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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Shopping Tips and Christmas Elves

December is certainly a busy month! I haven't posted nearly as much as I have in the previous months. Between decorating the house, writing Christmas cards, shopping and wrapping gifts, plus trying to keep up with the day-to-day chores and such - I don't know how people who have a job do it!

I'm not one to fight the crowds to grab a bargain. I do the majority of my shopping on line and grab my deals there. I challenge myself to get the best deals that I can. After I find items that I like from a particular store, I search the internet for "promotional codes" commonly called "promo" codes. For instance, say I have a shopping cart (virtual) filled with items from Kohl's. Then I'll search for "promo codes for Kohl's". Many different sites will show up and I'll click and search till I find the best code that will fit my needs. Although the stores say that they accept two promotional codes, I've yet to see it happen. It gives me such a thrill to see the price of my shopping cart drop by many dollars!

Another way to save money is to order an item and have it shipped to the store. You do not have to pay for the shipping charges that way. My husband wants this particular coffee bean grinder that is available at Wal-Mart on-line. I had it shipped to the nearest store, and will pick it up this week.

But beware. This does NOT apply to books. I did not know this. My daughter wanted a particular book and it was $17.95 at Barnes and Noble on line. I thought that when I looked at the website, that would tell me the price of the book and it would be the same as the store.

No such luck.

First off, they were out of the book when I got there. So they had it sent over from another store. I went in to pick it up and when the cashier said the book was $27.95 I just about fell over.  We had a discussion about the difference in price and she explained that it is cheaper on-line because then you have to pay the shipping and handling price (which still came out less than the 27.95 price. Go figure.)

But, I felt better after that because I had a second experience with a Christmas Elf.

I stopped off at the local drugstore to pick up a couple of items. My bill came to $42.00 and the young man said, "Oh, wait!" and leaned under the counter and reached for a $10 off coupon and quickly scanned it. I was totally surprised and happy.

Looking back, I'm not sure if it was because he was in the Christmas Spirit, or if he felt sorry for me. I can't recollect if I was wearing make-up or not. When I don't wear make-up, people tend to think that I am deathly ill.

Either that or he looked over my purchases: Christmas cards and medicine for constipation and thought, "This lady is just going to sit around writing Christmas cards and wait to poop. What a life" and THEN he felt sorry for me and scanned the coupon.

It's a win-win situation for me either way!


9 comments:

Monkey said...

this is full of good tips. I had no idea about the promo codes...thanx.

Happy Shopping my friend

Ami said...

::snort::

Elves are good.
But do you wonder, when they're off work for the evening, do they say, "Elves has left the building."?

Brian Miller said...

nice...cool on the elf that helped you out again....and nice hit on the promo codes as well...i need to go hunting for them...smiles.

Mike said...

I do it the easy way...I don't shop! lol

kisatrtle said...

Thanks for all the tips. Now how can I get you to shop for me?.????

Unknown said...

I didn't know about the promotional codes! Good info!

Valerie said...

There is an easier way, and that's not to buy anything.... signed Scrooge!

Seriously, Pat, I shall have to check out if we have those codes over here, or even a Christmas Elf would be nice....grins.

Anonymous said...

That's so clever about the savings codes!

Jane said...

Lol, I can so relate about the makeup part - I need it too, I'm so washed without it :D I really like on-line shopping as well - especially when you can have that item shipped direct to the recipient.