Retail maven

I don't know if you have this person in your family: the one (usually) female who buys stuff. Constantly. Because it's on sale.

Now I'm not talking about items you might want or need. I'm talking about sale stuff. Purchased simply because it's under a 75% off sign. As my husband says, "There's a reason it's so discounted!"

Don't get me wrong, I love a bargain. Bargains, in fact, make me giddy. But with two small children - who seem to outgrow shoes faster than I can buy them - and a budget, I tend to be a minimalist shopper. By that I mean I do some online sleuthing and then go to the one store that has what I need. Still I have to give myself a stern talking-to about how I do not need the four really cute soup bowls that are deeply discounted.

In part, I want to say thanks to this retail maven, who is working with single-handed determination to keep our economic structure alive. But a small part of me really wants to ask what do you do with all that junk?

Tax-free shop-a-day

Today starts my state's tax-free holiday. I anticipate this event - not so much because of the lack of sales tax but for the sales that go along with it. I am a sale junkie. I make a beeline in any store for the clearance rack. I refuse to pay full price for any garment, ever.

So today, the kids and I are getting ready to head out the door; after a few hours of whining, hiding in clothes racks and endless sighs when I say, "Let's try this one on," we will come home bags of clothes richer and pockets empty. But that's OK. Kids need clothes (so do I). And we're having a clothes swap at the end of the month to get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit (or fit in the closet).

How will you spend your tax-free holiday?