Getting Good at Bargains

I am sure bargain shopping has come naturally to most of you but for me, I am still learning and I do have to say that I am getting better! I love shopping and trying to find things I like and not spend a fortune on them. I was raised in a loving family whose parents spoiled me and my siblings and gave us better things than what they had growing up. It never really affected me until I became married and it was just my husband and I. I was blessed that I was able to attend private school from 2nd grade through high school - also my high school is all-girls Catholic high school. I know some people would cringe on having to go to school the way I did but I loved it and would gladly do it all over again, the same way.

Once I was married, I quickly saw that my parents financial blessings were not mine...meaning my parents were and are very lucky at being able to live comfortably. Don't get me wrong, my husband and I are living comfortably - for us - but it took me a long time to accept that fact and live and do the things I would like, just not at the expense I may have been used to. I am becoming quite the bargain shopper now!! I typically get birthday and holiday gifts for my nieces and nephew a month before the actual day so I have time to look around and hunt for sales. And yes, I do mean most all of the major holidays I like to get my nieces and nephew something - I sent them Valentine's gifts, I will send them Easter gifts, birthday, Halloween and Christmas...not to mention any other thing I might find and love and think they have to have . I also love to spoil some friends' children as well...one of the blogs I read Wanting What You Have they were just blessed with a little boy but the situation surrounding his birth brought some things they were unprepared for....so of course I jumped at the chance to help them out with gifts for the little guy as well as his two older sisters. I don't want to say what I got them because I just mailed it out today but I LOVED putting the box together and I hope they love it too.

Then today in my email I got a coupon for some books for my niece/nephew from Barnes and Noble...I was so happy that at lunch I got 2 books for them and one book for my "future children book" stack, all for $8.00 INCLUDING tax! I was so thrilled! I am getting there, little by little and I am truly understanding and loving the saying "Tis better to give than to receive"....on to the next bargain!