It's the most expensive time of the year

Yep. I said it. You know its true.

Its the time of year when she shop, we clip coupons(hopefully), we rush around like crazy people and try to get everyone something. STOP!! Make a list...we have talked about this before. Write out everyone that you have to buy for. Set a budget. Even if its 10 bucks a person. Then...go from there. Bargain shop. Hunt online. DONT get caught on the buy 1 get 1 stuff... you end up spending more. I write this for those who have NOT begun their shopping yet... I hope that everyone is already DONE, but I fear thats probably not the case :)

Here are some last minute tips:

1. DONT BUY LAST MINUTE ITEMS. By that I mean, dont decide on December 23rd that you need to buy something...because you will spend too much.

2. Take your old dvds and cds and take them to your nearest FYE or music store that will buy them back. Ask for CASH unless you plan to buy something in the store b/c if you DO, you will generally get MORE if you get store credit.

3. Check out pawn shops. I found out just a few weeks ago when Ava broke her dvd player that pawn shops do not expect the price thats on there. SHOOT LOW... all they can do is bump it up a few bucks, say yes, or say no.

4. CONSIGNMENT SHOPS! They get overloaded with good stuff this time of year b/c everyone is making room for the presents to come. You can buy NICE clothes, good clean toys, and awesome shoes and purses. So if you have a teen...this is THE place to go.

What are your ideas? What have I left out?!?!?!?!?

Entertaining the kiddos

This is something that I find myself spending ALL of my extra money on...entertaining my daughter! And I WANT to do it! But the reality is that I can't afford all of these memberships to every place in the world! So you have to learn to pick and choose. Depending on where you live, I think its a good idea to have ONE membership. The zoo, museum, play house, fun house...whichever. But one is definitly a good thing!! That way on those rainy days when going outside is not an option, you have something that is there to do that is already paid for.

BEWARE OF THE GIFT SHOPS THOUGH :)

I try to think of fun things for Ava and I to do that won't break my already broken bank. :) I have really spend some time here lately planning fun things for her that won't cost an arm and a leg, or better yet things that are free. Here are a few that I have found:

#1--playing outside! Let their imagination run wild!!! Play cops and robbers, play cowboys and indians, play hide and go seek. whatever!

#2- the library! I have talked about the library before...its SUCH a great place. Ours in particular rocks. Not only can kids get books and movies, but they have story time, they have halloween festivities, Christmas parties...all of which are FREE! And while you are there...there is a ton of adult stuff too. Pick up a book on how to budget, or how to make curtains or whatever your interests are. Rent movies. Better yet...pick up those collections on learning another language. The ones they sell in the airports for $500 bucks? Yep-you can rent those as well. That could be a WHOLE afternoon of fun!

#3- Crafts! Get out the markers, crayons, scissors and papers. Kids love that stuff! The other day Ava wanted to paint and I was out.. so I let her use my old nail polish. She thought that was the coolest thing ever! She had a blast, was proud of herself for making me a pretty picture, and I could talk to her while she painted with nail polish while I got to wash the dishes. TADA--that went well all around!

#4--Ava likes to work out! She thinks my dvds are fun so I put in a workout dvd and she and I go to town with it! I am working up a sweat, shes having a ball...again--win win! I like win-wins :)

#5-take a saturday afternoon and clean out your kids bedrooms. Go through the toy box, all the bins, the closet, etc. They will find toys they had lost and you are getting something done. (win-win). Ava gets sooo excited when we do that!! She will say "Thank you mommy!!" Because to HER its like Christmas morning all over again!!!

Just a few things that I like to do with my child that don't break the bank. What do you like to do?

Pays to be nice. you get Dooney's for free.

So yes, be very jealous because today I got a Dooney and Bourke for free. Now grantit it was used, but really? Still...this rocks. This has been the best day. Got lots of Christmas stuff for free and now a Dooney! WOWZERS! :)

*Side note** I have thanks God about 30 times today b/c just when I feel like I can't do everything...he provides.

Okay so anyway, I had driven out ot my favorite consignment shop here in Hot Springs. I ALWAYS take mine and Ava's clothes there because I make BANK and its kinda like my little "Savings account". Instead of having a jar that says "CLOTHES" on it, I have a sheet of money waiting on me at this shop. I take gently worn clothes of Ava's and mine out to this place and make BANK everytime! Everytime I go and drop off a bag of clothes they are very friendly, and eager to help me, and everytime I go back and say "how much credit do I have"... I ALWAYS have credit there. So, anytime I need a shirt, or need something for Ava I start there first. I don't have to worry about budgeting money for clothes for Ava because I always have money waiting on me there.


So I went in today to take a bag of Ava's shoes that didn't fit and I had a top or two in there. I walked around and even though I found some of the CUTESTthings ever, Ava isn't in need of anything at the moment. So I walked to my side... I NEED a lot of stuff but they didn't have anything so I just walked and looked around thinking about how GREAT consignment shops are. So, I began to look at the purses. And I found an AWESOME Dooney and Bourke. Probably last years model, maybe even the year before but this purse was awesome!!! I didn't DARE look at the tag... so I did of course :) I saw that it was only $12.00. I took it to the counter and asked why it was so cheap. She said that she knew at a shop like this where thing are second hand you just can't ask for a lot. There was one tiny stain on the back and I asked if that would come out. She didn't know...so I took my chances. I told her i wanted it... then I said well, never mind.. i should save my money. She said "ya know what...you always bring me nice things, you shop here ALL the time...its yours. take it." So i did. And now with resolve drying on it I have an AWESOME Dooney and Bourke just hanging there lookin' at me waiting to carry it somewhere FABULOUS!!!

Moral of the store...small towns rock b/c that would NEVER happen anywhere else...it PAYS to be nice to people. It pays to be consistent... shop at the same places. Get to know the owners and managers. Learn their names. Their stories. Learn about their families. Go in OFTEN!

Today was an awesome day. Ava has all the Christmas she could need and ask for and I  have an awesome purse. i could carry this purse...or sell it. Either way I feel so blessed.!!!!

FREE MEAL AT CHILIS!

On Sunday from 3-close you can take your family to CHILIS for dinner and your kids eat free!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


http://www.chilisemailclub.com/coupon.php?cc=11&pv=1&email=cararoxanne02%40aol.com

Christmas...for free?

I can't tell you how excited I am! This morning while sitting at my computer at work I popped open facebook. I know, I know. HUGE suprise :) Well, I sure am glad I did! JUST as I logged on some "news feed" was coming through and my friend  posted "hey if anyone wants some toys lemme know. we are cleaning out a room and HAVE tons of good, clean, gently used toys!" I IMMEDIATELY said I WILL TAKE THEM!!!

So I ran by to get them. #1 it was good to see her but also it was like friggin' Christmas morning!!! I'm talking I RACKED up! Or I should say Ava racked up. Anything from barbies, doll clothes, stuffed animals, brand new crayons, a shopping cart, a cleaning set that had like a little broom and vaccum and everything!! OH MAN OH MAN! I am PUMPED!!!! Yes, I will buy my child presents as well. In fact she already has a good little stash that I have been working on all year hidden in my closet for her. But wow! I hit the mother load.

I will wash everything, wipe everything down, and ta-da! I am so pumped!! One thing to remember when being a "Bargain hunter" is that you CAN'T get caught up in getting all these great deals...so you buy more. If thats how you are gonna do it then its NOT a deal at all. So... lesson of today is... take free things! Look for bargains like that in the paper. In the classifieds I have seen more than once where people have listed encyclopedia sets to give away. Or "100 books for free..come pick up" . Now don't get me wrong... I do not want to end up on the show "Hoarders" nor do I want you too...but if its free, what does it hurt to look through it? You could sell some on ebay? Trash some, keep some, give a good read to your neighbor. I mean come on--its FUN!

So get excited! Go lookin' for bargains and lemme know what you find!!!!

WEUSECOUPONS.com

I've griped about NOT using coupons if it doesn't save you money and I stand by that. But check out this website for free stuff, advice on when and how to shop! Its worth your time...TRUST ME :)

From one bargainhuntingmommy to the next....

Why don't we just ask?

“So baby why don’t we just ask..” (that would be to the tune of WHY DONT WE JUST DANCE!) ha!

Okay…so just ask why don’t cha!?! I have a Discover card that I thought was getting awesome interest rates…well, i was wrong. That ended after 3 years evidentally. I have always been on time on my payments, don’t use it that often, but when I do I am diligent to pay it off. Well I got online to look up what I owed and figure out a payment plan to pay it off and throw it away. And I happened to look at my interest rate… I am just now getting my breath back and that was 4 hours ago!!!

So… I called. “Hello thank you for calling discovercard can i help you?” Ummmm…YES YOU CAN!! I began to spill, in a nice way, about how much I have been a great customer, pay my bills on time, never behind, never too close to my limit… and how I am livid that my interest rate is so high. Her response “I can undertand your concerns but we have no other interest rates to offer you at this time.” Ya see…this is where she and I began to disagree. So I gave my spill about how great it was to have me as a customer b/c I am not a threat to them and well, basically, she blew me off. So I told her to please cancel my card, that I would somehow figure out how to pay it off within 30 days so it wouldn’t hurt my credit(if you cancel a credit card with a balance that HURTS your credit) and immediately she came up with a lower interest rate? Wow! Its amazing how that happens.

So if you are paying through the nose on a credit card and will never see the bottom…then just ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all they can say is no, and then all you have to do is NOT use them anymore. Simple as that.