Instead of buying a 2009 Calendar to hang in my kitchen, I used what I had to create one. Ok, I did buy a 2009 Chick-fil-A calendar, but this was a coupon purchase because for $6 I got over $30 in coupons and I’ll be using every single one. I then transformed that Chick-fil-A calendar into something I would enjoy looking at in my kitchen.
I didn’t really want to be looking at the Chick-fil-A cows in my kitchen (as cute as they may be). So I took my 2008 Sunflower Calendar and cut out the photos to paste onto my 2009 Chick-fil-A Calendar. I used scissors, double-stick tape, and a hole punch to create it. Yes, it took some time to do this and I did have a problem with the calendar being extra thick now and the inner-most page detached and I had to glue it. But I was proud of myself for eliminating the need to purchase any calendars for 2009. And I am happy with the results.
Remember my 2009 Printable Weekly Planner that I created with MomAdvice’s help? Here it is, ready to help me stay organized in the new year. I love that I can see 2 weeks at one time.
You may not want to take the time or have the materials to create your own calendars like I did, but here are my tips for buying calendars for really cheap:
How to Find Cheap Calendars:
* Target Dollar Spot @ 50% and 75% off – My Target has their Dollar Spot on sale for 50% off everything, and I saw a few calendars. I’ve seen the Dollar Spot at 75% off before so I know it may happen. Of course selection is limited, but you never know what you’ll find if you dig a little!
* Dollar Store – The Dollar Store usually has a great selection of calendars for $1
* Christmas Clearance – Sometimes you even find calendars in the Christmas Clearance. Many stores are going 75% off this week, some will even go 90% off starting next week!
When you are taking down your 2008 calendars, why not find a way to utilize the photographs or illustrations they contain? I had a few extra pages from my 2008 Sunflower calendar that I used to create a decorative cover for this notebook.
I know there are some wonderful digital calendars out there to help everyone out, and most are completely free! I need paper calendars because my computer is off for most of the day and I need to look at my calendar all the time.
How are you saving money on creating your 2009 Calendars? What are you doing with your 2008 Calendars?
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I got my Betty Crocker calendar today!!!
Every December I go to A.C. Moore craft store for wall and pocket size calendars. They have the large $9.95 wall calendars for 80 cents. That’s a stocking stuffer for ALL our clan!
I always get a free Betty Crocker calendar that has a new recipe to try each month. You can go to bettycrocker.com and sign up to get one.
I made an awesome calendar yesterday at Target’s Dollar Spot. Everything was 75% off making it the “25 Cent Spot” and I found a “Mom’s Got It Together” calendar that is good thru August 2010. For 25 cents, I got a great planning calendar that will help me plan into 2010. Wow! It really pays to dig in the Dollar Spot, especially when it is 75% off!!!-HeatherFreebies 4 Mom
I really like this idea. I also wanted to let you know that dollar bins in stores such as Target are great. I really love the Mom’s Plan-It calendar, but it’s a bit pricey. I found a similar item in the Target Dollar bin. It doesn’t give quite as many lines for each family member (4 vs. 6) but overall, it’s still a great value. One thing that it does have that the Plan-It calendar doesn’t have is a Notes section at the bottom of the calendar page, so for each month you can add a note or two.
I checked the Dollar Tree ( 2 of the stores in my area) and ALL of the $1.00 calendars were sold out!
My bank always gives away calendars in the late fall (around November). I just have to remember to go IN and get one (since I usually do drive-thru).
I found a lot of really nice calendars last year at Michael’s (craft store) for $1-$2 each. They also had mini calendars and planners for $1.
It seems as though we always get at least one calendar for a Christmas gift…none this year. I did request a free one from Oriental Trading, and I think I will get one from the company that is supposed to send me the free dvd of “Amazing Grace”. But I will be stopping by the Dollar Store…I like to have one in very room of the house!
I LOVE your idea of using old calendar pictures to slide into binder covers. I never thought to do that! Great idea!
I ALWAYS GET FREE CALENDARS FROM THE WALMART PHARMACY. THE IDEA TO COVER THE PICTURE ON THE CALENDAR WITH A PRETTY ONE IS GREAT. THE PICTURES ON THE WALMART CALENDARS ARE NOT ALWAYS PRETTY BUT THEY HAVE COUPONS FOR EACH MONTH.
Love the idea of decorating your binder. I was online going to do a search for graphics to put in the cover of my new binder…. I was reading thru blogs at the same time & found yours. I have several great pix from last year's wildlife calendar. Fits my personality great and my binder will stand out in my buggy, so I don't leave it behind. I appreciate all your blog ideas and finds. Thanks for all your hard work.
I got 2 calenders for free: one from my oil company and one from Pillsbury. I also “bought” one – I used my Pampers point to get a calender of pictures of my daughter – I only had to pay shipping.
I often get free calendars from my father, a retired pastor. He gets more than a couple free calendars and passes at least one to me. I usually print out calendar pages from Microsoft Works. I do buy one inexpensive planner for about $5 each year. I use it to write my gratitude journal and workout journal. I used to get a more expensive “Runners World” journal, but realized that a cheap planner works just as well.
Clever ideas. I usually pick up a calendar at the florist.Happy New Year.
This was a great idea, good job! I’ve also seen several printable calendars for 2009 posted at this blog: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/.