Cheap, cheap.

I have been spending a lot of time lately looking for more ways to save money.

I will be in line at the supermarket and see a magazine which reads, "Save thousands this year."

Yahoo. I look in the magazine, and voila! I do every item on the list except the one which reads, "Shop for a lower credit card rate so you can pay off your balance sooner."

We don't have a balance.

I am not trying to sound sanctimonious here--we were raised by frugal people, and I love a good bargain. Okay, I am CHEAP. I get my hair cut at the beauty school, I cut coupons, and my family's wardrobe is from clearance and thrift stores. My kids bought each other presents from Salvation Army this year, and all of them got much more than what they would have normally been able to afford. However, we do spend our money, too. My kids go to private school, and I drive a nice car. My vet bills alone would support a small third world country.

One time, my sister called and said, "My mother-in-law's neighbor is moving, and they put a bunch of stuff in the trash. This woman threw away a bunch of clothes, and she is about the same size you are." I went over and got my entire summer wardrobe, plus a wrought iron patio table and chairs, minus the glass top. A few weeks later, I was driving home from somewhere, and I saw a glass table top in someone's tree lawn. Bingo.

Tonight is Garbage Eve in our neighborhood. I guess I could go shopping...