Frugal Schmugal

So, here's my story about how "frugality" . . . has . . . issues, but ultimately a happy ending:

A few weeks ago, while browsing at Anthropologie (and heading straight to the sale table like any self-respecting "frugaler") I happened upon some absolutely delightful . . . shower-curtain -hanger-thingies. There were 12 to the box, they had crystal-door-knob-like attachments and although regularly 35 bucks, they were marked down to a mere $7.95. Seven dollars and ninety-five cents, people. I had no idea what I would do with them, I just knew I had to have them.

After attempting to figure a way to use them as hooks in my sewing room (and failing), I posed the question as to what to do with them to this daughter. (Stop. Finish reading this post before clicking over to hers, because once you do, you will want to read every single one of her posts and you will want to start at the very beginning. In fact, I insist that you do.)

She suggested I use them to hang curtains. Taking one look at the curtains in my bedroom (which were as old as dirt and a little bit covered in it), I knew her suggestion was perfect. I also came up with my own brilliant idea to actually use lovely . . . shear . . . ethereal . . . shower curtains as the curtains. My windows are rather narrow and I figured that one shower curtain would do it.

I headed straight to my local Target and purchased not one but two new curtain rods (with crystal knobs on the ends to mirror the effect of the . . . thingies), which cost $15.00 each. I purchased one lovely shower curtain to the tune of $20.00 and promptly came home and realized that I would need another one.

Lucky for me, my very handsome, handy-man son (he is an architect and he comes with his own set of tools) was willing to hang the new rods for me for the low, low price of lunch at In-N-Out. (11 bucks for the two of us.)

I could not be happier about the results. I admit I was a tad worried that our bed would now look as if it was placed between two . . . showers, but it doesn't. And the curtains are so lightweight that the ceiling fan causes them to flutter as if by some breeze. A breeze, people. I live in Arizona and I live for a breeze.

So, the moral of this story is this: A $7.95 bargain ended up costing me upwards of 100 smackeroos (if you count the lunch at In-N-Out, and believe me, that cost me more than money).

And . . . I don't care. End of story.