As we get into October, it’s time to really start to get focused on packing Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Boxes. This is my families favorite outreach, and has really helped us get into the holiday spirit each year. What a better way to teach your kids about Christmas, than letting them help pack boxes of gifts for kids that will never get a present any other way. This will be our fourth year packing boxes, and every year we get more organized and more into it!
If this is your first time hearing about it, then let me share the basics.
Your family can pack a shoebox filled with little things that any kid would love and need. There are collection sites all over the US, and from their your gift is processed and shipped to any one of a number of countries. Last year they even got boxes in undisclosed areas that had never let them in! Boxes go out to over 100 different countries, reaching over 5,000,000 kids last year alone.
I had the joy of passing out boxes in Haiti last year, and my life was changed. These kids have such joy, but yet they have nothing. We went into a dirt floor school room packed with over 100 children, they had no clue what we were there for, but were so eager to please us. They even sang happy birthday to my husband who was back in the states. As we passed out boxes the kids were literally leaping out of the seats they were so excited over crayons, and toy cars. Their thankfulness and joy made most of us cry, and is a moment that I will never forget.
If you plan ahead the cost is very minimal, but I promise the rewards are great. Each Wednesday for the next 6 weeks I will give you a list of the top deals around town that would be perfect for a box. Some things to look out for:
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Bar Soap
Wash Towel (I like the ones that are super shrunk and grow they get wet- they are $1 at Dollar Tree)
Stickers
Sun Glasses
School Supplies
Little Toys
After you are done packing your box they ask for a $7 donation to help with shipping costs. It is not required, but it helpful. I would encourage you to make your donation online, and then you’ll get to follow your box all the way to it’s destination country. We’ve turned that into a school lesson, taking the time to learn about the countries our boxes have traveled too. We packed 8 boxes last year and they ended up in 6 different countries!
To get more ideas, watch a video I made with OCC last year, discussing tips for packing a frugal show box:
Today only at Bath & Body Works, you can score a FREE limited edition Pumpkin Carving 4 oz candle and a FREE Gift Bag on orders of $25 or more! Shipping is also lowered to $1 today!
Use the coupon code PUMPKINGIFT at checkout to see your free items and your $1 shipping
This code can be paired with some of the other great sales like the Buy 3 Get 3 Free Signature Collection Body Care items
Plus when you shop through ShopAtHome.com, you can get 3% cash back on your order.
See more Online Shopping Deals!
Heads up folks, there is a new high value coupon on Facebook for $1.50 off Baileys Coffee Creamer. This is a Redplum coupon, so you will have to allow the Facebook app and then allow the Java program to print the coupon.
With this coupon you can get the creamer at Publix this for FREE when you stack it with the $1 store coupon from the Yellow Advantage Buy flyer!
See more printable coupons.
Plum District has put out a coupon code for 20% off their already great deals. Use the code FLASH26 at checkout to get the discount.
The best deal today I think is the chance to get a 16X20 Photo Canvas for $31.60 shipped! These are normally around $120, so that’s an awesome chance to knock out a huge gift for a fraction of the price.
To get the deal:
Head to Plum District.
Get the $27 Printcopia Photo Canvas print
Use the code and get it for $21.60!
You will owe $10 shipping on the canvas when you order it, bringing the final total to $31.60.
Heads up: This coupon code expires today at 8 p.m. (EST)! The code will not work for Plum Steals
See more Daily Deals!
Today at Totsy, you can grab a $40 Credit to Pear Tree Greetings for only $20. That means you get 50% off Christmas cards or anything else you want to make!
You must redeem you voucher online December 31, 2012 and it can’t be combined with any other offer. Shipping is included in the value of the voucher, which makes it even better!
I grabbed a couple vouchers last year and was able to get all our Christmas cards and had some extra to make sweet personalized thank you cards for my girls.
See more online deals.
Stop by your local Publix this week to stock up on baking items! Buy the name brand and get a chance to compare it to the Publix brand for free! To make this deal even sweeter check for coupons listed below.
Buy Theirs Get Ours
- Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallows Buy One Get Publix Brand Marshmallows Free
- Bakers Coconut Buy One Get Publix Brand Coconut Flakes Free
- Nestle Butterscotch Chips Buy One Get Publix Brand Butterscotch Chips Free
-$1/2 Nestle Toll House morsels, RP 9/09
-.50/1 Nestle Toll House morsels, RP 9/09
-.75/2 Nestle Toll House morsels, RP 9/09 - Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk Buy One Get Publix Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk Free
- Reynolds Wrap, 75 ft Buy One Get Publix Brand 75 ft Aluminum Foil Free
-.55/1 Reynolds Wrap foil, 35 sq ft. +, excl Wrappers, SS 9/30
Check out the rest of this weeks Deals at Publix!
Starbucks is going to have a great sale on K-Cups!
Tomorrow, 9/27, through Sunday, 9/30, you will be able to get K Cups B1G1.
The offer is valid on 12 count K Cups. Online the K Cups are priced $19.95 which would make it $9.97 each or 83¢ per K Cup, hopefully we will find them in the stores a bit cheaper.
I don’t know whether your store will take coupons… but there is one out:
-$1 off Starbucks k-cup packs, SS 9/09
The offer is available at participating locations only so be sure to call ahead to make sure your store is participating.
Read More→
Make sure you are always scanning your ExtraCare card at the Coupon Center (a.k.a Magic Coupon Machine) because this week many of you are getting a coupon for $2/2 Tresemme Hair Care products.
This coupon has no size restrictions so it can make for two free travel sized shampoos or conditioners at CVS. The regular price is 99¢.
See all the deals at CVS this week.
On Saturday, September 29th, Kangaroo Express is celebrating National Coffee Day! They will be offering a 12 oz Bean Street Coffee for just 1¢ to every guest at more than 1,500 locations.
Stop by any of the locations between 8 am and noon on 9/29! For those of you who love coffee, you know its hard to find coffee this cheap! Check out the Kangaroo Express locations near you.
