No, I haven’t gone on a discount store binge here lately, but as I was doing some housework today, I was listening to the Rachael Ray show. They had an expert on club stores like Sam’s and Costco. Here are a few tips that I thought were interesting.

SAM’S CLUB: When you look at the price tag, if you see a ‘C’ on the tag…it is CLEARANCE priced. If the price ends in a penny such as $123.01, it means it has been marked down.

COSTCO: Look for an ‘*’ or a price ending in.97 such as $123.97, to find the marked down and clearance prices.

For both stores, the prices on electronics will not be a major savings. You will find the better prices at an electronics store. The electronic store makes its money selling the warranty and service contracts so they price the items lower. At the warehouse clubs, they do not sell these contracts, so therefore they price their items higher.

Also, in both stores, over the counter drugs and supplies like you would find in a pharmacy should be much lower.
And, even if you are not a member of the warehouse club…most states have to allow you (by law) to shop in the pharmacy dept.

They mentioned that diapers and baby formula were equal to standards upheld by name brands. You can even buy a casket there. EWWWWW!

THE ABOVE IS JUST ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE PRESENTED BY GATHERINGS

This is a very special book I received for my birthday this year, from my brother-in-law, Tommy. He and I share an affinity for the written word. [Of course, he remembers when they first started printing books, I think he was a teenager then…JUST KIDDING :)] And I think he is the only other person I know who can get excited about an old book. He has quite a collection, and enjoys searching for them. He picked this one for me, and I love it. It is titled Grandmother’s Child, written by Annie S Swan. It is the sweetest story of a family in London and as you can see from the inscription, this lady received as a gift in 1892. I wonder just where else this old book has been and who else has read this story. Did they find it both sad and heart warming as I did? Was it given to them by someone they loved and cared about? Did it lay in an attic somewhere, or was it stored in a trunk with someones belongings? Was it tucked away on a bookcase somewhere, or was it sold in a library sale of old books? Of course, I’ll never know, but I do know something of its life from now on. It will be stored on my bookcase and listed among my treasures. I will read it one day to a grandchild, and pass it on as a dear possession to be kept and read again.

Treasure, you know, has very little to do with monetary value. To me, treasures are those things that speak to your soul, and strike a chord of the beautiful and lovely things of this world. They certainly do not have to BE beautiful, just remind you of it. This book reminds me of the love between a mother and daughter, and finally a granddaughter. It reminds me of how great forgiveness can be and it shows the tenacious spirit of a young child.

Thank-you, Thomas, for this wonderful present. Thank you for recognizing how I would delight in owning this book. I’m so glad you are my brother.

I’m getting into the mood of fall. This morning, there is a touch of crispness in the air, and I love it. I love the colors and smells, and the feelings of fall. To me, it’s a time of turning inward and refocusing on home and family….a time of beginning the ‘snuggle down’ time of winter. It’s a time of long sleeves and sweaters, football games and fairs, harvest and Thanksgiving…a time of family. I welcome fall and all it stands for.

I read an interesting article this week about Wal-Mart, and thought you may enjoy some of the facts they have gathered about the shoppers who visit their store.

GENERAL STATS: Wal-mart boasts of 138 million shoppers each week with the busiest day of the week being Saturday. The top shopping day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving, followed closely by December 23, and December 22.

BREAKFAST FOODS: In the Northeast, most people enjoy bagels, while in Texas, it is doughnuts. Also, you who live in the Northeast prefer brown eggs, with the rest of the country choosing white. The majority of Americans drink 2% milk, except those of us in the South, we like whole milk.

PET SUPPLIES: Those in the Western states buy the most dog food, with Florida choosing the most dog accessories. Cat lovers abound in Maine…they buy the most cat food, but Nebraska buys the most cat accessories.

GROCERY:

The items most likely to be found in your grocery cart are frozen foods, especially frozen pizza. Another of the biggest sellers are frozen vegetables packaged to be steamed, and lo-fat meals.

We prefer our fruits fresh, not frozen. “DUH!”

The best selling item in the store are BANANAS! We buy enough bananas each year to circle the Earth 16 times!

Pop Tarts are the number one comfort food. It seems that those who are preparing for hurricanes tend to stockpile Pop Tarts. Extra crates are always shipped to those areas that are expecting weather disasters.

If you live in Pennsylvania, with my friend Jean, you buy 5 times more tea than any other state.

CLOTHING: The average female shopper wears a size 14 and a size 8 12 shoe. Her most popular items of clothing to buy there are hoodies, and casual shoes.

Men shoppers tend to wear a size 10 1/2 shoe. Their choice of boxers or briefs is at a tie across most of the country…with only the South showing a preference…we like boxers down here!

Our children are getting fatter! 30% of the children in ages 9-12 are buying their clothes in the men’s and ladies’ departments. Perhaps due to Pop Tart consumption?

OTHER BUYING HABITS: The hottest selling item now is Electronics…with the most sought after being the 32 in flat screen TV.

We buy mostly Country music, followed by Pop/Rock.

We prefer paying with cash followed by the debit card.

In an attempt to sharpen their image, the employees are now wearing khaki pants and polo shirts. No more blue vests. But they are going to recycle those for a worthy cause…so they say.

I found it amusing to look at the buying habits of Americans at Wal-Mart. I usually shop at the local Wal-Mart about twice a month. I find their groceries to be competitively priced. My biggest gripe with their store is the long wait to check-out. They may have 20 registers in the front and only 8 of them being used. I have begun to use the self check-out…which I like better.

All of this information is available on the Good Morning America website. I did not go out and poll all of America on its spending habits. I do not have quite that much free time.

 

“You make me so happy, God. I saw your work and I shouted for joy. How magnificent your work,God”
Psalm 92:1 TMB

I found this beautiful bloom in my backyard yesterday. I didn’t even know the plant was there, and I don’t remember ever seeing it before.(I’ve lived here 25 years). I choose to think that God was just sending me a hug and a reminder that He can do all things. He does not need my help. He is in control of the world, our country, our state, and even the backyard of the Owens’home. He alone decides what will be or will not be. I can rest in that. Thank-you,God, for the flower and the message.