Price: $89.99 + free shipping!

Sold by: Meijer.com

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Learning Resources Pretend & Play Teaching Cash Register

Price: $37.99 (on sale, regular price $59.95 and up).

Also, check the site for additional savings on orders over $85.

Sold by: imaginetoys.com

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Each year, I find it harder to think of fun stocking stuffers. This year, instead of giving the standard socks and lip balm or small toys, why not give an object that represents a fun outing or experience to have with the kids?! Here are some ideas – have fun with it!

Lego Christmas Tree – $3.99

Give a night out to see Christmas lights in your neighborhood, a visit to a holiday carousel, or even a trip to the woods for some snow and sledding!

Snowman Mug - Set of 4 for $14.99

Attach a note to the mug with a coupon good for a date with Mom or Dad to get hot cocoa or coffee together.

SIGG Water Bottle – $14.99

Your child will need this water bottle when they take an adventure with you for some hiking, walking, trail exploring, or beach combing!

Ice Skates Ornament – $3.16

Plan an outing to the ice skating rink – extra scarf and hot cocoa included!

Bath Toy Fish Squirters – $.98/each

Enjoy a day together at a local aquarium or zoo!

Car Key Chain – $12.98

Allow your teenagers to use the car for a night of their choosing (or day if you live in a state with such rules!).

Kids love spending time with parents, even though sometimes they don’t show it! Hopefully these ideas will give you a head start! Other fun ideas might be a golf ball that represents a mini golf or golf outing, nail polish to go get a mani pedi, or two movie tickets to make it a date!

Happy Shopping (& Stuffing!)

- Kristen

Price: $107.96 (until 10/31 + Check the site for ways to save on shipping!)

Sold by: Meijer.com

Price: $131.63 (additional 15% off applies at checkout until 9/23 + FREE shipping to store!)

Sold by: REI

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

How to Create a Gift Reserve

How many times have you had to run out at the last minute to buy a gift for a Birthday, Wedding or Shower? Been there. Done that. Inevitably, I would end up spending more than my budget allowed. I’d run from store to store with kids in tow, searching for the holy grail of gifts! Did the recipient know the sacrifice of my crusade? Sadly, no. My martyrdom was not recognized.

Broke, frustrated and exhausted, I knew there had to be a better way. How could I save money and time without making myself, the kids and my husband (who else would tolerate my woeful tale) miserable in the process? My obsessive compulsive skills finally paid off. After researching to find a solution, I’m thrilled to tell you, I’ve found the key to saving money, time and frustration on my Gifts. How? Create a Gift Reserve.

What is a Gift Reserve? It’s a stockpile of items bought a rock bottom prices. It’s a very easy process once you get started. Here are some basic guidelines.

1) Make a Gift Budget. Set aside money every month. The goal is to eventually cut your Gift Giving Budget. If you buy items at rock bottom prices, you can stock up for a future gift giving opportunity AND save money.

2) Plan Ahead. Because we tend to over spend if we wait until the last minute, it’s vital to make a list of all upcoming gift giving events (Birthdays, Weddings, Showers, Anniversaries, Holidays, etc…). If you have three Weddings this summer, you can buy three gifts when you find a great deal and save money. You can also buy gifts that are age specific to your child(ren), because inevitably they’ll be asked to parties by their classmates.

3) Be an Opportunist. Watch for great deals on websites like Your Retail Helper,  Helping the Mommas and Bonus.com. Sign up for newsletters and coupons from your favorite retail stores. Use store coupons, sales, rebates and cash back websites for maximum savings. When you find a great deal, buy several.

4) Where should I keep my Gift Reserve? Anywhere you have space. Consider using a spare drawer, a box in the attic, closet or under the bed. (Just make sure little fingers can’t find it.) Also keep a list of all your gifts handy. It won’t do you any good if you don’t know what you have in your Gift Reserve.

5) Should I buy a gift off a Gift Registry? Would your friend be happier to know you put yourself in a financial disadvantage because you felt compelled to buy something expensive off their registry, rather than buying them a high quality gift at a fraction of the cost? If you’re on a tight budget and you give a generous thoughtful gift, it shouldn’t matter. Let go of the guilt.

6) Think outside the box. Buy small items at rock bottom prices and then compile them into one large Gift Basket. If you’re crafty, make your own gifts. You can also find great deals at Discount Stores or Consignment Sales. Not long ago, I bought two of my children Birthday presents from a Consignment Sale. The items were in great condition. My kids are too young to know the difference between what came out of a box and what came from a store. I saved 75% or more on their gifts and they were two of their favorites. Many times you can also get items at Consignment Stores that still have the tags on them or have never been opened.

Do you feel empowered? Relieved? There is hope. If you plan ahead and are patient, you can create a Gift Reserve to envy all others. It feels so good to pull a great gift out of my Gift Reserve knowing I saved money. The recipient will be none the wiser. Unless, of course, you get a gift from me. Then you’ll always be wondering how little I paid for it!

Thank you, Anna!

Happy Shopping (and in bulk)!

- Kristen

Price: $18.67 (on sale!)

Sold by Kazoo Toys

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

My friend’s son made $19.00. Not bad for a five year old.

I read a book recently called Give A Little by Wendy Smith who talks about how the small donations actually make the biggest impact. Did you know after the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia that 45% of the total worldwide donations (2.78 billion dollars!) came from everyday Americans?

It got me to thinking…what if there were more lemonade stands in the world? And what if the proceeds from lemonade went to great causes to help others? Not to toot our own horn, but I’m pretty proud of how Bonus.com Gives Back. Part of your shopping goes to help organizations and charities!

So, think about your summer plans. How could you possibly give back? Holding a garage sale? Sell some cookies or brownies with that lemonade and see how much you can raise for a local food bank or non-profit organization that’s likely hurting during leaner economic times. Be creative!

If you have a great story to share about how your child or someone in your neighborhood raised money for others, we’d love to hear about it!

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen