Fashion

[KonaKat]

Good morning, shopping friends. The big day is just around the corner and some of us will be relaxing, others will be still be shopping or looking for last minute stocking stuffers or food items.

I saw a thread on the use of 3 easy pays. If it was aimed at QVC's incentive of getting a Q card to guarantee 3 easy pays, I can say that I don't have a Q card. I would rather use one of my regular cards, pay in full, and enjoy the rewards those cards provide. Even with those, the promise of easy pays can add up each month. If you use easy pays, it is a good idea to check the "easy pays" on the order status and see how much you are paying each month for the total easy pay purchases.  Is it within your budget? If it is larger than you planned, then you need to put the brakes on the use of the easy pay feature.

Easy pay serves a great purpose for purchases with a large price tag, but for things $50 and less? Would it not be easier to set aside the equivalent amount of money for the item and then buy it when you can pay in full without use of easy pay? If you went to Amazon and found the item at a great price, easy pay there is not easily available but Amazon seems to be doing well without "easy pay" except for the times it offers it on its major electronics.

Jan 99 said: I'm not sure who Shopaholics is (are), but I see something here everyday. I assume it's a tight-knit group who checks in everyday with each other to let each other know what you are doing for the day. Just curious.

I am one of the original members of this thread. It started originally when an individual no longer posting went to her order status and totalled up how much she had ordered in a year, many items long forgotten. The thread started to help people monitor shopping habits, recognize magic words, etc. that are incentives to get us to buy when it is not necessary. From that point, people have come and gone and the thread still will talk about purchases, etc. but we also talk about our daily lives. There is one outstanding feature of this thread and that we consider it a place where we can discuss things without bashing or negative criticism. Everyone is welcome to join in and post; it is not a closed group.

I'm debating making a run to the city but may just relax here. This day will not be repeated; tomorrow, it will be history. Make the most of today!

If you shop, shop wisely.

[Snicks1]

Good morning ladies, and thank you KK for starting the thread this morning. I seem to either post early or very late, lately. I am one who will be out today to finish stocking stuffers, ugh. With all I have had going on, I just neglected to finish this up, have a couple things, but will add a few more to make a really well filled stocking. After our get together tonight, our actual Christmas will be quiet and peaceful here with just hubby and myself. Depending how we feel and how ambitious to get out we feel, we may go to the casino in the afternoon for a few hours. Or maybe just chill out here at home.

I am probably one of the latest to join this group of posters, I enjoy just chatting, in general about my day. These ladies are a nice group, and my favorite thing about it, is that there is really no snarking going on here.

Time to get moving, so....waves to everyone........

[KonaKat]

Snicks--A well-filled stocking reflects how thoughtful you are. Enjoy your get together and also your quiet time with DH on Christmas and the possible trip to the casino afterwards. I remember spending a Thanksgiving afternoon in a casino and was amazed at the crowds.

Snicks, I think this thread has been around for about nine years. I've lost track but it started the year before I went to Australia. The money I saved in that year from resisting impulse purchases helped to pay for my activities there.

I am going to the city to have a late lunch early dinner with a friend who is not doing well. He is scheduled for hip replacement surgery in January, so it will be some time before we can eat out again. I will consider this my Christmas dinner.

[spix]

Morning All, going to finish up in the kitchen today & then hopefully get all the neighbors gifts delivered.

Tomorrow will be getting the dinner, etc ready to go, run to the store for fresh french bread & whatever else I forgot, hah

DD & kids will be getting back from Vegas visiting my first born, will drop off the kids here while she goes home to unpack & whatever, so I have to have it all done before they get here, then we can have fun

Hope you're all ready for the Holidays & not stressed out, relax & enjoy!

[KonaKat]

Spix--It sounds as if you have a wonderful celebration planned. The food prep is always important but the people involved are what makes the event special. I know DD will have much to share and add to the event. Enjoy!

[Bird mama]

Hello all and thanks for starting us off today Jean.

I'll tend to use easy or flex pay if the item is pricey and I am unsure of it.  I did easy pay for a pole saw from the Q and flex pay on my HP tablet from HSN because I didn't want to spend the full amount if the items didn't wow me.

As soon as I was wowwed, I went into the easy pay/flex pay manager page and paid off the remaining flex pays.

My stainless steel necklace is not on clearance today, lol.  I had a feeling it wouldn't be.  Now that necklace is on 2 flex pay so I may order it on flex just to see if it wows me in person like it is on the website.  

I'm still staying strong though - no new charges since I paid the monthly balance on my two cards.  It's ain't easy, but I am determined, lol.

[twinny70]

I am checking in with all of you as I need some computer time to clear my mind.  I have not been sleeping well at night so I went to bed at 9:00 last night only to get a phone call from my cousin at 10:00.  DH & I went to the cheese factory early today to get cheese for my tray tomorrow & some extra for gifts.  Then on to the bank for the gift cards & to the store for my DH's favorite French onion dip.  Came home to a phone message from mom's Hospice nurse saying she would me at mom's new place at 9:15.  We didn't get back home until 9:30 when the care taker for mom called me.  I didn't see mom yesterday so she wanted to speak to me this a.m.  She was so confused as she asked me when dad's funeral was going to be (that was 24 years ago).  Then she asked me what I was doing & didn't understand what the cheese factory was, asked me to find her wedding ring which she hasn't found for over a year.  I did finally get her caretaker to get on the phone as by that time I was totally in tears.    I will see mom this afternoon, but right now I am truly a mess.  I just did the dusting in the basement so it will be nice for company tomorrow.  I need to do the floors with my new Shark  steam mop.  I need to wrap gifts & fill the stocking for everybody.  I am so looking forward to fixing lunch tomorrow & being wth our DD, DSIL, DGC & my brothers family along with hopefully getting mom to our place after lunch tomorrow. Christmas day will be at one of my DH's brothers family about 45 minutes away.  We will see our son on Christmas day for lunch so that will be a huge bonus to me right now.  We will see his wife along with him & my DD & family for a nice lunch at an Italian restaurant in our hometown.  It is raining hard so I probably won't get my hot tub time today, but still in the 50's, with cooler weather for tomorrow & Friday.  Hugs to all of you & it sounds like you are all busy with fun things to do & places to  go.

[1jenniferjuniper]

Twinny, my heart ❤️ Goes out to you. I know how hard it is regarding your mom. She will have days where she is more confused just try to roll with it. I hope you have a very merry Christmas with your mom and family. Big hug coming you way.

[cerb]

Hello all - Jean - I appreciate your explanation of how Shopaholics ODAT came about in the beginning.  Everyone has been warm and welcoming to me this past year.  It's nice to have kind women to make connections with.  And from time-to-time I do need the encouragement to make wise purchasing decisions, so this thread serves a good duel purpose.  

Speaking of shopping, I've done fairly well this Christmas and stuck pretty close to my budget.  I've made a couple of impulse "want" purchases, but there were many more things that I placed in my shopping cart, then walked away to give myself some time and distance from the temptation.  When I came back I removed the items from my cart.  Mostly I keep telling myself, "Yeah....but I don't NEED that".  It's become my mantra.  "Ooo, look at that, it's so pretty!" "Yeah...but I don't NEED it."  "Look at this thing, that might come in handy and the price is good!" "Yeah...but I don't NEED it."  

My day should be rather quiet today.  I never did get Christmas cards sent out (I only mail out a few), so I'll work on that while watching some Christmas movies I've recorded on my DVR.  I might do a quick sweep and vacuum too.  Sounds like a good way to spend the day.  Oh - and my DD's cat is feeling better!

Hope you all have a blessed day!   ~   Charlene

[twinny70]

JEAN, I hope you have a nice late lunch/early dinner with your friend before he has surgery.  BIRD MAMA, I loved that necklace that you are thinking about buying.    You are such a smart shopper.  I have been good to myself for at least two months, but when things are rough it makes me think that  I deserve some kind of a reward.  SNICKS, I am glad that you had such a nice family time & good luck if you & your DH go to the casino.  After rain all morning the sun is out & we did get some hot tub time in.  The gifts are wrapped & I just only have the floors to wash.  DH & I had a fun day out yesterday with friends.  We had a nice lunch of pork tenderloin sandwich with the works which was very good.  Then us gals lost at cards which was the first loss in quite a few months.  DH & I had lunch at Pizza Hut today.  I have been in a no cook mood lately but that will all change tomorrow.  I am looking forward to fixing a nice lunch here tomorrow.  Mom's social worker just called me & now I feel so much better about mom's situation.  I also want to say hi to the new posters here.  We are a nice bunch of ladies with everyday problems.  Me especially.