (video)

Frugal and festival gift tags

Unique wrapping paper with a twist

Inexpensive DIY stocking stuffers and best stocking stuffers (video)

Things to do

Free and fun holiday crafts

Elf + Diwali Yourself

Easy Christmas dessert recipes

Three interactive family games to play

Crafty Christmas decorations for your home

Extras

Secrets of holiday stain removal

Most shoplifted items of Christmas

Holiday tipping in a weak economy

Layaway plans a hit?

Post-holiday 

How to make the most of year end sales

Five rules to re-gifting

Pay just $1 for a $25 certificate!

There are 34 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebookpage. “Like” us today!

HOT! Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $1 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code JOY. Expires Dec. 24, 2011. Gift cards are not eligible for this promo code. Here’s how Restaurant.com works. The Restaurant.com site is very slow due to so much traffic so if it times out, try again later.

Free call from Santa - Let Santa know your special someone wants a free call from Santa. You can personalize it and make it quite funny and cute! The freebie is brought to you by Gmail, so it’s unclear if Google will use your phone number later.

Freebie holiday card - Download and print out a free holiday card from The Company Store. This is perfect for a child to color in and personalize!

Free Christmas music - Amazon has 25 days of free Christmas music downloads. Awesome!

Free perfume - Get a freebie perfume sample from David Yurman when you fill out a request form. While supplies last.

Free Santa tracker - Use Norad to track Santa as he delivers gifts to millions of children on Christmas Eve.

Free hair treatment - Get a freebie sample of John Freida’s frizz control formula when you “like” the JF Facebook page.

Sephora - Get a FREE upgrade to second day shipping with coupon code UPS2DAY. Expires Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

HOT! Parents mag $7/2 years - Get a two year cheap subscription to Parents magazine for two years for just $7 through this LivingSocial deal. Not too shabby!

Sally Beauty coupon - get free second day shipping on $60 or more with Sally Beauty coupon code 555184. Ends today, Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Feel good news - An anonymous donor has been paying off the layaway accounts of cash strapped customers, according to Yahoo! News.

Michael’s holiday sale - The holiday blowout sale at Michael’s looks awesome. Stocking stuffers are up to 50% off, ornaments up to 70% off, faux trees and wrapping paper are up to 60% off, holiday baskets are up to 60% off and holiday baking items are up to 50% off.

Harbor Freight sale - The holiday sale at Harbor Freight ends Dec 24, 2011. Last chance for tool discounts!

Land’s End gift card discounts - Get up to 10% off discounted gift cards for Land’s End at Plastic Jungle.

iTunes discounts - You can also find discounted gift cards for iTunes at Plastic Jungle.

Gift card discounts - Here are two more sites that sell discounted gift cards – a great way to save because you can stack them with coupons and cash back rebates!

Gift card bonuses - More than a dozen retailers are offering gift card bonuses, like freebies or additional gift cards when you spend a certain amount (usually $25 or $50).

Entertainment Book deal - Save $10 off all 2012 books with this click through Entertainment Book couponwhich includes free shipping. Plus, additional books are just $15 each. Save an extra 25-35% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

Piperlime sale - The twice yearly tag sale at Piperlime has prices are up to 40% off through Jan. 20.

Target coupons - Today only, the FurReal Friends Cookie My Playful Pup is on sale at Target.com. Plus, the Hampton Kobe 12 pc Stainless Steel Knife Set with black block is 20% off online.

PetSmart sale - Dec. 26-31 the following items are on sale and clearance at PetSmart: • Up to 50 percent on all dog beds, 50 percent on all PetHoliday™, Martha Stewart Pets™ Holiday & Kong Holiday products, 50 percent on all Top Paw™ retro dog shirts, 50 percent on all PetHoliday dog rawhide & treats, 30 percent on all Grreat Choice™, Martha Stewart Pets and Top Paw dog sweaters & coats, u to 20 percent on all aquariums. PetPerks loyalty card required on some deals, certain deals only available in the US.

Girardelli coupon - Save 10% off SITEWIDE and in stores with this Ghirardelli coupon code LASTMINUTE. Expires Dec. 31, 2011.

Picaboo coupon - Get 25% off everything with coupon code BYEBYE11. Ends Dec. 28, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Doll outfits sale - Get 20% off all doll outfits with this click through Pottery Barn coupon. Ends Dec. 20, 2011. Order as late as Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. PST for delivery Dec. 23.

QVC for Xmas - QVC has guaranteed Christmas delivery with no extra charge for shipping. See all the QVC Christmas deals. Ends Dec. 20, 2011.

Costco holiday deals - Today is the final day of Costco’s final “12 days of deals.” Today’s deal is for a convection toaster oven for $99 (orig. $150). Online while supplies last. Several other sale items end today.

PetCo - Get pet gifts delivered by Christmas Eve with $10 express shipping. PetCo is having a pet sale with items 15-50% off. If you’re in no rush, get free standard shipping with a purchase of $49 or more. Flat shipping is $6.

OfficeMax deals - Each day Office Max has one item on super sale. Not all deals are available online and in stores, see below. The deals include Dec. 20 QuickBooks accounting software for small business. Save $80 on QuickBooks Pro 2012, save $200 on QuickBooks Premier 2012 and save 35% on select Quicken titles. (available online and in-store); Dec. 21 HP Color Inkjet Photosmart Premium Fax Wireless e-All-in-One printer with automatic 2-sided printing and 2.4″ color LCD for $99 (save $200, available online);  Dec. 22 – 18” x 24” oversized prints from the OfficeMax ImPress® Print Center for $8.99 (save $8.99). Offer valid in store only;  Dec. 23 – HP Color Inkjet Photosmart Premium Wireless e-All-in-One printer with 4.3″ touch screen and lab-quality photo printing for $79.99 (save $120, available online);  Dec. 24 Epson® EX3200 SVGA Multimedia Projector for $299.99 (save $150, available online).

DSW deal - Buy a $50 gift card and get a $5 bonus DSW gift card through Dec. 24. The bonus card is valid Jan. 14-29, 2011, which is pretty limiting.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

100 Swagbucks – Get 100 Swagbucks just for joining when you use code HOLIDAYSWAG during registration. If you use the code after you’ve registered, you will NOT get the extra 100 Swagbucks. Normally you only get 30 for joining so this is a HUGE increase. Expires Dec. 31, 2011. This site feeds my Starbucks habit!

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Soda bottle lantern/Things Deb Loves

I LOVE holiday crafts! They are so sparkly and fun to make with kids of all ages.

Here is a list of 8 of my favorite holiday crafts.

1. Soda bottle lanterns. Cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle. Take off label. Decorate with tissue paper put on with watered down Elmer’s glue. Punch two holes on top and string wire or string for a handle. Put a battery operated tea light or glo-stick inside. This is more beautiful than you can image.
   
   
2. Tongue depressor/Popsicle stick snowflakes. Buy the sticks from a Dollar Store or craft supply store. Paint them white. Let dry. Glue together in a star shape. Decorate. Can be used as a unique party invitation or decoration.
3. Recycled wreaths. You can make a wreath out of just about anything from an old bicycle tire wrapped in garland and lights to red buttons glued onto a round piece of cardboard.
4. Hang tags. Repurpose last year’s holiday cards into this year’s name tags for your presents. Just cut off the side with the message and put a hole into the picture side. Tape to present to use ribbon through a hole to hang.
5. Heart house ornament. Another use for last year’s cards. Make a beautiful house shaped tree ornament. Clever idea.
6. Victorian Christmas crackers.  These aren’t the crackers that you eat. These are the crackers that make a popping noise with a toy inside. Make these delightful small gifts out of toilet paper rolls and tissue paper.
7. Paper bag Santa. This is a super easy and cheap craft that kids love. Just takes a paper bag, crayons, scissors, glue and a cotton ball.
8. Paper chains. Cut some red and green construction paper into strips and start connecting those circles. Kids love making paper chains and it is a cheap project. I found a nice paper cutter at a yard sale several years ago and I love it and use it all the time.

These craft ideas along with my earlier Frugal and homemade holiday gifts should keep you all busy making all sorts of holiday creations. Have I forgotten something that you love to make during the holidays?

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Free Christmas recipes - Download 34 free Christmas recipes organized into five meal plans from Mr. Food.

Freebie breakfast recipes – Download free breakfast recipes from Eggland’s Best when you “like” its Facebook page. While supplies last.

Free Poise samples - Get a freebie sample of Poise pads. While supplies last.

Free diabetes cookbook - Download a free diabetes cookbook.

Free mag - Get 6 free magazine issues of Fly Fishing in Saltwaters in digital format through ValueMags.com. No purchase necessary! I’ve got many free subscriptions through this site.

Free meal w/purchase - Kids 12 and under eat free at Chili’s with the order of an adult entree today only, Dec. 19, 2011

HOT! Athleta sale - The semi-annual sale at Athleta starts today! Ends Dec. 29, 2011.

Target coupons - Get a free Target gift card for $20 when you buy a Wii bundle (Just Dance Wii 3 Bundle is excluded). Ends Dec. 24, 2011. Plus, the Dairy Queen Blizzard maker is on sale today, Dec. 19 only. Some 25 toys are 25% off. The Henckel’s 14 piece knife set is 20% off! Plus, the Pyrex 17 piece bake and store set is $40, (orig $54).

Kmart sales - Today, Dec. 19 only the following items are on sale at Kmart: Save $20 on a 18.0 Volt Cordless Drill and Circular Saw Combo for 69.99 (reg. 89.99). Save $33 on a 8.8 cu. ft. Chest Freezer (1692) for $296.99 (reg. $329.99). Save $58 on a 18.2 cu. ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator $521.99 (reg. $579.99). Save $12 on a 15 piece Garden Tool set for $47.99 (reg. $59.99). Save $2 on Outdoor Extension Cords orange 16/3 for $5.99 (reg. $7.99). Save up to $17.99 on storage kits.

$5 mags - The latest Amazon magazine sale has a nice selection of publications for just $5. What a great and low-budget gift!

UGG boot sale - Ugg boots are on sale up to 23% off at The Walking Store. Unclear when sale ends. Free second day shipping so you can get them in time for Christmas.

Best Buy deals - This week, Samsung laptops are all $150 off. Each day leading up to the holidays Best Buy has an electronics deal of the day. Online only. Also check out their gaming deal of the day. Shop through Ebates to get an extra 1-3.6% back.

Gap coupon - Use Gap coupon code GAPCHEER to get 30% off plus free shipping. Expires Dec. 20, 2011. Get an extra 2% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Peet’s coupon - Get $1 off when you buy any handcrafted holiday beverage with this Peet’s Coupon. Valid Dec. 19 only.

Cheap glasses - Get free shipping on any glasses order of $99 or more with Coastal coupon code FREESHIP. Coupon code cannot be combined with any other offer and/or discount. Use the coupon to get glasses for cheap from CoastalContacts.com. No expiration date given.

Walgreens coupons - Get 33% off wall calenders, photo orders, and posters with coupon code ORDER2DAY. Pick them up the same day! Coupon expires Dec. 20, 2011. Or get 50 4 x 6 inch prints for $5 with coupon code 5BUY50. Expires Dec. 24, 2011.

Piperlime coupon - Get 15% off sitewide with Piperlime coupon code GIFT. Valid Dec. 19-20, 2011 only. Thanks, Su May! Get an extra 2% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Michael’s framing coupon - Save 25% off framing with this Michael’s coupon.

Land’s End coupon - Get 40% off your entire order plus free shipping with coupon code DONNER and pin 1585. Ends Dec. 19, 2011. Get an extra 6% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Blockbuster Express coupon - Get $1 off any movie rental with coupon code DOLLARDEAL through Dec. 22, 2011.

HOT! Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $2 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code HOLIDAY. Expires Dec. 19, 2011. Gift cards are $4 with this promo code. Not valid with egift cards and dinner of the month. Here’s how Restaurant.com works. Get an extra 20-30% back in cash when you shop through Ebates.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Oriental Trading coupon - Get free shipping on $49 or more with Oriental Trading coupon code WCE2695. Gift cards not included. Expires Dec. 20, 2011.

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

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aaron13251/flickr

The holidays bring so much wonderful food and drink…all of which can be spilled, splatted, dropped and oops-ed. Knowing how to remove stains needs to be part of your Holiday Survival Guide.

The cardinal rule of stain removal is that the sooner that you can get to a stain, the better the chance that you can fully remove it. Therefore, knowing what household items will remove which kind of stain will make you the hero of the day.

I saved the day for a young bride when my daughter noticed a huge red wine stain running down the length of her wedding dress. I quickly took her to the kitchen where some paper towels and carbonated water took the stain right out of her dress. Talk about quick work!

Here are five staining problems (with their solutions) that you might run into over the holidays. As with any stain removal, test in an inconspicuous spot first.

1. Hot chocolate on carpet – Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid hand soap with two cups warm water. Sponge on the stain. Blot with paper towel to remove liquid. Repeat. If still stain, use ammonia and water same portions as above.
2. Candle wax on garment – Freeze the wax by putting the garment in the freezer or putting ice cubes on the spill. Scrape off the frozen wax. Next put a paper bag on the top and bottom of the stain and iron (low heat) the bag. The wax should soak into the paper bag. Move bag and continue til no more wax transfers. Now wash as normal.
3. Fruit stains on fabric – Stretch fabric over a pot in the sink. Pour boiling water onto the stain from a height of 1 to 2 feet.
4. Ketchup stains on shirt – Pour full strength Mr. Clean on the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse. If still there, repeat. Wash as usual.
5. Spinach on fabric (not wool) – First, sponge area with rubbing alcohol. Rinse well. Now rub area with a baking soda and water paste (3 units baking soda to 1 unit water). Wait 5 minutes. Rinse. Repeat if not gone. If still stained, use spot remover laundry stick and wash. Do NOT put in dryer until stain is gone or the stain will set forever.

If you are looking for more information about stains, check out what the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute has to say about stains. I recently compiled a list of secret uses for baking soda, ammonica, salt, and tin foil. Yazmin has a handy list of 31 secret uses for vinegar.

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BaconThenEggs / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Want to save even more money on Christmas? Here are eight homemade stocking stuffer ideas you can make if you are on a tight budget. The best part is that you don’t have to be super crafty to make them.

Monogrammed handkerchief – With the cold and flu going around how about you make and give a gift that is sure to be used. You can buy handkerchiefs and then follow the easy instructions to monogram the person’s name or initials. If you are good with a sewing machine, you can buy the fabric and sew the handkerchiefs yourself.

Crochet hat and scarf – I’m amazed at how expensive crochet hats and scarfs are in stores. If you can crochet, put your skills to work! You can find all sorts of free crochet patterns online. All you have to do is buy the yarn. Make sure to find out what color the person likes before you start.

Candles – I love candles, especially the ones that make the room smell nice or have a beautiful design. I was in elementary school when I made a candle using a small milk carton so it’s not that hard to make. Candle making instructions can easy be found online. All you need is a free weekend and some materials you can find at craft stores. To make the candles pretty try adding a dried leaf or flower. You can also add a couple drops of essential oil.

Soap – Don’t you just love the colorful soap at fancy shops? You can easily make your own by following easy soap making instructions. The process is not that difficult and you can easily find soap making kits at craft stores if it’s you’re first time. You can wrap the soap in wax paper and tie it with a small ribbon.

DIY chocolate truffles – You just can’t go wrong with a chocolate truffle recipe. There are so many possibilities with truffles or any other kind of homemade candy. You can add them to baggies and include the recipe for an extra sweet surprise.

Bath salts – Another inexpensive Christmas gift are homemade scrubs. You’ll most likely have all the ingredients on hand so give it a try. This is a perfect gift for beauty junkies.

T-shirt ring – In the past I shared easy instructions to make a T-shirt necklace and ruffled T-shirt. Now you can add a T-shirt ring to the mix. All of these would make a cute present for a fashionable girlfriend. You can buy T-shirts at the dollar store. All you need is a little bit of time.

Have more ideas? Don’t forget to share them with us!

Leo Reynolds / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

If you’re still on the look out for the perfect gift, I’ve found some awesome gift card with perks you might want to consider. I share those below. Want to save even more money? You can also purchase discounted gift cards.

AMC Theatres – Free $5 concession bonus card when you spend $30 on gift cards. Offer is available in theaters, while supplies last.

Applebee’s – Get a $10 gift card when you purchase $50 in gift cards. Not valid for digital purchases. The bonus card is good through Feb. 29, 2011.

Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free scoop with every $10 of gift cards you purchase. You can also get a $10 gift card for $5 for joining Saveology for a VERY limited time.

Benihana – Get a free $10 promotional card with every $50 you spend on gift cards. Offer valid Nov. 14, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2011 on Gift Card purchases that are placed within the same order. Promotional Cards are valid from Jan. 2, 2012 through March 31, 2012.

Black Angus – Get $5 bonus bucks for every $50 in gift cards you purchase through Dec. 31, 2011. Get Free shipping and Bonus Bucks if you spend $75 or more. Bonus Bucks are good Jan. 1, 2012 to Feb. 13, 2012.

Boston Market – Get a $5 bonus card for every $25 you spend on gift cards while supplies last. This deal was advertised in the Nov. 13 Smart Source coupon insert.

California Pizza Kitchen – Get a free $20 bonus card when you spend $100 on gift cards. The bonus card is good Jan. 3, 2012 through March 6, 2012.

Carrow’s – Get a free $5 gift card when you purchase a $25 Carrow’s gift card by Dec. 31, 2011. You must use the $5 gift card by Jan. 1 through Mar. 31, 2012.

Chuck E. Cheese – Get 20 free tokens with every $25 gift card purchase. This deal can’t be found on their website, but it was advertised in the Dec. 4 Smart Source insert.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – Buy a $25 gift card and get a free drink. I’ve only seen this deal in store.

DSW – Get a free $5 bonus card when you purchase a $50 gift card through Dec. 24. The bonus card is good Jan. 14, 2011 through Jan. 29, 2011.

Fleming’s Steakhouse – Get a free $20 bonus card when you spend $100 on gift cards through Dec. 31, 2011. The bonus card is good Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 10, 2012.

IHOP -  Get $5 off your next purchase when you spend $25 on gift cards through Jan. 31, 2012. I couldn’t find an expiration date for the $5 discount. You might want to ask if there’s one.

Jamba Juice – Get a free 16 oz. smoothie with the purchase of a $25 gift card through Jan. 3, 2012. Get the freebie on the same visit or get a coupon to use before Jan. 10, 2012.

Macaroni Grill – Get a free $5 bonus card when you purchase a $25 gift card. The bonus is good Jan. 2, 2011 through Feb. 29, 2011.

Maggiano’s – Purchase $100 in e-cards and receive a $20 e-bonus card plus a one-year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine. Available online till Dec. 31.

Orange Julius – Get a free 12 oz. smoothie when you spend $15 gift card through Dec. 31.

Outback Steakhouse – Get a $20 bonus card when you purchase $100 on gift cards through Dec. 31. The bonus card is good Jan. 1, 2011 through Feb. 10, 2011.

Red Robin – Get a $5 bonus buck reward when you spend $25 on gift cards. The reward card must be used Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 29, 2012.

Rubios – Get a $5 bonus coupon with $50 gift card purchase. Not sure if the $5 bonus coupon expires.

Ruby Tuesday – Get a $15 bonus coupon for every $50 you spend on gift cards through Dec. 31. The bonus coupon is good Jan. 2, 2011 through Feb. 28, 2011.

Taco Bell – Get a free Chicken Flatbread Sandwich combo with a $20 gift card purchase. Not sure when this deal ends.

TGI Friday’s -  Get a $5 Bonus Bites card for every $25 you spend on gift cards. Nothing specific is stated as to when $5 off can be used or when it expires.

Uno Chicago Grill – Get a $5 bonus voucher for every $25 you spend on gift cards. The voucher is good Jan. 2, 2012 through April 1, 2012.

Send a silly Diwali Gram!

You’ve heard of Elf Yourself, the popular Office Max campaign where you can turn anybody into a silly, dancing elf.

But have you heard of Diwali Gram? It’s even sillier than Elf Yourself because you can turn anybody into a shimmy-ing Bollywood star. You can change the type of dance, the music, which body parts are moving, and the costume. I’m a fan of the belly dancing outfit. It’s a great time waster.

Note, if you are looking at this at work, the Diwali Gram page automatically plays music!

Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights that is sometime between mid-October and mid-December each year. Read more about Diwali on Wikipedia.

Thanks, Katherine!

Free shipping day is Dec. 16!

There is scant time to finish your Christmas shopping online! Most retailers require online purchases to be completed by Dec. 16, 2011 to guarantee Christmas Eve delivery.

If you do not finish your online shopping by tomorrow, you have two options.

1. Pay a ton for expedited shipping.

2. Fight the crowds at the mall, then package your gifts, wait in line at the post office, and pay for Priority or Express shipping.

If you shop tomorrow, thousands of online merchants – 2,339 to be exact – are participating in Free Shipping Day. What that means is that these 2,339 merchants all offer free standard shipping AND guarantee your gifts will arrive by Christmas. Some have minimum spend requirements, others don’t. Most allow dollar off or percentage off coupons on top of free shipping, which is hot.

If you need gift ideas, check out the 10-day Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide for unique gifts, electronics, gift card deals, and a lot more.

If you are having a hard time coming up with a gift or finding a good deal, let the Bargain Babe solve your holiday dilemma.

When you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase by shopping through Ebates. Don’t leave money on the table!