It’s deer hunting season! Opening day is today. So my thoughts turn to…shopping. Unlike my husband, though, I am out to save the “bucks” - and dough, too (doe?) Someone please stop me before I pun again.

It’s been a lot of years since I went hunting. I’ve gone out in the woods a few times in recent years, but not to hunt. For me, deer hunting season is more along the lines of BARGAIN hunting season, just in a different locale. When I leave today, I’ll be taking my son’s girlfriend with me. She does not have any desire to hunt. Deer, that it. But oh, my kind of hunting, that she’s willing to try.

What does my kind of hunting involve? Well, first, checking out the area in advance for craft/art fairs. My love of purchasing local goods is not limited to food.

Of course, there are thrift stores. Different thrift stores from what we have here. Last year, I bought a pair of brand-y new sunglasses at the thrift store for $2. I love them and wear them all the time. In fact, I thought I lost them a few months back, and was sitting around, mourning my cheap sunglasses. I also found a little corningware visions dish with handle for $1.49. Which I also use ALL THE TIME. Perfect size for heating small portions. I could sidetrack and talk about the huge collection of Corningware Visions that my husband got me one year. That is NOT a romantic gift. And I was younger, impractical, and definitely romantic. Now, I’d love to have them back. Yes, I donated them all, then a few years later decided to stop using plastic in the microwave. Hey, maybe this little dish was one of my originals. Maybe not.

Don’t you just love my little side trips? If I ever make it through an entire entry without going off topic, no one will be more surprised than me!

And next bargain, CHEESE! Yes, we are the dairy state. And we have some really great, locally produced cheeses. Yes, we have some in this part of the state. But hey, variety is the spice of life (and there is a cheese place up there that makes a baby Swiss that is to die for!)

Malls, well, I try to avoid. I’ll stop at a mall in another city if someone I am with wants to. And occasionally, will find a great bargain at a department store or other store that we don’t have around here. Good grief. Christmas shopping. A whole other post. But I need to start thinking about it. Next time!

One mall I don’t try to avoid, though is the outlet mall. I really have found some good bargains there. But, as with everything, you need to know your prices, because some stuff is NOT a bargain.

Well, I have psyched myself to shop - let the bargain hunting begin!