Build-A-Bear

Nana came to town after Christmas, and continued to spoil us.

She told the kids that she wanted to take them shopping and buy them a gift.  Build-A-Bear is usually a big hit.  But, knowing that some of the kids are getting older, and more interested in video games than teddy bears, she also offered a visit to Game Stop as an alternative.

Four children chose Build-A-Bear.  One chose Game Stop.

All had fun!

The Build-A-Smurfs were totally adorable to this Smurf-loving Mom!

Jersey #3 had to be SO patient to wait for his siblings to build their bears.  He did a good job.

Our next stop was Game Stop, so he could pick out a new video game.  It took him only a single minute to select the game he wanted.  One of the Super Mario Bro's games for his DS.  Actually, they spent more time in the check-out line than they spent looking at games.

Jersey #3 was willing to skip lunch, if we would just let him play his DS in the van while we ate!  We convinced him to join us for lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  

It was a fun shopping day!

Shopping!

As you are working through your list, and completing your Christmas shopping this year, please consider shopping at Mavuno Market.  Not only will you be purchasing amazing items, but you will be helping families out of poverty, one purchase at a time.

This quote was taken right from the Mavuno Market website, to explain their vision...

At Mavuno Market, we believe we can lift people out of poverty by supporting micro-enterprises, encouraging trade education, and creating job opportunities.

Here it is, Black Friday, the largest shopping day of the year.  What could be sweeter than shopping AND helping others!  Check out Mavuno Market today!

Black Friday Shopping

Yes. I will admit it.

I am one of the crazy shoppers who enjoy the thrill of power shopping all of the Black Friday sales.

I am on a team, actually. My sisters enjoy the same thrill. We spend time on the phone and email making sure we have a game plan for how to get the items we want. It helps that we live in 3 different cities, so our shopping options are more open.

A few years ago, I shopped all the sales, buying a ton of stuff I did not need.

When we shredded our credit cards and made the commitment to get out of debt and live debt free, my Black Friday shopping changed course.

Now, I save money for Christmas shopping. I make a list of gift recipients I will shop for this year. I plan out what gifts we want to purchase for the kids. Then, I scope out all of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

This year, I think I am feeling the greatest thrill of all. I have managed to purchase nearly all of my Christmas gifts at a discounted price. Majority of that shopping has been done online, with discounted prices and free shipping. I have been able to save tremendously from the comfort of my own home.

I still enjoy getting up early and joining the crowds at the stores. I like to be around people, so I find the crowds of wild shoppers to be fun. Yes, some folks are intense. Others shop as though it is an athletic event. Some are rude. But, most are hyped up on the thrill of a good deal.

This year, I worked Thanksgiving evening, until 1am Friday. Some stores were already open by midnight. Others were opening at 4 and 5 am. I decided there was no point in going to sleep. I would work, shop, then sleep the day away.

My sister called me at work to say that the camera deal I was wanting was available online. So, after work, I shopped at home from my computer. I covered most of my shopping list with amazing online deals.

The last thing on my list was fancy clothes. Jersey #1 wanted to go with me when I went shopping. So, I woke her up at 3:30am and introduced her to the wild fun of Black Friday shopping. She was shocked to see the long line of folks standing outside the store, before it opened. Since the clothes we were seeking are not a popular item, there was no reason for us to get in line. We waited those few minutes in the warm van instead. When the store doors opened, we enjoyed a laugh as we watched the line of shoppers start running into the store. Yes, running. That was amusing. I like a good deal, but it has never occurred to me to run for it!

We enjoyed the fancy dress section of the store all to ourselves. 60% off turns those $50 dresses into $20 dresses. Jersey #1 picked out her own fancy dress for Christmas this year. She helped me find great dresses for her sisters, and suit sets for her brothers. In addition to Christmas clothes, we shopped for fancy red dresses.

Jersey #2 was invited to participate in the Go Red For Women fundraiser for the American Heart Association in February. It is a fancier luncheon, where everyone wears red. By February, the Easter clothes will be out, and those tend to be pastels. So, I knew my best chance to get bright red fancy dresses was the Christmas season. It worked! We found some gorgeous red dresses for all 3 daughters, since the girls will be participating in the luncheon, while the boys enjoy time home with Daddy.

It was funny to go to the cash register, among a sea of shoppers carrying electronics and household goodies, carrying 8 child-sized fancy dress outfits. This year, my thrill of shopping the sales was enhanced by the fact that I bought only what we needed and budgeted for. I left all the excess "stuff" for the other shoppers.

Food & Finances Friday--Black Friday

Wake Up, It's Time To S-H-O-P!!!

Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. A day filled with crazy discount deals and crazy shoppers. I am one of those crazy people who loves to get a good deal....loves to get up early and race through the stores...ignoring the fact that it the sun is not up, and the stores are filled with mobs of crazy people! Call me crazy!

As I have been trying to learn better money management habits through the years, I have had a strange love-hate relationship with shopping, even on Black Friday. I loved the adventure and excitement, and saving all kinds of money. Until later, when buyer's remorse would set in. At some point I would wise up to the fact that I was spending money, not saving money. I would have saved a lot more money if I would have just stayed out of the stores in the first place!

A little over a year ago, I decided to change course. I quit shopping. I stayed out of the stores as much as I could. I stopped looking at sales ads. I did most of the shopping for the kids birthdays online, where the numbers and totals were always in focus. I did not participate in the Black Friday fun last year. I hardly bought any toys, shoes, or clothes at all.

Instead, I filled my time purging the stuff out of our house. I purged clothes. I purged toys. I purged shoes. I filled bags and bags of clothes and passed them along to younger kids. I took inventory of what amount of clothes, shoes, and toys were actually used regularly. I reminded myself that we are greatly blessed with extended family who buy for the kids with every birthday, Christmas, and many holidays in-between.

Our children have grandparents who spoil them well. So, I did not need to budget for all of their clothes and shoes, as their grandparents and Aunts like to buy these things too. Instead, we are able to focus on specific clothing items, such as sports uniforms and Christmas/Easter dress clothes. We can focus on educational toys or items needed for a sport or activity that the kids are involved in.

It took me time to re-align my priorities away from the stuff.

This year, I am armed with a very strong, very organized Christmas shopping budget. Credit cards are not an option. I brainstormed gift ideas in advance. I listed my ideas out in columns on a spreadsheet. Each time I purchase an item on the list, I enter the total on the spreadsheet. This method is helping me to stay completely within the budgeted amount for each child. It is helping me to focus only on those items that the kids really want/need.

This year, I am enjoying shopping again. I look at sales ads and scan for the specific items on my list.....keeping any eye out for the best price I can find. This year, I set an alarm and woke up early to join the crowds of crazy people seeking Black Friday discounts.

I have had a blast shopping today! I am home now, just thrilled by how well I managed to buy some items on my list at such reduced sale prices. I had a good time being out in the crowds. I got some great deals. Most exciting of all, I stuck to my budget! Score!

An added bonus to my shopping fun today is that I found adorable Christmas dressy outfits for the kids, at Black Friday sale prices!