Nickelodeon & Lynnae at Being Frugal.net are running a contest for a $500.00 Walmart gift card. They want our best holiday money saving tips. Here’s mine:

As most of you know, I am severely strapped for cash this year for Christmas, so I am giving the gift of my time this year to the majority of my family members. As part of the gift exchange we are doing this year, we are having it at my grandparents’ house. Instead of them ordering pizza this year, like they always do, I am cooking dinner.

I have been trying out a million new recipes lately, so I think I have my eggplant/chicken parmesian down to a science. Also, the ingredients are things I either already have, or are relatively inexpensive.

So, not only do I give a gift of my time (free) to six of my family members, I am saving a TON of money (normally I spend at least $30-$50/person). The only cost to me: ingredients. Which, when everything was on sale at the grocery store this weekend, all of the ingredients were totaled to $12.57… not bad.

That, and my family can taste the improvement of my cooking skills over the last few months!