Finally.
Its times like these that I LUV free shipping. Majority of my purchases were made just this way.
Here is how my budget turned out:
Mom: My mom's cellphone is about 3 years old and isn't going to make it to see 09. I checked out Craig's List and found a dealer who was selling Metro PCS phones for practically nothing. The phone, a Samsung flip phone, is brand new. Nothing extravagant. My mom is a simple woman.
Sweet Pea: I was set on buying her some arts and craft stuff but after seeing her light up when she saw some bikes at a store we were in a month ago, I changed my mind. I got her a Huffy Sea Star bike from Walmart. The bike was originally $44.88. I had a $10 gift card that received from cashing out some of my points @ MyPoints. I did site-to-store as my delivery option which was free. Final cost = $35.
Sister L: I already had a $10 gift card from cashing out some of my points @ MyPoints. I then purchased a $15 gift card on eBay for only $10. The seller offered free shipping.
Sister E: I purchased my sis E a 12-piece Tools of the Trade Stainless Steel cookware set from Macys. The set was on sale for $34.99. I had a $10 off $25 coupon.
Niece: I got my munchkin 2 beautiful dresses, a Baby Phat onesie set, and some cute booties during one of Macys fabulous sales. I did my shopping from the comfort of my apt. The total came up to a lil under $25 and I had a $10 off $25 coupon code. I am a platinum card member so the $5.95 I paid in shipping was refunded back to my credit card (I get up to $60 worth of free shipping during the year as one of the perks of being a platinum card carrier).
Bro: He was a very hard one to shop for. I finally decided on getting him some new slides since he wears the ones he has 24/7 and was due for some new ones. He loves Jordans so I chose to get him the Jordan Hydro IV Slides. I found them on Footlocker for $34.99. I used their 30% coupon during their friends and family sale. Final cost = $25.
Godson J: I got him this huge crayola drawing set that included washable markers and crayons from Dollar General for $6. I also got him a mini football to match the one his big brother is getting.
BF K: She got a book: You: The Owner's Manual. For $2. And since she reads my blog: Merry Christmas chica!!!
BF's son N: A personalized duffel bag (football) with his name on it. Ordered it from Walmart.com. Also got him a junior size football.
BF's son J-R: I got him the cutest onesies with the cutest sayings. They were $2 a piece.
Adopt-A-Child: With the help of Walmart.com $1 clearance on clothes, savvy shopping, coupons, and pure determination, I was able to get almost everything on each child's wish list. Fortunately our department collected a lot more money than they needed and offered to purchase tricyles for the 3 kids on my list who wanted them. They only were $20 each at Walmart but it still helped. So if it was not for that I would have been way over my budget or some kiddies would have been outta luck (JK...I would have dropped the $60 on those bikes in a heartbeat). Our company was able to take care of each of the 300+ kids on our list.
Of course through all this shopping I couldn't help but buy myself some goodies. I told my fam that I wanted nothing for Xmas and would rather them use that money for my mom or for them to sponsor some kids. So I deserved to splurge just a tiny bit on myself. I'll do a post on what I bought later.
Its times like these that I LUV free shipping. Majority of my purchases were made just this way.
Here is how my budget turned out:
| Person | Gift | Budget | Actual |
| Mom | Cell Phone | $30 | $30 |
| Sweet Pea | Bike | $25 | $35 |
| Sister L | $25 Target Gift Card | $25 | $10 |
| Sister E | Cookware Set (stainless) | $25 | $25 |
| Niece | Clothes | $20 | $15 |
| Brother | Jordan Hydro IV Slides | $25 | $25 |
| Godson J | Crayola drawing set & mini football | $10 | $7 |
| BF K | Book | $0 | $2 |
| BF's son N | Personalized duffel bag & football | $10 | $14 |
| BF's son J-R | Clothes | $5 | $7 |
| Adopt-A-Child | Everything on each child's wish list (8) | $125 | $124 |
| TOTAL | $300 | $294 | |
Mom: My mom's cellphone is about 3 years old and isn't going to make it to see 09. I checked out Craig's List and found a dealer who was selling Metro PCS phones for practically nothing. The phone, a Samsung flip phone, is brand new. Nothing extravagant. My mom is a simple woman.
Sweet Pea: I was set on buying her some arts and craft stuff but after seeing her light up when she saw some bikes at a store we were in a month ago, I changed my mind. I got her a Huffy Sea Star bike from Walmart. The bike was originally $44.88. I had a $10 gift card that received from cashing out some of my points @ MyPoints. I did site-to-store as my delivery option which was free. Final cost = $35.
Sister L: I already had a $10 gift card from cashing out some of my points @ MyPoints. I then purchased a $15 gift card on eBay for only $10. The seller offered free shipping.
Sister E: I purchased my sis E a 12-piece Tools of the Trade Stainless Steel cookware set from Macys. The set was on sale for $34.99. I had a $10 off $25 coupon.
Niece: I got my munchkin 2 beautiful dresses, a Baby Phat onesie set, and some cute booties during one of Macys fabulous sales. I did my shopping from the comfort of my apt. The total came up to a lil under $25 and I had a $10 off $25 coupon code. I am a platinum card member so the $5.95 I paid in shipping was refunded back to my credit card (I get up to $60 worth of free shipping during the year as one of the perks of being a platinum card carrier).
Bro: He was a very hard one to shop for. I finally decided on getting him some new slides since he wears the ones he has 24/7 and was due for some new ones. He loves Jordans so I chose to get him the Jordan Hydro IV Slides. I found them on Footlocker for $34.99. I used their 30% coupon during their friends and family sale. Final cost = $25.
Godson J: I got him this huge crayola drawing set that included washable markers and crayons from Dollar General for $6. I also got him a mini football to match the one his big brother is getting.
BF K: She got a book: You: The Owner's Manual. For $2. And since she reads my blog: Merry Christmas chica!!!
BF's son N: A personalized duffel bag (football) with his name on it. Ordered it from Walmart.com. Also got him a junior size football.
BF's son J-R: I got him the cutest onesies with the cutest sayings. They were $2 a piece.
Adopt-A-Child: With the help of Walmart.com $1 clearance on clothes, savvy shopping, coupons, and pure determination, I was able to get almost everything on each child's wish list. Fortunately our department collected a lot more money than they needed and offered to purchase tricyles for the 3 kids on my list who wanted them. They only were $20 each at Walmart but it still helped. So if it was not for that I would have been way over my budget or some kiddies would have been outta luck (JK...I would have dropped the $60 on those bikes in a heartbeat). Our company was able to take care of each of the 300+ kids on our list.
Of course through all this shopping I couldn't help but buy myself some goodies. I told my fam that I wanted nothing for Xmas and would rather them use that money for my mom or for them to sponsor some kids. So I deserved to splurge just a tiny bit on myself. I'll do a post on what I bought later.
Comments
Can't wait to hear what you bought for yourself :)