Batteries- the million dollar present.......

[Mouse House Mama]

I think every toy should come with a pack of batteries. They charge more and more for the toys they could at least throw us a pack of energizers. I swear my battery bill is going to be a fortune! Anyone else?

 

[golfgal]

Our kids always get batteries in their stockings. Luckily they are pretty much out of the stage where they use them a lot (DS, Gameboy, etc) but they still need them here and there.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Get yourself some coupons. I think I have 10 coupons for batteries.

 

[bicker]

The real cost comes when trying to throw the puppies away. Has anyone found an inexpensive way to throw batteries (both so-called "disposable" and rechargeable) away, if your local town prohibits putting them in the trash?

 

[elgerber]

DH and I were just talking about the old days, when we used to have buy 20 packs of batteries for Christmas Eve LOL! Now my kids are older, and they don't get things with batteries. But oh how well I remember, checking all the boxes and making sure we had all that we needed before they opened them!

 

[marlynnp]

I think by the time my daughter was three we invested the money in rechargables. Best investment ever. lol

 

[MizTink]

I think by the time my daughter was three we invested the money in rechargables. Best investment ever. lol

you got that right!!! and i also skip certain toys JUST because of the batteries....i can only take so much! when my kids were small my parents were always good about getting the batteries for things they bought. and they usually got big packs to send home with us too!!

 

[tinker&belle]

The real cost comes when trying to throw the puppies away. Has anyone found an inexpensive way to throw batteries (both so-called "disposable" and rechargeable) away, if your local town prohibits putting them in the trash?

Our recycling center takes them.

 

[golfgal]

you got that right!!! and i also skip certain toys JUST because of the batteries....i can only take so much! when my kids were small my parents were always good about getting the batteries for things they bought. and they usually got big packs to send home with us too!!

Especially since most toys that need batteries are SO ANNOYING that after a day with that toy the batteries disappear some how

 

[bicker]

Our recycling center takes them.

I wish ours still did.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Has anyone seen these new "super-duper high performance" whatever batteries lately? DBF and I bought the Operation game for his nieces; it takes 4 AAA batteries. Of course we wanted to include them...but we had to dig to find a regular 4-pack of AAA batteries! They were hidden behind these long-lasting/high performance/install themselves and play with the toy for you (please note sarcasm) batteries that cost $10 for a 4-pack...

 

[jme829]

Haha...I was thinking about this the other day...

I was wrapping gifts and one of the toys I got for DS actually comes with batteries. Right on the box it says all batteries included, and it has a picture of duracells.

I was shocked. And happy, because I think that's the only thing I bought this year that would have needed them!!

It was a motorized Erector set that I had bought at Costco over the summer, so I don't know if was a "Costco" only package. But I'm just glad the batteries are there, because I would have forgetten to buy them.

Now if I can just remember to pick up a standard 100 watt light bulb for DD10's easy bake oven, I'll be all set!

 

[DMRick]

Each week for the past month (one more week to go!) Staples has had a special, where you can buy 2 packs of 20 alkaline batteries each week, and the cost (about $25) goes into your reward account) which you can then use to buy products at Staples.We've done it each week, and now have enough batteries for everything we need, that uses AAA or AA until they expire, which is years away. Doesn't help the C and D toys, but great for the rest of them.

 

[Darsa]

Rechargeable batteries are my bestest friends I use 'em for the keyboards & mice, the Wii controllers, the camera... tho if we give a kid's toy that needs batteries, every time we tape a 4-pack to the gift. It's only fair, IMHO; I can't imagine giving a gift that needs batteries without 'em!

 

[puffkin]

Around this time of year Rite Aid and CVS always have great battery deals. I always stock up for the year then. I also try to avoid purchasing toys with batteries if at all possible. The STaples deal is also good if you shop there!

 

[bumbershoot]

The real cost comes when trying to throw the puppies away. Has anyone found an inexpensive way to throw batteries (both so-called "disposable" and rechargeable) away, if your local town prohibits putting them in the trash?

I wish ours still did.

Googling....

This site: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/hazardous/batthous.htm

Has the following info:

Management Options

* Alkaline batteries: Domestically manufactured batteries made after 1994 no longer contain mercury and can be disposed of in the trash.
* Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries: Do NOT dispose of in the trash. Take to a retail collection location or a municipal recycling center that accepts rechargeable batteries. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) operates a collection program through selected retail stores and municipal recycling programs. There are currently over 400 collection sites in Massachusetts that are free to residents. Call 800-8-BATTERY for the nearest retail collection location
* Button batteries: Do NOT dispose of in the trash. Many stores selling watches or hearing aids will accept spent button batteries. If your trash is handled by a waste-to-energy facility, find out if they have a mercury waste collection program; or hold for HHW collection.
* Lithium batteries: Hold for household hazardous waste collection day.

Bolded a bit in the quote.

If that doesn't help, I'd ask your recycling center what they suggest. If a batteries plus is nearby, they came up with the "burlington ma battery recycling" search I did, so they might have a program.

 

[C.Ann]

I caught a really good sale during the summer at Rite Aid on double AA's and triple AAA's - which is all we need for the type of things we buy.. They were packs of 16 - on sale to begin with - as well as buy one get one free.. I don't know what made me think of Christmas, but I did - so I grabbed four 16-packs of each kind and got four more packs free..

Nothing worse than Christmas morning and - ooops - no batteries!!

 

[bicker]

If a batteries plus is nearby, they came up with the "burlington ma battery recycling" search I did, so they might have a program.

Thanks I'll check it out!

Incidentally, I bought one of those high-quality rechargeable battery chargers... it rejected four batteries (which is what prompted my question) but its been working on the other two for over 24 hours!