Christmas on a Tight Budget

After losing my job a few years ago we had to make some major cut-backs. One of them was Christmas. We have a very strict budget of $100 per kid, which nowadays does not buy much. While we may go over a few dollars, I do my best to only spend the allotted amount. It takes some creative spending and planning, but it is possible! Here are a few tips for people with limited funds:

1. Shop all year round. Clearance sales happen all the time, and this is the best way to score more stuff for less money. This is harder as kids get older, as I am learning with my 5-year-old. His tastes change quickly and he wants the newest things. But if you have littler kids it is much easier. My toddler is too young to care about the newest toys, so I can still shop early for him.

2. Black Friday is your friend. For those harder to please kids who want the newest toys, check the Black Friday sales. They tend to have new stuff at great prices, and I am working to get those deals posted. Plan ahead and you can pick up some good deals.

3. Take advantage of freebies. You know all those free credits I post on here? I use a lot of those for Christmas presents for my kids. I can usually get things for free or close to it, and they make fine presents. For example, I got a free Nerf Gun for my son back in January by taking advantage of the Hasbro free toy deal. I also picked up some cute wall stickers for my toddler with the Totsy credit I posted about earlier in the year. This is how I fill in the gaps of a low budget.

4. Use coupons! Watch for coupons from toy companies and save them to use during a sale.

Anyone can do these things, if you have a little discipline and forethought. I hope you all have a great holiday season and keep saving!

Free Photo Collage from Walgreens

Today through Friday, you can get a free 8x10 photo collage from Walgreens. If you pick it up in-store, you will have no shipping charges! Use code RGIFT2U at checkout to get this deal. Go here to check it out.

Coupons.com

Thisnew coupon for $2/1 One A Day (no size restrictions) will actually make for some FREE vitamins at Target! Hurry and print yours though because they may disappear quickly!

One A Day Women’s Multivitamin 10 ct $1.99 (in travel section – if your store carries)
Use new $2.00 off any One A Day
= FREE!

(Coupons.com)

Mega Bloks Block Friday Coupons

Go here to print $50 in Mega Bloks coupons! You will need to sign in or register for a Family Club account.

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Coupon

Go here to print a coupon for $1 off Skinny Cow Ice Cream Multi-Packs. Yum!

Staples

Print out this coupon for a free eco shopping bag. You will get 15% OFF on everything that you can fit into the bag (some exclusions apply). Go here for the complete details. Coupon expires 11/23.

Target Toy Deals

Target has some toy deals that are good through Wednesday, 11/23:
Fisher-Price Love to Play Puppy: $19.99 - 20% off in-ad coupon - 5.00 coupon = 10.99
Tag Junior System and Books: 50% off
Nintendo 3DS: $145 (this is a great deal!)
PSP 3000: $99.99
Select Lego Sets: $14

Medina Aldi Deals

Good through 11/26

Pineapple: $1.49
Cranberries, 12oz bag: $.99
Sweet Potatoes, 3lb bag: $1.47
Russet Potatoes, 10lb bag: $1.49
Celery: $.69

Hawkins Deals

Good through 11/26

Marie Callender's Pies: $3.98 - 1.00 SS coupon = 2.98
Reddi-wip: $1.99 - .25 SS dc = 1.49
Bob Evans Roll Sausage: $2 - .35 SS dc = 1.30
No Yolks Noodles: $1.67 - .40 SS dc = .87
French's Fried Onions: $3.29 - 1.00 SS coupon = 2.29
Smith's Sour Cream: $1.67 - .50 RP dc = .67

Target

If you’re a fan of TRESemme Hair Spray then you may want to hop on your car and head to Target where you can get a pretty great deal and there are no coupons needed!

Buy 3 TRESemme Hair spray $2.79 each
Get back a $5 Target Gift card wyb 3
= $3.37 for all 3 or just $1.12 ea after gift card!

Today's Deals

I did my shopping today--trying to beat the Thanksgiving rush--so was everyone else!! The stores were busy!!\

TARGET:
Asst Sweaters $9.99- 4.00 TGT cpn= 5.99

Asst jeans (reg 22.99)-- 12.00- 5.00 TGT cpn= 7.00

3 Aveeno lotion @ 2.99= 8.97- 5.00 Tgt gift card- 3/1.00 cpns= .97/3

2 Curel lotions @3.59= 7.18- 5.00 Tgt gift card- 2/2.00 cpns= 1.82 profit!!!

5 Glade oil refills @2.50= 12.50- 2-2.00./2 cpns & 1-75 cpn & Tgt 5.00 gift card= .55 each

Revlon nail buffer 2.89- 2.00 (Tgt catalina cpn)- 1.00 cpn= profit

Maybelline lip stain 4.49- 2.00 Tgt cpn- 2.00 cpn= .49

American Fare bread 2.59- 1.00 Tgt cpn= 1.59

WALGREENS:

Crest Complete toothpaste 3/9.00- 3.00 rr- 3/2.00 cpns= FREE

50 Ft gift wrap rolls 1.99-- B1G2F

Peeps (Wal cpns) 2/1.00

(there just wasn't much I needed--I'll try to post more later)

CVS:

B3 single greeting cards, get 3.00 ecb-- buy the .99 cards & they are free

MEIJER:

B4 Pillsbury/ get free gallon of milk- 4 Sweet Moments @2.00= 8.00- 4/1.00 cpns= 4.00 for 4 & a gallon of milk.

Blackberries (1/2 pint)-- 2/1.00 !! Great price!!

Duncan hines cake mix 1.27- .50 cpn= .27

International creamer 1.89- .75 cpn= .39

Eggs .99/ dozen

Lindsay olive naturals 2.09- .55 cpn= .99
Lindsay olive naturals (small can) 1.89- .55 cpn= .79

Tinsel Hair Extensions on Save More

Here is a great gift for the tween/teen girl on your holiday gift list - 10 Tinsel Hair Extensions for $12.50 on Save More ($25 value). Free shipping is included! New Save More members get a $10 credit when you register here - making this deal only $2.50! Go here to see the deal.

Target

Buy 3 Aveeno Active Naturals Moisturizing Bar 3.5 oz $3.04 each
Total = $9.12
Use the $3/2 coupon found in the 10/30 SS
Plus, use the $1/1 coupon found in the 10/30 SS
Pay $5.12
Get back a $5 Target gift card
Final cost only $0.12 for all 3 Aveeno bars!

Ninja Storm Blender on 1SaleADay

1SaleADay is offering a Ninja Storm Blender for only $19.99 today. Go here to check it out.

New Target Samples

Target has two new samples available - Dove Nourishing Oil Care for hair and Woolite Extra Dark Care Detergent. Go here to request yours.