No Job = Less Money = Fewer Gifts

Last December I returned from my favorite department store carrying shopping bags filled to the brim with bargains. This was one of those “one day only, lowest prices of the season sale”. They weren’t kidding! I needed to buy my holiday gifts to mail them out to Chicago so the sale was extremely timely. This is the first time in many years that I will not be able to spend what I would like on gifts for the family for the holidays so I really needed to be careful. Not having a paycheck coming in really cramps my style, but doesn’t have to stop my generosity.  It just requires more time and creativity. Now that my career plan has prematurly ended, I have the time but not the money!

A New Skill – Bargain Shopper

Last year as I was contemplating stopping working I needed to be more frugal for the holidays. It is now almost six months since I have been employed and I have learned to wait and search for bargains. I also have the ability to go to stores at 9:00AM during the week and look around at my leisure for the perfect gift at that special bargain price. When I was working I was limited to running into stores at the busiest times on the weekends, fighting the traffic and horrific parking at the mall and scanning the stores for items when the aisles and counters were crowded with shoppers. Since the majority of shoppers were there on the weekends, the sales were never as spectacular. Last Wednesday, for example, it was 60% off until 1:00pm. What is the working person supposed to do? I could just picture calling my old boss to say I wouldn’t be in because I wanted to save money on holiday gifts. She would have given me the gift of a “pink slip”. 

When done right, shopping can be rewarding work

I did well for myself. I came out with great gifts at fabulous prices. I used my debit card so I won’t have large bills coming due in January so I won’t have debt hanging over my head and that makes me feel good. I’ve finished my holiday shopping and just have to wrap the gifts and mail them away. Now if I could only negotiate shipping rates with the post office my holiday would be complete.

Categories: