Today I was driving home from some errands after work and it occurred to me how truly recession-chic I am, and I just HAD to share my secret with you.
See, it’s quite simple really. It starts with a good, old-fashioned impulse buy – you know, something you probably don’t need but might could use/wear/gift/etc.
tempting, I know.
It has lots of potential as well as a bit of risk. Maybe it’s a purse that doesn’t actually match anything you own, or a top that you didn’t try on or have anything to match. These items are often from Target and are priced somewhere in the $15-35 range.
Now, once you’ve identified your item, you buy. Yes, the first step to real recession-chicness is buying -(bear with me here). Go ahead, make the purchase.
Here comes the real genius. Take it home, put it in a spare room, closet, or on the kitchen table – you might even leave it in the trunk, while you take in your actual staple items.
Let 10-25 days pass. Walk by your item, consider its potential, but keep considering.
And here it is – the key to paying yourself first in the most instantly-gratifying way I have found yet – RETURN IT! Come to your senses, realize you have no use for that ridiculous trinket, and hustle on back to the store where you found it.
I just love returning things – it’s such a quick way to ‘make’ $20 to go back into your pocket and sit tight until your next pedicure. It’s as simple as not wearing/using your item, and holding on to your receipt (preferably in the bottom of your colossal purse).
The proof is in the pudding – Yesterday, I made $17 at Target, and tomorrow I’ll be heading to the mall to make some real money.
