I tend to be a very careful shopper. Most of my shopping is in the have to have category. Groceries. Soap. Diapers. I’m the poor lady figuring unit prices with two fussy kids in the cart. It’s been habit for me for a long time. My budget’s beyond tight.
But because I’m such a tightwad I can also make my bit of disposable income go a long ways. I’ve still got most of that tax refund I promised we’d spend only on the things we really want, the stuff that’s been on the top of the I Want That Someday list for a long time. I can’t even spend for fun without being careful about it.
Lawn chairs have been on the top of the list for 2 years now. I’ve been looking at them everywhere for the last month. Everything I’ve seen was too many dollars for not enough quality. And then yesterday, in the grocery store, they had itty bitty kids chars for $2 each and reasonable folding chairs for $5 each. Sweet. I got four chairs for $14. Woot! I won’t have to use an over turned bucket any more.
We also got fireworks yesterday. One of the roadside tents out here had them 2 for 1. So we each got to pick one (two!) and I decided we needed the 50¢ box of poppers. PB’s just big enough to get a real kick out of them. We spent 20 minutes in Grandma’s driveway throwing them on the concrete and having good family time. I think I got my money’s worth. H wants another box for himself to experiment with while the kids are in school.
I read somewhere a while back that you get the most happiness out of your money by spending it on experiences rather than stuff. I think they’re right. When 50¢ provides 20 minutes of quality family time it’s a bargin.
Tags: bargin hunting, budget, entertainment, family time, fireworks, fourth of july, garden, kids, lawn chairs, shopping, unit price
