Has everyone stopped shopping?

what is dee and dee...???

One of those 5 and dime type stores. They used to be all over Brooklyn years ago-very few left from what I can see. They were like Gray Shell and stores like that.

I just realized the other day I haven't bought a single non-necessity in two months, and I haven't been out to eat in at least that long

is chocolate a necessity? because i buy that. and some wine. does that count? otherwise, me neither

wine = necessity
chocolate = not necessary
cheese = don't even think of messin' with ma cheese!

ok, it didn't even occur to me to question cheese. and what about things like berries? (as opposed to, say, apples)

i used to have this wretched old boss who looked, i kid you not, like tweety-bird's mother, and she constantly moaned about how afraid she was that when she retired she'd never be able to afford to buy the good mushrooms.... is this my payback?

I guess I can say that I am definitely a shopaholic but as someone who is on a very, very tight budget I have found ways around this.

A few little tricks I have learned -
Most major clothing stores such as Gap, Old Navy, NY & Co. start running sales on their clothing about a month after they are out. I also tend to buy a lot of summer clothes at the end of summer and same with winter.

I work in an office where I have to dress professionally and I found that if I purchase better made clothing (i.e., designer and more expensive) they last longer. Century 21, Syms and Marshalls have these labels at much less than the large department stores. Syms on Church St is a great place because each week they mark down their clothes a little at a time.

I try to shop local but its mostly for food and wine since the clothing and houseware stores are little out of my range but I do buy special gifts for people at my local stores (I just luv Red Lipstick for this)

I try to save money but clipping coupons (Pathmark on 13th Street accepts the coupons you print on out the computer) and I tend to buy things that are on sale.

Also we have set up a clothing swap in my office that we hold every couple of months as well as a coupon swap each week.

Potter: to me, chocolate, cheese and wine are not luxuries in any way shape or form. I do believe I consume some or all of that pretty much every day. Berries I like, but not so much every day.

And I agree with Stacey, I work in a professional environment as well. The sales are key to maintaining a workable wardrobe at a reasonable cost.

Oh and Potter, Happy B-Day! :P

And berries aren't luxury at all. Buying a Bentley over a 1984 Ford..... that's luxury. Or whatever.

so what are people considering necessities? small splurges? luxuries? (a general question to the board..)

Necessities = wine, cheese, general food stuff
small splurge = cosmetics, shoes
luxuries = big ticket items (like the jumbo tv I am coveting or a new couch)

Necessities = beer, doggie poop bags, general food items
Small splurge = good chocolate, name brand vs. store brand food items
luxuries = grocery shopping more than 1x a month, pot, new furniture

Oh, yes, necessities = anything for the kittehs - food, litter
small splurge = dinner out (within reason)

Ms. Beaverhausen, may I suggest you buy cheaper pot? :-)

necessities: low cost food, cat food, home products like TP and such, the new tires for my car... (but i shop at rossman's and costco, trader joes, etc. so i'm always getting lower prices), good skin care products, haircuts, wool socks, litter-box liners, tilex, veterinary care

small splurge: wine, good chocolate, nice cheese, an afternoon looking for cashmere bargains at the salvation army, bargains i find on ebay, ordering in, dim sum, CDs

luxuries: retail clothing, massage therapist visits, cleaning person,

Flexichick wrote: Ms. Beaverhausen, may I suggest you buy cheaper pot? :-)

I'd rather go without!!!!! :shock:

oh, and a new DVD player is a splurge/luxury, so if anyone has one hanging around they're not using...

brooklynpotter wrote: oh, and a new DVD player is a splurge/luxury, so if anyone has one hanging around they're not using...

I'm comparing blu-ray players as we speak - if I decide on one, my DVD is yours.

thank you ms beaverhausen

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]oh, and a new DVD player is a splurge/luxury, so if anyone has one hanging around they're not using...

I'm comparing blu-ray players as we speak - if I decide on one, my DVD is yours.

I tell ya, between this and that thread on the Crown Heights board, this Anastasia woman seems very giving indeed!

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Anastasia Beaverhausen][quote=brooklynpotter]oh, and a new DVD player is a splurge/luxury, so if anyone has one hanging around they're not using...

I'm comparing blu-ray players as we speak - if I decide on one, my DVD is yours.

I tell ya, between this and that thread on the Crown Heights board, this Anastasia woman seems very giving indeed!

You're jealous of me and my philanthropic ways. I see this now.

necessities: cat food (for my cat and the strays I feed), bonito flakes (for my cat), acupuncture, sneakers, yoga, kiehl's

small splurges: tattoo, sample sales, me and ro necklace

luxuries: cartier roadster watch, gucci belt, new macbook

+1 for bonito flakes. my cats can't live without them! an absolute necessity.

what is a bonito flake?

necessities: books, music, stuff for the kitties, wine, cheese, some kind of dessert, cable, guitar strings

small splurges: eating out, good armagnac, good vodka (i sense a trend here);

luxuries: all the electronics i can't seem to stop buying and the caribbean

bonito flakes are a dried fish flake you can get at any pet store. pretty cheap too, maybe $5 for a large can. my cats go ape-crazy for them.

brooklynpotter wrote: so what are people considering necessities? small splurges? luxuries? (a general question to the board..)

necessities: food, toiletries and basic clothes

non-necessities: movies, concerts, extra clothes, books, magazines, music, toys, video games, restaurants, bars, etc.

Anastasia, you PAY for dog poop bags? My friend and I were talking about this the other day. If all grocery stores are mandated to charge for plastic bags, what will dog owners do? My suggestion was the priduce bags, but they really only work for beagle size pups.

scarlett wrote: Anastasia, you PAY for dog poop bags? My friend and I were talking about this the other day. If all grocery stores are mandated to charge for plastic bags, what will dog owners do? My suggestion was the priduce bags, but they really only work for beagle size pups.

Yeah, I pay for 'em. I don't get grocery store bags - I have my shopping bags I bring with me every time. The very few I do get from the bodega are never big enough to house the mass that is expelled from my dog's ass.

The ones I buy are supposedly biodegradable, too.

VoodooNYC wrote: bonito flakes are a dried fish flake you can get at any pet store. pretty cheap too, maybe $5 for a large can. my cats go ape-crazy for them.

My cat goes crazy for them as well. She is at attention as soon as I lift the container off the shelf. She seems to like the cat-man-doo brand over the kitty kaviar. They are a bit smelly, but it's not for me it's for her.