Christmas Shopping - Cheap & Early!

Christmas shopping already? You bet! At garage sales and thrift stores? Oh yeah!

I do buy some things new - basically my husband and children will receive 'pre-owned' gifts. But new stuff is also available at garage sales for a fraction of retail price!

Here's what I've got so far:
For Hubby:
Books                                                   ~ $1.00
For the Kiddos:
Personalized Disney books, 1 each          FREE
Thomas The Train DVD                            $1.00
Book - "Green Eggs and Ham"                  $0.50

Stocking Stuffers
New Neon Bendy Pens                            $0.25 ea
New Snowman Candy Bags                     $0.25 ea

Miscellaneous Gifts:
Blurt (pre-owned game)                           $5.00
New Spa Basket (lotions, salts, etc)         $1.00


I know, it's a bit risky to post exactly what I plan to give people for Christmas ... but by December who's gonna remember a silly little post from 7 months before?  I figure I'm pretty safe :)

.

Garage Sale Finds - Not TOO Bad I Guess ...

I think I let my impulses get the best of me this time ... I walked into a garage sale in search of a backpack. Instead, I came out with this.

The large, textured painting was $10. I'd seen it months earlier in the store for $40-$55 and wanted it ... just in a different color. And the smaller painting ... I just love that kind of stuff. It was $5.  I paid $2.50 for the Fisher Price barn. It didn't come with toys, but  ... it's a classic that I got nostalgic about and bought anyway. Besides ... I did intend to make a barn for my boy, so this just worked.

Yeah ... none of that is a back pack, and none of this was on my list. Oops. Oh well. I guess I get to start decorating. It's something I enjoy and want to do, but ... $$$ you know ...

... now I have an excuse to decorate the bedroom :)