Barbara Dineen, 60, is a working grandmother of six who tackles holiday shopping with a conviction that there’s always a bargain somewhere.
Barbara, a senior administrative assistant at Creighton Medical Center, is a self-described clotheshorse who learned to bargain hunt to feed her hunger for fashion. The Omaha native credits her father for her appreciation of fine apparel. He didn’t buy a lot, but what he had was quality, she said, whether leather shoes or wool coats.
Now, with three adult children and six grandchildren, bargain shopping is a must if she wants to find quality gifts for them.
As one of nine children who attended private school, where uniforms were the rule, slim wardrobe options fed her love of clothes as an adult.
Barbara said a sister who worked as a Richman Gordman buyer taught her to never pay full price for clothing.
All these factors created a savvy bargain-hunter who recognizes excellent quality and aims for timeless pieces.
“I stay away from trendy fashion. That’s not money well-spent.”
Smart spending will be especially important this year.
Barbara’s husband, Tom, took a pay cut when he changed jobs last year, and the two are approaching retirement, when they’ll have to live within a fixed income.
Going into debt to buy clothes or other holiday gifts is foolish, Barbara said, so she shops within her means.
“If I need a new sweater, I’ll find one for $5,” she said.
Her strategy of shopping often — which doesn’t necessarily mean buying — helps her spot a good deal when she sees it, Barbara said.
She doesn’t let emotion overtake logic, and she considers quality as well as price. For example, natural fabrics like angora, silk or 100 percent cotton are good deals when on sale, Barbara said.
She uses coupons from department and specialty stores and the newspaper but only signs up with a few of her favorite retailers for e-mail sale notifications and coupons to keep it simple.
And she occasionally shops at thrift shops. Two months ago she found a Gucci purse for $15 at Goodwill.
Barbara doesn’t typically buy numerous holiday gifts at Goodwill, but she might this year. The entire family agreed to keep spending at about $50 or $60 per person and to aim for meaningful or practical gifts.
“I think we’re just being careful, and there’s more thought behind what we buy, instead of ‘Let’s just buy some stuff.’”
Contact the writer:
444-1183, christine.laue@owh.com
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