Rebates, Points, and Bucks oh my!

So I did something this week that I rarely do. I bought clothes. I know clothes are a necessity but I actually bought things that I didn't need. *deep breath* This is a big step for me and, yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I called my mother for encouragement. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Mom I'm having an emergency.
Mom: Oh really?
Me: Yes. Is $24 too much for a bra? I mean they have a buy one get one deal and then I'm shopping through a rebate site. I can't get it cheaper in the store with all these deals but is 24 too much?
Mom: I think that sounds great sweetie.
Me: Well I just think I really should take advantage of these sales and I don't spend money on this kind of stuff very often. And, well, lately I've just felt like everyone else has cuter clothes than I do.
Mom: Hmmm.
Me: I'm getting some skirts too. I should buy pants. I mean I could really use pants but these skirts are so cute! There's one that Bryan saw on the Big Bang Theory and he commented on how he liked it and I figure I'd buy it and if it doesn't look good on me I could always send it back, right? Wait, they have a store in the area I could just return it to the store.
Mom: Well that's convenient. I'm sure it will work out fine.
Me: Ok, Mom, well I'm going to do it. Wait let me check one more place to make sure I can't get a better deal.
(Silence)
I think this is the best I can do. I'm going to buy it. Ok. It's done. I bought it. I hope I didn't spend too much. Thanks Mom.
(End of Conversation)

My poor mother. Even I am impressed by my level of neurosis when I spend money on anything besides groceries. The good news is I don't pay full price for anything. I took advantage of big sales at three different stores. I shopped through ebates, mrrebates, or shopathome (all of which have sign up bonuses of $5.00 for new shoppers), and I got to those rebate sites by searching in swagbucks or my points. Sounds complicated but I compare my savings to the bliss of having chocolate ice cream, then adding brownie bits, and topping it all with hot fudge.
It's like a great fishing story. I found a sale that was this <-----------------------------------> big!
Of course there are major drawbacks to shopping online. I'm not one of those shapes or sizes that I know what will look good on me. I have to try things on. So there is always the possibility that it will go back to the store. Then there is the loss of instant gratification. I don't get to order my prize and then wear it that night. Or the next. Or the next. You better believe after all my savings I'm not paying extra for shipping. Ha! Speaking of which you have to be careful about shipping costs. I have found myself in danger of thinking I was getting a steal and then going to the checkout screen and realizing that all my discount work was for not because the shipping is outrageous and I'm not really saving anything. And the last big bummer potential? Today I checked my email and discovered one of the items I ordered ended up being out of stock. That, of course, would be impossible if I'd walked out of the store with it in my hand. Que sera sera. I guess if you look at that from the flip side. I got all my discounts even though I lost one item so I saved more than I thought. So there you online computer inventory ordering system. Sit on that!