PYP Blog

Need something to do while kids are home during Winter break?

Remember, admission to Hogle Zoo is free on Wednesday, Dec. 30 as part of the zoo's wintertime "Wild Wednesdays" promotion.

This is a HOT deal, given the fact that regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and $7 for children ages 3 to 12. (Children under the age of 3 are free.) Other free days this winter include: Jan. 27 and Feb. 24

Remember to stop and say 'hi' to the zoo's newest member, Zuri the baby elephant.

image 1~ Winter snowglobes made from Christmas tree ornaments bought for pennies on Holiday clearance.


I am looking for some fun ideas. Do you have unique techniques or ideas on how to use leftover Christmas items or things purchased for cheap during Holiday clearance to make them seem non-Christmas? Do you buy every candy cane on post Christmas clearance because you are the one that makes Valentine hearts out of them?

Any other creative uses for Holiday decorations? wrapping paper? ANY other thing?

I want to know what your ideas are! To make life more fun and help someone get more bang for their buck during this Holiday clearance season; I will be offering a $10 Target GC to the most creative/fun use of Christmas themed items and it will be featured in an upcoming blog.

*Please note that all ideas must be submitted by 10 PM MST Monday night (12/28).

Check out this thread on PYP for details.

Please note: This is the second article (2 of 4) in a series about post Holiday clearance shopping.

Grab the keys and let's hit the mall. Not! Unless you want to spend more money, take more time and simply be more frustrated. It is time to prepare for your shop before you leave home.

Clearance Shopping Guidelines

1. Familiarize yourself with the Bargain Huntress Holiday Clearance Rules.

2. Check out Pinching Your Pennies forums. Thismust stop on the internet will help you save time and money. There are over 60,000 registered members across the country, and it is nice to have all the extra sets of eyes doing research at stores and sales for you.
*Check out the Screaming Deals around Town to see what % off savings you can expect today (and decide if you want to wait for a higher saving %).
*Check out Your State forum to see if there is a Must -Have hidden gem in your neck of the woods.
*Check out your Favorite store’s thread (Target is mine, for example) to see what deals you might have missed, but now know to keep your eyes peeled for when you hit the store.
*Check out Printing Pennies for HOT Printable Coupons that might match with a hot clearance sale item. A great example would be $1 off Emerald or Diamond Nuts. Many nut gift baskets are at low clearance prices and a coordinated $1 off coupon would make for a great double play!
*Have a particular item you are searching for? Use the Find a Penny forum to get assistance in finding that $20 Christmas tree you are searching for, but cannot find at your local Big Lots. Others in nearby cities can check out their stores for you!
*Check out Screaming Deals Online forum. Many online retailers are having clearance sales, too. The staff at PYP are the best deal finders on the net, and you don’t want to miss out on some great gifts with savings of 75% or more.

3.Go shopping by yourself, if possible. And try not to bring your children. If you bring the kids, you have added items that you do NOT want into your cart and it is very easy to get frustrated, faster.

Here's an idea that might work for you... A good friend & I trade off clearance shopping days- one baby-sits while the other shops, then the next day we trade. Our kids have fun play dates and we get a day of Clearance Shopping by ourselves!

4. Remember that there is more to Christmas clearance shopping than leftover bows, tinsel and wrapping paper. Bath sets, Desk sets, and other unique gift items that you do not see at your store throughout the rest of the store are most likely Holiday clearance.

5. Be creative when shopping Holiday sales. Have a girl friend who loves to scrapbook? Look for Christmas scrap booking items that probably are on clearance. Continue to purchase Holiday themed clearanced supplies for your friend (I would wait til 90% off) and when it is time for her birthday, you have a unique and fun present that didn’t cost you much.

6. Have a person in mind when buying non-Holiday clearance items. This will prevent you from overbuying bath sets AND maintains control over your budget.

7. Limit how many stores you will shop. This may seem obvious, but try to stick to a few stores, even one mall, to maximize your shopping time and minimize wear & tear on you. If you focus on one or two stores, say Target, you can patiently wait for items to be marked down to a lower price in a few days (as it will be. See tomorrow’s blog entry for some golden Target clearance information)

8. Check out the store’s website for any information about sales, printable coupons and rebates to add to your savings.

9. Sign up for your favorite store’s newsletter and store loyalty rewards cards. Many times, you will be the first to hear about sales and rebates and new coupons. Bath & Bodyworks do this all the time. For example.

10. Get a Store Charge Card. (Disclaimer: I am NOT advocating using credit or going into debt simply to shop Holiday Clearance sales.) Please let me start by saying that I do not have store charge cards that I use, nor carry a balance. However, store card holders can receive special coupons and discount cards/codes that the general public cannot use. Kohl’s is the best example of this.

11. Get to know Target & its Clearance system. This is a whole entry unto itself and you will see it Monday morning. (This is one of my most requested shopping secrets)

12. Get creative with cheap clearance items. This is another blog entry, too. Stay tuned for some fun & unique ideas about Christmas clearance on Tuesday morning.


If you use the above ideas while Holiday Clearance shopping, you will maximize your monetary and time investment while minimizing stress & frustration. Happy Shopping!

Who knew October was National Cookie Month? Mrs. Fields, that's who! The gal who equips every mall food court with an intoxicating aroma is now hooking you up with a free, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Stop in between 11am and 1pm on October 1, at participating outlets and simply ask for your treat (and don't forget to ask for your frequent buyer card to get up to 6 more FREE
cookies through October 31.) Just one more reason to LOVE October! (As always, give your local store a call before heading over to be sure they're offering the freebie.)

Cornbelly's
Thanksgiving Point
3003 North Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, UT 84043
Exit 284 from I-15
www.cornbellys.com

Utah's original corn maze. We hope you'll come visit us this fall at Utah's most popular Halloween destination. You're sure to be lost, laughin' and lovin' it in our new design for our world-famous maze. With more than 20 fall and haunted attractions, Cornbelly's is proud to once again offer plenty of farmtastic fun for the whole family!

Open September 25 to October 31, 2009
Monday-Thursday: 4-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: closed
Haunting begins at 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Monday nights beginning October 2 plus Oct. 15 and every night Oct. 26-30.
We will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the UEA and Fall Break dates of October 1,2, 15, 16.

Cornbelly's Bargain Pass (includes ALL activities at Cornbelly's except haunted attractions on Mon/Fri/Sat)
Adults - $10.95 + Tax
Children age 2 and under are free!

Haunted Combo (includes ALL activities at Cornbelly's, including haunted attractions on Mon/Fri/Sat)
Adults - $15.95 + Tax
Children age 2 and under are free!
Season Pass - ALL Activities, Multiple Times - $25 + Tax
There are additional charges for gemstone mining, pumpkin purchases, pumpkin blasters, corn cannons, laser tag and paintball.

Print a coupon at this link.

Special offer! $3.93 admission, valid 9/25- from 4pm-10pm and 9/26 from 10am-11pm. Requires printable coupon from kbull93.com.

Black Island Farms
3178 South 3000 W Syracuse, Utah
More info and coupons available at this link.
801.774.MAZE (6293)

4 MAiZEs — 24 Acres of Fun — The largest cornfield maze in Utah! (Our largest maze this season is honoring Twilight-New Moon.)

Black Island Farms tickets includes admission to the Courtyard and all of its attractions, including Kiddie Corral, plus the Cornfield MAiZE. Some activities have additional fees, such as Pumpkin Bounce ($1 entry ticket), Corn Cannon ($1) and PaintBall Shoot ($1 per cup of balls)

Cornfield MAiZE
Open September 18 to October 31, 2009. Monday-Thursday 4-10pm. Friday 4pm-midnight. Saturday 10am-midnight. Sunday 1pm - 5pm.
Open 10am to midnight on Thursday and Friday of UEA weekend.
Adults (over age 12) $10 Children (age 3-12) $8 Age 2 and under are free.


Get a Combo!
This includes the MAiZE and a hayride
Adults (over age 12) $15 Children (age 3-12) $10

Nightmare Acres
The haunted MAiZE is open Thursday from 7pm til 10pm
Friday and Saturday from 7pm til Midnight
Open Thursday and Friday of UEA weekend also with the hours of 7pm til Midnight
Admission $15 per person (all ages) — Combo with regular MAiZE $20 per person (all ages)
Not recommended for children under age 12


Little Bear River Bottoms
More info at this link
½ mile south of the Wellsville Burger King on Highway 89/91- east side Look for the Giant Scarecrow!
Parking: all along north side of dirt road (perpendicular).

We Feature:
* 2 Awesome Corn Mazes!
* Haunted Hay Ride/ Haunted Barn
* Spooky River Trail
* Jungle Grass Maze
* Concessions

Prices
* Mazes only: Kids 3-12 $4 - Students w/ID $5 - Adults $6 - Family $25*
* All Mazes and Spooky Barn Ride: -Kids 3-12 $5 - Students w/ID $7 - Adults $8 - Family $30*
* All Mazes and Haunted River Trail: -Students w/ID $8 - Adults $9
* All Mazes, Spooky Barn Ride & Haunted River Trail: - Students w/ID $10 - Adults $12
* Under 3 yrs.- Free

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday 5-11 p.m.