If You’re Short On Cash Or There Are Ways To Save Money Or Get Free Christmas Gifts This Holiday Season.
If Free Christmas Gifts sound tempting I’ll show you all the tricks that budget mad shoppers use to save cash and spend less during the holiday season.
There are no gimmicks, just a bit of hustle and time and you’ll be showered in free Christmas gifts before you know it.
The moment Halloween is over the Christmas panic sets in, the weekly flyers are just as heavy as a sack of potatoes and money signs start running through our heads.
Christmas Hits The Budget Hard
Buying Christmas gifts can be expensive especially if you don’t have the money to spend in the first place.
I’m a huge fan of second-hand shops, freebie sites, rewards, and cashback programs and browsing buy and sell sites online.
For example, if you are shopping online use Rakuten to get cashback so you can put that money towards another gift.
Every year without fail there is someone who posts an ad looking for Christmas help.
It may be that they are a single mum or dad with no spare cash looking for gift cards, free Christmas gifts, food or decorations.
Whatever the case it’s tough to read and even tougher to respond to.
I want you all to know that waiting until the last month to think about Christmas will cost you more money even if you do take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.
My tip: Shop all year-long with a budget OR invest a bit of time in the following 10 Resources that will save you money and give you the opportunity to get free Christmas gifts for your family.
10 Resources for Free Christmas Gifts For Your Family
By the way, if you do read an ad from a family who is in need this Christmas, respond.
Tell them what you know because maybe, just maybe they aren’t aware of the community resources in their area that will help them.
If you are a budget nerd like the Mrs. and me, save your cash come December and do your shopping throughout the year little by little and you’ll save up in no time to cash in on the free rewards offered to you.
Donation Centers
If you are a low-income family then there are agencies in almost every Ontario city and town that offers assistance to families in need over the holidays.
You can sign up for a free Christmas hamper which will be delivered to your residence filled with goodies to cook for Christmas dinner.
Alternatively, you can participate in a Christmas Adopt a Family program if your family qualifies for assistance.
There are various organizations that offer this program so ask around.
If you’re not sure where to begin in your community you could always call your local City Hall for advice talk to someone at your local church, Food Bank or community centers.
Rewards Cards
We love rewards cards in our family because they are free to sign up and you can earn points on your purchases when you shop.
Right now our PC Optimum Program points are close to $400 in free groceries and other in-store items.
2019 update: We are now close to 5 million PC Optimum Points.
Our Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points are worth well over $1200 because we’ve saved them the past 3 years.
About 3 years ago before our son was born we redeemed four times during a Shoppers Optimum Redemption Plus day.
That meant they offered us extra money for the same amount of points.
During our biggest redemption period, we got two free flat-screen televisions, free netbook, free DVD’s, cordless keyboard, external hard-drive, Turtles chocolates and other stocking stuffers free.
Basically we were able to get free Christmas gifts for the entire family that year just by redeeming points.
You get to choose when you redeem so we keep collecting until we have enough to buy free Christmas gifts just about every year.
We don’t always purchase using points but when we do it’s all Free Stuff.
Credit Card Points
Using our PC World Elite MasterCard allows us to get double PC Optimum Points on our credit card when we shop just about everywhere.
We also have a Scotia Bank Credit Card that gives us Cash Back on our credit card once a year, so the more we shop, the more we earn.
Ideally, you will want to compare Canadian Credit Cards to find the best one that fits your lifestyle.
Related: Compare The Best Canadian Credit Cards
If you are diligent in paying your monthly credit card bill then it’s worth racking up the points for free cash-back or rewards points to buy free Christmas gifts and other items.
KOHO is another great reloadable card that helps Canadians Budget, Save, and access cash fast.
Get access to $100 of your government payments early.
The KOHO app helps you manage your money by giving you real-time insights into your spend.
There are also savings features that help you to stash away savings without realizing it.
Grocery Shopping
When you are at the grocery store always keep an eye out on the prices because you never know when an item will be priced higher than the shelf price netting you free stuff.
Just last week we were at the grocery store and found a Christmas gift for a friend of ours.
Their son loves books and the price was right so we put it in the grocery cart.
When we cashed out the price rang up higher and we had the cashier apply the Scanning Code of Practice.
Related: How to ask your cashier to apply the Scanning Code of Practice
Free Christmas Gifts are great especially if you are working with a tight budget.
Another fabulous way to get free Christmas gifts is to sign up with Nielsen Home Scan.
I used this program when I was in the UK to get Free Christmas Gifts and I know CBB fan Nicola participates in the Canadian program.
Nicola has redeemed for gift cards that she can re-gift or purchase free Christmas gifts and save the cash for the amazing recipes that she creates for this blog and her family.
Nothing beats getting free Christmas gifts by scanning your grocery shop when you get home.
It’s so easy!!
Free Stuff Facebook Groups
Free Christmas gifts are just about everywhere online if you are lucky to get the deal first.
If you are handy you can also bring back an item to its original state, especially if its solid wood.
There are so many free things you can get on Facebook and even some that are brand new in packaging or brand new condition.
Facebook is only one social media outlet that you can score Free Christmas Gifts so keep your eyes open.
If you are a new mum or dad you can LIKE frugal mom groups around Canada on Facebook depending on the city you live in.
These frugal mom groups offer tonnes of free baby stuff and other stuff. There have been many times that we’ve seen brand new items given for free too.
Not all Christmas gifts have to come in a box so if you open a gift and there is no box don’t act surprised because you don’t know if that is all the person could afford even if it was free.
Kijiji Buy and Sell
There is a category on Kijiji Canada where sellers can give away free stuff.
Again, if you set an alert on your Kijiji app for your smartphone they will let you know daily or weekly when free stuff is posted.
You can easily find free Christmas gifts if you search throughout the year.
The only issue with Kijiji is that you have to be on alert and watch because free stuff goes fast.
Another superb option is to watch for stuff your neighbours put out on the curb.
Just the other day we picked up a wood toy box for our son for free.
All I need to do is fix the hinge and we’re back in business. It looks brand new.
Enter Contests All Year
This is a great way to see if you’re on a lucky streak by winning free Christmas gifts for the family.
Just about every company in Canada offers some sort of holiday contest, enter them all.
You don’t have to wait for the holidays either to enter contests because they are ongoing.
Many people are successful contest winners every year simply because they enter.
A great resource for all contests in Canada that is updated daily is ContestCanada.net
Product Rebates
I’m sure all of you have seen product rebates whether on product packaging or in the form of coupons in your coupon flyer inserts such as Red Plum, Smart Source, etc.
All you have to do is purchase the specified product, try it and send in the UPC and your receipt to the address listed.
Every product rebate also known as mail-in rebates, has different rules and regulations so make sure you abide by them or risk not getting your rebate back.
Over the years we’ve gotten loads of beautiful candles, cleaning supplies, hair accessories, razors.
All items you can use as stocking stuffers, all for free
Cash Back Rewards
Rakuten (formerly Ebates Canada) is by far one of the most lucrative cash back rewards websites that we’ve been involved with.
Sign up with Rakuten Canada and receive money back when you shop!
You can find loads more Cash Back rewards programs in Canada that offer cash or gift cards for free when you shop online.
Sign up for the Paymi App FREE and use the code CanadianBudgetBinder and start earning cash back when shopping at participating Canadian Retailers.
By joining Great Canadian Rebates as we did you get to enjoy all of the best savings rebates in Canada.
Product Reviews/Focus Groups
There are always companies looking for consumers to review their products.
Mrs. CBB was paid $225 for one hour to do a grocery store review for a local marketing company.
Whether you spot the opportunity in your email inbox or from a website you follow they are often followed by a gift to review.
Even after you review the gift you can still give it away for Christmas or consider it a Free Christmas gift for yourself.
We participate in Focus groups any chance we get because there are big bucks to be made.
Most focus groups we’ve participated in net us minimum $75-$150 cash for one hour of chatting in a group setting.
Just recently my wife made $150 for reviewing a new department store that was just built in our area.
All she had to do was show up, answer questions and shop.
How easy is that?
Look on Facebook for focus groups, local newspapers and you may also find ads on Kijiji in the employment or community sections for these focus group opportunities.
Check out Clutch who has over 206 market research companies in Canada looking for people just like you.
DIY Homemade Gifts
Using stuff you get free from any of the above suggestions from items around the house or yard you can make lovely homemade free Christmas gifts for your loved ones.
One of our favourites that we will be making for our nephew is the Mason Jar Superhero Piggy Bank.
What we hope to do is a Spiderman Mason Jar Piggy Bank since he is his favourite superhero so he can start saving money for things he will need.
We’ll include some Christmas Cash in the piggy bank to start him off too.
Related: How to make 8 DIY Christmas Baking Jars with a recipe
Christmas Is Time For Family
Whether or not you have the cash to splash this holiday season remember that it’s not about how much you spend or how little you can afford, it’s about peace, love, harmony, and family.
Related: How To Get Help For Your Family This Christmas
Discussion Question: Have you received any Free Christmas gifts this year?
What other resources am I missing for those looking for Christmas help?
Leave me your comments below and I’ll be sure to respond.
Mr.CBB
CBB Inside Scoop
We picked up a few more Christmas decorations this week outside the house from the Dollar store.
We decorated the wreaths with big red bows and the tree with lights and Christmas balls.
Our son just loves the balls.
The Christmas tree is decorated and ready for our son to try and tackle.
Every time we turn around he’s trying to take something from it.
My wife bought a bag of chocolate coins from the dollar store along with fruity candy canes and put a few in a wicker Santa sleigh that we have.
She kept it on the shelf under the coffee table but forgot about Mr. Chocoholic.
Twice I caught him with his hands in the sleigh hiding and opening the chocolates.
Now, we put them away. Learned that lesson fast.
On our way home the other day we managed to scoop up a wood toy box from the curb.
The wife wanted it because it matches the table set that we have for our son.
I only need to put a new latch on it and it’s good to go.
I’ll be on holidays come the second week of December, thankfully as I’ve had a long 2016.
I look forward to relaxing with my family, getting our Will completed and possibly some bits around the house.
Can you believe this is the 200th Saturday weekend review…wow!!
That’s lots of blog posts for one day of the week over the past 4 years.
The blog will be 5 years old by the end of January 2017. Time to celebrate!! I think a contest is in order, don’t you?
How was your week?
Mr.CBB
CBB Published Posts
If you have a question that you would like to ask me please fill out the Contact Mr.CBB form on the blog home page and I’ll do my best to reply to each question.
If you would like to share a story via a Fan Question please ensure that there is a minimum of 500 words and lots of details…we love details!
Contact me for more info at canadianbudgetbinder@yahoo.ca
Top Post This Week: How much should my grocery budget be?
- Why we bought our toddler Christmas Presents at the Dollar Store
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- Cauliflower Tomato Soup with Crunchy Bacon
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Making a difference (MAD)
Welcome to 2016 Making A Difference series! Join the networking movement of Personal Finance Bloggers around the world.
If you are a personal finance blogger and would like your blog to be featured simply drop me an email.
I’m currently booking for January 2017. Today lets welcome the personal finance blog, My Naira Journey.
Hi Mr. CBB and Fans
My name is Eme Stephen, a personal finance blogger and the founder of Mynairajourney.com, a personal finance blog.
I got interested in personal finance because of the belief in my country Nigeria that to be financially free, one must be lucky.
To us, luck makes everything makes sense.
How is it that my lazy neighbours are wealthy and am not? They are lucky. How is it they are happy and am miserable? They are lucky.
And so we go about overwhelming ourselves with the constant pursuit of luck since that is the only way to get the wealth that will enable us to acquire the good things of life.
I want to use this blog to make people pay more attention to what they earn, how they spend it and how they invest in the future.
We love to live now, in fact, to spend everything we earn and even more now so that we can live our life to its fullest, forgetting that there is tomorrow.
Luck is a good thing, but when you fail to pay attention to your money when you fail to save more, spend less and invest better, you will never be financially free no matter the luck.
This is what Mynairajourney is all about and I welcome you to stop by any time.
Thanks.
Weekly Fan Brag
Hey CBB fans…
If you have a brag that you want to share email me at canadianbudgetbinder@yahoo.ca with a photo and small write-up of your deal.
It can be anything you saved money on that you are excited about.
If your story gets featured you get two ballots in the yearly draw for a PC Financial Gift Card and at least one ballot for emailing me your entry.
Either way, you get a ballot in the draw.
Check out this awesome Brag from CBB fan Jen Peacock who knows how to spot a deal.
Hi everyone!!
I needed some new footwear for work. I stopped in at Payless on the weekend as I received a rewards member email with a 30% off coupon.
On top of the 30%, I received another $10 since I am a CAA member.
I saved $50!!
Spotlight on finance
Sometimes it’s hard to see just how important what you are doing today will affect your future.
What you must realize is although you can’t see into the future you sure don’t want to make it there unprepared.
Do what you can today so your future is financially brighter.
Top finance post
I read lots of finance posts from all over the world every week and I learn something new from each one of them.
This week I stopped by the personal finance and travel blog, Nomadic Matt.
If you’ve ever wondered if you were living the dream but felt something was missing maybe you should stop what you’re doing and live it.
After a trip, Matt returned home to his admin job in a hospital only to find he was still bored with the job.
He started his website and the rest is history. Matt travels and loves every minute of it.
An excellent post you must read for inspiration to find your dream. Thanks, Matt!
You can’t win the game of life if you don’t play it.- Mat
Frugal Recipe Box
Food is a big part of any budget and a struggle for many which is why it has been important for me to create frugal recipes for my fans.
I have a second Facebook page called The Free Recipe Depot where I exclusively share recipes from Food Bloggers around the world.
Since we are officially in the Christmas Holiday season I’ll be sharing recipes that you can make at home just in time for special gatherings, celebrations, and gift-giving.
Check out the Free Recipe Index on CBB compiled of frugal recipes that are 100% tested and accepted by family and friends!
This week I stopped by the website, The Instructables to come across this delicious looking recipe for Nutella Macaroons made by the Treat Factory.
What I love about macaroons is that they are so soft and with the Nutella oozing out it would be the perfect dipping cookie!
Search Term Giggles
Always begin and end your day with a SMILE!- Mr.CBB
Every week I get thousands of people to visit Canadian Budget Binder because they did a search online and found my blog.
Most times funny, Sometimes serious.
- How I made it in Canada– I like this one. I hope my story inspires others.
- Canadian Pantry Bugs– Cool I didn’t know they came with a Passport.
- Christmas decorations for Christmas– Ha, Ha.
- How to decrease OSAP loan– Pay for it
That’s all the fun for this week, thanks for dropping by and we’ll see ya all again next Saturday!
Mr.CBB
Don’t forget to follow me on Social Media and Subscribe to the blog
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- The Saturday Weekend Review #198: 5 Easy Ways To Price and Sell Used Clothing
- The Saturday Weekend Review #199: 11 DIY Christmas Decorations You Can Make At Home
Jamie says
Yay! These are wonderful free gifts. I am actually joining in contests for free stuffs, which are more often this season, and I think DIY homemade projects are awesome and budget friendly. I just need to research more on these and see what kind of projects are perfect for my friends. Thanks for the ideas!
Mr. CBB says
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for the kind words. Nielsen is a great way to grocery shop and when you get home scan your products for points you can later redeem for gift cards and other gifts. I think once you do more research you will find what might work for you. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.