Saturdays Economic Stimulus Plan

Whatever happened to Saturday's being packed in the Mall ? Is it too cold to be out now a days or do people have the credit cards on Ice ?

I must say, I feel comfortable and proud being able to have a shopping spree in cash this weekend. I started the day in an Enterprise rental car that I rented to go run errands. Lets face it, being touted around by other people or the CTA was not ideal to me to get things done
and the basket on my schwinn was not big enough.

Ironically my standard size rental got upgraded to a minivan. I thought, 'how perfect for big purchases' ! I must first say that mini vans rock. I may have to buy one for my next car.
Maybe a crossover vehicle if I need something a little more hip to sell airtime.

So, I journeyed to suburb shopping malls in the van dodging pothalls along the way. Apparently, the salt on the roads this winter has created quite the pothole problem in the city and suburbs.

My first stop, was supposed to be the Goodwill donation center but since it was raining cats and dogs yesterday morning I had little desire to stop at my apt and haul goods in puddles.

So off to Evanston I go and my first stop Sam's. Being a city dweller, bulk shopping is rarely, if ever, needed so I had not been to Sam's in 2 1/2 years. A little scared they'd check my member card for a date, I dodged that bullet with a graceful entry. My first stop was the TV section to check out pricing. I did some looking and decided to further my explorations. I went to the book sections and got two books for under $6, one John Grisham and one from Suze Orman who I don't like but thought the message might be good for me. My intent was to go check out any furniture they had but I ended up in the free sample section which lead to a downfall of treats in my basket such as: the sampled noodle chow mein, 2 jars of salsa, 4 lbs of pistachios, 1 jar of liptopn diet tea mix and frozen chicken breast. The only furniture they had was summer patio furniture and I should have turned around but also walked out of there with a paper shredder and a mini dolly for moving. Hmmm .. sucked in I was. Oh and I can not forget the $25 i tunes gift card by the register because, it was on my list to get at the apple store ! Oh, and at the register they sprung me with a $35 renewal fee. Had I been there in 2 yrs I would have contested this but it was probably due. I told my Mom, she will check into it on our group account.

After consoling my purchases with a 79cent fountain drink from Sams, I migrate west to skokie to check out the stores and mall of Old Orchard. I still don't get how an outdoor mall survives up here when who in their right mind who shop from store to store in December to February but whatever. My first Skokie stop was Best Buy where I priced more TVs and downgraded my desire for a 32" to a 22". Seriously, I am not a bar, I don't watch it too much ... I don't need anything fancy, plus I will gladly let my future husband bring the nicer TV to the relationship.
I ask my questions and go to DSW on a shoe hunt. I only needed a new pair of running shoes but managed to leave with a pair of brown AND black dress shoes ! I saved $69 on the receipt, but I did spend over $100.

After the shoe indulgence, I went for a bite of soup and a sandwich at the suburban Panera Bread. Hot soup will help my TV decision. After a full belly I meandered over to Best Buy again where I briefly flirted with the converted box again ... I mean $60 will settle this all and I will buy it without the govt coupon to prove how self reliant I am in and I dont need govt handouts ! But a nice worker talked me out of it and sold me up to the next level. My heart was there all along, it was an easy sell. I did decide I needed a new DVD player and decided on one that only the floor model was available so I got a discount there !

So, I wrap up at Best Buy with the TV, a DVD player and a 4 yr warranty later. Which I don't think the warranty will be a racquet ... they replace or fix anything wrong with the TV for 4 yrs and it starts after the factory warranty. These LCD's are still fairly new, it might be nice to replace it if it goes bad. They did sucker me into the Rewards program with will hopefully help when I buy my Wii in a few months.

I have all my goodies in the car and I stop at the outdoor mall to check out LL Bean which the store was not that great besides the kayak I can not buy. I walked around the Mall and after finding the bathroom, I indulge in an old fashioned mall treat ... the cherry ICEE. Yum !
And my last stop, Bath & Body Works where I mourn the loss of Sun Ripened Raspberry lotions and soaps but settle on some 3 for $10 antibacterial soaps of similar olfactory appeal.

I make my way home, back into the city dodging more potholes and Thanking God I only had to circle the block twice before finding street parking for the van, woo hoo ! The size of the van worried me with parallel parking for a bit. From there I end the day balancing my checkbook, paying bills, baking a bbq chicken pizza and downloading britney spears and taylor swift songs.
All in all, a jammed packed day of accomplishment.

Sam's Expentiture: 179.26
DSW: 139.56
Best Buy: 593.57
Panera Bread: 9.22
Bath & Body Works: 11.o0
Stimulating the economy with cash purchases, no credit: Priceless