At lunch I walked up to Powell’s Books to get a gift for someone’s birthday. I got distracted by this sign:
Ooooh…50% off! Sur la Table–the most pretentious, overpriced store I can think of. I never go in there because everything is above my budget. I went in there hoping that the one item I wanted to get Michael’s for Christmas was now on sale (now I’d save it for his birthday). Of course it was the ONE item that was not on sale.
The store was completely chaotic. It was crowded and I hated how cramped everything was. There was barely room to walk. But it was worth it for the deals I got. I walked out of the store $25 lighter with lots of goodies.
Cookie cutters for 79 cents each.
Adorable Gingerbread Man ornament for next year — $2.39. I also bought something else for a friend’s birthday gift so I can’t show it here…but it’s very cool and I got it for only $9.99.
And the big purchase: a single cup French Press! I bought a French Press at IKEA a year ago and never used it because it was so big. I only drink 1 cup of coffee Monday–Friday.
Starting next week I will start making my own coffee. I spend $1.25 each day for a cup of coffee, then I add my own flavored creamer.
$1.25 x 5 = $6.25 x 52 weeks = $325 a year!
That’s too much. That’s a plane ticket to Vegas man! Hopefully the coffee I make won’t taste like ass so I can save $325 in 2011. 🙂
I also bought two sweaters at the Macy’s clearance sale. I’ve been a shopaholic this week. Someone needs to come take my credit card away from me!
After work I begrudgingly headed to the gym. My heart just wasn’t in it. I’m glad I made myself go though because it was practically empty!
I had to take advantage of a half-empty gym! I ran my 2.75 miles on the treadmill while I zoned out watching “Practical Magic.”
The rest of my workout was pretty much the same routine–weights, stretching.
Gym Stats:
Time: 1:22
Calories Burned: 618
When I got home, Michael was making grilled cheese sandwiches on Dave’s Killer Bread.
What makes a grilled cheese sandwich even better? Bacon.
We watched last week’s episode of Top Chef All-Stars. It was a good episode. I loved the Quick Fire Challenge where they had to make stuffing without any knives or utensils! Talk about creative.
QUESTION: What store do you never shop in because it’s overpriced?
Carbzilla
Awesome job on the coffee math. If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. That’s a HUGE savings!
I’m just amazed by people who buy Starbucks every day. It just seems so expensive and unnecessary.
I’ve been spending money too – either a few dollars at a time (big sale at the Gap) or big ticket items. That’s gotta stop.
I’m totally in love with Dave’s Killer Bread 65 calorie. I’m entering a long morning egg sandwich phase which is fine by me.
Hope you’re getting the sun we are today!
Lisa Eirene
I didn’t know Dave’s Killer bread had a low calorie version. I will check it out!
When I was 250 I bought Starbucks every day and it was the fancy, expensive $4 coffee too (and it was also 500 calories at least)! Now I scaled back a lot.
shelby
I happen to be eating a grilled cheese with bacon as I write this! Yum.
I love Anthro but I never buy anything there because it’s ridiculously overpriced.
Lisa Eirene
I feel that way about Nordstroms–and often The Rack. The Rack is usually too expensive for my tastes.
Next time we make grilled cheese with bacon we’re adding tomato slices. I can’t wait!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
I am a huge bargain shopper, and there’s many stores I only go in and go directly to the sale area. Lululemon has been one of those stores for me though even their sale/clearance stuff is so expensive!
Lisa Eirene
I still have not been to Lululemon yet. I need to do that. And Lucy.
I will almost never pay full-price for anything. Food, clothes, shoes, books, whatever. If it’s not on sale, I don’t need it. 🙂
Sasha
That is a beautiful looking sandwich made infinitely more beautiful with bacon.
I am normally a hardcore bargain shopper but Sur La Table has been a weakness for both my husband and I and I admit we have been extravagant there but only with items that we know will last a lifetime. We bought all our Staub enameled cast iron cookware there and all our stovetop KitchenAid pans there and they were the best things we’ve ever purchased. But to our credit, we haven’t shopped there in a few years, we’ve shown enormous self-restraint. 😉
Lisa Eirene
Everything is better with bacon. Hands down.
I would LOVE to replace all of our cookware with Sur La Table or Le Creuset. We buy our Le Creuset stuff at their outlet which is good for saving money.
Jennifer is Always Sick
I’m surprised I didn’t go completely nuts for the post-holiday sales. I got our wrapping paper and some stationary for next Christmas, that’s IT! It was tempting, though. I wanted to clean the store out.
I try to make my own coffee, but it just isn’t the same. It tastes good, but not as good as Starbucks and those Mocha Frappes at McDonalds. Sinful…totally sinful. Perhaps it’s because what I make it mostly coffee, and not sugar and corn syrup. Blech!
Lisa Eirene
Good for you showing restraint! I went a little nuts with after Christmas sales this year. 🙂
Lori
Yeah – Sur La Table has some good stuff. There is a store like that in Boulder called Peppercorn and I would go in and just drool at all the stuff I couldn’t afford.