Thursday, April 17, 2008

I Have A Confession to Make

I have a confession.

It's not a pretty one but it's one that I'm betting that some of you share.

You see...I love dollar stores. And close out stores. And I just can not control myself in them. I mean, it's only a dollar, right?

So, I decide to swing by Big Lots today to check out their garden section and see if they have some sunfaces on sale. I also need to pick up some cereal for the kids for breakfast before they revolt at having to eat another bagel or eggs and toast.

I get there and decide that I'm not going to get a cart. I will control myself. Plus, I just need two items and they may not even have one of them.

I got through the first couple of isles okay.

But then I was reduced to a five year old in a toy store. With no parental supervision.

I picked up a new tape measure for $3. Because Owen decided to see how far our last one would go out - and, of course, it broke. That one was $25 at Home Depot. Hum. Good buy, right?

Then I picked up a pair of needle nose pliers for $4 because we need them. NEED them.

Then, I cruise past the summer section and see some jelly shoes. Remember those? Well, I could not resist them for $3. Besides, I just bought some at Burlington Coat Factory for $10 and would return those. SCORE.

While I was there, I picked up some gardening gloves for Ken. Because he is going to do yard work this year.

I also picked up a large bottle of goo-gone because it was $1.50 and I did actually need some.

By now, my hands are getting full and I have to start being more selective about what I choose. After all, remember I don't have a cart and I can only carry so much.

And, by the time that I hadn't even gotten to the food section and I was wondering if I would be able to carry the cereal. Remember, that's what I came in there for. NOT all of this other stuff!

So I go through the food isles and go past the large Ketchup on sale for $2.50 and since my family eats it like it's candy (mostly putting it on their french fries so I won't eat them - Ken taught the boys that trick), I figure it's a good buy. I load it into my cart - err, arms and continue looking for the cereal isle.

By that point, this stuff is really heavy. I looked around to see if there was an empty cart. Nope. Nothing but an old lady pushing a cart and I didn't have the heart to knock her over and take her cart.

I finally found the cereal isle and there was one of the organic cereals on sale for $2.50 that I've been wanting to buy but it's expensive but wait...I see what I'm looking for. A huge box of Kix for $3.00. THAT'S what I came in here for.

Now I've got a real dilemma. I can't carry anything else. But, I want both boxes of cereal. So, I use my one free hand and pile the smaller box of cereal up on the other stuff (thanking god for once that I have big boobs to hold all of this stuff!) and carry the larger box of Kix with me.

And, so what if the Kix box looks like my kids practiced karate with it? It was $3 and they will eat it and be happy to have it.



When I got home and told Ken the story about my shopping trip, he picked up this box of cereal and asked if I did this while I was trying to carry everything. LOL.

Anyway, I then made a wise choice and decided to skip the rest of the store. Because I couldn't possibly carry another thing.

And then I walk past the boys undies. And they're on sale for $2 and Shane really needs some new undies.



So, I set down my two boxes of cereal, and somehow crammed in two packs of undies in between the other stuff, pick up the boxes of cereal and make my way up front where I drop all of the stuff I had:



Onto the counter with a huge sigh of relief.

Total damage? $27.16.

Did I mention that I had already been to the Dollar Tree Store that morning?

I told you - I'm sick. ;)

I couldn't resist the cute luau stuff. I wasn't planning on having a party but I guess I will now.



And, I didn't really associate shot glasses with luaus but I bought them because they're pink and green.

They had a ton of educational stuff for the kids so I bought multiplication flash cards for Shane and reading ones for Owen.



And, I picked some up for Mrs. King because I thought that either she could use them in class or with her grand kids. And because they were $1.

I also got a hair brush for $1 which I've been meaning to pick one up. SCORE. They're usually well over $10. And, I also snagged a folder for Shane's project and a pack of notebook paper, a drop cloth for painting because they're usually expensive in the paint store, some gloves for myself (pink, of course), some sandwich baggies and some ribbons.

Because a girl can never have too much ribbon. It had cute crabs on it. Like for the beach and I may want to do a scrapbook from the beach. You just never know.

Here's the loot from Dollar Store.




Total damage at the dollar store was 28.88.

So, there you go. Now you know my secret.

I'm addicted to dollar stores. If you've never been, I'd highly recommend going. But, get a shopping cart. You'll need it!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

you really should seek some therapy soon. You are turning into Grammy E. hahahahahah
susan

Anonymous said...

OMG...KIM...you need help badly....Eell at least you are getting better and going to BIG LOTS...next thing ya know and you'll graduate to JC Penny's...and if you ever get completely cured maybe you'll be able to go into Sears by yourself..or even god forbid, Nordstroms....LOL

Kim Eckhardt said...

Susan, I have been to the Dollar General with you and girl, you come from Grammy E too. Yeah - I saw you put those 25 chic-o-sticks in your basket. You know it's true. :)

And, Don, you can not tell me that you've never run into a store for one thing and come out with $50 worth of stuff. The only thing is - you were smart enough to get a cart.

LOLOLOL.

Kim Eckhardt said...

Oh, and actually, I don't even like to shop. I HATE the mall and definitely JC Penneys and Sears. Yuck. Now, Nordstroms on the other hand...they have an awesome shoe department. It just when I do go to the Dollar Store, it's always a $20 trip. At least. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Kim,
I figured you were the Tim Taylor of the female gender, and absolutely loved SEARS...and the tool section... seeing that you are always fixing things...ahhhhh the disappointment

Queen of her Castle said...

I am so with you. I always go into those stores (heck all stores) with intentions of buying just one thing and I end up juggling armfuls of stuff. You know, stuff that I REALLY NEED.

Becky

Kim Eckhardt said...

Whew. I'm glad it's not just me. Either these other people are in denial or I'm just weird. But, I knew that I could count on you, Becky! :)