Fall = (Not) Frugal?

What is it about the fall that makes me want to spend money? I remembered buying a lot of things last fall and feeling so guilty about it that I made a post about it here. Although I have to admit, I love every single thing in that post. I'm wearing the hoodie as I type this, the flip flops were super comfy and worn all summer, and I've already busted out (and worn) my boots this fall (and still love love love them!), and of course I don't regret buying my iphone for 1 second! And the Pumpkin Spice Lattes? Well, so far this fall I've only had one (and it was 50% off at Einstein's because it was Friday...wooo!). 

So anyways, I went to DSW last weekend just to "look." Ha, yeah right, me, go to a shoe store, just to "look."  Well, I actually couldn't find anything I liked or that was comfortable in the regular shoe section (I should mention I was looking specifically for new running shoes). But the clearance section at DSW never disappoints.  I found a pair of running shoes that I LOVED, that fit, and were comfortable, but their price didn't seem very clearance-y to me.  I went back and forth and continued to search the clearance section deciding whether to just suck it up and buy them or not.  That's when I stumbled across a cute, SUPER comfy pair of flats that would be perfect for work and I just couldn't pass them up!

I ended up buying the running shoes, because let's face it, my body needs to have good support when I run, and at one pair of running shoes per year, I think I can splurge a little.  Here's a pic of the beauties:

Who is Frugal?

Confession: I've kind of taken a break from being completely frugal. I haven't cut or used coupons to go grocery shopping in probably a little over a month! *gasp* I have, however, cut the occasional coupon for a cheap/free drugstore deal on the way to/from work.

So, what have I been doing that's not making me frugal? Well, for starters, there was the iphone. Which, as stated, I don't regret at all, but still, not completely frugal.

Then come the boots. I've been on the search for tall tan boots for the past month. I found a pair that I LOVED, ordered them on a whim, and have yet to return them. In the meantime, I've searched high and low and tried on MANY boots that just don't quite fit the bill. They cost more than I ever imagined I would spend on boots but I LOVE them (and look forward to wearing them when it's no longer 80 degrees in Chicago this fall!)

Then there was the incidental green flip flop purchase from the clearance section at DSW (while I had intended to go there only searching for tall tan boots). Oh well, I have A LOT of green so I've had my eye out for some comfy flip flops with green on them for a while now. Not a bank breaker, but not on SUPER clearance either.

That brings me to today. When I went out after work just to make sure there weren't any tall tan boots in the Chicagoland area that I hadn't tried on. Urban Outfitters was having a ridiculous sale....and I actually scored an awesome deal on 2 tops....so I'll save that for another post, since this post is about paying full price for items and NOT getting good deals. So anyways I went into a store that I've been meaning to check out for a while, and came out with this ridiculously overpriced (but totally awesome) jacket that I already have fallen in love with.

So that almost sums up my out of control spending. If you add about 70 Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks then I think that completely covers it :)
But hey - the benefit of being frugal 95% of the time? There's plenty of money to cover these little splurges and coupon breaks from time to time :)