Budget lesson of the day:

Today's budget-minded lesson:  Don't go to the mall. 

I avoid the place if at all possible.  Not because I hate to shop -  Au contraire!  I love to shop...but when I walk into the mall I suddenly go weak in the knees and forget all about the fact that I'm on a tight budget...suddenly, rather than being content with what I have, I want MORE.  My daughter has it way worse than I do.  I made the mistake of taking her to the mall last night - just for something to do.  Even though she knew we weren't going to buy, but to LOOK, I still must have heard "Oooh, I want one of these!" a half-million times.  NOT that she thought I would cave and hand the Debit card over - she knows better than that - but still...I had to hear it.  And really, she was just being outwardly honest...because inside I was doing the same thing...just with better restraint, of course. 

You can cut all the coupons you want, but unless you have a specific need or purpose in mind, bottom line is this: STAY AWAY FROM THE MALL, GIRLS!  BUT...if you do frequent the mall and come out empty handed and happen to feel a real let-down, you might consider keeping your eyes peeled on the way home for a little hidden treasure.  By treasure I mean trash...you know, the good kind of trash that other people haul out next to their big blue receptacles in the name of junk.  Maybe there's a good reason for them to haul it out there, maybe they're downsizing or possibly making room for something newer and shinier....but whatever the reason, if you look REAL hard and stop your whining about not buying something at the mall, you just might see these little treasures calling for you to take them home.

No way I would have found THESE at the mall for free...

but I did find them in someone's trash pile on the way home. 
They need a little loving and a few cushions, but they'll do just fine on my porch...THAT'S my kind of bargain - FREE!