my place in the current economic crisis
Let me just put it out there that I feel guilty admitting to this.
Seriously. it is ridiculously unfair that the horrible economic situation has forced people to resort to terrible means to make ends meet. And, my household has not been exempt from these problems -- you may recall the great AmEx debacle of 2008, and the ongoing budget-cutting at my employer that keeps me up at night and makes me fear for the longevity of my employment status.
But, despite that, I feel like I've hit the shopping jackpot. Really!
You see, I like nice things -- especially handbags and shoes and scarves and earrings and other sorts of girly accessories -- and I have fine taste in them, too. But, except for the occasional extravagant SPLURGE (usually on Chanel perfume and make-up, since my dear friend Estela sells these things at my favorite Macy's) I am loathe to indulge my fine taste and spend exorbitant amounts of money on designer goods. I'm a frugal Midwesterner at heart, so, unless I can get a Filene's Basement-type discount, or hit a 90% off clearance sale, Fancy Labels are mostly out of my reach.
Or they were ... until I found them on eBay. It seems that many women (and some men) with fine and fancy taste are selling off their new and "gently used" designer items for fire sale prices. And I am the gleeful beneficiary. I recently purchased an authentic and fabulous Kate Spade purse for LESS THAN FIFTY DOLLARS!! I've found other great stuff, too, and I'm having a blast at a deep discount. Plus, I'm contributing to the economic recovery, right? I'm putting cash in the pockets of people who need it.
Despite my guilt, I'm thrilled with my fancy purchases. Of course, my own economic concern really forces me to reign it in. I haven;t fallen victim to the eBay whirlwind, where one buys a ton of stuff she doesn't need and never knew she even wanted until now (been-there-done-that circa 2000, I think). But my lovely purchases brighten my recession-era wardrobe, and shopping for them adds some sparkle to my days in the Shopping Wasteland where we reside. I've even turned John onto it a bit --- Brooks Brothers ties are a STEAL at $10, and my husband is a bigger label fiend than i am.
Seriously. it is ridiculously unfair that the horrible economic situation has forced people to resort to terrible means to make ends meet. And, my household has not been exempt from these problems -- you may recall the great AmEx debacle of 2008, and the ongoing budget-cutting at my employer that keeps me up at night and makes me fear for the longevity of my employment status.
But, despite that, I feel like I've hit the shopping jackpot. Really!
You see, I like nice things -- especially handbags and shoes and scarves and earrings and other sorts of girly accessories -- and I have fine taste in them, too. But, except for the occasional extravagant SPLURGE (usually on Chanel perfume and make-up, since my dear friend Estela sells these things at my favorite Macy's) I am loathe to indulge my fine taste and spend exorbitant amounts of money on designer goods. I'm a frugal Midwesterner at heart, so, unless I can get a Filene's Basement-type discount, or hit a 90% off clearance sale, Fancy Labels are mostly out of my reach.
Or they were ... until I found them on eBay. It seems that many women (and some men) with fine and fancy taste are selling off their new and "gently used" designer items for fire sale prices. And I am the gleeful beneficiary. I recently purchased an authentic and fabulous Kate Spade purse for LESS THAN FIFTY DOLLARS!! I've found other great stuff, too, and I'm having a blast at a deep discount. Plus, I'm contributing to the economic recovery, right? I'm putting cash in the pockets of people who need it.
Despite my guilt, I'm thrilled with my fancy purchases. Of course, my own economic concern really forces me to reign it in. I haven;t fallen victim to the eBay whirlwind, where one buys a ton of stuff she doesn't need and never knew she even wanted until now (been-there-done-that circa 2000, I think). But my lovely purchases brighten my recession-era wardrobe, and shopping for them adds some sparkle to my days in the Shopping Wasteland where we reside. I've even turned John onto it a bit --- Brooks Brothers ties are a STEAL at $10, and my husband is a bigger label fiend than i am.