Dena Neal

I stopped at Dillard's today to return a pair of boots. On my way to customer service, I noticed that Trim a Tree was all 50% off. THis is typical of after Christmas. But was not typical was that the Dept. 56 Collectible houses were also 50% off. My husband gets 1 of these for me every year but wasn't able to find any of the Christmas in the City series. So, I bought the Eastside Row Houses - normally $99 for $49.50. I believe that other collectible items like Waterford and Lenox Christmas items were also on sale.

I just stopped @ Garden Ridge tonight. The commercial on TV said 25-75% on all Christmas -- but when I got to the store -- they had all of their Christmas 75% off. The lights were a great deal. The LED lights that are 12.99 were 3.24!!! I also got a Jeff Gordon ornament collectors set for $2.50 for my neice. There were lots of ornaments, lights, trees, candles, etc. (Some very pretty pre-lit trees for $50!!) :D:D

Ok -- I know that there haven't been many good clearance deals lately -- but yesterday, I made a score. THere was a holiday pack of peanut oil and other goodies (marinade etc) -- 75% off for 9.99 -- 3gallons of oil for the turiey fryer is usually at least $20. I went to Dick's Sporting Goods after this and just the oil (same brand) was 24.99. I found this on an end camp by the camping section.

I've always bought my kids new PJs for Christmas night and let them open them on Christmas Eve. This was fun until last year when the kids asked if they could open a present but they wanted to pick the gift from under the tree b/c the gift I always let them open is 'just pajamas'. THis year I didn't buy pajamas and I won't let them open a gift. On another note, this year we were getting a family gift of an XBOX 360 -- I have 3 sons, 18, 11 and 8. My oldest son had been saving his money and in Sept/Oct decided he needed his savings so that he could go buy a XBOX360. I didn't give him his savings and he was mad at me. I talked to by DH about this and he said that I should go ahead and tell him what we were buying. So my DS - 18-- for the first time in his life already knows his BIG gift for Christmas _-- this makes me SAD>

If you have a HomeGoods/TJ Maxx in your area you might try there. THey have products that are similar (probably made by the same company that manufactures for Pampered Chef.) Besides that you won't find these discounted by a Pampered Chef consultant anywhere. I used to be a consultant and the corporate company is VERY TOUGH on any consultant trying to sell the PC products on ebay or anywhere else for that matter at a discount. As consultants, we could only buy 1 discounted product set each season change for our in home demonstrations.

So may people take up this sport and then give it up... there are always lots of this stuff at our local Goodwill.

TJ Maxx has some skateboard brand like Element, Volcom, Split, you might try there...

If you have a Value City in the area you might try there... they are having a special this weekend -- if you spend $50 you get a $20 gift card.

Yes, Target is VERY GOOD like this. Alot of the items you can find later the next day. In the second Target that we visited last night at 9:30pm had 2 Target trailer sitting in the parking lot. I would imagine that this was where they were keeping the 'restock' items.

I'm not sure where you live but our school district allows us to purchase this through the schools account for a discount. Check the Board of Education site for your school district.

Add the following stores to the list: Meijer Garden Ridge Old Time Pottery

Last year -- I bought bulk chocolate (like Hershey's kisses) and made seperate bags for each teacher. The kids and I hand stamped minature treat bags with holiday stamps. This was inexpensive, easy and the kids were involved. As a seperate note, our PTA collects donations and buys 1 gift card for each teacher to a Walmart, Target or Staples type of store. The gift card always says from the entire class even if you didn't donate.

I know the Jeffersonville OH outlet had the 2 hour back up --- and it was just crazy -- but they are about 1hr 15minutes from here and I had people in line at Toys R Us when they opened at 4:30 or 5. They bought what they wanted at the outlets and got out of there.... they really didn't SHOP -- they were just purchasing at that point b/c the stores were crazy. I was there yesterday and by 10:30 at Pottery Barn outlet you would have thought it was already black friday -- I almost needed some Execdrin. Good luck if you go.

Santa brought this for my 7 year old son last year and he still loves it.

I was just at the Prime Outlets in Jeffersonville, OH yesterday and the Polo/Ralph Lauren store had their bath towels for $7.99 each. There is also a 15% off coupon if you spend $100 -- you can pick these up in the food court. These towels were big and very thick.

Yesterday I was at the Prime Outlets in Jeffersonville OH and Crabtree & Evelyn has 10% off of all of their Vera Bradley. I've also seen several listings on craigslist.com - some new, some used. Also, on BF my Hallmark usually has a discount coupon that you can use on Vera Bradley. Good luck!!

Being a kid these days is EXPENSIVE. My son (a high school senior) changed to his 2nd term classes today. His math teacher said that he needs a graphing calculator -- I thought no big deal. But not only does it need to be a graphing calculator -- it needs to be a specific 1... the TI-84. I checked Walmart and it is $120....... and he will probably never use it after this class. I would check ebay but he needs it now so I can't wait. I told him to ask around to see if someone from last semester that may want to sell their but in the meantime does anyone have any ideas... this is an expensive week.... I had to order his cap and gown and now a calculator..... my Black Friday money is shrinking and I haven't even used any for Christmas gifts yet.... :confused:

I was in my Target yesterday and noticed that they have already started to make large stacks of toys on the top shelf of every toy aisle. In the past, these are usually the items that are in their BF ad. I was trying to make a quick list in my head but there were so many thing -- lots of board games (Sorry, Life, Chutes & Ladders). Has anyone seen the toy stacking starting to happen

I started with the idea of getting the XBOX 360 -- then I was going to get the Playstation 3 but now I think you guys have talked me back into the XBOX 360... thanks for all of the comments!!

Lilly's Kids

I saw a big stack today at Big Lots -- $20.... plus Big Lots has a 20% off coupon right now so it makes it $16.

Has anyone has problems with their 360 breaking? Did you purchase an extended warranty? What is the best place to purchase, Sam's, Best Buy, Walmart???

For Christmas, I've decided to give in and get a new game platform. We've had a Playstation 2 (it has broke 2x) and a XBOX now. My oldest son has a PSP that he let's his brother play alot. I know that there is a big price difference between the 2... my sons are 18, 10 and 7. As far as games are concerned -- my kids a pretty simple and typical -- I plan on getting the normal Madden 08... Guitar Hero for my 10 year old, SKATE for my 7 year old .... Please give me your experience and suggestion on which way to go -- XBOX 360 or Playstation 3...

Hopefully this doesn't sound too cheap -- have you checked the Goodwill Store? If you daughter reads alot (like my kids do) -- we have a tendency to get an overabundance of books .... like most families do. We have found lots of books (probably only read 1 time .. in perfect condition ) .... normal price 50cents -- but on the weekend they usually have 1/2 off. If you are looking for hard cover books -- I would suggest Sam's Club -- this is where we get our Guiness Book of World Records hardcover each year for about $16.00. If you do go to B&N or Borders -- make sure that you check online for coupons b/c they typically have 20 or 30% off. Last but not least -- do you have a store called Half Price Books in your town?

I went to Big Lots today and picked up some scrapbook stuff: Provo Craft Chipboard Alphabetz packs $1.00 EACH 25 PACK of Heidi S Let it Snow 12 x 12 paper $2.00 Daisy Hill Vellum Pack - Dog Theme $2.00 They have been have a great name brand selection lately.