I have been an a-v-i-d consumer. As a wife and mother, I did MORE than my share of contributing to the Canadian economy by shopping, shopping and shopping. No more so than during the eighties and nineties, when I was raising a family.
When I hit my fifties and my birds flew the nest, I started to consume less... and less...and less. I bought, but my mantra became "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle." I had always been a " frugalista", but I became even more frugal. It wasn't hard. It was a skill I already had, but that I started to perfect.
My priorities shifted. I wanted to spend my money on travel and adventure, so I decided I would buy nothing "NEW", if possible, if I could beg, borrow, mooch, or buy secondhand in a thrift shop or garage sale. As you know if you read my blog about the trapezoid table, I am not above "curbside" pick-ups either. However, I DO draw the line at "dumpster diving".
Over the years I have laid my hands on some SWEET finds. A couple of recent ones, lead me to write this blog.
My one and only "sista" is a super shopper extraordinaire. Plus she has an eye for fashion and decor, as well as gardening. Did I mention she is also a foodie, and super techie?
Anyway, on a recent trip to our provincial capital, Lou had our "upscale" thrift shops all lined up. UPSCALE THEY WERE! What fun! Plus she was the personal shopper for both my mother and me. "NO, you do NOT use "I" in that sentence!" I ended up with 11 items at an average cost of $12 per item. MY REAL STEAL? I found it on my own, by the way, after my personal shopper told me the ones I had first picked out were NOT a good buy. Velvet flats... oh so chic and exactly what I was looking for. Price? $24.00 The brand name caught my attention and prompted me to check out the name online. I found them there.. starting at $498.00! Can you believe it? Remember that name ladies... Stuart Weitzman.
A garage sale item yesterday, a "Le Sport Sac" to hold my yoga gear for the princely sum of .25 cents, yielded a $90.00 "on sale" price tag online. HAPPY DANCE!!!!
Of course, there are screw ups. Like the lovely tunic I bought to match my brown leggings and high boots, to wear this fall. At home I discovered I had bought a "maternity top!" Oh well... I never recognized the item as being maternity clothing. (Shrug) I obviously have to bone up on those labels. :)
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