What Did You Do? Wednesdays - No Purchase Necessary

I like stuff.  I like stuff a LOT.  No, I actually think I love stuff.  They say "things" can't make you happy.  But I believe I would beg to differ.  Shopping for the stuff has actually made me VERY, VERY happy.  It's one of the few things I'm quite good at.  Ahhhhh, shopping.  And it's not just going to a store and laying out bookoo bucks for something.  For me, it's the bargain searching, the clearance finds, the garage sale treasures, the discovering the last one left, the thrill of the hunt....you get my drift?  I'd never feel good about an expensive purchase on, say, a pair of boots.  What I would feel pleased as punch about is the excellent sale plus coupon plus rewards I used to get a zillion dollars off that pair of boots.  Do you do the same thing at all?  I think many of you bloggers do.  We're a thrifty bunch with some seriously shrewd spending habits.

But here's where it got me in trouble.  That stuff I love has, over time, brought me down to the point of being really kind of miserable.  I'm not a serial shopper.  I'm not out there every day shopping and only shopping.  It's actually not even that often that I go, but like I said, when I go......I'm goooood.  And it's hard for me to turn down a good garage sale, or go to Super T A R G E T and come away with things I really only needed.  I mean, come on ~ the other day they were changing out aisles of merchandise.  We're talkin' shiny, new STUFF here folks!  THAT'S exciting!

However, after looking closely at my basement.....and closer and closer still, I sheepishly admit that I am embarrassed.  I can laugh about it, and I can get rid of it, but I truly do know that I have an addiction.  I'm also not one to waste, so many items I think I can fix or do up pretty like so many on the blog-o-sphere can.  Truth is, some of it I could put a snazzy touch on, and other things I couldn't.  I guess because I don't have the space, the time or the talent.

My goal, in the next year, is to comb through my belongings with a fine tooth comb, so to speak, and be wary of all things I purchase and where the money actually goes.  My mom had a great idea for me:  keep a list of all the things I didn't buy, and keep that money separate in a special fund.  What a motivator to know how much I would have spent on stuff crap I just. didn't. NEED!

I think it might be a little hard considering we're approaching the biggest sale season of the year, but staying out of stores in general, sticking to my list of necessary items when I do go, and keeping track of the money I saved when I didn't buy all seem like a good plan.  See?  Money in my pocket for vacations or all new flooring or a kitchen remodel....no purchase necessary.

What do you think?  Anybody with me on this one?

**This post brought to you by a bin of 20 childrens', clearance Valentine's boxes.  (For the record, I have 2 children, not 20.)

What Did You Do? Wednesdays - Garage Sale Glory

You know, once I actually got started with my garage sale prep, I've kind of been in my glory.  I have truly enjoyed the organizing, the pricing, the sorting, the straightening, the WhereAreWeGoingToPutAllThisStuff decisions.  The colors make me happy too.  All the bright colors of the toys, the little girl pinks and purples, the sea of book covers....I feel pleased when I look around.

I'm content with the memories I have with each item as well.  Most of the items were more well used by our oldest daughter.  It's different with the second, isn't it?  They go right into whatever the older ones like/have.  So, maybe I remember what my oldest and I played in the time she fit into a certain outfit, or where we went, and what we did.  I recall the vast amounts of time spent doting on her in a tiny, little house far away from any family or friends, while we played with many of the toys we're now selling.  It's bittersweet, you know?

It's like Where's Waldo....could you find me in any of these pictures? No? Of course not.  I'm buried under all the other stuff I didn't post shots of. Oh,trust me. There's A LOT.  I've overflowed from the garage significantly.  If it rains, we're in big trouble.

What Did You Do? Wednesdays - Garage Sale Prep

Who:   My mom (that dear, dear woman), the 6.5 year old (who, surprisingly enough, ended up being an excellent box hauler) and me

What:   The Godzilla Garage Sale

Where:   My overflowing garage

Why:  Because we should have had one about a year ago  2 years ago  5 years ago before we moved back to WI

When:  Officially June 11-12. Unofficially, until it's mostly gone (every weekend until July???)

How:  You mean like "How did we end up with so much stuff for 2 small humans?"  I can only respond with the following:

There ought to be a law.

I should have my head examined.

Money should be withheld from me.

How did all that fit in our basement?

What was I thinking?

It's ok to say "no thank you" if someone wants to give you something.

They'll make more.  (i.e.  You don't need to buy every good deal you come across.)

Girl stuff is sooooo cute.

Unfortunately, there's more where that came from.  We're prepared for Christmases, birthdays, Easters, St. Nicholas Days, and pretty much any Sunday-Saturday "I'm bored" days for the next, oh, let's just say 3 years.

Surely there's a support group for that, but I'd probably skip out on the meetings like Lindsay Lohan.

You know what's sick?  I'm still going to "T H E" garage sale to end all garage sales that I look forward to each June.  This year I won't let my husband take off of work, though, so I can spent 4.5 hours digging through other people's junk stuff.  I'm planning on hurrying through like the devil was on my tail.....or at least a block or so behind me.  Look at it this way, it's a good test of my restraint.

Alright, alright.  Just strap the ankle bracelet on me now.

The Garage Sale Creed

I believe in one Garage Sale, the Rummage Sale, the Almighty, maker of old and barely used, of all that is seen and unseen.

I believe in one Summer Season, Bargaining Season, the only Mother of Sale, eternally begotten of the Pre-Owned, Quarters from Dollars, Change from a Buck, true Bargain from true Bargain, begotten, maybe handmade, of one Being with the Deal; through this all things were gained.

For me and for my salvation talked her down from ($)seven, was incarnate of the Holy Get-This-Out-of-My-House Spirit and born of the purgin' Carrie. For my sake she was clarified while clearing her closet; she took a breath and was no longer buried. On the third day she rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; she ascended into a van and has bleated that her storage is no more bother. I will come again in glory to judge the items that have been shed, and this kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Sale, the Recycled, the giver of life, who proceeds from a Mother who has used & is done, who with the Father and their Son has discarded and denied, who has spoken through the profits. I believe in one holy sunny morning and plasmic search. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of digging through bins. I look for the resurrection of the rejected, and its life in my world to come. Amen.

Here endeth The Season.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Read Other Cool Things Here: