I’m
a bargain hunter…and I don’t apologize! When we got married while we were both still
in college, I learned to economize rather quickly, and I’m still doing that
today. My husband sometimes teases me
and says I’m CHEAP, but I prefer to call it FRUGAL.
“Being frugal does not mean being cheap! It
means being economical and avoiding waste.”- Catherine Pulsifer (Thank you,
Catherine.)
And, yes…I’m that shopper
who will look at something in one store, walk down the mall to other stores and
see if I can get a better price, and then end up going back to the first
store. And I don’t apologize!
When
I was growing up our family didn’t have a lot of extra cash, and so I learned
early the value of a dollar. And though
I spent years watching every penny, using grocery store coupons, and usually
shopping for clothes only when they were on sale, I never begrudged that. In fact, looking for bargains is now just
something I really enjoy doing.
Besides…the more money I save, the more I can splurge on my grandkids
and I do love to do that! (So do they😊)
What
made me decide to write this post was that I was reading a fashion blog today
and that blogger said that her favorite jeans were these…
Want
to know the price???? $225!!!! I don’t begrudge her or anyone else who wants
to pay that, but why would I want to pay $225 for a pair of jeans when I can
buy this pair for under $50????
If I
ever paid over about that much for a pair of jeans, I’ve either lost my mind totally
or I hit a HUGE, and I mean H-U-G-E, lottery. Again, please don’t take offense if you
are one who can and does pay what I consider outrageous prices for certain
items; I’m not dissing anyone but I just don’t see the need to do that when I
can find comparable, quality items for less money. And I don’t apologize.
Let
me show you a few of examples of what I mean by bargain shopping.
These booties are very similar…except for the price!
And
look at these two very similar-looking sweaters…the more expensive one is
actually 40% off right now (original price $249). I actually have a long black sweater that I
absolutely love that I got at TJMaxx for around $20. It’s a few years old and looks brand new.
I
realize that some people (my husband) really believe in buying very expensive,
high-end sunglasses and that’s OK…again, not dissing anybody. But you can still
buy very good sunglasses without breaking the bank.
Now
this next one is r-e-a-l-l-y crazy. I’m not really into
camo unless it’s when I go hunting with my soulmate, but if I were can you
guess which one I would buy?
Now
don’t get me wrong…I do believe there are times when it makes TOTAL SENSE to go
with quality over price. For example,
with things like furniture, mattresses, and ICE CREAM. But we don’t have to
assume that a higher price tag always means higher quality. I have
bought some cheaper less expensive clothes that have lasted much longer than some
of the more expensive clothes I’ve purchased.
In the case of designer labels, we are often paying for the name
brand rather than the actual quality of the product. It’s the same with high-end makeup…not all
are what they are cracked up to be and have the very same ingredients as
drugstore brands…just look for those types of youtube videos (like THIS one) and you’ll see.
Disclaimer: I do have a couple designer handbags (that I
love), but they were special gifts from my husband…and even us die hard bargain
hunters like to have a few nice things:)
And
let me just say…if I were getting a tattoo or a face-lift (which I don’t plan
to anytime soon), I want the absolute BEST money has to offer.
Oh dear! Bless her heart!!!!
So…I
no longer use grocery coupons (unless they are really good ones) because I’m
just too lazy…and I don’t count pennies because the good Lord blessed me with a
good retirement check…but I do still love the thrill of the hunt and the fact
that I’m a BARGAIN HUNTER…and I don’t apologize.
Are
you a bargain hunter too?
"The way to wealth is as plain as the way to the market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry & frugality. That is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both."
haha...Like you when I was growing up money was not that thing you had lots of extra to blow. We were not poor, we did not go without but the extra was just not there. As a young married woman with a kid, you learned to be CHEAP...I mean, bargin hunt. And now, once again being on a fixed income and not always having that extra to blow, I bargin hunt. Yes, I do...I do and like you I will not say I am sorry for it! NOW....if that seed is planted for a blog or something cool to go with....GO FOR IT. I wanted to do doors for years but they are a tad harder to shoot esp if you are shooting basically from a cell. I have never been taking a pic of a gate though and had anyone come out and say anything. I will drive around if there is someone outside until they are gone. I do the gates and doors, I do mailboxes, I have done license plates....my mind is always turning on what I can photograph and I am always looking.
ReplyDeletePam, you definitely have an eye!!! I have sometimes thought I might like to photograph churches...there are a lot around here, big & small, old & new, all faiths. I love little white country churches:)
DeleteLoved this and like you, we had no extra money at all when I was growing up. I must admit that money has never been hard to come by in a very long time but I still LOVE a bargin and rarely pay full price for anything. I will stalk it until it is rock bottom. I recently got a Patricia Nash purse that was originally $289 and I paid $40.80. Made me so happy! And, paying $250 for a pair of jeans is absolutely crazy. But, to each his own. Enjoyable post!
ReplyDeleteSo we have another thing in common:) What a fabulous buy on the PN purse! I need to go shopping with you!!!
DeleteThank you for visiting me, Cheri! I loved this post! I'm a bargain hunter and always have been. ROSS is where I go FIRST and if I can't find what I want there then I got the TJ's or Marshalls and THEN Dillard's. You go girl. Will NEVAH pay $250 for jeans. NEVAHHHHHH! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by to "chat." I like ROSS too but the closest one is 70 mi. and Marshall's is even further away. Thankfully TJM is only 30 mi. It's like a treasure hunt when I go to any of them:)
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ReplyDeleteHey Cheri! Thanks for always leaving such nice comments on my blog. As for yesterdays comment...pull that camera out and get to work. HAHA..I do a lot of mine using my cell these days but when shooting at the wedding venu I use one of my Nikons. I picked up my first professional camera in 2008 and here I am today. I am self taught also. Main thing to keep in mind when you start shooting, don't shoot all your pics dead on. Have the subject off to the side so that you actually have more then one focal point. Look for the interesting shots using other things around you. Like if shooting a couple, shoot them around an object, a tree, rock etc....Just PLAY.
ReplyDeleteSuch great advice...thank you! Now I just need to talk my grandkids into being my "willing" subjects:)
Deletehaha....good luck. I find it easier to shoot something that don't move! haha. Like tonight I was shooting a car with a reflection of it in the pond. Start with somethings outside and around the house then move to the kids. Just play around and have fun. Also tonight I tried shooting lanterns on the pond after dark. Probably would have been okay if I had my tripod but shooting that dark without was a joke....
DeleteAbsolutely, I am a bargain hunter, and proud of it, you and I would have a great time shopping! I smile all the way home.~wink~
ReplyDeleteLike you I have some name brand purses, but they were gifts.
Thank you for sharing, and thank you for visiting and for your sweet comments.
Blessings,
Sue
Oh, I'd love to be able to shop with you. Guess who my best shopping partner is...my hubby. He really doesn't mind shopping since he enjoys sitting in the mall and doing a lot of people-watching!
DeleteI'm exactly the same, I don't want to pay double, or even more, the price than I have to. There's lots of things I want to buy with my money so looking for bargains means I can buy more. They do say look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves.
ReplyDeleteJo, if I paid $225 for a pr. of jeans (like the blogger I read about) I'd not be able to buy another stitch of clothes for months!!!! I also pick up pennies on the sidewalk when I see them:) After awhile, they add up!!
DeleteI'm a bargain hunter too! I buy most of my clothes, not that I have many, from ebay and charity shops. I'm fortunate, being small, that I can wear girls clothes and shoes. Our family was quite poor, Mum and dad both working and me and my brother were 'latchkey kids'. I wore a key round my neck and brought my younger brother home from school everyday. We learnt the value of money and being frugal. It's something that has always stayed with me. Best, Jane :)
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DeleteWow, you must be tiny:) I can occasionally find a junior size top I can fit into:) My hubby grew up much better off than me and he has a hard time understanding that when you learn early to value every cent it sticks with you!!!
Cheri,
ReplyDeleteYou are a woman after my own heart! I do not buy anything unless it is on sale, on Clearance or I have a coupon for a specific amount off. Thanks so much for stopping by and for leaving such a sweet comment!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Debbie, so glad I'm finding other bargain hunters in blogland:)
ReplyDeleteHi Cheri, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. You can bet I will be reading your blog! I loved this post!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Come again anytime:)
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