Thursday, October 26, 2006

Retail Therapy

It works for me!...and luckily for my husband I am frugal-okay, I'm CHEAP!!! I love a bargain and seem to have a sick talent for finding them. I've been pre-stressing (def. stressing out way before it is even necessary) about the gifts to take to China for officials, SWI directors, etc I've read on other BTDT blogs that this is something that they wished they had not stressed out about before leaving for China because it was so minimal of an event in the big scheme of things in China. The gifts are just placed on a table. They are not opened in front of you and you really have no idea who gets what anyway. The general guidelines for these gifts are that they be made in the USA and not too horribly expensive. I've also heard that items specific to your home state are well-received. So, imagine my surprise to find these Arizona state spoons, thimbles and bells at the car wash today...

Yep, I cleared 'em out. Here's why: The spoons and thimbles were regularly priced at $5.90 each. The bells were $10.50. Wanna guess what I paid for them???................TWENTY FIVE CENTS EACH!!!!!!! So, after some fun with the calculator, here are the official stats. Regular price would have been $167.90 total. I paid $5.75. That's a savings of 97%!!! Now that's what I call a bargain! I plan to take small red gift bags and tissue to China in my suitcase and leave them flat. I'll also pick up some chocolate, hand lotion, etc. and when it's time to leave the hotel with the gifts, we'll just assemble the bags then. Here's a close up of a spoon. Notice the $.25 sticker for proof!

I was feeling a little guilty about paying $17.95 for someone to wash my car for me. The truth is, I don't do it often. I do it myself most weeks but can't reach the top of the Suburban very easily. I figure that if I take it in once a month or so, the top will get cleaned then and I won't worry about it the other times. Needless to say, I think the net financial impact of the errand leans heavily in my favor!!! Now, I'm a bit worried that the fact that I clearance shopped at the car wash and am so excited about it makes me officially WT...

6 comments:

Ava's family said...

What a deal!!!!! I was just thinking about these gifts the other day and wondered what I should give people. My question....How many people to you plan to buy for?

Mom 2 six said...

Great deal !! What you heard was correct for us. Our guide gathered the items, put them in a big pile and gave them as one large gift.
I LOVE getting a deal. Way to go.

OziMum said...

25c!!! B.A.R.G.A.I.N!!! Like you, I'm a pre-stresser... and I've read that it's a big non-event too, but if I don't put some effort into it, it'll be the day, they display the gifts!!!

What a find! I'm sure they'll be well received.

Angela said...

I'm right there with ya! I had read somewhere that certain numbers have meanings, and that the number eight is a lucky number, so I am putting eight things in each gift bag. About once a month, I will buy something for the gifts. For women's gifts I have so far, lipstick, hand lotion, nail polish, nail files (with american flag hearts on them), lip gloss, and a nail brush, so now I need two more items. I'm thinking hand sanitizer, and some other form of make-up. Men's I have no clue. If you look for bargains like me, try waiting till after Valentine's day to get your bags and tissue paper. I stocked up after this past year. I got mine at Target. Nice bags too!

Dana said...

Dang! This is my kind of bargin too. I hope I can hit the jackpot for AZ stuff for my gift bags. As Napoleon would say. "Lucky"

Dana

Alyson and Ford said...

Great bargain shopping!!
I need to write down all these great ideas and get shopping!

Alyson