It's the Mean that matters

Math was never one of my strong subjects. I suffered through it during high school,  didn't take it the one year I was in college, and came away with two valuable skills. Figuring out percentages, as in percentages off, and getting the average, or mean of a bunch of numbers.

I'd mentioned a few days ago I was having shopping lust, and when a coupon for 20% off at Kohl's came, I decided to go there. I hadn't been since April, the night before I left for Italy when I was seeking last minute stuff I needed to pack. I'd spotted a dress that night, a Simply Vera for $78, and I told her I'd come back for her, and that we'd be together soon.

At the freshly reduced price of $31.20, I snatched her off the rack. I didn't stop there, I went on to this sheer abstract top for $20, and two pairs of sunglasses, that had been reduced to $5.20. Total after extra 20% discount: $49.28.

Rather than heading straight home after my splurge, I stopped at a thrift store along the way and found the clothing racks were half off that day. I spotted this cute polka dot chiffon wrap top for $6, and this Ann Taylor zig zag skirt, also $6. The skirt is a touch big, but the construction is simple and I can take it in. As a wool blend it's not exactly summer fare, but I think it will be fine for work in the A/C.

My total after 50% discount: $6.

Now for my favorite part, the mean. I got six articles for $55.28, which means the average piece was only $9.22. Pretty awesome.



Moments ago, I was showing off my two newest thrift finds to my sister, when she said to me, "I can't understand why you keep buying things at thrift stores. It's psychotic, you don't even know where that stuff has been."

I'm not going to say I found her comments hurtful. If she wants to go through life without the luxury of a three dollar London Fog trench, that's her business. Of course I then suggested that the Lulu Guinness should just become completely mine, and her rebuttal was that bags are different because you don't wear them.

I've never found the idea of wearing secondhand clothing psychotic. You wash it, and you are good to go. I don't have issue with the things I don't usually wash either, like coats or shoes. It's just fabric, and I figure as long as it doesn't stink, there isn't a problem.

Since I know so many of you have wardrobes based around thrifted clothes, I don't need to ask you to defend second hand purchases, but I am curious, is there anyone who doesn't thrift? And why not?