East Coast Mommy

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)

The BEST Ideas for Ringing in 2025 / A SIMPLE New Year's Eve Celebration... including FREE printables

Hosting a family-friendly celebration can be the perfect way to ring in the new year. Today I'm sharing the BEST ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve at home... and FREE printables. (Don't forget to check out the short video at the end of this post!)

Activity Bags - I love making activity bags that can be opened each hour leading up to midnight. The bags can contain noisemakers, the supplies for a midnight toast, games, and more.

I love having one bag contain the items needed to set up a photo booth.

And including a year in review questionnaire for kids is fun too.

To download a FREE copy of the one I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Special New Year's Eve Treat - To make this festive treat, simply add candies to the bottom of a wine glass and top with a decorated cupcake. Cute, right?!?

Adorable New Year's Eve Mocktail - To make this adorable beverage, add sparkling water, 7up, or sparkling wine to a champagne flute. Then, add a bit of cotton candy to the top, and insert a straw. Easy... and so much fun!

New Year's Eve Party Favours - Every party needs a party favour, and I have three simple options to share.

Breakfast for tomorrow - Add a tag to a small box of cereal or a pop tart.

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

Midnight Kisses - Add a tag to a little bag of Hershey kisses.

To download the "midnight kisses" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Rings to ring in the new year - Add a tag to candy rings.

To download the "ring in the new year" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

To download the "bring some sparkle to 2025" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

For a closer look at my New Year's Eve ideas (and full instructions), check out the YouTube video I made here.

Will you be celebrating at home this year? I hope you find some of these ideas fun and helpful. Happy New Year!!!!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

7 Fantastic (budget-friendly) DIY Christmas Gift Ideas... with free printable gift tags

I love a USEFUL gift, don't you? With the cost of things today, it's important to not be wasteful. However, "useful" doesn't have to be boring! Today, I'm sharing 7 fantastic (budget-friendly) DIY Christmas gift ideas. Most items come from the dollar store AND I'm sharing FREE printable tags (below) that make the gifts extra fun!

The tags are below, but if you want to get a closer look at all these fantastic ideas, check out the video I made here:

1) "Get Lucky" lotto ticket gift... in a dollar store frame. Details here, and free printable tags below.