Kristen's post on the effect of the economy on care packages makes me think about bargains I rely on for my care packages.Below are a few of the things I think of as especially good deals that I keep buying over and over again. How about you? Where do you find good deals on particular items you send all the time? With gas costs, I don't do as much driving around as I used to.

At Deals store 

• Koolaid individual drink pkts 12 pk- $2
• Lipton indiv ice tea 30 pk - $2
  
• Beef jerky chunks small pk - $1
• Hard candies - $1/bag
  
• ChapIce spf 15 lip balm - 2/$1
• Shaving gel - $1/tube
• Petroleum jelly - $1/tube
  
• Foot powder - $1
• Bath wipes - $1 - $2
  
• 200 water balloons - $1.50
• generic fabric refresher (like febreeze) - $1
• flip-flops - $1 when on sale
• eyeglass repair kits - $1
• travel sized bottles
  

Big Lots

• Razors for those who use the cheap ones
• Envelopes -.89
• Writing tablets - $1
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• generic pepto bismal tablets
• ziploc bags - snack, sandwich, quart and gallon
• large tub of peanuts (I attach baggies for making indiv servings) - $3
• tuna pouches - $.89
• seasonal and holiday items
  

Walgreens

• Wylers Light teas and lemonade indiv pkts 8 pk - $1
• flip-flops - $1 when on sale
• multi-game kit in briefcase (checkers, chess and several others) - $9
  

Aldi's

• Gum (Big Red, Wrigley's, Winterfresh, etc) - .89/5
• Strawberry newtons
• Beef summer sausage
• Beef ravioli
  
• Spice grinders 

WalMart

• Alpine Xtreme body wash 28 oz (for travel refills) - $3.95
  
• Pert Plus 2-in-1 shampoo + conditioner 24 oz (for travel refills) - under $4 (I think)
• Austen PB&J crackers 12 pk - $1.98
• Cheese crackers
  
• Rice pouches (ready-to-eat flavors)
  
• Gummy smilies 24 pk
  
• Indiv drink mix pkts (whatever's on sale)
• Indiv instant coffee pkts - .89/8
  
• Tide (powdered)
• Shoe Goo (can't find it anywhere else)
• 6 pk socks
  
• lots of things with coupons (especially $1 off deodorants and shampoo, and 2 for 1 air fresheners)
  

 Free stuff

• Fast food restaurants - bags of condiments (hot sauce, barbecue, relish, etc)
  
• Libraries - expired magazines
• Auto supply stores - expired magazines and sometimes calendars
• Department stores - cologne or perfume samples
  
• Dentist - toothbrushes, floss
• Optometrist - eye drops
• Casinos - used playing cards
  

Great idea to help find the bargains.  Here's a few I have found:

Big Lots: 10-pack small memo pads $2

                Pringles Potato Chips 90 cents

                Paperback Books 50 cents

                Hormel Beef & Veg (microwaveable) 80 cents

                Chipotle BBQ Trail Mix $1.50

                Spices 4 oz. for 65 cents

                 Lipton Cup a Soup 80 cents

                American Flags light set $2

Family Dollar Store: 7 oz. salted sunflower seeds $1

                                   9 oz. Tootsieroll Lollipops $2

                                 12 oz.  Suave Mens Body Wash $2

                                 Tussy Ladies deodorant $1

                                 Ladies Nail Care Kit $2

                                  5 Slim Jims (beef)$1

                                  20 oz.skin lotion $1.50

                                  Mac & Cheese (microwaveable) $1

K-Mart: 80 moist towelletes (6.8 inches X 7.5 inches) $2

Wal-Mart:  Beef Ravioli $1

                    Chili with Beans $1.28

                   6-pack mens black sox $5.50

                   Hard and gummy candies 88 cents/box

                    Licorice 83 cents

                    Pringle's Extreme Chips $1

                   Equate soft soap 88 cents

                   Halls cough drops (resealable bag of 30) $1.21

                   3-pack of 4.5 oz. Irish Spring soap $1.50

                   Travel Sewing Kit $1.12

                    Bobby pins 98 cents

                   DVD's $1-$5

                   Quaker Chewy Granola bars $2

                   Maxwell House ground coffee $3.14

Widget,

Alas, this year, it seems that the Walgreen's sale on their $1.99 flip flops is most often now 2/$3 rather than $1.00.  We have sent boxes full of the $1.00 ones in the past, but with our cut-backs, we won't be able to send as many at that price.

Gran