Sisters Cindy and Dana are the force behind Green Jeans Consignment. (Green Jeans Consignment)

Admittedly, I’m cheap. While I splurge on things that matter, like a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine, I enjoy bargain shopping, too. Having been raised by frugal parents born on the heels of the Great Depression, I learned valuable lessons about money and how to make the most of it.

My Mom would be proud. I hate wasting anything and it literally pains me to pay full price for something. As the offspring of a woman who negotiates a clearance item with the department manager at Lowe’s, and furnished her entire beach house with wicker furniture from Goodwill (Hey, people at the beach donate beach-y looking stuff) I guess it’s invevitable that some of it would rub off.

One of my favorite sayings growing up was, “Buy low, sell high.” I think it was sung to me as a lullaby because it’s etched in my brain (just ask my friends, I’ve said it more than once.) At any rate, to do the opposite goes against every basic economic principal I understand. I can’t wrap my mind around people who knowingly pay more for a product, or claim they don’t have time to comparison shop. Or, spend money for the sake of pretentious. Let’s see, another saying I remember, “An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure” — I just had a flashback to Truvy’s salon! (“Steel Magnolias” reference, for the uninitiated.)

Anyway, let’s be honest. If you have time to make a purchasing decision, you have time to compare prices.

If you’re like me and can’t hit a department store without eyeballing the clearance rack first, be an Eco Diva and follow me to the best women’s and teens clothing sale this side of Lake Norman! Now through Saturday, April 20, Eco Chic Green Jeans Consignment has once again set up shop at Kenton Place on Catawba Avenue in Cornelius. I promise you won’t be disappointed. This is one of the nicest, most efficient, most well-run operations offering high end deals at low prices. The space, complete with comfortable, impromptu dressing rooms, has the look and feel of a cozy neighborhood boutique, not a typical consignment sale in an empty building that will move out quicker than it moved in.

Take my word for it, you do not want to miss this event. Why pay full price for something you can get for half, or even less. We’re talking top quality, high end, new and gently used clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories in all sizes, according to their website. Check it out for yourself, and read about the fabulous sisters, Cindy and Dana, responsible for this incredible shopping event, at www.greenjeanssale.com. Hours: Wed-Fri 9am-8pm and Sat 9am-1pm

In this economy, we owe it to our bank accounts to be a little nicer. You can always buy me lunch with all the money you save. Either way, happy thrift shopping, people!

Robin Gibson is a writer living in Cornelius. You can find her blog at http://www.robingibsonart.com/blog.html. See her previous columns under the “Robin Gibson” category.