I am absolutely crazy for a bargain. People really don't even like to shop with me because I not only don't buy retail prices, I rarely will buy something less than 50% off. Devon gave me a gift card for Christmas to the Avenue. I still have 1/2 of it left, because I am waiting for that perfect thing to be on sale. When he realized at Easter I still had not used all of it, he urged me to go buy something "nice" for myself. Splurge he says, buy something full price. I nearly had a heart attack! Are you kidding I said, that $25 could buy one shirt (I have a 40% off coupon) or I could buy three or four things on clearance (also with the coupon). He rolled his eyes and dismissed me.
My mom is from the same school of thought as my husband (that does happen, actually more than I like sometimes). This past weekend at my FAVORITE closeout store, she bought a blouse and a skirt that were of course a reasonable bargain, it is a closeout store, for goodness sake. However, her ensemble cost more than the 4 shirts, 1 skirt, 1 pant, 3 bathing suits, and one home accessory that I bought, well actually, she bought it all (thanks, mom) but you get the point.
So my bargain shopping has almost become a sick illness. I go to Kmart on a regular basis at my lunch break, always scanning the clearance aisles for an unbelievable bargain. The clerks know me well there. They have an amazing clearance department in the very far back corner of the store. It's like a sacred haven for me. Four mountains of shelves lined with all kinds of clearance items from household accessories to linens to toys. Last week I got a Leapster game for $4(retail $25), two shirts for 1.99 (retail $28), a dresser for $22 (retail $88) and bathroom accessories for $6 (retail $25) . Can you believe that? $166 worth of merchandise for only 35.98. That's a savings of 79%. Amazing.
I can tell you savings like that give me an adrenaline rush. Every time I check out and I see those layers of clearance stickers on an item, each layer getting cheaper and cheaper, I get chills up my spine. Endorphins are exploding all over my body providing that reaction similar to the feeling of eating a Cookie Monster from Cheddar's. (that's another illness we'll save for later) I love the stores that say on the receipt at the bottom, "today you saved $... That just encourages me!
Like I said Devon doesn't really get it. Used to, I would make a parade of it, I would show him each item one by one. Then, I would persuade him to guess the retail price, then how much I paid and then after the display of each item, I would give him the grand total. Announcing proudly, I would say, I bought $500 worth of merchandise for only $75. I saved $425 I would exclaim with pride. Initially, he would nod his approval, and portray his mustered up excitement for me. Now he just seems to hear the I spent $75 or I spent $50 and so on.
So the parades have slowly dwindled. Now I go on the clearance binges, stash the sacks of good deals in my car for a week or so, and then slowly bring in an item or two at a time. This is where my hobby morphs more into the above mentioned sad illness.
Last week he tells me, you know if you only bought the things you needed you wouldn't have to buy everything on clearance. He so doesn't get it ...
I suppose, though, if I must have an illness, or an addiction this is not an entirely horrible one to have. And as I antagonize my beloved with my clearance shopping sprees, I remind him of how good he has it. What if I weren't a 75% off shopper, this is one time where for him, less IS better.
Have a terrific Tuesday and may you indulge in many happy shopping moments ahead!
My mom is from the same school of thought as my husband (that does happen, actually more than I like sometimes). This past weekend at my FAVORITE closeout store, she bought a blouse and a skirt that were of course a reasonable bargain, it is a closeout store, for goodness sake. However, her ensemble cost more than the 4 shirts, 1 skirt, 1 pant, 3 bathing suits, and one home accessory that I bought, well actually, she bought it all (thanks, mom) but you get the point.
So my bargain shopping has almost become a sick illness. I go to Kmart on a regular basis at my lunch break, always scanning the clearance aisles for an unbelievable bargain. The clerks know me well there. They have an amazing clearance department in the very far back corner of the store. It's like a sacred haven for me. Four mountains of shelves lined with all kinds of clearance items from household accessories to linens to toys. Last week I got a Leapster game for $4(retail $25), two shirts for 1.99 (retail $28), a dresser for $22 (retail $88) and bathroom accessories for $6 (retail $25) . Can you believe that? $166 worth of merchandise for only 35.98. That's a savings of 79%. Amazing.
I can tell you savings like that give me an adrenaline rush. Every time I check out and I see those layers of clearance stickers on an item, each layer getting cheaper and cheaper, I get chills up my spine. Endorphins are exploding all over my body providing that reaction similar to the feeling of eating a Cookie Monster from Cheddar's. (that's another illness we'll save for later) I love the stores that say on the receipt at the bottom, "today you saved $... That just encourages me!
Like I said Devon doesn't really get it. Used to, I would make a parade of it, I would show him each item one by one. Then, I would persuade him to guess the retail price, then how much I paid and then after the display of each item, I would give him the grand total. Announcing proudly, I would say, I bought $500 worth of merchandise for only $75. I saved $425 I would exclaim with pride. Initially, he would nod his approval, and portray his mustered up excitement for me. Now he just seems to hear the I spent $75 or I spent $50 and so on.
So the parades have slowly dwindled. Now I go on the clearance binges, stash the sacks of good deals in my car for a week or so, and then slowly bring in an item or two at a time. This is where my hobby morphs more into the above mentioned sad illness.
Last week he tells me, you know if you only bought the things you needed you wouldn't have to buy everything on clearance. He so doesn't get it ...
I suppose, though, if I must have an illness, or an addiction this is not an entirely horrible one to have. And as I antagonize my beloved with my clearance shopping sprees, I remind him of how good he has it. What if I weren't a 75% off shopper, this is one time where for him, less IS better.
Have a terrific Tuesday and may you indulge in many happy shopping moments ahead!
3 comments:
Not only are you good at writing-- you are also good at Math, my friend.
You are hilarious!
I love a good bargain, too.
Ha Ha! That's great. I'm a bargain shopper too and always tell Mark how BLESSED he is that I don't "do" fake nails or buy clothes at full retail. Of course, he doesn't get it either, but then again, he doesn't shop so he doesn't have a CLUE what a treasure of a wife he has!!
Enjoying your blog!
Lucille, I believe we are a lot alike. I tell Devon all the time he should be ever so grateful that I am so low maintenance! :)
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