The Value of a Dollar

A few weeks ago, our neighbor across the street gave Hailey two dollars while she and Andrew were over visiting for a bit, so she could go buy something special. She's had a few dollars given to her here and there, but this was the first time she really understood she could buy something with it all on her own.

My initial thought was to stop in the Target dollar section on our next trip. But that seemed too normal...not special enough. I thought I had a better idea.

What about the actual dollar store? You know, the one where EVERYTHING is a dollar, and she can pick out WHATEVER she wants, from dish soap to paper weights. It seemed kind of spectacularly romantic to me, and when I ran it by her, I'm pretty sure she started spinning in circles uncontrollably.

So we went.

Pause for her sweetness...it also occurred to my dear Hailey, that she had two dollars, which meant she could buy one thing for each of two girls, herself, and her sister. Ya'll, is that not just amazingly kind and generous for a three (almost four!) year old? I thought so. So much so, that I said I would match her, and also buy them each something for a dollar, so she could still pick out two things.

So we went.

We walked up and down the aisles. Up, and down. Up, and down. Until finally, at long last, her dollar's destiny. They each picked out these tiny baby dolls, about the size of my hand. And something else, which I can't remember...probably candy. Anyway, the dolls.

Upon arriving home after our 5 minute commute to the dollar store, we found that one of the babies had lost her head. How do you explain this to a child? This is what you get for a dollar, honey, a headless baby doll. What's that? Oh, that's just her insides fluffing out of her neck hole.

No.

So we kind of down played it until Drew came home, and he took her to get another one, and all was well and good. She was a good sport, and I tried not to use the word "crap" when explaining to my three (almost four!) year old what you can actually buy for a dollar. Because the truth is, you can buy A LOT for a dollar in many cases...just not at the dollar store.

Which makes no sense at all.

(Except that, it is amazing what you can buy for a dollar when you imagine the poor people in other countries making pennies a day to create things like this headless baby doll. I'd pay more. Really. But this is a light-hearted post, so I digress.)

Yesterday...

About one month later...

The baby's head fell off again. This time she went in the trash.

Today, I made my weekly trip to Rite-Aid. I thought it would be a pain when I started couponing, to try and make it to a grocery and a drug store each week...but it works out well for Keelyn and me to run in while Hailey's in ballet. Gives us something to do, and it's right next door, so it's not really an extra trip out.

Anyway...I just thought I'd share the value of this dollar. I purchased the items below...12 rolls of toilet paper, 4 rolls of paper towels, 4 bottles of face wash, a jar candle, chex mix, and a pack of maxi-pads. Yes, I'm showing the whole big wide internet my maxi-pads for the sake of this story.

Again, ANYWAY...The total on this purchase before coupons was $54.00. After carefully gathered and planned coupons, and points earned to use in the store from past purchases, the total was $5.18. Rite-Aid will also send me $4.00 in rebate checks for specific items I purchased on special.

This makes my grand total...$1.18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And THAT's the value of a dollar, young child. The heartache of a headless baby doll does not want you. Your destiny is candles and toilet paper.