Book Review: Zero Budget Christmas – Light & Fun Holiday Read
Author: Mel (brokeGIRLrich blog), November 27, 2013
“Zero Budget Christmas: The Almost Entirely True Story of Our Quest to Do Our Christmas Shopping Without Spending Any Money” by Jason Anderson is a delightful and smooth read. It feels like a blog post where Anderson shares creative ways to stay on budget during the holiday season. He reflects on various common strategies, using real-life examples and personal stories.
I was particularly struck by his experience of using a credit card to accumulate reward points for his Amazon Christmas shopping. Surprisingly, I do the same with my CapitalOne Rewards card. Even better, the purchase eraser feature lets you apply your points to wipe out the cost of previously bought items. If you spot a good deal, you can actually save points, instead of using a hefty chunk upfront.
His attempts at thrift shopping struck a chord too. It reminded me of my family traditions and my wife, Rachel. We find it hilarious to gift each other unique finds like bacon-themed playing cards, which, given our love for card games, is a pretty awesome present!
This month’s special also includes a bottle of Mod Podge, the secret ingredient for many DIY projects. The idea is to craft things that are under $5. You might need to get a little creative sometimes (like using a homemade Mod Podge mixture made from water and Elmer’s glue), but that’s half the fun. So, if you’re aspiring to become a crafting pro, start experimenting!
There’s a giveaway this month! A chance to win a copy of the book and a bottle of Mod Podge. Contest ends on the 30th of November. So hurry up and spread the word!
Links to other related blog posts:
“Introduction to the Five Dollar Holiday Series”, November 1, 2013
“Husband Edition, Five Dollar Holiday Series”, November 8, 2013
“Mom Edition, Five Dollar Holiday Series”, November 4, 2013