47 Minutes at the Flea Market.

According to Grandma's memoir I'm part Scottish. Maybe that's why I love flea markets and haggling...

I don't care enough about a good deal to hunt out yard sales. Feels like I'm wasting $40 worth of time and $5 worth of gas. But on Saturday mornings when I don't have 5,000 things I should've done yesterday, I like to visit the flea market.

It's entirely different from the Sweetwater Flea Market where the booths never change year around, the sellers buy inventory quarterly, and have employees who are required to fill out tax forms.

I go to Midway Drive-In Theater where on Saturday mornings sellers pay $2 to spread blankets on the gravel. It's a yard sale style flea market with lots of people selling years worth of used and unused cast-offs accumulated from our wasteful American lifestyle.

(Also people who have probably been dumpster diving...)

I'm told, "To get the good deals you need to get there early." I scoff at that. Unlike yard sales this flea market rarely lasts till noon, around 9:30 buyers thin out and sellers want to go home. Most plan to donate their unsold items to Goodwill, so drop their prices. Plus I like to sleep in.

But about the dumpster diving guy... (Btw I have just now named him Blake, and shall hereafter refer to him thus when convenient.)

"$5 I’ll sell you this whole box for $5! What a deal!” He called out as I stopped at his table.

“I don’t need all this stuff.” I said before I shifted through the cardboard box of phone jacks and chargers, ear buds and headphones—all new and in their plastic boxes--before pulling out a package labeled wireless earbuds.

“I’ll give you $1 for this.” I told him.

“Only a dollar!” He griped, “ Three dollars, two fifty at least.”

“Oh whatever. You offered me the whole box for $5 we both know I could’ve bought this for fifty-cents.” I grinned and shook my head.

“Ohhhh, ok a dollar then,” Blake said. Then noting the $5 price he had written on the package sighed dramatically dropped his shoulders and shaking his head said, “The things I do for pretty girls.”

Just then a man came by and asked the price of two chairs.

“I’ve got to get rid of this stuff. Tell you what I’ll sell them for $20 apiece, but you’ve got to buy them both.”

The man nodded and reached for his wallet, but was interrupted by Blake’s wife who was sitting a few yards away. “$5 each for the chairs she yelled”

“Well $5 I guess then.” Blake said and grimaced in her direction.
---

Pictures of all the things I bought today [Edit: this was written in June, so like most of my posts "today" is not really today] after the jump

I've had that for 7 months and still haven't worn it / New With Tags

Yeah, I buy things and then don't wear them for months and months.

If you were expecting I-am-so wasteful-to-buy-things-and-not-wear-them guilt then you should look elsewhere.
 
I buy out-of -season stuff;  I look for sandals in winter and closed toe shoes in spring.

Leah says, "Even though I know it's a really good idea, buying things off season makes me sad because I can't wear what I buy. It's like I spent my money and got...
                                                                                       ...
                                                                                         ...
                                                                                             nothing."

Me? I love off season sales.

There are 4 new short sleeve shirts that I've had in my drawer since winter. Sure, I've not been able to wear them, but I spent less on all 4 of them than most people will spend on one.

and


2 weeks ago I bought a peacoat for $12; it is still in the bag, still has tags, and is laying on the evil spare bed. I won't wear it for at least 7 months, but I'm still really glad I bought it. I had been wanting a dressier coat for a couple of years.

La la la (That is is happy sound of my heart singing.)

-----

This is such a boring post. Sigh.

Everything I write lately is either too boring or too personal to post. So yeah, today I have given my blog the boring thoughts because it had gotten lonely. Sometimes a boring conversation is better than silence.

Hangers!

Went to Kohls and bought a shirt for Leah and one for myself. Asked the clerk, "May i please have some slacks hangers?" and she gave me 4. (Had almost forgotten that they would do that.) Was on the way home and started laughing at myself because i was excited about my hangers and just kinda 'whatever' about the shirts. Pinchey hangers are awesome! I hate ironing.
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My Sedu Straightening Iron & Rebate Sites

I finally bought a straightening iron. (I gave my sedu to my cousin when she left for school) Had been planning to buy a new one for myself, but was waiting for a good sale. Plus I fried my hair this summer in chlorine swimming pools, and wanted to give it time to recuperate. I gave up & ended up just chopping it though.

(I will soon get to see what my DIY haircut looks like straightened. Eeeks.)

$119, is the reg sale price for the one I bought), but my hair straightened with a cheapo iron looks scary. Hannah W straightened my hair with her straightner in VA one day; it took her forever and a lifetime, then afterwards my hair was monstrously puffy and huge. The pictures & videos are horrifying. May you never see them....

I like that my hair is curly, but I have been curly for months, and am so tired of curls.

I was able to use a $35 off code on Folica.com, when I bought my iron. and will receive a chash back check from Ebates.

So yeah Rebate Sites:

If you've never used any cash back sites, you should try them out; they're easy. I joined both Ebates and Big Crumbs several years ago, and I bounce between the two depending where I'm shopping.

Ebates.com gives a higher percentage cash back for Folica, but Big Crumbs generally pays higher for eBay and allows cash back on eBay gift certificates. [Edit: ebay no longer participates in cashback sites, but they did create their own program--ebaybucks. Sign up for an automatic 2% to be used for future purchases.]

Big Crumbs will credit your paypal acount every month, and Ebates sends a check via postal mail quarterly. (Have been using them for long enough to know that they do work.)

So yeah.

You should sign up.  Click here to go to Ebates  or Click here to go to Big Crumbs

Guy Pretty Vs Girl Pretty Dresses & 'Window Shopping'

Our church group has a weird habit of going to Wal-Mart anytime we are in Athens, and to the mall when we are in Cleveland. It's usually the guys' idea; I suppose to window shop. Several of them once explained to me that window shopping means looking at girls. (Interestingly enough they said they'd never heard of window shopping being looking at clothing/store items without buying. But it fits.)

So yeah, in between services our group was at our ghost town of a mall: not many stores left... (I'm not remembering any pretty girls there either. And definitely no good looking guys--except the ones with us lol.) Twas rather empty.

But I'm not complaining; sometimes I do actually like to shop. And some of Deb's maxi dresses were on sale for $5. After Jessie rejected a "not girly enough" dress I directed her to a frou frou 'thing' (I dunno what else to call it.) The hip area was spewing a huge puff of crinkly white lacy shredded fabric masquerading as ruffles. It was horrid. I cannot explain the horridness of it. "Is this one girly enough for you Jessie?" I said sweetly.

She loved it.

(I just lied.) Actually she exclaimed at the scariness of it then picked out a black dress that was feminine enough for her with a bow thingy at the top. She asked it handed down to her. She is short. (Or maybe we were just blocking the rack...)

The other girl held out an orange silky dress with a tropical forest growing on it, "I think I would actually wear this...Looks like the dress I didn't buy in Ross. Remember it. I went back for it, but it was gone."

(Men have stories about, "the fish that got away." Women have stories about, "the sale that got away.")

"Guys don't like these dresses." She said a bit later.

I wrinkle my forehead, "Why not? Are you sure?

"Yes, [The Tall Blonde Boy] and [P.K]. told me guys hated them."

"But [The Tall Blonde Boy] told me he loved my green dress." (Guys are such weird waffley things. Why can't they say what they mean and mean what they say.)
 
"Maybe it was just [P.K]." she answered.
 
They both put their dresses back.
 
I tried on 2 then bought the black one with the bow thing. I probably wouldn't have bought it if I thought all guys hated long-maxi-dresses.

It's not like my life revolves around boys, but hey they matter, and I do care. I'm just not after that particular guy.

I do majorly dislike the tent-like maxi dresses without any shape, or the ones made of tarp material. I like my hips.

Kohls coupons & Shopping

I'm going shopping this evening after work.

Some of my friends want to go shopping Friday for the day-after-thanksgiving sales.

And my group is going ice skating Saturday and will hit the mall in Knoxville.

Plus I'm planning an (almost) all day shopping trip Monday in Chattanooga with Leah and an unnamed friend. Actually the friend does have a name I'm just not naming it...

(I've never been to the Chatanoooga mall.)

Gosh that is a lot of shopping--Leah will be so happy. :) I think I'll opt out of some of it.

I am happy that our new shopping center includes Kohls and Ross.

I bought (10) Kohls coupons off ebay yesterday. Here is one for you, but it expires 1/03/09

$5 off Kohls coupon

Happy shopping guys!

--
So awkward I posted this then later realized that those coupons are one-use-only, and taken from Kohls website's 'back door' link. In other words I bought stolen coupons, and then gave some away.

Did my best to make that right. Sometimes it happens...

Recreational Shoppers

Wednesday after work Leah and I had already gone to most of our favorite stores in Knoxville, and I wanted to go home. “Yeah that’s fine,” Leah said then added, “This has been an unsuccessful shopping trip. It’s not a successful trip unless I buy something.”

After teasing her about her materialistic mind-set I turned toward a shopping center that included Ross and T.J.Max. “Well I’ll try to make this trip a success for you.”

We walked into Ross where Leah laughed and made fun of me as I began talking myself out of buying things. (My friends know that I save my money, but I am weirder with Leah, because she is my sister, and because it makes her laugh.) If Leah is there I talk myself out of buying things out loud and my explanations (to myself) are very detailed. This is apparently very droll.

Leah has redefined her trip as a success; she bought 3 things:

1) A long A-line khaki skirt with studs (Too big for her, but on sale and maybe it will shrink)

2) A pink top with white polka dots (A Little too small, but maybe it will stretch)

3) A long blue button up shirt with white polka dots ("Perfect!" she said..)

She has fifty cents left to her name. It was definitely a successful trip for her.

I have more than enough cute clothes already, but still I bought 3 things:

1) A tiered hanger-it holds four skirts (If I return to my shopping boycott my closet won’t need hangers that fit multiple items. Hmmm)

2) A pink shirt with a white mock lace camisole (Poor quality, but cute.)

3) A black and off-white A-line skirt (It matches my black blouse with off-white lace-Yay!)

(See Josh--I do spend money.)

I think we could have just each bought the one item that was perfect for us and skipped the others. But is buying unneeded things really a big deal? Surely wasting a little money is ok. I have plenty to waste, but am I setting a bad example for my little sister?

PS: I shop with Leah to spend time with her--it’s a sister bonding thing, I guess. I boycotted unnecessary shopping for about 2 years (Still felt as if I went shopping all the time for birthday presents…) She told me we needed to start shopping again because it was our alone time together.

Edit: If this is your definition of recreational shopper, then that title suits neither Leah nor I, even though I do chat with the sales people.