My version of shopping therapy.
Posted by: TammyLast 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
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Great post! You might be interested in thredUP kids, an online swapping community for busy moms. Tell thredUP what your kid no longer wears, indicate brand and size preferences and thredUP will make the match. Sit back and relax: a new-to-you box of kids clothes will be at your front steps in no time.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Well spoken. I have to research more on this as it is really vital info�