Greetings, fellow penny pinchers! Do you love a deal? As in, acquiring something for a more than reasonable price, a paltry pittance, a mere monetary iota. It’s crack cocaine squared, baby. And I got a major score this last weekend. Cha-ching, bitches!

Just to be clear, being frugal is awesome as long as you’re not trying to get something for nothing from everyone with a product to sell – because that’s super uncool, man, and we’re all trying to make a living out here. For example, don’t try to dicker with your local bakery over the price of bread or your favorite local coffee shop when their price per cup goes up five cents (flour and gas and everything else is expensive right now and they are probably struggling) or with the lady that owns the little silver shop and handcrafts most of her product. Can you make your own jewelry? Yes? Do it. No? Shut up about the discount you think you deserve for whatever made up reason you formulated inside your pea-brain.

There is a time and place to be thrifty just as there is appropriate time to pay full price. Next week I’m going to throw 300 – 400 bones at my tattoo artist to finish up some siiiiick work on my arm. Worth every…single…penny. Plus, a tip. Whenever I go to my hair stylist, an angel among beauty pros, I pay what she charges, add a tip, and leave feeling gorgeous every time. Again – worth it! A nice dinner out? Same. These people are providing a service that I want to be quality so I cough up the dough, bro.

Now, onto the savings!!!

For any of you who appreciate a good flea market, there is one of respectable size in Middleburgh, N.Y., the Creekside Flea Market. It is seasonal through the spring and summer on Sundays. There are tools, jewelry, antiques, cookware, new age shit, marble skulls, books, etc. One vendor had a bear skin rug if you’re into that. There was even one witchery table with hand crafted wands, one of which was shaped suspiciously like a dong. Whatever, I’m not judging.

Let me get my brag on, friends. Twenty seven American dollars and two hours in the sun is all it takes to get me jazzed up. At least, those are the current running numbers. And what, you may ask, did I purchase for twenty seven dolla bills, y’all? One, a matching collection of four mugs that match the red in my kitchen with some bronze accents. Bonus on this buy – they came in this old-timey metal carrier with a handle and lattice work around the basket. Two, a lovely pair of dangly earrings in my absolute favorite color of blue. Darker than turquoise and darker than teal and shiny. Three, a book entitled “Dictionary of Superstitions”. Since I got it used, hopefully there is no paranormal activity attached to it. Ghosts on TV – ok. Ghosts all up in my personal business – NO! Four, a heavy aluminum frying pan with three sections so three items can be cooked at once without touching. Kitchen gadgets are my jam!!!!!

Man, I love bric-a-brac!

For you lovers of the second hand, the fixer-uppers, the thrifties, and assorted trinkets – you got your number one supporter right here.

With warm affection,

Ms. Snow