Winter Clearance

This is the time of year that stores clear out their winter merchandise.  Today at Wal-mart (Portage la Prairie, Mb) there was long sleeved shirts as well as toques (I realize this is a Canadian term!  What do American's call toques? Beanies?) for $1 each.  I especially loved the toque with a pom pom on it that says Canada.  Always neat to include an item or two that bear the name of the country the shoe box came from.  The sizes for all items tended to be more on the small size, with the occasional large size.

Some people question whether warmer clothing items like this, are appropriate for the countries they are being sent to.  I would answer yes!  Not all countries have warm climates...think of Russia for example.  Definitely some nice items to keep a child warm.

Happy shopping!

Back To School Deals

Back to School deals continue.

Superstore
10 pack of pencils .25 cents
Crayola Crayons .75 cents
Crayola Pencil crayons $1.25 (includes a pencil sharpener)
4 pack of excercise books .25 cents
loose leaf .17 cents


Staples
12 pack of Bic Pens .96 cents.
Crayola crayons .70 cents
10 pack of pencils .33 cents
24 pack of pencil crayons .96 cents

Walmart
There was no school supplies advertised in their flyer this week.
I'll hopefully get there in the next few days to check it out.
But they always add match.

Multiple Mondays- Fun glasses

I was glad to find these again at Wal-mart.

These silly glasses you can find in the party section.

And they're 5 for $1.00 so it's great value.

And look at this precious smile they can bring!

Walmart Clearance.

Walmart is clearing out boys hats, they come in packs of 2 for $1.00.  The price was marked at $5.00 but I thought it was worth asking if they were marked down further. And they were $1.00.  Score!
Boys shorts and pants were on clerarance for $1.00.  I only found smaller sizes for 2-4 boxes for this price. 
They were also clearing out spoons.  3 for .50 cents.

Anyone else finding good deals these days?

Walmart- sponge balls

Walmart is clearing out there summer stock.

There wasn't too much left at my Wal-mart location.

But I did score these sponge balls.

Regular $1.00 each on sale for .25 cents.

5-9 boy

Underwear .60 cents -Walmart 5 pack for $3.00

Stickers .10 cents - garage sale

Flip flops $1.00 - Old Navy

Cap $1.00 - Walmart

Green shirt $1.94 - Superstore summer clearance

Silly Glasses  Walmart

Stuffed Animal .25 cents- thrift store

Notebook .06 cents - Staples.  4 pack for .25 cents

Loose leaf .04 cents - Staples.  .19 cents divided 5 ways.

Cross necklace free- Made in vbs

Cup .25 cents - Dollarama.  4 for $1.00

Pencil Sharpener .25 cents - Dollarama 4 for $1.00

Eraser .20 cents - Superstore.  5 for $1.00

Flexible bunny .50 cents - Walmart -Easter clearance

Soap .30 - Superstore. 10 pack for $2.99

Washcloth .33 - Giant Tiger. 3 for $1.00

Bouncy Ball .25 cents- Old Navy

Tennis Ball .16 cents - Superstore. 18 pack for $2.99

Plastic Animals .33 cents - Dollarama. 3 pack for $1.00

Puzzle .94 cents - Giant Tiger clearance

Car $1.00

Pencil Crayons .75 cents

Total $10.25

5-9 girl

Stickers - $1.00 - Dollarama

Wiggly Worm - .10 cents - thrift store

Stuffed Animal - .94 cents - Superstore.  Easter Clearance

Shoes - $1.00 - Thrift store.

Bag with flower - free with clinic purchase

Underwear -.70 cents  - Giant Tiger 10 pack for 7.00

Sewing kit - free from hotel

Socks - .20 cents - Michaels clearance

Cup- .25 cents - Dollarama 4 for $1.00

Loose leaf - .04 cents -Superstore - .19 cents divided 5 ways

Note book -.06 cents- Staples. 3 pack for .25 cents

Small notebook .50 cents - Superstore Valentines clearance

Pencils - 20 cents - Michaels

Pens - .15 cents - Walmart.  10 pack for .50 cents

Eraser - .10 centsWalmart - Valentines clearance 5 or 6 pack for .50 cents

Hairbands - 10 cents - Thrift store

Toothbrush-.20 cents - Dollarama - 5 pack for $1.00

Wash Cloth- .22 cents- Walmart - 18 pack for $4.00

Braclets -.80 cents Reitmans 5 pack for $2.00

Skipping rope - .32 cents - Dollarma 4 pack for $1.25

Pencil Crayons .75 cents- Superstore

Total $7.13

Add a Magnifiying Glass

When I read Canada's yes/no list for the first time. A yes item that caught my attention was a magnifying glass. 
I have never thought of adding this.  But it makes sence.  There are alot of children in the world with eye sight problems and can not afford glasses and glasses may not even be available in their area.  But the magnifying glass could help them learn to read and write. 
On Friday when I was at Wal-mart I found this magnifying glass on sale for .40 cents.  There was only one there but I am going to keep my eyes open for more.

Hot wheels deal at Walmart

8 pack of Hotwheels cars for $7.00

While quantities last.

Under $10.00 boxes. 10-14 boy

This is the first year I am collecting supplies all year around.
And I must say that enjoy the hunt of finding a good bargain.
It's amazing what God puts in our path.

I decided to do a 10-14 boys box first.
I do believe that 10-14 boxes are the least amount packed world wide.
And in my mind I always thought they were hard to pack for.
But after hearing that they receive the least amount of boxes I was determined to pack more for them.
I have enjoyed looking for ideas online.
The Operation Christmas Child facebook page has great ideas, as does Clip with a Purpose.
So here's what I've come up with for my first box under $10.00
And I have found they are not that to fill;)

Multipurpose tool $2.00 - Dollarama
Water bottle .05 cents - New from a garage sale.
Bungee cords .50 cents - Dollarama.- pack of 4 for $1.00 divided between 2 boxes.
Truck- not sure where it came from.  Has been sitting in my boys room, never played with.
Underwear .60 cents -Walmart- package of 5 for $3.00 (this was a great sale back in April)
T-shirt $1.94 Superstore - summer clearance.
Marbles $1.00- Dollarama
Stuffed animal - .25 cents - New from a thrift store.
Pencil case - $1.00 - Dollarama
Notebook - .06 cents.  Staples Pack of 4 for .25 cents.
30 sheets of loose leaf.  .04 cents.  Superstore. A pack of 150 sheets divided 5 ways. 
5 pencils .12 cents. Superstore- pack of 10 for .25 cents.
3 Pens .25 cents - Staples - pack of 12 pens for $1.00
Eraser .19 cents - Superstore- pack of 5 erasers for .94 cents
Pencil sharpener .25 cents - Dollarama - pack of 4 sharpeners for $1.00
Pencil crayons .50 cents.  -Superstore-$1.24 divided by 2.
Balloons  free -from a parade
Wash cloth .33 cents. - Giant Tiger- pack of 3 for $1.00
Soap .30 cents - Superstore - $2.99 for 10 pack
Tennis Ball .16 cents -Superstore - $2.97 for a 18 pack
Slinky .25 cents - Target -after Christmas clearance.
Bouncy Ball .09 cents.  - Independent dollar store- $1.50 for a package of 12.

Grand Total $9.83

Although I just noticed I did not include a comb.
This is a staple in my boxes. 
I usually buy a package of 8 from Dollarama for $1.00
So add .12 cents to my total.

And candy I will add from my boys stash of halloween candy.

Which age and gender would you like to see next?

Walmart is clearing out their own brand, Mainstays, of pens.
A pack of 12 pens for .50 cents.
Thats the best price I've seen for pens.

A few deals- edited

I found this week.
Superstore.

There are a lot of toys on sale.

Here are 2 that caught my eye.

Stuffed animals.  Regular $3.99 now .94 cents.

Mini puzzles .44 cents.

.19 cent loose leaf continues.
2 scissors for $1.24.
These have been repleneshed at my Superstore.

They also marked down their shoes/sandals/socks and hats.

Walmart

Fruit of the Loom 9 pack of  girls underwear.

$7.00
I haven't been there in a while to check out other sales.
Not stated in their flyers.

Staples
12 pack of bic pens .96 cents.
24 staples brand pencil crayons .96 cents.
They still have the 4 pack of hilroy notebooks
for .24 cents.

School supplies are dwindling but there are still a lot of good deals to be had. 

Be sure to stock up now for your boxes.

4 pkgs of pencil crayons + 1 pkg of pencil sharpeners= 8 happy kids

4 packages of  24 pencil crayons with pencil sharpener

at Walmart or Superstore.

4 x $1.25 = $5.00

1 package of pencil sharpeners.

$1.00 at Dollarama.

Divide each package of 24 pencil crayons in 1/2.

Now you have enough pencil crayons for 8 boxes.

Plus 8 pencil sharpeners.

(4 free pencil sharpeners which come on the box and the pack of 4 from Dollarama)

All for $6.00 or .75 cents a box.

Loose Leaf.

Flipping through the back to school flyer's I noticed they're advertising loose leaf at amazing prices!

Superstore and Walmart have 150 sheets for .25 cents.

(Sorry my picture has Staples on it.  I bought when they had it on sale too.)

Have you ever thought of buying a pack and dividing it and putting it in your box.

If you divide it by 5 each box receives 30 sheets.

And it's only 5 cents a box for paper!  And what a precious commodity paper is in developing countries.

Will you even notice the .25 cents on your bill?  How can you not buy it;)

Sewing Kits

I always like packing items which could help the recipient.

I try to include a sewing kit in all my 10-14 boxes.

The top sewing kit I found at Giant Tiger for $4.00.

The scissor seems like really good quality.

The bottom kit I found at walmart.

They are normally $5.00 but at my walmart they are clearing them out for $3.00.

They both have a variety of items: scissor, measuring tape, pin cushion, needles, thread, etc.

I also found a huge bag of buttons on sale at Walmart for $1.50.

I bought that and I added more buttons to each kit.

I will probably have enough buttons for this year and next from this bag.

I am also planning on adding more safety pins to each kit.

As they only came with a few.

And safety pins always come in handy.

Another idea is to take the sewing kits from hotels.

Not all hotels have them. 

But if you happen to luck out, take it along and put it in your box.

I have a few friends who travel often who are

 collecting for our packing party this Christmas season.