Dear Target.... not so frugal friday

Dear Target,

Please take all of my money. I mean, it is so clear that the $200 weekly deposits just aren't cutting it. And really, what could I possibly need that I can't buy from your aisles? And now you seem intent to make me spend my hard-earned dollar on Ed Hardy paraphenelia. Really, has it really come to this?

And please don't punish me for what happened this week. It was our family's third trip in only five days.... I didn't get a cart. I still managed to spend $60, but I did it without a shopping cart. As I balanced three boxes of potential kindergarten snacks, lip gloss, wrapping paper and school supplies (none of which were on my list) I thought: here is the way I stop spending so much money at this dang store. But really, who am I kidding, your charm is undeniable I'll be back next week with an extra large deposit.

Mama Lou

Frugal Friday Confession

I. Shop. At. forever 21

I'm not 21, I'm not even 31, but the "forever" qualifier is good enough for me. And last time I was there, they weren't checking id's. However, the girl checking me out actually called me "Miss" (score).

So here's the thing. I never, ever pay full price (save that leopard print shirt), except at Forever 21. Everything is just so cheap. I buy a few of my disposable wardrobe items at there. Tops, summer dresses, tank tops, $5 sunglasses for the pool. And even this $6.80 necklace, paired with a $10 top.

I totally get why the Forever 21 concept is big enough to take over the empty Gottschalks and Mervyn's stores. Cheap, trendy clothing is probably better than expensive out-dated clothing. And then I started considering the seemingly unlimited disposable income of the tween and teen set. Those girls spend me under the table. Also, there is very little rhyme or reason to the merchandising in Forever 21. There is just too much stuff. I always get the sense that the store is one strapless top away from exploding all over Ann Taylor Loft. I visited the XXI store in Chicago and it is huge (huge I say, huge!). And I was comforted by the sneaky branding twist with the Roman Numerals.

I'm not advising you to head over to F-21 and start buying things willy-nilly. You have to abide by a couple of rules. 1) There are things in Forever 21 that make you look like you want to be Forever 21 (I'll just say it: hoochie mama). Unless advised by Stacey and Clinton, steer clear of the shirts pretending to be dresses, the tube tops and the leggings. 2) You have to try things on. The return policy is a pain (the clientele might be the sort that wears and returns) and the sizing is completely whacked. If you want to dress a size down, go to Banana. At F-21 you will almost certainly need a size larger. 3) Don't turn around when you see the bandana top in the window. There are hidden gems in this retail jungle, you just have to keep looking. Really, I promise.

I'm a shopper and I don't care what the 13 year olds think of me. I will brave F-21 with the kids to uncover a deal any day. This experience is not for the faint of heart. Happy shopping.

Friday is Frugal if you get it for Free

This post was going to read: I've. Got. Nothing. Instead I'm going to get a free EA Sports Active for Wii Fit. Free=Frugal. Mudpies and Mary Janes are giving it away for free.

My mom got a Wii and a Balance Board for her 60th birthday in February. Judging from the records she has been setting on Wii Fit, she uses it quite a bit. While my parents are gone on vacation for three weeks, we're using the Wii. By we, I mean me and my Mii (the rest of the Miis seem to be napping). I get on the balance board almost every night. Since the tv in my workout room needs a converter box (or to get pitched out the window for a shiny new flat screen) the Precor hasn't had much play lately. Two more pounds to go and it is all thanks to the Wii.

I have to have this new toy.

Frugal Friday: Tanky Tanky Top

Is anyone else appalled by the price and quality of kids clothes? I am particularly disappointed by the stores (target, i'm looking at you) that try to charge $15 for polyester pajamas (that's 100% pure man made polyester).

Instead, my boys rock the (100% cotton) plain white tank top (sometimes white tee) and undies/diaper every night. Walmart has five Hanes tank tops and five pairs of briefs (although Patrick prefers Hanes comfort waistband boxer briefs) for the same price as ONE PJ set ($15).

Double bonus, the boys love to wear these tank tops to play outside, eat popsicles and all of those messy boy activities that stain $22.50 shirts (times two). And really, don't they look so cute in their W.B.'s?


Word of advice, the Hanes brand has a hem on the bottom, the Fruit of the Loom brand doesn't. We have several Fruits and they haven't frayed, I just get annoyed by the look and the Fruit runs pretty small. It doesn't contain Keith's pot belly.

Triple bonus, I didn't leave you out girls. Old Navy is having a tank top deal this weekend. $2 tanks! Saturday June 20th only. Have at it!

It's Friday and I'm Frugal

The last time I paid full price for clothes I had a little (major) panic attack in the middle of Express. It was 2000 and I was purchasing a silk leopard print shirt for $58 that I could ill afford. In the end it was worth it, I rocked that shirt at Speaker Hertzberg's Swearing-in Gala the same year. And I still have it hanging in my closet, nine years later. You don't get rid of silk, silk you hang onto.

One of my favorite Mommy Bloggers, OhMommy swears by the quality over quantity rule. High quality classic pieces that can last a lifetime. And of course if it has a label that makes you giddy, even better.

I have a price point, it is $5. I would buy just about anything for $5. Like this watch...
I came back two weeks later for this watch.
But in general, I just love a deal, a really good deal on high end goods makes my day.

A few months ago my friend Jennifer and I were power shopping at Off Saks. I was lucky enough to meet this darling. She's perfect for a beach vacation, she's the maxi dress of my dreams, and she's mostly silk (no relation to the full-priced silk shirt). To top it all off she's DIANE von FURSTENBERG.
I may be the only person to appreciate the beauty of this dress but I really don't care.
Insert beach and beachy cocktail (all available on polyvore, I'm sure), and sigh.

Back to the deal.... I am completely annoying because I could talk about shopping and clothes all day. Poor Kevin has to play the "what was Lindsay's deal" (Heh) game all the time. How much do you think I spent on this? What do you think the original price was? Now you can play...Make your guesses?

Original price: $425, marked down to $254.90. To me, there isn't a big difference between those two prices. I would have to wear this dress to work every day to justify either price.

SALE PRICE: $147.99---- This my friend's is the reason I have not owned a maxi dress. This is how much these things cost!
But I paid.... $35.18 plus $2.73 in sales tax to the fine people of Folsom (sorry shop local people, my bad). Let me comp this for you, you can't get a poorly cut, all man-made material dress at your leading retail chain for less than $40. No comparison. Sigh.