Shopping is Still Fun at Bargain Basement Prices

For years, my good friend Mary has been a dedicated shopper of the most upscale stores. She rarely looks at prices and wouldn't comprehend the concept of comparing prices.

On any given day she is dressed from head to toe in an outfit which cost about as much as my first semester in college. She spoils her kids and her kids' kids. She has been known to buy a new car rather than get the tires rotated. But that's just Mary. She has always loved to shop and spend money.

I hadn't seen Mary in about six months. No reason really, just that we've both been busy. Then I ran into her at my favorite dollar store, of all places.

I hesitated approaching her thinking possibly she would prefer not to be spotted. I decided just to say her name and let her decide if she chose to hear me. So, I called her name and she immediately turned and smiled her usual big grin.

We visited for a few minutes, paid for our stuff and decided to go for coffee. She was, as always, dressed to perfection and we sat and caught up on the kids, husbands, and town news. As our visit was winding down, just as in the past when Mary had store bags surrounding her feet, she reached down, pulled the bags to her lap and said, "Oh! I almost forgot to show you what I bought today!" all with the same enthusiasm as she would if she was showing me a new Gucci watch.

We admired the super big coloring book she bought her granddaughter and the new coasters she found to use out on her patio area. We commented on how many cashews came in the cans of nuts and she showed me the new picture of her son she was planning to frame in her $1 frame. She appeared to be just as pleased with her bags of dollar store goodies as she always had been in the past with more pricey purchases.

I don't know the specifics as to why Mary is shopping at the dollar stores. I suspect it's like most of us during these tough economic times; we're all looking for bargains. Funny though, somehow the things Mary purchased looked a lot better coming from her bags, than when I saw them in the store. Enthusiasm has a way of doing that and Mary hasn't lost any of hers, regardless of where she is shopping.