FRUGAL FRIDAY

Today I picked up the newspaper and saw the ads geared toward the end-of-summer sales, the back-to-school sales and just general all-around sales. Some of the sales offered 85% off sale merchandise and an extra 20% off just today. With math being my weak spot, I was wondering if that meant I would get paid 5% for taking the item out of the store. My math-minded husband explained to me that they took 85% off the item and then 20% off of the remaining price. Sounded good to me!

Next, I went to my already crowded closet and wondered what I really needed--maybe a new top for the last few weeks of summer?? Or a new pair of pants?? Maybe I could find something really wonderful, but as I thought of all those long racks crowded with clothes that are put on sale this time of year, my enthusiasm waned. I really dislike pawing through racks and racks of discounted items on the slight chance that I might find the buy of the year. I also dislike being elbowed by diligent sale-shoppers pulling things from the racks, standing in line to try my choices on, and waiting in another line to pay for my bargain.

This evening I have no new clothes in my closet, but I did have a delightful afternoon to paint and enjoy the peace and solitude of my own home. To me that was a real bargain!

FRUGAL FRIDAY

Last week I missed my Frugal Friday post due to company, but today I would like to share a comment from a friend, Kathy, who has some great money-saving ideas:

She says, "I love reading your blog and I have some solutions for your gift buying. Right now there is a fantastic sale on girls' clothes at J.C. Penney. Not much for boys, alas. I buy a lot of presents there. My other favorites are TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls. They have kids' toys and books for a fraction of full price. You have to check that they work and all pieces are present but they are usually good deals.

I never go to the toy stores. That would be way out of my league, especially when I buy for my grandchildren and the CASA kids I work with. If you plan a year ahead, you can get $40 little girl dresses for less than $10 at both Dillard's (best), Macys (OK) and Penneys (depends). So do your shopping a year ahead at the end of the seasons. In about 2 weeks, I predict the Easter dresses will be reasonable. For me, less than 75% off is not a sale, but a trap."

I agree with Kathy and went Easter shopping yesterday. At CVS I found two grocery baskets of Easter things marked 75% off. I bought several Easter egg-shaped note pads for next year's Easter baskets along with Easter grass, a couple of little stuffed bunnies and my bill was $1.63. The Easter grass was 20 cents a bag! That was quite a savings considering what it would have cost the day before Easter. I packed those things up in my Easter box to have next year when I begin preparing for Easter baskets here or gifts that I send to my grandchildren for Easter.

I also stopped in at Michael's (same shopping center as CVS) but their Easter sale was only 50% off and that was not quite low enough yet. By next week it will be 90% off and that will be more appealing to me.

Happy after-Easter shopping!