Going to the sales?

The January, sales used to be an important point on the calendar. Bargain hungry shoppers would queue for hours outside large stores to make sure they had the pick of the goods on sale.

In more recent years the sales have continued all year round so the impetus to be first in line in January no longer exists. However, this year might be different because the economic crisis has prompted shops to offer even larger discounts than before. Instead of 10, 20 or 30 percent, many shops in Orihuela,  for example, will be offering discounts of 50% or more.

As my father would have pointed out though, a bargain is only a bargain if it is something you really need. As he explained, you shouldn’t talk about how much you saved but how much you spent especially if it was on something destined to spend its life in a cupboard never to see the light of day.  My father was a true Yorkshireman.

I bet the shops are praying for better weather – yesterday it poured with rain all day, today we have the strong winds back making it feel a lot colder than it is. The wind is set to continue until tomorrow but calm down by Sunday when incidentally the shops in Orihuela should mostly be open.