Hi Everyone!

There’s already a “best deals” post for Tactical items so I thought I would add one here.

I had to travel an hour yesterday to Mennard’s. I’ve never been to one before since there isn’t one nearby.  But, I’m told they have a chain of stores nationwide. . .so perhaps there is one nearby you.

They had a display of Pop Ice freeze at home pops* in small boxes of 100 for $2.87 with a $1 rebate on the box!  The clerk was kind enough to ring each box separately (but, the offer permits photocopies of your receipt.)  The boxes fit in the flat rate boxes with room to spare.   I don’t think anyone will mind if I remove the rebate form from the bottom of the box before shipping it. . .hey, it’s 59 cents after postage costs.  The offer doesn’t say, “Limit One per Household” but does exclude “groups.”

They also had Crystal Light drink mix packets for $1.98 a box!  Where I usually shop these are $3.99 a box (ouch!) so I just get them when they are ‘buy one get one free’  I stocked up yesterday.

I’ll be sending these along to a contact who will be returning from R&R soon.  I hope it will be a nice package to get when returning to the heat.

Have any of you found any great deals lately? on summer items or some other item?  

-betc

 

*Jel Sert Company

I think I'll pay a little visit to Mennards this afternoon.  We have two in Madison, nearby.  Also about those drink mixes, WalMart has it's own brand.  Has anyone gotten feedback from soldiers as to whether they like those or not.  I've sent many.  I think they are about $1.89/box of 10.  I also use Sam's Club (WalMart only bigger quantities) for large quantities of things.  Like cases of granola bars, etc.  It's a tad cheaper and I can have a big supply on hand to shove into little spaces as well as send in bulk. 

God Bless,

Mary

Dollar Tree has Wylie's Light for a buck.  Maybe fewer packets than in a box of Crystal Light? Didn't think to count them.

 

I've gotten the Wyler's at Dollar Tree, and there are 8 in a box. But still a good value per unit.

I've been sending the WalMart brand drink mixes for awhile now, and they have been warmly received. And I drink them myself. I figure if I like it, someone else will too!

Jenifer / Jenifer_one_N

Yes, I didn't know Walmart had its own brand until a few days ago, when a soldier specifically requested it.  I live very close to a Dollar Tree and not so close to Walmart, but the next time I am there, I will probably pick up a bunch.

I have wanted to send ice pops but am worried about shipping them. Let me know how that goes. I have seen a lot of requests for these.

I've sent the Flavorice freezer pops (that come in a box of 18) to several contacts and they've all been received no problem. I didn't do any special packaging, just left them in their original box and sent in the FRB1 with other food items.

They DO love their freezer pops!  I would add that it is wise to send ANYthing liquid inside a Ziploc or two.  I brought home a box of 100 freeze pops last summer and accidentally dropped the box.  When I opened it, several of the pops had burst open.  Talk about a mess!  My hands were splotchy with red and blue and purple by the time I got them all out of the box and rinsed off in the sink.  I remember thinking at the time how yuck it would be if that happened to a soldier, so I always put them in Ziplocs.  I read that some supporters put extra cushioning in with them, but I am just careful about what I pack next to them - no pencils or lollipop sticks or whatnot to poke them in transit.  So far all have arrived with no problems.

Yes, I have it on good authority that red and blue and purple splotches are not regulation wear in the army.

I am a rookie and have just signed up for the first time to send care packages.  I may be a bit nieve here but how do the soldiers freeze them? 

Oh, good question!

A lot of them do have refrigerators. You just need to make sure that you are sending them to a unit that does.  Often they will say so in their posts on AnySoldier.

I was just at Dollar Tree and they have boxes of Hawaiian Punch Ice Pops, 18 to a pack for a buck. The pops may be a little smaller than some of the other brands. 

I haven't bought ice pops before. Does that seem like a good deal?

 

I bought some of these recently, too!  Not sure if it's the *best* deal, since there are only 18, but heck it's only $1!  If anything they'll probably be excited to have a different flavor of popsicle, so that makes it worth it!  

Have you tried them yet?  I haven't mailed the box I bought, I was going to try them out first, just curious how good they are. 

While we're on the topic of popsicles, I'm tellin' you guys, you've GOT to look for the Wyler's Italian Ice ones... troops LOVE them... they are the best!

I agree with you, CaliGirl! Believe it or not, I've got the Wyler's Italian ice in my freezer and I'm eating one as I type this!!   LOL 

Thanks for the feedback!

I haven't even bought any yet...they were in a display by the cash register as you went out (dumb place, IMO) and I already had three bags full, plus so much stuff at home already.  Now that I have this nice forum, I decided to wait and see what you guys thought.  I used to like Hawaiian Punch as a kid, though. Not a mystery brand, so they should be okay, I think. 

The different dollar stores vary in quality, and I have trouble keeping them straight sometimes. In terms of product quality, though, I've had pretty good luck with Dollar Tree all around.

I will keep an eye out for Wyler's Italian!