Christmas present time! You need to start planning/buying NOW!!!!

yep, I usually start as soon as Christmas is over, but since we were so tight this year, I am starting wayyyy late, but not too late to get some GREAT deals!

We were at Big Lots yesterday- this is a new fav place since they have a "clearance" section for food and we have gotten some GREAT deals there! a box of 30 lunch size mini oreos for $2- got all 3 boxes they had! a box of 2 BIG bags of raisin bran for $2 I think, got all 3 boxes of those too! not to mention boxes of wheat thins ($1.50 I think, and it was a BIG BIG box-great for snacks or lunches for the kids), cookies, etc.

Anyway.....We got one of those "mr clean auto dry car washing" thingies. I bought one for dad a couple years ago for cmas, and I believe it was near $20.... Got this one for $4!!!!! Yes!!! Got one for us, that looks like a "regular price" for them, so may go back next week and get a few more for the men on our list, and as "dirty santa" gifts for parties.

Found my fav present.... a "cocomotion"... in the clearance section of Walmart. Think it was $10 or less... it is a neat thing that is a pitcher that heats up the water/milk, and mixes the chocolate into it, all at once. It is sooo good and frothy too! Ain't nothin better on a cold winter day!

Go to walmart and start stocking up on stocking stuffers, and clearance presents for your fav charity. Not just toys for kids, but if you are giving to a charity like "the toy store" here in our town, they are also looking for adult presents, pillows, blankets, small appliances, etc. We try to put $10-$15/mo toward gifts for our charity. You can sometimes get a LOT for that price! At least 2 things sometimes!

www.brylanehome.com is a GREAT website for great home items. If you sign up for emails and join their website, you will get codes from time to time, buy ANYTHING and get..... free.... I have gotten a wok set, knife set, big blanket, small blanket, nice bags, etc. So, if you need a pillow, or something, go ahead a shop the clearance section there, then get the free item- the most a free item has "cost" me is $10+ shipping (not much, and on the free item it's free!) and I got curtains out of the deal, which I needed anyway, so it was a good deal! I have even used these free items (including a pearl necklace for $1, and it was a real one!) as "basket auction items" for school functions. I was a big hero and it didn't cost me anything! (right now in clearance they have a "pink patchwork quilt throw" for $4.99, regularly $29.99, and that I got free with purchase last year)

www.bathandbodyworks.com is another of my fav sites. They will send you emails with great deals (buy one get one free body wash/soap is right now, up to a $12.50 savings), or buy ANYTHING and get something free (one year I got the kids bluejean bags, and they were big, for getting like a $5 item per bag!). These are great (esp the bags) for teacher gifts.. they get so much "stuff", but to get them something they can use up (I even got one super soft socks and a smelly candle and gave it to her "just because I had it"). I will even fill these up when I have an abundance of "stuff" (like candles, lotion, etc) and give to the teachers "just cuz I wanted you to know we appreciate you".