It struck me today while I was out shopping, sometimes the most frugal things you do are the things you DON’T do.
I was waiting for the Thrifty Shopper thrifts store on upper front street to open at 10am-it was only 9, so I had a bit. I drove over to KMart to look around while I was waiting. While I was their I got sucked into the clearance aisle, where they had some really nice bath and body sets marked down to a pittance. I actually picked a couple up and carried them around the store for a while before I decided that, even if they were a good deal I didn’t really need them, and therefore buying them was a waste of money.
Now personally, I keep a gift box with some miscellaneous adult and childrens gifts at homes for those last minute situations. But I have several nice things in there right now-I don’t need more. And I don’t have a lot of friends who I exchange gifts with-we tend to just give to the kids or give food gifts. The immediate family on my side has decided not to give birthday presents to the adults anymore (unless you just really want to give something-like the knitted gift I am making my sister this year). I really REALLY didn’t need a bath and body gift set. You know, it was still very hard to talk myself into putting down that great “deal” and wallking out of the store.
I think sometimes we need to remember that not buying anything at all is more frugal than buying a “deal” that you don’t really need.
I saw the K-Mart bath specials after Christmas, too. They did seem like a great bargain. Then I took a look at what was available, and wondered who on earth would want to smell like a candy apple after her shower? I put mine down, too…
I can’t begin to say how many times I too have walked around a store with something in my hand or my cart, only to put it down at last and leave without it. Sometimes you don’t realize how unnecessary it is until you have to live with it for a few minutes.