Best Prices on Holiday Toys

I get a lot of emails and phone calls from family and friends this time of year:

What’s a good price for _____?

Where’s the best place to buy _______?

How do I get a good deal on ______?

And I enjoy the hunt! So I opened it up on the MoneywiseMoms Facebook Page a few days ago, asking what toys you’re shopping for this holiday season so I could help you find the best price. Tomorrow, I’ll share some general tips on shopping smart for holiday toys. For now, here are a few of the toys we chatted about:

My Little Pony Wedding Castle

This toy’s original price when it was released earlier this year was an outrageous $61.99. After a poor response, it’s been reduced to around $29.99 at Target, Walmart and Amazon over the past few weeks. It’s listed in the Target Toy Book for $29.99, which most stores will price-match, and it’s gone as low as $27.99 on Amazon. Last year, Hasbro offered coupons on My Little Pony, so keep an eye on their website.

LeapPad 2 Explorer

The LeapPad 2 Explorer is the newer version of last year’s HUGE hit. I remember everyone scrambling to get their hands on it, and it looks like the new one will go the same way. You won’t see a price drop on the new version, so your best bet is to apply other promos–which I’ll share tomorrow–or to look for a bundle that includes games and accessories for a good price.

You may want to consider purchasing the original LeapPad 1 Explorer instead; the main difference is that it has twice the memory (4GB vs. 2GB) of the original. The other difference is the older’s back-facing camera vs. the newer version’s two cameras (front and back). See the comparison at Leapfrog.com.

Disney Bounce Bounce Tigger

The list price of Disney Bounce Bounce Tigger is $39.99 (crazy!), but it’s listed for $28.99 at Target.com, $26.92 at Walmart with free store pickup, and $26.88 at Amazon. Since KMart is offering it for $29.99 on Black Friday, I’d grab it now at that Amazon price.

Razor Jr. Scooters

Claire asked about “trainer scooters with two back wheels,” and Razor has a couple of options. One of the best ways to save on bikes and outdoor toys is to shop for used items at Craigslist or consignment sales, but if you want brand-new for the holidays, check out the Razor Jr. Lil’ Kick Scooter for $25.49 at Target (online only) or $29.94 at Walmart with free store pickup. Kohls is offering the Lil’ Kick at $24.99 as a doorbuster on Black Friday, which makes that Target price very good since you can get it anytime.

…and several people asked about Elf on the Shelf. I’ll do a whole separate post on that one!

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