Featured Links

Other Topics
Sponsored Links





Quote of the Day

"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law."

Winston Churchill








 




 
Featured Budgeting Articles

Budget Shopping for Kids
It's hard to find fashionable and affordable clothes for children. Here is the scoop on dressing your little bargainista in the hottest fashions for less.Dressing GirlsMost of us struggle to find clothing for girls that don't make your favorite ...

Stop Risking Your Ad Budget! Cut It Down To Zero!
Now you can Send Your Ads FREE Every Week To 188,000 Targeted eZine Readers! If you're advertising in eZines or plan to in the near future . . . take two minutes to read this. It could literally change the future of your eBusiness. We all know . . . The ...

Uk Loans Guide - Channelising Your Rising Budget In A Productive Manner
Every unknown road needs a milestone to configure where it leads. Every loan type in UK requires a guide to steer through the loans market. The vastness of loans in UK is exhaustive. Loan borrowing in UK is growing by the day. Loan process has been ...




10 Great Holiday Decorating Ideas...On a Budget!
 
1.First things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn't cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for Christmas? The rustic lodge xmas, a toyland xmas, countries around the world, Victorian, country, santa, snowmen, old fashioned, the list goes on and on!

2. Make garlands out of felt scraps. Cut Xmas shapes out of felt in miniature, mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, and string together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember when you string each shape, tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, them sewing the two together. Glue would work also if you aren't a sewer. Saved used dryer sheets are perfect for this kind of stuffing, or even tiny fabric scraps that are too small for other uses.

3.Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around the neck, and you have a beautiful candle with xmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.

4. Start a Christmas collection. This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My girls and I starting collecting Santas 3 years ago, and it's something they look forward to, choosing our yearly Santa together. I know it will be a fond memory for them, and I plan to let each child choose a Santa to take with them when the day comes that they leave the nest and start their own home. By the way, this doesn't have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try sewing or crafting a new decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your dollar store.they have some really cute ceramic holiday decorations for a buck or two. Remember, it's the memories you're interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.

5. If you are looking to do a toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local thrift stores. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels, and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy's arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy's seat by the front door.

6. Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.

7. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining room?

8. Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.

9. Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names. Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.

10. Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I'm not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.

There it is, the 10 best budget decorating ideas for Holiday decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting.our loved ones! Have a wonderful holiday season!


About the Author
Kathleen Wilson is the author of “Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20:The Budget Decorator's Bible” and the editor of The Budget Decorator, a free ezine dedicated to the “budget impaired” home decorator. Visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas.




Budgeting News


Globe and Mail

Throne speech pledges fiscal overhaul
Vancouver Sun
EDMONTON - Alberta's Conservative government on Tuesday pledged sweeping changes to the way the province manages its money, trumpeting plans for a radical change in the budgeting process and a major review of provincial income and spending.
Alberta plans no deep spending cutsTheChronicleHerald.ca
Throne speech leans heavily on 'results-based budgeting'Edmonton Sun
Throne speech promises smart spending, better health careCBC.ca
National Post (blog) -CanadianBusiness.com
all 117 news articles »

Mayor Clough's budgeting is the key to Westlake's success
Plain Dealer (blog)
Due to this proper budgeting, this city's residents did not suffer a loss of services during the economic downturn. This is unlike many other cities whose mayors spent like drunken sailors during the economic boom, and whose residents are now paying ...


Hong Kong proves that good budgeting is still possible
The Nation
Financial Secretary John Tsang's fifth and last budget of the current-term Hong Kong government delivered last Wednesday was a model of fiscal design, the envy of most governments. Which government around the world can boast a surplus of HK$66.7 ...

and more »

Mabs may be proposed to run personal insolvency service
Irish Times
OIREACHTAS JUSTICE COMMITTEE: MONEY ADVICE and Budgeting Service (Mabs) may be proposed as the new State-run insolvency service to mediate between banks and people in debt. The insolvency service to be set up under the Personal Insolvency Bill is aimed ...
Free advice for struggling business ownersWicklow People

all 2 news articles »

Rokita Votes to Increase Transparency and Accuracy in Budgeting
Kokomo Perspective
This reform would bring federal budgeting in line with private sector practices. It also requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to operate under a budget. Since the financial crisis these enterprises have become the responsibility of the federal ...

and more »