Chic Cheap Chick

...Say that 5 times fast.
If there were a reality show for people who could put together the best look with the least amount of money, I would sign up to be contestant in a heartbeat and quite possibly win the $2000 and Saturn Vue!
Now, when I say, "cheap," I don't mean that I save ketchup packets from Wendy's to refill my bottle at home and I don't mean that I dumpster dive for lawn furniture. I don't have a Vera-wanna-be purse and I don't only shop at Wal-mart. And it's not that I can't afford nice things, like when we were first married. At that time, Steve was in the Navy, I was unemployed and we lived in a 1 bedroom apartment. Buying a new shirt for $20 was an occasional splurge. Even a few years later, I was the "bread-winner" on a case manager's salary while Steve was in college. Now days, I just can't bear to pay retail for this stuff and to be perfectly honest, it's more fun when you can find that fabulous deal like a Strasburg dress for $1.
One of my favorite ways to find a deal is to shop consignments sales. Just the other night I bought 24 pieces of clothes (including pajamas, corduroy pants, a Gymboree dress and jeans) and 3 pair of shoes for Savannah all for $76. Deal! I'm also a consignor for this sale so I expect to make at least half- if not all- of that back.
Another place for deals: yard sales. Now you have to be willing to dig and sometimes you don't find anything but old Barney PJs, but I have also found smocked dresses for $1, a Ralph Lauren dress for 25 cents and Lilly Pulitzer overalls for 50 cents. Just be sure an wash them as soon as you get home.
Goodwill and thrift stores are usually not quite as cheap as yard sales, but they also have potential. I have bought a Lilly skirt for $2, a Kelly's Kids dress for $2 and Ralph Lauren pants for $1.25. One of our lastest finds: a Lucky Ducks game for 50 cents and those of you in the pre-school set know how much they love that annoying game.
It's usually easier to find kids stuff, but I have an $8 outfit I proudly wore this past spring ($2 knit top, $3 Loft capris, and $3 metallic flats). And my mom (see, I get it honestly) loaded up at a department store sale last year and got several things for $1.98 each.
Oh, I still pay good money for stuff sometimes, but even then, it's usually not full price. Trips to the grocery mean I take my coupons and I always check the sale rack at high-end stores.
To the few of you out there who may be turning your nose up at me, I say, "Go ahead. Pay full price. That just leaves more deals for me."