The way I avoid spending money and acquiring more stuff than I need is window shopping, usually through catalogs and websites.

If it's catalogs, sometimes I cut out the pictures of the things I want and glue them into a scrapbook. Online, I store the pictures in a folder called My Catalog of Things. This is as satisfying for me as buying the items, and I go back years later and am happy that I didn't buy those things. Once in awhile, I do end up owning an item from my pictures, and I think that means I really wanted it.

If you and I went shopping today, we'd go to Cost Plus, and I'd get these fun things:

Cute casserole dishes:





Gingerbread House Bundt Cake Pan:

This looks like it'd be a nightmare to get the cake out of. They supplied a picture of the finished product that I suspect is Photoshopped.





$14.95 for a cookbook devoted to Ebelskivers? They are a form of pancake originated in Denmark cooked in a special pan. It's hard to imagine why they deserve their own book, but I haven't seen the book in person.





But this is Christmas shopping, so the price doesn't matter, it's the thought that counts.

On the way home, let's stop at the Zombie Apocalypse Store here in Las Vegas.

They sell survival gear: food, flashlights, ponchos, water purifying pouches, fun stuff like that, and funny tee shirts and bumper stickers. I'm not a fan of the concept of zombies, but there's some good ideas there for my own emergency planning.





Take a look at these MRE (Meals Ready-to-Eat) menus. They sound very tasty.



8 oz Entrée (6 varieties, 2 of each in every case, total 12 MRE kits per case. Cheese Tortellini with Marinara Sauce. Beef Stew with Potatoes and Vegetables. BBQ Chicken with Black Beans and Potatoes. Chicken Noodle Stew with Vegetables. Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Veggie Crumbles. Chicken Rice with Vegetables. Vegetarian Chili. Lentils Stew with Potatoes and Ham. Pinto Beans Stew with Ham. Sausage Gravy and Biscuit. Maple Oatmeal with Brown Sugar. Dry Fruit ( banana, papaya, pineapple, etc) 2 oz Raisins & Mix Nuts or Flour Tortillas.
2 oz Sugar Cookies. Drink Mix (Flavors: orange, lemonade, pink lemonade, strawberry, grape, fruit punch) Accessory Pack (spoon, coffee, sugar, creamer, salt, pepper, napkin, moist towelette) Comes with heaters.

The heaters are neat - you add water and they get really hot. Their official US Government name is Flameless Ration Heater (FRH).



I love the part about the rock. I can imagine the word-smithing that went on before it was agreed this was the way to communicate the goal.