The Price is Right

I start getting excited about the consignment sales at about the first of the year. It's always a long time to wait from the fall consignments in Aug. /Sept. till the spring/summer consignments in Feb. So, I start thinking about what my kids might need, you know, making a mental list. Or I think to myself, "Oh, I'll have to try to get one at the consignment sales." Well, maybe it was because I was busy, or because there's not a ton of extra cash right now, but this year, I showed much self control. I waited until the consignment sale was half-off prices day.

If you know how kids consignment sales work, you know that by Saturday (1/2 off day) things are pretty well picked over. They have gone through the "consigners preview sale" where all the people who have donated items to the sale get first pick at what is for sale. That's Thursday night. Then you have the first full open to the public day on Friday. So by the time Sat. roles around, the things that are still cute, are usually either chosen to not be half off, and the sellers usually want too much for it, or they're items from the early 90's.

But I decided I would take the risk, and just go and see. However, I did have both kids. And it was mid morning. At first, I didn't see very much. But then, I began looking a little closer. Then my 1 year old, began screaming, and therefore, I couldn't think very clearly, so I just grabbed what I liked, and didn't take the time to add. The longer I was there, the more I saw, and the more I wanted the great deals. Shirts for him, dresses for her. "$1 for these Polo shorts! Brand new Gap capris for only $2! You can never have too many T-shirts, and only .50 cents!" You get the picture.

Thinking that I was at about $50, I decided to check out. Not to mention the still screaming 1 year old. I had gone in with just my cash, because I "knew" that I wouldn't spend more than that. I asked the lady ringing me up where I was about 1/2 way through. When she said $46 I kind of freaked out, and then said, "I'll be right back. I have to get my check book."

So, yeah, my plan kind of backfired. I did get some good stuff, and the ball toy will keep my son happy for hours. (That's what all the screaming was about, btw. That he couldn't take out the ginormous inflatable ball toy, with all the the millions of plastic balls, and play with them.) But as much of a "self controlled" decision as I was hoping for. When the price is right, the deals win me over every time.