Where would you like the 12 ft artificial palm tree?

How is it possible that "designer" high end stuff can cost so much more than their mainstream counterparts? A pair of Levi's runs $50 but designer jeans can cost $400. A Hershey's bar costs 50 cent yet a bite-sized square of Godiva costs $2. A fast food burger $3. A Kobe beef burger $20. I have to admit that as I start to indulge in the finer things, the regular stuff isn't as good anymore.

Recently, it seems like furniture stores, especially higher end ones, are going out of business left and right. Mikim Home Collection is one of the designer showrooms where you are first accosted by a fabulous design consultant (salesperson) and then by the outrageous prices. Do people really pay $1500 for 12 ft high artificial palm trees? $1000 for an outdoor chaise lounge? The answer seems to be yes but less so because they are going out of business after many years. For 3 months now, they been steadily increasing the discounts until yesterday's auction. The great thing was that only about 30 or so people were present at any given time so competition wasn't great. And following the auctioneer around the vast showroom wasn't easy so an auction was often over very quickly (if multiple people even bid). Once I got into the swing of things, I was bidding left and right and got items for literally pennies on the dollar. Granted that these the "retail" price were so ridiculous that I wouldn't have been able to afford them at 1/2 off, at 80 and even 90% off, they were outright bargains. Yes, I did buy two of those 12 ft high palm trees but for only $260 each. We ended up spending over $3k with the "retail" list prices of well over $20k. I was giddy with excitement with some of the buys. $500 table lamp for $48. $1500 pecan cocktail table for $300. $600 dining chairs for $100. Yipppeee!

Monday 10/3:
$10 lunch buffet at Acapulco
$0 prepared dinner

Tuesday 10/4:
$3 lunch McDonald’s
$15 tablerunner at TJ Maxx
$0 leftovers for dinner
$25 koi food at Petsmart
$95 briefcase at Officemax

Wednesday 10/5:
$35 memorial flowers
$7 Jack in the Box lunch for 2 (saved $3 with coupon)
$0 leftovers for dinner
$25 TJ Maxx Homestore
$2800 demolish bathroom, install all new vanity, tile, tub and fixtures (older rental property)
$2500 tile family room, kitchen and 2nd bathroom
$300 acid wash stone fireplace
$2700 remove 2 layers of wood paneling, new drywall, paint
$20 Lowe’s
$125 weeklong dumpster rental

Thursday 10/6:
$0 brought lunch
$105 monthly ortho visit
$0 expensed dinner for 5 at Maggiano's ($156)

Friday 10/7:
$0 customer picked up lunch
$16 dinner for 2 at Daphne's Greek
$1100 Lowe's (60" bathroom vanity, double sink vanity top, sink and bath fixtures)

Saturday 10/8:
$0 skipped lunch
$3500 accessories and furnishing at Mikim Home Collection going out of business auction (retail value over $20k)
$110 bathtub at Home Depot
$250 2 more dumpster bins
$35 dinner for 2 at Dosa Palace (saved $9 with Entertainment card)

Sunday 10/9:
$1300 tile for family room and kitchen
$41 Vons supermarket
$0 prepared dinner
$320 tile for bathtub surround