Double Vision

I have to brag on my wife. When it comes to finding deals, I think she is one of the best I've seen.

We've been browsing through various want ads lately trying to come across some used ladders (for a price that won't break the bank). Specifically:

• 2X - 6' (for work inside the house)
• 1X - 20'+ (for me to get on the roof)

Yesterday, we visited our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which is kind of like a thrift store for building supplies (used and surplus). M-H must have had her "stealdar" on, because she was able to navigate right to three old 6' wooden ladders in a corner. There were no prices -- so she got the store manager and I just stepped back to watch her work the magic. As I watched, she began to shake and rattle these old ladders in front of the manager, not unlike shaking a money tree...in the way that you would see the $$$ falling from the tree. Before the manager new what hit him, we were out the door with two rather rickety ladders for $8 --- yeah, you read it right -- that's $4/piece. A little tightening on a few nuts (that M-H must have failed to point out to the manager) when we got home and these ladders are as good as new.