While I haven’t been confused about how to spell stationery, I have had to make lots of decisions on what stationery to buy. It’s likely you’re writing a few notes from time to time – thank you notes, Christmas cards, Valentine’s, and perhaps designing a wedding or baby shower invitation.

I have seen a lot of great deals lately on paper goods, so thought I’d share some great picks from specialty companies that we feature here on Bonus.com.

Tiny Prints

Based near us in San Francisco, we have a lot of local pride for Tiny Prints.

They offer high quality cards, photo announcements, stationery and invitations. Right now new customers receive $10 off any order over $49 with code AFFNEW at checkout!

Check out the current sales on birth and moving announcement cards!

Current

This company celebrates 60 years in the business so they know a thing or two about paper. Fun gift wrap, note cards, and personalized gifts, as well as frequent sales, are worth checking out! Be sure to shop the Buy One, Get One Free items to stock up and save! These thank you notes are now buy one, get one half off!

Paper Culture

For every order, they plant a tree. Recycled paper is used for ALL packaging. And, the quality and modern designs are fantastic! Did I mention they plant a tree for EVERY order?!

Right now, new customers can receive $5 off any order with code ECOMOD or enjoy $15 off an order of $100 or more with code SAVE15! I especially like the unique invitations they offer, including the white elephant party invite below!

Wedding Paper divas

This is a great online destination for anything related to a wedding – save the dates, shower invitations, bachelorette party and even stationery for beyond the wedding!

Get free shipping until September 9, or take advantage of additional savings with free proofs and free returns!

Have a favorite stationery designer you want to share? Be sure to post in the comments and let us know about your shopping finds!

So, while I love seeing email in my inbox, or getting a funny text from a friend, nothing beats something pretty or fun in the mail!

Happy Shopping!

-Kristen

How to Create a Gift Reserve

How many times have you had to run out at the last minute to buy a gift for a Birthday, Wedding or Shower? Been there. Done that. Inevitably, I would end up spending more than my budget allowed. I’d run from store to store with kids in tow, searching for the holy grail of gifts! Did the recipient know the sacrifice of my crusade? Sadly, no. My martyrdom was not recognized.

Broke, frustrated and exhausted, I knew there had to be a better way. How could I save money and time without making myself, the kids and my husband (who else would tolerate my woeful tale) miserable in the process? My obsessive compulsive skills finally paid off. After researching to find a solution, I’m thrilled to tell you, I’ve found the key to saving money, time and frustration on my Gifts. How? Create a Gift Reserve.

What is a Gift Reserve? It’s a stockpile of items bought a rock bottom prices. It’s a very easy process once you get started. Here are some basic guidelines.

1) Make a Gift Budget. Set aside money every month. The goal is to eventually cut your Gift Giving Budget. If you buy items at rock bottom prices, you can stock up for a future gift giving opportunity AND save money.

2) Plan Ahead. Because we tend to over spend if we wait until the last minute, it’s vital to make a list of all upcoming gift giving events (Birthdays, Weddings, Showers, Anniversaries, Holidays, etc…). If you have three Weddings this summer, you can buy three gifts when you find a great deal and save money. You can also buy gifts that are age specific to your child(ren), because inevitably they’ll be asked to parties by their classmates.

3) Be an Opportunist. Watch for great deals on websites like Your Retail Helper,  Helping the Mommas and Bonus.com. Sign up for newsletters and coupons from your favorite retail stores. Use store coupons, sales, rebates and cash back websites for maximum savings. When you find a great deal, buy several.

4) Where should I keep my Gift Reserve? Anywhere you have space. Consider using a spare drawer, a box in the attic, closet or under the bed. (Just make sure little fingers can’t find it.) Also keep a list of all your gifts handy. It won’t do you any good if you don’t know what you have in your Gift Reserve.

5) Should I buy a gift off a Gift Registry? Would your friend be happier to know you put yourself in a financial disadvantage because you felt compelled to buy something expensive off their registry, rather than buying them a high quality gift at a fraction of the cost? If you’re on a tight budget and you give a generous thoughtful gift, it shouldn’t matter. Let go of the guilt.

6) Think outside the box. Buy small items at rock bottom prices and then compile them into one large Gift Basket. If you’re crafty, make your own gifts. You can also find great deals at Discount Stores or Consignment Sales. Not long ago, I bought two of my children Birthday presents from a Consignment Sale. The items were in great condition. My kids are too young to know the difference between what came out of a box and what came from a store. I saved 75% or more on their gifts and they were two of their favorites. Many times you can also get items at Consignment Stores that still have the tags on them or have never been opened.

Do you feel empowered? Relieved? There is hope. If you plan ahead and are patient, you can create a Gift Reserve to envy all others. It feels so good to pull a great gift out of my Gift Reserve knowing I saved money. The recipient will be none the wiser. Unless, of course, you get a gift from me. Then you’ll always be wondering how little I paid for it!

Thank you, Anna!

Happy Shopping (and in bulk)!

- Kristen

Wedding registries are great, don’t get me wrong. It makes shopping easy. I don’t want to buy a floral tablecloth for someone who really just wants a lawn mower (that’s another thing, registries now have SO many types of items!).

So, I’ve been in 18 weddings (would I make this stuff up?). Not quite as many as this, but you get the picture. I’ve attended my share of weddings. My strategy for wedding gifts is to buy a similar type of gift for every wedding I’m attending in a given season, but to add a personal touch to the gift.

My top favorites:

- A serving dish or pasta bowl with fun-shaped pasta, gourmet sauce, bottle of wine and bottle opener.

- A serving tray or breakfast tray, complete with goodies for making breakfast in bed: egg cups, jam, scone mix, coffee, tea and breakfast in bed cookbook.

We polled some of our fans on Facebook and Twitter for the best and worst wedding gifts they received. Take notes:

Best: Espresso machine, Kitchen Aid mixer, nights at hotels or vacation rentals

Worst: Gifts with the garage sale tags still left on (wow!)

So, give a gift they’ll love and make your life a little easier this summer when shopping for wedding gifts! Have fun and be creative!

And in case you’re wondering: I’ve only ever worn two bridesmaids dresses for a second time (both were black), and a hot pink dress complete with ruffles and a train really did look cute in the 80′s.

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen