The Royce Files

Many say the end of the year is one of the best bargain hunting times.  I say anytime of the year is a good time, that is if you have mastered the art of the deal. The pre and post Yuletide, Christmastide, shopping season affords many a bargain hunter with a myriad of flotsam of the holiday kind. Holiday fluff comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Most of us have bins of the stuff stacked in some closet. I am pretty sure I don't want to have more that one small box labeled: Christmas Stuff. Thus far I have kept this promise to myself. However, this year I found myself yearning to be a bit more festive. I did not break out any decorations this year. None except a few old Christmas cards which I made to look like I received some. I only got one from my father this year. Well on my trek home for Christmas I encountered a this festive item which also was practical. This Eddie Bauer holiday motiff wool blend mock turtle neck sweater came into my posse...

I shop pawn shops from time to time. Ok, I usually stop in once a week if I have time. I've gotten a bike, some tools, a Xbox, and a few musical instruments by perusing the pawned goods. It's pretty rare you see an odd instrument in a pawn shop. Sure there's guitars, basses, even a random banjo from time to time but a ukulele? Maybe pawn shops in Hawaii. Well, I stopped by a local pawn shop and spied this guy- a baritone ukulele. I got it for $10. It needs strings and a minor repair but I won't let that detract from this bargain. Hopefully I can get it ready to go and do a few songs for the Net.

I was at the St. Cloud Saver's just perusing the stock on hand. In particular I was looking at golf clubs when I saw a blue tent bag. I picked it up and noticed it had embroidered on it - Sierra Designs Meteor Light CD. Hmmm. I checked the price. $4.99!!!! I took it immediately. It set it up back at home and the tent proved to be a championship purchase. Nothing missing and practically new. Moosejaw has the new redesigned one for $269. I think this is one of the best deals I've had this year. It also increases my the number of tents I own. So if there are any interested campers for this fall- I've got plenty of tents to share.

Well what do we got here? Hmm. 2 finger puppets (free), a backpack (0.50), a book of Western stories by Brett Harte (not the wrestler, 0.75), a CD map collection of the BWCA, the Twin Cites and Lake Superior (0.99), a pair of Hind nylon pants (? I forgot but it was less than$2). I am most appreciative of the CD of the BWCA. I love those maps and at 99 cents it was a steal. The Hind pants I may take with me on this year's trip for rain gear.

This one is a bit out of order but I decided to leapfrog the others to get this fantastic deal out there. I shop thrift stores a lot. I think its a genetically acquired trait. There are quite a few in the Go. I found this deal (practically a steal) at a shop that was under my for years. St. Vincent de Paul's shop is off the beaten path in a light industrial section of town near my domicile. As I child growing up in the city of St. Paul, my mother would shop a St. Vincent's store on 7th, a block from a former family residence. I remember it being a bit creepy. I seem to recall a life size statue of Vincent in the store someplace. Another thrift shop just a few steps from the old house was Worn a Bit. It too was creepy. However, I remember mom getting better deals there. Worn a Bit is long gone but St. Vincent's is still there . But here's what I got for only a buck. A Descente cycling jersey normally worth about $65 . It was misplaced in the children's section. I kne...

This week's bargain's cost absolutely nothing thanks to clean up week here in town. All of these items were found on the side of the road awaiting to be lugged away to a dump until I snatched them up. Here's what is pictured- a green Samonsite shoulder bag that could be used as a carry on but had been put into service as a gig bag. I used it last weekend for the surprise Cornerstone appearance. 2 16mm Disney Films (Bear Trouble and The Tortoise and the Hare.) These are rare these days. I could have taken a 16mm projector but passed it up. My father has a projector that can show these. The board game Risk . This is the mid 70s version of the world domination game(aka cold war checkers.) It seems to have all the pieces and is in good condition. Other stuff I found but not featured here: flower pots, a push shovel.

The bargains this week consist of a micro piano, a North Dakota Tree Booklet, and 4 first day issue catchets. Total= $2.50 The piano cost a quarter! All these were acquired at garage sales while I waited for other scenes to be shot for the 48 hour film fest in town which I was participating.

I was on my way to far south Fargo- the one that was in grave danger a few months ago- when my rear bike derailleur decided to destroy itself. This stranded me many blocks from home with a someplace to be soon. I used my two walking feet and in about 2 hours arrived home and switched to another bike. Before I reached home I picked up a few bargains along the way: Travel Boggle Game, Wireless Headphone, a Bartender's Jigger. Total cost $1.75. I guess I am a sucker for wireless headphones- I did not realize it required 4 batteries. The boggle game was sweet and I've been looking for a jigger for a while. I think I'm hoping to move toward mixology. The garage sale season has begun in earnest around these parts. And soon spring clean up week will be upon the area too. Hope I can find some spare bike parts to repair my ride. For now I will ride the M200 or the C200.

T his weekend's finds include a few books and a hat. Total cost $1.27 from the newest Dakota Boys Ranch . Now don't jump to conclusions about this thrift store. It's not a cover for a human trafficking scheme. It actually raises funds to help youth and families. Here's what the website says: Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is dedicated to helping at-risk children and their families as an expression of our joy and faith in Jesus Christ, following Christ's example to serve the needs of others. I didn't realize there was a spiritual side until now. The link here will let you explore just what the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch does.

Today I did a typical trek to a few 2nd hand shops and a pawn shop after I played soccer this afternoon. There's about a dozen 2nd hand shops and pawn shops in town. I usually stop through one a month sometimes more. Today's bargain cost me only a buck and nine cents ($1.09). For .10 at St. Vincent's I picked up a soccer skills book with a younger David Beckham on the cover. Then at the ARC I purchased an old MP3 player, a Virgin Pulse VP 1 to be exact for .99. The MP3 only holds around 192Mbs but it had some interesting modern lounge music on and an ABBA song. I'll use it for exercise. The Smart Media Card that came with it is worth upwards of $32.