'Enjoy it NOW!' The Sequel...

(This is the continuation of the Great Canadian Tire Money tragedy (see entry Feb 19, 2011 ‘Enjoy it NOW!’) I have had many ask what I bought, so here it is)

On wobbly legs I trekked over to the local Canadian Tire Hardware Store, my great wealth tucked safely in my purse.

I had six dollars worth of Canadian Tire Money, all in 5 and 10-cent bills.

Six whole dollars! That’s a lot of nickels and dimes when you think about it. I mean, what store really accepts your payment of 110 nickels and 5 dimes? So I was smart about it. I counted the 5-cent Canadian Tire bills into paper-clipped bundles of $1.00 each, ending up with five bundles. Then the other bundle had the remaining 5 and 10-cent bills amounting to another $1.00. That’s six WHOLE dollars! Let the bells ring out!

But what if they wouldn’t accept them? What if they had stopped accepting the bills? What if $6.00 was too much to shop with at one time? What if they thought I was nuts and hauled me down the motor oil aisle straight out the back door to a waiting big white van? (At least they would be in the right spot if they needed an oil change!)

But I am not nuts – truly.

With my bundle of cash ready, a speech prepared in my head, and my ever-batting eyelashes at the ready, I walked through the door and found the manager.

Not the same one as last time – phew! I would have been escorted out the door for sure (like I said, see entry of February 19, 2011).

Desperation and urgency were making me a tad crazy.

With a bat of my eyelashes, and in my most professional, mature, sweetest voice, I asked if I could use my accumulated bills of $6.00 to buy something. “Is that okay? Am I allowed?”

So, of course, the manager looked at me like I was nuts. “Well no DUH!! Of course you can! Good God, woman! What do YOU think? How cruel do you think we are?”

“Well, pretty DARN cruel, if you ask me! What with discontinuing Canadian Tire Money and all! Sheesh!”

He didn’t really say that, and I didn’t really say that. He just said “Yes” and continued stacking packages of toilet bowl freshener.

Yippee! I skipped down the aisle to my much anticipated purchase, grabbed what I wanted, and skipped to the cash register.

I picked the register with the most patient looking girl, and handed over my purchase and my 'money.'

She looked at the paper clips, the massive bundle of bills, my purchase, and kindly did not roll her eyes – at least not in my presence.

Like a good employee, she counted them out. First stack: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30…$1.00. Second stack: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30…$1.00. Third stack…and so on. Then she got to the stack with the 5 and 10 cent bills combined, and that threw her off a bit (ha ha!) (I wasn’t doing this to be mean, mind you). She finally made it to the $6.00 mark then rang it all through. I still owed $1.45 in ACTUAL cash, paid that, and off I went, skipping home with my purchase! (I do A LOT of skipping)

I did it! My God, I did it!! I felt like I was getting away with something! I had accomplished the greatest feat of my life! “Look what I have everyone! I practically got this for free!” I shouted at the Sunday afternoon walkers with their dogs.

I ran through the door, and showed everyone my purchase……

Look! LOOK! LOOK what I bought!!!!!!