Most newly weds don’t have a lot of extra spending money around when it comes times for gifts. The good news is that most of the traditional gifts in the first few years are not all that expensive. The bad news is that as time goes by (and children come into the picture) the gifts become more expensive and there seems to be even less money to go around. Here are just a few ideas that are free or nearly free.

1. Massage – invest a few dollars in a massage technique book (or borrow one from the library) and some massage oils. Give your spouse a full massage without setting a timer (or expectation of something in return).

2. Dinner and a movie – surprise your spouse with a tray of treats, a couple of movies and the kids gone for the night. Just time alone is sometimes all the gift you want.

3. A book – get an empty journal (or make one yourself) and write something special – a moment, a memory or something you love about your spouse – on every page. You might want to start this one several weeks before the big day.

Gifts do not have to be expensive to be cherished. It is often those that cost the least (and required the most time and effort) that are treasured the longest.

This year we encourage our children to make gifts for friends and family. Our oldest son took the challenge to heart and made gifts for everyone from the neighbors to teachers and every family member that he came in contact with during the holidays. My biggest fear was that people would not appreciate what he did, but most of them were truly grateful for his thoughtfulness and his effort.

1. For his cousin that hunts he used paper plates that he cut out to form a box and added lint, pine pieces and some other items to create a tinder box.
2. For his best friend’s brother (who is really into girls) he created a list of pick up lines (that only a 12 year old boy could come up with).
3. For the cats in the house he used lint from the dryer to create a mouse – seriously it looks exactly like a mouse when it is viewed from across the room!
4. For his grandmother he made a necklace and for his grandfather he made a miniature American flag paper weight.

The list goes on and on. He started in September and spent a great deal of time thinking about many of the gifts. Most of them he created from trash or items sitting around the house (although he did spend a little money along the way). Most of the gifts that he made were from nothing – which goes to show that you really can get something for nothing if you use your imagination.

Many of us have set resolutions that involve finances. It is no surprise given the current economic situation that is bearing down on the country. Savings may not be the top of the priority list, but saving just a few dollars each day on items that you may not think about (and probably won’t miss) could mean big savings for you in the long run.

1. Laundry detergent. Buying budget may seem like the best bet, but getting quality and buying concentrated products mean that the product lasts longer. One purchase of $30 lasts our family six months (and we wash about 12 full loads of laundry per week). That comes out to less than $.10 per load!

2. Plan left-overs to create a new meal. Your family won’t complain that you are eating the same thing AGAIN and you don’t waste any food. Get creative – use sauces and gravies to transform one meal to something completely new (planned overs make GREAT casseroles).

3. Break the habit. Kicking a nicotine or caffeine habit can mean an extra $4 in your pocket every day. This adds up to almost $1500.

Saving money can be easy and doesn’t have to affect your current budget. Make one of your resolutions all about securing your financial future through these small daily savings.

Cutting the grocery budget often means that health choices – like fresh fruits and vegetables – are the first items to go. Cutting corners in the budget does not mean you also have to cut corners on your health.

1. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables can be found without additives, flavorings, or other chemicals. They are quick frozen just the way nature made them and they still have many of the vitamins and nutrients that your body craves.

2. Make your own. Skip the pre-mixed pancake batters, muffin mixes and even the pre-made bread. Make your own mixes using healthier choices for ingredients.

3. Go whole wheat – pastas, flours and breads are readily available in whole wheat varieties. They are more filling than their bleached out counterparts, so you probably won’t need to make as much.

4. Skip the sugared drinks and bottled waters. Invest a little money in a filter for your faucet and make your own tea, lemonade and even water. You’ll enjoy the drinks more, your body will appreciate the freshness and you will save a fortune that you can use to splurge on a few fresh vegetables or fruits now and then.

Eating on a budget does not mean giving up healthy choices. It may take a little more planning to eat right but it will be worth it for you and for your whole family.

The budget is made, we write down what we spend and we limit our purchases to necessities only. That usually lasts for the first couple of weeks or even a few months before the checkbook springs a leak.

It starts off so minor that I don’t notice the problem. At the end of the month there is just a few dollars less to put into the savings account. Eventually there will be even less at the end of the month until a deficit begins to show up. It doesn’t take long to uncover the leak and the sooner we find it the less damage that will be done.

1. Fast food purchases – one meal hear and one meal there starts to add up. The convenience of not having to cook or clean is enticing and the more we do it the more we want to do it. The irony is that most of the time I can have something on the table almost as fast as we can go through the fast food line.

2. Impulse purchases – picking up a water or soda while filling up the car, getting some snack food while buying groceries or that new purse that I’ve needed but didn’t budget for this month can all steal a just enough from the budget to do damage.

3. New costs – items add up during the year but they don’t always get added on to the budget. One item not budgeted for can put a drain on the finances.

The best thing to do when the money starts to run low is to evaluate the plan. There are times when the budget gets a once over every month in our home and there are times when we go half a month without a worry. Keeping an eye on the bottom line will help you find the leak in your finances before it puts you into a hole.

Time together is the best investment you can make in the family. The best thing about family outings is that they don’t have to cost a fortune to be fun for everyone.

1. Hit the skating rink – but try to avoid doing it literally. For just $5 a person we can skate at our local rink for the whole day. We have to add in some money for food because we can’t bring our own, but it’s a great time for the whole family (we range from 3 to 42), it’s good exercise and it’s a perfect rainy day adventure.

2. Movie memberships – Blockbuster offers a great rewards program so that we can rent one new release movie and get one favorite for free. A couple of these deals and we are set for a great rainy day weekend or just a couple of family movie nights. For the best deal, check out a movie at the local library.

3. Take a hike – getting out and enjoying some fresh air is a fun way for the whole family to get some exercise and spend time together. Add some intrigue to the outing by looking up some letterboxing or geocaching locations (and make the hike a treasure hunt).

Family time doesn’t have to cost much to make memories that will last. Put some ideas into a jar and let your children take turns picking out a family adventure.

The holiday season is in full swing and I watched my children eagerly open gifts yesterday. They have already forgotten all about the paper and the ribbons, but they are still talking about the trip to see the Christmas lights and pet the reindeer.

It is easy to get caught up in the commercial part of the holidays. This tight economic time has caused many people to look beyond the commercial and find inexpensive or free ways to enjoy the holidays. Like my own family, most of us are discovering that the best things in life are free.

1. Homemade gifts take thoughtfulness, imagination, creativity and time. It shows the receiver that you spent some time and energy and not just some dollars.

2. Time is a gift that is beyond any measure of money and it spreads out into memories that last a life time.

3. Laughter is good for the heart, soul and mind and it’s free. Playing games with the family, riding bikes or going to the park are all great ways to create holiday memories that will last longer than any batteries.

This holiday season may be winding down, but it is never too early to start thinking about next year. No matter what the future may hold for your finances, commit today to make the holiday season about the memories and not about the bucks!

I know how every penny counts. I was sharing how to get coupons with my sister in law who has three children in diapers.

We know that pennies count, we just have trouble counting our pennies. Her response is the same for many people in today’s society. We understand the CONCEPT of saving money we just have trouble implementing the necessary changes. Here are a few tips to help you get going in the right direction.

1. Start small - little changes, like using coupons for regular purchases or joining rewards programs at stores where you purchase on a weekly basis, will start adding a few dollars to your budget each week.

2. Make a plan - look at your finances and make a plan for the year, for five years and for ten years. It will help to make good choices if you know where you are going and why you are going there.

3. Work as a team - sit down with your spouse, family or roommates and discuss the situation at length. It will be easier to accomplish your financial goals if have support each step of the way.

4. Start right now - if you wait until tomorrow then tomorrow might not get here. Make a small change in your spending habits today.

5. Keep it positive - trying NOT to do something is much more difficult than trying TO do something. Instead of cutting things out try replacing one negative financial habit (eating out) for a positive, money saving choice (brown bag lunches).

Every trip begins with one step. Life changing financial plans are no different. Start with one, small step and you will find your way to a secure financial future.

There are a lot of organization that are working to help feed people and families that are struggling. The Angel Food Ministry is one of those organizations. It started on a back porch in Georgia and now is distributing groceries in communities across 34 states in the United States.

The best part about this program is that all are welcome and encouraged to participate. The food is quality meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products and much more. There are even special boxes of steaks, chicken and fresh fruits and vegetables available to those participants who purchase a regular box.

The cost of a regular box is only $30 and it is designed to feed a family of four for one full week. The menu changes each month and you have to have your order in by the first of each month with delivery at the end of the month. The great thing is there is no limit to the number of boxes that can be ordered so it is a chance to pass on the blessing by buying an extra box for someone that you might know in need (or work with your local distribution center to see if there is a family that they know that might need the groceries).

Utilizing groups and organizations like the Angel Food Ministry is a great way to stretch your grocery budget and to share in something special at the same time.

I recently attended a presentation on helping clients with personal budgeting. It contained lots of good advice until the presenter starting talking about eye-rolling ideas for saving money, such as buying large blocks of cheese to shred yourself instead of purchasing the pre-shredded variety.

When my clients ask for ideas on saving money, I try to provide ideas that will have a real financial impact, and importantly, don’t require a major change in lifestyle. Here are ten of my favorites:

1) Get a 5% cash back credit card. Good deals on credit cards are still out there, and several cards will pay you 5% cash back on purchases at supermarkets, gas stations and drug stores. Spend just $100 per week on food and gas and you’ll get an extra $250 in your pocket each year.

2) Bundle your phone, Internet and tv services. Cable and phone companies are battling for your business as they invade each others’ turf. Take advantage of these offers for your benefit! I recently went with Comcast’s $99/month offer which shaved $30 per month from my combined bills PLUS I don’t have to pay for long distance any more. As an added bonus, our Internet speed is now substantially faster too.

3) Buy jewelry insurance. If you own expensive jewelry (like an engagement ring), you probably insure it via a rider on your homeowners or renters policy. These policies usually charge tremendously high premiums for the coverage that they provide. Instead, switch your coverage to a jewelry insurer and you’ll not only save up to several hundred dollars per year, but enjoy much better coverage as well.

4) Increase your car insurance deductible. Make sure your collision and comprehensive car insurance deductibles are set at $1,000 each. Yes, you may have to pay a bit more out-of-pocket if you are ever in an accident, but it beats paying for the high cost of a low-deductible policy year-after-year.

5) Open a Flexible Savings Account. Many employers offer FSAs, which allow you to deduct money pre-tax from your paycheck for health care-related expenses. Then, you just submit receipts to your health insurance company to be reimbursed the full purchase price, tax-free. It’s a nice tax deduction that even very healthy people can enjoy, as you can use these funds for things like contact lenses and supplies, trips to the dentist and even vitamins. Hint: Planning on having a baby in 2009? Set up one of these accounts before year end for big savings!

6) Purchase commuter checks. If you take public transportation to work, this is another great little tax benefit. If your employer and community participate, you can have the cost of your monthly bus or train pass deducted from your paycheck each month, resulting in another $100 - $200 annual tax benefit to you.

7) Shop via a rewards program. Programs like MyPoints award you points redeemable for gift cards for every purchase you make. Find a program that your favorite online merchants participate in and make all of your purchases through their Web site. A few free gift cards at year-end are a nice way to treat yourself or reduce the costs of gift-giving without reducing the gifts you give.

8 ) Set up overdraft protection. Many banks now charge $35 per bounced check which can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars in fees if you happen to have a bad day calculating your balance. You can often set up free overdraft protection by linking a credit card to your checking account. Your credit card will charge you the high cash advance rate for the amount that you are overdrawn by, but you can pay it off during the grace period to avert both punitive fees and interest charges.

9) Don’t miss out on cheap gas. While gas prices are down substantially, prices may still vary widely in your neighborhood. Take note of which stations have the best prices or use a site like Gas Buddy that tracks prices at stations nationwide. Going just a few blocks out of your way to save 15 cents per gallon could put an extra $100 in your pocket next year.

10) Shop the week after Christmas. People get up before dawn on Black Friday, but huge bargains and quieter stores can always be found during the last week of December, and probably even more so this year. Take the opportunity to snap up that gift you thought you were going to receive, clothes for your kids (and yourself), and even holiday decorations for next year at a fraction of what they cost just a week or two before. It’s a great excuse to spend those holiday gift cards too.

This is a guest post by Kristin Harad, CFP ®. Kristin owns VitaVie Financial Planning, a San Francisco financial planning firm focused on new and expectant parents.