2nd Hand but First Class

The other day I was in Jerusalem to buy some coffee for the French Press and decided to see what was on sale in my favorite women's clothing chain, Hilah. I was looking for a couple of sweaters to go with my dark blue, jeans-type skirt. There weren't any sweaters there worth buying, though I found a dress. Then I remembered that it was morning, and my super-favorite second hand store would be open. Actually, that's where I had bought the skirt, among other items.

The 2nd hand women's clothing store is in the Bell Tower on King George, near Yaffo. It's just by the bus stops and around the corner from the lightrail. Recently a Toys R Us opened in the building off of the street. The second hand store is in the main entrance, main floor, right side. Get there before 3pm, since it closes soon after. I don't know what it's official name is.

On the way, I checked in a few other stores for sweaters and saw some for well over my budget. I was not about to spend over ns100 for a cheap feeling ordinary sweater. So, I continued down King George Street to the Bell Tower.

Yes, in what was originally called the "Sweet Shoppe" has been a second hand clothing store for years already. Not only have I bought quite a few skirts and tops plus a necklace there, but I've even sold a couple of things.

I was greeted as a long lost relative and told the owner what I was looking for. She quickly found me a couple of sweaters that were absolutely perfect in every way. Not only did they seem high quality, fit and match the skirt perfectly, but they cost me only ns50 together. Yes, one was just ns20 and the other ns30.

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I could manage just buying second hand clothes. But I'm not adverse to sometimes buying second hand, especially items that one wears "forever," like skirts and sweaters.

Low Calorie/Carb Eating Out- Just Ask for a Plate!

One of the big problems for us weight-watchers, dieters, diabetics etc. is that so many restaurant and fast food places have bread as an integral part of the meal. I have a friend who is determined and disciplined enough to just eat what's inside the pita or bread and not touch anything else. But most of us are made of weaker stuff.

That's why I was so happy to discover that in the little "food court," kiosk by the Sha'ar Binyamin Rami Levy, you can ask for your "chicken breast," mixed grill or whatever on a plate.

You get the same reasonably portioned, personally prepared (I always insist on no added salt) meat accompanied by salad and whatever dressings you want on a small plate, no bread, carbohydrates etc.

And did I tell you it only cost me ns15?

No Bargains

For years I had been wanting to shop for quality Israeli shoes at the Teva Na'ot טבע נאות"outlet in Kfar Etzion, Gush Etzion just out of Jerusalem. The other day, my friend and I finally went there. We were prepared to buy and we were looking forward to buying. But as you can see from this title, we were disappointed. There weren't any bargains among shoes were could wear. Prices really were much higher than we had expected. And even though we were still willing to buy and tried on dozens of pairs of shoes, none felt comfortable enough for our tired middle-aged feet. We are both very particular about the shoes we wear, because we like to walk and be active.

The store is large and has other departments, besides the shoes, including housewares. The sales staff was not particularly helpful besides clarifying prices when we asked. There wasn't much order in how the shoes were arranged, although we had been told that they were set by size. I work in a shoe store, and I couldn't figure out any system there.

By the time we gave up I was limping and glad to get back into my comfortable pink sneakers. At least I got this yearning to go to the store out of my system.

Best Price Imaginable for a Filling Meal and It's Meat!

I'm a firm believer in eating good healthy meals. It sure helps me function. But I really can't afford to spend too much, so I'm Always looking for ways of eating well for as little as possible. I've also found that eating a filling healthy meal is a great way to keep your weight down. If you don't eat enough, you'll be hungry and want to nosh. 

I've made it a principle to bring a meal to work, so I don't have to buy anything, and I never buy myself snacks.

With my recent schedule of sleeping out in Jerusalem on Tuesday night, studying in Matan Wednesday morning and then working night shift that night, makes it hard to find the right filling and economic meals. I can't pack food (lunch and dinner) on Tuesday for Wednesday. I've blogged about the various things I've done on Wednesdays, like Two Meals for the Price of One!, Great Salad Deal in Jerusalem and Quiet Lunch Escape in the Center of Jerusalem.

Last week I tried something different. I bought a simple cottage cheese near the bus station which I ate for lunch, and then for dinner I ate near work. Actually, I ate at work, where I usually eat my food brought from home. Friends from work have been recommending the בורגר השקמה Burger Hashikma, which is the Rami Levi "fast food" meat place. You can get a variety of meat plus chumus, techina and salad in a pita for under ns20. Yes, that means a real meat meal/sandwich for the price or less than it costs to buy a tuna or cheese sandwich in Jerusalem!

I bought the Jerusalem Mixed Grill for all of ns16! It's the bargain of the century as far as I'm concerned. It was tasty, too. Service was friendly, and I have no complaints at all about it.

So, if you're in the area and need a meal, give it a try! I presume the other branches charge about the same. 

The Best Way to Save Money

Yes, I work in a store, Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin. Yesterday we had a great one-day sale. The Second Item Only NS10-  Lots of people bought things. There had been people waiting for this sale, knowing that we were due for a sale day. The staff knew in advance, OK, minutes before closing on Friday, so we sent out ads on community email lists and facebook before Sunday's opening.  Lots of my neighbors came in and thanked me.

There have been other sale days when I have bought lots of clothes.

I wasn't among the shoppers. I couldn't think of anything I really needed. And the two week exchange for size/color option would be over before Chanukah. So I didn't buy anything at all.

There are times when, especially in the shoe store, I've told customers that I didn't think it was worth their getting something, because it wouldn't fit right. I make it clear that I don't want them to be afraid to come shop by us, because they'll be afraid of pressure to buy what they don't need. Then they will avoid our store, and that isn't any good. The customers trust me, and they sometimes look for me to help them. A bargain that stays in the closet is no bargain!

Do Stores Evolve or Metamorphose? Yes! Vintage Clothes

For years I've patronized a small friendly store in the Jerusalem's Bell Tower on King George Street. I've bought myself a few tops, birthday cards, calendars etc. There have even been times I left a heavy bag there while doing errands. The sign on the window says "Sweet Stop," but you're not going to find edible candy there.

It's now a Second Hand shop, Vintage Stop, with an amazing collection of clothes and accessories. Open daily, 9:30am-3pm. 02-625-9146 or 050-2052400.

And they still stock cards for all occasions.

PS please tell her I sent you!

Best Prices in Machane Yehuda, Off The Beaten Path

I try to get to Jerusalem's excellent open air market, Machane Yehuda, every week especially in the spring and summer. That's when it's easiest to get prices that are much lower than I see in Rami Levy. The big discount supermarket chain, Rami Levy, has a principle to keep the staples, carrots, apples, potatoes, onions etc and citrus in season at prices that favorably compare with the shuk/shuq (market.)

It's in the summer, when seasonal fruit is too delicate to store very long when he really can't compete as well. I found peaches and nectarines for NS6-7 in Machane Yehuda, while they were over NS10 in Rami Levy. Rami Levy has been selling large apples for a relatively low NS8.90 if I remember correctly, but that works out to close to NS2 for just one albeit delicious apple. I found slightly smaller apples for NS7.80 as you can see here. When you're trying to reduce your weight and expenses, these shuk apples are the best deal.

This stand, which I always check out, has different foods each week, but the prices are always fantastically low. I get my melon from him and decided to buy one of his very large zucchinis. At NS2 a kilo, how could I pass them up?

I only discovered this section of the shuk relatively recently. It's pretty much hidden away, off the beaten path. It's actually not far from Rechov Yaffo, Jaffa Road and paralel to it. You can enter by taking the first turn from the shuk street. No, it isn't the "Iraqi Shuk" which is large and has pretty much uniform prices of all of the standard vegetables. It's closer to town.

There's also a stand that sells greens for salads and soups for just NS1 per bunch. And it's actually a lovely "square" with a bench an view of the street via a restaurant. It's connected to one of the warrens of little "lanes" off of the main drags of Machane Yehuda, which are the best locations for bargains.

Enjoy in good health!

Hidden Corners of the Shuk and Bargains

Recently, I've been doing a bit of shopping Wednesday noonish in the Jerusalem open air market, Machane Yehuda aka the "shuk."  Wandering around looking for bargains, I've found them plus pleasant spots I had no idea existed.  If you want to save money, this is definitely the way to shop, even on a Wednesday when prices begin to edge up.

I don't buy all that much, because there's a limit on how much I can carry, but if I had a wagon I'd really stock up.  I shop after my Matan studies, so I also have books with me.  Also it's hard to take a wagon along to my studies.  But if I ever need to just go in to shop, I'd do it with something to wheel and a backpack.

It's a real bargain, because I don't pay extra bus/train fare.  I can squeeze in the shopping within the 90 minute free transfer time after getting on the bus near Matan and then taking a bus or train to my next stop to get to the bus station or trempiada home.

Shuk/Shuq Shopping, Annoyances

One of the good or bad (best or worst) things about shopping in Jerusalem's open air market, Machaneh Yehuda is its prices. 

Last week I was there wandering around with my granddaughter before taking her to see the JEST performance of "The King and I."  It was Tuesday afternoon and the prices of even the best summer fruits was temptingly low. 

But logic got in the way.  I knew too well that I wouldn't be able to schlepp them safely for hours, so I didn't buy any.  Less than twenty-four 24 hours later I was back raring to shop, and the prices were much higher.  I did buy some fruit but it was hard, ok, actually-impossible to find such prices.  And I did re-trace my steps.

The lesson is that if you really want great bargains, you must choose your shopping days wisely.  The
first half of the week has prices lower than the last half, but they drop extremely low the last couple of hours before Shabbat, because nobody likes to have to store the fresh produce until Sunday.

New Bargain Column in The Jerusalem Post's "In Jerusalem"

As of now, it's not yet in the Internet edition. The JPost doesn't go online automatically. Obviously, the news is considered higher priority than other things.

Sybil Kaplan, of wonderpot fame, is back in Israel, B"H, and she has a column in "In Jerusalem." "It's a bargain," and I'm the "Batya" mentioned in it.

Welcome her home by reading the column and letting the JPost know how helpful it is. She mentioned things, even I, who has been here almost forty years, didn't know.