Today I decided I was going to spend some of my gift cards, before they ended up forgotten.
My first stop was Border's. I had a $25 card. They were having big sales, and after a lot of looking, I picked out seven books and came in $5 over. Most are fiction, but one is Jean Chatzky's "Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness." I'm not expecting a lot out of it, but it doesn't look bad. The other books I will read for pleasure and either pass to friends or sell on half.com.
Then it was on to Macy's. I needed boots. It took me a long time to figure out they just didn't have what I was looking for -- but then I found a pair that I decided I liked even better than what I had in mind. They are London Fog, short, with fleece and fur lining, not leather but some kind of waterproof material, quite stylish in cut, low heels. They were half-price, $44.50 down from $89, and with my $25 card I got them for $22.95.
I was starting to get tired, but I carried on to TJ Maxx. I had $25 to spend and not much idea of what I wanted. I kept picking up things for other people, but I was determined to shop for myself for a change. Finally I found (another) book that I had seen on the Today Show, "Happy for No Reason," and that got me rolling. I ended up also getting a nice, thick exercise mat and an oven glove. These weren't marked down any more than usual, so I was $14 over, but I decided I wanted all three things.
I kept thinking how hard it was to shop for myself. I remember how I used to shop and just yearn for the things I saw. Now, it's very hard to find anything that interests me. I supply so many of my needs at thrift stores and garage sales that retail stores now seem silly and overpriced.
But I was happy with all my purchases, and then I came home and dropped!
I shopped until I dropped
December 31st, 2010 at 12:49 am