I cant believe it, i won a sweepstakes to the Mall of America last month and we got all the stuff for it. We get a $400 shopping spree (gift cards) 2 unlimited wristbands for rides, a free one night stay at the Hilton hotel and a coupon book worth $10. The whole package is valued at $565, the guy said if it was anything over 600 we would have to pay taxes on it so we got lucky......I think I signed up for something in our local grocery store when they had a drawing, cause they want me to send a picture they can put at the store!! We were so happy to get this, after coming back from our trip last month and our car breaking down and having to leave it at my sisters house in South Carolina. This was so needed! Now we think we will go this coming weekend, since we are only 2.5 hours away from the cities!! But I need ideas....

My hubby and I are spliting the cards so $200 each, but we are both puting towards some for my daughter to go to the Build A Bear workshop, but I need advice if anyone has any, since I have only gone like twice since living in MN and that was more for the rides and such. My plan on what I want is

--At least one or two pairs of jeans
--At least 1 or 2 shirts
--maybe a decent bra
--somethings for the kitchen or the house depending on what i find.

What i need help in is I dont know all these stores that are in the mall since I dont normally shop Name Brand places. I have gone on the website and looked at all the stores and tried to get an idea of places but I want to know where i can find decent affordable things, so i dont blow all my money on expensive clothes. I normally shop at walmart and know what im spending, but since i dont want to walk around the mall looking at prices in each store before i buy stuff, i figured if anyone has been there or shops there often and could give me some advice i would appreicaite it so much. Thanks everyone!!

I have never been there, but did want to be the first to say

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's great to know that real people actually do win these promotions

dl

Congratulations!! Sounds like a fun time.
I would get some advice about the paying taxes part. That doesn't sound right.

Well we already had to sign an affidaviat (sp) saying we dont work at the mall of america or Kemps. An right now the thing we signed said that it was valued at 595, and that their were no taxes we had to pay. We have already recieved the envelope by FEdex with all our stuff. So I dont see how they would lie to us, since thats what we were told.

Perhaps no taxes you have to pay them but I believe you will have to report it on your tax return. As I said, check it out to be certain.

I have never been to the Mall either...just wanted to say CONGRATS!!
Just head for clearance racks whereever you go in the mall!
Have fun!

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Well I will check it out but I am certain they told us that we wouldnt have to file or claim any taxes, that was one thing we wanted to make sure right away. And I believe just like if someone won the lottery or something they would have to fill out a form for claiming them right away.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
Unless someone knows for sure if i have to.

Congratulations!

Can't help with the tax/no tax issue but make sure you check.

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beth

As far as the taxes go, I would think Mall of America will send them a form when tax time comes if it's needed. A few years ago I won $700 from a local TV station and when tax time came along, they mailed me a form 1099 (I think that's what it was).

BUT since her prize was valued at under $600, the OP shouldn't have to pay taxes on it.

As far as buying things with your gift cards, girl -- GO WILD!!! There should be lots of things on sale, so maybe go in with an 'idea' of what you want but not exact. Here you're planning what you're going to buy and haven't even seen what they've actually got in the stores. And if your husband is like most men, he's going to ENJOY his gift card and not think twice!!!

So go have fun!!!

Well it's not like I am planning before i get there, its just i dont know what prices i will be looking at with clothes, which i know i need really bad, like i said i have never bought clothes anywhere beside good old walmart or target. And i know 200 will not last long with clothes. But that is true their should be alot of sales. I just want to find a few nice outfits for the winter and not blow my whole card on clothes.

And yes my hubby already knows what hes getting. he was kinda upset with me cause i was telling him he should get some clothes too since he needs some, but he looks at it as its "play" time. LOL Which i can understand but i guess i look at it as him getting some cool clothes for a change to since we dont get this chance often. But he already wants a playstation 2 game, shoes and he wants to go to the nascar racing thing, and some model stores.....lol

Never been to the Mall of America but am all too familiar with mall shopping (according to DH)

The department stores, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Sears, will all have a good variety of items and have ongoing sales. I would spend some time in each of them.

The following are popular national chain sores listed in the mall directory that you might enjoy shopping in if you don't get the opportunity very often. The ones in red are likely to be more value-priced and give you more bang for the buck (GC). Most of them have websites where you can get a feel for the offerings and pricings. I think your best bet for stylish, well-priced casual clothing are Old Navy and Marshalls.

Abercrombie&fitch
Aeropostale
American Eagle
Bath & Body Works
Children’s Place
DSW Shoe Warehouse
DELiAs
Disney Store
Dollar Tree
Express
Famous Footwear
FinishLine
FootLocker
GameStop
Gap
Gymboree
Hollister
Lego
Limited
Marshalls
New York & Co
Old Navy
PayLess Shoes
Sports Authority
Victoria’s Secret
Yankee Candle

HTH,
cj/

You only have to pay taxes if you get a 1099. Last Dec. I won airline tickets on a local tv station. They valued them at $800. They were anywhere Southwest flies. So instead of looking for the best deal (we fly a couple of times a year), I got the best time for us and I picked the tickets that were refundable. It turned out to be $1000.

I have won many sweepstakes such as this and only have ever received a 1099 form when I won a car and then when I won a trip to NYC to attend the Grammys. Both of these had a sizable value. If you don't receive anything, don't worry about it. As far as the Mall of America, I've been there twice and it is really fun. I took my boys one at a time and the first full day each time we just browsed the entire mall and never bought anything. On day 2, we went in "for the kill", returning only to the stores that had the best values for what we wanted. I think it also helps to sleep on it for awhile and decide if you really want all those things that caught your eye on day one. Being impulsive will shoot your budget quickly. Have a great time hopefully your hotel will have a complimentary breakfast. That always helps the meal budget. Cheers to you...enjoy!!

Filene's Basement and Pedder's Warehouse have good deals at MOA. There is also a dollar store there! You could really stretch out your certificates! I have gone to MOA looking for sales and they aren't as good as the stores in other locations.

Might be worthwhile to see if you can line up any coupons or %off offers for the B&M stores in the MOA before going.....stretch those GCs ooooouuuuuutttttt.

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