trbarginhunter

Our DD loves books, so I usually buy the top 3 or 4 on her list...or a gift card to BN. iTunes cards are big hits, as well as Starbucks, Movie tickets, gift cards to their favorite snack place (Pat n Oscars for pizza before the movie), those mind bender metal puzzles make great stocking stuffers, I usually find them at Target.

We have a great time on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, mostly focusing on the kids...although we do buy a "family" gift for each family. This year they are all getting a San Francisco Music Box Company music box...sounds extravagent, but I paid less that $6 each with shipping (thank you Gottadeal!). I tend to buy next year's "family" gifts during the after Christmas or January inventory sales. If I was expected to come up with gifts for 50 adults I think I would do homemade candy or perhaps calendars (did those with my Girl Scouts, really came out well). For the calendars, goggle a 2009 calendar, shrink it on a photocopier to fit the bottom half of a 5.5 X 4.25 piece of paper (ie 8.5 X 11 cut in half). I buy the cardstock at Walmart $6 or less a ream. Copy the calendars and then decorate the top half of the paper--stamps/family pics/scrapbook paper, whatever. I'd hold them together with binder rings (office supplies). 50 would be a lot to make, but if you make one per family, to go with candy, movie cert, whatever, it should be doable. Or make them larger, so they can add their own 4X6 picture at the top...just put scrapbook paper or mats on the top. I'd say your Dh needs to help with all this since he doesn't want to change the plan.

You might try buying copies of the textbooks that are coming home each day....after asking the school if they have an extra copy you can borrow. Or a web code to access the materials online. Try directtextbooks, and use the ISBN to get the correct edition. I've done this for DD for the last couple of years, it costs a lot less than you might expect and is sooo much easier on her. Sell the books to someone else August (online or in your community) and use that money for next year's books.

I was able to use the ITGIRLS code with my order....5 tanks for DD for $21 delivered to my door! THANKS so much!

I found 4 paks of Puffs tissues for $2.54 in with the back to school merchandise. Since DH and DD were with me I only bought 2 paks, they keep telling me we won't need them. Yea, right--three people with allergies and Santa Ana winds coming soon.....I may go back and pick up and still left tomorrow.

Check ebay--I've bought a fair amount of Girl Scout uniforms there over the years. And my nephews troop runs a uniform cupboard--since all the boys grow so fast, so you might check with the troop. DD is on track for her Gold Award, I'm hoping she sticks with it!

we use Dr Foster and Smith...I think it's drfostersmith.com We have used them for years and I cannot tell you how wonderful they are--they even called to check on our Standard Poodle when she was ill (not due to their products). Their customer service is excellent.

Thanks!

Try Macy's Juniors section--they even have business style jackets and pants. And they are having a clearance sale right not (they always seem to be having a sale lately). Go to Macys.com click on Juniors then click on Sale. Don't forget to go back and click on Clearance when you are done looking (I seem to have to look both places to find all the deals). I think there is an extra discount on summer merchandise right now...

We are very pleased with our Kodak Easy Share cameras (we now have 3). Something about German lenses that makes DH happy. We have found great deals at Office Depot in the technology department, especially on Sunday mornings--they seem to put them on clearance then. Good luck!

Thanks! Wedding, Graduation, Birthday and Sympathy cards are all ordered for a total of $8.37--shipped!

In our Walgreens ad was a buy one get one for the Mead 5 Star spiral notebooks, I picked up a few for DD. The 3 and 5 subject notebooks are included with the sale, but are not stocked with the school supplies, they are over with the stationary. I appreciated the sales clerk mentioning this, as DD goes through a LOT of these in a school year. Oh--they are making the Mead spirals in a 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 size, so if you really need 11x8 1/2 be sure to check. DD's teachers all want the full size ones, learned that lesson the hard way.

Yippeee! I've got all the folders I need for the Girl Scout Cookie sale...and picked up the limit on rulers and protractors....spend less than a $1. Gave the protractors to a friend who does tutoring for kids behind in math, she wanted to pay me;) I told her I had it covered....

check your Office Depot online ads, too, they should be having school sales starting soon. Two years ago I got such great deals on the mead 5 star notebooks that we didn't have to buy any until now. And I usually buy extra pens for the school office, they really appreciate them!

We buy ours online at DrsFosterSmith.com we have been very pleased with all their products. We also use their pet food for both the dog and the tortise.

Bought ours at the Ralphs Supermarket, so check your grocery stores. I really like it, it's comfortable and it folds up for storage.

Just go on the site and register, you can go on your own. I am a volunteer, I do some schooling at home although DD goes to school, there are a lot of options. Honestly, I don't think they actually care. Have fun!

Don't forget to sign up for a Fast Pass, it makes it so much easier to get in the door, and you save $10 off an order over $50.....good to take with you even when you are sure you won't spend $50;)

I've been to a lot of these sales, there are great deals to be found. Don't forget to check out the novelty items, great stuff for party bags. They usually have cookbooks, coffee table books and the Klutz book/kits as well. Keep in mind it's a working warehouse--I take wipes for my hands as they tend to get fairly dusty after a while.

You could try lots and lots of garage sales. I think thrift shops would be faster. Good Luck, it's a cute idea!

THANKS! DD will love this!

I've had the Corning Ware french White for about 16 years (wedding gift) and I love it. I use it alot for big get togethers, it goes from the fridge to the oven or microwave to the table with no problems....I may pick this up to add to the collection if I can figure out where to store it

Sign up for the JoAnn fabric mailer and check your Sunday paper for the 40% off coupons. Personally, I'd buy them at Wal Mart or Target as another poster suggested. It's not the fabric that's expensive, it's the stuffing. You can use the JoAnn coupons for stuffing as well as fabric, but you are going to need a lot of it. I bought a body pillow for DD at Target on clearance and recovered it. Cheaper than buying the stuffing and easier to handle. Depending on how "squishy" you want them you might try and auto upholstery supply place and get pieces of foam, then cover that with some soft stuffing to provide some density to the cushion.

www.directtextbook.com I think... you get a list of where you can link to and buy the books, both new and used. I've been very happy and have used the site for about 3 years now.

I've had great luck at Lowes, good prices and reallly excellent service.