Bargains welcome

Yes!! Great Thread!

I think the key is to remember what people will really use too. I know personally when I first started looking I got carried away with sooo many ideas. keep it simple and get a few meaningful things rather than just bag stuffers.

I have really been using coupons! I know a lot of people don't like dealing with them, but with the wedding I really need to. If you pay attention to a coupon site it will tell you the upcoming deals. Obviously I need more than one, so I order coupons on ebay then stock up. I have been able to get free (just pay tax) shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, deoderant, razors, tylenol, first aid kits, and much more. Walgreens is my favorite place, but sometimes Walmart is a good deal. The trick with coupons is to avoid buying in bulk. Instead buy the trial size. For example a trial size body wash was $1 and I had a $1 coupon (printable online). Make sure the coupon does not exclude trial sizes, but other than that you're good to go. Walgreens has register rewards which are like an instant rebate. i.e. buy toothpaste 1.99 & get $2 back in register rewards. You can't use that RR on another tube of toothpaste because it will not give you another one. But you can keep buying the toothpaste (one at a time). I got free chapstick this way. Yes I paid full price out of pocket, but I had lots of $2 rewards then. I used those rewards on other things I needed and were going to buy anyway. I could go on and on, but I know a lot of people really just think its too complicated. It feels it at first, but really I just read a coupon site, find the deals I need, find the coupons, then go, and go, and go. I feel like I'm going to be able to give some wonderful bags for not much money. I think I am getting some cheap sunblock in a couple weeks at Walgreens and I am pretty sure I saw free aloe sometime in August. Walgreens also has t-shirts 5 for $10. I am trying to use my register rewards to buy the t-shirts and then I will iron on my logo.

Im so happy to hear some of these ideas and inputs its really gettin my gears turnin:) thanks ladies

Coupons rock & sales are definitely the way to go... I find though if I am left to my own devices I buy a bunch of stuff I wasn't planning on and spending MORE money! I come to my senses and then return the stuff LOL

Thanks for this thread ladies! Keep the tips coming!

Everyone has awesome ideas! Personally, my friends/family don't expect anything at all. Instead of putting items inside, maybe just get them a nice Beach Bag? Something they can use other places.

I also made an information booklet on what to expect during the vacation.

I have also been ordering Sticky Notes, Note Pads, Pens, hats and T-shirts from Vista Print. They ALWAYS send me emails everyday where you can get all of these items free and just pay the shipping. Sticky Notes, Note Pads, Pens, and a Hat costs me $5.03 for shipping. I figured everyone uses note pads, and sticky's especially for messages/lists so I know they will all be used. You can only order one on each order, but there are unlimited orders per day that you can do.

Good Luck!

Thanks for all the wonderful links ladies!

After much research, here are a few great bargains I found for our bags (we're doing 30 total):

50 packets of Advil- $15.99 (free shipping) on Amazon.com: Amazon.com: ADVIL IBUPROFEN PAIN RELIEF TABLETS 100/BOX: Health & Personal Care

100 packs of Planter's peanuts (we're putting a couple in each bag) $20.64: Planters Peanuts, Salted, 1-Ounce Packages (Pack of 100): Amazon.com: Grocery

100 stadium cups (16 oz-see attached pic)- $99 (includes free printing and set up- shipping was $15) from ebay seller cupman19. I designed the layout on customink.com (who wanted over $150 for the same size/quanity!) and emailed it to cupman19... he sent a proof within an hour and I had the cups two weeks later. Highly recommend!

How do you get a logo

Thank you MoJay for those ideas!!