From the minute school gets out in the summer I am busily planning for the coming year, and that involves a lot of fun bargain hunting!  I have purchased several things from Family Dollar, Walmart, and Oriental Trading already, and I’m not done yet! First, a funny shopping trip with hubby…then the pics of my finds! Be sure to post a message about your “Hurrah Moments” or favorite purchases this year! I love to hear about what others are doing since we all benefit from Teacher Networking! Thank you!
A few years ago, I saw a terrific post on Pro Teacher Community about using paint stir sticks for name plates.  So…hubby and I went to the nearest big town two hours away to go to Sam’s Club (with an ulterior motive of “happening” by Home Depot).  When we went in, I asked him to go ask the nice man in the paint department for 25 paint stir sticks…”while I go pick out some trim paint for our new house” (yes, we were in the middle of the four year process of building our dream home–and yes, I maintained my sanity through it though I don’t know how!).  He came back to find me in the paint aisle shortly after I had sent him,  and explained that the man had looked at him like he was out of his mind asking for that many paint stir sticks in one shopping trip! It was then my turn.  I walked over, smiled nicely, and explained that I teach kindergarten and…voila! 30 paint stir sticks were miraculously retrieved from behind the counter.   Hubby was awestruck, declared me the queen of freebies, and asked that I never send him to do that job again! Since then, he has been gracious enough to ask for free cardboard displays of dinosaurs, movie characters–and more, carpet tubes, and carpet sample squares for student group seating! My favorite was the huge dinosaur (8 feet tall) with the set of 100 dino posters–the local grocer gave me the whole thing!
Now, for this summer’s finds…so far!

Here is a pic from an earlier post of the Hobby Lobby finds…

(the shoes were clearanced out at JCP 🙂 )

These cute little buckets were last year’s finds from Hobby Lobby.  I have repurposed them this year for identifying tables and holding pencils! They will have gift bag tissue filler on top to keep little eyes from seeing the florist’s foam base the pencil points stick into. 

I have purchased paints for making these cute little crayon organizers from Pinterest, and found the little canned fruits at Big Lots for 1.00/pack!

This was a wonderful Pinterest find from last year.  I’m just now getting around to making them!

And…back to Hobby Lobby and Walmart last week to purchase light green queen-size sheets and pretty ribbon for making new chair pockets! All of the things I have purchased would be sooo expensive if I had to purchase them ready-made! I am a happy teacher 🙂 I also have new sterilite storage units and more baskets from Walmart! Now, let’s hear about your shop-a-holic finds!!! Then after you are finished with your comment, go over to Ladybug Teacher Files and join her Summer Shopping Linky Party!