Dig those shopping genes

As a Christmas bonus, Older Daughter’s employers gave her a prepaid debit card in a generous amount to be spent on whatever she wants. (No, this isn’t a photo of her actual card.)

Since she didn’t have a package under the tree for her sister, Older Daughter decided to take Younger Daughter shopping after Christmas. I thought this was very sweet.

So one day, off they went with plans to paint the town red. (“Town” being Coeur d’Alene, an hour’s drive away.) They came back smiling, many hours later, having looped through Spokane as well.

I expected to see two young women staggering in laden under packages and bags. But no. They were virtually empty-handed.

“So where did you go?” I asked.

Older Daughter started ticking off stops on her fingers. “First, we went to All Things Irish.”

(This is a favorite store to walk through, but it’s fairly expensive so we never buy anything. The week before, Older Daughter and I had stepped inside and she’d tried on a darling but pricey capelet.)

“Did you buy the capelet?” I asked.

“No. It’s pretty, but not that pretty — for the price. But I bought a Christmas ornament on sale, and some tea.”

After this, Older Daughter related, they poked through a number of favored thrift stores and Older Daughter purchased Younger Daughter a second-hand purse and some trendy “army” boots.

Then they drove into Spokane because Older Daughter wanted to treat Younger Daughter to a brand-new outfit from an establishment called Forever 21, which evidently has become one of Older Daughter’s favorite clothing stores. Younger Daughter was outfitted in a brand-new blouse, skirt, and warm leggings. (We realized later this was one of a handful of new clothing Younger Daughter has ever worn, sock and underwear excluded. The other new outfits were also gifts from relatives.)

“And then where did you go?” I asked.

“Nowhere. We came home.”

I gave a snort of laughter. “I definitely raised a couple of girls who aren’t into shopping.”

“But I am, really,” Older Daughter corrected.

“But a lot of girls could have spent that entire debit card in, oh, ten minutes.”

“Well, I’m into cheap shopping,” Older Daughter amended.

And there you have it. Despite having a debit card with a generous amount of money burning a hole in her pocket, Older Daughter spent a total of about $50 on their grand day of shopping.

This is what happens when you raise kids exclusively on thrift stores.

Ahem. They may also have inherited my shopping genes.