Saturday, March 20, 2010

Cheap Invitation Ideas

Posted by kim on March 19, 2009

With my twins getting confirmed and my son graduating in the coming months, it’s going to be party central at our home.  So as I am procrastinating on the cleaning aspect, I know I need to get invitations sent out.

When I find invitations on clearance, I stock up for various events.  I knew I had bought confirmation invitations from the Factory Card & Party Outlet at 75%, so I went to my “free room” to find them and could only find one package.  But I did find 30th birthday party invitations (got 90% off from Hallmark) that I had Confirmationintended to use for my brother’s 30th birthday party, but obviously forgot I had them!  But my cousin’s 30th birthday is coming up, and we plan to use them for that.

So, initially I went to the Dollar Tree (where “Everything’s $1″) to look for invitations.  They have a lot of choices (ie birthday invitations, baby shower invitations, wedding shower invitations, baptism invitations, etc), but none that actually said “Confirmation”.  I did buy some generic white invitations with gold/silver embossing, and planned to use them, until…

I went to Target and scoped out the clearance end-caps (as I always do) and found some Club Wedd Printable Invitations marked down to $4.37 (regularly $17.49).  The box included 50 invitations, 50 response cards, 50 invitation envelopes, 50 response card envelopes and 2 test sheets.  I know these are meant to use for weddings, but they are totally void of any indication of such.  I downloaded the free software templates to make some awesome looking confirmation invitations.  And I think I’ll let the girls use the smaller cards intended to use as response cards for Thank You notes.

Graduate on SkareboardAs for my son’s graduation invitations, I did order the basic official invitation package from the school through Josten’s, but will use those just for grandparents and mementos.  I intend to upload pictures to Vistaprint and order 100 free postcards.  I have ordered these several times to use for invitations, even Christmas cards.  I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to upload one picture to fill up the entire backside or if I’ll use one of their free templates and add a few pictures, including some cute baby pics.  Plus with postcards, I’ll save a ton on postage.  I’m even thinking of then ordering free postcards for him to use as Thank You’s with a picture of him in his graduation cap and gown!

Note that postage rates are increasing again on May 11th, 2009! If you buy the “Forever Stamp” now for 42¢ each, you will still be able to use those for first class mail when the price increases to 44¢.

Now, does anyone wanna come over and help me clean my house for the open house parties?!?

Good Shopping Day!

Posted by kim on February 20, 2008

I just got home from running some errands and got some great buys…

First at Target, the Valentine’s stuff was marked down 90% off!  I got an overloaded cart full of stuff for $20-something!  At 19¢ for a box of chocolates, I’m bringing belated V-Day treats to the girls’ confirmation class tonight and enough for everyone at my Kiwanis meeting tomorrow.  I have a good excuse for being late since my son had surgery on 2/14, so I got enough treats for my mom, aunts, cousins, etc. And I stocked up on gift bags, bows, picture frames, and other non-looking V-Day stuff to use for gifts.  With three girls, the stockpile makes for some great gifts for their friends’ birthdays.

Next stop was Walgreens.  Here’s the double-plays I did…

Sunsilk Shampoo/Conditioner was on sale 3/$10 – $1.50 coupons (I had 3) – $3 Register Rewards = 3 bottles for $2.50!

Jane Cosmetics on sale B1G1F – $2 EasySaver Coupon off mascara (did not work on $3.99 mascara, had to get $4.99 mascara) – $2 off printable Jane coupon = 2 products for 99¢ (I got the mascara and some concealer).

Edge Shaving Cream (got bonus bottle with free razor attached) $1.99 with in-ad coupon – 75¢ = $1.24 for shave cream & razor

St. Ives Apricot Scrub – found on clearance endcap for $1 each

I also used some in-store coupons for Puffs, toilet paper and paper towels.  Then I had 2 – $2 off Register Rewards to use, so I only spent next to nothing!

Btw, the Free-After-Rebate Items and Chapstick deal are still valid at Walgreens!

Office Max Leather ChairAnd my last deal was more of an impulse buy.  I’ve been wanting a new office chair since I spend many hours a day sitting here, and my lower back has been hurting. While at Office Max, I noticed the High-Back EZ Executive Leather Chair on sale for $79.99.  (Regularly $129.99 – a $50 savings!) After testing it out, I knew I had to have it!  It claims to be “innovative no tools required assembly” so I should be sitting in it moments after I finish this post!  It’s available only at OfficeMax.com as well with Free Shipping!