62 DAYS TO GO . . .

      SUNDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2011

      NOW THAT WE'VE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT PREPARATION AND STARTED TOUCHING ON PACKING, TODAY'S TOPIC IS THE DOLLAR STORE.  SOME OF YOU HAVE YOUR EYES LIGHT UP WHEN YOU EVEN HEAR THE WORDS.  "OOOOOH.  LOVE THE DOLLAR STORE!"  OTHERS ARE THINKING, "NOPE.  NEVER BEEN IN ONE."  LIKE ANYTHING IT'S PREFERENCE AND CONVENIENCE.  I FIRST STARTED GOING INTO A DOLLAR STORE WHEN I READ A POLL ON-LINE OF THINGS YOU SHOULD BUY AT A DOLLAR STORE INSTEAD OF A SUPERMARKET.  THERE WAS A LIST OF THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T AS WELL, BUT THAT'S WHAT MADE ME STOP AND THINK.  AND OF COURSE ONCE YOUR IN THE DOOR, THE OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY. 
     MY SON HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE DISNEY FAN, AND ESPECIALLY MICKEY MOUSE, SINCE FIRST GOING TO DISNEY IN 2006 THAT I HAVE MY EYES OPEN FOR DISNEY MERCHANDISE IN ALMOST EVERY STORE THAT I GO IN.  I'M NOT A BIG SHOPPER REALLY, BUT MY MOTHER AND SISTER HAVE BEEN AVID YARD SALE AND FLEA MARKET SHOPPERS FOR YEARS.  NOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT CAN BE SPENT AT THESE IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA, BUT ONE PERSON'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.  AND IT'S IN SOME OF THESE PLACES THAT I'VE FOUND SOME THINGS FOR NEXT TO NOTHING THAT HAVE MY SON NOW WORSHIPS.  I FOUND A MICKEY MOUSE CHRISTMAS TREE TOPPER FOR $10 THAT I'VE SEEN ON EBAY FOR CLOSE TO $100, AND A LOT MORE MICKEY THINGS LIKE IT.
     WELL DOLLAR STORES, BEING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OUT THERE, USUALLY HAVE THINGS THAT WERE SOLD OFF BY BIGGER STORES AFTER SEASON OR SALES AND THEY NEED TO GET RID OF EXCESS INVENTORY.  NOW THESE AREN'T ALWAYS THINGS THAT USED TO COST A DOLLAR.  AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY USUALLY STARTED OUT AS THINGS THAT COST MORE, HOWEVER SMALL THEY MAY BE.  BUT DOLLAR STORES BY THEM IN BULK AT PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR FROM THESE STORES UNLOADING THE OLD INVENTORY AND STILL MAKE A PROFIT BY SELLING THEM NOW FOR A DOLLAR.
     THIS IS WHERE YOUR TRIP BENEFITS.  LET ME USE MY OWN TRIP AS AN EXAMPLE.  I'VE FOUND PICTURE FRAME MATS FOR AUTOGRAPHS, EASTER TREAT BAGS FOR CANDY FOR KIDS AND STAFF ALIKE (WE'RE SAILING AT EASTER), SWIM GOGGLES, HI-LITERS, MARKERS, PENS, PADS, STICKERS, DECORATIONS, MAGNETS, PLASTIC GARMENT BAGS, YOU NAME IT.  I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF RIGHT NOW AND MORE THAT YOU WOULD FIND SUIT YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS PERFECTLY.  AND IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A "FISH EXTENDER" (I'VE COVERED THOSE ALREADY) ON-BOARD, CHECKING YOUR LOCAL DOLLAR STORES COULD PROVE INVALUABLE IF THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN YOUR FISH EXTENDER GROUP.  PLUS THOSE TRAVEL SIZE TOILETRIES CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND THERE.
     SO AS YOU BEGIN TO PUT YOUR PACKING LIST TOGETHER, THE DOLLAR STORE MAY BE JUST THE RIGHT PLACE TO START FILLING THOSE SMALL ITEM NEEDS, GETTING SOME NEW IDEAS, AND STUMBLING OVER THOSE WONDERFUL SURPRISES.
     HAPPY HUNTING AND SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº