<p>Thanks jym. I won’t buy those again. My DH hated it!</p>
<p>I wish that we had a Big Lots near us, but we don’t. Sigh…</p>
<p>I am guessing other people did too, which is why they ended up at Big Lots!</p>
<p>I bought one of those squishy kitchen rugs/mats at Costco for my daughter’s kitchen for $8.99 - I thought that was a steal! It can be wiped off, but at that price I’d just replace it twice a year! Nice size too!</p>
<p>I love Big Lots too…and I still LOVE my $260 loveseat that I got there in the fall. It’s almost next door to GW! FYI, my GW is located in a working class town but the neighboring towns are wealthy semirural communities. When people clean out their closets, it’s great to be there. The next few weeks will be fun because LOTS of people take presents they can’t use there…or are cleaning out their old good stuff to make room for the new.</p>
<p>During the past summer when son was getting his new apt. Big Lots had JCPenney lined linen drapes (energy saving ones) in all sizes and colors. Picked up ones to be used on patio doors and huge windows (180x84/96) for $20 a pair. They still had the catalog numbers on the packages…$480-$600 depending on length.</p>
<p>I bought ones for every window (he has a 2 bd. 1350 sq ft. 2 story townhome w/fireplace and 2 HUGE balconies for $700…has a roomate so $350 per month for him!..just minutes by free bus ride to the med school). Drapes made all the difference instead of the cheap plastic mini-blinds that came with the place. His electric bill dropped by 75%!! Great with AC and heat. The most expensive thing was buying those hook things to hang the drapes from the rods (rods purchased at Ross for 7.99!).</p>
<p>Son has been amazed at how much cheaper he has been able to live vs. his fellow students! And they all love to get together at his place since he has so much more seating and studying room. Furnished his place with Craig’s List, Big Lots, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Homegoods and a few yard sale winners! Great deal on paint for the place as well, $5 a gallon Oops paint and he and I and his big sis as the painters. I did spill paint on myself…</p>
<p>I have a Big Lots reward card after 10 $20 purchases it issues a 20% coupon that I save for bigger purchases…like his matress/box spring while it was on sale as well!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>It’s so great to see the “saves” on this thread - and good to see that you CAN get quality on the cheap! </p>
<p>The one problem I have with Big Lots is that some of them are located in shopping areas that are somewhat desolate and not my favorite place to go in terms of safety.</p>
<p>Northeastmom, I didn’t get my package yet of bath mats, but I ordered the one that was about 2 feet, so I’ll see. The jeans were nice, soft cotton, not stiff like some black jeans I see.
I hope I like it enough to keep them…even as a spare. </p>
<p>As Thumper was saying as far as Goodwill stores, or similar ones, the closer you are to an upscale environment, the better the loot. When I worked in a town that the average home was 500,000-up, I met many women that would buy and give things to Goodwill, but many times they just ran out of room in their closets or bought things on sale that didn’t fit and would bring bags full of things. I had 2 Coach purses given to me by one of them for my kids. They didn’t want them (just don’t like the style) and they were bringing them to Goodwill. Those things wouldn’t last for long…maybe not even go on the shelf! : )</p>
<p>Well, good look with those bath mats!</p>
<p>I just got back from Walgreens. They are clearing out holiday candy and cookies today. It is 75% off. A lot was left over.</p>
<p>Hey my Walgreens was still 50% which I found odd…usually they are 75% or more. Maybe after the weekend. </p>
<p>I got a lot of bargains this holiday season, if just one is a dud, I’ll be happy. : )</p>
<p>Someone told me that this went to 75% off today. Perhaps it will be reduced at the store near you tomorrow.</p>
<p>I have a coworker that loves Elvis and they had an ornament and CD’s…75% off, they will be a little gift next year for next to nothing. They had some nice stockings left also and toys marked down. I tend to get those and save them for toys for tots next year.</p>
<p>My latest Goodwill buys…an Ann Taylor camel color merino wool funnel neck sweater for me, a LL Bean quarter zip fleece for DH, a LL Bean fleece vest for me, a RL Polo pocket tee for S2, three paperback books.</p>
<p>Kohl’s had 90% (!) off of it’s Christmas stuff. There was hardly anything left, but I got a couple of four packs of big bows for 40 cents. I also got a nice puffy jacket for $20 that will be a good warm inner layer for his Bon-Ton coat.</p>
<p>Eggnog Almonds at Trader Joes for $0.99 for 11 ounces.</p>
<p>Our local TJs has a holiday markdown section - slim pickings but a few bargains.</p>
<p>I’m a resale junkie. We have many options in our town. Building material resale shops, clothing and furniture consignment stores are abundant. Many shops are for specific causes, so that only adds to the delight in finding bargains. I also feel better about re-using quality items instead of purchasing poorly made ones. Of course that does not feed our “consumer” society, but it also prevents adding more to the landfills. Our local Goodwill organization concentrates designer, unused, better or unique items in a GW boutique store. Prices are a little higher there than the other GW outlets, but they offer 50% discounts once a week. Things go fast.</p>
<p>Wal-Greens has milk on sale this week for $2.79/gal. limit 2 gallons.</p>
<p>Attention outlet shoppers:</p>
<p>[How</a> to Find the Best Deals at Outlet Malls- Financially Fit](<a href=“http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113828-11736-3-how-to-find-the-best-deals-at-outlet-malls?ywaad=ad0035&nc]How”>http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113828-11736-3-how-to-find-the-best-deals-at-outlet-malls?ywaad=ad0035&nc)</p>
<p>Stopped at Kohls during lunch today to return those bathroom rugs. On the way out I spotted ties on clearance. I quickly grabbed the 6 nicest ones that were $3.20 each! Yes, they are all silk ties. There were other ties on clearnance that were marked higher, so I was not interested in those, but plenty with nice patterns for $3.20 (I picked up 3 solid ties, and 3 with a nice pattern, so not holiday ties). Orig. price of the ties were $36/tie.</p>
<p>Oh my…and I JUST got a 30% off coupon for Kohls…</p>
<p>Thumper, hope the store near you has this deal! This beats GW because the ties are all clean, unworn, and unwrinkled. This is the best I have done on ties in years! My normal “deals” for ties usually still run $8/tie.</p>