So I thought I got a real good deal on my secondhand books and videos I bought Thursday.  Then, today I discover (well, finally followed a link a friend sent me via email) Christian Books.com .  Initially I wailed at the waste!  Oh me, oh my!  "3:16" by Lucado for $3!!!  And I thought I got it at a good price for $16!!!  Sigh.   I checked the shipping and handling charges too...which often are more than the cost of buying it locally.  Shipping and handling to Canada is $7.50 for the one book.  I could have saved $6 overall. 

On the other hand I'd prefer to support local businesses.  In the interests of simple living and global warming, I'd rather buy locally...and secondhand if possible.  Which I've done for the most part.  So while I've paid that extra $6, I feel I've done so with a free conscience.  The book is new, but the money goes to support inner city ministries.  The bookstore I purchased it from is a non-profit organization.   And, when I'm finished with the book I can always pass it on to our church library.

Sometimes I like to see how much good I can do when I acquire and disperse things.  It's kind of a game at this point...and it's fun! 

N.B. The library didn't have "3:16" to borrow, and it takes months for them to order material in.  Otherwise, this would be the cheapest route to go...and one I'd take.

First you determine need.  For us that occurs at Christmastime every year.  Paul presents me with a wish list (I request one) that inevitably includes several pieces of clothing.  This year they totalled over $1000.  Needless to say, he didn't get them all as Christmas presents. 

Then follows the frustration and discussion about why he hasn't told me about all this before things wore out and he was in crisis mode.  Sheepishness on his part follows.  I panic shop before Christmas...trying to buy as little as possible because prices are high.  And desperate because there's nothing in town his size.  Panic Internet shopping sets in.

Then I suggest shopping after Christmas.  But Paul is feeling poor then.  A discussion on shopping not equaling buying follows.  A puzzled and reluctant man digs in his heels. 

After a successful January on the financial front I pursue the windowshopping strategy.  So every weekend he has off I take him shopping.  We shop an average of four hours a weekend for a good coat and pair of brown dress shoes for him.  Did I mention he's been wearing runners at work?  This is not a runner type workplace!  I'm a bit annoyed to say the least.  It's not like we're too poor to buy him shoes.  It's like he can't be bothered to shop for them.

So I plan and take him out shopping.  At first he doesn't want to try anything.  But winter jackets are on sale right now.  It piques his frugalness.  He starts to finger things a bit wistfully.  Next thing I know he's trying on every jacket in the store!  And hence the problems start.  [warning: sexist comment follows!] When women go shopping, we can often just look at a garment and discard it on sight due to some imperfection in our view.  But Paul has to try on every jacket his size that looks warm, and check the pockets, the hood, the snow guard, the...  Well, stuff we women would check before even putting the jacket on.  Anyway, it slows things down considerably.

So....12 hours of shopping later, Paul and I have discussed things and made up our mind.  While at Moore's, we discovered Sport Mart right next door.  It was not on our list of stores to stop at.  We found a Helly Hansen jacket on sale for $199 from $299.  To keep this in perspective, the last winter coat we bought Paul was a down coat for $450.  So this is a bargain as far as I'm concerned...as long as it keeps him warm at -50 C.  It's a three season  jacket.

It fits his tall thin frame just right.  He's ecstatic the sleeves are the right length and the body isn't billowy like most of the coats he has to try on to get the right sleeve length.  I'm shaking my head.  At least it will last awhile...I hope.  I'm still going to Value Village for my Columbia jackets.  I just can't believe he is so difficult to fit!  

Then the shoes.  After shopping all over town, we end up right back where we started...at the mall trying on Rockports in Urban Trail.  For $150 we walk out with new brown dress shoes.  No other shoes he tried on 'fit right'.  They should last him a long time. 

Now to get him out of that old ratty t-shirt with the disintegrating neckline...and while I'm at it, that cowboy shirt I bought at a garage sale that he's worn through the collar.  Sigh.  Definitely not a frugal day in terms of dollars spent!  Hopefully he will take good care of these items so they last a long time...making them frugal purchases in the long term.

I try to save some money in my budget every month to stock up a clearance sales and closing out sales.  I check the grocery stores for clearance items every week.  The options are best if I go early in the morning to my usual stores.  Some stores will put out clearance items within an hour of closing.  You have to know your store.

Yesterday was a red letter day.  I went to the physiotherapist, who just happened to be around the corner from a yarn store that was going out of business.  So, of course, I had to stop in.  I was still looking for cheap yarn to knit prayer shawls the minister wants.  I was delighted to find the yarn 60-70% off!    I picked up enough yarn for 4-5 shawls for $50cdn.  This is a great deal!  The original yarn called for would have cost $50 per shawl.

There are five balls of the burgundy, five balls of the gray, 4 balls of the multicoloured wool for myself for hat and mitts, and three big honking balls large enough to do one shawl each...depending on the pattern I chose to make.