Now is the time to SHOP!!!

Stores are clearancing out their Christmas inventory, so now is the time to take full advantage! Try to think beyond Christmas while you shop by remembering these tips:

• Valentine's day is only 6 weeks away- buy red candies, napkins, and plates and save them for February.
• Walmart has a great variety of holiday tablecloths on sale for about $4 right now. Pick up some for gifts or for you. Most of them are solid colors such as green, red, and gold which can be used any time of year.
• Use one of the tablecloths you bought for a tree skirt for next year. Just cut a slit through it and place at the base of the tree.
• Buy Christmas themed pencils, erasers, and trinkets for next year's operation shoebox, angel tree, or your own child's stocking.
• Buy extra wrapping paper, lights, and decorations for next year-you'll love pulling out brand new stuff next year without paying a thing!
• Check your grocery store clearance cart. Our Kroger has Ghiradelli chocolate chips for $1 a bag!
• Another deal I'm seeing is boxed Christmas cards. Pick out a few boxes with simple designs and re-face them by putting a picture on the front. $1.50 for 15 cards is sooo much cheaper than buying or even making them yourself!
• Online photo processing companies are having super sales on picture development and photo cards. I'm planning on doing a valentine photo shoot with our daughter this week and taking advantage of the photo card deals. The pictures will still be current as Valentine's day is only 6 weeks away and the cards will be much cheaper now!

*Online photo-processing sites: www.seehere.com , www.shutterfly.com , www.snapfish.com , www.kodak.com , www.clarkcolor.com .