breaking the bank...

One of my favorite things is finding a great bargain.  I love when I find exactly what I'm looking for AND it's at a great price...like this lampshade... 

I'm kind of a fan of Target's Shabby Chic line...but I haven't been impressed by the lampshades lately.  If you squint real hard, you can see that my new lampshade comes from this line (maybe last year's???) But, the best part of the shade is the price tag -can you see that it says $2.99? No kidding!  I bought two of these lamps a while ago at the Christmas Tree Shop (I splurged at $16.99 each) but I've been unable to find just the right shades for them....until today when I RETURNED to the Christmas Tree Shop.  Bad news: there was only one.  Good news:  they ordered two more for me.  I'll have to drive a half hour to  pick them up, but that kind of math makes sense to me, you know?

My lamp is sitting on my other find of the week.  She is a very cheery shade of pink and is the cutest shape, don't you think?  She was also a bargain - $2.50 in the Target Dollar bins! 

Not bad for a week of bargain-shopping, right? 

Next hunt I'm looking for one of these...

I'd like it to be under $5, too....what are the chances?

Don't mock me...

My friends say I am thrify or maybe downright pathetic.  But, in my heart of hearts I don't really think that I am...my wallet would agree with my friends, but my taste would beg to differ.  I am thrify because I must be, and along the way I have learned to enjoy the hunt of a good deal.  And, my tastes have changed in the process.  No longer do I desire designer everything...I've found that I actually really LOVE to find "one of a kind" treasures.  My heart pounds when I pass a flea market or a country auction...I have no doubt that there are bargains standing by just waiting to be found by me!

I happened to be blessed to live in Lancaster County, PA where there are flea markets, auctions and yard sales a-plenty on any given summer weekend.  And during the dreary months of winter, there are at least a handful of other options to be had by thrifty shoppers like me. 

I'm not exactly sure what direction this blog will evolve into, but the underlying tone will be that it's O-KAY to be thrifty if you're living on a budget.  (You might even find it's ok to be thrifty if you're blessed to NOT be living on a budget, but I doubt you will find that advice here...just saying.)  Not only is it ok to be thrifty, I think you can be thrifty while still looking like you have more than two dimes to rub together.  Thrifty does not equal frumpy, cheap or dirty.  It just means you are careful with your money and actually enjoy the hunt of a bargain.  I like the mall and Boutiques as much as any other woman...but as a general rule, I don't pull my wallet out for just any full-price item - it has to earn the right to come live with me.

That reminds me of my favorite part of today...it goes like this: 

I went to Target this afternoon

(I had a coupon for $5 off a Swiffer Wet Jet AND my body was craving a popcorn combo)...

*WetJet, popcorn combo, bonus $.99 cute pink containers* 

...as I was walking through the front doors I heard a little girl and her mom walking in behind me.  I only vaguely paid attention to what the little girl was saying, but I got the feeling she was working on her mother's last nerve.  I'm pretty sure I was right, because as they whizzed by me in their red cart, the little girl asked her mom, "What am I getting, mommy?  Huh?  What am I getting???"  Without missing a beat, her mom shot back, "You're lucky if you get a ride home."