I looked at some of the items they had for sale, including t-shirts, blouses, dresses, and skirts. But what I really needed was a pair of black pants to wear to the office and/or casual gatherings. So I concentrated on finding myself a pair of black pants.
The only problem with this chain of stores is, one can't try on the items in the store before buying them. There are no fitting rooms and no mirrors. You have to buy the items, take them home, try them on and, if they don't fit, exchange them for something else within 7 days, but you can't return the item to get your money back. These rules are what allow them to sell at the discounted prices they offer. So you really have to know your size or guess well! It makes clothes shopping a bit more challenging!
They don't carry the brand I've been wearing, but I found a pair of black pants for $9.99. They had some other pairs for as little as $3.99, but they weren't what I was looking for (the fabric, sort of denim like, seemed too casual to wear to the office). I didn't know my size, but the medium looked too small so I thought I'll try a large. My thinking was, if the large didn't fit me, then, I'd exchange it for a medium which would have fit daughter. The pants are too long, of course, and I will have to shorten them, but they fit!
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| New Black Pants |
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| Price Tag |
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| Receipt (bit blurry) |
I didn't spend any money on clothes in 2016, so I had $120 in my clothing budget at the beginning of this year and, since we are in June, I have accumulated another $60 in the clothing allowance for a total of $180. So far this year, I spent $32.61 for a pair of shoes in May and now, $10.86 for the pair of pants. As a result, I have $180 - $32.61 - $10.86 = $136.53 left in my budget. I will be adding $10 per month to it, as well.
I would like to buy at least another couple of pairs of pants for the office, but I haven't decided on the color. Maybe a dark grey or a brown? Perhaps a lighter beige or cream/white? My immediate need was a pair of black pants and that need has been met. :) I just have to sit down and shorten them!
The next item I think I need is a plain black blouse with short sleeves, similar to the purple blouse I am wearing in the picture, above. That is my usual blouse style! The black blouse I have right now is too stretched out. I looked at the blouses at the store, today, but didn't see the type of black blouse I was hoping to find.
After my clothes shopping, I came home, tried on the pair of pants, had a sandwich for a late lunch, wrote a couple of blog posts, and took the trash cans out to the curb. I called the jury service to see if I need to report in person tomorrow and was told I didn't have to report in person, but call tomorrow evening after 7:00 p.m. to find out about Wednesday. I am hoping I won't need to go in on Wednesday, because I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for Wednesday morning. Later, I chatted on the phone with an aunt who called, exchanged emails with a friend, and video chatted with daughter. Did the dishes. Cooked rice and baked the last two fillets of battered fish for dinner.
I finished my round of antibiotics, today. Hopefully, the toothache won't return before my tooth can be attended to!
Today, I am grateful for:
- I was inspired by my daughter to go shopping for myself!
- I was able to find a pair of pants which fitted and which I liked!
- My immediate clothing needs have been met.
- I didn't have to report for jury duty.
- My toothache has subsided.
How was your Monday? Have you gone clothes shopping lately?
I'm glad to find black pants for such a good price. They may be expensive for that store, but not compared to most others you can find.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I am really looking for something I can wear for the next 6 months or so, because who knows if I'll be able to maintain the weight loss or what will happen? Now that I know what this particular store has to offer (they didn't have a range of colors for this particular style of pants), I will try the department store (Sears) across the street from it.
DeleteThat is a very good price for a pair of pants. If you like how they wear I'd get a tan/beige color. I find this goes well with many colors and suitable for all year.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that you are not called for jury duty. I would much prefer that you see the doctor and get released for dental care.
I would like to ask you a question about rice. I read that there is quite a bit of arsenic in brown rice and that you should soak over night, discard water and then cook. Do you have any thoughts or perhaps even do a blog on rice, ways to cook, how to store.
It is terribly hot here. Expected to reach 93 - I got my hair cut at 8:00 am and the roots colored so good for another 5 weeks. Stopped at CVS for milk and more coffee for hubby (on sale) - when I got home I put a load of whites to wash and hung on the line to dry - I put some vegetables and a couple of small chops to cook in my slow cooker, so that is dinner taken care of.
Hugs dear blogging friend.
Thank you for the hugs, Sandy. Much appreciated.
DeleteYes, a pair of lighter colored, tan or beige slacks might be a good choice for a second pair. Especially as we come into summer. My, but that is hot and I expect it is humid, too? It feels worse when it is hot and humid, doesn't it? Good planning on your part to run errands while it is still cool in the morning and get the washing done and hung to dry on the line - it'll dry quickly in the heat. Making dinner in the slow cooker is a good idea, too, as it won't heat up your kitchen.
I have read about the arsenic in rice, but I really don't know much about it. I never soak my rice, just wash it in about 3 rinses of water before I cook it. I have a rice cooker and cook my rice in that, but if I didn't have a rice cooker, I'd just boil it in a pot on the stove. I tend to eyeball the level of water, but the "rule of thumb" I grew up with was water up to the first knuckle of the middle finger that is resting on the top of the rice. :) I store the uncooked rice in an air tight container if I can (a bit hard to do when I buy the 25 lb. bags!)
I think it's a really reasonable price for some trousers. I hate clothes shopping. Nothing seems to fit properly and I find it really annoying. If I find something that fits I tend to buy several of them and different colours if they have them!
ReplyDeleteI, too, dislike clothes shopping; really have to be in the mood to shop! I have found a couple of brands of clothes that have fitted me well and that I like in the past, so I tend to buy those, over and over again! I'm still trying to figure out my new size, so it's a bit of an adventure!
DeleteGlad you found the pants you needed. I think 10 bucks for a pair is pretty blooming good!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne. I've since looked on-line at a couple of other discount places and department stores and I think I might be able to find a couple more pairs at around the same price. Just have to go and look and try on.
DeleteThat is a good price! Inspired by your post when I was in town I went into my favourite clothes store - Millers a chain that has stores both in Australia and NZ. I haven't brought clothes for over a year as I hate clothes shopping. Well I found some bargains of my own. Two pairs of pants for $22, they are usually $22 a pair. A jacket for $20, they were 2 for $25, but as I wasn't sure what it looked like on I only got one, like your store you couldn't try on. When I got home I tried them on and they all fitted well and were so comfortable, I am seriously thinking of going back tomorrow and buying another 2 pants and 2 more jackets. There was a good colour range too. They had some fleecy dressing gowns for only $12! Very tempted.
ReplyDeleteSharon, you got some good bargains! Well done! I especially like the 2 jackets for $25, price.
DeleteI'm another one who doesn't much enjoy clothes shopping. However I'm always filled with satisfaction when I find something relatively easily that fits. I hope these trousers are serving you well!
ReplyDeleteOh, I've got good use out of that pair of trousers! I wore them to the office all the time! I still have them, although I don't wear them quite as often, these days (not quite sure why I don't, though!)
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