Yes, I know it's been an obnoxiously long time since I've last blogged, but that's probably because I've spent so much time on tumblr, that I have almost forgotten about where my blog adventures have started: here.
Now to the important stuff that you'll actually want to read.
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Since the recession began in about 2007, (I was a mere middle school student at the time), and before that, (my dad was unfortunate enough to lose his job before the recession) I had learned about money, and what is and isn't important.
Example: a new video game console isn't important, paying for the mortgage is extremely important.
Recently, since I have had no luck in job hunting and my money is tight, I have learned this lesson even further.
See, in 2009, I tried to be and dress like some kind of drama queen and become more girly, buying my clothes only at the mall and paying attention to all the latest fashions. I would buy my clothes exclusively at American Eagle Outfitters, Aeropostale, Hollister and Garage. Now, since I'm older and realize that I need to manage my own money since I can't keep mooching off my parents for cash, I have learned that I don't need to restock my wardrobe every season and that I can buy nice clothes at cheaper places.
Which leads me to flea markets.
A few weeks ago, my mom dragged me out of bed at 9 AM on a Sunday to go to a flea market. I was not very pleased with this, considering that 1. It was 9 AM, 2. I had gotten less than six hours of sleep that night, and 3. I did not want to go to a flea market. Reluctantly, I got myself out of bed and went to the flea market.
After spending about twenty minutes trying to find a parking space, and me simply wanting food and to go home, (I was tired and had skipped breakfast), we entered the flea market. I was surprised to see my friend (let's call him Andrew) there, and he showed me a Nintendo Power Glove he bought for less than $10. I was surprised that he found one. So was he.
I wandered the flea market, being pleasantly surprised by the world around me - a place where jewelry and hats that can be bought for less than ten dollars and the amount of CD's and LP records are innumerable, where you can buy Xbox and Wii games next to a man selling a Gibson Les Paul, where you can get Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses for less than the cost of a frappuccino, and clothes are not only very cheap, but are not cheap knockoffs of designer brands.
I went back to the flea market yesterday (yes, it was open Easter Sunday), and bought a David & Young hat for six dollars, and two Abercrombie & Fitch tank tops for fifteen dollars. I wasn't able to find the tea shades I was looking for, but I did buy a beautiful watch locket necklace from a very nice Chinese woman, whom, despite her broken English, was extremely helpful.
Recently, I have also started shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops. Although the interior of a Goodwill looks depressing, you would be surprised what you will find there. I bought a TV for my room for $10, and saw a brass telescope, several record players and a professional video camera there. I have also learned that if you're short on cash and need to make a costume, thrift and consignment stores are the best places to go. I saw many nice things at consignment stores that would work wonderfully as costume pieces, including a beautiful black sequined blouse with a matching skirt, and a silver corset, not including the trench coats, high heels and hats sold there. (I do love hats.)
I know I should probably be humiliated for shopping at these places, but I'm not. It's nice, it's cheap, and I don't care about name brands anymore. Now I wear what I think looks nice, whether it comes from Chanel or Target or Goodwill, and is comfortable. I can buy costume pieces cheap and during the ten months a year Halloween stores aren't open. I will probably buy my Halloween costume for this year at consignment and thrift stores.
UPDATE:
I've realized that I've become far too accustomed to not having money that I don't know how to feel when I have more than $30 on me. I received a handsome sum of cash for my birthday and now I don't know how I'm supposed to feel now. When I counted the bills, I seriously had no idea how I was supposed to feel.
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