The necessities...and a sense of humor

Email conversation this morning between my husband and I...
Jen: I really desperately need new bras. I know about the money. I have a gift card for TJMaxx from a return that we made that I think has $15 on it. I'm going to go to the one here in Boston today at lunch to see if I can find a few. They typically have good bra brands for not much money. I'm trying to be frugal but they are totally stretched out with no elastic in them.

Bryan: Ok. Why can't you just keep wearing the same one over and over and washing it at night?

Jen: The same one bra?

Bryan: Yes.

Jen: You're kidding right? Why can't you wear the same pair of underwear every day and just wash it at night?

Bryan: Who do you think you are talking to? Don't get lippy with me. You will wash it at night.

Jen: I can't tell if you're kidding or not. I'm not talking about spending a lot. I think I have like $15 on the card and maybe two bras there will cost me $20. So that's $5 it will cost us. Shoot me.

Bryan: Of course I am kidding. Do you really think I would tell you that you couldn't buy something that you actually need?

Jen: I don't know. You seemed serious. Why don't I pull out some of the drapes that we're not using and fashion some new clothes out of them?

Bryan: Hey, didn't you say yesterday that you were willing to make sacrifices? Think of the blog…what a great story it would be if you fashioned some new bras out of drapes.

Keeping our sense of humor is a necessity to get through the next 18 months. There are things we'll have to sacrifice, but not everything. Instead of heading to Nordstrom to buy designer bras for $55 each, TJ's is a sacrifice. If you've read some of my other posts and seen the note about my obsession with TJMaxx crap, I need to point out that in some cases, you can find good and cheaper alternatives at TJs. The key is to avoid filling a carriage with crap and just get out of there with the necessities you went in looking for. I'll do my best. (Editors note: Mission accomplised. I walked out with two bras and two very inexpensive pairs of underwear. Cost to us: $12.41.)