Better late than never! So glad you liked it! This type of outdoorsy box is my all-time favorite to pack for 10-14 year-old boys. Merry Christmas 🥰

I hope you find the fuzzy dinos! 🥰

Hi Trina. Unfortunately, there is no rhyme or reason as to when or if Walmart will mark composition books to $.10. When they go down that low, there is typically an overstock of them. If they are not overstocked you may never see that $.10 price. Each individual store manager is in charge of their own store’s markdowns, so one store may mark them down, while the next closest store will not. Sometimes specific colors are marked lower than the others. Sometimes wide ruled is marked lower, while college ruled is not, and sometimes vice versa depending on the store location. I don’t find $.10 notebooks every year, only occasionally and often times they are not actually physically marked. They are usually just on a shelf in the school supplies aisle mixed in with regular price items. I find them most often by scanning the barcodes with the price check function on the Walmart app. My recommendation to you would be to add the Walmart app to your phone if you don’t already have it. There is a free version and a version that you pay for that offers more perks. I have the free version on my phone. Whenever you are in the store, scan the barcode of each color in both wide ruled and college ruled. You will likely see a $.25 price more often than you will see $.10 and typically sometime after back to school, but not always. Sometimes you will see these reduced prices much later or at any time of the year that they need to make room on the shelves for something new coming in. That’s why scanning them whenever you’re in the store is so important, because you just never know when or if it will happen.

Hi-ya! Thanks for letting me know! You are savvy! It's amazing you know how it all works! Do you have an opinion on great sale prices we can count on for composition books? Oh, and where you tend to get them every year? Curious about that-- and switching to erasers---I have big bulk erasers in my watch list on Amazon, Walmart and I think Oriental Trading. The stock is nearly gone in 48 ct AND 100 ct. I'm wondering if its all shoebox folks snapping them up! I was hoping for certain colors. So really hoping a few will be left in a few weeks when payday rolls around. but most of them have less then 20 remaining so it will be interesting to see. Anyway thank you for the reply!

Great sale prices change from year to year with each company, store location, region of the country and time of year. Saving items in wish lists online is a great way to keep an eye on what you want/need so you can grab it up when a particular seller reduces the price. I rarely buy anything at regular price. I don’t purchase unless what I want is on sale or clearance. After shopping year round for many years I have a general idea in my mind what the best or lowest price is that I can expect to pay for an item in my area. Occasionally that even changes as the economy and markets change. The best times to shop is after a holiday or the end of a season when the stores clearance those items to make room for the next holiday or season. Stores like Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS and Hobby lobby will clearance holiday merchandise to 50% off the day after a holiday. Shortly after that (it could be a few days, a week, 10 days) they will take it to 70% or 75% off. Shortly after that they will take it to 80% or 90% off. I rarely buy anything even at 50% off, unless it is something I need and appears that there’s not much left and I don’t think it will be around by the time it goes to 75% off. I typically wait to 75% and of course my favorite, 90% off, at which time I stock up. It’s easier to wait for the deep discounts if you already have some stash built up. I hope that helps.

@@byrdfeed9071 That helps SO MUCH! I wrote down general mark downs 50% day after and flagged my calendar to check 7 days after that etc so we'll see how I do! I already have quite a bit saved in watch lists and several things I want only have a few left. So I'm hoping there will still be some at good prices right after Christmas (on next payday, and after I get gift cards for Christmas) so we'll see how I do! I will let you know! The more I learn to watch for sales and get good prices the more boxes I can do. I'm hoping to increase little by little each year---as long as hubby doesn't object! He likes doing boxes, but not into it as much as I am. I have had a ton of fun watching you, D Rogers and a few others videos to get ideas from. But you and Denise seem to make the greatest hauls and the best deals. Thank you so much!!!!! And, Merry Christmas!

@@trinab9069 one more thing. Follow some OCC Facebook groups, “Operation Christmas Child Obsessed”, Shoeboxes Through The Year” and/or OCC Instagram posters, “coolcassdeals”, “the_target_bargain_hunter”, even Denise Rogers “ginadrog”. You will see many posts alerting people the day the stores drop and to what % off. Merry Christmas, Trina!

Oh gosh, Tamara, without watching the video back I’m going to take a guess that I packaged the comb and toothbrush in a long slender cellophane bag called a pretzel rod bag (if you’re looking for it online). Does that sound about right?

Yeah, I bought quite a few, or so I thought, of those coloring books at Walmart this summer, but evidently not enough, L O L.

I saw some of those earmuffs packed in shoeboxes at the Aurora PC yesterday. They really are very cute 🥰

Thank you for saying that. I really appreciate it 🥰

I thought I might have already seen that camping journal somewhere, but I couldn’t remember if I saw it in someone’s shoebox, in a haul or just in the store. I probably saw it in your shoebox. 😊

Oh, I didn’t know that they closed. We don’t have them in the St. Louis area. I liked that the Band-Aids were 20 count instead of the typical 14.

@@byrdfeed9071 yeah, 20 count is good.

Thanks! So did you if you found the playing cards. Not many people did. 😄

Maybe not, but I imagine you probably see some things that we don’t. I’m assuming if they purchase an overstock from a company based in the US, they’re not gonna ship it to Canada, and vice versa. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks Denise. I hope you’re enjoying this week at the Baltimore PC. Val and I will be in Aurora tomorrow and Thursday. TFW 🥰

Thanks, Diana. I hope you find some of your favorites soon. TFW 🥰

Oh gosh! I’m 72!…No way I can remember all that, LOL!! I keep a list in my notes app on my phone. I make the list by age/gender. I name and number the themes under age/gender. Then add (separated by commas) what I’ve got so far for each theme. That way I always have it with me when I’m out and about and can easily revise it as needed.

I did a video 3 or 4 years ago called “How I Store & Organize My Stockpile”. You can easily find it under “DIYs & How To” in my playlist. Thanks for asking. 🥰

Yes, I’ve done that, too. Depending on what the item is and how it’s packaged, I’m either placing a sticker over it or snipping off the corner of the packaging or just not buying it at all, lol. I agree, we need to petition!!

The underwear was such a great find and fabulous deal! So glad you found some, too. 🥰

I love the playing cards. They’re really cute. I only found them in one of the many stores that I shop. I’m now wishing I bought more.

Do they have the red circle $1.25 embedded on the Uno Go cards now too?!! Oh no!! I have noticed that on some things, mostly in cosmetics, they’ve started putting the $1.25 price in small black lettering on the back of the packaging, which is much better. I am hoping that enough people have complained about the big red circle that maybe they are going to change to the more inconspicuous black $1.25 marking over time. Who knows?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

@byrdfeed9071 The $1.25 on Uno is printed on the package in the front corner, but thankfully isn't in a circle. 😊

Yes, I think you’re right…Gru!! Thanks 🥰

Hahaha, oh me too! 😣

Thanks Val. I love those, too!

Thanks. Very simple and inexpensive, but still has plenty in it. Thanks for watching and commenting 🥰

Yes, I have done that, too! 🥰

Yes, they were $1.25!! Awesome deal!!

Yeah, it’s kind of the epitome of OCC, right? Thank you. It was a fun one to pack for a little girl. 🥰

Thanks, Becky. It’s one of my faves! I pray the young lady who receives it finds joy in it. 🥰

Thank you, Becky. Wow, that was back when everything was $1 at DT! I think everything in the video still holds true, but now, at $1.25 I could probably add a few more items to the list. TFW 🥰

Thank you, Niki 🥰

If you ever get the opportunity, I definitely recommend it. This particular video was from last year, but Val and I are heading back again this year, staying over and working two days. I’m looking forward to it 🥰

Thanks, Becky. I love making pencil packs for filler, even when they are simple, like these.

You’re quite welcome. Wow, I did this video back in 2021, but honestly, my set up is still pretty much the same. I’ve added hanging shoe organizers with clear shoe pockets to both sides of the closet door. I’ve found that to be a great way to organize school supplies on one side and hygiene items on the other. 👍👍 TFW 🥰

Sounds like you packed some awesome boxes! Yes, like you, I pack items for the age they are best suited. Most of the toys I pack in 2-4 boxes are labeled 3+. Honestly, I feel that most 2 year olds don’t put things in their mouth anymore, so I leave the discretion to their caregiver. Any 2-4-year-old is going to have a parent or caregiver who can decide if an item is not suitable for the child who receives it. Most of all, I don’t want to deprive the 3 and 4-year-olds of an awesome toy that is perfect for them just because it “might” go to a 2-year-old. So I don’t worry too much about it anymore. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 🥰

@@byrdfeed9071 Thanks for the feedback. I was probably a little over cautious this time but I will use my good judgment next time. I cleaned a space in my closet and I have 6 clear bins that spinach and salad mix came in labeled with a pink or blue post it for each age range. I already have something in each box, a head start for 2025! Your videos are very inspirational!

@@shescraftea9107 sounds like a great start👍👍

😄 you’re welcome! Glad it was helpful.

Thank you, Trina 🥰

Thank you. Yes, I think this will be cute for a 10-14-year-old girl. TFW and commenting 🥰

Thank you so much, Susanna. I appreciate that 🥰

Thanks! I hope the young lady who receives it loves it, too. Thanks for your comment 🥰

🥰 That one was a favorite 🥰

Yay! This is absolutely wonderful to hear. Stories like this keep me going L O L. Your pencil packs sound awesome and the extra fidget toys are perfect too. Yes, I agree, it IS FUN to pack filler!! God bless you (and your helper) 🥰

You’re welcome. I hope it was helpful. TFW 🥰

What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing that with me. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for your comment 🥰

Thank you! This one was a favorite. I love a woodland animals theme. I hope the young lady who received it loved it too. TFW 🥰

Hahaha, yes, lettuce edging… it’s a real thing bc it looks like lettuce 😉. I guess my million years spent in retailing paid off for something 😆🤣😂 This box is one of my faves too 🥰

Unfortunately, Walmart does not have wall scanners. ☹️

@@byrdfeed9071 Thanks for the reply! I don't go often but I'll try to hit the after holiday/back to school sales for next year.

You are welcome. I am so glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for watching 🥰

Thank you, Sharon 🥰

That might work 👍👍. My pinking shears are so dull they don’t cut anything L O L. I need to get them sharpened ☺️

Thanks Maritza 🥰