Retail Therapy: TOMS Calypso Wedge

One in each color, please. Solid colors available in store at your local Nordstrom. Like I need another pair of black shoes. I did just donate two pairs of black shoes to Goodwill. But still. Maybe a little early birthday present to myself? We shall see. A girl can dream, right?

Retail Therapy: JCrew Embroidered Tee

Ok, so it's still a $30 t-shirt, but it used to cost $50. If you're looking for some retail therapy and want something you can pair with jeans and khakis, check out this tee. Maybe just in time for the Easter Bunny to bring you something you really want? After all, their shades of pink and yellow are much more appealing than those awful pink and yellow Peeps! Do people really eat those?

Retail Therapy: Adorable Ties for your Little Man

I could not resist sharing this link after seeing it on Cool Mom Picks this morning. I don't think anyone, after seeing the cuteness of this product, could claim that you were torturing your child with dressy clothes. And that's what matters, right? Just kidding. But, seriously, this is an adorable option for Easter. Add a colorful tie to some plain khakis and a shirt already in his closet and you've got instant outfit for less than $30!

Retail Therapy: My Little "Need to Buy List"

I thought it would be fun to see if you, my faithful readers, could be my savvy shoppers and keep your eyes peeled for a few choice deals. As I have blogged before, I try to keep my impulse shopping to a minimum, only buying myself new clothes when I need to replace worn items. If the clothing item is not on my "need to buy" list, I only get to covet it in the store, but I don't carry it to the cashier.

But don't you think I need some new black flats? I'd say it's about time! (see above)

And, I'm hoping, that I will need some new, smaller jeans pretty soon. Ones that would look great all spring with flip flops.

I'm invited to a wedding in July and would love a cheap and cheerful dress. Think outdoor, but upscale.

Oh, and I might even wear a swimsuit this summer. Maybe some board shorts with a tank style top?

Help me! I've got a special prize for the reader who passes along the best deal on the best item!

Retail Therapy: Jumping Into a DSLR Camera

If you know me, you know I love photography. I'm often asked to recommend DSLR cameras to those who are ready to make the jump from a point and shoot model. I've seen some super prices on solid camera "kits" for those wanting to join the ranks of DSLR users. I'm a Canon girl so click here to see the Amazon listing for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i which includes full HD video. I saw a very similar "kit" with a bonus lens at my local Coscto today for the same price. Maybe now is the time for a little retail therapy? You won't regret it!

Retail Therapy: Green Cotton Pajamas at Garnet Hill

Let's say I have $100 of "fun money". First stop, pedicure. Second stop, a new pair of Asian Wrap pajamas by Green Cotton. At $68 a pair, this soft sleepwear is certainly spendy, but it's worth every penny. I adore my pair; I've had the same pair for almost 4 years and the jammies are still extra cozy. The color is fading a bit so the search for a new pair begins. Three styles are available: long sleeved shirt and pants, short sleeve shirt and shorts, and a gown. Just thinking about a new pair makes me feel a little sleepy. Maybe I will just lay in bed with my Garnet Hill catalog and dream of which fabric choice I'll select.

Retail Therapy: Nordstrom Will Not Be Undersold

Have you ever taken advantage of a store's price match guarantee? I was hesistant to do so but found the Nordstrom "We Will Not Be Undersold" pledge to be a great way to get an item I needed from a store that I love at the best price I found. Here's my story: My sister-in-law and I were selecting a flower girl dress. We had found the style we wanted on various online bridal stores for $86.00. However, the online bridal stores did not offer refunds or exchanges. Nordstrom.com had the same dress listed for $110.

On the Nordstrom website, it says:

You'll never pay more. At Nordstrom, we are committed to offering you the best possible prices. If you ever find one of our items priced lower somewhere else, please call 1-888-282-6060 and we will gladly meet that price.

So, after a quick and pleasant call with a Nordstrom employee, the dress was en route to me at the price I provided them. It took just a minute for the employee to visit the web address to the better price that I provided and I was on my way to saving! With the money saved on the dress, I was able to buy my little flower girl's ballet flats and hair bow!

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: Do you have any price match success stories?

Retail Therapy: Back to School Budgeting

As the dog days of summer slowly tick away, it is time to start building your back to school budget. I've put together some cheap and cheerful guidelines to help you spend less and to get more for what you spend.

1. Do a thorough inventory before you do any looking!

Today, I went through my son's drawers and closet and looked at all of his shorts, pants, tees, socks, and underwear. I wrote down a list of what he can still use in September and jotted down the items that need to be replaced.

2. Determine a reasonable amount, one that you can afford to spend.

Of course, your amount needs to fit into your cash flow over the next few months. Make a reasonable estimate of what it will cost to replace the worn out and too small items.

3. Do some comparison shopping, either online or in the stores.

Personally, I do most of my comparison shopping online. And if there is an even better deal in the same store when I arrive, I adjust my list accordingly.

4. Before you head out to do the shopping, take 20% of the money you planned to spend and set it aside.

You will undoubtedly see something else later on down the road. Set the money from your original budget aside for that item. Or treat your kid to a back to school lunch on the first day back in class. Or roll the chunk of cash into your kiddo's college fund!

5. As you shop, stick to your list.

Don't buy more than you need to get your young scholar off to a good start. Everyone enjoys fresh new clothes but you don't have to go overboard.

For purposes of an example, let's say that I have budgeted $150.

Since my preschooler already has a brand new pair of jeans, a nice pair of cords, two hooded sweatshirts in great shape, a windbreaker from last year that still fits, a few long sleeved and short sleeved tees with more life in them, and a good pair of leather sandals, I plan to buy:

2 pairs of cargo pants (navy and khaki) and 3 long sleeved t-shirts from Children's Place. This will cost $45 (pants are 2 for $25 and shirts are 3 for $20) but I have a 15% off coupon so my total would be $38.

3 short sleeved Cherokee tees from Target, 3 pack of Champion socks, and 3 pack of Cherokee underwear. $27

V-neck lightweight sweater from Old Navy. $15

Adidas sneakers from Amazon.com. $25

For a grand total of $115. $35 tucked away for lunch or future purchases or piggy bank padding.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What are your back to school shopping tips and tricks?

Retail Therapy: Surviving Target

(Previously "published" on Facebook, but here again for your reading pleasure ...)

My Target survival skills:

1. It's not a deal if I don't NEED it.
For me, it is hard to rationalize needing another pair of flip flops even if they are a great bargain. And it is so hard to resist the table of cute $4 tee-shirts for the kiddos. But do they really need another tee-shirt?

2. Don't spend more than $1.99 on a greeting card.
I love stationery so this is a hard one for me. But, come on, what happens to a card after a person opens it? Unless it is for a really sentimental occassion, the card goes straight into the recycling bin. There are some great cards at Target for $.99, $1.49, and $1.99. This is especially cost saving when you have a month -- like June and July for us -- with lots of birthdays, Father's Day, etc.

3. Aim to spend $10 on a birthday gift, with some wiggle room up to $15.
Don't get me wrong, I am actually a very generous person. That being said, when your kid goes to maybe 15 birthday parties a year, you can really overspend on gifts. Plus, there are some super fun gifts that aren't expensive. Some of my son's favorites to give are: duffel bag filled with Play-Doh and accessories ($10.99), Candy Land in a cool plastic "case" ($8), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Yahtzee Jr. ($9), Dora bat and ball set ($12), and bubble machines ($12).

4. Browse the end caps and Dollar Spot but be careful!
I love to browse the end caps and the Dollar Spot and if I see something that would be a great "gift closet" item, I pick up only one or two. After all, who needs $10 worth of SpiderMan markers? If you would never pay full price for the item you are holding, put it back down and walk away! The Dollar Spot is a great place to find party favors and stocking stuffers so I do recommend scanning the aisles if an event is getting closer. (Side note: I found great ladybug frames in the Dollar Spot in February and grabbed them for my daughter's "bug" birthday party. I printed a photo of each kid coming to the party and put it in the frame. Totally fun favor for less than $2!)

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How do you do Target without draining your wallet?

Retail Therapy: Catalog Envy

If you're like me, a stack of glossy catalogs arrives at your house almost every day. Whether it is Williams-Sonoma with its array of shiny pans or Hanna Andersson and her line of cozy clothes, catalogs can fuel our need for things we don't really need. Call me crazy but catalogs that come to my house go directly to my recycling bin. I can't need the red Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook and pasta attachment if I don't stare at it on page 17. And the last thing my dear daughter needs is another dress. While my method of immediate recycling may sound severe, it gives me a greater feeling of contentment with what I already have when I can avoid paging through attractive displays of what I don't have. No catalog envy = no needless spending.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How tempting are catalogs to you? Do you have an effective method for reducing catalog envy?

Retail Therapy: Need this?

Let's just put the obvious out there: Shopping is fun. Getting a coveted item of clothing, a new set of golf clubs, the latest electronic device, or a tube of red lipstick makes us feel good. When you're out shopping and caught up in a wave of the "gimmes", it gets hard to differentiate between needs and wants. After all, the dress is cute, right? And it's 20% off, right? So what's the harm in throwing it in your shopping bag?

Well, there's no harm if it's in the budget. And there is absolutely no harm if you really need it. But there you have it ... the two big questions you have to ask yourself before you hand over the debit card: Do I need it? Can I afford it? If you answer "No" to either one, put the item back and move on. Each time you resist an impulse purchase, you are one step closer to sticking to your budget. (And maybe even one step closer to a cuter dress that is an even better deal at a time when you can afford it and do need it. Delayed gratification can be your friend!)

More on Retail Therapy to come ...