Dollar store therapy

[susandennis]

When I was little - like 10/11ish, my father's parents lived in the small town of Chaffee, MO. They lived probably 3 blocks from 'downtown' and it was the 50's so we kids were let loose and told to come home someday. We were free to go anywhere we wanted. It was heaven.

Somehow I always had $1. As I think back now, I'm pretty sure my grandpa would slip me a bill as we made our escape. He was that kind of grandpa.

My brother and sister would wander off somewhere but I would make a beeline for Woolworth's Dime Store with my $1 burning a hole in my fist. I would wander up and down the aisles looking over all the possibilities. A $1 was a fortune, especially at Woolworth's. And there were so many treasures to pick from. I remember spending glorious hours on those old wooden floors.

Today, after my swim, I went to the Dollar Tree and spent a good 30 minutes reliving my childhood joys. I needed toothpaste but found all manner of wonderful things. I spent just under $30 and had a great time.

To this day, if you offered me $30 at the dollar store or $300 at Nordstrom's, I'd pick the dollar store every time.

So now I'm home still riding my retail high. I have new tiny rubber bands for doll hair and some star buttons and flower buttons and some really fat pipe cleanery things for doll boas.

I need to do laundry. Maybe I'll start with that.

Comments

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

Although I do a lot of necessary food and household shopping at the dollar store here, I do also treat myself every time I go with one [or a few] thing[s] I don't need but that cheers me up.

It varies--sometimes it's snacks or candy or pop. Sometimes I get a new plushie for my collection.

It's only $1 per item, so even I won't go broke spending $1-3/month on a few "luxuries".

[susandennis]

yes and yes and yes!

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I love Dollar Tree. There's one in my neighborhood and one another 25 blocks South of that one that recently opened. It's weird, the newer one is bigger, but doesn't have a freezer section. There's also a third by the Trader Joe's.

Have you noticed that you can shop online and pick up at the store? So tempting.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Although I see a lot of the items have a pretty high minimum for online ordering. Maybe not worth it in most cases.

[susandennis]

OMG! I had NOT noticed that. I'd never been to their website. Now I have and all I can say is that you have totally earned your Enabler Badge!

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

To this day, if you offered me $30 at the dollar store or $300 at Nordstrom's, I'd pick the dollar store every time. Me too!

[susandennis]

:)

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

I love Dollar Tree, and Portland has a ton of them! I end up spending $10 or $12 and I feel like I won the lottery. Ha.

[susandennis]

Truth.

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

Great story! More like it please! (I love stories from people's childhoods.)(Although bear in mind that if it's interesting, it may be fair game for a character one day, heh heh heh.)

That is how I feel at the Goodwill! So many little treasures. I feel it doubly there because it's all pre-owned things, and stuff like my beautiful little cat food tea saucers all undoubtedly have stories themselves. I love estate sales too, for this same reason.

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

My wife LOVES the Dollar Tree. It's her favorite store. I'm not much of a shopper so I try not to go with her when she goes there because she could be in there for hours.

[susandennis]

It's a cult and she and I are members :)

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

Bahahahahahaha!