Bargains come in all shapes and sizes. When I was in junior high, a boy gave me a going-steady ring, which I euphemistically called a friendship ring so my mother would let me wear it. Although the ring turned my finger green just about the time we were both ready to move on to greener pastures, Sam had definitely gotten more than he paid for because the ring still smelled like bubblegum.
The first time I ironed was as a newlywed; and John's highly-prized, custom-made shirts smelled scorched. I haven't ironed since. You get what you pay for when you pay three dollars for a marriage license. Obviously, three dollars wasn't enough to include ironing.
Ten dollars, however, is enough to pay for a bottle of fake Georgio perfume. Because the compliments ran the gamut from my mechanic to John boss's wife, there are times you get more than you paid for.
Then there are the times which are completely opposite - like when I realized my purse no longer had to serve as a suitcase. I no longer had to carry kids' diapers, toys and snacks. I decided to celebrate by buying a designer purse. Wrong. I quickly discovered designer purses have designer prices. I couldn't buy one. Every time I carried the purse, I would have felt like I was carrying a new couch for the living room.
When we have our taxes professionally done, we definitely get what we pay for - less stress. However, I don't think it's fair we have to wait until the following year to deduct the cost from our taxes. The accountant isn't willing to wait until the following year to get paid.
I admit it. I'm a bargain hunter; but according to John, I carry comparison shopping too far - like through the entire mall. Okay, but I'm not the only one. It's people like me who make big box stores big. If I pay less for something, I'm getting more than I paid for. I keep track of all the money I save on bargains and at the end of the year I spend the savings on something I don't have to save for.
Maybe I should save change for parking meters because sometimes I get what I didn't pay for. By not putting enough money in meters, I get parking tickets. Then what I get for thirty-eight dollars is out of trouble. |
