It's Christmas time again and you know what this time of year brings. The smell of cinnamon and pine trees in the air, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, delicious foods and fun parties, while the tired crooning of Mariah Carey and her version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" plays on repeat for the rest of the year. I think it's high time you retired, you old hag.
This time of year is very stressful for many reasons. Most people are trying to sort out their affairs before the end of the year, so everyone is rushing around in the hustle and bustle of the world, all while trying to purchase Christmas gifts, plan time with family, and plan out their Christmas dinners. In addition to allotting funds for your roast beast and Hoo Hash, winter time also brings higher utility bills due to the colder weather. Money is often tight around my house in the month of December, so I'm a professional when it comes to planning Christmas on a Budget. Lucky for you, I'm not going to keep my tips a secret! To help those of you who are strapped for cash or strapped for time, I have found some great gifts that are not only useful, but are also very affordable. Let's get started!
My love for Rite Aid has been well documented over the last six months here on my blog. There is a reason for this. They have sales all the time, accept coupons, and usually have more of a selection than other stores in my area, like Wal-Mart.
This week, Rite Aid is running a 50% off sale on NYC beauty products. This is such a great deal because there is nothing in the NYC line that is over $4.99. If you have any pre-teen girls that are starting to dabble in make up, go grab one of everything from the line and use it as stocking stuffers. Now, that is not to say that more mature chicks would not like to get things from the NYC. They have a few hits and misses within the line, like stay away from the eye shadow but their nail polish is legit, but for what you pay, they do very well. I highly recommend their bronzer and eyeliner!
In addition to this sale, Rite Aid is also offering $10 off of any fragrance set over $30. I know what you're thinking --"Drug store fragrance sets are so tacky!" Okay, I agree that they are very tacky, and for the love of God, don't buy anyone under the age of eighty a White Diamonds gift set. What I have done in the past is to go buy a gift set, then break it up and pair it with another item or two. You can also get a few presents out of one fragrance set. For example, if you get a set and it has three different perfumes in it, ditch the box it came with, grab a bottle of perfume, some of that NYC makeup, put it all together in a cute bag with a bow and you have yourself a present that is quality, but won't break the bank.
I generally think Walgreens sucks in terms of the sales that they run, but they do take coupons and every now and then you will find something on sale that makes up for the sheer amount of suckage they force upon us all. In this week's sale paper, they have fleece lined leggings on sale at 2 pairs for $10. Fleece lined leggings are great because they are thicker... and I wear them as pants. Don't judge me, I look damn good doing it. Walgreens also has their scarves on sale with the same deal, 2/$10. To wrap up the $10 deals at Walgreens, they also have their Sherpa throws on sale for $9.99. These blankets are pretty large and measure at 50x60in, so one of these babies would be perfect for snuggling up on the couch with while watching Fireplace For Your Home on Netflix.
I love BBW... That would stand for Bath and Body Works, not Big Beautiful Women, just in case you were wondering. There are some great deals at BBW, but you better hurry because the coupon code I am about to give you expires on December 11, 2014. If you're shopping online, use the code WHYNOT10 (in store code: 4761) to get $10 off of a $30 purchase. You can stack this coupon with the sales that the store is already having to maximize your savings. Let's take a look at the deals they are running right now:
-3 wick candles-- 2 candles for $22
-Hand soaps-- 5 hand soaps for $18 or 7 hand soaps for $24
-Wallflower refills-- 4 refills for $20 or 6 refills for $24
-Signature body care items- buy 3 items, get 2 free
Not only are these items already discounted, but the coupon code really takes a chunk off of the overall price. Dare I say that you may even want to keep some of these products for yourself? It's okay, I won't tell anyone that you did.
Do you have a lady in your life that is worth a little more than the NYC makeup that you can get for 99 cents down at the local Rite Aid? I got your back, boo. Head on over to Ulta's website and pick her up the Lorac Royal Pro Eye Collection for only $28. Included in this collection is a palette with three neutral eyeshadow shades, eyeliner, and mascara. If you order this collection online from Ulta, you also get a free mini Lip Lustre Lipgloss. A combined total on this set with the lipgloss is a whopping $113. Talk about a bargain!
Until December 13, Ulta has their Chi straighteners on sale for only $99.95... but wait, there's more. On the back page of their weekly ad (available on their website) there is a 20% off coupon on Chi, knocking the final price down to only $79.95! Keep in mind that these straighteners retail for $160.
The Body Shop- Half priced body butters
The Body Shop is offering their seasonal body butters for 50% off on their website. The scents included in this sale include Vanilla Brulee, Glazed Apple, and Frosted Cranberry. These retail for $20 each, but are on sale for only $10. These body butters would make great stocking stuffers, or you could even pair one of these up with some fuzzy socks for a gift exchange or Chinese Christmas. The Body Shop also has gift cubes (pictured above) that include two mini sizes items for $9 and $10 each, or two for $15, if you would prefer to give something in a gift set form. The packaging on these sets are much nicer than those you see at Wal-Mart.
Sephora- Sampler sets for the girl (or guy) who has everything
Sephora does these great sampler sets they call "Sephora Favorites." They have several varieties of these sampler sets available, like ones specifically for skin care or specifically for lips, etc. Most of the sets include travel size versions of products, but usually one or two of the items included are full sized, which makes these gift sets worth the price. There are 21 of these sets and they range in price from $20 to $99. My personal favorite of these sets is the Fragrance Sampler for Her. For only $65, you get fourteen samples, each of a different fragrance, and a voucher is included to redeem a full sized bottle of the fragrance you liked best. They also offer a men's version of this gift set with cologne for only $60!And there you have it, a few gift ideas for the those of us who need some advising this holiday season. Just because you're on a budget does not mean that you can't do it in style. From my family to yours, lots of hugs and love as you celebrate with your loved ones.
Xoxo,
Bridget
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