My Secret Splurge: The Dollar Store

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ney.</p><p id="a4f1">There was also plenty of stuff to satisfy me. There were cleaning supplies galore, many of which sell for twice or three times as much at Wal-Mart or other discount stores. For me, this was like hitting pay dirt in the midst of Covid-19.</p><p id="1245">Add to that the masses of artificial flowers on display at the entrance to the store. After searching through the reds, whites, yellows, blues and pinks, I ended up buying an armful of burnt orange sunflowers. I gazed longingly at the Halloween decorations, the cooking supplies and the cornucopia of lotions, but decided to pass — this time.</p><p id="8ba4">Instead I filled my cart with a ton of scented mini-candles and a set of margarita glasses with green cactus stems. I added a bag of pet snacks, a magazine about small gardens and a few bright containers.</p><figure id="a0b0"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*aRTqb81-vAR4e0O6"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@enginakyurt?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">engin akyurt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="aea4">Then there were the books. I’m the type of person who can never, ever have enough books but now that I’m trying to be frugal I can’t binge order from Amazon anymore. One thing I love is that the books I buy at the dollar store aren’t the type I would normally seek out. On my latest foray I picked up a paperback copy of <i>Twenty-Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film</i>. I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise, but I can be a bit of a history conspiracy buff so Zapruder’s granddaughter’s narrative was a find.</p><p id="9213">On previous visits I’ve snagged copies of hardback nove

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ls by bestselling authors, plus a decent stash of cookbooks and biographies. They’re rarely new and sometimes I’ve never heard of the author — or the subject of the biography — but it’s still fun to rifle through what’s there. Books sell out really fast at my dollar store, but it’s always a thrill to hit it right.</p><p id="7cf3">Notice I say secret splurge above, not <i>guilty</i> splurge. Because at the end of my shopping extravaganzas the bill is almost always less than 20 bucks. While the dollar stores I visit are all part of chains — whether it’s Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General or The Dollar Store — part of me likes the idea that at least I’m not making Jeff Bezos any richer.</p><p id="e317">While I doubt Bezos missed my business last week, at least I was only a few dollars poorer when I got home. I arranged my sunflowers in a vase and lit a sea of vanilla candles. As a warm glow suffused my living room, I sank onto my couch, opened my new book and took a sip of my margarita.</p><p id="e264">Thanks for reading. :)</p><p id="06bd">You might also like:</p><div id="d827" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/just-make-a-start-my-interview-with-bestselling-author-emma-rous-17e1cf9049c"> <div> <div> <h2>“Just Make a Start” — My interview with Bestselling Author Emma Rous</h2> <div><h3>The veterinarian whose dream of writing never faded</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*kXysjEubrdq962AWMsteIA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

The writing life on a budget

A year ago this month I decided to make the switch to working from home. Of course, the pandemic had a lot to do with my choice but it was also a risk I was finally willing to take. Not too surprisingly, my budget took a hit and I had to drastically reduce expenses. I’m still waiting for that 5K freelancing month but so far it hasn’t happened.

I’ve never been a huge spender but I have been known to take a day off for some therapeutic shopping. Expensive shoes and silky blouses are way beyond my budget now — not to mention that I do most of my work sitting at the farmer’s table in my sunroom.

Like just about everyone else, I rarely get dressed for “work” these days and even when I teach remotely I’m wearing shorts as often as not. This summer I basically lived in pajamas and workout clothes. So it would feel more than a little weird to sit there typing in my “I-am-SHER-locked” t-shirt, threadbare running shorts and a pair of Gucci pumps.

I’m not sure when I first ventured into the dollar store that’s nestled in the strip mall the next town over but I can tell you about the last time I was there — which was four days ago. Sure, there was a ton of junk on the shelves but I loved the feeling of meandering through the aisles without having to worry about money.

There was also plenty of stuff to satisfy me. There were cleaning supplies galore, many of which sell for twice or three times as much at Wal-Mart or other discount stores. For me, this was like hitting pay dirt in the midst of Covid-19.

Add to that the masses of artificial flowers on display at the entrance to the store. After searching through the reds, whites, yellows, blues and pinks, I ended up buying an armful of burnt orange sunflowers. I gazed longingly at the Halloween decorations, the cooking supplies and the cornucopia of lotions, but decided to pass — this time.

Instead I filled my cart with a ton of scented mini-candles and a set of margarita glasses with green cactus stems. I added a bag of pet snacks, a magazine about small gardens and a few bright containers.

Then there were the books. I’m the type of person who can never, ever have enough books but now that I’m trying to be frugal I can’t binge order from Amazon anymore. One thing I love is that the books I buy at the dollar store aren’t the type I would normally seek out. On my latest foray I picked up a paperback copy of Twenty-Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film. I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise, but I can be a bit of a history conspiracy buff so Zapruder’s granddaughter’s narrative was a find.

On previous visits I’ve snagged copies of hardback novels by bestselling authors, plus a decent stash of cookbooks and biographies. They’re rarely new and sometimes I’ve never heard of the author — or the subject of the biography — but it’s still fun to rifle through what’s there. Books sell out really fast at my dollar store, but it’s always a thrill to hit it right.

Notice I say secret splurge above, not guilty splurge. Because at the end of my shopping extravaganzas the bill is almost always less than 20 bucks. While the dollar stores I visit are all part of chains — whether it’s Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General or The Dollar Store — part of me likes the idea that at least I’m not making Jeff Bezos any richer.

While I doubt Bezos missed my business last week, at least I was only a few dollars poorer when I got home. I arranged my sunflowers in a vase and lit a sea of vanilla candles. As a warm glow suffused my living room, I sank onto my couch, opened my new book and took a sip of my margarita.

Thanks for reading. :)