Shopping

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Before taking you shopping... I'm doing a couple of paragraphs to vent on everyday life that you can skip.

I'm a bit tired of going to doctor offices. Thursday I had the nerve conduction and EMG tests. Those needles hurt a bit going into my muscles. I go Friday to the orthopedist for the results. We each have a doctor's appointment on Friday. We want to go somewhere and explore... just have fun! I know it will all happen in due time :-)

Yesterday I went to Mama's doctor appointment. Mainly because I haven't seen her since Christmas. I talk to her once or twice a week, but it just is not the same as seeing her. She looks so much tireder and frailer than I last saw her. She has to increase her water pills for a few days and she has to start watching her salt intake. She is in a lot of pain still and will go in a couple of weeks for an injection in her back to hopefully reduce the pain.

After my tests on Thursday I went over to the mall to shop. Did I mention that I hate shopping? We had all ready looked at WalMart, KMart and Target for a pocketbook for me. I use a string wallet most all the time. It holds the basics. I just can't carry all that weight around. I usually have a pocket book that will hold the wallet plus meds, tissue, comb, lipstick, lip balm and bandaids... a basic first aid kit :-) The pocketbook is mainly used for day trips... for travel and stays in the truck. The last one, made of nylon lasted for five or six years.

I started my shopping journey at Sears. Oh My! I could not believe the bags I saw. They were so gaudy and looked something like the bags from the late 60's into the 70's. A colorful print would be fine with me, but not these gaudy prints and none were the size I needed... I didn't need a large tote size.

Then I dropped into Pic N Pay and Shoes for Less... nothing any better. Then I went into Dillards. Pricey even gaudier pocketbooks there. One was priced $99 dollars and honestly, I would not even have bought it if it were .99¢

Then I went to J C Penney. They usually have a good selection. There bags looked a bit better, but didn't have all the pockets I wanted to keep everything sorted. My last stop was Belk's. They too had the gaudy pricey pocketbooks. Then I noticed the ones that were on the clearance shelves. Some were quilted and looked nice and had several pockets. Then I spotted a canvas one. It had lots of pockets. The original price was $48 and the mark-down price was $23.99. Not bad... a bit more than the quilted pocketbooks, but it appeared to be sturdier. I decided to get it especially since an additional 50% would be taken off at the register. For $11.99 I got a pocketbook that should last for years.



Of course I had to look at the clothing to see what was on special. I found a couple of pair of capri pants for $14.99 each... I would never pay the original $30 price.


Before taxes the total was $41.97. I saved $66.03. To hate shopping so much I think I did well :-)


I do like to browse through antique, junk and thrift shops... that is totally different than shopping for something that is a necessity :-)


As I composed this I kept trying to use the words purse and handbag, but from my Southern upbringing comes the word pocketbook and so that is what my fingers typed :-)

A Bargain and I'll Take A Verb?

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A week or so ago I whammed my next to the little toe a good'un on one of our doorways. It is probably slightly fractured. The pain is about gone and the color is back to normal. It is still a bit swollen and hurts when it hits the floor in certain ways.

I can't seem to go barefoot very much anymore. My indoor open-toed shoes were worn out. So we shopped this last week for open-toed shoes for me. The style this year seems to be flip flops or thongs. I don't like to wear flip flops / thongs... the strap between my toes just irritates.

Our last stop was WalMart yesterday. Frank helped me look and he found some that were on clearance for $3. Granted they aren't much to look at, but for $3 and will be worn indoors... I don't care. They give me enough cushioning and my toes are happy :-)

I prefer the straps up for a quick slip on-off.

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Frank asked me this morning if I had dreamed about games shows again. A few days ago I had a dream about two tv stars in a game show. Hurley from ABC's show Lost was one of the contestants and I can't remember the name of the other star. I do remember that it was a very strange combination.

I answered Frank's question that I didn't remember dreaming of anything last night. I asked him why. He said I clearly asked for a verb ... um a verb?

now was that a catagory in

I know it could not have been

Sometimes I wish I could remember all of what was in my dreams and other times I wish I didn't remember as much as I do :-)

I don't watch game shows very much any more. I loved the old game shows of Concentration, To Tell The Truth, I've Got A Secret, Queen For A Day, Password, Match Game, Hollywood Squares, Name That Tune, The Dating Game, Joker's Wild, Lets Make A Deal, The Price Is Right (Bill Cullen as host), Tic Tac Dough, Truth Or Consequences and What's My Line. I do sometimes watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, but the other game shows of today just don't interest me.

Do you watch game shows? What are your favorites? Come across a bargain lately? What are in your dreams?

Bargains - Coupons - Special Offers

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Do you search for coupons and Special Offers?

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a free sample of Total Cranberry Crunch cereal. Here is the package. The flip side has my address... this side made for a better picture ;-)



Inside the package was a coupon and a half cup sample of the cereal... which made a nice snack. The cereal tasted pretty good and with a good price and the coupon I'd buy it.


You can get your sample here.

I signed up for a free roll of foil from Reynold's Wrap... the new recycled product... on Earth Day. I have to purchase a roll by May 4th then send the rebate form in. Trouble is... I haven't found a store that has it in stock. With luck we'll find it.

Reynold's does not have this offer any more, but they do offer a 5o¢ coupon here.

If I ever find the product I will place it in our travel trailer. I usually buy an industrial size roll for the kitchen. Frank uses a lot for grilling. In the kitchen I mostly use the non-stick foil. A lot of times I can just wipe the foil off and use it several times... like when I bake frozen biscuits. The foil gets recycled right along with the aluminum cans.

Pillsbury usually has coupons in the Sunday newspaper, but you can also register at their site and print coupons from there.

Here is a product that perhaps one would not like to talk about, Poise Pads. The coupon savings there is usually $2.00.

Dove Hair Care has a free sample offer of either Heat Defense Therapy or Intense Damage Therapy.

Often the drug store is the place to buy such things as vitamins. At regular price they can cost more there than at discount stores, but catch a sale of buy one get one free and it can be a lot less than the discount store.

If you use some name brands all the time check their web site for coupons. A $2 coupon from Post Trail Mix Crunch. A 55¢ coupon on Banana Nut Cheerios . How about a $1 savings on Hershey's Bliss . Nestle... makers of carnation milk... has monthly coupon offers. Save 60¢ on Jello Sugar Free Jello or Pudding.

Coupons.com and SmartSource.com are other place to get coupons. Your favorite magazines may also offer coupons on their web sites. If you don't want to do the keyboard work you can sign up free at a site like CouponMom.com.

Some web sites may require you to register. I use a yahoo.com email address for such things and that easily separates them from family and other emails.

Wherever you print your coupons from... make sure you have ink and paper in your printer and that the printer is turned on. With some coupons you are only allowed to print one.

Don't forget to check your bank for bargains. Do you let your CDs and IRAs just roll over? You can sometimes get a better rate... just go by your bank or call and see if a higher rate is available when the account has matured... with our bank we have within 10 days of the maturity date to change the interest rate. I also suggest you take time to get to know the personnel of your bank... It makes a difference.

Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. -- Benjamin Franklin