Greetings & Happy belated Labor Day! I cannot believe summer is almost over. I LOVE summer & being outside in the heat. Maybe we need to move even further south so that we can enjoy all the summer activities more than 4-5 months out of the year :)
Onto the savings...
Hip 2 Save
I have become a big fan of hip2save.com. If you are not already on that site, you MUST check it out! I have scored several cool freebies or deeply discounted items just by checking this site a few times a day. I do not know where Collin (blogger) finds the time to post multiple times a day, but she does.
Collin's site runs the gamut of savings, so whatever your likes may be she is sure to have something you can get for next to nothing a couple of times a week.
More school savings
Over the next week or two most retailers will have clearance sales on school supplies. I am going to check 'my' Target today. The deals were so good this year before school started that I stocked up on some supplies, however I am waiting for clearance sales before I buy thermos', backpacks, etc. Check you local stores at least a couple of times each week to see if the 50% (minimum before I buy) or greater sales are in full swing.
Couponing
I would love to know how your couponing is going. I have been saving thousands (literally) this year. I estimate that I have saved between $2500-3000 by combining my coupons with the weekly sales. I don't know anyone who wouldn't take an extra 3K in just 8 months. Hopefully, we will see 5K savings by the end of the year! BTW, that is just in groceries, not including all the coupons I use for CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, clothing, services etc.
If you want more info, check out the sites I have listed at the top to get started. As I have stated in the past, do not overwhelm yourself. Develop a plan, then work your plan!
In closing I would be remiss if I did not mention Dave Ramsey is coming to Raleigh Oct. 16th. I need to purchase my tickets, but it wasn't in the budget last month :) If you want to be motivated & take charge of your finances, you do NOT want to miss this event. It is an investment in your future.....
Happy Saving,
Early
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sizzin' Summer Deals Abound!
***Dave Ramsey is coming to the RBC Center October 16th******
I absolutely love this time of year. Not only because summer is my favorite season, but the deals to be had in July are nothing short of incredible!
Where to find the sizzlin' deals?
1. Start with your favorite retailer. Everyone is slashing summer clothing & goods to get ready for back-to-school & fall items. Since I am a big fan of Target, I will go a couple of times a week from now until school begins to hit the big 75% off sales. I check often, because each store does their markdowns at different times. I have found in the past that the store closest to me often does their big drops on Wednesdays. That doesn't seem to be the case for the store a little further away.
Just last week I bought 8 pairs of shoes for next summer. They ranged in price from $0.99-8.94. My Nick & Nora flip flops were only 99 cents! What a steal!
If you have children you can pretty much 'guesstimate' what size they will be in next spring/summer therefore, it makes shoe buying a lot less expensive. If you are wrong & they are too small, odds are you paid less than $5 for them & you can sell them for that at a yard sale.
The other obvious things to easily buy for next year are swimsuits, beach towels, any water toy/pool, outdoor patio type stuff as well.
**A word to the wise, if you find a backpack or lunchbox your child must have, wait until mid Sept. all the back-to-school (BTS) stuff goes on clearance. I bought my rising Kindergartener an awesome Spiderman backpack LAST year for this year. I do the same with school supplies. Rack up on clearance items because you will need a lot of them throughout the year & for the following year.
2. Speaking of the BTS sales...Walgreens has had the best bargains over the past 3 weeks (this week included) I have bought a ton of pens(10pk), pencils(10 pk), rulers, erasers, etc. all for 9 cents each!! They have another great 9 cents sale this week. It is better than waiting for Sales Tax holiday, especially if you have year-round students.
3. JC Penney. There is just no other way to put it...I LOVE this store!! In the past 2 weeks I, the non-fashionista, have bought 4 awesome dresses, 4 tops, 1 chunky necklace & 2 pair of earrings for just barely over $100. Each of the dresses retailed at a MINIMUM of $60. I should take pictures in them & post them--they are that cute! The most expensive item I bought was a top to wear to my hubby's class reunion next month. It was $15.20. Every other item was $11.97 or less. GREAT DEAL!
I cannot say the childrens' apparel had the same deals. I was disappointed & didn't buy for anyone but myself :) * I did buy these things without guilt because I had a Visa giftcard.
4. Summer Vacationing on a budget. Since we are sticking to a strict written budget, we figured we would not be vacationing outside of the class reunion trips & family reunion trip we have planned. However, we were able to find a condo 1 row back from the beach for 3 nights, all fees included for less than $200/night. I did take my coupons to the beach & used them when we went grocery shopping. We had a GREAT time & stayed within budget.
Finally don't forget about Groupon, Twongo, Living Social & in the triangle we now have deals through WRAL (local TV station). There have been some great deals, including today's (Groupon) Cold Stone $10 worth of icecream for $5! mmm..mmm
Thanks for tuning in...I promise it will not be months between posts again. Have an AWESOME July & enjoy the clearance shopping!
I absolutely love this time of year. Not only because summer is my favorite season, but the deals to be had in July are nothing short of incredible!
Where to find the sizzlin' deals?
1. Start with your favorite retailer. Everyone is slashing summer clothing & goods to get ready for back-to-school & fall items. Since I am a big fan of Target, I will go a couple of times a week from now until school begins to hit the big 75% off sales. I check often, because each store does their markdowns at different times. I have found in the past that the store closest to me often does their big drops on Wednesdays. That doesn't seem to be the case for the store a little further away.
Just last week I bought 8 pairs of shoes for next summer. They ranged in price from $0.99-8.94. My Nick & Nora flip flops were only 99 cents! What a steal!
If you have children you can pretty much 'guesstimate' what size they will be in next spring/summer therefore, it makes shoe buying a lot less expensive. If you are wrong & they are too small, odds are you paid less than $5 for them & you can sell them for that at a yard sale.
The other obvious things to easily buy for next year are swimsuits, beach towels, any water toy/pool, outdoor patio type stuff as well.
**A word to the wise, if you find a backpack or lunchbox your child must have, wait until mid Sept. all the back-to-school (BTS) stuff goes on clearance. I bought my rising Kindergartener an awesome Spiderman backpack LAST year for this year. I do the same with school supplies. Rack up on clearance items because you will need a lot of them throughout the year & for the following year.
2. Speaking of the BTS sales...Walgreens has had the best bargains over the past 3 weeks (this week included) I have bought a ton of pens(10pk), pencils(10 pk), rulers, erasers, etc. all for 9 cents each!! They have another great 9 cents sale this week. It is better than waiting for Sales Tax holiday, especially if you have year-round students.
3. JC Penney. There is just no other way to put it...I LOVE this store!! In the past 2 weeks I, the non-fashionista, have bought 4 awesome dresses, 4 tops, 1 chunky necklace & 2 pair of earrings for just barely over $100. Each of the dresses retailed at a MINIMUM of $60. I should take pictures in them & post them--they are that cute! The most expensive item I bought was a top to wear to my hubby's class reunion next month. It was $15.20. Every other item was $11.97 or less. GREAT DEAL!
I cannot say the childrens' apparel had the same deals. I was disappointed & didn't buy for anyone but myself :) * I did buy these things without guilt because I had a Visa giftcard.
4. Summer Vacationing on a budget. Since we are sticking to a strict written budget, we figured we would not be vacationing outside of the class reunion trips & family reunion trip we have planned. However, we were able to find a condo 1 row back from the beach for 3 nights, all fees included for less than $200/night. I did take my coupons to the beach & used them when we went grocery shopping. We had a GREAT time & stayed within budget.
Finally don't forget about Groupon, Twongo, Living Social & in the triangle we now have deals through WRAL (local TV station). There have been some great deals, including today's (Groupon) Cold Stone $10 worth of icecream for $5! mmm..mmm
Thanks for tuning in...I promise it will not be months between posts again. Have an AWESOME July & enjoy the clearance shopping!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
When Not to be Thrifty
I consider myself & my family quite healthy when it comes to eating & exercising. That being said, I become tempted around this time of the year: triple coupons. As you know from following the blog, I am a bargain hunter & love to see the savings add up. I love it at the end of my grocery trip when I hear the register ticking away with my coupons & the dollars coming off! It is actually quite exhilirating to me!
However, I simply cannot bring myself to purchase items I feel are unhealthy, even if they are free. Call me crazy, but my conscience gets the best of me. Instead of hearing Dave Ramsey in my head, I hear Jamie Oliver saying "that has more sugar than fizzy pop!" or "that is a science experiment, not food." http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution
My family made the switch to organics 4 1/2 years ago & we have never looked back. For those of you who think you didn't eat organic & you are 'ok'--I want you to think back to what you did eat as a child--I guarantee you the majority of foods you ate were fresh & not boxed. Back in the 1970's & 80"s ketchup was water, tomatoes, salt & that was about it. Not so much these days, just go read your bottle.
I bet you also rode your bike, went rollerskating, played outside, etc. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed my Atari 5200 as much as the next kid, but I was outside more than I was inside. I realize I am REALLY telling my age now. I promise not to talk about how I walked to school uphill both ways in the snow.... On a serious note, Jamie Oliver & his Food Revolution is wonderful. I do not know if it is sustainable in schools for a variety of reasons, but I sure hope it is. I do believe healthy eating should come from home & the parents should set a good example of eating & exercising. If you have watched any of Jamies' Food Revolution or read a public school lunch menu, you will pack your kids lunches. I urge you to not let them eat lunch at school more than once or twice (at most) per week.
What can you do? Visit your local farmers market. This time of year the market is busting at the seams with lettuces, strawberries & a whole host of fresh goodness grown right here in your own community. Because it is locally grown there is no need for preservatives to be added to anything. You can also ask the farmers if they use pesticides & what kind do they use. I do this at the Raleigh Farmers Market & I have one particular vendor I buy our berries & peaches from.
You can also print out a new updated list of the Environmental Working Group Shoppers Guide to Pesticides: Dirty Dozen & Clean 15. I print out an updated list each year & put it in my purse. www.foodnews.org/sneak/?utm_source=shopperrelease&utm_medium=email&utm_content=second-link&utm_campaign=foodnews
Secondly, introduce organic products into your weekly shopping slowly. I do not recommend jumping in with both feet because you may feel overwhelmed & not continue. When we began incorporating organics the first thing was milk. I could go on & on about why this is SO important but you should do the research. It is scary. We also buy organic or natural (if I cannot get organic) meats & eggs.
When you want to go beyond milk, eggs, meat, & produce shop different stores & find who has the best prices for the items you like. Lowes Foods has a great selection of organics under the Full Circle brand.
Back to the triple coupons, yes I did use some, but I found myself leaving various yogurt coupons for others. After reading all the added sugar/fructose to the yogurt, I have decided to stick to organic or a couple of the greek style ones(not all of them--some have added fructose, etc).
Be diligent about what you are putting in your body & the little bodies you may have at home. I realize it may not be the most convenient way to pack your kids lunches or provide snacks, but it is what's best for them. Happy shopping!
However, I simply cannot bring myself to purchase items I feel are unhealthy, even if they are free. Call me crazy, but my conscience gets the best of me. Instead of hearing Dave Ramsey in my head, I hear Jamie Oliver saying "that has more sugar than fizzy pop!" or "that is a science experiment, not food." http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution
My family made the switch to organics 4 1/2 years ago & we have never looked back. For those of you who think you didn't eat organic & you are 'ok'--I want you to think back to what you did eat as a child--I guarantee you the majority of foods you ate were fresh & not boxed. Back in the 1970's & 80"s ketchup was water, tomatoes, salt & that was about it. Not so much these days, just go read your bottle.
I bet you also rode your bike, went rollerskating, played outside, etc. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed my Atari 5200 as much as the next kid, but I was outside more than I was inside. I realize I am REALLY telling my age now. I promise not to talk about how I walked to school uphill both ways in the snow.... On a serious note, Jamie Oliver & his Food Revolution is wonderful. I do not know if it is sustainable in schools for a variety of reasons, but I sure hope it is. I do believe healthy eating should come from home & the parents should set a good example of eating & exercising. If you have watched any of Jamies' Food Revolution or read a public school lunch menu, you will pack your kids lunches. I urge you to not let them eat lunch at school more than once or twice (at most) per week.
What can you do? Visit your local farmers market. This time of year the market is busting at the seams with lettuces, strawberries & a whole host of fresh goodness grown right here in your own community. Because it is locally grown there is no need for preservatives to be added to anything. You can also ask the farmers if they use pesticides & what kind do they use. I do this at the Raleigh Farmers Market & I have one particular vendor I buy our berries & peaches from.
You can also print out a new updated list of the Environmental Working Group Shoppers Guide to Pesticides: Dirty Dozen & Clean 15. I print out an updated list each year & put it in my purse. www.foodnews.org/sneak/?utm_source=shopperrelease&utm_medium=email&utm_content=second-link&utm_campaign=foodnews
Secondly, introduce organic products into your weekly shopping slowly. I do not recommend jumping in with both feet because you may feel overwhelmed & not continue. When we began incorporating organics the first thing was milk. I could go on & on about why this is SO important but you should do the research. It is scary. We also buy organic or natural (if I cannot get organic) meats & eggs.
When you want to go beyond milk, eggs, meat, & produce shop different stores & find who has the best prices for the items you like. Lowes Foods has a great selection of organics under the Full Circle brand.
Back to the triple coupons, yes I did use some, but I found myself leaving various yogurt coupons for others. After reading all the added sugar/fructose to the yogurt, I have decided to stick to organic or a couple of the greek style ones(not all of them--some have added fructose, etc).
Be diligent about what you are putting in your body & the little bodies you may have at home. I realize it may not be the most convenient way to pack your kids lunches or provide snacks, but it is what's best for them. Happy shopping!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Look & you shall find
I have been bargain shopping a few times since my last post. I will hit on a couple of different topics in this post.
Bookfind
My oldest son loves the Magic Tree House series. He has a couple of books in the collection that he owns, but otherwise we check them out from the library (free!). My mom took him with her to a thrift store the other week & they found several of the MTH books for 50 cents each! The next day I had him "earn" money, one quarter at time, for his 'book fund'. That afternoon we were back at the thrift store & bought 5 more MTH books for $2.50. That was a steal of deal!
Why not just stick with the free stuff at the library? Good question, he is a child that will read the books several times & then of course we have 2 more children right behind him. I thought this was a good deal.
Diapers
There have been some incredible diaper deals lately. Yes, I am still buying diapers even though my youngest turned 3 last month. I keep reminding myself that I have potty-trained 2 other boys. Surely this one will not enter Kindergarten in diapers. I digress. Just a week or so ago I purchased Huggies diapers for $3.99/jumbo pack! The store was a having a GREAT sale & I had coupons.
Be sure to link up your coupons to a website that tells you where the best deal is when combining store sales + coupons. If you are in the NC you can probably use the same site I use: http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/smartshopper/ The site is updated a few times each week to give you the best drug store deals from the Sunday paper inserts; then on Wednesday for the new grocery deals & coupons.
Razors
I racked up at Target last week. They had mens razors on clearance (50% off) & I had a $3 coupon. Chris will not need razors again this year & they were about 30 cents each for quality razors.
Personally speaking, I follow Clark Howard's advice on razors & I get a few months out of each one--honestly I do! After each use I dry it with my towel, or you can use your hair dryer. This keeps the razor free from buildup & rust & you can get a longer life from your razor.
Fundraiser
I told my children I would post about their fundraiser for Haiti. Our soon-to-be 7 yr old & our 5 yr old are doing a kids triathlon in July to raise money for a specific family in Haiti that lost their home. If you are saving as much money as we are these days & you want to spend a little of it here the link to donate: (click or copy & paste)
http://www.familyhm.org/FamilyHealthMinistriesEarthquakeReliefEvents.html#kids Donations are tax deductible & all amounts are greatly appreciated!
Stay tuned for my next post coming soon..it's all about sugar & elementary school lunches....
Happy saving!
Early
Bookfind
My oldest son loves the Magic Tree House series. He has a couple of books in the collection that he owns, but otherwise we check them out from the library (free!). My mom took him with her to a thrift store the other week & they found several of the MTH books for 50 cents each! The next day I had him "earn" money, one quarter at time, for his 'book fund'. That afternoon we were back at the thrift store & bought 5 more MTH books for $2.50. That was a steal of deal!
Why not just stick with the free stuff at the library? Good question, he is a child that will read the books several times & then of course we have 2 more children right behind him. I thought this was a good deal.
Diapers
There have been some incredible diaper deals lately. Yes, I am still buying diapers even though my youngest turned 3 last month. I keep reminding myself that I have potty-trained 2 other boys. Surely this one will not enter Kindergarten in diapers. I digress. Just a week or so ago I purchased Huggies diapers for $3.99/jumbo pack! The store was a having a GREAT sale & I had coupons.
Be sure to link up your coupons to a website that tells you where the best deal is when combining store sales + coupons. If you are in the NC you can probably use the same site I use: http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/smartshopper/ The site is updated a few times each week to give you the best drug store deals from the Sunday paper inserts; then on Wednesday for the new grocery deals & coupons.
Razors
I racked up at Target last week. They had mens razors on clearance (50% off) & I had a $3 coupon. Chris will not need razors again this year & they were about 30 cents each for quality razors.
Personally speaking, I follow Clark Howard's advice on razors & I get a few months out of each one--honestly I do! After each use I dry it with my towel, or you can use your hair dryer. This keeps the razor free from buildup & rust & you can get a longer life from your razor.
Fundraiser
I told my children I would post about their fundraiser for Haiti. Our soon-to-be 7 yr old & our 5 yr old are doing a kids triathlon in July to raise money for a specific family in Haiti that lost their home. If you are saving as much money as we are these days & you want to spend a little of it here the link to donate: (click or copy & paste)
http://www.familyhm.org/FamilyHealthMinistriesEarthquakeReliefEvents.html#kids Donations are tax deductible & all amounts are greatly appreciated!
Stay tuned for my next post coming soon..it's all about sugar & elementary school lunches....
Happy saving!
Early
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Where to begin...
It was a busy March! First of all Happy Easter everyone. I was in Haiti for a week March 21-27 on a medical mission trip, I was one of the non-medical volunteers. What a great trip. I am honored to have been a part of such a great group of people & to have served such a gracious, hopeful community. I could write a lot more, but I will get to the money saving opportunites.
I must admit, I never knew saving money could be so much fun! Not to mention all the money we are "finding" at the end of the month to pay more on our house. Where to begin?
Free Fun on Spring Break
This week I did some very fun things with the boys. We went to the Museum of Natural Science and took in all they had to offer for free! We arrived shortly after they opened, which meant I got a free parking space on the street :) and it was not crowded. We have been going to this museum for years & I did not realize there is a Living Conservatory w/butterflies, a turtle & even a sloth on the 4th floor. I think it is because by the time we make it to the 3rd floor the kids are driving me crazy & we see the Acrocanthosaurus & leave.
The kids had so much fun! The next time we go, we will plan it around story time & hit up the discovery room. You can literally spend an hour or 2 exploring, learning, & having fun--all for free!
Next we had a snack from home in the car on our way to Pullen Aquatic Center. I purchased a toddler punch pass last year & had not used it much, therefore I had the kids covered & myself too since this is where I typically swim for exercise. We were there a little more than an hour & the children had an awesome time. When we left we headed home to have a nice picnic outdoors under the shade tree.
The best part about the day is we all had so much fun together & they took great naps in the afternoon.
Christmas Shopping
Yes, I am serious--this is how I complete my shopping early & pay cash for everything. This week Toys-R-Us had a pretty good sale. I also had 2-$3 coupons from where I had signed the children up for the birthday club. The coupons coupled with a good sale & mail in rebates meant big savings for me. I saved $50 & spent $53--not bad.
I look for great deals throughout the year & stock pile everything in the very top of my closet.
CVS, Walgreens, & Riteaid
Finally, I must admit I very rarely visited these stores prior to January 1 of this year. This is when my couponing kicked into overdrive. I scan the sales papers, sign up for all the customer cards (like HT's VIC program) and match it to my coupons.
I only purchase things I would normally use, for example, toothpaste. I have not spent more than 50 cents, usually it is 25 cents on a tube of name brand toothpaste since January. I checked my stock under the bathroom cabinet--we have 6 unopened tubes of Crest & Colgate!
Today I purchased Easter candy for all 3 children & only paid 58 cents total because I used the cash back coupons from previous purchases.
Bottom line
Become very intentional with your shopping. Always use coupons, when shopping online always check for coupon codes & shop the circulars to maximize your savings.
Check out all the things you can do for free, then go do them! Become a tourist in your own town--you might just learn something you didn't know :)
I must admit, I never knew saving money could be so much fun! Not to mention all the money we are "finding" at the end of the month to pay more on our house. Where to begin?
Free Fun on Spring Break
This week I did some very fun things with the boys. We went to the Museum of Natural Science and took in all they had to offer for free! We arrived shortly after they opened, which meant I got a free parking space on the street :) and it was not crowded. We have been going to this museum for years & I did not realize there is a Living Conservatory w/butterflies, a turtle & even a sloth on the 4th floor. I think it is because by the time we make it to the 3rd floor the kids are driving me crazy & we see the Acrocanthosaurus & leave.
The kids had so much fun! The next time we go, we will plan it around story time & hit up the discovery room. You can literally spend an hour or 2 exploring, learning, & having fun--all for free!
Next we had a snack from home in the car on our way to Pullen Aquatic Center. I purchased a toddler punch pass last year & had not used it much, therefore I had the kids covered & myself too since this is where I typically swim for exercise. We were there a little more than an hour & the children had an awesome time. When we left we headed home to have a nice picnic outdoors under the shade tree.
The best part about the day is we all had so much fun together & they took great naps in the afternoon.
Christmas Shopping
Yes, I am serious--this is how I complete my shopping early & pay cash for everything. This week Toys-R-Us had a pretty good sale. I also had 2-$3 coupons from where I had signed the children up for the birthday club. The coupons coupled with a good sale & mail in rebates meant big savings for me. I saved $50 & spent $53--not bad.
I look for great deals throughout the year & stock pile everything in the very top of my closet.
CVS, Walgreens, & Riteaid
Finally, I must admit I very rarely visited these stores prior to January 1 of this year. This is when my couponing kicked into overdrive. I scan the sales papers, sign up for all the customer cards (like HT's VIC program) and match it to my coupons.
I only purchase things I would normally use, for example, toothpaste. I have not spent more than 50 cents, usually it is 25 cents on a tube of name brand toothpaste since January. I checked my stock under the bathroom cabinet--we have 6 unopened tubes of Crest & Colgate!
Today I purchased Easter candy for all 3 children & only paid 58 cents total because I used the cash back coupons from previous purchases.
Bottom line
Become very intentional with your shopping. Always use coupons, when shopping online always check for coupon codes & shop the circulars to maximize your savings.
Check out all the things you can do for free, then go do them! Become a tourist in your own town--you might just learn something you didn't know :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Consignment Sale Splendor
I realize it has been two weeks since I've updated my blog. Last week I was in Chicago all week for training with my paid day job (mommyhood doesn't pay as much, but the perks are awesome!).
While in Chi-town I did not go with one of the many groups that ventured out for a little shopping on Michigan Ave. I decided to spare my wallet the bleeding & meet up with friends at dinner instead. Boy am I happy I made that decision. I was hearing $500+ dropped & all they had to show for it was one little bag. Wow, I told my husband I saved $500 on that business trip! I don't think he bought it:)
I was not completely deprived of clothes shopping last week. I knew in advance that I would be shopping on Saturday, consignment shopping that is. Spring is just around the corner and so the cleaning of the closets begins. I shopped at the church just around the corner from my house. I was gone just under an hour & have a significant addition to our boys wardrobe.
As a mom of boys, I am constantly in need of jeans for the children due to wear & tear. I thought I would extend the life of the boys jeans to be able to pass them down to the younger brothers by ironing patches in their jeans. My Mother-in-law suggested sewing patches inside the boys jeans prior to holes developing in the knees. I ironed on 28 patches in one day!! Guess what? My oldest still needs all of his jeans replaced. I do not know what this child does to his jeans. I digress..on to the good stuff.
The sale is usually most of the day on Saturday. I only go when the items go 1/2 off. I do not even bother with full price consignment--how cheap am I? I was there when the doors opened & got great deals. Several dress shirts, pants, ties, shorts, etc. Several of the items were Talbots kids, polo, izod, gap, etc. I bought 29 items for $55. I also bought several pairs of jeans ranging from $1-2.50(most exp). The two Talbots kids items would have cost $55 alone. I like to think of it as buy 2 get 27 free! Maybe that's a stretch but you get the point. Girls clothes are much more abundant than boys and they seem to be in much better condition. In the fall, I bought my niece more clothes than I bought all 3 of my boys.
My advice to all of you bargain hunters, keep your eyes & ears opened. You may even want to call a few churches in your area to see if they are holding sales. There is an organization called "Wings" that organize these sales at churches, maybe other places as well, however, I'm only familiar with them at churches.
While in Chi-town I did not go with one of the many groups that ventured out for a little shopping on Michigan Ave. I decided to spare my wallet the bleeding & meet up with friends at dinner instead. Boy am I happy I made that decision. I was hearing $500+ dropped & all they had to show for it was one little bag. Wow, I told my husband I saved $500 on that business trip! I don't think he bought it:)
I was not completely deprived of clothes shopping last week. I knew in advance that I would be shopping on Saturday, consignment shopping that is. Spring is just around the corner and so the cleaning of the closets begins. I shopped at the church just around the corner from my house. I was gone just under an hour & have a significant addition to our boys wardrobe.
As a mom of boys, I am constantly in need of jeans for the children due to wear & tear. I thought I would extend the life of the boys jeans to be able to pass them down to the younger brothers by ironing patches in their jeans. My Mother-in-law suggested sewing patches inside the boys jeans prior to holes developing in the knees. I ironed on 28 patches in one day!! Guess what? My oldest still needs all of his jeans replaced. I do not know what this child does to his jeans. I digress..on to the good stuff.
The sale is usually most of the day on Saturday. I only go when the items go 1/2 off. I do not even bother with full price consignment--how cheap am I? I was there when the doors opened & got great deals. Several dress shirts, pants, ties, shorts, etc. Several of the items were Talbots kids, polo, izod, gap, etc. I bought 29 items for $55. I also bought several pairs of jeans ranging from $1-2.50(most exp). The two Talbots kids items would have cost $55 alone. I like to think of it as buy 2 get 27 free! Maybe that's a stretch but you get the point. Girls clothes are much more abundant than boys and they seem to be in much better condition. In the fall, I bought my niece more clothes than I bought all 3 of my boys.
My advice to all of you bargain hunters, keep your eyes & ears opened. You may even want to call a few churches in your area to see if they are holding sales. There is an organization called "Wings" that organize these sales at churches, maybe other places as well, however, I'm only familiar with them at churches.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
High Class Bargains
Sexy Side of Thrifty is only a little over a week old & I am already getting 'thrifty' reports from my friends when I see them! I love it! Last week I was talking to girlfriend & she told me about the Junior League Bargain Box. The Junior League Bargain Box is located in Cameron Village (Raleigh). After she sang their praises and spoke of the Gucci purse & Jimmy Choo shoes she got at an incredible bargain, I knew I had to check it out.
I descended upon the bargain box w/my almost 3yr old in tow. I arrived a few minutes before they opened & found a couple of people waiting outside. These are the serious bargain seekers. A gentlemen immediately told me of the layout of the building & where to the find the 'new' items they were putting out on the floor today.
The thrifty side of me was ecstatic when I entered & saw the 1/2 price sign for non-VIP items (in a different area of the store). I was told by sales associates, as well as, customers this was the end of the fall/winter merchandise & to return on March 2 when all the spring items will be making their debut.
Even though this was the end of season, I still found some great deals. The best bargain I got was a pair of Lucky jeans for $5!! I also bought another pair of very hip jeans (that I wore to the Black Eyed Peas concert Friday night), a high quality collegiate sweatshirt for my husband, and an Under Armour thick workout shirt (for cycling), a belt for one of my boys, & a very cute green purse. The Grand Total came to ....drum roll please....$19.40 including tax!! Talk about a GREAT bargain!
For those of you who do not live in Raleigh, you can contact your local Junior League to see if they have something similar. Of course, you can always scour thrift stores, which I highly recommend. I will be going to several thrift stores in the coming months & reporting my findings on here. Please feel free to share your great bargains!
I descended upon the bargain box w/my almost 3yr old in tow. I arrived a few minutes before they opened & found a couple of people waiting outside. These are the serious bargain seekers. A gentlemen immediately told me of the layout of the building & where to the find the 'new' items they were putting out on the floor today.
The thrifty side of me was ecstatic when I entered & saw the 1/2 price sign for non-VIP items (in a different area of the store). I was told by sales associates, as well as, customers this was the end of the fall/winter merchandise & to return on March 2 when all the spring items will be making their debut.
Even though this was the end of season, I still found some great deals. The best bargain I got was a pair of Lucky jeans for $5!! I also bought another pair of very hip jeans (that I wore to the Black Eyed Peas concert Friday night), a high quality collegiate sweatshirt for my husband, and an Under Armour thick workout shirt (for cycling), a belt for one of my boys, & a very cute green purse. The Grand Total came to ....drum roll please....$19.40 including tax!! Talk about a GREAT bargain!
For those of you who do not live in Raleigh, you can contact your local Junior League to see if they have something similar. Of course, you can always scour thrift stores, which I highly recommend. I will be going to several thrift stores in the coming months & reporting my findings on here. Please feel free to share your great bargains!
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