REI Garage Sale

REI has a semi-annual event where they sell any defect, used, and otherwise imperfect merchandise to people that are REI Members. Jason and I joined REI a few years ago when we were purchasing our mountain bikes and they were promoting saving 20% on any full-priced item.

The membership has been great! It's lifetime so there's no annual fee and you get dividends on the things you purchase in the form of credits you can spend at the store. For more information check out their website here.

A couple years ago we stumbled upon the garage sale and have been avid attenders since. We got great deals last time on a 6-person tent, sleeping pads, and footwear (hiking boots, five fingers).

We aren't the dedicated crazy people who camped out at the store and had been there since 4 pm the previous day. But we did get there at 7 am this morning and waited in line for 2+ hours by the time we got in.

This year's haul was targeted for Norway and more cold gear and light weight camping equipment. And we made out like bandits!!! We saved over $1324.15. Check out all the gear we grabbed this morning -


-REI taku pants: retail $169, garage sale $79.83 (worn once, savings $89.17)
-Bonfire spectral pants: retail $149.95, garage sale $79.83 (nothing wrong stated or found on our inspection, probably used but with tags on still, savings $70.12)
-REI sahara convertible pants: retail $64.50, garage sale $24.83 (worn, savings $39.67)
-Smarty original cargo pants: retail $205, garage sale $99.93 (nothing wrong stated or found on our inspection, probably used but with tags on still, savings $105.07)




-REI quarter dome t2 tent: retail $279, garage sale $99.83 (person said rain fly was too small, but we checked and its fine. It's also missing stakes, no big deal, savings $179.17)
-REI igneo sleeping bag: retail $329, garage sale $99.83 (used, savings $229.17)
-Big Agnes roxy ann: retail $239.95, garage sale $99.93 (zip broken- I spent <5 min looking at the zipper and its not broken. I zipped it up perfectly. Whoever returned it was dumb. Savings $140.02)







-REI Sahara hat: retail $34.50, garage sale $14.83 (used, washed, savings $19.67;I had picked out the same hat in clearance while waiting in line to shop the sale but put it back to save the extra on the garage sale one!)
-Columbia bugaboo insulated 3-in-1 jacket: retail $175, garage sale $37.83 (and I quote "not new, but not used, no defect", savings $137.17)
-Marmot sidehill component jacket: retail $325, garage sale $37.83 (nothing on tag and we can't find anything wrong, probably used, savings $287.17)
And these weren't garage sale but just clearance items we got- 2 turtle fur neck polartec covers for $8.12 each (retail $22, savings on both $27.75)

Afterwards we grabbed lunch and then headed to Sun and Ski sports for the last few things we needed-gloves, hats, and bike stuff. I had a $300 gift certificate from the MS 150 that was about to expire and needed to be used.

Here's the haul of things we got for only $321.93 (saving ~$400)-

I think we are set now on all our winter gear with a total savings today of $1724.15!!!!


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The Day The Coupons Died...

Couponing has been a big part of my routine for over two years now (read about my couponing suggestions here.

I've had quite the stockpile built up in the freezer and pantry. It was a good thing too because this spring when Jason and I were training for the MS 150 bike ride, preparing for his graduation and graduation party, and making preparations for our three-week vacation outside the US, we didn't have time to grocery shop and survived 90% on the stockpile (and 10% weekly perishables like fruit, milk, and veggies).

Things haven't calmed down since our vacation either! We found out we were moving to Norway (read about that here), were approved to take the Professional Engineering exam in October, and are trying to get our house ready to sell while flying to visit our families one last time before we move.

Needless to say the couponing has taken a back burner to everything else. I even went as far (gasp) as to cancel our newspaper a couple weeks ago because I know I'm not going to get a chance to coupon anymore right now. (And believe it or not we are still surviving on the pantry and freezer stockpile though I will admit its getting quite low...perfect timing perhaps for our move in November!)

Today it hit me how much couponing has changed my grocery shopping. We needed a couple things from the store including cereal. I had a minor (okay major) panic attack when I got to that aisle. There are a lot of choices people!! I typically head straight for the cereals of which I possess coupons. I had none. So how do I choose?!?

I didn't. I called Jason. When he didn't answer I called my mom and told her I was freaking out. She said I was ridiculous and to buy Shredded Wheat. Well I knew I didn't want that! Then Jason called me back thank goodness. I rattled off some names of ones on sale (Baby steps peeps, you didn't actually expect me to get one without a coupon and full price?!?).

He choose. I left. And yes I did hesitate at the self-checkout. I also avoided going to my usual cashier who last time mentioned she hadn't seen me in awhile and asked for my coupons. However it was all for naught because the self-checkout still rubbed my lack of coupons in my face when it said "Do you have any coupons?" No! I don't!! For the first time in over two and a half years I don't have a single coupon! Breathe Darcy- it's okay to buy a box of cereal and not use a coupon. But it hurt a little bit inside.

This cereal better be good after the grief it inadvertently caused me!

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OKC!!

This weekend we got to see my mama in Oklahoma City and it was wonderful!! My mom and I are super close and a lot alike. She's one of the most amazing women I know and we are going to miss her and her husband Jeff tremendously when we move to Norway.

I was also able to see a few old friends while we were in town. We landed Friday night and my mom took me to see my friend Chelsea for a couple hours. She was flying to Calgary the next day so it was my only chance to see her. Her little one Cole was asleep but I got to get a peek at him in his crib. He's super cute and has gotten so big since I saw him last! Chels is already talking about coming to visit me next summer and planning for us to run a half marathon in Stavanger!

Saturday morning I had breakfast with my sorority sister Caitlyn and my friend Kate who used to live in Houston. Kate recently had her first little one Eloise who joined us for our girl's lunch as well.


It was wonderful to see both of these ladies and get an update on how their lives are going! (Lining up by height was unintended! ;-) )


The rest of the weekend we enjoyed Mom and Jeff. And how did we enjoy each other's company? Why gambling of course! (It's obviously hereditary, hehe.) we spent a few hours hitting the slots and blackjack tables before grabbing dinner at the casino's buffet. Jason and I found a great machine and quickly hit multiple feature games and overall came out about $300 ahead, one of our bests!


We spent Saturday night visiting and showing Mom and Jeff some of the apartments we are looking at in Stavanger and updating them on how everything is going.

Sunday we visited their church and stayed afterwards for their game day potluck lunch. When we got home Mom dominated all of us in pool. She used to hustle people for money when she was working and going to school. You don't want to play her...


Once we'd had our fill of being beat we showed Mom and Jeff some pictures from our trip to Peru and Honduras and spent the rest of the time before our flight relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Fortunately, we will see Mom at least one more time before we move because we are storing some of our things at their house in OKC, but I'm sure going to miss her... Until she comes to visit next summer!!! :-D



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