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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Loneliness of the Frugal Neophyte

Not what you think. Not the typical lament of the newly frugal: My friends go out all the time and I don't want to spend the money. This is the opposite: I have saved enough to do something neat this week, but my friends don't have any money.

I am speaking of 20-something Frugal Son, with his worthy, but low-paying job. All his friends have equally low-paying jobs. Some are worthy; some are merely interim jobs before the next step. Frugal Son has developed his frugal chops, thanks to Mr FS and me. I do like to think that.

He does go out and about with friends. Lately, however, he has had to do some things solo, because none of his friends can afford to go with him.

Hence: a ticket to Cirque de Soleil.
Hence: a solo lunch at Galatoire's.
And even this.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

$25 off and free shipping at Eileen Fisher, TODAY ONLY

This is a good enough deal to rouse me from my blogging slumber (aka overwork). If you read between the lines here, you know that I crave some of the Eileen Fisher basics, which elicit raves from various blogging luminaries. But self-knowledge (I am a spiller and ruin-er of things, occasional misplacer also) and extreme frugality ($100 plus for a rayon tank top!!!!) make me pause. It may just be that frugality is a nice word for extreme CHEEPITUDE.

For some reason (perhaps karmic forces in the universe?), I checked into the Eileen Fisher website last night. There I discovered that EF is having (today, March 23, is the last day) 30% off some pieces PLUS free shipping!!! Further research yielded a code--531900--for $25.00 off any purchase over $50. Today, March 23 ONLY. How's that for harmonic convergence?

So, readers, I found a tank top in the sale section. Baby steps. How about you?

If you are interested, get thee to EF.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Frugal B*tch: C'est Moi

Whoa. I haven't posted for a long time. No disasters, fortunately, just mind-numbing stress of various sorts. Accompanied by exhaustion. Just in case you're wondering or worrying: I am still frugal. Today, I am inspired to write because--while following my frugal path--I got the death stare from a few employees at Home Depot.

I was trying to buy a large utility shelf for Frugal Son. Poor guy. In addition to inheriting some good stuff from me (fast reader, good at taking standardized tests), he also inherited my extreme problems with order and clutter. After reading a zillion books, I kind of know what to do, but--as always--the divide between theory and praxis remains. If someone had told me about all these things when I was in my 20s, I would have kissed their feet. Frugal Son, however, is extremely resistant to advice, something he inherited from my father, another slob.

Frugal Son lives in a tiny space with a tiny closet (maybe 3 feet wide) and hardly any other storage space. And people of our ilk don't hang things up anyway--we drop. So I bought Frugal Son 2 overdoor hooks (wonderful!).

Then I told him I was getting him a utility shelf for his birthday. He actually did not refuse this time. I went to Home Depot armed with the knowledge that they had 9 in stock. When I got there--10 minutes later--I could find but two, both broken.

I summoned three employees. After looking everywhere, they found a display model. I asked about the other 6. "I guess we need to update the computer inventory." UGH. I said that I checked so that I wouldn't waste time and that I felt I deserved a discount on the floor model. To which the youngest employee said, "We'll give you a discount if you get us a raise." To which I (inspired) said, "You're getting paid for being here. I am losing money by not being at work." This silenced the young sassy one.

I once again asked the oldest employee if I could have a discount, and he agreed! So $35 reduced to $20. Mollified, I said, "I'm sorry if I seemed a little crabby." To which: SILENCE. And a DEATH STARE. And eyes that said "B*TCH." He hated me.

Whatever. I love the shelf!

By the way, overdoor hooks and a utility shelf are two of the most useful organizing devices for hopeless cases. I learned that from a wonderful genius, whose books I have recommended before.




P.S. Many thanks to readers who left comments during my long silence.