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Sears Gift Card Giveaway!

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This weekend I went shopping… in my pajamas, while watching TV and sipping tea. Oh, yes I love the internet.

If you follow Susan and my tweets on our @5minutesformom account, you may have read that Susan has finished almost all of her shopping and, until this weekend, I had not even begun mine. My plan this year is two fold — shop online for as much as possible and do not overspend!

Most years, I start shopping early and I also usually do most of Susan’s shopping as well. As toy store owners, the Christmas season is incredibly busy for our families, so I try to get a head start.

But, without fail, I end up forgetting some of what I have bought and I get caught up in the excitement and end up buying too much. This year, I am going for a much more minimalist Christmas. I am starting shopping late and only shopping a bit. I will do almost all my shopping online with maybe one or two short trips to shop in store.

sears-kmart-giftcardSears challenged me to see how much shopping I could get done with a $200 gift card and to write about my experience.

Their gift cards are good at Sears, Kmart and Lands’ End.

To accompany my challenge, Sears gave us two $50 gift cards to giveaway. We are giving away one of those to one of YOU and one to our Under the Tree program for families in need.

Of course, I accepted their challenge! Shopping for me and free gift cards for you and Under the Tree — how could I say no???

So this weekend, I logged on and started shopping. My goal was to see how much I could cross off my list for $200. I needed to stuff my kids’ stockings as well as hopefully pick up some items for my hubby and my in laws.

While I love shopping online, buying popular toys at department store websites can be challenging. Often they are sold out or are only available for pick up.

This presented a problem for me and my “not leaving the house” plans. So, some of the toys that were on great sales or that I really wanted to get, I would have to go into the store to purchase.

strawberry-shortcake-treasuryBut, no worries. I definitely found enough items to play Santa!

I bought my kids lots of books — which I love to use for stocking stuffers. It helps build the reading incentive when Santa brings the books! Also, I bought books I know my kids will love: Star Wars for Jackson and Strawberry Shortcake for Olivia.

R2D2I also picked up a Star Wars 6in RC Clone Wars R2D2 on sale that Jackson has been begging for all fall.

While I was shopping, Jackson walked by and saw the Star Wars Ultimate Build Your Own Blaster. He collapsed in a pile of “Ohh please I neeeed that Blaster. Please buy that for me!” Fortunately, it was also on sale. Of course, I played it casual and said I was just researching Christmas presents. 😉

covington-tech-ski-glovesI bought a couple gifts for my husband. He had mentioned that he needed new ski gloves and I thought this Plug N Heat Travel Mug looked like an unusual and practical gift. (Shopping for my hubby is impossible! He is so picky and so I was pleased to find a couple items for him!)

Before I finished my online shopping trip, I also purchased up some slippers for my Mother In Law — because I can never go wrong with slippers.

(If you are wondering why no presents for Susan or my other family members, we play it practical and only shop for each other’s kids. So, my MIL, FIL and my mother – and of course my hubby – are the only adults for whom I buy gifts. And we also keep the gifts simple and not too costly. Makes it so much easier, less stressful and less expensive!)

One feature on Sears.com that I especially appreciated was the ability to select to see items from Sears.com AND Kmart.com at the same time and use the same shopping cart. That really sped up my shopping process!

So — how did I do?

Well, I went over my $200 budget and spent a bit extra. With shipping, my final bill was $228.49.

plug-n-heatFor $228.49, I got a ton of stuff. Here is everything that I purchased:

  • Star Wars 6in RC Clone Wars R2D2
  • Star Wars Ultimate Build Your Own Blaster
  • Disney Princess Belle Royal Tea Set
  • Disney Princess Sparkle & Splash Ariel Doll
  • Disney Princess Girl’s Lunch Kit
  • Hasbro Play-Doh Duffel Bag
  • Strawberry Shortcake and The Butterfly Garden (Paperback Book)
  • Storybook Treasury of Strawberry Shortcake (Hardcover Book)
  • Diego’s Baby Polar Bear Rescue (Paperback Book)
  • Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures 1 by Blackman, Haden (Paperback Book)
  • Star Wars The Clone Wars, Model Making Kit by Valois, Rob
  • The Star Wars Trilogy by Lucas, George (Paperback Book Set)
  • Star Wars by Reaves, Michael (Paperback Book)
  • R2-D2 and Friends by Beecroft, Simon
  • Plug N Heat Travel Mug
  • Covington Tech Ski Gloves
  • Oneida Kitchen Shears
  • Isotoner Pillow Step Clog

    • To enter to win a $50 GIFT CARD, please leave a comment below.

    This giveaway is open to US shipping addresses and will close on Friday, December 18th. We will announce our winner on Saturday, December 19th. Due to legal restrictions, this promotion void where prohibited.

    Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules.


    *Sears provided a $200 gift card for my shopping challenge, a $50 gift card for this giveaway and a $50 gift card for an Under the Tree recipient.

    Reader Interactions


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    360 Comments

    5. We would love to get to go to sears. Our sears is having alot of clearance right now especially shoes and my kids LOVE shoes. We havent started shopping at all. We r suppose to be able to get a couple things tonight but I am waiting to here about his paycheck. Wish us luck and Good luck to all of you!!!

      Reply

    11. Wow – you did great! Would love to win this, always a help at this time of year!
      ~Tanya
      the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com

      Reply

    12. I would love to be able to get one of these cards I am an avid coupon shopper and only shop clearance my husband has been out of work. So my pretty Christmas tree will be rather bare. I would love to be able to put some presents under the tree for my daughter.

      Reply

    14. Love Sears! I’m so impressed with everything you got for $200- wow! I need to head in there soon- hopefully with a $50 giftcard 🙂

      Reply

    15. Wow, I can’t believe you bought all that for just over $200! I sure would love to try to make $50 stretch as far as I could! I haven’t even started shopping!!!

      Reply

    22. I sure hope I am the winner. I sure could use some help this year with getting things for my daughter. Times have been tough.

      Reply

    30. I am also quite a thrifty shopper (shopping for 4 kiddos leaves you little choice). I consider it a challenge which I love to tackle. You did a great job!

      I could really use this card to get my wonderful kiddos something for Christmas, we are extremely in need this year and Sears has some great deals.

      My prayers and best wishes to everyone this Holiday Season!

      Reply

    31. This is a great giveaway. If I won, I’d share it with my niece. She just found out that they will have her step-kids on Christmas morning and needs to get them Santa gifts and like everyone…money is tight for them.

      Reply

    39. Sears is one of my favorite stores. I love their kid’s clothes and their household items. I could really use the $50 to spend there! Great job on the Christmas Shopping on a budget. I too am on a budget that I’m sticking with this year.

      [email protected]

      Reply

    41. Sears has wonderful quality of merchandise and great sales. My only problem is their relative lack of big and tall products in the stores. I can find Big but not Big and Tall. so I order for hubby online, the rest of family are thrilled with Sears so the GC would certainly be used.

      Reply

    43. Money is very tight this year, I could use some help for christmas for my 3year old. id be happy with $25 gift card. Thank You for offering this giveaway.

      Reply

    44. I can’t believe all the things you purchased with just that amount. I sure would love to shop at sears, especially with a $50 gift card. Oh what fun I would have.
      Thank you.

      jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

      Reply

    47. Wow – you bought an amazing amount of stuff for that price…I am impressed!

      Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!

      Reply

    68. I’ve been a Sears & KMart fan forever!! They have excellent deals and I’d love to win this so my Dad can get some tools he needs from Sears!!

      Reply

    73. I haven’t shopped at Sears in ages…went last week to see if they had a winter coat for kids..looking for a certain style. They had it and I was amazed at the selection of other items they had in clothing and other departments that I didn’t remember seeing on past trips. I’m going back again soon to spend a little more time shopping!

      Reply

    79. I would love to win this gift card to buy some things for my kids,its been hard this year and my bills have been consuming all my income so im not able to get my kids much so this card would do me justice no matter how much it is im a bargain shopper and i have 4 kids so underwear,socks and tshirts are definetly a need that i could use the card for..Thanks

      Reply

    81. SEARS…my husband DREAMS about SEARS!!! And now I have a son in law who is a seriously Sears shopoholic. that is what he asked for for Christmas. ANd guess what…I still dont have his gift. I will be watching my email on the 19th!!! Hopeful and faithful!

      ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

      Reply

    82. Sounds like you did great for $200! I still need to finish my shopping and figure out a gift for my own impossible hubby!

      Reply

    94. I am finished with my Christmas shopping! I try to have it all done before December 1st – that way I don’t spend as much because I’m not in the stores during the weeks right before Christmas!

      Online shopping really is nice – I did a fair share of that this year too!

      Reply

    107. Wow, great job on the shopping. I would love a challenge like that! We sure could use a gift card to help offset costs this year.
      Thanks for the great giveaway!

      Reply

    108. what a fun challenge you had!!
      You did fantastic and I am sure everyone will love their gifts! 🙂

      I would love this for after Christmas sales!

      Reply

    113. This would be GREAT! I have only gotten ONE thing for Chucky, and his list wasn’t very long
      :{
      Thanks for the opprotunity:)

      Reply

    123. What an awesome deal for so many awesome things! I love shopping bargains and seeing how much I can get for my money. Sears is actually a great place to snag some awesome deals too!

      Reply

    142. As a librarian in a public school I just wanted to thank you for showing your children what a wonderful gift a book really is!

      Reply

    143. I love Sears. We have one in our local mall. I did some of my Christmas shopping, but I would like to finish it up. Thanks for the chance to win.

      Reply

    160. Ohh..I could do some damage at Sears with a $50 gc! Sale clothing for the little guy!! Whoohoo! :0)
      bekki1820cb at gmail

      Reply

    161. We love Sears! I’d love to surprise my husband with some new tools in his stocking! 🙂
      sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com

      Reply

    165. I too sometimes overbuy for Christmas. We have a large extended family and 5 children so I usually start in October. This year our finances are very tight so I didn’t even start until Black Friday and I will admit it is easier to stay in a budget that way. The $50 gift card would definitely help with my stocking stuffers.

      Reply

    171. I hope I win the 50 dollars.Like you I would spend it on Family for Christmas.Merry Christmas may your hearts be filled with the gift of giving.

      Reply

    172. I could sure use this card to help make up for the money I spent this weekend at Sears.com on a pair….well a FEW pairs…of boots. Oh the shame!! =) Thanks!

      Reply

    173. Wow that’s a lot of gifts for $200! You did a great job at Sears! I would be shopping online because the nearest Sears is 4 hours away. Thanks for the chance.

      Reply

    174. WOW!!! GREAT!!! giveaway. I would love to win this giveaway to help with some of my Christmas Shopping. THANKS!!!
      Geri

      Reply

    175. My husband desperately needs pants for work and the pants at Sears fit him perfectly. Being seriously underemployed this would be a huge help!

      Reply

    176. Way to go with your shopping, you did excellent. I, of course, would love a $50 G. C. and I would gift it to my daughter (a grown-up with 2 kids).
      gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

      Reply

    179. Wow, you got a ton of great stuff for you $200! Awesome. Thanks for the chance to win a gift card for my shopping 🙂

      Reply

    194. This is a great giveaway. THanks for the chance to win. By the way, that was awesome how much you got for a little over $200. Anymore you could only buy like 3 things for that. I bought 2 things for Christmas that costs a little over $200. A Nintedo Ds and a good coffee maker so you done really good.

      Reply

    196. Already a subscriber..Wow you were able to buy a lot with $228 but most of all everything is of great quality.

      Sears has quality items! Would love to win a Sears Gift Card!

      Reply

    198. WOW! Pick me! Pick me! A broke grad student could really use that extra help to get some nice gifts for her 4 nephews!!
      But if not me, best of luck to all who entered!

      Reply

    204. I am amazed at how much you bought for $228. This would be a wonderful gift to receive. Thank you for all your inspirational post!

      Reply

    206. This would so great I’d be able to gift this to my husband & he’d have a gift of his choosing 4 Christmas from his fav Man Store SEARS !!!!!!!

      Reply

    207. I’m so glad that Sears is still going strong. I remember getting so excited as a kid when the wish book came..that meant Christmas was near!

      Reply

    212. Wow! That’s impressive! Nice assortment of gifts – nice job staying within (pretty much!) the budget!

      Reply

    215. Thanks for the chance to win! What an awesome giveaway – this definitely can help this Christmas!

      Reply

    216. I really enjoy Sears for their sales and clearance racks. You can really find some great buys. Thanks for the GC opp.

      melissap21702{at}aol{dot}com

      Reply

    217. You didn’t do bad, getting what you did for that amount of money. Please count me in to win. I could use this gift card to finish up my holiday shopping. Thanks.
      partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

      Reply

    222. Sears is a great store. I am so impressed with their participation with Extreme Home Makeovers. Their generosity is to be rivaled. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

    229. Great deals! And I can SO see my Daniel collapsing in a pile of PLEESE! Just as you say regarding the Star Wars stuff. Made me chuckle tonight…

      Reply

    232. I’m really impressed with how much you got out of that gift card! I’d love to see how far I could stretch one, too!

      Reply

    234. There are so many items I could buy at Sears! I would be like you and go over my budget! I think I would get my in-laws some kitchen supplies since they just bought a condo and need everything to furnish it!

      Reply

    236. I still haven’t started Christmas shopping. Seriously! I’m just not into it this year. I finally tackled some of Jack’s toys and found several things to give away and make some other kids very happy.
      Jack doesn’t like new stuff so much just yet.
      I’d love to say that I’m all Christmas is not supposed to be about gifts but the truth is that I’m just a little “off” on getting going this year.

      Reply

    239. It was very interesting and fun to see what you spent your $200 on. It’s always fascinating to me to see what people purchase as gifts. 🙂

      Also, wow! That $200 bought a lot! Sears has excellent prices.

      Reply

    240. Wow, that’s quite a haul!

      I still have the hardest one left to by for…my husband!

      Happy Holidays 😀

      Reply

    252. You did really Well! That sounds like my kind of challenge! I could really use $50 to Sears for my Hubby for Christmas!

      Reply

    253. looks like you got a lot of great stuff! I love to shop online. It is just so convenient. I am done with my shopping, but could do a bit more if i won the card. 😉

      Reply

    256. Sears is a place we have just recently started shopping at. They have some great things and really for everyone. I would love to win the $50!

      Reply

    278. Other than one more gift card (Home Depot requested) for my brother I am DONE with my Christmas shopping! However, I then have 3 birthdays in January so this would come in handy!

      Reply

    279. WOW you did a great job with your Sears shopping! Slippers are one of my addictions so anytime I get a pair I’m very happy!

      Reply

    283. This giftcard would be perfect to get my daughter a much needed winter jacket! You did awesome job on your shopping, keep up the great work on your site also! I love it!

      Reply

    289. $50 would go a long way towards a new winter coat for my older one, who’s just on the verge of outgrowing hers.

      Reply

    291. I know my husband would abolutely love to get this for Christmas (or anytime! LOL!) He would grab some new tools! 🙂

      Reply

    294. I would love to win this gift card – I think of so many things the kids would like and it would be helpful in rebuilding our house as well! Thanks for offering this!

      Reply

    300. I really enjoy shopping online also. No crowds! Looks like you are well on your way to being done – if not completely done.

      Reply

    311. You did great!
      I love shopping online & that is how I am doing the majority of my shopping this year.

      Thanks for the chance to win.

      Sears is the place for hard playing boys clothes!

      Reply

    312. I have always shopped at Sear during the holidays for my husbands gifts (tools) HA HA

      thanks for a chance!

      Reply

    323. I’d love to win this – my guys love their Eagles wear – affordable and we can often find coupons for Sears that stretches the $$ further. Thanks for the chance to win.

      Reply

    327. That R2D2 is so cute! Please enter me in this great giveaway. I love Sears and it would be great to have some spending money for Christmas gifts.

      Reply

    335. I LOVE Internet shopping! And I’d love to win a $50 Sears gift card! I buy a lot of my husband’s clothes there.

      Reply

    338. Wow, it would be awesome to be able to get all my Christmas shopping done at home! I’m expecting my first baby and never know when I’m going to be hopelessly sick – it always hits me very suddenly – and it makes me nervous to go out shopping. This would be very helpful.

      Reply

    344. Wow! You did great making that gift card stretch! I desperately need a new crock pot, so a Sears gift card would come in VERY handy.

      Reply

    353. Love Land’s End, and there’s definitely a few things there that would fill in my shopping list!! Great giveaway, thanks!

      Reply

    357. Enter me in!
      I could use a few extra $$

      Thanks for the opportunity and those gifts you got I might have to swing by Sears and check some out too!

      Reply

    360. LOVE Sears!! So many great, quality items at VERY reasonable prices. Here’s hoping I’m the lucky winner!! 🙂

      Reply