START TAKING CONTROL! Tips & Hints To Save Money!  

I have a gift tote. It sits in the bottom of my closet. My parents are on a fixed income so my gifts to them are largely practical things like vitamins, razors, body wash, shampoo, etc for the year. So while I shop I look for clearance deals, I coupon, and find BOGO deals and I put them in there so that Christmas is not so costly.

I don't have a gift closet anymore because at 75, most of my friends and family are celebrating in heaven. I give out about 7 gifts. So glad my fridge is clean!

If I happen to regift a gift - cough cough- I always put who got it for me so I don’t mess up

We stopped giving gifts about 15 years ago. I plucked up the courage to ask family and friends if they minded - they were all delighted and had been wanting to do the same!

I can't believe you got all that great stuff for $5.00!!! WOW!

I freeze my tortillas in packs of 5…. The number we use for each meal.

You can use the maple syrup bottle to make homemade vanilla -- cheap vodka and vanilla beans and a dark cabinet and time :)

That vintage tablecloth is beautiful.

I get those syrup bottles, clean them, remove the label, etc and when I make homemade cough syrup to put into them. Put a label on it and you are good to go.

I am blessed with three wonderful granddaughters ages four, five, and six years old. Fortunately they are still too young to be brand name aware! Throughout the year I pick up new and like new small toys, books, games and art supplies at thrift stores and yard sales and add them to my stash. I also shop the sales racks at the end of the season for clothes for them, buying a size or two larger than they are presently wearing. For Easter I gave them sand buckets -$1.25 each from Dollar Tree-filled with individually wrapped tiny treasures and a few pieces of candy. And a few weeks ago I gave them their new bathing suits purchased last fall or just three dollars apiece! My granddaughters agree that Grandma gives the best presents!

I have an embroidery machine so I embroider hand towels, bath towels , tea towels ,pillowcases, baby bibs and receiving blankets . I pick up on sale childrens ‘ books , socks and anything else I can embroider. I usually buy all these things on sale. I also make placemats and dolly clothes and accessories for my youngest granddaughter . Doing these things give me a lot of joy and is good therapy but at the moment I need the machine repaired . Ouch !

I gather antique canning jars and make mixes, like cakes or cookies and put the mix in the jars...I tie the recipe and a nice wooden spoon to it ,or measuring spoons.

My mom uses those bottles to make flavored vinegars for dressings. She make herb, chive blossom, and raspberry flavors.

Tip to make your cut watermelon last longer….put the cut pieces in a colander before setting in your food storage container. Letting your watermelon pieces sit in the juices makes them spoil much faster. Love this ideas for Christmas! I’ve also just downloaded the Dollar General App and am anxious to check the stores near me out! Thanks!

Hello Emmy & Paul. Another really helpful video, thank you. I use my empty maple 🍁 syrup bottles (200ml) to gift my home-infused blackberry gin and limocello to friends at Christmas. Yes, I have a gift storage area in my home. It's two rolling storage crates under my bed that years ago I purchased to keep shoes in. One crate is for Christmas gifts and the other for birthday gifts. I keep a spreadsheet where I log my purchases so that I don't get muddled. Greetings from Nottingham, UK

I would love to see some of your Christmas gift baskets when you make them.

Love the intro so much! Use the syrup bottle for homemade salad dressing or vinaigrette if you make those. I wish we had been more frugal gift givers years ago. I think if we had been brave enough to, other family and friends would have jumped at the chance to do it too. We are older now and don't exchange gifts so much now, but it still applies. Great candle finial ideas! Wonderful ceramic pieces. A lot of thrift store items are new or gently used at most. My gift closet contains (or will contain soon) pieces of jewelry and nice decor pieces that I will start gifting family and friends whenever they stop by. I don't decorate as much for the seasons or holidays as I used to and since retired I don't wear jewelry as much. Time to declutter and bless others with items they like now and not wait for holidays. Thank you for all of the ideas and motivation. Blessings to all of your family.

Oh my goodness, now I have to clean out my fridge tomorrow, my last day off of a 5 day reprieve from work. But you're so right, no procrastinating, I must get to it! And I've had a gift stash for years, always finding clearance items: candles, chocolate, etc...and more specific items for specific people.

I would love for you and Paul to make a video of your gift baskets.

Pretty bottle can be a vase, start plan cutting's etc. OR Use it for a gift 🎁 Maybe bath salts, homemade coffee flavored syrup?

Congratulations 🎉 on reaching 25K subscribers

Your channel is such a respite. Thank you!

I had a gift closet for children’s toys when my daughter was young and invited to Bday parties every weekend. It got crazy but l would purchase items on sale and there was always something there for an easy/frugal gift.

I had to pause the video after the Great Fridge Cleanout of 2022 segment. Love the music you added, it fit perfectly. We have a counter depth fridge so it’s not as deep which is a good and bad thing. Not as much room inside but then we don’t walk into it either as we pass through the kitchen. I am always annoyed that most food storage containers are round because so much space gets lost in the fridge. I use canning jars to store our leftovers as much as possible as it’s easy to see what’s in them and they are easy to clean, or square or rectangular containers. No lost space in the corners. For all the tortillas you have, consider pinwheel/roll up sandwiches which are great on a hot day. Ok, on with the rest of the video. 😊

Your totally right Emmy, before we get turned round Christmas will be here 😳, i don’t have a gift cupboard, but the way prices are, now is the time to start preparing, i loved the things you and Paul picked up, all those Christmas items i would love them if i was gifted those, love a tidy fridge, tidy fridge less waste, I’m in the uk Emmy and with electric and everything going up things are gonna get tight, love your channel, Thankyou so much, take care ❤️ xx your doggy so wanted that ham 😂🤣

Cutting up the watermelon to store in the fridge is something we do at our house, too. It makes it so much easier when you want to eat it. However, we drain the liquid at least once per day. If you don't do that it tends to get a sour taste after a day or two and it ruins the fruit.

Intros such as these are so soothing !

I love Paul’s idea for the tree topper. So creative. Totally have to add fairy lights inside. Genius!

You are just so encouraging & motivating! The inside of my fridge needs a makeover….and a good cleaning…hahaha❗️

Hi Emmy, This was actually a helpful video! We all have refrigerator challenges and you showing us how you cleared out and organized your refrigerator motivated me to do the same. Stocking up on useful gifts makes even more sense now!

Gift ideas I have made that were a hit. 1. cheese platter set with knives in square box with a smaller box of black magic chocolates, a smaller round tin of biscuits, and a smaller box of brie cheese stacked and wrapped in 3 different gold paper, wrapped in cellophane and tied with a gold ribbon.(total cost $12 CAD $9.26USD. 2. Clear ice bucket stuffed with tissue paper with a bottle of prosecco (classy blue label) and 2 fluted wine glasses, stuffed with baby blue tissue paper and wrapped in white snowflake cellophane and tied with a blue ribbon (cost under $10 USD). 3. Mini coffees & small package of homemade biscotti in a coffee mug, wrapped with tissue and cellophane and tied with ribbon. 4.Wrapped and stacked Laura Secord tea set with chocolates($4 dollar stores), blackberry jam ($2) and box of Turkish delights ($3) top with bow. Yes I have a gift closet and I just need a couple of small gifts left to pick up for Christmas and I am done. Most things I have gotten for 60% or more less than the original price and have stayed on budget. I am so proud of myself. Great video as always.

That haul was great….😊❤️I don’t have a gift closet but in my family if you can’t eat it or use it up fast we don’t need it ….we all love soap

It’s good to see that you guy do the same as our family. My oldest lived with 5 roommates and save money by asking their roommates had to to be used up and then would figure out how to use up and make a meal for all the roommates and they only would spend a few dollars for the meal and everyone got a fabulous meal

Another tip for watermelon, and this applies to cantaloupe too, put a paper towel on the bottom to collect the access juices. I find the watermelon lasts alot longer and doesn’t get slimy.

Great video, Emmy! Do you know that those mayo lids fit Ball jars perfectly? And that tablecloth is stunning!!

Hi Emmy, your Christmas tablecloth reminded me of the time I coveted a beautiful $50 Christmas tablecloth at the posh store but couldn’t afford it as a new single homeowner. The following spring I went to a yard sale where relatives were clearing the home of a relative who passed. They were selling black garbage “grab bags” for $1.00. The tops were knotted but I found one with plain Christmas wreaths and what looked like plain red cloth napkins and Christmas towels inside. Imagine my joy when I got home to take a good look at my new treasures and discovered my coveted Christmas tablecloth in the bag, brand new in the package! I paid $1.00 for two nice quality brand new wreaths, 6 new cloth napkins, a couple of Christmas kitchen towels and my beautiful tablecloth. I still use my purchases and the tablecloth brings me such happiness. And I only paid about ten cents for it. Oh and to add about Xmas gifts, we no longer exchange since my brother and his family pronounced it a waste of money☹️. I knit my mom a cardigan or sweater as she’s always cold. This year I’m knitting her “dickies” at her request to layer. I gift exchange with a couple of friends but it is low key. Last year I knit fingerless mitts for everyone which was a big hit. This year my skiing friends hinted they’d love knitted hats, so I’m running with it and everyone is getting a hat. I’ll add home baked goods, so I’m already on the search for suitable containers or plates at yard sales.

I use lazy Susan’s in my fridge for small jars of stuff that tend to get lost for easier access. You could also slice the bagels in half then slice, season and toast in the oven for bagel chips.

I love the beginning of your videos! Not that I don’t want to hear what you have to share with us, but I do always wish the beginnings seeing the nature around you were a bit longer 😄

I have in my closet some pretty oven mitts with matching spatulas that I purchased on clearance for 50 cents a set. The spatulas say "Made with Love". I am going to stuff the oven mitts with crocheted kitchen items made by me. These will be gifts for a group of my church lady friends who gather each year for a Christmas dinner party.

I put my Parmesan in freezer and shave it off directly stays good long time

I have started getting a gnome themed dish towel AFTER each holiday (on clearance ). So far I have Valentine's day, St Patrick's day and Easter. I will put it together as a gift for a friend at Christmas.

Thank you for the pep talk,I was needing that,my fridge is embarrassing to look into right now😕

I LOVE Paul's idea about the mini lights inside the beautiful vintage tree topper !

Another great episode! I save syrup jars and other jars for many different uses. I soak off the labels and they become flower vases for fresh flowers from the garden to send home with guests or to take to hostesses. Tie a pretty (saved) ribbon or even some jute into a bow to make it more special. Larger ones I send leftovers home when my kids come for a visit. Recently I for quart sized spaghetti jars, my granddaughter and I had a fun time filling with layers of flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, etc. for brownies. We put directions and what to add (eggs, oil, water) on the outside or onto a card and tied it on. She took them home so she can make some fast brownies for her family and feel good about her new baking skills. The jars are being reused and no need for anyone to keep track of something that has to be returned to the owner.

This may be pretty frugal, but I bought a chocolate mint and apple mint plant and they have grown very nicely in the last month. I have taken some cuttings and started getting the roots to grow. I want to give them as gifts to a couple of people. So, I have taken a few empty cans and poked some holes in the bottom. I then decorated the cans and am going to fill them with dirt and the plant cuttings to give them away, this way, I am not spending any money at all on these gifts and they will keep on giving. But, I was trying to think of a nice gesture to give to a couple of people that I think will enjoy the plants without spending any money or just giving them the cuttings before they are established and then have a greater chance of them not making it. I am not sure how frugal too frugal would be for a gift, but hopefully they will appreciate the thought.

You can use the cleaned maple syrup bottle, for milk when you go out for a picnic. I place a hot water thermos in the picnic basket and take the milk in the bottle, with tea, coffee etc.

I just absolutely love the openings to your videos!

I make lemon cello and I put it in the maple syrup bottles once thoroughly cleaned.

I have a gift room lol. I shop year round for Christmas. I do big “stockings” for all the kids, full of random things I find all year. I watch for clearance items, especially at Costco. The kids tell me they love the stockings, which are actually things like laundry baskets, wastebaskets, wicker baskets etc-just whatever I think of that year that is not only suitable to load with stuff, but something they can use.

I save the maple syrup bottles and make a batch of cranberry liquore and give them away at Christmas

I'm New to your channel. I made the hot chocolate brownies. YUM! You have given me so many great ideas. I love when I see a new video from you. Thanks so MUCH! ♥️

Ohh Emmy, don’t say Christmas!!!! Trying to soak up every day of sunshine as summer is FLYING by!! That’s fridge Clean and food use was amazing!!! And those gift ideas were great! Thanks for your beautiful, encouraging smile today!

Nice intro, so relaxing.

Love yoy love watching frugal queen voice of a angle heart of gold star 🌟 god bless you 🙏 and you ❤ 👪 with joy 😊 peace and happiness always keep safe take care love always ❤💕💖💛

I am so envious Of your temptation stuff 💕❤️💕❤️

I work at a public library and we have a book sale where everything is $1 or less, so I fill my gift closet with books, especially for the kids.

I have 2 gift totes...I plan 2 different types of gift baskets this year...1 is a fur baby gift basket and the other is a kitchen dining basket...so on the look for cloth napkins,table runners,candle sticks,or table decor.

Lovely opening. So loved the bird house part

Congratulations on hitting another milestone

Love the idea of using the trays for cookies or candy. It is also something that maybe they could pass on as well to others when they are done with it. I have an area in my craft room that is out-of-the way from peeping eyes lol that I use to store all my deals I purchased throughout the year to use at Christmas time. One Christmas I filled up 5 Christmas stockings with all FREE items I got through couponing, rewards programs, etc. (gum, candy, razors, soaps, lotions, candles etc.) none of the recipients ever knew it was gotten all for free :-)

We live in S.C. I LOVE your home in SC .I would glue your sons puzzles on sturdy cardboard. Make it larger .Boarder it ,by making a cardboard frame.Glue seashells on one. BAMBOO.... PALM LEAVES .......BROKEN STICKS.

on your empty Maple syrup bottle - if you have access to free or inexpensive fruit this summer, make fruit vinegar. I love raspberry vinegar and it is super easy to make. You can make a big batch and give away a lovely bottle as a gift in that maple syrup bottle (after you have soaked the label off). I also love giving gift baskets in a theme I know the person will like. Each year my church Christmas Fair has a silent auction table and I like putting in a themed basket. This year I pulled together a really nice Beach Themed Bag with stuff I bought at the end of the summer last year when everything was 75%-90% off. Everything is in Red and Tourquoise and includes 2 beach towels, 2 water bottles, 2 pairs of sun glasses, 2 cup holders you spike into the sand, two melamine plates with nautical theme, a package of matching napkins and a frisbee, all will be put into a huge white canvas tote that says "Back to the Beach" in big red letters. Whole thing cost me less than $25 because I hit the after the season sales and it is HUGE. I've done tea party themes, Harry Potter Themes, Gardener themes, etc. Just need an inspiration piece to get started and patience in checking the sales ... plus knowing when to stop. I also buy gift cards when they have the special deals (often on black friday) and save them to use throughout the year. Good job saving all that food!

You can use Mayo to make cases, breads, pancake and waffles! After all it's dairy and egg's and oil!!

Smart bringing food to your place

Emmy and Paul this was a great video! I live in Texas and we eat a lot of Mexican food. I keep tortillas in the freezer and they freeze beautifully. Also, a great snack is a little peanut butter on a tortilla and warmed in the microwave for a few seconds. 😉 Also, I've always had a gift closet. I look for great gifts all year long and as of now I'm about 1/3 of the way finished with Christmas shopping. I love Christmas. 🤶

I was going to volunteer to take care of those peanut butter cups for you. LOL!

I love those Temptation spoon holders! What a find!

When thrifting, or see sales on items I know will help/bless/cheer my adult children I pick them up and place them as a ‘welcome’ gift in their ‘guest ‘ room when they visit for the weekend💕 Just a little something.

Love the tablecloth. I have several and rotate them weekly. Not the Christmas ones. Those I rotate the day after Thanksgiving and thru December. A good gift to yours!!! We must be soul sisters.

I would be able to help you clean up those Reeses peanut butter cups!👍🍫

The glass bottle perhaps for olive oil easy to handle if you buy the large bottle. I start my xmas shopping two weeks after xmas when things go for next to nothing dish towels Christmas ornaments ect I have a gift closet I am also prepared for summer birthdays as I see things on sale that I know that person would like and can use I get it I keep a trunk of dollar tree bags so always on hand.thank you Emmy and Paul think I will go clean the fridge.

Ritzi says DixieBelle 👋 Great Job Emmy and Paul Love and Cheer from Texas!!!

When I was a kid, one of my aunts gave my grandma (her mother) a very practical box every Christmas filled with a can of coffee, sugar, canned evaporated milk, flour, etc. Grandma loved her daily coffee with milk and sugar, and she loved to bake. Even as a kid, I knew that was a great Christmas gift for my grandma, who was on a very fixed income.

My freezer needed a clean up too. I saw a bag with frezen fresh plums, some black berries from my garden from last summer and a bag of store bought strawberries. I will put them all together in a pan, add some sugar and make a wonderful fruit sauce of it which I can serve with home made ice, made from frezen bananas or I will serve it with desserts.

I have 2 tips. I experimented with throwing the whole bag of tortillas in the freezer. They freeze beautifully and don't stick together! And, I frequently drain my leftover watermelon. Helps keep it from getting mushy. Love your channel!

Psychic event. I also had some leftover ham and made ham, cheese and potato croquettes with mine. I also save my ends of parmesan and put it into soup especially my homemade minestrone. Just love you guys. Best wishes from the UK.

Books That I read,and don' t want to keep.always looking for Things That my Friends Love.Or Making Things myself. Cards,knitting something.or making Something from fabrics that I have.

I would take the label off that maple syrup bottle and fill the bottle with colored water and set it on a sunny windowsill. I've been MIA lately. Have to catch up!! Enjoy your summer! Wow, over 25K subscribers! You've come a long way in a short time!! Congrats!

Great video. Very nice gifts for your gift closet

My late wealthy uncle only bought Sunday paper. He saved funnies used it for Christmas wrapping paper n string tied it. Saved coupons then read paper. He'd wrap the paper round broomstick n tied old metal coathanger. At end of year he had Free 52 Logs for woodburner. Hed add ashes to compost then when metal too brittle hed put with metal to sell at scrap yard.

This cracks me up because I thought I was the only person who begins shopping for Christmas on the 26th and keeps going all year round. You are such an inspiration! Thank you!!

I watched this as I cleaned up from dinner. The timing was perfect! It motivated me to freeze leftover hot dog buns in the knick of time and I froze 5 leftover raw hot dogs. I rooted around the fridge and found blueberries that needed to be frozen or used quick so into the food saver bag they went! Your tag sale score is unbelievable! You got amazing stuff! I also buy Christmas plates all year long to give with Christmas cookies. Great video as always Emmy and Paul!

That little bottle is perfect for vinegar and oil .🍅🧄🍋🥬🥖🍷

I put homemade elderberry syrup in an old maple syrup bottle. Another idea would be to put salad dressing in it.

Syrup jars could be great to house home made vanilla extract. Add cheap vodka and a vanilla bean and that extract will be gift ready come Christmas! Or you could do a mint extract with mint leaves from the garden or chocolate extract using chocolate chips. That could be tasty for Holiday baking! We had a gift closet when we were stationed in Japan. I would shop the shrine sales (church tag sales) and shop year round for family and friends. Then I would mail gifts in Nov in order to arrive in time for Christmas without paying for expedited shipping. I currently have two gifts in my gift closet so I need to get to work! Thanks for the inspiration. I love the fridge clean out :-) so inspiring.

I can’t help but notice your shelf! I have so many vintage dishes from my grandmother, but I have a small space and nowhere to display them so sadly, they are in my basement tucked away so they won’t get broken. And I would love to see how you display your collection fully

I make the best banana nut bread and chocolate chip cookies. I make gifts baskets with these homemade goodies. Gift baskets are the best. It shows that you have invested TIME into the relationship. BTW my ingredients are always bought on sale.

What a beautiful tablecloth

What a treasure the vintage tablecloth is😊it was meant to find its way to you💕💕💕

I used to have a gift basket in my closet. Now, I have a gift area under my basement steps and some overflow beside the root cellar door. I don't use the root cellar for food storage, although that was the original idea. It's filled with lots of other storage now.

I loved your Haul….. I would have loved everything! Such a good idea and I’m motivated! Love your ideas! I’m new to your channel and I’m enjoying you and your husband very much …..this is a year old but I’m enjoying it now in Jan. 2023!

I loved the beginning of your video,it was just lovely to start my day with,I work nights so my day starts around noon!

I don't have a closet but I have a gift tote. I have been keeping my eyes out all year long for things that are new or like new that are inexpensive. I look in clearance sections and thrift stores and swap meets. I found at the grocery store brand new salt and pepper sets that were very pretty for $0.50 a set. I bought several of those for stocking stuffers. Most recently I was at Walmart and they had super soft Summer pajama sets with the shorts and tank tops for a dollar a piece so I bought them for my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law. After Christmas last year there was a store that put a whole bunch of toys on a really good clearance. So we bought toys for no more than $2 a piece. And we have been giving those to our grandson's.

Wow! You totally scored at that tag sale!

Yes- even with family- take a hostess gift.

I take the maple bottles to start new plants 🪴 in water. No waste and they are so nice looking. Love ❤️ your channel.

Blend your watermelon. Make it a watermelon drink. All you need is a blender :D we loved it

I hear Dixie begging for the ham- Dixie is saying- Dad I can help you out with the ham fat!! Lol

That's precious 💞

I just absolutely loved this video, you are so inspiring. I cleaned out my refrigerator this weekend. I feel like I accomplished some thing wonderful. I ate everything that needed to be eaten so no food waste. I went grocery shopping this morning it was such a nice treat to put my new food items into a clean and organized refrigerator.