He’s a Smooth Operator
Monday morning Luke and I were talking about our plans for the day and figured out both of us were headed to Chattanooga. He needed to make a hospital visit and I needed to have a manicure and go to the mall. As usual, his goals were much “higher” and “loftier” and more “spiritually significant” than mine. He would make me gag if he weren’t so darned cute.
We met in the home department of JcPenney where I was in the full throes of a bedding selection meltdown. The boys’ comforters are pitiful and they are overdue replacement. Since JCP was having a great sale and I had a 20% off coupon to boot, I was trying my best to find something there even though I wasn’t totally in love with anything I was seeing. I’ve told y’all before that Luke is the one man on the planet who actually cares what I buy for the house and who also thinks you should be able to find that for $15 or less. His yard sale mentality + my inability to make decisions = drama in the pillow aisle.
We decided to run to Dillard’s and Belk just to be certain they didn’t have anything I liked better and I was able to arrive at the same conclusion I have numerous times in the past. It’s not that I can’t find things I love. I just can’t afford the things I love. And again the same strategy that I used in finding a pair of boots also worked with the bedding. I showed Luke the ridiculously expensive sets I adored and suddenly he was grateful to pay the JcPenney price for the ones I can live with.
Even though there was a point while we were shopping that I was thinking Luke really needed to find another hospital to visit via the ER, I was grateful I had him at checkout. Mostly because he had the money but also because he is a hard core negotiator. It turns out my coupon that expired that day was for online orders only. When the clerk made me aware of this, I probably would have caved and paid the difference. But Luke McKay who is an American Picker wannabe and finds his most prize possessions on roadsides? Oh no. That will not do. He politely told the girl he just wasn’t willing to pay the extra 20% and would you like to know what she did? She batted her eyelashes at him and gave him the discount! For the first time in our married life I am considering taking him Black Friday shopping and using what his mother gave me to see what he can accomplish in those long lines of rabid women at The Walmart. Of which I am one.
After we checked out, we carried the comforters to his truck and he drove me to my car on the other side of the mall. Since his vehicle was full he said, “I can’t fit the kids in here so why don’t you run on home and get them while I look around a little bit longer.” I was so grateful to have that experience behind us that it never even occurred to me until I was on the interstate that my husband had sent me home to get the kids so he could stay in the city and shop. That same sweet face that had suckered the JCP clerk had just Jedi’d me. Which is why I’m at home playing on the computer while he is still shopping. In Chattanooga. While I’m not. Something is definitely wrong with this picture.
My consolation will come if I learn he used those powers of persuasion to find me an awesome Christmas present.
Since I danced on the subject, let me go ahead and ask….. Who’s going Black Friday shopping??!
I am still scanning the Black Friday ads!! I am a hardcore couponer and love finding good deals. My husband and I work as a team. I do all the ground work (clipping organizing and making the list) and he goes and does the shopping. He has a wonderful personality and cute, so the cashiers love him. In fact he’s made several friends out of the cashiers and managers and gets away with every thing :) There are a couple things at Toys r us I would love on Black Friday and he doesn’t know it yet, but I am going to try to get him to go ;)
Love this post! I wish I could get my hubby to shop with me, but he absolutely HATES shopping of any kind…unless its for fishing stuff :/ You can bet we will be going shopping on Black Friday – we will be in Decatur, Alabama at his parents house, but we will definitely go. That is the ONLY day that he likes to go shopping and will go to each and every store that I want to and will stay out as long as I want. :)
That is just too cute. My husband is quite the opposite. Shopping is a horrid chore to him and needs to be handled in the hunting persuasion. Run in, snag it, bag it and run out. He doesn’t care for coupons or deals. Just find what you need and get out as quickly as possible.
I, on the other hand, need to have a coupon and/or find a deal where ever I go. Not sure my friends think it’s very cool when we go to a restaurant and I whip out a two for one deal with the check, but they love the percentage off! I take hours in the grocery store perusing sales and coupons, but I save $$ every time.
I am also collecting all the Black Friday sales and deals, checking my list and comparing prices at all the stores before I go. I went Black Friday shopping years ago and it was complete madness! The deals weren’t even really that good. I think people were just buying stuff because of the hype. This year, if I go, I won’t get it if it’s not a great deal. No charging anything, either. If I can’t pay with the money I have, we don’t need it. No matter what!
First, to this VERY DAY, nearly 14 years later, HH still reminds of the salad he got for FREE at a small town Pizza Hut because he batted those pretty little lashes.
Second, normally, I am not a Black Friday shopper. However, I am feeling a bit of the tug to go out some this year. I am sure I will return to my senses soon enough:)
Hope you are feeling better!
You make me laugh, Lisa! I am a rule-following-coupon-expired-caver-inner as well… I let my husband handle negotiations or frustrations. We’re both much happier that way!
And I stay away from Black Friday sales. Cyber Monday from the safety and comfort of my home is great, but you can’t PAY ME to fight those insane crowds (of women, no less!!!) on Black Friday!