There is much to do in order to be fully prepared for the holiday season. There are gifts to buy, decorations to hang, cookies to bake and parties to attend. For mothers who must bring children along for holiday shopping, there are a few tips to keep in mind to maintain sanity and savings while enjoying the holiday season.

Make a List, And Check It Twice

To ensure shopping sanity with the children in tow, it is essential to have a shopping list in hand before even leaving the house. Designate what needs to be purchased and the estimated price for each item. Having a list at your disposal will help you stay on task, shop efficiently and resist impulse purchases. If coupons are available, clip them ahead of time and secure them to the list for easy access. For Black Friday sales when multiple stores are being visited, be sure to note where each item is to be purchased. The goal for holiday shopping with children is efficiency and speed. If an older child is accompanying you, invite them to participate in the shopping process by marking items off the list and double-checking prices.

Pack Plenty of Reindeer Games

Shopping the Black Friday sales often involves a full shopping itinerary with multiple stops across a span of many hours. It is advisable to pack a small bag or backpack with items for the children. Fill the bag with a few favorite toys and simple snacks like apple wedges, cheese cubes or apple juice in a thermos. This will allow the children to be entertained and have their needs met while you are able to focus on the shopping task at hand. By preparing snacks and entertainment ahead of time, you will save time and money by not having to stop for expensive snacks at the mall.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Plan your shopping trips to coincide with non-peak shopping times. Traditionally, evening and late morning have the least amount of shoppers. Avoiding the hustle and bustle of holiday crowds is critical when shopping with children. Likewise, avoid embarking on a shopping excursion during mealtimes or if nap time is near. If you are unable to shop at these ideal times, forego the shopping trip altogether in lieu of an online shopping trip. Many sites offer savings comparable to Black Friday during the holiday season and you are able to shop without the pressure of crowds, weather or fussy children.

With a small measure of prior planning, holiday shopping with children is not only doable, it can be enjoyable as well. Make a list, check it twice, and, most of all stop to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you are shopping Black Friday sales or from the comfort of your home computer, having a plan in place for holiday shopping will save both your sanity and your bottom line.

The shopping season is fast approaching, look to Fatwallet.com for the best and hottest deals!

This guest post was produced by Melissa Schraiber, editorial coordinator for Fatwallet.com. In her spare time, she enjoys running, working out and being active.

One of my friends is getting married this fall and it has been a real eye opener about how much wedding gift traditions have changed.

I remember it going like this:

The Bride and Groom register for wedding gifts and when I say ‘wedding’ gifts – I do mean ‘WEDDING’ gifts.  You brought your one wedding gift to the WEDDING.   The Bride is given a Bridal Shower by her bridesmaids and if you are invited you bring a personal gift for the Bride – ala pretty stuff to wear for her new husband and make their new house a home.

But apparently, these days the Bridal Shower is another opportunity to get an item from your gift registry, at least that’s what appeared on the gift table at my friends shower. I saw traditional Wedding gifts of every kind.

Something about it doesn’t seem right.   If you’re close to the bride you’re looking at buying TWO gifts over a short period of time instead of just one.

What if you want to buy them something big?  Can you go small on one gift knowing that you’re going big on another?

What if you’re financially pinched?  Should you simply decline the invite to the Bridal Shower?

To top things off, there is a Bridesmaids Party yet to come and that is apparently when the Bride is given personal gifts like lingerie…so if you’re close enough to be a bridesmaid you’re looking at yet another gift to buy.

Does anyone else find this increasingly mercenary?

I know, I know – weddings are a reason to celebrate – but these days they seem to be a reason to SHOP more than anything else.

Our teenager recently got his driver’s license.  What usually happens after that is he wants to buy his own car.  Of course, it won’t be a brand new car so there are more things to consider when buying a used car.

Here are some things that we told him he should know before buying his  first car:

• Know what kind of car you want
  • What make and model
  • Do you want a coupe, sedan or hatchback?
  • What kind of gas mileage do you want to have [Read more...]

Does your Dad or Hubby have old record albums, audio cassettes and VHS video tapes that you’d love to help him bring into the modern age?  We’ve got the perfect giveaway for you!

honestech™ Audio Recorder 2.0 Plus and VHS to DVD 4.0 Deluxe are tools that enable you to capture the audio and video from your albums and tapes onto your PC so that you can load them up on YouTube or your iPod or burn them to a CD or DVD.

Think about the old family videos and that great vinyl album collection.  Most young families don’t even have a turn table in the house anymore – now’s the time to convert and enjoy!

We’re giving away both of the above packages in this special Dad’s Day Giveway.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment letting us know that you’d like to bless a Dad in your life with these great gifts and we’ll draw one winner at random

• Use a legitimate email as that is how we’ll notify you and collect your shipping info.
• One entry per household please.

Deadline: Midnight on Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21st