3 Money Saving Tips for your Children’s Christmas.

Christmas is in seven weeks and you know what that means … we have to start getting ready to battle out other moms at the toy aisles at Target! Just kidding. Unless you want to, but if you shop early, smart, and even second-hand no battling will be necessary. I only have one child and he is one year old so shopping for him is not necessarily difficult or expensive, but I love a good deal because that means I can spend that money on gifts for the rest of my family. I kick off my Christmas Posts with three simple tips that I have been using to make my little one’s second Christmas magical while not breaking the bank.

1.    Shop Early, Don’t Wait for the “Deals;”

Throughout college and law school I worked at a children’s shoe boutique right in the middle of the mall. Being there all of my “free” time I would notice that all of the so-called “deals” that the stores put out were not really that great. Many stores would actually start marking up their items for Black Friday and continue throughout the holidays. Bottom line is, they know that when you are trying to get your hands on a special toy that is sold out everywhere else, you are going to pay whatever it takes to make your little one happy. In order to avoid getting ripped off by these marketing schemes, start early! And by early I mean, today.

By October/November you already know what your little ones like, want, and/or need. You should start making a list of the items you want to make it easier when scoping out the aisles at the stores or the on-line shopping. Having a list really benefits me because I know what my final goal is and it helps me keep my eye on the prize.

You should start making a list of the items you want to make it easier when scoping out the aisles at the stores or the on-line shopping.

Last year, on the top of my list was the Radio Flyer Kid’s 4 in 1 Trike. The customizable one was over $100 at the Radio Flyer website and at Target it was $89.99. Although a great investment because it “grows” with your child, I definitely wanted to spend a little less than that. Around October I began to scope out the websites and finally I made my purchase on November 1^st when Target had what I believe was a 40% off Cartwheel Deal for all Radio Flyer items. I coupled this with another 20% off category coupon and I ended up paying about $25.00 for the trike.

Side Story: The first Trike that was shipped to my house was actually stolen when UPS just left it outside our gate. Thankfully, Target shipped a new one for me and we received before Christmas.

Throughout the season I continued to see “deals” on the trike but none of them were as good as the one I had gotten earlier. Between November 1^st and December 24^th, Target puts on various toys for 50% off on their Cartwheel App. The deals are only valid for one day so I recommend that you check out the app every day early in the morning. If you see the toy you want for the day, I recommend that you head out to your nearest target before doors open. And always look for more than one coupon or “deal” that will benefit you. Don’t be afraid to stack the offers.

For those Target lovers, they also have the Target Wish List App, through which you can get an extra 10% off your wish list items (one-time use only).

By shopping early you will get better deals and won’t have to worry about the item you want going out of stock right before Christmas. You can also sleep in on Black Friday because you will see that those “deals” are not worth your lack of sleep and the madness that ensues when you drag your family to fight the craziness that happens that day.

Taking advantage of early sales, about two months ago Zulilly had a Disney Pixar sale where I was able to pick up some items from Toy Story for my little one at discounted prices. I knew these would sell out fast and it would be difficult for me to find them elsewhere so I decided to take the plunge.

If you have enough room for storage, you can also take advantage of Target’s Toy Clearance, which is done twice throughout the year, in January and July. Most of the time you can find toys up to 70% off. I would recommend you chose timeless toys that you know your little one will still enjoy by the time Christmas comes around.

2.    Shop Around
I know, I sound like a walking ad for Target, but that’s just because I am able to do my best couponing deals at that store. Nonetheless, I highly recommend that you shop around. Check out Amazon, Toys R Us, Wal Mart, Target, Etc. While doing this, remember to be smart. Don’t drive 30 miles to another store for a $10 difference on a toy. I usually “shop around” on-line and check out stores in my area to get the best deal. Keep in mind that sometimes prices change from location to location at the same name stores. Use websites such as BrickSeek to check out stores’ inventories.

3.    Shop Smart

Know when to pass up a “deal” and when to snatch it up. My little one is obsessed with Daniel Tiger (DT). Unfortunately, he has every item we have been able to find for him. Last year my husband ordered him some last-minute books and a plush from Amazon. Needless to say the items were more expensive than we wanted them to be. This year I have been keeping an eye out for DT items in the stores.

Last month while visiting my in laws in the Coachella Valley my husband and I decided to check out a local Kmart that was closing. We got lucky and found Nick a DT phone for 50% off. They also had another toy but it was only about 10% off so we decided to pass on that one.

Remember to have your phone handy when looking for special items. You can quickly search the item and see if its at a better price elsewhere. Don’t let the “offers” fool you.

While we’re on the DT subject, I also picked up a DT Beanie and Mittens set this past weekend for about $6.00. I wasn’t looking for it, but since I hadn’t seen it anywhere else I had to buy it. Plus, the price was amazing. I am glad I didn’t let this item go because I checked on Amazon and the item is currently unavailable and I can’t find it anywhere else.

4.    Buy Second-Hand;

When we moved into our new house I wanted to buy an outdoor swing/slide set for Nick. My husband talked me out of my idea since Nick was only 6 months old haha. I decided that for this Christmas I was going to buy him at least a slide and a basketball hoop. I got extremely lucky about two weeks ago when I decided to go on a morning walk around my neighborhood and ended up at a yard sale where I got both a Step2 Slide and a Little Tike’s Basketball Hoop in almost new condition for $19.00. I just saved about $100 + . If there aren’t many Yard Sales around your area, look at Consignment Sales and Stores. Like always, be smart. Make sure the items are still in good condition and safe for your little ones.

As you can see, I have a few gifts ready to wrap up for Nick’s Christmas. My husband and I have decided that we will only buy him one “big” gift this year, which we are still trying to decide if we want it to be an electric car. I already started to shop around and hopefully if we do decide on it, I can get a good deal on the one we chose.

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? If you have any tips please share them below, maybe I can get that electric car for less with your help :).

XOXO – L.