On everything from where to get a good deal, to tips for shopping online, Debbie has practical advise for any one looking to streamline their holiday shopping process.

As the weather turns frosty and the snow begins to fly, you may have the urge to hibernate. There is no question that the Canadian winter can be long, so my best advice is to bundle up and enjoy! But the high cost of outfitting the entire gang and preparing for this snowy season can really leave you out in the cold. With these tips you can get your family ready for winter, keep everyone warm and healthy…and your savings will snowball!

• Bundle up and save. Have each child try on their winter coats, boots and other cold weather clothing to find out which items fit, can be handed down, or will be donated to charity. Make a list of the clothing you need, then go online to Flyerland.ca and shop the sales at stores like Sears, SportChek, Old Navy and Zellers.
• Save on sports equipment. Preparing kids for winter sports like hockey, figure skating, skiing and snowboarding can be a slippery slope to overspending. Kids outgrow their equipment quickly, so try a trade-in program at a store like Play it Again Sports. The kids can have fun all winter long and you can save money.
• Host a winter gear swap. If you have friends with children of different ages, organize a swap for winter clothing and other gear. Invite everyone over for an afternoon, and trade your gently used winter attire and sports items.
• Wrap your family in warm comfort. Before the mercury dips take an inventory of your winter linens—from duvets and comforters to sheets and blankets. Donate old items to charity and check the Wal-Mart flyer on Flyerland.ca for deals on winter bedding to keep your family warm and cozy. 
• Clear out the medicine cabinet. Check the expiry dates on all of last year’s cold and flu remedies in your medicine cabinet, and throw away any out of date items. If you can’t find the expiry date, remember that when in doubt, throw it out! Make a list of the medicines you need to replace.
• Stock up on cold remedies. When your kids get sick in the middle of the night, you want to have all the cold and flu medicine you need on hand to help them feel better fast. Visit Flyerland.ca and check out the Rexall Pharma Plus flyer for their regular Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) sales so you can stock up when the items you know you’ll need.
• Seek Advice.  For everything from cold remedies, chicken soup recipes and questions you should ask your orthodontist, Canadian magazines like Today’s Parent on Flyerland.ca have you covered. Getting to know the inside tips and tricks and ensure that you and your family stay healthy over the cold winter months.

Many of you may remember the excitement of receiving the Christmas “Wish Book” in the mail, a catalogue filled with holiday toys and treasures straight from Santa’s workshop. You would peruse every page, trying to narrow down your present picks to send in a letter to Santa Claus. Now, as you sit down with your own children to help them write their letters to the jolly old elf, you can take this opportunity to teach lessons about budgeting, the value of a dollar and the spirit of giving.

• Plan a “prepare for the holidays” day. Getting ready for the holidays can be a fun family event! Put on festive music, then decorate the house, bake cookies, address cards and help your kids write their letters to Santa. Michael’s has all the supplies you need to transform your home into a winter wonderland.
• Set expectations. Before the kids begin their holiday wish lists give them a limit on the number of gifts or the dollar value. This can encourage them to keep their requests simple and ask for reasonable items. They can help Santa by comparing prices online at Flyerland.ca.
• Search for gifts online. The Internet makes the perfect wish book! You and the kids can gather around the computer screen to search for specific items, check out what’s new, and easily compare prices to find the savings of the season.
• Clear out their toy boxes. To make room for the new gifts on their wish lists, have your kids clear out their bedrooms, closets and storage boxes to find the toys and games they no longer use. Donate gently used items to charity or the local holiday bazaar.
• Encourage the spirit of giving. While writing their own wish lists, have your children choose a gift to donate to a child in need. Bring the kids with you to the organization to deliver the gifts in person and experience the spirit of giving. Toys ‘R’ Us offers a big variety at even bigger savings.
• Buy for teachers and friends. Make a list of teachers and friends your children want to give gifts to this year and set a budget. Watch for good deals and if you find one, buy a bunch! Walmart has affordable choices for their favourite teachers and BFFs.
• Don’t forget mom and dad. Parents can write their own wish lists too. If they’re dreaming of a big ticket item under the tree, Flyerland.ca makes it easy to find the best deals by setting up a Price Watch Alert. When the item goes on sale, they’ll be notified by email.

As the seasons change and the weather turns colder, are images of holiday hot spots dancing in your head? Then celebrate the festive season by giving the gift of a family getaway! If you think the holidays is a costly and chaotic time to travel, check out these tips. Whether your ideal vacation involves sand or snow, you can wrap up the perfect trip and keep more cash in your money belt.

• Book early. Last-minute travel deals can save you cash. But during the busy holiday season you need to book early—fares generally rise closer to the holidays, plus you’ll have less selection. Visit the travel section on Flyerland.ca for special savings on sun and ski vacations.
• Do your research. If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, go online to check out all the possibilities. And don’t hesitate to go big—a cruise is fantastic for families or exotic travel like Hawaii or Europe can be affordable if you find the right deal on Flyerland.ca with TravelAlerts.ca.
• Travel on off-peak dates. Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve are busy times to fly, so avoid airport headaches and travel off-peak. Christmas Day is the least hectic, so celebrating early or late can save you time and money. And avoid returning home on the Sunday before the kids go back to school—stay an extra day if you can.
• Check your points program. Have you accumulated a ton of travel miles? Some points programs have blackout dates, so find out if you can use your miles for your festive family getaway to save money.
• Sign-up for vacation savings programs. Many hotel chains offer discount programs, coupon books, meal plans and more, so be sure to sign-up for these deals before you leave. Spending a bit of extra time online can land you a lot of extra savings.
• Tell Santa your travel plans. If you have small children, the visit from Santa Claus is very important! Consider opening gifts before you leave, or packing a few presents from Santa for the big day—Toys ‘R’ Us is tops on every wish list. In letters to Santa, be sure to tell him you’re celebrating early or give your vacation destination so he knows where to deliver the presents.
• Give vacation themed gifts. When purchasing presents for the kids, give gifts they can use on their holiday—beach stuff for a sun and sand vacation and new ski equipment for a snowy holiday. Also, plan fun activities kids can do on the plane or while travelling—Walmart has lots of great ideas to keep little ones busy.

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and this is especially true when the leaves turn colour and the autumn air turns chilly. That’s when so many of us head inside to enjoy the welcoming warmth of hearty comfort foods. But if you think your homemade favourites have to be high in fat and high in price, read on. These tasty tips for traditional dishes will make you feel cosy while saving you calories and cash.

• Pick local produce. The gorgeous, hot summer has produced a beautiful and abundant crop this year, and there’s still time to save money buying local Canadian grown foods at fall fairs and farmer’s markets.
• Spice it up! Stock up on sugar, spice and other nice staples when they’re on sale. That way, you’ll have these ingredients on hand when you need them and won’t have to make a last-minute run to the store in harsh weather. Visit Flyerland.ca and compare prices at your local retailers.
• Try healthier twists on filling favourites. Your favourite comfort food may be filling with “stick to your ribs” goodness, but it doesn’t have to be calorie-rich. Try whole wheat pasta and low fat cheese in your mac and cheese, lean ground chicken instead of beef in your chilli and vegetarian lasagne. You’ll find these ingredients at your local Overwaitea, Save-on-Foods, Michael-Angelo’s or Highland Farms.
• Plan a cooking day. Make cooking an event by inviting over friends and listening to lively music while everyone makes a big batch of their best comfort food to share with the group. It’s a fun way to get together, and each chef can take home a variety of delicious meals. Walmart has a wide selection of inexpensive, freezer-friendly containers.
• Delight with dessert. When planning your comfort food menu, remember the sweet treats. There are still lots of locally grown fruits available, and it’s easy to make your own pie crust to fill with the best picks of the season. You can also make jams, jellies and preserves to enjoy summer fruits and vegetables throughout the long winter.
• Give recipes as hostess gifts. Fall is a wonderful time for home entertaining. When you bring your most delicious dish to a dinner party, put it in a lovely bowl with the recipe printed on a pretty card to give as a hostess gift. Michael’s has everything you need.
• Experiment with international cuisine. Every nationality has their own special meals they consider comfort food so try a variety of dishes. For added fun, host a theme night with food, décor and music from a different country. The Metro offers a wide range of international food items
• Fill your home with cozy comfort. Create a cosy and inviting home with new candles and potpourri in warm scents. Snug and soft blankets and throws will keep you toasty through the fall and winter. You’ll warm up to the savings at Sears.

The witching hour is drawing near…will you be ready? If preparing your family for the annual Halloween haunt has you feeling spooked, have no fear—designing cool and creative costumes need not be a hair-raising experience. These quick, easy, and inexpensive ideas for last-minute costumes are perfect for a night of trick-or-treating or the masquerade party, and won’t scare the money out of your wallet. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

• Vampire. With the popularity of Twilight, vampires will be all the rage this year. This disguise can be simple—wear black clothing and add fake teeth, black lipstick, nail polish and eyeliner, with a touch of red blood, and a cape. Shopper’s Drug Mart and Rexall PharmaPlus have all your make-up essentials.
• Ghost with a twist. An old favourite gets a new look! Make a ghost costume out of a bed sheet and dress it up. Add a wig, false eyelashes and lipstick for a Glamour Ghost; a tiara, jewellery and boa or a top hat and black jacket for a Rich Ghost; a hockey helmet and jersey for a Sports Ghost… you get the idea. Just use your imagination!
• Bunch of grapes. Blow up purple balloons to the same size and attach them all over a purple or green sweat suit with tape or small safety pins. A green hat covered with grape leaves completes the look.
• Static cling. Start with a dark coloured sweat suit and pin on socks, mittens, hats, underwear and dryer sheets. For an added touch, spray hair straight up in the air. Check out the Wal-Mart flyer for great deals on all the items you’ll need.
• Spider. Get a hooded black sweat suit, three pairs of children’s black tights and black gloves. Cut the tights in half and stuff them to make six of the spider’s legs—the child’s arms are the other two legs—and attach them to the sweat suit at chest level.
• Highway. Take a black sweat suit, and add yellow and white tape to create road lines and markings—reflective tape works well and is great for safety. With a glue gun, affix a collection of cars, trucks and street signs. Check out the Fabricland flyer for lots of options for great reflective materials.
• Gift. Get a cardboard box and cut holes for the arms, legs and head. Cover with wrapping paper—using Christmas paper makes it a holiday gift. Check out Michael’s for ribbons and a gift tag, plus a bow for the head.
• Dust bunny. Take a grey sweat suit and using spray glue, cover it with dryer lint or cotton batting. Add a bunny tail, bunny ears, and paint on a nose and whiskers.
• Pile of leaves. Collect brightly coloured red and gold autumn leaves and glue them to a brown or green sweat suit and matching hat. You can also carry a rake, or pin a garbage bag at waist level with holes cut for the legs to become a bag of leaves.
• Formal wear. If you have an evening gown or tuxedo you never wear, take it out on the town for Halloween night. Dress it up for red carpet glam, or paint your face like a zombie or vampire. Old bridesmaids dresses work great too—add a skeleton mask, cover yourself in cobwebs and tell people you’re “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”.
• Last-minute treats. Do you have enough goodies for all the ghosts and goblins that will come a-knockin’? Metro and Overwaitea have devilish deals on sweet treats they’ll love.
• Be seen and be safe. Be sure your little trick-or-treaters have reflective tape on their costumes to help motorists see them. And drivers, slow down on Halloween night and watch for excited goblins that may dash out into the street.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As Canadians we have so much to be thankful for, why not make this holiday an extra-special event this year. The key to hosting a fun, festive and unforgettable feast without knocking the stuffing out of your budget is planning. These 8 handy tips will help you prepare a superb celebration…and you’ll be thankful for all the savings.

Buy local produce. The hot and sunny Canadian summer we enjoyed this year has produced an outstanding crop. Visit your local farmer’s market for a cornucopia of fresh and delicious vegetables and fruits, all home grown and perfect for preserves, baking and Thanksgiving dinner.

Size up your turkey. When buying your bird, plan for approximately 0.6 to 0.75 kg per person, or 1.3 to 1.5 lbs. For 10 people that would be a 6 to 7.5 kg or 13 to 15 lb. turkey. The quantities will vary depending on how many dishes you’re serving, the appetites of your guests and if you want to have leftovers.

Serve up a new dish. Thanksgiving is a time for family traditions and you may plan the same menu year after year. Surprise your guests with a delicious new dish or two—your local Michael-Angelo’s, Highland Farms, Loblaws and Metro locations offer mouth-watering recipe ideas in store. You may just find a new family favourite!

Stock up on staples. If your Thanksgiving feast includes a selection of sweet treats, stock up on baking supplies when they’re on sale. If you buy in bulk, these can last you through the Christmas season. Visit Flyerland.ca and see the Save-On-Foods, No Frills and Food Basics and Overwaitea flyers for bountiful bargains.

 Show your holiday spirit. Decorating your home for autumn and Thanksgiving is a delightful way to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Use harvest time items like pumpkins, colourful squash and vibrant leaves, or check out the Michael’s flyer on Flyerland.ca for holiday decoration deals.

Make the most of your leftovers. When serving up a holiday feast, you prepare an abundance of food. Your local Superstore is sure to have creative recipe ideas for cooking with all those leftovers, or check out Canadian Living Magazine.

Plan the entertainment. Organize fun activities for your guests like a movie night or board game tournament. Check out the Walmart flyer on Flyerland.ca for savings on new and exciting games.

Take a trip. For most people, Thanksgiving is the last long weekend before the holiday season. Plan a getaway to a country resort and enjoy the spectacular fall colours. See the travel section on Flyerland.ca for last-minute savings.

As the hot summer days turn cool and crisp, we usually update our wardrobe with the latest fall colours and styles. This year, give your beauty routine a boost too! You may think it’s expensive to invest in a full fall cosmetic collection and update your skin care system for the new season. With these tips, you’ll fall for your new—and affordable—autumn look.

• Fall for autumn colours. Look online and check out the latest magazines to discover the hottest colour trends for fall. Visit Rexall Pharma Plus and choose one favourite that will update your makeup collection.
•  Indulge in a makeover. Not sure which new colours are best for you? Get a makeover! Let the beauty experts recommend new colours and application techniques that will refresh your style for the fall season. Many stores like The Bay and Sears offer free makeovers with no obligation to buy…but you may not be able to resist!
• Protect your skin. As the seasons change so should your skin care routine. Colder temperatures can dry your skin and you may need the extra protection of a heavier moisturizer. Check out the flyers at Flyerland.ca for specials on your favourite brands, or if you find a great deal, try a new product.
• Read and compare prices. Magazines like Chatelaine and LouLou research and report on products so check out the reviews before you buy. Visit the Flyerland.ca website for special subscription savings.
• Treat your tresses. Update your appearance with a new haircut or colour, or just add a few highlights to lift your look. The colder weather means you’ll want to deep condition your hair more often to keep it at its shiny best—see the Zellers and Walmart flyers on Flyerland.ca for beautiful bargains on hair products.
• Get your “Gift with Purchase”. Each season retailers offer gift with purchase deals including super samples of the hottest colours. This is a great time to stock up on staples like creams and moisturizers to qualify for your free gift and try the latest shades risk-free.
• Buy bargain brands. When it comes to makeup and skincare products, a higher price tag doesn’t always mean higher quality. Your local Shopper’s Drug Mart offers great products at great savings—see their flyers on Flyerland.ca.
• Take stock. Go through your bathroom cabinets and clear out old makeup and creams to make room for your fresh new fall purchases. And if you don’t know how long you’ve had a product, it’s likely expired so throw it out!