fluffkin79

No luck at my store tonight. Holiday was 70% and most shoes/boots were 30-50% off. About those little Lego set that are sometimes by the registers- which ones are included in holiday clearance?

Around this time last year a TRU employee told me they don't restock to keep invenentory low for tax season. I have no idea if that's the real reason for not restocking, but I do recall TRU shelves being very empty.

No doubt! I was at Walmart last Sunday for groceries and the parking lot was FULL. Almost 'follow exiting shoppers to their cars' full! Have you seen the Walgreen's commercials with the crowded supercenter? I'm guessing that is what my Walmart will look like this weekend. My local mall is even worse - you have to follow people to their cars on a normal weekend there. I just have a few more things to get. I finally figured out what to get DH, but am waiting to see if they'll put in on sale next week (office chair - often on sale $50 off at Office Max). I have 4 family exchange gifts with a $20 limit. So far I'm only at $10-$17 for each. Retail is over $20 for each already, but I usually spend the limit so I need a few adult 'box stuffers'. I LOVE being (mostly) done before the kids get out of school for break. This is the first year I've done it and I'm looking forward to just enjoying some time with the kiddos over break. If we do go to the mall, it will be to see a movie or visit Build-a-Bear.

Cozy PJs, slippers A fuzzy pillow like this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Your-Zone-Eyelash-Toss-It-Pillow-Racy-Pink/10926700, or other room decor A movie basket with movie(s), popcorn, and treats Gift cards: movie theater, fast food, skating or other activity

Done! ....at least as done as I can be for now. I still need to get - and wrap - a few small gifts. I even have the christmas morning stuff all sorted, unpackaged, and divided into small bags! All together it took about 9 hours to wrap about 60 gifts. I've never been (almost) done this early, but I'm loving it! Maybe I'll actually sleep the week of Christmas this year, unless I let baking keep me up...

Target and Amazon both have the most recent one for 9.99 right now. The older ones are cheap all over the place.

I ordered on Dec. 1 and got it today.

It's been 2 hours so far, and that was only 10 gifts! I started with the biggest ones today. It's not easy wrapping those big boxes on my squishy bed; it's even harder when the kids keep knocking!

$10 off $25.

My feelings exactly!

Pretty close to done. I ordered my last big item last night. As long as everything I've ordered ships, I'm down to just a few odds and ends to pick up: some treats, a bottle of wine, a guitar pick. I need to make off some pics, take DD#2 out so she can choose which Monster High to get for DD#1, exchange some pants for the right size (wanted BF price, but had to guess on size. I need this info BEFORE BF, people!). I really only have 1 gift left to get (family name draw), but I don't know the person well and those who do haven't called back with ideas. I'd like to get something off their wish list, but really want to be finished shopping and start focusing on doing fun stuff with the kiddos. If I don't hear back soon I'm getting something basic and calling it done. This is the first year I've been "done" so early and I'm really excited about it!

Yippie! I just got her (I hope) for 31.99! I was getting worried! By the time I decided to buy her from Yoyo, she was out of stock. As a matter of fact, this toy is OOS everywhere I look (except for a few places selling her above retail). I'm so happy that I not only found it, but found a deal on it. Now I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that Mattel sends her out, and quickly so I can stop looking. Note: There was a banner offering a 10% off code when you sign up for emails. The code came right away, but cannot be used with the 20% off - it's one or the other. Once I entered the 10% off code I couldn't get it to come off and had to order by phone to get 20%.

The jewlery box and pillow pet DD8 got last year are still getting constant use. DD6 will be getting a jelwery/trinket box this year.

LOL! I know, I'm asking a lot - a lotta discount anyway! The thing is, I don't believe this toy is worth over $30. And it's only worth that much to me because DD wants it so badly. I'm just thinking that I might be missing something. I keep checking Kohl's to make sure they haven't gotten it. With all the coupons/Kohl's cash it could have been a good deal there. I'm watching TRU in case they offer some sort of deal (20% coupon, GC offer, etc.). TRU almost had me sold when then offered $10 Dawn of the Dance dolls and a free gift with purchase, but my store never got the free gift w/ purchase item. I have a $5/$50 coupon for Kmart which might help if I can't find it anywhere else. I just feel like I'm missing something. If I can't find the set itself on sale I am hoping to find a store that offers a $10/$50, % off purchase, bonus gift, or cash back.

Monster High. My DD8 and her 9-year-old friends are obsessed with Monster High. She also wants a laptop, iPhone, iPad, and iPod - basically she wants unrestricted internet access, which isn't gonna happen.

I'd really like to find this below $30. Does anyone know of any upcoming sales? Is there a store out there that carries it and offers coupons that can be applied, or "cash" back?

Wednesday night: ordered my Kohl's goodies. Thursday: ordered from Best Buy. Shopped Kmart, CVS, and Walgreens. Kmart was not busy at all. The drug store "freebies" were gone FAST, but I got my share. Friday: left home at 5am. I needed sleep and didn't feel like dealing with the madhouse. I was surprised to see the whole mall open so early - I thought it would just be the anchor stores. It was a bit surreal to walk into the mall at 5am on BF and see people hanging out in center court, munching on some chinese food. JCP: arrived around 5:15 and got one of the last 4 snow globes. The lines weren't terrible, but too long for the PJs I was considering Macy's: the comforter sets I was looking for dissappointed. I left empty-handed. Bergner's: used $10 coupon. Got clearance kid's jeans for $6ish. I wanted socks, but they were all "incredible buys". Gotta love Bergner's couponsyuck:/:) Gamestop: I got my 4 used wii remotes for the price of 1 new one. They were even able to look around in back and find some pretty ones for me (some on display looked dingy). Old Time Pottery: more comforter didsappointment, but I got a pizza stone -15% coupon. Kmart: OOS for kids jeans in the sizes I needed. I picked up a few other things and waited in my longest line yet, about 10 minutes. Target: arrived about 7:30. There were plenty of TVs and other items stacked in the various departments. DVD/video game selection was dwindling, but they had at least 1 of everything on my list. Cashiers were standing near registers, lookng for someone to help. Big Lots: batteries were free after rebate and I was already at the shopping stip. Who can't use free batteries? Old Navy: Men's and women's jeans were a mess. Kids jeans were gone. Line was long. I scoped out some patterns & designs, left empty-handed, and ordered online when I got home. Walmart: Movies/games were picked over, Monster High dolls were gone - not just the $10 dolls, EVERY monster high doll in the store. I did get gloves, a 8GB SD card, a couple $2 DVDs (why were they 1/2 a store away from all the others?), Transformers DVD (found in put-back cart), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PM'd Best Buy). I couldn't find Water for Elephants, so I ordered it from Amazon when I got home (thanks for the PM, Amazon!). Gordman's: Most crowded store of my morning. They were out of bedding sets in the size/color I wanted. I got my PJs, then saw the line and almost put them back. I decided to wait and see how fast it moved and I'm glad I did. The line went fast, the people were the friendly, chatty sort I remember from BFs past. The lady behind me had some of the cute storage trunks I forgot about, but she pointed them out for me and held my place while I went to get one. All in all I had a pretty successful Black Friday. I ordered my must-haves online and went out to B&M stores for the smaller nice-to-haves. As long as everything ships, I'm a happy shopper.

If you are getting books, you might want to consider the Kohl's Care for Kids books. You could get the stuffed animals to go with them. Do you already have a car garage or ramp? My DS keeps asking for these: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oR3gekt9L._AA300_.jpg Fisher-Price Disney/Pixar Cars 2 Spiral Speedway Grand Prix http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41O7BuuV70L.jpg Matchbox Sky Busters Aircraft Carrier Playset

I wanted some cheapo DVDs from walmart when I was living in WI (w/ min. markup laws). I wasn't even able to order them online for the lower price unless I had them shipped to Mom's house in IL. I tried ship to my address and ship to store, but was charged more if they ended up in WI.

I usually look for the small, typical gift items: movies, slippers, throws, toys & games, etc. Much of my shopping is already done, so on BF I'm normally shopping for the extended family gift exchange, or for myself. It's a good time to replace worn out home goods and clothes for my family. As the kids get older and want the newest electronics I may have to change up my game. Next year I may be looking for the cheap "starter" electronics you often find for doorbusters... (Not that all doorbusters are cheapy-off-brand stuff, but a lot of the cheapy-off-brand offerings are limited-quatity doorbusters.)

Make it midnight if you must, but please no sooner. (I'm talking to you, TRU!) Personally, I'd like to see the sales starting at 5-6am again.

I never have trouble filling the stockings. My trouble is they get TOO full! Santa always brings a game and a movie for each kid. Toys are unwrapped, batteries are charged or installed. I shop year-round. A lot of Target $1 bin or holiday clearance ends up in the stockings (stuff that's not overly "holiday", although DD8 is really into Monster High so some of the Halloween stuff works for her. DD6 loves anything pink, so some of hers might come from Valentines Day). I also get a lot from clearance sales, especially Target. I challenge myself to keep it cheap. Clearance does that, and I find stuff they love that I wouldn't have thought of. For the girls: movie TBD watch (Walmart clearance) jewelry (Claire's clearance) Monster High, LIV, or Polly Pocket doll (LIV and PP were clearance. I might have to pay for MH, *GASP*!) For the boy: Cars2 movie (Sale price + coupon + cat + rebate = better than free) Cars2 Pez Dispensers (Halloween clearance) Monster Trucks (He just started asking for them. I'll have dig some out of my stash) Dot-to-dot book (or printables. He's addicted to them.) For All: game (TBD. Gotta pick some from my stash.) Schleich animal figure (tradition) chap stick (DS likes it, too.) B&BW mini hand sanitizer (popular at our school) candy (Halloween clearace, drug store freebies) notepads (Target $1 bin clearance) cool pens (Target $1 bin clearance) I'm sure there's more stashed away, just can't remember it all. I think we'll start putting fancy flavored sodas in there, too. The kids had some at an orchard and thought it was something really special.

This is exactly the kind of thread I'm looking for! I'm tired of paying $40 every few months for new ink! Do you know how much new toner will be when you do need it?

I plan on shopping T-Day: Walgreens, CVS, maybe Kmart. Hopefully I can pick one up there, or at a gas station in between. I've never missed the Thanksgiving paper, but I have gotten the last copy before! NOTE: I only get 1 copy because I can share my toys! But then again, I'm the only one who really cares. My sis might look through mine, but she's not a serious BF shopper. I can see why some people might need their own copy, especially if you like to mark your copy or need them for a PM.

Walmart's "Christmas Price Guarantee" excludes BF prices, but the normal PM policy should still be in place. So, you won't be able to bring in the receipt for the item you bought last week, show a competitor's BF ad, and get a gift card for the difference. You should be able to buy an item and get it for the competitor's price (assuming it is the exact same item and the other store is currently selling it for that price). If you already bought it and now it is cheaper, you can always rebuy and return the higher-priced one (normal return policies apply). I PM at Walmart almost every time I go there. For the last few months I haven't needed competitor's ads - they just take my word for it (but most of my PMs are just for a few cents off groceries). That said, I will be taking ad for anything I want to PM on BF - after all, some of those prices are "Unbelieveable!" Cashiers do have a limit. I'm not sure what the limits are, but I remember PMing some dolls and the cashier needed an override because the price difference was too big. It's not a huge deal, they just need someone with a key to approve. It could take a few extra minutes in the store, but I think it is worth it - especially if I can get more of my items in one place and reduce the number of stores I have to get to.