The black hole...

[houseelf]

Annie,

I have your back on this one. On so many financial matters, DH and I are puritanical. Seriously. We don't buy services or toys or electronics or replace broken car sterios. For the most part, we try to do without .

But I am a sucker for books and cute children's clothes. Seriously. I have to make deals with myself about not even going to such places except for a couple of times a year. After cutting our book inventory by two thirds, I just packed up TEN boxes of books for storage. It's bad. I don't know why it is o.k. that we use garage sale furniture and go without dish towels, but my kids wear Hannah Anderson and Gymboree.

I think that this topic could also be labeled the "lies we tell ourselves". (Mine being financial responsibility).

Kelly

Target. There's just always something that I could use, or that is cute and priced ever-so-reasonably.

Borders. Where I don't like shopping for clothes or shoes (neither ever look as good as I want them too), books fit just fine - thank you.

I had a few minutes to myself and went to Target last Friday night. I wandered through the gift wrap. It was soothing. The good thing is they I didn't buy anything more than shipping boxes and Gladware (for those cookies I WILL get to!).

My future black holes -- Powells, ginormous independent bookstore downtown and a seperate location with primarily cookbooks. That could get ugly. As could Sur La Table or a local cooking store and the Sur La Table culinary program (nice range of class topics). Hmmm...Sephora, Title 9, and the Patagonia store. The good thing about being hugely pregnant is that window shopping is pretty satisfying.

[Gwendolyn]

Target. There's just always something that I could use, or that is cute and priced ever-so-reasonably.

Hells yes. I've even begun going only when I am really busy so that I only have time to grab that which I really need. Otherwise I would leave the store with more clothes for the family, and service ware than we could possibly use...did I mention the scrap booking section?

Gourmet grocery stores are second. We just got a TJs and, not only is it the wonderfulness of TJ's, but it feels like home...emotional shopping...gotta love it!

Apparently I have no mind of my own but any bookstore. I found a great resale store here. Does that mean I am saving? Nooooooo...just that I am able to buy more books

ETA: I'm not sure TJ's counts a gourmet, but delightful....

[DCJenn]

Target. Hands Down.

Second place- Central Market (http://www.centralmarket.com) They're only in Texas- think of a cross between TJs, Dean & Deluca, Balduccis and maybe a small-town butcher shop. and then put the resulting store on steriods. the cheese section is bigger than my current living and dining room. Combined.

and the cooking supply stores like Sur la Table. I just don't go. Period. EVER. I'll spend the mortgage payment on cookie cutters and spatulas.

and Lush. again, I just don't go and I online shop at work which means I live in fear of getting caught. (otherwise known as stealth shopping)


Jenn

[Vishenka69]

Gourmet food stores (I try not to go too often as each trip ends up costing us several hundred dollars) and Century 21.

[Flynn]

Target -- yep. It's a sickness.
Nordstroms
Athleta catalogue
Sundance catalogue
Garnet Hill

I could go on. I do NOT spend a lot of money (except Target) at these places but I spend LOTS of time thinking of spending money.

I have been pretty good about using the library here...we'll see how long that lasts!

Before moving to a state with no running water or electricity much less decent shopping (and I'm not much of a shopper) I used to love going to used book stores. I'd curl up on the floor for hours, then leave with my arms loaded with books and hardly a dent in my wallet. Loved it. Now it's Amazon.com, which leaves a noticably bigger dent in the wallet but I love reading the book reviews and that's free.

Jodi

[SuzySunshine]

Yep, mine would be Target as well. Once we're done with training it will be Nordstrom's.

[Stella]

Target.
eBay.
Target.
Ukrops.
Target.
Ikea.


...did I say Target?

[alison]

I second the Larry's Market.
I also like the U Village QFC.
In Chicago, the N. Michigan Crate and Barrel.

Ohhhh....Crate and Barrel. And Room and Board, I wish there was one closer to us.

[alison]

Yeah, the ornaments at C&B make me *almost* want a tree.

[SuzySunshine]

Ooh, I miss Crate & Barrel - SO much! That will be on my list of regulars after training.

[alison]

Do any of you like CB2?