Do More with Less + Windows Phone 7 Giveaway

Thanksgiving Domoreless
Do thoughts of the upcoming holidays overwhelm you? Well it shouldn’t. The holidays should be a special time to enjoy your family and friends. I tend to overwhelm myself but now I’m finally learning my lesson! I used to slave away in the kitchen most of Wednesday and all day on Thanksgiving Thursday, leaving myself exhausted by the time dinner is served. Now I am soliciting the help of guests, having them bring a side dish or a dessert. Our Thanksgiving dinner will still be a wonderful grand affair, but this time I won’t be torturing myself with all that work! Besides, it’s a great way for everyone to bring their own personal touch to the special family dinner. (See our roundup of Thanksgiving recipes here.)

Windows Phone 7 Giveaway Time!
In keeping with the “Do More with Less” theme, we’re giving away a Windows Phone 7 (approximate retail value $500) to one lucky CRAFT reader! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment to this post on how you “do more with less”. You can post more than one comment each day but it must be a new entry/tip. This giveaway is open only to the U.S. Please read the official rules after the jump. All comments will be closed by Monday, November 29, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 5 days to respond before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!
This giveaway is brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Learn more about Windows Phone online and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today.
Read the full rules after the jump!




Windows Phone 7 Giveaway
Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
1. Eligibility: Windows Phone 7 Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Employees of Federated Media Publishing, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, ePrize, LLC, and their parent and affiliate companies as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s and Administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
2. Sponsor: Federated Media Publishing, Inc., 2 Harrison Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Administrator: ePrize, LLC, One ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069.
3. Timing: The Sweepstakes begins on November 15, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on November 29, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the “Promotion Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.
4. How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, visit any or all of the websites listed below and follow the links and instructions to post a comment regarding the “Do More with Less” blog. www.5dollardinners.com, herbadmother.com, paninihappy.com, www.amalah.com, www.inhabitots.com, www.parenthacks.com, www.bakerella.com, www.kayotickitchen.com, www.petitelefant.com, barefootfoodie.com, kitchenscoop.com, projectnursery.com, www.burdastyle.com, laidoffdad.typepad.com, prudentbaby.com, celebritybabyscoop.com, www.makeandtakes.com, rasamalaysia.com, chickensintheroad.com, www.makeupandbeautyblog.com, www.rookiemoms.com, cookingontheside.com, makezine.com, simplemom.net, coolmomtech.com, makingitlovely.com, www.suburbanbliss.net, craftzine.com, www.mamapop.com, www.sweet-juniper.com, www.dadcentric.com, mightygirl.com, www.sweetney.com, www.designmom.com, modojo.com, thebadmomsclub.com, www.designspongeonline.com, www.mom-101.com, www.bargainist.com, www.drinkoftheweek.com, www.mommytracked.com, themommyblog.net, www.ecouterre.com, moneysavingmom.com, thespohrsaremultiplying.com,ezrapoundcake.com, www.mymodernmet.com, thisweekfordinner.com, www.finslippy.com, www.nesting.com, wantnot.net, www.gearlive.com, www.ohgizmo.com, wholesomebabyfood.com, www.girlsgonechild.net, www.outblush.com, www.wisebread.com, www.goodlifeeats.com, pancakesandfrenchfries.com.
By submitting your post, you will automatically receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes at the applicable website. Posts must be at least twenty-five (25) characters and no more than two-hundred fifty (250) characters. Posts may not be indecent, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, or libelous or contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, or disparage Sponsor, Administrator or any other person or party affiliated with the Sweepstakes, or contain material that is unlawful in any way. Sponsor reserves the right to remove any posts that it finds unlawful, or in violation of these Official Rules, all in its sole discretion.
Limit: Each participant may enter one (1) time per day at each website during the Promotion Period. Multiple entries to the same website must be substantially different each day. Multiple entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that entrant’s entries and that entrant may be disqualified. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the email address used to create the user name will be deemed to be the registrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.
5. Drawings: The designated overseer of each of the listed websites (“Hosts”), determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, is an independent judging entity whose decisions as to the administration and operation of the Sweepstakes and the selection of the potential winners are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. The Hosts will randomly select a potential Sweepstakes winner from all eligible entries received at that particular website during the Promotion Period, on or around November 30, 2010 and contact them by email. Each potential winner will be required to respond as instructed with his/her contact information within the specified time period. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to reply with his/her contact information within the required time period, potential winner forfeits the prize. Potential winners may be contacted by Administrator with additional prize redemption instructions. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded. Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks after the conclusion of the Sweepstakes.
6. Prize: FIFTY-NINE (59) GRAND PRIZES (awarded as one (1) per website): Windows Phone 7, all details and features determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $500. The ARV of electronic prizes is subject to price fluctuations in the consumer marketplace based on, among other things, any gap in time between the date the ARV is estimated for purposes of these Official Rules and the date the prize is awarded or redeemed. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason. Winner will be responsible for activation charges, monthly access and service fees and any applicable taxes. Sponsor is not responsible for any fees, costs or charges resulting from use of the Grand Prize. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received in each applicable website during the Promotion Period. Limit: One (1) prize per person.
7. Release: By receipt of any prize, winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Microsoft Corporation, all Hosts, Administrator, and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.
8. Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes each winner’s consent to Sponsor’s and its agents’ use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
9. General Conditions: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
10. Limitations of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; (5) late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail; or (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Sweepstakes. If it is not possible to award another entry due to discontinuance of the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, for any reason, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.
11. Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division) or the appropriate Michigan State Court located in Oakland County, Michigan; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Michigan or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan.
12. Entrant’s Personal Information: Information collected from entrants is subject to ePrize, LLC’s Privacy Policy http://www.eprize.com/privacy/privacypolicy.html and Sponsor’s Privacy Policy http://www.federatedmedia.net/about/privacy.
13. Winner List: Winner List requests will only be accepted after the promotion end date (listed above) and no later than March 30, 2011. For the Winner List, send an email with subject line: “Windows Phone 7 Giveaway, Winner List Request,” to WinListRequests@eprizefulfillment.com.
© 2010 ePrize, LLC. All rights reserved.

276 thoughts on “Do More with Less + Windows Phone 7 Giveaway

  1. sratliff says:

    I like to make the holidays easier by having everyone contribute! If I get everyone involved then we try new things and I have a lot less work!

  2. cineloh says:

    Use the “KISS” method.. Keep it simple stupid.. Easy yummy recipes plus putting people in charge of at least 1 dish.

  3. A'isha says:

    I like to come up with new and fun ways to continue using the leftovers until they’re finished. Sometimes it’s a standby like turkey soup, but sometimes it’s enchiladas or something else that’s very different from what the food started out as.

  4. tara says:

    This year we are making a big effort to reduce waste. These holidays, one simple thing we’re trying hard to do is remove paper towels. Instead, use dish rags for cleaning and cheap cloth napkins at the meals. They’re sturdier and can be re-used over and over again!

  5. Marie says:

    I live by the rules of alton brown. If a tool can only do one thing, and one thing only, then its not worth having. It creates clutter, which then clutters my mind. When I go to open a draw to find the scissors I want to be able to find them.

  6. pixellated says:

    I find that doing some planning upfront (shopping, prepping and cooking timelines, etc) helps me do so much more with the little time I have.

  7. Nikat27 says:

    I am a huge advocate of not wasting ANYTHING! Nothing makes it into the litter bin in my house without consideration of it’s other uses.
    I have converted to cleaning with natural cleaners, like vinegar and lemon juice whenever possible. This cuts down drastically on my eco-footprint…not to mention my grocery bill!
    I’ve also gotten better about meal planning so as to get more out of one grocery trip. I try to find recipes that will use some of the same ingredients so that fresh produce will not have the chance to go bad. If there are a lot of leftovers I freeze what I can to use at a later date. (My husband and I tend to get tired of the same food day after day but hate to just discard of it.)
    Slowly but surely I’m learning many ways to do more with less and it’s always a win/win situation!

  8. astrasoul7 says:

    When I am short on time, i group similar tasks and do them together to be more efficient.

  9. StephieJo says:

    We reduce stress in our family by having big family dinners like a potluck, where everyone signs up to bring part of the meal. We have lots of variety and no one spends all day cooking. We also serve dinners buffet style. Dinner is less formal and lots of fun!

  10. mandelin says:

    I have an 8 month old squishy cutie pie boy. He takes alot of my focus and time and umm …. Money. (If you didn’t know kids are expensive!) This is his first Thanksgiving and our family is far away in other states. We have been hitting all the sales and farmers markets to get the most for our money. We got a free turkey simply by taking advantage of a coupon. We are going to video and video-chat our Thanksgiving memories. While we may not have the time or money to visit our far flung family we can all have more Thanksgiving for less with technology.

  11. cupper says:

    We now get together to prepare our scaled back Thanksgiving meal and spend the time remembering all the happy hours spent preparing the huge meals of our childhood. What better way to do more for less than to spend the time together and have all the benefits without the calories or dollars spent.

  12. Lauren Proux says:

    I used to have an obsession with extra large purses so I have a lot of them that I never use anymore. I don’t have the heart to part with them, so I use them as craft storage. One particularly big bag contains my cotton and scrap fabric.

  13. sgourle says:

    I like to make my dog real food to supplement kibble, but it can get very expensive. On way I cut on costs is to save egg shells, bake them at 350F for 15 minutes, and grind them using a basic coffee grinder. This creates a low cost calcium powder which can be incorporated into my dog’s food to help prevent bone issues later in life.

  14. hellesbelles86.wordpress.com says:

    I always start cooking the day before for the side dishes- things that are easily reheated on the day of Thanksgiving. I also assign tasks to anyone who enters the kitchen and with 18-20 people in attendance, it works well. Last but not least, I write out a schedule of cooking times for everything so I can plan when to do what. It works great and leaves me time to relax and enjoy myself.

  15. ThatCraftyMrsV says:

    My husband hunts and we eat deer like it’s going out of style! Pretty soon we’ll have camo slip covers on our couch and be chewing tobacco (haha). At least deer meat is healthy :)

  16. La Yen says:

    I love all of the holidays and parties, but I only hold one of them at my house. I throw down, but just for one night.

  17. onlymr2 says:

    well — buy things when they’re on sale (but only, and only, if you need them).

  18. Rox says:

    I’ve been freezing portions of all the meals I make. As the weeks get busier we can just pull something out of the freezer and still have a healthy home cooked meal :)

  19. Elena's Custom Designs says:

    I’m trying to do more with less by digging into my fabric stash instead of buying new stuff all the time.

  20. GrowingLikeTrees says:

    When I want to make something (a gift, usually), I make it out of something I already have laying around. I re-use and re-cycle whenever it’s economical. And I cook from scratch, using ingredients that I can get cheap or free.

  21. sefaleth.myopenid.com says:

    If no one ever eats the waldorf salad- why make it?
    Do you really need a fully matched set of christmas linens?
    Do the things that are important to you and yours- the rest is just ‘stuff’.

  22. Meghan Thimjon says:

    My big thing that I have been saying for years that instead of spending all the money we do at holidays (christmas) why don’t we use that money and take a trip. Hawaii, somewhere fun and exotic! I know growing up I always remembered what and where we went and never what we got!
    I think that would be the best memories for the kids growing up!!!!

  23. julz says:

    Coupons are a great way to make a little bit of money stretch. And a big freezer to freeze things that you find on sale throughout the year.

  24. tigerbarb@gmail.com says:

    I try to make a menu for the upcoming week and only buy what is needed for the week. When I go to the grocery store, I take a list with me to avoid buying more than what is needed. This is how I can get buy.

  25. Samantha Tran says:

    Definitely the potluck strategy and lots of baking. Everyone loves baked goods and u can make things different simply by changing a couple of ingredients

  26. Samantha Tran says:

    I love potlucks and I love bringing baked goods. So much cheaper than buying cakes and pies.

  27. nick0166 says:

    we’ve already determined how many meals we can get out of the turkey we bought, what we already had on hand in the pantry, and simplified the holiday dinner menus, thus making the cooks’ life’s easier on the day before and of the holidays!

  28. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawljSMHiD_AIgu-MERm9xwEp84qtrNNTZd0 says:

    Prioritize. Some things are really important while others are just uh…fluff. Eliminate the things that are not truly important to you and you’ll have a lot less on your plate. (Pun intended.)

  29. Laurie says:

    Go to dinner at someone else’s place, bring a dish of your own along, and continually offer to help when you get there. You may end up washing a few dishes, but at least you didn’t have to clean your whole house for company!

  30. Lauren Proux says:

    I’m not a huge fan of turkey and neither is my fiance, so this year we’re doing ham only. Who cares about “tradition” if no one eats the thing?

  31. Amy says:

    Always try to be satisfied with what you have to work with. Focus on the joy of the action, rather than the fact that you have “less”. Then make do with what you you have!

  32. Alicia says:

    I’ve started holiday crafting for friends and fam, and this year, I made a pledge to buy no new materials. So far, it’s forced me to finish many projects and think of new uses for old materials (for example, I had no stuffing for miniature birds, so I cut up an old Halloween costume!).

  33. Melanie Lee says:

    I shop the thrift stores and goodwill to find items that I can use to create my own holiday decorations. I have some beautiful centerpieces that I have made from items that I buy from those places. Most cost next to nothing.

  34. Ginger says:

    I like making handmade gifts throughout the year. My favorite thing to do is reuse old magazines and cut out pictures for decoupage crafts. It is easy to personalize something for family members and friends if you take a little time out throughout the year to work on one project at a time.

  35. The Handmade Project says:

    I started cutting coupons to STRETCH my grocery budget.

  36. Marie says:

    As tempting as it is to have multiple projects going at once, I will only buy the material for one project. When I finish I will then decide which one next. It prevents me from having drawers full of stuff I won’t use, and also makes me fully think about what projects are the most important to me. I use OneNote to organize the different projects I want to make.

  37. Little Nerd At Heart says:

    For thanksgiving my family starts the festivities early in the morning. Of course everything that can be made the night before is. We all get together around 9 am and have breakfast and coffee and then we are all off to work. The older kids grab the younger ones and they make crafts and set the tables. We have a table setup down stairs away from all the cooking and they go crazy with colored paper, glue, and pencils. One year they came up with the idea of making napkin holders for everyone and we still use them every year to this day.
    Everyone stops at noon to do one of my favorite traditions of eating lunch while listening to Arlo Guthrie’s song Alice’s Restaurant. It is just enough time for every one to take a break and eat (it is about 20 minutes long).
    With everyone pitching it is a huge blast and no one is overworked. Some people are on cleanup duty while others make dinner and with everything spread out it is a breeze. When we finally sit down for dinner everyone is so proud and excited, even the kids. It truly is something to be thankful for.

  38. elisb.wordpress.com says:

    Five pies seems like a good idea, but then you end up eating all of them & feeling bad. This year I’m keeping a simple menu instead of offering too many holiday choices.

  39. dreidle says:

    My friends and I always do a potluck. It’s especially nice for when you live far away from family and can’t make it home.

  40. dreidle says:

    My friends and I always do a nice big potluck. It makes it particularly easy for those of us who can’t make it home, due to cost/time/distance.

  41. Annie5 says:

    Instead of buying decorations, I went out into nature and pressed beautiful leaves in a book to decorate my Thanksgiving table.

  42. LuchitaLibre says:

    There are a lot… A LOT of kids in our family, so as a way to keep them entertained during Thanksgiving cooking time AND get some cutsie name cards, we have them make “hand-turkeys” out of construction paper then write everyone’s name on them. Sometimes we’ll grab someone’s Turkey and write reasons why we’re grateful to have them in our lives. They turn out to be very nice dinner mementos!

  43. gakreiner says:

    Lately I have been cleaning out stuff I don’t need. I cleaned around my computer – boy was there a lot of unnecessary stuff from my old computer. Floppy disks! Who uses them anymore.

  44. Shae says:

    I work long hours, so making the time I have off count is a big part of my life. In order to keep up with everything I read online and everything I need to do, I’ve learned to be a crazy multi-tasker. If I’m not doing two things at once, I consider it wasted time. It’s easy to combine activities (such as catching up on google reader while blow drying hair or catching up on youtube subscriptions while putting on makeup or getting dressed).

  45. jonskifarms.wordpress.com says:

    One way I do more with less is rely on thrift stores for major chunks of our (family) wardrobe. Kids winter coats are a good example – most get outgrown in one season, so the ones in thrift stores are usually in pretty good shape!

  46. Samantha Tran says:

    Using a staple food all week, a roast chicken in sandwiches then a roast chicken soup, then roast chicken stir fry

  47. Lauren Proux says:

    Not in a hoarding way, but recognize that there is still value in small pieces of craft supplies. Keep them organized and at the ready for when inspiration strikes!

  48. Marie says:

    delegation is key. Every thanksgiving we try to keep as many people out of the kitchen as possible at one time (less). We all know our roles and stick to them. If you work in shifts you can get more done in less time individually. Because in all honesty no one wants someone stepping on their toes while trying to get a turkey out of the oven.

  49. jonskifarms.wordpress.com says:

    One way we do more with less (although this is not about Thanksgiving dinner) is by getting the majority of our clothes from thrift stores. For example, kids’ coats typically only get worn one season, and you can find some real bargains on good quality outerwear at thrift stores! The savings can be invested in high quality vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner. :^)

  50. Zinkernaut says:

    I do more with less by taking old things and making them new again! I love refashioning old clothes and finding the treasure in somebody else’s trash!

  51. Samantha Tran says:

    i also look up recipes on blog sites specifically for great dishes that do not spend too much money :)

  52. oneslyrooster says:

    i kick my husband out of the kitchen, it’s easier and faster when he’s NOT helping, lol

  53. Marie says:

    I find the at thanksgiving dinner we typically have about 15 people and usually about 15 pies. Usually we can’t even finish 2. I have suggested having less variety and maybe a little more of each of the remaining dishes.

  54. Lauren Proux says:

    I still love giving compilation CDs as gifts! Mix CDs allow me to give more handmade gifts to friends and co-workers.

  55. JJ says:

    I’ve made an effort to make everything in our house digital. We keep everything on a windows home server running tonido and can access it from pretty much anywhere. Need an old tax return, check. Need to stream some music, no problem. Want pictures, easy enough.

  56. Marie says:

    OMG the variety of dishes as thanksgiving is way out of control. We can’t even fit them all on the table (which seats 16!). I say less variety and larger portions of those that survive the cut. No one needs 1 pie per person. Thats just crazy.

  57. Craig says:

    Less Christmas shopping means more time for everything else! By mutual agreement, my friends and family have scaled back gift giving plans this year to focus on shared activities and good food to celebrate the season. And some of that saved time can be spent trying a new technique, or using an established skill to create a meaningful present.

  58. Samantha Tran says:

    i love using wax paper for everything, lining dishes, easily move sifted flour, so useful and cheap

  59. Lauren Proux says:

    Paper cranes make such pretty decorations and can be used in so many ways (my favorite way is to make them into a mobile). Plus, I don’t need to buy origami paper when a monotone white – made from printer paper – looks so lovely.

  60. Samantha Tran says:

    I love using chicken broth to take shortcuts during the holidays and food. Its inexpensive and adds tons of flavor to any dish

  61. JJ says:

    I’ve started cutting a lot of caffine out of my life. At first it sucked honestly, but not, I have a ton more energy (and money from buying energy drinks!)

  62. Craig says:

    I end up doing more somewhat wasteful things (like entering contests) when I have less time! Procastination, I curse thee!

  63. nick0166 says:

    we’ve discovered that by making some of the dishes on wednesday, we have less cleanup and time in the kitchen on thursday, allowing us to RELAX more and share time with family and friends!

  64. Melanie Lee says:

    I research everything extensively before I buy. I try to get the lowest price and try to use coupons.

  65. schmidty says:

    I use all of name-and-account-specific mounds of shredded paper to pack away holiday breakables.

  66. Turtle Mom says:

    I try to buy items only when on sale and using an additional coupon.

  67. Turtle Mom says:

    I’ve started making my own iced coffee at home instead of grabbing one at my local donut store. I save time, money and calories!

  68. Craig says:

    I have been collecting non-recyclable junk from work to re-use in projects; with zero cost, I’m definitely getting more with less.

  69. purplelover04 says:

    i do more with less when i use coupons they help so much
    purple_lover_04 at msn dot com

  70. schmidty says:

    My more for less: Bake family goodies instead of buying storebought. Make extra and freeze for later. Do the same for meals: cook more, freeze extras.

  71. techSage says:

    I do more with less by cooking a larger meal than I need and then eating the leftovers for another meal.

  72. Craig says:

    I’ve been doing more vacuuming with less effort after buying a Roomba. It’s a pet that cleans my home… awesome!

  73. kimbly says:

    Our Thanksgiving holiday is a veritable festival of doing more with less. Instead of getting exhausted cooking way too many dishes and having leftovers that we know will eventually go uneaten, this year we have scaled our menu and will just make a simple meal of things we love. We have a plan to reuse and reheat and repurpose all the leftovers that will we generate. Most notable, Thanksgiving is the time for turkey sausage gumbo – the winter dish that keeps on giving. We make a LOT – eat some, freeze the rest. Thanksgiving gumbo lasts for a good long while and it makes us feel good to stretch our turkey dollars. We recycle everything in an effort to get the best use of it and we’ve been know to recreate things out of materials most folks would pass on by. It’s fun to see how much more you CAN do with less!

  74. Samantha Tran says:

    I am loving aluminum foil as an insulation material these days, helps me shape cakes, and keep things warm :)

  75. Shamdoogle says:

    I always freeze the ends of celery stalks, ends of onions, and other odds and ends of vegetables in a large bag and when it’s full I take it out of the freezer and boil it up for veggie broth for soups.
    So cheap and so yummy.

  76. schmidty says:

    Doing more with less means creating a tight budget and sticking to it, avoiding impulse buys, and saving for rainy days.

  77. harold maude says:

    You can do more with less by working backwards, It always helps me concentrate.

  78. Craig says:

    Also, I’ve powered my Roomba by building a new battery pack from parts instead of buying an expensive new one – MORE friendly robot power with LESS money!

  79. SweeTart77 says:

    This year instead of making a whole pile of different cookies, I’m making one really artsy one. Bought a beautiful copper cookie cutter and will spend just one afternoon baking instead of a week!

  80. Shamdoogle says:

    As always handmade holiday gifts say so much more with so much less $$$ than store bought gifts. Every year I use recycled paper/cardstock to hand print holiday cards with stamps I create myself. Rubber blocks are great, you can use one side for one year and the other side for the next.

  81. JJ says:

    During the holidays, I tend to premake some things that go great in 3-4 meals. Like cornbread. It is great in stuffing, as a panini, etc.
    Btw, that turkey in the picture above totally looks like a headcrab from Half Life.

  82. megdyl says:

    Think of things you want to do or buy.
    Then don’t do or buy them.

  83. megdyl says:

    Think of things you want to do and buy.
    Then DON’T do or buy them.

  84. megdyl says:

    Think of Things you want to do or buy.
    Then, Don’t do or buy them.

  85. Malky says:

    I do more with less by buying Christmas decorations and ornaments after the holiday season! The prices dramatically drop and I get more decorations for less money and no one is in the stores shopping, which is always nice! I hope I win the phone!

  86. megdyl says:

    I really didn’t mean to post three times…

  87. mamapigg says:

    To do more with less I have a group of friends and we have what we call a round robin. A group of 8 of us get together several times a year to exchange clothes and other things. We each bring a set number of items and take turns trading stuff that we do not use for stuff that we like. We also do this for kids clothes and toys. At Christmas time each of us makes an edible item like cookies or Chex Mix and brings enough for 8. We then get to go home with 8 different homemade goodies for our families with out all of the work. We also have loads of fun doing this.

  88. Craig says:

    My skills are still extremely weak, but I am learning to make furniture. Eventually I’ll be getting more chairs with less shopping!

  89. schmidty says:

    Doing more for less means buying a gently used car that’s been cared for and maintaining it carefully for another ten years.

  90. mamapigg says:

    For me – to really do more for less- I volunteer at several community places like a food bank and animal shelter. I try to do this twice a week and this is the real way that I do more for less. It only costs me the gas to get there and the rewards i get from it are limitless. We are having a very hard time fianancialy and this has made me feel so good about things that I have no control over. You just cannot put a price on the smiles you see or the feeling it gives you.

  91. Samantha Tran says:

    i love giving out coupons for watching your kids for an hour or clean your house its cheap and effective so everyone is happy

  92. radcrast says:

    In my large, special-diet-filled family, I make sure each person on a restricted diet has at least a thing or two they can eat. It might not be fancy, but guests with food in their tummy are much happier and the day goes wonderfully smoothly!

  93. Malky says:

    This might be a little too simple, but I do more with less by always having my laptop with me. Nowadays, since I’m in college, it seems like everything is being moved online, from turning essays in to math homework. It definitely helps me do more when I have free time and I have less stuff to carry around!

  94. Craig says:

    I have decided to cut a strip of old carpet from storage rather than buy a runner rug for my hallway; the carpet will look fine, and I’ll end up with more money and require less shopping.

  95. schmidty says:

    More for less: Host a get together with your friends and have a clothes swap …exchange your don’t-likes and never-worns for things you can use. Everybody wins!

  96. mamapigg says:

    I do more for less in home decorating by buying paint and decorating items at a very deep discount. The large box home stores like Home Depot sell paint that was colored wrong for 1.00 a gallon. If you keep your eye out, you can find a color that is very close to what you want at up to 90% off. This goes for carpet, tile, and lots of other items. they also will deeply discount an item that has been opened or the box is not perfect. Large items like stoves can be gotten alot cheaper if they have just a tiny scratch or ding.It really pays to look around and ask about these items. They always have some.

  97. Wicked Mint says:

    My family started doing a Yankee Swap instead of buying gifts for every person. We set a price at Thanksgiving ($25 for my family) an everyone brings a wrapped gift for that set price exactly. On Christmas we pick numbers and then pick gifts in that order. Every person gets to pick a new gift and keep it OR trade it for a gift that’s already been unwrapped. Number 1 and the highest number at best because No. 1 gets to go last. The gifts are always interesting and it’s fun to trade and “argue” during the trading process

  98. teostra.livejournal.com says:

    Making many gifts this year using fabrics and yarns from my stash instead of buying tons of gifts/supplies. Using stash to make decorations for the year, as well!

  99. Kimberly Chapman says:

    More with less? That’s my specialty!
    Here’s a craft tip for parents: don’t buy kit crafts that make one specific thing with only enough ingredients for the exact item pictured on the box. That stifles creativity, can frustrate young kids who can’t do it “perfectly”, and is way more expensive, most of the time.
    Instead, make an initial investment in some bulk craft supplies like markers/crayons, construction paper, white glue (although buy one small bottle to refill from a larger one so you don’t end up with a flood), googly eyes, beads, stickers, chenille stems, glitter, popsicle sticks, paint, and pompoms. Then you can use easily available and inexpensive (or even recycled) household items to let little kids turn just about anything into a work of art, such as:
    Egg carton = caterpillar, funky headband
    Costco-sized cereal box = robot suit, drum
    Junk mail = paper mache
    Toilet tubes = musical instruments, caves, binoculars, etc
    Empty tissue box = silly footwear, piggy bank, fortress of doom for action figures
    Need a quick gift for that wacky aunt who is unexpectedly coming to Christmas after all? Let your kid use these basic supplies to make an ornament, a bookmark, a card, a board game with goofy, incomprehensible rules.
    Kids inherently do more with less direction as long as they’ve got some basic supplies.

  100. Craig says:

    I grabbed several pieces of driftwood/sticks from the Willamette in the last few weeks. I have big plans, and the effort required was quite low; free exercise, actually!

  101. Malky says:

    One example of me doing more with less is simply turning off and unplugging electronics and appliances. Sometimes people forget and it adds up to the costs. As time goes by, spending a few little seconds on turning appliances off can really make a difference and save more money, more money to spend on stuff I want! I only turn things on when I need to!

  102. Melanie Lee says:

    For the first time ever, our family is doing a secret santa. Its less stressful on everyone and we actually get a decent gift with our maximum spending allowance of $100.

  103. Craig says:

    During a recent dumpster dive I found a working computer! I’ve used parts of it and sold others; I think doing more for *free* is a pretty good deal.

  104. Xander says:

    i would totally use it to take pics of things i make or such and then have it easier to upload them to places to share with friends, without all the hustle and bustle.

  105. telephase says:

    I work at a library, we’re all doing more with less these days.

  106. telephase says:

    I work at a public library, and am intimately familiar with doing more with less. New phone would help.

  107. schmidty says:

    My grandmother taught me to “save steps”. During chore time around the house, always have something with you to be returned or replaced as you move from area to area and room to room.

  108. Nicole Hulst says:

    I cloth diaper. It’s easier than one would think and it’s nice not to have to buy disposable diapers all the time.

  109. astrox.myopenid.com says:

    The social networks have eased my life a lot! In the past I had to call every one of my friends to a party I would have, now I only have to post the event on Facebook and everybody knows about it! That’s doing more with less! :D

  110. Kkgray says:

    I make lists so that I can plan ahead of time as much as possible
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

  111. Samantha Tran says:

    m and ms are probably my favorite more with less candy. i use them to decorate cakes, i use them in counting games with kids, and they just taste good

  112. camelama says:

    Because I’m unemployed, I do less with more in every part of life! So I’m sewing from my stash, avoiding yarn stores and cooking basic, hearty meals.

  113. Wicked Mint says:

    I stick with crowd-pleasing, easy dishes: baked brie, macaroni and cheese, flour-less chocolate cookies & rum punch!

  114. Malky says:

    One way we do more with less is with leftovers. Especially during Thanksgiving time. An example would be using ham for lunch sandwiches and using the leftover turkey for quesadillas or my favorite turkey and tortilla soup! Hope I win the phone!

  115. Kkgray says:

    i do more with less by staying as organized as i possibly can
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

  116. schmidty says:

    Doing more for less means delegating more responsibilities to the kids so my time can be used more productively.

  117. astrox.myopenid.com says:

    How to do more with less? I have in my own house a soda vending machine, when I feel like drinking one, I buy one. At the end of certain period of time, I open the vending machine to recollect my profit!!!
    astroXweb@live.com

  118. Craig says:

    I now know what vegetables grow well on my patio. As a result I have more carrots and tomatoes to eat for less money (and less heartbreak about dead plants!)

  119. Samantha Tran says:

    I really like spices and herbs. If you buy them in the ethnic food section, especially the hispanic themed aisle they can be only 99 cents a bag! They add flavor to everything including cheap cuts of meat and inexpensive dishes

  120. mo0f.wordpress.com says:

    i like to keep unique/cute looking jars for drinking glasses

  121. Maya says:

    I walk, ride the bus, and bike to get to work. Save money, get exercise and fresh air, it’s the easiest thing you can do!
    Having potlucks and bbq’s with friends is a great way to get a lot of food for a small contribution per person.

  122. initial J says:

    I try to do all my errands in one trip to save gas if that counts. I try but I’m just not that crafty.

  123. Kkgray says:

    i do morew ith less by being organized and by multitasking
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

  124. Malky says:

    I do more with less by combining my errands into one drive and trip so I save gas. An example would be going to the store, post office and barbershop in one trip, rather than going at different times of the week. This way, I can do more with the money I have because of the less money I have to spend on gas!

  125. Craig says:

    To save lunch money, I make giant batches of chili – 20 lunches worth – and freeze batches for future consumption. More lunch for less expense.

  126. Amanda says:

    I feel like this year I’ve found less and less time to do the things I want. Unfortunately, this has also coincided with my Christmas vow to do all handmade gifts.
    So, as a remedy, I’ve been keeping a bag with me at all times. Conference call at work? I do beading while I listen. Date night with the boyfriend? I knit a scarf during the movies. The extra little bit every day has really helped me make a dent in my list even though I have less free time than ever.

  127. purplelover04 says:

    i go to dollar store and buy things i need for party and everyday stuff and remake it or add to it so much and i save alot of money.

  128. astrox.myopenid.com says:

    I used to check my email through a browser; a few months ago I started using an email client. Now I can check all my email accounts at the same time! That’s doing more with less!
    astroxweb@live.com

  129. schmidty says:

    More for less mean having an emergency kit in my car when I travel, and also carrying our own snacks and drinks so that we don’t have to make expensive stops.

  130. Athena says:

    i do more for less. i volunter at salvation army, and i work at soup kitchens. i love this phone i’v had a crap phone for a long time and with all the running around i do i could use a high tech cell phone. For Christmas, and Thanksgiving we do bring a dish to pass so everybody is involved.

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  132. salaystailm says:

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  133. salaystailm says:

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  134. salaystailm says:

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  135. salaystailm says:

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  136. Leveadulvanna says:

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