We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
A big thanks to my husband Steve for writing the post I am sharing with you today. You can read his other posts HERE.
Norman Cousins, talking about NASA’s historic trip to the moon, once said, “What was most significant about the lunar voyage was not that men set foot on the moon but that they set eye on the earth.” Sometimes it is the change in our perspective that most effectively transforms our life. Like astronauts looking at the earth from space, the world takes on a whole new beauty when viewed from above.
Such is the case for the novice attempting to transition into the mystical world of frugal shoppers. Those that have truly caught the vision of thrift and parsimony go through life with an instinctive, unconscious shopping rhythm that is somewhat foreign to the casual bargain seeker. With practiced precision they glide along taking advantage of deals and savings as effortlessly as a butterfly floats among the flowers in a field. This became charmingly apparent last week as I spent the weekend with my wife on a quick getaway to Bend, Oregon.
Nestled among the beauty of rolling rivers and rustic outdoor charm, I was amazed as I witnessed not only the splendor of nature, but the magnificence of my wife in action. Having forgotten to bring my sunglasses, we made a quick detour to a local shopping center to search for a pair of “clip on shades” for my prescription glasses – très chic, I know. Incredibly, my wife was able to locate a Target store almost instantly and she promptly ushered me into her sanctuary, her fortress of strength and energy renewal. (In hindsight, it may very well be that my wife surreptitiously removed my sunglasses so that we would be forced to go to one of her cherished Target stores. I suddenly have an overwhelming sense that I may be the victim of very sophisticated manipulation.)
It only took me a few minutes to realize that the store did not have the nerdy apparel that I sought, but desperate for relief from the blinding ball of fire in the sky, I considered other options. I spotted a pair of sunglasses with incredibly large lenses thinking they could be worn over my regular glasses. They were probably women’s glasses, but feeling confident in my manhood I felt certain I could pull it off without tarnishing my masculinity too much. Observing myself in the small mirror I quickly determined that I looked like someone wearing two small frying pans, like some sort of pathetic Frankenstein alien whose face had been pieced together with the discarded remnants of an abandoned kitchen. Not wanting to frighten small children I moved on.
Perhaps sunglasses were the wrong choice. I contemplated whether Bend Oregon was known as a refuge for Bedouin nomads. Maybe I could veil myself from the sun with a series of scarves like the shimagh of an Arab tribal leader. Even with my limited fashion expertise I swiftly resolved that a headscarf or turban, while possessing a certain mysteriousness and giving me the air of a royal desert sheik, did not quite work when combined with khaki shorts that exposed my pallid white legs and flip flops. (Being from Seattle, I claim the “Pasty White Rain Exemption” which relieves me of any responsibility from having pigment-free legs.)
Resolving that my quest for relief from the solar glare of the sun was not to be settled at Target I looked around for my wife who had somehow wandered away during my brief search. I spotted her finishing up a transaction at the cash register. How had she made a purchase so fast? We had only been in the store for a few minutes. Walking over to her I looked at her inquisitively as she smiled with a genuine sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
“Did you find the clip-on sunglasses somewhere else in the store?” I asked. It would not have been the first time that she was able to almost magically locate an item that eluded other mere mortal shoppers such as myself.
“No,” she replied, I wasn’t looking for them. I thought you were doing that. But, I just picked up some Post-It notes for FREE!”
I stood there, staring at her in bewilderment, as she glowed with excitement showing me her receipt as though it were a prized Blue Ribbon. We were 250 miles from home, enjoying a quasi-vacation get away in a beautiful city, and yet, she somehow had managed to use a coupon to get free products.
“How did you do that…and why? We are on vacation.”
“Well, I always have my coupons with me, and this sale is ending soon so I needed to combine my coupon with the sale today because it would be over by the time we got back home. Coupon plus sale price equals FREE stuff! Isn’t that awesome?”
Amazed at how her thrifty nature was almost subconsciously directing her actions, my world took on a new beauty. While I wriggled in my cozy cocoon, happy to remain in my larval “only-use-coupons-when-I-have-to” condition, my wife flitted from deal to deal drawing the nectar from life found in each fragrant shopping trip.
It was not as though we had an urgent need for Post-It notes. There was no colossal emergency that dictated we should pursue such a purchase while on vacation. Terrorists were not demanding we deliver slightly sticky slips of paper in exchange for the life of our children. But there was a profound lesson contained within the frugal actions of my wife. When thrifty living becomes an integral part of our lives, we seize opportunities, both large and small, to practice provident living at all times. In doing so, we improve our chances to thrive and position ourselves to better help others, to more fully enjoy life, and to recognize the blessings around us.
“Houston, this is the Apollo, we are safely in orbit with a new perspective of the world. Amazing!” I may not be an astronaut, but I do have a grander perspective on thrifty living, and what a refreshing perspective indeed.
~Steve
Megan says
That was awesome!
Debbie says
I am always amazed at his prose! ” I was amazed at….the magnificence of my wife in action….”! Wow! What a description! I still think he should have his own column!
Jeannie says
I always love it when Steve takes the time to write. Thanks for sharing. Makes me smile.
beth says
I was reading this while I was waiting at the deli yesterday – I was laughing out loud – people thought I was a little crazy 🙂 Great Entry! Thanks!
Nicole says
How is he not a writing?
amber says
Great Post! Did he find glasses? I would love to see a picture of him wearing the two frying pans