Crazykelly has me thinking about this a lot more lately. My dd is in preschool from 9-12 Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has always bothered me that our little town has a Walmart, Lowes, Big Lots and two grocery stores, but pretty much nothing else shopping wise. It can support it, but the City Council is a bit slow at realizing their city is bigger than it was in the 50s. To go shopping I would need to go 30 miles away which would not give me time to come home to pick up dd from preschool.

Now, I am thinking this is a GOOD thing! I would be spending so much more money if the stores were local and it would be a temptation to just browse while she is in school.

So, there is a silver lining to not having stuff local that I had not realized before! By having to go 30 miles, I have to plan a bit more what I am going for, what I am going to get, which stores are more important that I hit, etc.

But, my question to you is: How far will you go for silly "extra" stuff? For example, a friend was telling me yesterday she is going to Destin (30-40 minutes away over a toll bridge - $5 total) to go to Gymboree because they have seasonal (i.e. Halloween) UNDERWEAR for her son!

So, to buy underwear (that nobody but her family will see on her son) she is going to spend approximately $20 to shop. She has nothing else she has to get. She just wants to go to get underwear.

Would you do that? Travel at a great expense (say more than $10 in gas) for something trivial? What would you consider trivial?

Obviously, I think underwear can be bought at Walmart and there is no need to go down there for that. I would have to have a list of things that I have to get. The underwear would be secondary.

Sounds like she is just looking for an excuse to go shopping. As much as I like gymbo, I wouldn't travel that far just for undies either.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan8.Samantha7,Cameron4

I agree.

That is a little crazy. I would not travel that far for something like that. And if I REALLY wanted it, I would buy it online.

I get disappointed at the opposite, we will travel to make big purchases, for instance we wanted a cute little table and chairs for the baby for her first birthday. Couldn't find a decent set ANYWHERE in the Mall. Ended up at Rooms to Go for Kids.

I am like you though there are a few stores around me and most are at least 30-40 min away. I usually plan a "big trip" and hit as many as I can if I am going to travel that far.

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I am in a small town (first time in my life). There are two regular grocery stores, a Bi-Mart (a regional store sort of like a small Wal-Mart) and the Fred Meyer (has one of the two grocery stores in it) which is sort of like a Super-WalMart and a Grocery Outlet (a discount grocery store selling overstocks, near expiration date items, discontinued items, etc.)

I buy things online from JCPenny, Old Navy, ebay, Amazon, WalMart and Target. I have to drive an hour south or east to bigger areas on winding roads. One is a coastal highway and one is the proverbial over the river and through the woods type of road. It is such a hassle and takes so much time besides the money in gas that I avoid going shopping somewhere outside of town unless I have a LIST of things we MUST have and ordering online would require shipping from several companies. If it is going to cost a great deal in shipping, then we take a whole Saturday and go shopping, ugh.

I have found that we spend less money living in this remote small town.

Oh you bet but I have other goal as well. If I am travelling a distance I am more then likely meeting a friend too. Or if I have to do Big shopping I will do it when I am visiting my mom. She lives near Portland and Oregon has NO SALES TAX. So you save 8.8% that way alone plus I get to see my family too.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

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I grew up in a small town that didn't get a K-mart until I was in high school. It now has more but when I was growing up it had a beauty shop, barber shop, grocery store and a few other shops. Now I live 1 mile from 1 mall and 2 miles from another mall. I have everything I need close by but an Old Navy. Being close to shops does not affect me to bad...typically if I have no money I don't go shopping.

Jen

I have to say I've drive twice in the last few years over 1oo miles just to shop at Old Navy. I would wait until my girls were done with scholl pack us up in the van and drive to Old navy the we would eat supper and come home. That was back before we had DD #4 and we had more money. Now my town finally got Old Navy and i go about once a month.

I think back on all the money I wasted and I'm sorta disappointed in myself. Now there's no way I'd make a special trip. First off it'sto hard with 4 kids by myself and gas is way to expensive now.