What's Your 2009 Holiday Budget?
The economy is causing a lot of people to rethink their holiday budgets. Have you settled on a figure for this year? Tell us how much you plan to spend, and find out how much other readers will be spending.
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Featured Reader: Sharon, GA
Name:
Sharon from Georgia
Forum Membername:
ed1claudia
Your Favorite Source for Bargains:
Thrift stores and the local auction house
Your Best Bargain of All Times:
My friend gave me her old - but still in great shape - bedroom suite. With updated linens, she didn't even recognize it when she came to visit. I also purchased a transferware plate at the auction house last week for $20, and it is worth at least $150. I have seen similar plates sell for $200-$300.
What's Your Recession Story?
The rising unemployment numbers and daily reports of mass layoffs and foreclosures tell the tale of a tough economy, but they don't tell your tale.
- Have you lost your job or home?
- Did you take a pay cut just keep your job?
- Have you ditched every last creature comfort?
- Are you delaying necessary purchases or repairs?
- Have you brought your frugality to a new level?
We want to hear how the recession is affecting you. Head over to the forum and share your recession story.
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Bargain Alert
- Glade candles and PlugIns are on sale for $2.50 each at Target. Buy five and you'll get a $5 Target gift card. Add in coupons to sweeten the deal even further. Here's how one forum member did it: Glade Strategy
- Entertainment Book just announced a surprise sale: Get $7 off any 2010 Entertainment Book, plus free shipping. Ends November 15.
- Walgreens released a $5 off $25 coupon in this week's Sunday paper. Use it to stock up on holiday baking supplies
- Get $3 off a set of LED Christmas lights at Home Depot when you trade in an old strand. Five trade-ins accepted per customer. Deal runs till November 15
- Restaurant.com is back to offering restaurant gift certificates for 80% off. Get $25 certificates for $2 through November 12 with code "ENTREE"
Buying Stolen Goods
I love a good deal as much as anyone, but I won't buy shampoo, razor blades or any other health and beauty product from a flea market – even if they are practically giving the stuff away. Why? Because I spent enough years working retail to know that a good number of those items are stolen goods; and since there's no way to tell the stolen goods from the non-stolen goods, I simply choose not to buy any of it.
I apply the same rules when shopping on online auction sites. Sure, it would be nice to buy replacement heads for my toothbrush at a deep discount (those suckers are expensive); but I know that they're another commonly stolen item, so for me they're a no-go.
Where do you stand on buying second-hand goods? Are there items that you won't buy for fear that they've been stolen? Tell us where you stand on this issue.
To view a list of commonly stolen items, check out this list compiled by the National Retail Federation:
Gifts in a Jar
Gifts in a jar are fun to make and cheap to give. Grab a case of canning jars, and knock out your entire Christmas list with one of these gift ideas:
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Photo © Erin Huffstetler
Featured Reader: Denise, MD
Name:
Denise from Maryland
Your Favorite Source for Bargains:
Goodwill Super Centers are a definite source for bargains for just about anything, but I use it mostly for my clothes. I have found top designer clothing there for a fraction of the price of buying it new. Most clothing is about $4.75 per item, and they offer half-price discounts on Midnight Madness days. I also love the print circulars that come in the mail - I save them; and use them along with glass cleaner to clean all the glass in my home. They work great - and they're free. ALDI'S is my go-to source for bargain groceries. I have been shopping there for years. They do not have a huge selection, but you cannot beat their prices. Right now I can buy four pounds of ground beef for UNDER $4.00 total! I also shop CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens for their clearance and sale items.
What's in Your Shopping Cart?
If it's not baking supplies, then you're missing out on some real bargains. November and December are the cheapest months of the year to stock up on flour, butter, spices and many other baking essentials. A good rule of thumb: if you need it to prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, it's on sale now.
I've already stocked up on my favorite butter ($.99 a tub, instead of the regular $2.99) and snagged two free cans of evaporated milk. Now, I'm in pursuit of a buy-one-get-one deal on my favorite flour. How are you doing with your seasonal stock up?
Photo © Flickr user darinhercules
Stockpile Envy
Does your grocery stockpile put all other stockpiles to shame? Now's your chance to brag about those towers of toilet paper and that lifetime supply of soap. Give us all a case of stockpile envy.
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Halloween Freebies
This Halloween it's all about the treats. Dealnews.com has put together a list of stores that will be giving away Halloween freebies – and it's a l-o-n-g list. Check it out.
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