Okay- it's that time again. Every time you hit any store, the kids want to see the costumes and tell you what they want to be for Halloween. This is the first year that I have 2 kids with 2 opinions about what they want to be. Mackenzie is now 3 so technically 13 in her mind and there is no way any suggestion I have for a costume will work like it has the last 3 Halloweens.
Madison is also getting smarter about costumes but I've decided to put my foot down.
Why? First of all, I'm not the Party Pooper of Halloween but I cannot and will not justify spending $40 at Walmart on 2 costumes that are flimsy and unwearable beyond that night or playing dress up on the characters my girls want to be. Madi wants to be Alex from Waverly Place and Mac wants to be Hannah. Hello? These are just 2 characters dressed like they normally do everyday to go to school! True- in high fashion style but we can re-create that for much less than the cost of these costumes.
How? My first thought is Goodwill. We have a wonderful one near us and in an affluent area so we have found great deals. I studied the costumes available at Walmart at $20 a pop and think we can recreate the look for less and be able to wear the clothes again. The Alex costume has a funky top, a scarf and purple leggings. I can find a funky top or dress then get purple leggings at Walmart and I'm sure come in much less than $20 and she can wear the clothes again. If Goodwill doesn't work, we can raid my closet- a top would make a cute dress on Madi, we can check Ross for me or her or slightly bigger for her- my point is we can get creative, have fun in the process and come up with an alternative that she likes, I like the price and will be used again.
If you need to save money this year or you just can't justify the expense of costumes- get creative and everyone wins in the end. I really don't think kids care what they have on once they start running house to house ringing doorbells and getting candy. In our area, they can't wear costumes to school so it's really just that hour or two running around.
Everyone can be happy- as a parent... be strong and reasonable. You know I'm right... in the end it's all about the candy and running around with friends. No child needs a $40 costume to have fun that night. And it's been my history that buying a costume now that Madi had to have and spent the money- she had changed her mind 50 times over by Halloween.
My point- get creative. This certainly doesn't work if your child wants to be a Storm Trooper but if it's an "everyday" character like my girls want- I think we can do better and find more use than just one night. Plus- I know here in Georgia- we never know if it's going to be 80 or freezing. Why spend all that money on costumes that you might end up putting a coat over?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Wonderful Photographer and a Great Contest just in time for the Holidays!
This is a very talented and wonderful photographer in the Greater Atlanta area who just happens to be a good friend of mine and I've known for a very long time. Go check out his work and you will see that I am not being biased at all!
www.beckhamphoto.com
Beckham Photography is offering a great contest through their Facebook page. Click here to get all the details and be sure to add Beckham Photography through your Facebook. Grand Prize is a free session and a 16X20 print plus 3 Runner Ups get a $50 Gift Certificate! All the fine details are listed and there are 4 ways to enter between now and October 24th!
Even if you aren't on Facebook but would like to book for a session, Beckham Photography is offering my readers a 15% discount/coupon on their entire order (sessions and prints). Just make sure (and this is very important) that you mention my blog when you schedule your session.
What a great gift for Christmas! Perfect contest, great discount just in time for the Holiday Season.
Note: Greater Atlanta area only.
www.beckhamphoto.com
Beckham Photography is offering a great contest through their Facebook page. Click here to get all the details and be sure to add Beckham Photography through your Facebook. Grand Prize is a free session and a 16X20 print plus 3 Runner Ups get a $50 Gift Certificate! All the fine details are listed and there are 4 ways to enter between now and October 24th!
Even if you aren't on Facebook but would like to book for a session, Beckham Photography is offering my readers a 15% discount/coupon on their entire order (sessions and prints). Just make sure (and this is very important) that you mention my blog when you schedule your session.
What a great gift for Christmas! Perfect contest, great discount just in time for the Holiday Season.
Note: Greater Atlanta area only.
Do you use Big Sexy Hair Products?
If so- there is a great deal at Ultra this week!
The pink cans in honor of Breast Cancer Month of Root Pump, Root Pump Plus, Spray and Play or Spray and Play Harder are $5.99 this week.
In this week's circular, the deal is on the front cover and below is a 20% off one item coupon.
So, great deal on a great product!
Always pay attention to the Ultra circular especially if you use high end hair, skin or makeup products. Sometimes it does pay to spend a little more if you have sensitive skin, fine or curly hair or just simply like particular products. When we save money in other areas- you can spend a little more for splurges. Ultra always has coupons on their circulars and if you catch a product at the right time- you can really save a lot!
The pink cans in honor of Breast Cancer Month of Root Pump, Root Pump Plus, Spray and Play or Spray and Play Harder are $5.99 this week.
In this week's circular, the deal is on the front cover and below is a 20% off one item coupon.
So, great deal on a great product!
Always pay attention to the Ultra circular especially if you use high end hair, skin or makeup products. Sometimes it does pay to spend a little more if you have sensitive skin, fine or curly hair or just simply like particular products. When we save money in other areas- you can spend a little more for splurges. Ultra always has coupons on their circulars and if you catch a product at the right time- you can really save a lot!
Kroger Deals- 10/11-11/17
Here's what I found interesting at Kroger (or your affiliate if same sale) this week:
Big Frozen Food Sale this week! Buy 10 and Save $5. Frozen items below show final price assuming you bought 10 items (can be assorted from the sale) and got the $5.00 off.
Breyers Ice Cream
Sale Price and after Buy 10/$5 off: $1.99 or 54% off
Kroger Peanut Butter
Sale Price: $1.00 or 47% off
Kroger Dozen Eggs
Sale Price: .99 or 29% off
Suave Body Wash 18oz (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $1.48 Coupon: 8/2RP Final Price: .48% or 76% off
Note: Coupon worked on Kids Wash and it's final price was $1.07
Air Wick Air Freshener
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 8/30S $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 58% off
Zatarains Rice Mix
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/13RP1 Must Buy 2 Final Price: .63 or 63% off
StarKist Tuna Pouch (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/20RP $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 67% off
Febreze Noticeables Starter Kit (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $6.99 Coupon: 9/27 Final Price: $2.99 or 63% off
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
Sale Price: $1.49 Coupon: 10/4GM Final Price: (after 10/$5 sale) .69 or 77% off
Ester C 60 count Vitamins BOGO (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $4.35 Coupon: 10/4RP $5.00/1 Final Price: FREE or 100% off
Mrs. Dash Seasoning (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon: 10/4S Final Price: $1.00 or 69% off
Buy all these items and you would spend $11.74 and save 71%!!
Big Frozen Food Sale this week! Buy 10 and Save $5. Frozen items below show final price assuming you bought 10 items (can be assorted from the sale) and got the $5.00 off.
Breyers Ice Cream
Sale Price and after Buy 10/$5 off: $1.99 or 54% off
Kroger Peanut Butter
Sale Price: $1.00 or 47% off
Kroger Dozen Eggs
Sale Price: .99 or 29% off
Suave Body Wash 18oz (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $1.48 Coupon: 8/2RP Final Price: .48% or 76% off
Note: Coupon worked on Kids Wash and it's final price was $1.07
Air Wick Air Freshener
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 8/30S $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 58% off
Zatarains Rice Mix
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/13RP1 Must Buy 2 Final Price: .63 or 63% off
StarKist Tuna Pouch (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/20RP $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 67% off
Febreze Noticeables Starter Kit (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $6.99 Coupon: 9/27 Final Price: $2.99 or 63% off
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
Sale Price: $1.49 Coupon: 10/4GM Final Price: (after 10/$5 sale) .69 or 77% off
Ester C 60 count Vitamins BOGO (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $4.35 Coupon: 10/4RP $5.00/1 Final Price: FREE or 100% off
Mrs. Dash Seasoning (unadvertised deal)
Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon: 10/4S Final Price: $1.00 or 69% off
Buy all these items and you would spend $11.74 and save 71%!!
Deals at Walmart this week!
Walmart's list updates on Saturdays on CouponMom.com. The prices can vary a little so be patient with the list and the cashiers are famous for fighting the coupons because they do not like to do the coupons and they don't know the policies. Be armed but polite and have everything in order so you can minimize the resistance. Walmart does not double.
Here's what I liked at Walmart this week:
Lea & Perrins Worchestshire Sauce 10oz
Sale Price: $2.48 (My store was $2.96) Coupon: 9/27RP $2.00/1 Final Price: .48-.96 or 81% off
Reach Floss 55 yards
Sale Price: $1.12 Coupon: 10/4RP $1.00/1 Final Price: .12 or 89% off
Snuggle Dryer Sheets 120 Count
Sale Price: $4.12 Coupon: 10/4RP $3.00/1 Final Price: $1.12 or 73% off
Starkist Tuna Pouch
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 10/11RP $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 50% off
Airwick Freshmatic Compact i-Motion Start Kit
Sale Price: $5.00 Coupon: 10/11S $4.00/1 (also 9/13S1) Final Price: $1.00 or 80% off
Airwick Scented Oil i-Motion Starter Kit
Sale Price: $5.00 Coupon: 10/11S (also 9/13S1) $4.00/1 Final Price: $1.00 or 80% off
If you bought all these items- you would spend $4.72 (if all prices are accurate- may vary slightly) and save 76%! And these are high priced/quality items!
Here's what I liked at Walmart this week:
Lea & Perrins Worchestshire Sauce 10oz
Sale Price: $2.48 (My store was $2.96) Coupon: 9/27RP $2.00/1 Final Price: .48-.96 or 81% off
Reach Floss 55 yards
Sale Price: $1.12 Coupon: 10/4RP $1.00/1 Final Price: .12 or 89% off
Snuggle Dryer Sheets 120 Count
Sale Price: $4.12 Coupon: 10/4RP $3.00/1 Final Price: $1.12 or 73% off
Starkist Tuna Pouch
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 10/11RP $1.00/2 Final Price: .50 or 50% off
Airwick Freshmatic Compact i-Motion Start Kit
Sale Price: $5.00 Coupon: 10/11S $4.00/1 (also 9/13S1) Final Price: $1.00 or 80% off
Airwick Scented Oil i-Motion Starter Kit
Sale Price: $5.00 Coupon: 10/11S (also 9/13S1) $4.00/1 Final Price: $1.00 or 80% off
If you bought all these items- you would spend $4.72 (if all prices are accurate- may vary slightly) and save 76%! And these are high priced/quality items!
Freebies at Rite Aid this week!
Here are 3 deals I liked at Rite Aid. Using their super easy rebate program- you can spend the money now, get items that you need or would like to try, then in a short few weeks, get your money back!
I thought these items would be great to have around for the flu season that is already amongst us!
Dr. Thompson ColdWar 20 count. Free after $3.99 Rebate Limit 1
Childrens Throat Coolers 6 count. Free after $2.99 Rebate Limit 1
Sucrets Throat Lozengers 18 count or Ice Pops 6 pouches. Free after $2.99 Rebate Limit 1
Spending right at $10.00 plus tax and getting $10.00 back in a few weeks. Wonderful items to have on hand when you don't know when the sick bug will hit your household.
There are several other items for free so take a look at CouponMom. Go to the Rite Aid list, click on the last column's (% saved) upside down triangle. That will re-sort the list to show 100% saving first. And some of these items have coupons to match so with the rebate- you are making money!
I thought these items would be great to have around for the flu season that is already amongst us!
Dr. Thompson ColdWar 20 count. Free after $3.99 Rebate Limit 1
Childrens Throat Coolers 6 count. Free after $2.99 Rebate Limit 1
Sucrets Throat Lozengers 18 count or Ice Pops 6 pouches. Free after $2.99 Rebate Limit 1
Spending right at $10.00 plus tax and getting $10.00 back in a few weeks. Wonderful items to have on hand when you don't know when the sick bug will hit your household.
There are several other items for free so take a look at CouponMom. Go to the Rite Aid list, click on the last column's (% saved) upside down triangle. That will re-sort the list to show 100% saving first. And some of these items have coupons to match so with the rebate- you are making money!
80% off Restaurant.com
Use the code: FOUR to get 80% off gift certificates at Restaurant.com. Get a $25 GC for $2.00!
Great way to eat out and still save money!
Great way to eat out and still save money!
Great deals at Publix this week!
Sorry- Flu hit our house hard the past 10 days. Got my lists ready from CouponMom.com for this week and there are so great deals!
Here's what I liked at Publix this week:
Red Baron Pizza Assorted BOGO (Coupon expires 10/10)
Sale Price: $2.90 Coupon: 8/02S2 $1.00/1 Final Price: $1.90 or 67% off
Luigis Real Italian Ice BOGO
Sale Price: $1.50 Coupon: 8/16RP .50/1 Final Price: $.50 or 83% off
Lysol Assorted Cleaners BOGO
Sale Price: $1.35 Coupon: 9/13S .50/1 Final Price: .35 or 87% off
Old Orchard Reduced Sugar Cocktail Juice
Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon: 9/13S2 Final Price: $1.00 or 67% off
Halls Refresh Drops BOGO
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/27S .35/1 Final Price: .30 or 85% off
Halls Cough Drops Assorted Varieties BOGO
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/27S .35/1 Final Price: .30 or 85% off
Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt 4 pack BOGO
Sale Price: $1.25 Coupon: 10/4GM $1.00/1 Final Price: .25 or 90% off
Betty Crocker Potatoes BOGO Assorted Varieties
Sale Price: $.80 Coupon:10/4GM .25/1 Final Price: .30 or 81% off
Super Poligrip Free with Coupon up to $3.99 from 10/4RP
If you bought all 9 items, you would spend $4.85 and save 81%. If you have multiple coupons so you can stockpile to wait out the 12 week sale cycle- you can really save and stock up the pantry.
We did one of several shops today. Penny item was coffee.
We got:
2 Betty Crocker Potatoes
Publix Coffee
2 Publix Soft Drinks
2 Double Atlanta Journal Papers so we got 4 sets of coupon inserts
8 Halls Cough Drops- assorted
Spent: $9.85 and saved $19.28! Remember that $4.72 was spent on the newspapers.
Friday:
2 Red Baron Pizzas
4 Yoplait Yogurts
3 Luigis Ice
8 Betty Crocker Potatoes
6 Lysol Cleaners
Spent $10.80 and saved over $40.00!
Here's what I liked at Publix this week:
Red Baron Pizza Assorted BOGO (Coupon expires 10/10)
Sale Price: $2.90 Coupon: 8/02S2 $1.00/1 Final Price: $1.90 or 67% off
Luigis Real Italian Ice BOGO
Sale Price: $1.50 Coupon: 8/16RP .50/1 Final Price: $.50 or 83% off
Lysol Assorted Cleaners BOGO
Sale Price: $1.35 Coupon: 9/13S .50/1 Final Price: .35 or 87% off
Old Orchard Reduced Sugar Cocktail Juice
Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon: 9/13S2 Final Price: $1.00 or 67% off
Halls Refresh Drops BOGO
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/27S .35/1 Final Price: .30 or 85% off
Halls Cough Drops Assorted Varieties BOGO
Sale Price: $1.00 Coupon: 9/27S .35/1 Final Price: .30 or 85% off
Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt 4 pack BOGO
Sale Price: $1.25 Coupon: 10/4GM $1.00/1 Final Price: .25 or 90% off
Betty Crocker Potatoes BOGO Assorted Varieties
Sale Price: $.80 Coupon:10/4GM .25/1 Final Price: .30 or 81% off
Super Poligrip Free with Coupon up to $3.99 from 10/4RP
If you bought all 9 items, you would spend $4.85 and save 81%. If you have multiple coupons so you can stockpile to wait out the 12 week sale cycle- you can really save and stock up the pantry.
We did one of several shops today. Penny item was coffee.
We got:
2 Betty Crocker Potatoes
Publix Coffee
2 Publix Soft Drinks
2 Double Atlanta Journal Papers so we got 4 sets of coupon inserts
8 Halls Cough Drops- assorted
Spent: $9.85 and saved $19.28! Remember that $4.72 was spent on the newspapers.
Friday:
2 Red Baron Pizzas
4 Yoplait Yogurts
3 Luigis Ice
8 Betty Crocker Potatoes
6 Lysol Cleaners
Spent $10.80 and saved over $40.00!
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