There are hardly any bad neighborhoods in Portland. The worst you can imagine happening is getting hit in the head with a bottle of patchouli oil or flipped off by a bike rider. Wait, I just realized, Portland does have a bad neighborhood, it's called Washington. Vancouver Washington is a mere 7 miles away but it feels like a completely different planet.
So when I found a couple choice items on Craigslist that were both in Vancouver I decided it was worth the trip. The last time I did a Craigslist trip to "the 'Couv" I approached the house and then drove around the block to call my husband and give him the address (in case I didn't make it back). Today was no exception. I called Fiona on my drive there and joked about my past experience. Just in case, I told her that all my destinations were on my Google Voice account. That would be the first place she should tell the cops to look.
My first "appointment" was above and beyond my most amusing. When I saw the house, I took exactly as much money as I needed out of my purse so I would be empty handed if I was robbed when I got inside. I also locked the car in case there were pirates waiting in the bushes. Then I started worrying that the sweet young gal I had spoken to, actually had a scary boyfriend inside waiting to do his nasty deeds to unsuspecting, funky and oblivious Portland mom. And there he was, "scary boyfriend," straight out of a Quentin Tarantino movie, opens the door and says "who the hell are you?" My intermediary waddles up, pushes him aside, and invites me in. She's wearing very little clothing over a three to four hundred pound body. I quickly notice a third person in the room and this poor soul is clearly mentally and physically challenged. His twisted frame left one of his shoulders pretty much glued to his ear but more surprisingly he was catatonically staring at a television set blasting a heavy metal video, the boyfriend's choice no doubt. It was priceless. I got out alive and richer in spirit for it. More importantly, I bought three Karaoke games for a total of $35. Quite the value. They were in pristine condition and I saved  a whopping $55.
My second "appointment" was with a self proclaimed "starving artist" in West Minehaha which sounded so damn cute BUT IT'S NOT (still the 'Couv). When I called her the day before, I asked her if I could come at 10:30. She sounded shocked. "In the morning?, ok, well I guess so." I navigated past one strip mall after another and it made me happy to live in Portland. When she opened her door, I immediately sympathized with her landlord. Apart from it being decorated as an homage to the basement in Silence of the Lambs, she had completely vandalized the walls with graffiti. Apparently every unique thought she ever had was written on the wall. I was there to check out her Yamaha keyboard and luckily it was in better shape than she was. So I decided to save this innocent keyboard from it's present dungeon but I did something I would never do in Portland: I low-balled her. I offered her $40 instead of $60 and she said "yes" before I could finish my question. She was a nice gal, I admit. A completely tattooed and pierced, mildly stoned sweetheart. I walked out with a high-rated keyboard for two-fifths of what it was worth and she seemed really happy with the deal as well.
I was stoked. I bought my kids $195 worth of Santa swag for $75. Four years ago I would never had thought of such an adventure, I paid retail for everything that I didn't carry at my own store and didn't think twice about my massive consumption. This year was a milestone for me, I had always shopped Craigslist but not really for Christmas. And now I can't imagine why I would need to buy a new "anything" besides underpants ever again. Earlier this year a friend told me he bought a decent drill. I asked him if he found a good deal on Craigslist and he told me paid retail. I was shocked. A successful dumpster-diver himself, he was last person I expected to do such a thing. In my mind, he went right into a Home Depot and might as well flushed a two-hundred bucks in the toilet. The drill retails for $400, you can find it on Amazon for $250 and I JUST found it on Craigslist for $50.
For some people, this recession feels like more of a depression. Meeting people selling their favorite doo-dads really isn't as fun as it sounds. I probably took a Valium instead of my Adderall, maybe I got laid last night, who knows. But buying from Craigslist saves you money that could be saved or spent elsewhere and in my mind, helps the people who are selling their wares. It feels more rewarding than shopping at the mall, at least to me, and Fiona convinced me this year that my kids could give half a hoot whether or not their video games are shrink-wrapped.
Paradoxically, I am watching "Confessions of a Shopaholic" while I am writing this post. A very chirpy over-spender with a great heart learns how to stop buying shit she doesn't need, falls in love, gets her own column, and learns Finnish for her efforts and sacrifices. But even as she's kissing her beefcake at the end of the movie, she's staring at a pair of red pumps in a store window. I used to spend money like water and of course, I wish I had it all back. Now I don't have that problem, mostly because I don't have any money but I hope to think that if I did have one quarter of my previous monthly earnings back at my disposal I would spend it much more wisely. I would still shop on Craigslist, I would still go "Goodwill Hunting", and I would still sew clothes out of vintage handkerchiefs for my daughter. I would have a hard time buying a thermos at Target when I know there are ten to choose from for a buck at the thrift store. But (and this is a BIG BUTT), if I bought a new pair of boots (which I desperately need) I would buy quality, I would buy locally (not at a big box store), and I would buy very deliberately.
Now that "Free Shipping Thursday" is over, many people who have presents still to buy will be forced to actually drive to a store. Forgivably, you might be so strapped that you have to buy at the unbelievable sales at the malls and superstores. But if you're not, please consider going to a locally owned store or boutique. Search "christmas" in Craigslist and you'll find thousands of listings from people who are selling stuff to pay for "Christmas" presents. It's a "feel-good", holiday-kinda thing to do. Even if you have to go to the 'Couv.

Share |

 

join our mailing list and we'll tell about all our Nifty News!