Operation Christmas Child: How to Save Money Packing Shoe Boxes

I love, love, love Operation Christmas Child.  I would pack hundreds of shoe boxes if I could.  One thing I am able to do though, is pack more shoe boxes than I could if I didn’t use coupons.  Being able to give generously is just one of the many benefits of couponing.

I’m going to show you how to pack your shoe boxes to the brim with goodies, without breaking the bank!

• School Supplies – If you were couponing this summer, then you remember the tons of school supplies we were able to get free or cheap at office supply stores.  Crayons, pencils, and note pads are all great items to add to your shoe boxes.

• Halloween Clearance – Target, Walmart, CVS, and many other stores have halloween items on clearance for 70-75% off around this time!  Look for non-chocolate candy, small toys, crayons, play-doh, pencils, stickers, clothes, and anything that isn’t scary and can fit in a shoe box. If you plan ahead, you can take advantage of other clearanced seasonal merchandise throughout the year.

• Target Dollar Spot – My favorite section at Target is the Dollar Spot.  The dollar spot is a section near the front of the store with items selling for just $1 each!  There are tons of toys, games, puzzles, socks, notebooks, and various other items you can include in the shoe boxes.

• Coupons and Trial Sizes – It may seem obvious to use coupons to get some of your items cheaper, but use them on the trial sizes and you could get them free!  Look for coupons that do not have the wording “excludes trial size” anywhere on it.  Then pair the coupon with the trial size version and you could get the item free.  The trial sizes fit great in the boxes too!

• Dollar Stores –  You can find everything you need to fill your shoe boxes and it will probably be cheaper than just about anywhere else at full price.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to give generously!  By looking for deals and using coupons, maybe you can pack an extra shoe box and bless one more child.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

This post was adapted from an article I originally posted in 2009.