Help Elmer's Raise $10,000 for Classrooms!

Do you know how many kids in the world don't get new shoes for school? Or a new back pack, or pencils? What about just in your state? How about your town? What about just in your child's classroom?

Every year, thousands of kids go back to school without being able to bring the necessities with them, because not all parents can afford even a pack of pencils.

Right now, stores all over are offering great sales on items that every classroom uses, from packs of pencils for $.99 to notebooks for $.15, and glue sticks for a quarter. This year, when you are shopping for new school supplies, consider picking up a few extra items to send into the classroom.

You can also ask your school about donating old back packs- Every year, I see dozens of kids who tote their items back and forth in plastic grocery bags, while many families buy new back packs every year.

Tonight, Sarah over at Sarah's Deals tagged me in a post about back to school shopping, and helping Elmer's raise money for classroom supplies with the Bag It Forward Program! The details on the program can be found here!


Want to know what else you can do? If you are a blogger or on Facebook, you an Bag It Forward virtually! Elmer's is making a donation, but they are asking us to help.

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.

Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.

Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.

Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.

Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.

Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).

Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

My vitual bag is going to J at Frugality is Free. Hopefully she will pick it up and go! If anyone else would like to start one, there's still time! Just go to Bag It Forward, copy the rules, and you're off and running!


All blogs participating need to leave a direct link to their post on the Bag it Forward website!!

New Bike, Take 2!

Yesterday, I posted about my Good Deal Day, which included a new bike for me! Well, today, said bike went back to Walmart. The frame was... well, length wise, it wasn't built right. It was far too short- every time I tried turning, the handle bars hit my legs (and I did raise the handle bars as far as they could go). The front wheel also hit my feet when I turned, too.

Yesterday, they had 2 cruisers that I saw in my price range- the one I bought, and a bright, candy pink Schwinn for $99. I am not a candy pink kind of girl, but I was willing to try it in the store- well, same problem. The handles kept hitting my legs. :(

After looking around for a bit, I saw it- all the way on the top shelf of the 3 layer bike shelf. A bright, aqua blue metallic, modernized looking cruiser for $99. I had to find someone who could get it down, and cringed as this poor guy had to single handedly get it down with a ladder, and hold it one handed as he got off the ladder.

I tried it out, and rode it down the aisle, despite how amusing I must have been to other people. It was perfect. The handle bars were forward and up, like those old U shaped handle bars bikes had in the 80's when I was little (only, not so big). The other two cruisers had handles that came to the side, which contributed to them hitting my legs, I think.

It's beautiful, and it's all mine! We got it home, and tonight, the kids and I just went for a bike ride. How refreshing, not having to lean forward to do so. It was a nice smooth ride- I love my new bike! I got to sit up straight to ride the bike- it was nice. I can't wait to ride it every day!

See how low the frame goes? I don't have to lift my leg too high to get over the frame. It was VERY easy to get on and off of. I love it! Now, I just need a big wicker basket for the front of it. ;)

Great Deal Day!

I'm back from shopping. I'm kind of broke, so I shouldn't have gone shopping, but I am SO glad I did! Tomorrow is pay day, so today is broke day, but I had 2 $40 Walmart gift cards in my wallet (one was from my birthday, the other was from Gillian's birthday back in December, but we gave her cash to spend because she found something at Target she wanted instead of Walmart).

I was thinking clothing- capri's, specifically, and I did find a cute pair, but I wound up putting them back because I found a bike! I have a bike. An old, decrepit mountain bike. The gears don't work. One of the breaks doesn't work. It's kind of like taking my life in my hands to ride it. And, worst of all? While I did ride it quite a bit last year, the seat always hurt my rear end. Now, after my broken tail bone, that area is tender (still... almost 5 full months later...). I haven't tried it yet this year.

I've been wanting to get a cruiser bike. For starters- big old seat for a big old, grown up mommy butt.  But, even better- handles that don't force you into that "Oh, please look down my shirt!" position, which is bad for my neck and back. I found one at Walmart for $84, score!

I put everything else back (my capri's, and a dual set of bra's for Rae- 2 bra's for $7!), and got just the bike. I paid like $9 out of pocket after the gift cards.

Before I went there, I stopped at Goodwill, and found some great deals. For starters, a London Fog khaki trench coat- for $.99! I also grabbed a pair of denim overalls for $.99- they resell really well on ebay, I hear. :)

I picked up 4 pairs of cute, trendy, name brand jeans for $.99 each, and a pair of Gap shorts for $.99 as well. All in all, I spent $11 something at the As-Is Goodwill. I hopped over to the regular side, and found a nice red plastic plate with a rim on it. I wanted to find red, black, or silver for a cupcake plate for this weekend. It was $.59, so I grabbed it- then found a larger silver glitter plastic charger plate! It was $.79, so I grabbed both- now I can have a tiered cupcake plate that matches the theme!


Lastly, I found a shirt from Express themed towards Tauruses (which Rae and I both are). It's cute, looks brand new, and was in Rae's size, so I snagged it.

Well, I just got home and I went through the clothing. All of the jeans and the pair of shorts were in Rae's size. I figured she can keep what she likes and fits, and I can resell what doesn't work. I jokingly showed her the overalls, knowing she wouldn't want them, and it felt like there was paper in the pocket.

I checked.

Nope, no paper.

Well, unless you count a $10 bill and 2 $1 bills as paper. Which I do. Money! Score! I got $12 back on a $.99 item! I'm personally amazed. I can't believe people donate without checking pockets. I know I do.

So, Rae's done trying on- all but 1 pair worked, so I have 1 pair of jeans, 1 trench coat, and 1 pair of overalls to resell. Total spent on those- $2.98 ($.99ea).

Last Night's Craft

I made this at my mom's request last night...


I used the same process that I used to make my harvest colored wreath over the weekend. I did have to change up the supplier though- Dollar Tree didn't have much in large packs of lime green (or similar light green shades) of ornaments. I did find them at Walmart, though.


Price wise, there wasn't a large difference. Walmart has boxes containing 24 ball ornaments for $5. At Dollar Tree, you can get 5 of the 5 packs for $5, equaling 25 ornaments, so it's just 1 less for the cost at Walmart. I was expecting worse! They did also have similar 5 pack tubes, but those were double the price at $2 for 5.

The small ornaments Walmart also had. The packs include 15 small and tiny ornaments (a mix of 2 sizes) for $3. That was a bit pricier than Dollar Tree, but the packs came with both the satin/matte finish, and the shiny finish, plus the alternating sizes.

I was able to make this gorgeous wreath for my mom for just $14! I found the ribbon in the Wedding area at Dollar Tree. All of the Christmas ribbon is in shades of gold, which would have clashed.

Wal-Mart vs. Amazon: The Great Price War

A few weeks ago, Walmart & Amazon engaged in a price war over hardcover books, each trying to undercut the other, until brand new hard cover novels were around $8 each, instead of $20+.

This morning, I was looking over Walmart.com, and I noticed something that I am certain is another price war, but one that I'm eager for- you can pre-order new release DVD's for under $10 each. They are currently priced at $9.98. The titles include:

G-Force
Star Trek
Four Christmases
Santa Buddies
Harry Potter
My Sister's Keeper
Angels and Demons
Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian
Terminator: Salvation
Julie & Julia

These 10 titles would be a great pick up for Christmas, as many of them are $19.99 to $29.99 as new releases. There are several I have been wanting to see, and am considering, so we'll see! After a cursory glance at 2 titles on Amazon.com, I will note that they are indeed in a price war, as Amazon.com has them listed at $10.00 even.

If you wait a day or two, I imagine you'll see them drop even more.

Looking for an Xbox 360 for Christmas?

My husband is positively drooling over this, and I've been assured that it is indeed a fantastic deal (not that we'll take part!). This weekend on Saturday, Walmart is going to have a special sale on many items (including a more budget friendly $29 DVD player). The big item that has Nick drooling, though, is a $199 XBox 360. Ok, so that's the regular price, right?

Well, everyone who buys one will be receiving a $100 Walmart gift card, on the spot! That's basically a $99 popular video game system! There is a minimum of 10 units per store, but be warned- they'll likely go fast. The sale starts at 8am, but if you are going after something, get there early!

Happy Shopping!