Tuesday, October 17, 2006

How much more do you need?

I love kitchen toys. I crave kitchen toys the way some women crave chocolate. Oh...for the record, I actually use them, too. But it gets to the point you have to ask yourself when to say 'enough.' Okay, last week CVS had this great deal where you got full price back on several items via extra care bucks. It was a double-good deal for me because I also had coupons for these items. So the next visit, I got about $15 in coupons to use on anything at all at CVS. I was going to get myself a massager, but after 4 trips around the store I couldn't find it. That would have been practical with my back problems. But when I finally did locate it, I didn't like it. So I start looking at other interesting things. ECBs are found money, after all. My eyes were drawn to one thing in particular: a contraption that makes frothy cocoa or coffee. I love coffee. Frothy coffee would be cool. The thingie would have been free to me. Then I started thinking of all the other toys I have on my counter: toaster, vaccuum sealer, Kitchenaid Mixer, blender, etc. etc. etc. And that's just one counter. I thought of my cabinets, which are running out of room. (Crockpots take up a LOT of space, LOL!) I thought how I've been perfectly content with unfrothy chocolate and coffee for decades. So I put away 2 of the coupons and kept out one $5 one. I bought detergent, deodorant (with a free soap!) and a small package of chewable Tylenol. I had coupons for all 3. Combined with the ECB coupon, I paid just a little over $2 for everything! And the detergent was a big one! The satisfaction of walking out with 3 things for less than I'd pay for one item at full price was much more satisfying than a coffee frother thing. And I still have $10 in coupons.

3 comments:

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate said...

Great willpower!

Stephanie Appleton said...

Great deals! Way to keep it practical. My new rule. If I buy a gadget I have to get rid of one. (I have no more room!)

Ms. Kathleen said...

I am not kitchen toy crazy but I do want one of those chocolate fountains. They are so cool!