The Great Art and Window Shopping Hunt

I want to talk to you about art. I love paintings, wood carvings and photos, but I have limited funds. I love the clearance art section of any store. It is my personal rain forest, abundant with the fruits of the red clearance sticker. Two of my favorite art hunting grounds are Pier 1 and Cost Plus.

Recently, I went into Pier 1 to do my window shopping spree -- wait, let me digress for a minute. People do not acknowledge the importance of window shopping. Window shopping is important because it gives you an opportunity to get the lay of the land. You are able to study the inhabitants, the store employees and products. Are there other window shoppers, consumers only, or people that wander around confused on the store's lay out? What sections seem popular? How many times do the natives (employees) approach you to ask if you need anything? All these are important factors to help you decide if this is the prime water hole.

If people just seem to graze, you know that the store has great deals -- they are waiting for the sale, waiting for the prey to get weak. That means red clearance stickers galore when the time is right. The most delicious prey, you ask? The beloved 75% off the clearance price . . . mmm the most delicious of delicacies and well worth the stalking. If there are people only buying and at full price -- retreat your store has mad dog disease, because they must be crazy if they think you are going to pay this much! Theses stores never have any significant sales -- return only after the holidays and end of the season sales to over-priced country. If the natives are too friendly, you better be careful because they are looking for captives. They will try to convince you that paying a little every month and getting 10% off today is the best deal. They do not want you to be free of financial debt! Watch out SHOPPERS! Get out of there and run before you see the Egyptian Cotton 800 count sheets!

Okay, back to my great deals. I was on one of those missions, my window shopping hunt, when I spotted the art I’d tagged on a previous visit. Hold your breath! It was originally 30% off, but there was an additional 50% discount. Each piece only costs $7 each! HELLO!! We all know number 7 is heavenly and lucky. Now when people visit my place they ooh and aah! They ask me how I decorate on a budget. I tell them, as every good huntress knows, patience. You must know when to go in for the kill.