How to Shop on a Dime: Thrift Store Finds to Brighten Your Day

Sometimes life can be monotonous. Most of our days are filled with work or school or a combination of the two. When the weekend finally arrives, we often find ourselves engulfed in chores: cleaning and cooking, laundry and lawn care, etc., etc. The chores are constant and the fun times can be elusive.

Since not many of us can jet off to Hawaii or go skydiving or hang gliding in our free time, we have to entertain ourselves by other means. For many of us, both men and women, shopping is the new extreme sport, especially if it's for the latest electronic game or iPod.

People will go to extreme lengths to upgrade. Why else would somebody camp outside a store to be first in line when the doors open? If it isn't new releases we're after, then it's holiday mega sales. The excitement of car racing pales in comparison to the post Thanksgiving Day sale.

First, there's the anticipation of the shopper as she or he approaches the store or mall...not unlike the revving of the engines at the Indy 500. The doors open and the race is on: up and down aisles searching for bargains, jockeying for the best position, sudden sharp turns when perfect gift">the perfect gift is spotted, all the while holding steadily onto the cart. After awhile, the serious shopper needs to refuel. He or she will make a quick pit stop for some food and then it's back to the races. The final victory lap is the sprint to the check out lane with a cart full of bargains.

While the day after Thanksgiving may indeed be a shopping extravaganza, every day is an opportunity to shop. We are a culture constantly on the lookout for the newest and fastest devices. Money or lack of money, is not always a major concern... we'll pay that credit card off eventually. We're living longer now; so, it stands to reason that we have longer to pay off our debts. Well at least it sounds good in theory. Perhaps Social Security will have to adjust their benefits for the retiring Baby Boomers. They may need a little more money to pay off that latest computer. We adjust for inflation...why not for shopping?

Henry, the Octopus

Credit: C. Benoit

Copyright: C. Benoit