The Disney Family website always has such cute craft ideas for Disney fans, along with the patterns and templates to make them. This month they are showing how to make these Mickey Mouse Snowmen Cards:

Mickey Mouse Christmas Cards

All you need are the template, scissors, paper, ribbon, glue, and markers. Get the full instructions and free template if you want to make your own cards. It’s a great way to have something personal from the kids while sticking to a budget.

Of course, if you are going for something more professional, you can always check out the selection of Disney Christmas cards from Expressionery. They can be personalized and are just adorable. Here are my favorite:

It’s always a Disney holiday at our house, and it can be at yours as well whether you make the cards for free or buy them online.

Ever since Tupperware exploded in the 1950s, women have been getting invited to home parties of all types. While home parties can be a lot of fun and help you expand your social circle, they can also be a budget breaker when you feel the need to buy something at every party you attend (whether you need the products or not).

How do you balance attending candle, home décor, kitchen gadget, and even designer jean parties with your need to stay on a budget? Here are some strategies that you can use.

First, understand that your friends genuinely want you at the party whether you buy anything or not. They want you there for the company and camaraderie more than the free products that they will get from hosting the party. No friend would ever tell you that they only want you there if you intend to buy something. (And if they do, what kind of friend are they??)

Second, ask to take the catalog home and place your order the next day. You will be less likely to purchase something just because everyone else is and more likely to only spend the money if you really want the products. Plus, you will be able to think through how you might be able to use the products such as teacher and family gifts.

Third, go to the party with a friend who is in the same position as you are and place a joint order. You may be able to find buy one get one free specials or split the shipping and handling costs so that you can get more by spending less. Chances are pretty good that others who are invited to the party are feeling the same way that you are.

Lastly, always ask what the specials are or find the section of the catalog with specials. Almost every party that I have ever been has had some kind of “closeout” deals on retiring merchandise or even scratch and dent items that have been used during demonstrations. These might be your best bet at making at purchase but not paying more than what you can afford.

It might not even be Halloween yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to think about the holidays. In fact, most mainstream personal finance gurus suggest you start holiday shopping as early as August, as to spread out the cost. You probably have a long list of friends and relatives for whom you’re buying a gift this holiday season, and they all deserve their own special level of attention. But don’t forget about gifts for the most important people in your life: your immediate family.

The Tablet PC is all the rage now, and will surely be a hot gift item this holiday season. Kids want them because they’re sources of entertainment — you can watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and play games on them. They appeal to adults for the same reasons and then some. You could conceivably use your tablet for almost anything your laptop does. That is to say that they make wonderful gifts for everyone. Yet there is just one drawback.

While the decision to purchase a tablet for your family might be easy, the decision of which tablet to purchase is not. There are dozens of tablets on the market of all makes and sizes, which can create confusion. Different tablets will suit different types of users, so each family will make a different decision. Here’s a quick guide to the three (really four) different tablet types and the benefits they provide.

iPad

Apple iPad

When you think of tablets, chances are you think immediately of the iPad. It wasn’t the first tablet on the market, but it certainly defines modern tablets. That has been a major part of Apple’s charm. They look at a slow market and revolutionize it. FIrst came the iPhone, which changed the way we thought about smartphones. The iPad similarly expanded our notions of what a tablet can accomplish.

In terms of family tablets, the iPad likely rules supreme. The App Store is filled with free and premium applications that the whole family can enjoy. Best of all, most of these applications cost only $2 to $3, so you won’t go broke while loading up your iPad. It comes pre-loaded with a number of games, too, so you can take advantage of them before digging into the extensive iPad games library. Best of all, the hottest apps and games typically get released for the iPad.

What really sets the iPad apart is the video experience, which you’ll see, after owning a tablet, is one of its main benefits. The large screen provides plenty of viewing room. Yes, it’s smaller than most computer monitors, but it has pristine resolution. You can also hold it relatively close. I’ve found that watching a movie on the 9-inch iPad is much more enjoyable than a 13-inch laptop screen. Movies can come from many sources, too: your personal PC library, the iTunes store, or Netflix. Having the Netflix app, by the way, might be the single best feature of the iPad. It’s so common, yet so valuable. It’s easily my most-used app.

The downside to the iPad is immediately clear. As with most Apple products, it runs fairly expensive. The least expensive iPad costs $499, and that’s before you buy a case (a necessity) and apps. If you require more storage space — and movies do take up plenty of space — you’ll end up spending even more. The 32GB version costs $599, while the 64GB version costs $699. If you need 3G service, each model costs an additional $130, plus monthly data charges. Thankfully, for in-home family uses the WiFi-only version is perfectly useful.

Android

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Here’s where the tablet market gets really confusing. Apple makes it simple. It’s one manufacturer making one tablet. Google’s Android, however, is a platform rather than a device. That is, many different manufacturers can create tablets using the Android platform. You might see Android tablets from well-known manufacturers, such as Samsung and Motorola, or you might see them from unknown brands. Many discount brands, including Vizio, have also chosen Android as their tablet platform. This can make for a tough decision.

In general, the Android platform is a powerful one for tablets. Its best feature is that it’s constantly improving. While Apple does release new operating system versions from time to time, Android is constantly improving. It has to, or else it will always stay behind Apple. So while a tablet you buy now might run one version of the Android OS, it could get an upgrade in the not so distant future. That means you’ll get more features on the same device.

Android also has a robust app market, the Android Market, which features thousands of popular titles. There are ups and downs to the Market. The upside is that it contains far more free apps than Apple’s App Store, so you can enjoy more for less. At the same time, Google does not stringently screen applications, so there are a lot more poor ones in the Android Market than in the App Store. Still, if you do your homework and read reviews you should be able to find the best apps. Problem is, many people don’t want to do the homework before the buy an app. They just want the app. That is a completely understandable stance.

If you’re looking for something cheaper than the iPad, Android is definitely the way to go. Unfortunately, once you get down into the lower price points you don’t really know what you’re going to get. Even trusted brands, such as Samsung, can flop with Android tablets. That’s what happened with the original Galaxy Tab. Of course, the nature of Android means that these manufacturers can get a second chance. The new Samsung Galaxy Tab looks fabulous and has gotten rave reviews. The same goes for the Motorola Xoom. These are certainly high-end tablets.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of tablets that just aren’t worth your time. Anything from a manufacturer you don’t recognize is probably not going to be worth the hassle. It might be cheap, but the old cliche applies to tablets heavily: you get what you pay for. Instead of buying a cheap, no-name Android tablet, you’re probably better off holding the purchase until you have enough saved to buy a reliable one.

Amazon Kindle Fire

Kindle Fire

While the Kindle Fire is technically an Android tablet, it doesn’t bring the true Android experience. In fact, it is thoroughly an Amazon tablet. The app store is not the Android Market, but rather the Amazon App Store. There is no Netflix app in that App Store. Instead, Amazon offers its own Instant Video product, which is available for Amazon Prime users. Music and movies are purchased through Amazon’s store. And ebooks, of course, go right through the Kindle Store.

What advantages, then, does the Kindle Fire have over other Android tablets? For one, it comes with a household brand attached. People know and trust Amazon. It also has a singular focus: media. The Kindle Fire is made for watching movies, listening to music, playing games, and reading books. While all tablets are in some ways made for this, it is really the only reason to get a Kindle Fire.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime user, however, this probably isn’t the tablet for you. Again, it’s made for Amazon loyalists who want a focused, cheap tablet. In fact, at $200, this is probably the only tablet that goes against the “get what you pay for” mantra. It really does provide power for a cheap price.

BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook

The BlackBerry has seen its share of poor coverage in the past few years, but they really outdid themselves with the PlayBook. That is, they outdid themselves in terms of the PlayBook’s potential. The hardware is on par with the best of the tablet industry. It runs fast and has a crystal clear display, so you’ll have no complaints when playing games, using apps, and watching movies. The user interface is also clean. In fact, of all the tablets on the market it’s easiest to run multiple apps at once with the PlayBook.

The PlayBook is a great option for people who already own BlackBerry smartphones. They go hand-in-hand — there’s even a dedicated app that bridges tablet and smartphone. Also, pairing is currently the only way to get contacts, calendars, and email on the PlayBook. Thankfully, an update is coming soon (it might be out by the time you read this) that will bring along email, calendar, and contacts. It will also bring Android apps, which will help fill out BlackBerry App World. There should be plenty of apps available.

With the PlayBook you’ll get state of the art hardware to go along with improving software. RIM is apparently committed to improving the device, too, as they’ve already released a number of updates. This latest update, which will also include a video store, should vault the PlayBook into public consciousness. Best of all, the price is a bit more palatable than the original. At first it cost the same as an iPad, but RIM is running various promotions throughout the holiday season. You can get a 16GB PlayBook at various retail outlets for as little as $299.

Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of Prepaid Reviews, where he provides information about prepaid cell phones and service.

I love gift cards! I use them for so many things. I buy them as gifts, include them in cards, and add them to gift baskets. I buy them in advance to set aside for vacations. I especially love gift cards when I can get them at a discounted rate.

Just this week while in New York I discovered Coupon Trade. I am amazed at the prices! They buy and sell gift cards at below face value. You think it must be too good to be true? The reality is that people do it all the time. Either they buy the cards in bulk directly from the companies and get a discount or they receive gift cards that they are not going to use anyway and figure that they might as well get something out of them.

Right now they have some terrific deals on cards, but the cards do change daily because they are in limited supply. They also have some “daily deals” from places like Groupon where people bought them at the discounted rate but then decided that they don’t want them. So if you missed a Groupon, you might want to check there.

What kinds of brands are we talking about? Places I shop on a monthly basis! Disney (good at the Disney parks and on the Disney resort as well), Home Depot, Starbucks, Best Buy, Amazon, iTunes, Macys, Subway, Tickemaster…I could go on and on. But you get my points.

One of the things that I love about Coupon Trade is that you have to verify your Paypal address to join. That cuts down on fraud and ensures that the site should be around for the long haul. If you want to get an even better deal, you can get cash back on Coupon Trade through Sunshine. But even without the cash back, Coupon Trade is still a great bargain!

The NFL season is on!! For us women, that means buying fan gear for our teams, planning Sunday afternoon parties, and figuring out how we are going to beat the men again in fantasy football. Speaking of fan gear, I just saw the most amazing NFL jewelry posted on Facebook. It literally stopped me dead in my tracks and I had to see if I could get it for my team. Good news. I can! And so can you.

In the spirit of fairness, I’m going to show not only Steelers jewelry but also Colts jewelry because I have so many friends who are Colts fans. It honesty doesn’t matter what your team is. Once you see the general style of the jewelry, you are going to be on the Fanatics website immediately. Here are my favorites:

Logo Art Indianapolis Colts Ladies Spirit Crystal Dangle Necklace ($29.95)

Logo Art Pittsburgh Steelers Spirit Crystal Dangle Earrings ($22.95)

Logo Art Green Bay Packers Ladies Spirit Crystal Stacked Ring Set

(That one is just to show that I am not a sore loser.)

I would not be surprised if this jewelry sold out almost immediately as soon as more people start posting about it. Football Fanatics is my favorite site for ordering fan gear for my family, and we go through a lot of it! If you are looking for NFL jewelry, they are definitely the first place that you should check and this new Logo Art collection is where you should start.

(P.S. They also have this jewelry for some college teams, MLB teams, and NBA teams. I just don’t care about those as much.)

I was browsing around on Birthday in a Box the other day and came across their new, exclusive Alphabet Personalized Coloring Books. These are so cute! On the front they say the child’s name and then “Learns the Alphabet.” Inside are the letters of the alphabet along with animals to help learn them. The personalization continues asking the child questions like “Megan, what do we have to help us learn D?”

Unlike a lot of personalized gifts, these are truly affordable at only $2.99. That would make a great gift for the child who has everything or even as favors to give out to a whole class at a school holiday party. Visit Birthday in a Box for more information.

The Tea Collection is running a really unique promotion right now on 16 Tees and Tops. The more people that “Like” their shirts, the more that the price of the shirts will decrease. If 200 people like them, the shirts will sell for $12. If 400 people like them, the shirts will sell for $10. If 800 people like them, the shirts will sell for $8. They are calling it the “Tea Liking Spree.”

Kind of a cool way to get people to check out the merchandise and share it with their friends. Click here to see the collection yourself and add your own “Likes.”

I’ve been doing a lot of swimsuit searching in anticipation of a big family vacation this summer and am sold on Swimsuitsforall.com. I’ve seen them featured on so many websites and newspaper/magazine articles that I had to take a look for myself. They have swimsuits in sizes starting at 8 and running up through 34W. This one is my favorite:

Refined Sweet Thing Lingerie Swimdress by Beach Belle

I’m considering buying it this minute but there are so many other suits as well that I like that I am still trying to get through all of them. I may actually end up buying two!

Right now they have a 20% off code listed on their site. They also feature a “low price guarantee.” Through the end of June, you can get 25% off 2011 Best Sellers – coupon code SUMMER25. I’m not sure how many suits that includes, but it is worth checking out. Be sure to grab your size quickly because some of them are already selling out!

Updated: You can now get a Father’s Day card for FREE using code FREEFD. Expires 6/13/2011

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and I find it hard to buy for the dads in my life. Tiny Prints is making it easier this year by offering custom Father’s Day cards starting at only $.99 (use code GC99). What do I mean by customized? You can use your own photos, text, and even embedded gift cards in the customized cards. Have the card mailed to yourself or directly to dad. Make the card funny or sentimental or as unique as dad himself.

One of the reasons that I love this is that I don’t buy cards for my “dad” each year but rather a lot of other men in my life who have been a father or a grandfather in a more non-traditional way. It’s really hard to find cards for those situations. With a custom card from Tiny Prints, I can say what I need to say and not have to cross out words or write in the margins. It’s 100% my sentiment.

These cards sold like crazy for Mother’s Day because of their high quality and value. If you need help getting started, they have a number of different pre-made cards that you can choose from and then go from there. My personal favorites are the cards with the kids faces on the front. Then again, I really love the humorous cards because that’s the kind of cards my husband enjoys getting from my kids.

Visit Tiny Prints and use code GC99 to get this special deal.

I was watching one of those morning shows while I was working out today and they were showing new spring trends that you could supposedly get “inexpensively.” In all actuality, the prices were not “inexpensive” in my estimation. I started looking around for sunglasses like the ones that they featured (because sunglasses are absolutely spring fashion staples). I ended up finding some like the ones that they featured for less than $15!

Sunglass Warehouse has a huge selection of retro inspired sunglasses at prices that don’t make me cringe. I am not the best at taking care of my sunglasses. I leave them places, scratch them in the bottom of my purse, and my kids break them. So I don’t really like to spend too much on them. I would rather have 4 pair in various places in my house/car than have one expensive pair that I have to keep track of. Here are just a few of the cute sunglasses that I found:

Add on that they have free shipping on orders over $25 and are currently running a 15% off sitewide sale and you will be saving money like crazy! Check out Sunglass Warehouse for some terrific spring sunglasses that truly are a bargain.