Bargains and Special Offers: To Do or Not To Do

So many special offers are catching my eye. This is a holiday season thing; perhaps there are more than usual owing to the dismal economic news.

How to decide whether to do or not to do?

Here are a few recent temptations.

1. Coinstar—through December 9. No fee if you get coins credited to a gift card. If you get $40 credited, you can send for an extra $10 gift card. Stores include Amazon and Lowes.

I did this one last year when the bonus was applied to $25. So this year’s is stingier. Also, the close-by grocery no longer has a Coinstar machine (it has a different company’s). I would have to drive out of my way. I checked the weekly ads at the two out-of-the-way stores and nothing appeals. So NO—not worth my time for a $10 credit.

***P.S. Those coin changing machines take about (or as they say “only”) 8%-9% as a fee. The line is always long. That’s a big fee, folks.

2. I have a code from Garnet Hill for 25% off all full-price merchandise! Well . . . . I do crave some real Uggs, but will not do this. I filled my cybercart during the recent Thanksgiving sale when there was lots of stuff for under $10, but then emptied it. NO.

3. Sephora sent a coupon for $15 off an order of $35 and above. I’ll ask my dear daughter, the divine Miss Em, if she wants some perfume. She’s in a perfume addiction phase and that stuff never goes on sale. MAYBE.

All the other tempting offers that inundate my inbox? No. I figure if the sales are good now, they will be better post-Christmas. Also, by the time post-Christmas rolls around, I am so sick of the whole idea of stuff that I usually don’t want anything.

You don’t have to be an English teacher to know that “to do or not to do” is a play on Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. Though many people think Hamlet’s problem is inaction, I disagree. I think the play says that it’s good to wait until you are sure of what is true and what is not true. It’s better to think. And I think that I don’t really want anything right now.