SALE!

What is it about we women, we absolutely LOVE a sale? They say that men are the hunters and gatherers, and that we are the nesters. Some of those hunting and gathering genes made their way into our female DNA because I don't know a single woman who doesn't love hunting for a bargain. And not only that, we have to BROADCAST it!

Yesterday I complimented a friend on her nifty green jacket. "Thanks!" she replied, "I got it for 50% off at the Talbots' outlet."

Men don't get why we do this. Yes, common sense dictates that we should allow people to appreciate our purchases and assume that we have both fine taste in clothing, accessories and home furnishings AND that we have the financial standing to back it up.

We are much more interested in letting each other know about our bargain hunting prowess. When I commented on this to my friend with the nifty jacket, she said "Yeah, you'll never hear someone accept a compliment with 'Thanks, I paid WAY too much for it!'" (unless of course you're one of the real housewives of Orange County)

It's not enough we got a bargain. We have to elaborate on just how much the item would have been had we purchased it full price, how many times it was discounted and how much MORE was taken off the purchase. And if we have an additional coupon in the process: JACKPOT!

Not only are we happy to share our bargain stories with each other, we will go out of our way to help our fellow female hunter/gatherers get the same deal! My good friend "M" emails me links to shoes in my freakishly large size that are on clearance (so thoughtful!) If we see something we know a friend wants on sale, we call them immediately or grab it quickly and purchase it for them (hey, you can always return it!) And this generosity is not limited to our good friends. TOTAL STRANGERS HELP EACH OTHER OUT IF IT MEANS GETTING A DISCOUNT!

Case in point: Yesterday I shopped for a bathing suit in the Lands End section of Sears. Although I knew that I needed a well-made bathing suit that would carry me through the summer (pool, beach, etc.) I was spurred into action by the fact that the Lands End suits were all 30% off. I got to chatting with another woman in the swimsuit section (yes, I will talk to ANYONE!) and as we approached the register, I let her make her purchase first. Well wouldn't you know, she had a coupon for $25 off her Lands End purchase. When I commented on how lucky she was to have such a coupon, the clerk (thinking we were fast friends and shopping buddies) said, "You can use it more than once if you like". Well, my new friend turned around, handed me the coupon and I got $25 of MY order too! TOTAL STRANGER! I thanked her, gave her the coupon back, asked her name and told her to have a great day. So THANK YOU MARY BETH FROM WEYMOUTH!

You've heard of the brotherhood of men?
It 'aint nothing compared to the sisterhood of bargain shoppers!