I went shopping for winter comforters and I bought 2 King Sized level 2 comforters for $30.00 at Kohl's after my mothers $20.00 in Kohl's cash. They were on the 75% to 90% off rack area. :happy dance:

Almost the exact same comforters(different brand) were on the wall for $125 each.

I've been trying to get ahead this year too. I have alot of Christmas shopping done for my inlaws, nieces and nephews etc. and stocking stuffers for the kids, I wait till closer till Nov./Dec. to buy their big gifts just because what they want is always changing! We've really made some big changes in our budget in the last 6 months, so I am hoping money issues will be alot better because we have been planning ahead alot more.

Definitely! I always buy out of season items, especially whey they are over 75% - 90%. If I find a VERY good deal, like winter accesories during the summer;I grab it up right away. I start Christmas shopping early also, a little here and there over a course of a year. By the time Christmas comes around, I only have a few things to buy and can avoid the Christmas rush.

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Sheryll

Yep we (well really me and dh just follows along) are already planning for the winter. Dh doesn't work as much in the winter and with the baby coming I really want to get as much done early as I can.

We are going to order our propane next month so we can get it before the price goes up for the winter. We are also going to get firewood for our woodstove just in case we need it too. I have also started adding to my stockpile of food and supplies a little at a time each time I go shopping. It doesn't hit the budget as hard that way. I try to have a pretty good stockpile before winter hits incase we get snowed in. Keeps me from having to try to get out in the nasty weather.

Of course I've also started Christmas shopping and am working on making a list of the gifts I still need to get made for everyone and am trying to get them going right now.

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Proud mommy to adorable Kinsley

MY BLOG!

heck yeh i'm well on my way done for the winter and christmas holidays trying to be proactive.
my youngest dd only needs a winter coat and snowpants(currently on the hunt at consignment stores for this) she has everything else thanks to my sisters hand me downs and some clearance i got..

middle ds only needs a couple pair of pants i got long sleave shirts on clearance for $1.00 a piece and he has winter coat snow pants boots hats a mittens from older brother already so he is almost done.

oldest ds only needs a new winter coat and boots (he still fits in his last year snow pants) i just got jeans on clearance last month at old navy for 4 bucks a pair and my sister just sent tons of hooded sweatshirts and nike running pants long sleave t-shirts (all tommy polo and nike so nice stuff)so he is set clothes and jammie wise as well...

christmas i have all my exteneded family done and all of dh's that we buy for and our kids 1/2 done. so i don't have much left and i have spent under 200 bucks i got great deals on amazon and i had tons of gift card credit there so that is a huge money saver for us this year..

now i need to get our fuel tank filled up...

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

HAVE A BOOTIFUL HALLOWEEN

We've started shopping for school clothes (Lands' End Overstocks) and I got some fantastic deals on boots for Daughter and I at Zappos.com. ($160 for $35, and $45 for $15.)

Haven't started shopping for Christmas yet since nobody knows what they want, but I usually start in September and have it done by November. (Also done on-line since shopping's grim on the island.)

We're in the midst of changing rooms around - it's worse than moving - but I found a beautiful used wooden desk for Daughter for $90, and it matches her loft.

try asking some local contractors if they can throw all their scrap lumber pieces in a garbage bag for you when cleaning up at a job site. it's great starter wood for your wood stove or fireplace. (my mom did this while I was growing up - my dad's a contractor)

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!

I don't start Christmas shopping until October and finish by the first week of December, and I do 99% of that via the internet because I just can't tolerate crowds and unpredictable weather with two small children.

I shop end of season clearance sales for my oldest, and my youngest usually gets the hand me downs so we're always a season ahead for clothing.

I do stock up on non-perishable items for our pantry when they are on sale and make sure our freezer is fully stocked. Whenever a possible snow storm is forcast, people go nuts here trying to get to the grocery store or Home Depot trying to get a shovel and rock salt! I just don't want to get in the mad rush.

I started Christmas shopping a couple months ago. I've picked up a few toys (on clearance) for nieces/nephews. Right now I'm trying to buy one present for DS every payday. I have a coupon from a local store for 20% off and he saw a paint your own Monster Truck set there which was about $15.00. I'll have to pick that up before the coupon expires and put it away. I'm ordering photo calendars for the grandparents. They were only $4.00 each and all I have to do is insert 4X6 pictures which we have plenty of. My husband and I get each other toiletries for our stockings and those always go on sale and we use coupons. I think we spend about $15-$20 on each other. I'm going to have to wait to get DS some movies - BJ's usually has those really cheap around the holidays. He's also into Superman and Walmart had some of the old cartoons on DVD for $1.00 each. I'll have to get more of those. We don't go crazy because DS gets so much stuff from grandparents and aunts & uncles. The last couple years he's gotten into donating to those less fortunate. We bought some toys and winter coats for a local drive. It's a great tradition to start.