Day 7

3:30 pm
My bargain-shopping-extraordinaire colleague brought her Ann Taylor purchase out to show me. It is a super-cute skirt, orange with white rings printed on it - very mod. And she got it for under $13! Yowsa. The one downside, she said, was that she didn't try it on and isn't sure it will fit exactly right. Also, it's a size 6, and she's usually a 4. Now that I think about it, maybe The Challenge will rid me of the sense that I need to buy things because they are "a bargain" when I really don't need them. How many of the things I own did I only want when I saw how much money I'd "save?" Hm.

2:18 pm
One of my colleagues apparently just returned from a shopping-filled lunch break, and I can overhear her showing off her final-sale skirt from Ann Taylor. I envy her the thrill of the hunt.

9:02 am
Yesterday was the first time I faced my demons and walked into a clothing store. Along with my Banana Republic credit card bill, I received a $10 reward card. I think I earn one every time I spend $200 on my BR card. Anyway, I also received an email from BR for 30% off any purchase for that day only! Before you start thinking I'm so weak as to be lured into a store for any old special, know that I actually needed to buy a gift and 30% + $10 off at BR was perfectly timed. I went during my lunch break, and I was a woman on a mission. I made a beeline for the accessories, picked up the gift item and went straight to the cash register. At that point, I was held up a little bit because there was another customer ahead of me, and of course the sale jewelry was within arm's reach of where I stood waiting. Major temptation. A pretty cocktail ring, in a small enough size, on sale, and would be 30% off?? Looking back, I kinda wish I'd just bought it - but I didn't! Go me. Successful and selfless shopping excursion.

P.S. They wouldn't let me combine my coupon and reward card... I guess a follow-up trip to spend the $10 will be forthcoming.