regrets

the regret i feel today is consumer driven. i am a bargain shopper. i have amazed myself with my scavenger-like abilities. i'm not ashamed to pick up stuff off the street. i've stopped, thrown stuff in the back of my accord only to set it out on the street again...you just never know if it's gonna work or not. the best find ever was a pair of seven jeans at tj maxx. i paid $10 for them. another example happened just tuesday: i had mats cut for my egg prints (that i did buy off of ebay- $5 for original prints...holy moly). i priced them at michael's-$11/each. no, thanks. i headed over to hobby lobby- $4/ea. yes, please. i had all 12 cut, headed to the register and my total was $8. i was taken aback, told the girl she must be mistaken, showed her how she only charged me for one mat (along with the rolls of ribbon i bought) and still she refused to fix it. so, i got $48 worth of materials for $8. i was quite pleased, her manager may not be. so, i love to find good deals (it would have been a good deal even if she hadn't messed up). easy on the budget and it makes my heart sing to find something i love for less.

those of you that know me well know that Love of My Life and i have been practicing dave ramsey's principals for our financial wellbeing (cash only, assign a place for every penny, use envelopes to separate your cash into categories). this has been fantastic for our money, our marriage, and our self control. there's just one problem...what if something totally fabulous comes along, for a steal of a deal, but i don't have the cash saved for that particular thing at that particular moment? it's not like i can borrow money from the dog envelope to buy a new mirror; or raid the food envelope for a gorgeous pillow that would be perfect for my bedroom. no, instead, i have to pick it up, ooh and ahh over it and then remind myself that one day, another pillow will come along, when i'm planning to buy one. although dave's plan has changed my life, sometimes it just stinks.

case in point:


i have admired this picture from heather chadduck's home in birmingham (she's an editor for cottage living- my absolute, hands down, favorite magazine ever). the caning on the back of the chair, the chocolate monogram, the bamboo shades, the white damask coverlette, and the darling chandelier. i have particular affection for the convex mirror above the bed (i know, j, i have some explaining to do here- i find something devastatingly sad about a mirror over a bed...but i love this mirror). anyway, while i was in hobby lobby waiting for the mats to be cut, i was perusing the aisles. and what did i find, but a mirror about identical to the one in the photo!!! and it was priced to perfection. however, as mentioned above, i haven't been saving for any mirrors, only for the framing of my egg prints. sadly, i backed away. i have a feeling, i should have snatched one up and asked forgiveness.

perhaps i will just have a talk about this with my sweet, darling, wonderful, talented husband. the budget thing, when you come across something spectacular, should be thrown by the wayside for reasonable purchases. don't you agree?