I planned. I budgeted. I conquered.
My last post inspired me to dive into the world of personal finance (which you can read about on my other blog, Becoming a Raving Mad Housewife) and motivated me to search for Christmas deals online.
My first stop was at Black Friday Ads. I discovered this site last year, and it’s really invaluable. Unless you’re a hardcore shopper with hours to rifle through newspaper ads, it’s easier to go to this website and compare all the stores at once. Last year, Black Friday Ads led me to Dell’s $249 X-Box 360 holiday bundle, and I got Kevin’s gift for $50 less than any other store (including Wal-Mart). This year, it led me to the Toys R Us Big Book Sale.
Every gift I wanted for Elizabeth was on sale at Toys R Us online, and they had free shipping. That’s a hard deal to pass up…but I checked for the same toys on Ebay just in case. (You never know, right?) Ebay was a joke. The bids started at prices only slightly lower than Wal-Mart, and people on Ebay are so stupid that they get in bidding wars and end up paying MORE than what the toy is worth. (Really? How dumb are people?!?)
Back to Toys R Us. I bought all of the toys E asked for at low sale prices, paid with Pay Pal, and they are being shipped to my house (for free) as I type. They also threw in a bonus stuffed animal. Toy budget spent: $87.00.
There is a chance that one of the toys I bought will be some insane Black Friday doorbuster, but I don’t think I’ll be kicking myself. I won’t be standing in line at 5 am…I won’t be fighting people over the last 40% off Littlest Pet Shop set…I won’t be circling parking lots cursing because every space is full…and I won’t blow $30-$40 on a crappy lunch at Applebee’s when the sales end and Kevin and I are fighting/grumpy/exhausted/ready to destroy the world. And since no Dr.’s office in my area has an H1N1 vaccine—I won’t be shoulder to shoulder with sick, hacking, sneezing people. It’s a win-win all the way around!
Really, this online shopping thing is pretty awesome for my big ol’ pregnant butt. I can compare prices easily—and buy only the stuff I really need. (It’s hard to be tempted into impulse buys through pop-up windows.) If I were wandering around the mall, I know I’d get tired and irritable and end up grabbing whatever to get the hell out of there.
This Black Friday I plan to sit at home with my feet up by the fireplace, and “supervise” Kevin as he drags box after box of Christmas crap out of the basement. My toy shopping is all done!
10 comments:
Thanks for this. I was just going to look for this myself and you have done all the leg work.
Great Tip, I am off to check it all out now since I think having a newborn in the house soon means that online shopping will be my only fighting chance... Must get more DUPLOs!
Great thinking! We are going to have to plan our shopping on a shoe string this year. Thankfully both girls are still young and wont know the difference! I got my h1n1 last week, and not only still have soreness, but am still sick with whatever I have had all week. Made it feel like such a waste, lol. (cause in my mind, upon any vaccine I should be invincible from any sickness)
I commend your shopping greatness!!
See thats the way to do it! I'll be doing the same!
I did ALL my Christmas shopping online about 6 years ago when my daughter was 4 months old and the weather here in Wisconisn was MINUS 20. It was awesome!!!!! And in regards to your other post - I have been banking online for 8 years and LOVE it!!!! The only time I buy stamps now is to send out Christmas cards - if I even get that motivated to buy cards.
Dale & Brennan's mom
I was all over Toys R Us last night, but haven't actually bought anything yet. I should just bite the bullet and do it already! Great tip on the Black Friday Ads...off to check it out!
DANG GIRL!!! I have to say that I am JEALOUS!!! I always HOPE to be on top of it...and end up at Black friday spending $400 more than I wanted to in the first place...BLEH!!! I am gonna check out that website...too bad you don't get commision for telling us all about it!
I don't have an account...I actually found your blog awhile back when I googled "Annoying Brides" and found your open letter to an Annoying Bride. I laughed so hard I may have peed a little haha. I am not part of the "Blog world" so to speak or really follow any but yours. I found I can relate to you, and I have never met you once! I can appreciate everything you let us all in on and you actually inspired me to write a blog myself....I had one or so posts and then figured that I truly don't have anything of importance to say, nor am I funny enough. So I will just keep reading yours. Just so you know ;) You truly make me laugh and I look forward to all your new posts!
I live in the country and the nearest shopping is 30 miles away so I do most of my shopping online. One of the best deals I've found so far is a Tracfone Motorola cell phone for under $15 at Walmart. Even putting minutes on it, I spent only $35. If your teen doesn't already have a cell phone, this is a perfect gift because being prepaid you have control over how many minutes they use.
Brilliant! You may have saved my life... or at least my children's lives.
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