It's Beginning to Look

No, not like early Christmas, but every other holiday that follows.

Within a few days after Christmas, most local retailers here were stocked up for the next round of holidays, Valentine's Day coming first and being the most heavily promoted through so many displays.

It followed soon afterwards by St. Patrick's Day (March 17), then Easter (April 12) There's debate over which holiday sells the most candy — Valentine's Day, Easter, or Halloween.

There were lots of left-over bargains to be found for those included to stock up for 2020 Christmas. Sales at some retailers featured mark-downs of 75%.

Until this week, we had the holiday cards still on display and they have since been taken down, but saved for some of next year's decoration projects. The New England winter village and the manger setting still remain and will be packed away by the end of this month. (We had to wait until the Jan 6 feast of the Epiphany and the arrival of the Three Wise Men after Christmas.)

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me."                                                           Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Book Bargain Hunting

Who doesn't like a good great sale and, for me, book sales are a favorite event, especially a recent one here in Nashua, NH. 

The Friends of the Nashua Public Library held their annual book and media sale a couple of weeks ago on the weekend of St. Patrick's Day. As Friends members, we were invited to preview the sale (and make purchases) on Friday night. Essentially, that means first choice. I got lucky with a few good finds.

While I would not have purchased these books if they hadn't been found at the sale and it's not that we needed any more cookbooks. But, at $2 each, these like-new books were too good to pass up; the original retail price of each was over $30. 

And who doesn't need a recipe book for Bisquick — apparently, I did at only $1.

Actually, my buying was quite modest with just a couple of other specialty cookbooks which fortunately won't take up much bookshelf space. Preview night is also open by invitation to those who buy books for resale. And they were a lot of these folks with  boxes and tote bags filled with their bargains as well.

 

In addition to fiction and nonfiction paperback and hardcover books, the sale included other items too: games, puzzles, music CDs, and DVD movies. I added a few classic films to our collection: Sabrina, The Way We Were, and The Wizard of Oz. More great deals at only $1 each.

Have you been to any good sales lately — books or otherwise?

Thanks to everyone for your comments on our recent apartment kitchen update. While clearing things out and putting them back was took some effort, it gave us a chance for additional downsizing and updating as well. 

In reply to a couple of comments: The replaced Oneida stainless cutlery was saved for get-togethers (much better than using disposable plastic utensils). The new set is not only nearly the same design, but the pieces are slightly larger and heavier. We expect to be using this set for a quite a few years.

Sale on Nearly Everything

That's the way it seemed if these Sale posters are indicators. Most of these signs were featured in retail clothing stores.

Discounts ranged from 25 percent up to 70 percent OFF. These sales were seen in store windows several days before Christmas in a Lancaster, PA mall. We were visiting over the holidays to celebrate the birth of our new granddaughter.

All of these sales had us wondering exactly how much more items would have been reduced after the holiday. Alas, we never returned to learn the answer.

Despite all these great pre-Christmas sales, we left without buying anything because window shopping is the best discount — it's totally FREE.

Did you find great shopping bargains, before or after Christmas?

Labor Day "Labors"

Bad Really nasty weather resulting from downgraded former Hurricane Hermine was expected to pack a wallop in rain, winds, and high surf to many U.S. states. It dampened the holiday spirits of many folks this Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day is a U.S. public holiday always celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the country's strength, prosperity, and well-being.  

We helped celebrate those workers this weekend.

How?

By supporting American workmen and buying USA made items that were also sold here in NH stores.

First, we bought a dining room set. We had been without one since selling the pub style table and chairs we bought after moving here 2 years ago. Luckily, friends who were moving to a larger apt needed one as they didn't have a dining set and bought ours. We waited a couple of months until new apt windows were installed and used a small table for 2 that usually sat near the windows for river view dining.

This is the new dining set that will be delivered next week. Now, we can finally invite folks for dinner! If you're planning to come, just let us know in advance and tell us what dinner you'll be bringing over.

By now, we were on a shopping spree, and decided to replace our current BR set bought from a local warehouse 2 years ago (where we bought the "old" DR set). While not the best wood BR furniture, it served its purpose, temporarily and we always planned its replacement with a better set within 3-5 years. 

That happened sooner this weekend thanks to some great holiday sales incentives. Here's a current BR furniture shot, followed by one of what's on order. Each set has a queen platform bed, 2 nightstands, and 2 chest of drawers (his and hers).

As you can see, not only are there differences in color and style, but quality and construction as well. Our current furniture was wood constructed, but not USA made. The new set will be built in NC; expected delivery is 6 weeks. 

Then since we bought a quality BR set, we splurged and treated ourselves (and our backs) to a new quality, also USA made, Simmons Beautyrest mattress. It will also be built after order placement; expected delivery is less than 3 weeks. 

We can wait, even if a bit impatiently — quality and USA built are worth it to us. And, as many of you know, these days that's can be a tough combination to find.

If you are a fellow U.S. blogger, how did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

Firecracker Book Sale

What’s become an annual event in our area started several years ago. That’s when the Friends of the Eastern Shore Public Library decided to hold their major book sale to coincide with the local July 4th parade. A previous post had photos from that event.

Well before the  9 a.m. start, folks lined up outside the library.
There’s a lot of colorful attire. Many stop in for the sale, walk in the parade, then return to check out any books they might have missed.
Sale books come from donations throughout the year. Library staff  save the best gently used ones for the sale which includes fiction and nonfiction books, cookbooks, craft books and children's’ books.
Buyers know that the 50 cents to $2 prices are real bargains and stack up on summer reading — the old-fashioned way with a book.
There’s was something for everyone.
Friends of the Library, including ourselves, unpack books the day before the sale, set-up on sale day, and box up books after the sale.

Where’s Waldo Grenville in these photos?

Thrifty Bargains

Bargains – Don’t you like a good one too?

Grenville and I usually make Wednesdays our run-around day with stops at the 2 local thrift stores (the “seniors 10% discounts are nice too). We really enjoy getting things we would not have bought at full price. And, besides it’s great FUN !

Our small area has a couple of thrift stores we visit often.

The Lighthouse Thrift Store (photo) is run by Lighthouse Ministries, a Christian based organization which operates a local shelter providing temporary housing for homeless individuals and families.Proceeds from thrift store sales support shelter operations.

The Hospice Thrift Store is a larger place that carries a wider inventory including furniture, electronics, household good, clothing. The store's revenue funds Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, which provides care for those with limited life expectancies.

Both stores sell donated items – used and new – to support worthy local causes and our purchases help. Besides, when you’re out looking, to quote Forrest Gump, “you never know what you're gonna get.” Today, was no exception. My find was a well-used Disney watch featuring Eeyore on the dial. As with most items, it was sold “as is” for – are you ready – $3. A trip to a local jeweler $5 (installed with tax) later for a new battery, and it was working. My total outlay was now up to $8. But with its stainless steel casing and band this watch is so much better than an inexpensive plastic watch and being pre-owned it has more history too.

Then there were last weekend’s bargains as the Friends group of the local library hosted its Firecracker Book Sale on July 3. See the photo below for what $10 can do!. All the books are in great to “like new” condition. Makes sense not to pay retail and support a local group too.

Most of these books will be sent to out-or-state friends as a sort of pay it forward. And, the recipient can feel free to share with another friend after reading (or even before).

Bargains are good things in many ways!