Pretty Magazines

**treeluva** · 05-26-2006, 06:52 AM

I have a weakness for pretty magazines. Budget Decorating, Country Living, Better Home and Gardens..... basically, if it has a pretty living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or garden on the cover, I want it.

I have been doing really well with not buying these magazines.

Until today.

I went to the grocery store, prepared with my list, and next to the list, how much the item costs.

The total from my list and price book said I would be spending 50 dollars at the grocery store.

Well, a lot of the item were priced cheaper than my price book.... not be a lot, but 15 cents here, 20 cents there, 5 cents other places, actually 3 of the items I bought were exactly 1 penny cheaper than my price book.

Then I saw that pretty magazine at the counter.

Oh, how I tried to resist the temptation! But, I succombed.

Delightfully, however, my total bill, including that pretty magazine, came to $47.04. So, even with buying something not on my list, I still came in under my budget, and I got a pretty magazine to boot!

I was sad at first, but now I am looking at it like this: I splurged $3.19 cents on this magazine, didnt go over my grocery budget to get it, actually still came in lower than what I was planning to spend. So, this was just a treat to myself, and phooey! I deserve a pretty magazine once in a while!

Just as long as I dont start picking up every pretty magazine on the racks!

**MirandaK** · 05-26-2006, 07:06 AM

WAY TO COME IN UNDER BUDGET!!! ENJOY YOUR PRETTY MAGAZINE AND DON'T FRET OVER IT.

**miss_thrifty** · 05-26-2006, 07:11 AM

I agree sometimes u have to indulge alttle , and u didnt go over budget!!! So dont be so hard on yourself!!! We all have days were not suppose to spend, and sometimes we do. Beaten yourself up is like being on adiet that has no room for the odd cheat day.

**PrairieRose** · 05-26-2006, 08:04 AM

Yeah as long as you don't make a habit out of it young lady

Nah, you did fine. We all deserve a treat and should enjoy it to the nines when we splurge.

**ironmaiden** · 05-26-2006, 08:09 AM

I occasionally go to the library just to browse the magazines.

**baxjul** · 05-26-2006, 10:35 AM

Good for you! You deserve a pretty magazine!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-26-2006, 01:01 PM

I have found a great way to get them for free. Post on Freecycle that your looking for mags. I've gotten boxes of them! All types cottage Life, Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, etc. You'd be surprised how many folks get mags and can't bring themselves to throw them away but will happily share them with others. I make arrangements to pick them up as I'm in that area of town. Once I did make a special trip and was rewarded with six boxes!!! Computer paper box size. The lady was getting ready to move and her DH didn't want to move her magazine collections. I got Taste of Homes, Southern Living, Martha Stewerts, a whole raft of goodies. Was in hog heaven for weeks as I'm a gleaner. You'll find magazine articles all over my house.
So try freecycle also post a notice at your church with an emtpy box my moms church does this and everyone swaps around. One rule no nudies.

Laurie in Bradenton

**treeluva** · 05-26-2006, 02:00 PM

I would love to check freecycle, except for the fact that I am in Germany.

But that is a great idea for when I leave Germany and get back to the States!

**Darlene** · 05-26-2006, 02:20 PM

Enjoy!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-26-2006, 02:57 PM

Oh,Oh, Oh, Just checked the Freecycle.org homepage and found that Germany is listed and there is a chapter with 125 members in Heidelberg!!

Hope it helps

Laurie in Bradenton

**momof42003** · 05-27-2006, 09:17 AM

The way DH and I look at it, if I buy a magazine for six dollars, or get a subscription for the year, it is cheaper than renting movies, or going to the theater... I can read and reread my magazine until it falls apart.. So that six dollars or so has been used several times over... I hope I am making sense... I only buy magazines once in a while, and keep them forever. Then when I get the urge to go buy one, or get a movie, I know I have some that I have not read in a while, and more times than not, I see something I had not seen before. I can justify magazines to a point. LOLOL...If DH doesn't mind the occasional subscription, or copy of Country Living, then I am ok in just buy one or two a month. That is my limit though... Those magazines are so expensive. If you can get them for free more power to you... I enjoy magazines.

**Vannie** · 05-27-2006, 09:46 AM

LOL I have the same weakness. Pretty magazines seem to draw me to them. Sometimes when I am standing in the check line at the store and my eyes fall on a pretty magazine, it is such a struggle for me. Do I buy it or not buy it? I often lose the battle and toss it in my cart. I wonder what this means?

**ironmaiden** · 05-27-2006, 12:19 PM

We never throw away magazines. I always pass them on. Knitting magazines to knitting friends. DH's National Geographics to people with kids.
Money and Kiplinger's Personal Finance to my neice.

By the way, we've been spending my 3 year old's frequent flyer miles on magazines. And since the subscriptions to Money and Kiplinger are in her name, she gets some of the most interesting junk mail