Shop wisely.

Here are some great ways to make the most of your money when shopping:

• Look for coupons before you go shopping. Check out coupon websites, and don’t forget to look at specific retailers, like Amazon and Walmart
• Check sales ads too, as you never know what might be on sale. Check store websites, as you can often find exclusive online deals that aren’t found in stores
• If you know an employee who works in a store you love to shop in, check with them to see if there are any upcoming deals or specials you should know about
• Write out a shopping list ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about adding extra things to your cart or forgetting something you really want or need
• Take cash with you, so even if you’re tempted to over-spend, you won’t be able to

And while we’re on the subject, here’s another tip: don’t take your kids shopping with you. Or if you do, guard your shopping cart like a hawk. I can’t tell you how many times I have purchased $10 or $20 worth of stuff unknowingly or in exasperation because my daughter and/or son added their own items to the cart.

The price of beauty (and practicality)

Why must contact lenses be so expensive? I made the switch to them 2.5 years ago, and if it weren’t for our current household income, I’d probably have to go back to wearing prescription glasses! I ordered a year’s supply of Acuvue Oasys contacts & Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, and the total was almost $300. And I even went through 1-800 Contacts, since they are usually cheaper than the other companies! The good news is that there are two $20 rebates available, one for each type of contact lenses that I ordered, so I’ll be able to re-coup part of that big chunk.

But I do need contacts. Between my astigmatism, and the fact that I have small children, prescription eyeglasses and I just aren’t a good mix. Besides, glasses are continually exposed to the potential for damage or breakage. Contacts are safely in my eyes, so they’re out of the path of danger.

Besides, looking for Buy.com coupons is so much more enjoyable when I don’t have that standard 4-eyes look.

Oh, you clip coupons?

That’s a response I often get when I mention wanting to go through the coupons in my wallet or in the weekly Sunday paper before going out to the grocery store, to Target, or even to the pet store (hey, I buy pricey cat and dog food, and with four cats & a Pug with a healthy appetite to feed, coupons always come in handy!). I don’t get the issue some people have with coupons. They provide you with the opportunity to save money, so why wouldn’t you be interested in using them?

When it comes to saving money, I clip coupons, I look online for coupons, and I also check out local sales ads to see if I can combine coupons with current deals to save even more. Last week, for example, Kmart had Charmin toilet paper on sale. I had a Charmin coupon that entitled me to $2.00 off a 16-pk or larger, so guess who went over to Kmart and saved nearly five bucks on toilet paper? That’s right, yours truly!

But hey, if you don’t want to clip coupons, that’s fine with me. Just pass ‘em my way so I can enjoy the savings!

More Toy Deals for the Holidays

Only a little over a week left until Christmas. Can you believe it? But there’s still time to do your shopping from home if you hurry. Just make sure to double check the shipping times and policies of the stores you’re buying from. Here are some more gift ideas for the little ones for those who haven’t got everything under the tree just yet.

• The Crayola Store has lots of wonderful items for the young artist. Their Glow Station is one of the hottest creative items this year, and they’ve got all sorts of other items for kids of any age. Go to our Crayola deals page to find out how you can save $10 or 10% on your order.
• Looking for something both educational and fun for the youngsters? You can find it at Constructive Playthings. They have blocks, musical instruments for kids, puppets, train sets, and all sorts of other toys that will keep your children productively occupied. Visit our Constructive Playthings coupons page for free shipping offers and more.
• For the environmentally conscious parent, Rosie Hippo has a wonderful selection of sustainable, fun and safe wooden toys for all ages. And there’s a coupon for free shipping on orders of $75 or more on our Rosie Hippo deals page.

Christmas will be here before you can blink an eye, so don’t delay! Place your orders now to ensure delivery in time for the big day!

Christmas Gifts for Girls

I’ve shared lots of Christmas gift ideas for adults here over the past couple of weeks. But we all know what holiday gift giving is really all about: keeping the kiddos happy! So let’s look at some gift ideas for those who still believe in Santa, shall we? Here are some ideas for the little girls on your list:

• There aren’t many girls out there who don’t like Barbie. You can find tons of Barbie dolls, accessories, fashions and more at Mattel’s Barbie Boutique. See our Mattel deals page for current offers, which include 10% off your order of $25 or more (some restrictions apply).
• Finding a beautiful dollhouse under the Christmas tree is sure to put a smile on any little girl’s face. Doll Houses Galore has a fantastic selection of realistic houses for your daughter’s favorite dollies. Save up to $15 on your purchase with our Doll Houses Galore coupons.
• Girls love to play dress-up, so you can’t go wrong with a dress-up set or a costume of her favorite movie or cartoon character. You can find plenty to choose from at Amazon.com. Go to our Amazon deals page and choose your discount to see some excellent deals on these and other toys.

Come back tomorrow for some great gift ideas for boys!