Yes, I KNOW! It’s barely October, and here I’m talking about Christmas shopping already. But after the fiasco two years ago, last year I started working to be wiser and more accountable with my shopping expenses. Last year I was very specific with a budget, an Excel spreadsheet and tracked every penny. This year, I’ll do the same thing, but I want to start my shopping a little sooner and spread out the spending between a few different months. It sounds smart, right?

So today I purchased the first set of gifts for the kids. And I found some good deals on them, too!! (Princess, if you are reading this… WALK AWAY! There’s a rule, if you find one of your gifts or find out what it is, it goes to charity!) =P I bought four computer games at Amazon for a total of $29.00 by choosing games that were under $10.00 each* and spending enough at once to qualify for the free shipping.

I love free shipping.

Wanna see what I got the kids?

• Reader Rabbit Learn to Read Phonics Preschool – Kindergarten (Jewel Case)* ($2.00!!)
  
• Carmen Sandiego’s Great Chase Through Time* ($9.05)
• Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? (JC)* ($10.78 – ok, that one’s a little over ten…)
• Reader Rabbit 1st Grade Classic (Jewel Case)* ($7.17)

So when do you start your Christmas shopping? How do you find your best deals? Do tell! A budget-concious momma wants to know.

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