Shopping spree

Unemployment has kept me pretty well house bound for the last few weeks. I'm trying to stick to a budget and going out means it's too easy to buy a coffee or a bottle of water or a new paperback or lunch because I've been out for hours and oh, hey, I'm starving and it would take too long to get home.

So yesterday I found out that my unemployment benefits have finally kicked in (about six weeks after the fact, grr). And, I figured a little celebrating was in order. I was dying to get out of the house anyway. :-) I was on a mission to buy some trip items, so I headed out to Marshall's, Target, Hudson Trail Outfitters, and Best Buy.

I got loot! I bought luggage locks, a hanging toiletry bag, and a couple of those cheap 99 cent, 3 ounce, airport security approved plastic bottles to go in the bag. I got a SteriPEN, a travel towel, and a pair of Ex Officio undies. (I'll need more than one pair, of course. But I wanted to try them out first and then I can buy more, cheaper, online.) I also bought a universal plug adapter/converter, a 16GB flash drive, and a pair of headphones for Skype-ing.

THEN, I went home, got online and bought a handful of quick-dry, non-cotton travel shirts that I'd had bookmarked for weeks. All on sale, thankyouverymuch.

It probably seems like I spent a whole lot of money even though I just said that I was trying not to do that exact thing. The best part, though, is that I used gift cards that I had, so I really didn't spend any of my own money. Technically I suppose I could've gone on this shopping spree sooner, but I guess my idea of a good time is celebrating unemployment benefits by spending money but not actually spending money. I'm goofy like that.