Last week I needed to go shopping.  I really am NOT a shopper in the sense that if I have to get something at the mall, I am in and out.  I don’t find pleasure in going through racks of clothing.  I don’t get excited about window shopping.  Okay, that’s not ENTIRELY accurate.  I drool over seed catalogs.  I DO lovingly hold onto fishing poles and just imagine a big trout at the end.  Oh and trip through Cabellas had my budget screaming in fear.  LOL.

Anyways, last week I DID get excited about shopping.  It wasn’t about what I was going to spend but what I was going to save!

My first stop:

CVS-I had  $3.50 in ECBs (Extra Care Bucks).  I was out of dishwashing liquid!  My free or nearly free stash was gone!  Anyways, CVS hadDawn on sale for .96 each.  I had two .20 coupons as well.  They had Folgers coffee on sale for 2 for $5.00.  I bought just one and used a .55 coupon.  So, between my three coupons totaling .95 and my $3.50 ECBs, I ended up with them owing me .02!  I held out my hand for my .02 but the cashier said that they couldn’t give me the .02 BUT I could buy something else.  I politely explained that I wasn’t going to buy something else so I could give them more money.  They could have my two cents.

So, after my free CVS stop, I went onto Shaw’s Grocery store:

Shaw’s was having a roast sale.  In addition, when you bought one of the roasts that was on sale, they had a coupon for a free 2lb bag of onions, a free 1 lb bag of carrots AND a free 5 lb bag of Maine potatoes!  I had a $5 coupon from a previous promotion (one of those deals when you buy $20 in select products and get $5 off your next trip).  I was able to get a 4lb chuck roast, the onions, carrots and potatoes for only $6.24!  I was on a roll and feeling good now!  Hey, that’s what shopping therapy is all about, right?

Next stop!

Jon, my 8 year old, goes through the knees of his jeans like crazy!  Not to mention, he’s growing, constantly!  My oldest two have left a slew of hand-me-downs except that around the size 8 jean period, the oldest two grew at such a great rate through the summer that when fall came around we jumped from 7’s to 10’s!  There are NOT a lot of size 8 hand-me-downs for Jon.  My husband wanted to just drop $19.99/pair for new jeans.  I cringed, knowing that Jon would put holes in those jeans just as fast as a gently used pair.  So, my next stop was the thrift store.

I went to one of my favorite thrift stores right down from the Shaws.  Found a pair of jeans there for just $1!  WOO HOO!!!!  I was pumped now!  The adrenaline was rushing!  hehehehe

I decided to hit the Goodwill just down from the highway on-ramp (I’ve done a large loop here, by-the-way, making sure to minimize my gas consumption and get the most out of my trip).  Now, I don’t know about your Goodwill, but mine has gone up in prices.  I used to be able to snag jeans for about $3/pair but they’re up to $4 now.  I shouldn’t complain because new would be $20 but after my $1 find at the other store, $4 seemed ‘pricey’.  That said, I managed to find two  more pairs of jeans for Jon for $8.  Three pairs of gently loved jeans for $9 instead of nearly $60!  I didn’t think this trip could get any better…

THEN I spotted the brand new, unopened bags of quilt batting!  Oh my lucky stars!  I tried not to look too excited as I walked over to the rack, fearful another quilter was afoot and I’d lose my find.  I grabbed both bags, claiming them quickly.  Brand new, queen-sized quilt batting for only $2 EACH!  I felt a rush to my head!  It wasn’t possible!  I asked an associate that was loading up some racks if it was the real price.  She confirmed my wildest dreams!!!!!  Normally priced over $20 each, I was about to get two bags of queen-sized quilt batting for only $4!

THIS WAS EXCITING! This WAS therapeutic!  Only I was sure I wouldn’t have gotten the same adrenaline high if I had spent full price for all of this.  I wasn’t sure how people could get the same therapeutic effect dropping lots of cash.  No matter.  I came home.  My need for shopping therapy fulfilled.

Hmmmm, wonder if I can find Sue a really big snowblower with a headlight on my next trip.  Hmmmmm