Let's list ideas for saving money on Christmas presents.
1. Look for toys/books/clothes on clearance throughout the year, and find a place to hide them. (I have totes and boxes in the basement the girls don't know about).
2. TJ Maxx has good prices on toys, books, and games.
3. If you have a health care spending account at work save your receipts and EOB. Turn them in around Oct/Nov. It will be like "found money".
4. If your kids really like books look at the flyers from Scholastic that daycares/preschools get. Also call your local hospital and ask if and when Books R Fun is having a book sale. They have great prices on kids books, cookbooks, activity sets, music, etc.
5. Use a Christmas club account if your bank offers it. (Separate savings account, earns interest and is usually deposited in your checking/savings account Nov 1.
6. Keep a list of what you have stashed so you don't end up with too many presents. I went overboard last year so we kept some to give this year.
7. Kohls frequently has great sales on toys, sometimes up to 50% off.
8. Dollar Tree for wrapping paper, tape, and coloring books.
9. Look for coupons in the mail. There is an educational toy store here that frequently has coupons for 25% off total purchase. They were actually cheaper on Polly Pockets than Target. They also offer free gift wrap!
10. Shop Toys R Us when they have the buy 2 get 1 free sales.
11. Develop a budget and stick to it.

Great post!! I am really trying to cut down this year. I have always gone out of my way to get people the "perfect gift" spending a lot of time and effort finding something they would like. I've found with a few people on our list that I am just wasting my time so this year it is probably gift cards.
I belong to Air Miles and you can get gift cards through them so I've been debating whether to get gift cards and then use those to go find a gift or just give them the cards.

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Don't forget my favourite: BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!! Super-duper-triple-dog-good deals!

I buy stuff on clearance, or on great sales and such. Do the dollar tree thing for all my wrapping paper needs. But I live for Black Friday! AND it's nice to finish all my shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I try to have the tree up and all the presents wrapped by the end of the holiday weekend. It's my new tradition since last year when baby was ready to go at any time through the holidays!

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Christine's Corner



Mom to Matt, 3 years and Catie, 7 months!

Great ideas!

I wanted to add
1: Re-use wrappings wherever possible- ie gift bags you already have. Also, kids can decorate paper bags for cute wrapping paper
2- Cull your Christmas card/ gift list/ If you haven't heard from somebody in 5 years, do you really need to send a card? Do you give to people that you'd rather not but haven't addressed the issue about gift exchange? Now is the time to do it
3- I second keeping a list so you don't wind up spending more in your effort to save!
4- Price match wher epossible. If you see items you want at Target adn Walmart, take the sale paper to Walmart and they'll match it- saves you a trip!

I have started making a list of what to buy & a budget. I have already bought a few things here and there when there were some sales.

1. Draw names with the adults in your family, or agree not to buy for the adults & just focus on the kids.
2. Shop the day after Thanksgiving. Garden Ridge in Tulsa always have a big sale over Thanksgiving. I also stock up on Christmas cards, wrapping paper & decorations the day after Christmas.
3. I have bought a few Christmas presents through LTD.

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Mommy to Ariana 8/11/01 & Davis 4/11/05
I love my kiddos!

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If you are particularly good at something, try to put your skills to use. I love to bake so last year I sent out little cards near the end of November to my girlfriends. I included a list of baked goodies (that I make every year anyhow) and instructions to select 5 treats and mail back the list. I inclued a self addressed stamped envelope as well!
They loved not having to bake as much themselves, as well as sampling some new goodies. I have their selections packaged in coordinating tins and containers from the dollar store and it looked great.

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Children Learn What They Live, And Live What They Learn.
What have you taught your child today?
When life throws you a curve ball...it's up to you how you catch it!

You can divide up items that are sold in bulk into several presents. For instance, BJs had a set of 3 (big) Yankee candles for about $20 last year which I made into 3 different presents - a great deal on a present most everyone likes....

Also, with so much family to celebrate with, we usually have a family event b/4 Xmas, and celebrate with the other side after Xmas-- for the one that is after, I wait to get the presents, well, after Xmas when things are MUCH cheaper!!! Also saves time b/4 the holiday!

We also get lists of things people want for their kids. IMO there is nothing worse than getting the 10th Barbie doll, bargain or not! For real small ones, I have been known to get diapers and wipes, the kids don't know the difference yet and mom & dad are sure happy!! I have also gotten just a trinket for the little ones and had clothes be their "real" present. Again, I believe in being practical for the little ones while you can. Someday they will really want an IPOD and will KNOW the difference!!!

I remembered some more
1. Check Aldi's for presents. Last year they had princess dolls cheaper than other places.
2. Check out consignment places for toys in the original packaging. I have a Dora activity set that was $5.00 still in the original packaging.
3. Turn in points from shoppershotline or mypoints for gift certificates.
4. Look for books at Half Price Books. If they have a bar code on them they are new.

Don't forget Amazon. I got 7 presents the other day for $27.00!!! You have to spend $25 to get the free shipping, but it's worth every penny. The items are exceptional, exactly what you would pay double for at Wal-mart or TRU.

AMEN sister!!! I love Black Friday!! I usually start my Christmas shopping that day and get most of it done. This year I've started already (Thanks JulieinMN - Amazon deals!) and I think I'll be finished on Black Friday.

DH laughs at me because I hate getting up in the morning but on Black Friday I'm out the door by 4 am.