FRUGAL FRIDAY

I just returned from a quick trip to the Mall where I had volunteered to pick up a gift for someone else. I was dashing through Dillards and a pretty blouse caught my eye. I stopped to admire it and my jaw dropped when I saw the price tag: $148.00!! For a blouse! Give me a break! And I thought we were in an economic downturn!

The Mall incident made me think back to a meeting I attended recently where some builders were talking about bids for buildings and how they were coming in higher than expected. They knew that suppliers had lower material costs and the cost of labor is lower right now, but it seems that subcontractors are padding their bids anyway. Guess Dillards caught on and figured if the blouse did not sell at $148.00 this week, then they could mark it 50% off next week and still make a bundle selling it at $74.00 or mark it down to 70% off in a few weeks and still rake in more than $40 for a blouse that probably cost less than $20 to have it made in China.

I think I am going back to sewing! I used to make all my clothes and then I got busy doing other things. Now, with prices as outrageous as the blouse I saw in Dillards I can easily save a bundle of money! Or--do my shopping at resale shops where the $148.00 blouse will probably end up for about $20 if I wait long enough and stay vigilant!

FRUGAL FRIDAY

I need to update my wardrobe and a couple of my pants are shiny on the bottom or wearing thin. I am planning my "frugal" approach to adding a few new items to my closet. I have shopped the sale racks in nearby department stores and have come away empty-handed. Things there either do not appeal to my tastes or are too expensive for me to consider. Since they say that our city has dozens of thrift, consignment, resale, vintage and secondhand stores with wonderful designer bargains, I think that I will check out some of these "bargain" stores and see what I can come up with.

The first rule that I will impose on my shopping spree is to put a set amount of cash in an envelope for my clothes shopping expedition. I learned that tactic from my daughter-in-law, Kara, who has envelopes of cash each month for food, entertainment, clothing, and so on. That way they know in their family how much money they have for each category and that helps them judge their purchases more carefully.

The next thing I will do is make a list of the items I need and stick to that list to avoid impulse buying.

Wish me luck on my frugal shopping adventure!

FRUGAL FRIDAY

For the second time in a couple of months, our newspaper has featured an article on resale shops and thrift stores. With the economy where it is today that is not surprising. The article in our newspaper says that our city has dozens of thrift, consignment, resale, vintage and secondhand stores. Some of these stores have cropped up in clusters in certain shopping areas and many feature wonderful designer bargains. Some garments even have original store tags on them.

Another caveat of shopping some of these stores is that the money spent there often goes to support charitable causes. Last year funds raised through the Goodwill stores provided education, training, and career services for disadvantaged people as well as those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Funds raised through the Junior League and the Assistance League thrift stores provided funds for programs that serve emerging needs of children and adults in our community, and the Salvation Army thrift stores support their adult rehabilitation programs.

Not all resale stores contribute to local charitable endeavors, but they do provide a way to save money and some of my friends say the thrill of the hunt for bargains is what makes resale shopping fun, no matter what the economic is doing.