2025 Graduation Party Favors -- with FREE printable tags

***UPDATED with 2025 tags***

I love a good party favor... especially if it's budget-friendly. So, when my son graduated last year, I decided to create some inexpensive party favors using dollar store goodies. I came up with five party favor ideas (and free printable tags) that you are going to love! (And for a closer look, take a look at the video I made here.)

Here are the items I used to create the party favors.

1) The first tag is great to pair with mint gum or peppermints.

To download these tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

2) The second tag can be paired with store-bought or homemade cookies.

To download these tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

3) The third tag can be paired with bags of popped popcorn... or these unpopped bags of microwave popcorn.

To download these tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

4) The fourth tag can be used with any sweet treat. It works with candy AND chocolate. Just pick your favourite.

To download these tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

5) The last tag can be used with doughnuts or doughnut holes. I used store bought old fashioned doughnuts.

To download these tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

I love how they all look displayed on the tiered tray I made (in the video you can find here).

You can also get a closer look at how I put all the party favors together below...

PS - If you don't like the gold colored tagged I used, check out the more colorful options below...

Let me know in the comments which of these graduation party favors is YOUR favorite. I think they are all pretty cute!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Unique and Budget-friendly DIY Graduation Candy Bar... with free signage and tags

***Updated with signs for 2025***

I love a good party DIY... and what's better than a DIY Candy Bar. Today, I'm sharing my tips and tricks for putting together a fantastic candy bar on a budget. I'm even including FREE printable signage and tags.

Take a peek at the video (below) for all the information you need to put together your own impressive and budget-friendly candy bar. Then, come back here and download the free signage and tags.

To download the 5x7 "Graduation is SWEET! Enjoy a Treat" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 5x7 photo.

To download the 8x10 "A SWEET Ending to a New Beginning" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

To download the 8x10 "Graduation is SWEET Enjoy a Treat!" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

To download the tags I designed to label the jars of candy: click on the pictures below, right-click, save them to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photos.

NEW budget-friendly (and useful!) DIY Valentine’s Day gifts & FREE Printables

I love a useful gift, don't you? There is nothing worse than spending money on things that are going to end up in the garbage (or addi clutter to a home). Today, I am sharing ALL NEW budget-friendly (and useful) DIY Valentine's Day gift ideas -- made from dollar store supplies! AND... I'm including printable tags you can download for FREE.

1) "I hope you get LUCKY" lotto ticket picture frame - A dollar store frame is the perfect way to share lottery tickets, and you can download the free gift tag I designed below. For a closer look at how I put this together, check out the video I made here.

To download the tags I designed for FREE: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

2) Dollar store picture frame "to do" list - A dollar store frame, a custom backing, and a fun way to display a dry erase pen come together to make a fun and practical Valentine's Day gift. Get a closer look at how I made this in the video I made here.

3) "I love our friendCHIP" tags to add to cookies - These tags are great paired with store-bought (or homemade) cookies. And who doesn't love a yummy treat??? Download the tags below, and see how I used them in the video I made here.

To download the tags I designed for FREE: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

4) Personalized picture Valentine's - These are so easy to make with dollar store suckers, glow sticks or pencils. Check out how I made them here.

Are you interested in a closer look at any of these budget-friendly (and useful!) DIY Valentine's Day gifts? 

Check out the video I made below...

Let me know your favourite Valentine's Day gift in the comments below. And, let me know if you'd like more ideas like this!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

FOUR easy and adorable WINTER CRAFTS for kids and teens / Dollar store crafts and a FREE printable

Chilly winter days are perfect for crafting, and you are going to love the ideas I'm sharing today. I have 4 easy and adorable WINTER CRAFTS for kids and teens. Most use dollar store supplies, AND I'm sharing a FREE printable you can download. Check out all the fun below!

1) Wood slice melted snowman -- This is an adorable craft. It looks great on a tiered tray, but it's sweet just sitting on a shelf too. Find the FULL step by step instructions here.

2) Waterless snowman snowglobe - There is something magical about snow globes, and this version is easy to make and super-cute. Download the FREE printable below, and find the step by step instructions here.

To download the snowman and tree I used for this snow globe: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

3) Snowman lollipops - Who doesn't love a craft that is also a snack?!? These snowman suckers are sure to be a hit with crafters of all ages. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

4) Pom pom "snow buddies" - This is seriously the cutest craft! After you see how easy they are to make, you are going to want to make a bunch of these adorable snow buddies. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

For a closer look at how to make all four of these adorable winter crafts, check out the video I made here:

What do you think of these winter crafts? Which one is your favourite?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Top 5 tips for teaching kids about MONEY / Things that helped ME teach my children financial responsibility

As a mom of three financially responsible boys (ages 15, 17, and 19), I'm often asked questions about how I taught them about money. They aren't perfect, but they have have strong work ethics and make smart decisions about money. I'm not an expert, but today I am sharing the FIVE things I'm happy I did.

1) I never gave my children an allowance. I never handed them cash for no reason, and I never paid them for doing chores around the house that I expected them to do anyway. I did, however, help them earn their own money. I helped them sell old toys, and I assisted them with a small “cookie mix” selling business. They also babysat and delivered newspapers, and when they turned 16, they got jobs.

2) I talked openly about money with my children from a young age. They often saw me pay for things with a credit card, so I made certain that they understood how credit cards worked. I showed them the bill when it came in, and explained how I paid for it from the money I earned at my job. I also talked to my children about saving, investing, and paying taxes.

3) I taught my children the difference between a want and a need. This seems like a simple lesson, but it is a difficult one to teach. From an early age, the rule in our house was always “We buy you what you need, and you buy what you want.” For example, we paid for the hockey stick they needed, but if they wanted the “latest and greatest” model, they were required to contribute the additional funds.

4) I introduced my children to the concept of delayed gratification. It’s important for kids to learn they can’t get everything they want, and they can’t always get the things they want as soon as they want them. One way I taught this lesson to my children is that I never gave my kids phones with phone/data plans. My husband and I made a rule that only people that can pay a monthly bill can have a phone. It was tough for our kids to understand why they didn’t have a phone like other children their age. However, now that they have jobs, they all have phone plans that they pay for, and they appreciate the concept (and responsibility) of paying monthly bills. They also watch their data usage carefully.

5) I tried to set a good example. My children have always seen me shop for sales, buy and sell second hand items, pack lunches for road trips, cook at home rather than eat out, and DIY home projects to save money. They see my husband and I living frugally (and within our means), and it is teaching them to do the same.

My boys are still relatively young, so there is still time for them to make money mistakes, but I hope I've given them a good start. 

These are the things that worked for me, but I'm curious... what worked for you?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

The BEST Dollar Store Organization HACKS

If you love getting organized, but you don't want to spend a lot of money, you are going to love these dollar store organization HACKS! With a few dollars, and a couple of minutes, you can make you life much easier.

The dollar store has the best bins, hooks, and organizations... and don't be afraid to you common products in unconvential ways.

Check out this video for all my favourite products, tips, and tricks.

Do you have any organization HACKS to share? Do you have a favourite from this video? I have more tips and tricks, so if you are interested, let me know, and I'll get to work on another video.

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)