I mean....THRIFTY.
So, I don't do Black Friday shopping, but each year I spend a couple of hours shopping the day after Christmas. Usually I'm at Target when they open at 7AM and then I pick another store where I want to get Christmas decor on sale (Some years it has been an upscale nursery that sells beautiful decor, other years it is Pottery Barn or Michael's Crafts).
This all started in 2006 when we lived in a new house with NO Christmas decorations. I just couldn't bring myself to pay full price, even 30% off, when the day after Christmas everything was at least 50% off or more.
Each year I budget a certain amount and I take inventory of what decor I would like to add around the house. Some years there is more $$$ to spend, some years I don't want as much. I usually scope out the shops of my choice in the weeks leading up to Christmas, just to see if they have stuff I want.
So each year I head to Target with the HOARD of other women with the same idea. The Parking Lot is always packed and you always see tons of people you know. I love it, I've gotten great stuff at great prices. But this year it was different.
Target was NOT packed as usual. Also, everything was JUST 50% off. Which is a good deal, but I feel like in years past there were better prices the day after Christmas. I got through the line so quickly, which is unusual. I know this year people have many reasons to cut their budgets...job loss, pay cuts, illness, upcoming business changes, moving, retirement, and debt repayment. And boy was that evident in the isles of Target this morning.
Also, since last year I have become more of a Thrifty Shopper. Maybe I've changed, and my expectations of what I spend my money on have changed, or how much I pay for it?
I actually got out of there with only $22 worth of wrapping paper (the stuff I had from last year was so hideous. What was I thinking?????)....no other Christmas clearance. Oh, don't worry. Target didn't let me go so easily. We needed a plunger, hangers, binkies (got to have pink ones!), and a toy on sale for Jacob.
So, I'm glad I saved my money......and I know that after the first of the year Target clearances stuff from all over the store to upwards of 70%-80% off. Maybe there will be Christmas decor left over then too. Until then, me and the other hoards of women, we decided to hang on to our money today. It actually feels great!
1 comment:
We did the same thing! We usually never go to the after Christmas sales but a few lighted decorations stopped working and we needed wrapping paper. I had to buy a roll this year at full price and I was so upset so we stocked up. Target's sale wasn't great and we only got the wrapping paper (which I might have been able to hold out on until it was discounted more but I wasn't going to take the chance that it would be gone) and one of those bouncy balls with glitter in them. They are usually 9 bucks and the boys fight over the one we already have (from a Halloween clearance sale). I paid $3 bucks for the ball and $12 for the wrapping paper.
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