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12 Hints For Christmas

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2008

1Homemade wonders. Oswald stocks up on assorted bags and containers from dollar stores, then fills them with easy, homemade treats such as peppermint bark and white chocolate Chex mix.

2Stocking stuffers. All year long, she checks www.walletpop.com for free samples that will appeal to family, and tosses them in a big bucket for storage.

3Contests galore. The Oswald extended family will head to Universal Studios this year, courtesy of free tickets she won in one of the local radio and television contests she enters. Other wins: Tickets to Lowry Park's Christmas event, a free stay at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando with tickets to "Ice!" attraction, movies, shows and concerts.

4Free cards. Oswald and a friend exchange their leftover Christmas cards so they will have something new to send family and friends.

5Happy pets. She found a pet treat recipe and dog bone molds at a flea market for $2, and from the Internet printed a funny poem about a puppy's Christmas she will attach with a ribbon for her "fur children and fur grandchildren."

6Classes pay off. Oswald takes $15 classes in sewing, picture matting, upholstery, cake decorating. She creates cakes that look like Christmas presents using a cutting tool and holiday plates from a thrift store. Similar cake in Williams-Sonoma catalog: $89.95.

7Keeping it live. She places clippings from her plants in water, then plants them in thrift store pots as gifts.

8Bargain meats and veggies. She shops the Tampa Wholesale Produce Market and Sanwa International Wholesale Foods in Tampa for deals. For elderly friends, she prepares holiday meals of smoked chickens, orange juice from her trees and produce from her garden.

9Giveaways. Oswald is the moderator for her local Freecycle organization ( www.freecycle.org), where members give and take as needed. She offered up some Christmas decorations: "Thirty years ago, I though Tweety Bird was cute. Today, not so much." She received a free freezer for storing meat and cakes.

10Free fun. She and her husband enjoy holiday light displays, boat parades, and the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, taking their own hot cider and homemade snacks.

11The real thing. Pine cones from her yard are stored in a plastic bag with cinnamon oil, whole cloves and rosemary for three days, producing aromatic centerpieces and decorations.

12No waste. She uses up all her wrapping paper and ribbons from years past before buying new.

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