Got your attention? Well, I’m going to share a side of myself I rarely, if ever, talk about online. My frugal side. Without going into depressing detail, I was raised in a household where pizza night was a really big deal. My mother worked as much as humanly possible and my dad was a carpenter, which really just meant he did just about any job he could to keep food on the table. My oldest brother was our babysitter. I’d watch my mom come home at 10:00 o’clock at night and still do laundry and make dinner. We were lucky to have two cars that actually ran, much less have all the extras the cars have today. With four kids it couldn’t have been easy on my parents. Not by a long shot.
That type of thing shapes a person. Today, I look at my parents with respect. I know they sacrificed a lot for us. As a mother myself I understand that type of love. I’d do anything for my kids. They really are my world. Still, Anne Rainey knows how to make a dollar stretch, my mom taught me that (thanks, mom!). I’m not going to squeeze a dime until it cries uncle, but I’m definitely the type of gal who looks at the tag and thinks, ‘do I really need that? really?’ I rarely say yes to that question. My clothes are from discount stores; my jewelry is whatever catches my eye. There’s not a single ‘real’ thing in the bunch. Flea markets, dollar stores, or I leave empty handed. I’m good with leaving empty handed. If I feel you’re nickel and diming me to death, I won’t be back. My purses are sooo not Coach, my shoes are definitely Prada. If it’s cute I’ll buy it, but only if I can get a good deal. I’m all about functional. Simple clothes, comfortable shoes.
Where am I going with all this? Well, I just got a birthday present that I’m in love with. Simply in love with! My husband didn’t get it at the discount store. Usually I feel bad when my husband spends money on me. I tease him that I expect diamonds and he teases me that I’m way too expensive, but in the end I’m content with dinner and a movie on my birthday, and we both know it. Spending time with my husband away from the computer and the phones and all the other distractions? C’mom, that’s worth it’s weight and god right there! Can I hear an Amen?!
Nevertheless, this time was different. I’m still getting the dinner—hey a girl’s gotta eat!—but when I mentioned to him some time back about needing an ereader he perked up. Truthfully, I’m probably not easy to buy for considering I usually just tell him to get me a gift card to a bookstore. After awhile a husband gets bored with that, ya know? They want to WOW their wife. Dazzle them a little. So, I told him I was going to buy an ereader myself. I was checking prices and found a few different ones online that interested me. I didn’t want to spend a lot, but I did want one. I have so many favorite authors who write ebooks exclusively and I’m tired of sitting at the laptop or desk to read their books. I want my own ereader. I figure I need it considering I’m an author myself.
Anywho! When I told him all this, he said, ‘why not get the new Sony?’ Psst, he’s an IT guy, he’s up on the latest technology, which is totally hot to me. LOL Of course I thought of the money. “Too expensive’ I grumbled. Even though I had already begun calculating how much gas and money I already spend on print books every blessed time I go to the ONLY Barnes and Noble close to me, which is 45 minutes away. I’d already begun seeing the benefits of having the new Sony. Several ereaders on the market today are grade A! But the Sony, eh, it appealed to me. What can I say. Like a chocolate chip cookie, it seemed to be calling my name.
So, what does he do? He buys me the Sony. LOL I’d insisted on going half, after all I can use it for my business. Well, it came in the mail yesterday. It came early. Who doesn’t like an early birthday present? Seriously, dude, this thing rocks my socks off. I’m in love with it. Totally in love with it! I sat at my daughter’s booooooring cheer practice last night and read. I pulled out my ereader and browsed through the 40 books I’ve already loaded and started reading one after another. I read a few chapters of my own books too. I already have a list of books I want to buy from Samhain and so many other online stores. And guess what? I haven’t used a single gallon of gas. My wallet is happy and so is the environment!
Ebooks aren’t as expensive, and I can take my entire bookshelf with me everywhere I go. I’m slightly in awe of that notion right there. The way I figure it, within six months this sucker will pay for itself. Now that’s what I call smart spending!
My mom is mega proud of her only daughter, let me tell ya. lol And she’s thinking of asking for an ereader for Christmas. I’m thinking I know what I’m buying my hard working mama, what do you think? 
