$5 or less

One of the ways that my mom and I coped with being constantly around children during our two months together was rather cliche but very effective-- we shopped. Neither one of us were/are rolling in the dough, so to speak, so our retail therapy consisted largely of bargain hunting at Goodwill and the like. Here are some of my inexpensive {$5 or under!} finds and a few tips on how you can do the same.




Brand new Converse sneakers for Baby R: $4.99 at Goodwill. August is a great month to look for clothes and shoes at thrift stores-- all the big retailers start donating unsold clearance items to make way for the Fall lines, meaning you can find items with tags still attached but pay only a fraction of the cost!




Wooden Pirate Puzzle $4.49 at World Market. I always check the clearance section at this store-- they have cute toys that work perfectly as stocking stuffers, Easter basket fillers or small birthday gifts.




Mirrored Pound-a-Ball Toy $4.99 at Goodwill. Another item I found brand new in its box at a fraction of the original price. A tip with thrift stores-- find one or two locations that cater to high-income neighborhoods and then visit it once a week. Usually, the best deals I've found have only been on the sales floor for a day or two, so it pays to visit often.




Diggin' Car Boxset. This is one of those brilliantly designed toys that I love and would usually splurge on come Christmas, but I found it at Goodwill for $3.99. It was missing a few pieces, so I emailed Diggin' about buying replacement parts and they sent them to me for free. Sweet!




Build and Grow Projects at Lowes- FREE! Sign up early and your kids get to build anything from a tow truck to wooden binoculars that really work! The toys are unique, of good quality, plus the kids get an apron, goggles, and ofttimes a snack-- all at no cost to you.




Striped Espadrille Shoes-$4.97 at Old Navy. Though I get frustrated with the 'disposable' clothing found at Old Navy, things like shoes and accessories can be had for a song, especially if you haunt the clearance section.




Mason Jar Drink Dispenser $4.99 at World Market. Did you know that if you join their Explorers Club, World Market will send you {really good!} coupons as well as a $10 gift certificate on your birthday? I signed up every member of the family {even the baby!} so that 6 months out of the year, I have $10 to spend! This drink dispenser was under $5 thanks to Little Miss C's birthday credit. :)




Remember how much E loved the Rush Hour Jr game? Since then, I've found the full sized version as well as the Railroad version of the game {both in box!} for under $5 at thrift stores! I'm saving them as Christmas gifts....




Lastly, this wasn't $5. It was $19. But it's a Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair, which normally sells for well over $200. I couldn't believe it when I saw it sitting amongst a bunch of junk at Goodwill! My initial plan was to turn around and sell it for a quick profit, but it turns out that it really is well designed... I think I'll use it til baby R outgrows it and then I'll sell it. Perhaps a paint job is in order? :)

Next week: fashion for less! Happy weekend all,  and happy bargain hunting!