More Dollar General Clearance Shopping for OCC Shoeboxes: Clothes, Toys, Hats & Shoes

I know you all are going to get tired of seeing my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes flip flop posts, hang in there, they will soon turn into school supply posts. After I went on the 4th and gathered flip flops at three different Dollar Generals I came home to read that there were certain women's socks for $.30 each and if you bought three you get one free--bringing the price down to $.23. So Sarah, my driver, graciously took me out again yesterday.

Here's our trip:

• I have gotten some other "Cars" items on clearance so am planning at least one theme box for those and when I saw this short set and shoes at 70% off I had to splurge.  This will be a fun box to do.
• Of course I checked all the stores for flip flops (different stores) and found new prints we had not seen.  Also, got a few of the same ones we had gotten before (especially boy colors), but I didn't include them in the pictures.
• They had more of the socks, but I wasn't fond of the designs with Betty Boop (or some such gal) so I just got these ones.  They will be put in 10 to 14 year old girl boxes.
• While checking out the manager behind the counter told me the $6 Disney hats were 70% off.  I didn't like any of them but saw these $5 hats so asked her to check the price--yes, they were $1.50.  I plan to decorate the plainer ones and I was excited by the Scooby Doo hats because they look like dogs with little ears--I see dog themed boxes in my future.  I got about 15 hats.
• We got three different toys at 50% clearance:  stickers [2], Lego like blocks [1] and a doll.  I thought I took pictures, but could only find the doll picture.  The stickers were sea animals and I will use those in our ocean themed boxes--can cut the sheets in half as they are large.  But I love the little doll--she is soft and cuddly and just the perfect size.  I'm thinking of designing a pattern from her to make my own little dolls for the boxes and I hope to make her some clothes and a little blanket.

So overall we saved 70%.  I try to average 50 cents per item in the boxes.  Since I get some free with coupons and deals I can splurge on other items.  At this time I set a limit of $3 an item--limiting myself to how many over $1 items I can buy.  I wasn't sure about the short set, but Sarah reminded me that it was two pieces so $3.60 was fine.

I physically can't shop much and we don't have a lot of stores in our area, so I cannot do as well as others can on their price limit, but I can do what I can and fill as many as I can as well as I can and enjoy myself along the way.  I am so thankful that Samaritan's Purse started Operation Christmas Child and gives me the opportunity to help young children around the world.

Each Saturday Sarah shares our additions to our stockpile.  You can see them all here:  Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ Adding to Our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stockpile.