I used to be. I remember growing up so poor that thrift store clothing was a treat! My mom sewed most of our clothes until I was a teenager, and she always bought fabric from clearance tables, no matter what it was like, no matter what color. Naturally, she was drawn to colors that looked best on her. Since she and I had completely opposite coloring, most of the stuff she sewed for me made me look ... shudder.... oh childhood memories. I am so glad to be an adult.

I still love to thrift store shop, don't get me wrong, but I also love fruit smoothies from Jamba Juice. I love buying off the clearance rack at Ann Taylor. I love buying organic yummies from Wild Oats. I just wish I could grow my own organic yummies. We've been living in this apartment for almost two years now, and I still haven't had the energy (or money) to figure out how to grow stuff on our back landing. I'm sure the landlady wouldn't mind my having a few hanging pots or shelves of growing things, as long as they can be easily moved and don't get in the way of other tenants going up and down the back stairs. I just wish I could dig up the back yard, get rid of most of the pretty flowers and ceramic frogs and windmills and stuff, and plant stuff we could actually EAT.

Back to not being thrifty. Today, I bought two fruit smoothies from a downtown Chicago White Hen Pantry, one for me and one for hubby. Granted, we were both pretty hungry and thirsty after an 11 mile bike ride, but those smoothies were $4.59 EACH! They were packed with vitamins and the only sugar in them was from fruit, and mine did fill me up enough to count as a small meal, but I still feel ashamed. I can do better.

I've discovered a lot of my problem isn't just poor money management. It's poor TIME management. If I'd managed time better this morning, I would've packed a lunch, eliminating the need for buying something wickedly overpriced while out and about.

Speaking of time management problems, I'd probably better get off the computer and plan tomorrow's meals...