With Disneyland hundreds of miles away, my wallet near empty and the trappings of economic gloom and doom around every corner, it can be hard to be Disney-optimistic. While happiness comes from all sources, nothing makes me as tangibly joyful as consuming. Whether its merchandise, good food and drink, media - you name it, I love to consume it. I love to celebrate all things consumable. So in the spirit of celebrating the little things, here are my top 5 Disney consumables, accessible almost anytime, anywhere, for under a dollar:
1. Fun Little Figurines -Found at any mall, the exit of a Fry's Electronics, or at the door to the supermarket they patiently wait; all jumbled together and tucked away in clear plastic eggs calling out "For only 4 quarters, I can come home with you!" You know the ones I'm talking about. So small, so cute, so collectible and only a dollar! (The only down side is you never know which one you're going to get - hence the army of Edna's from the Incredibles that lined the top of my computer last year.)
2. Magical, Musical, Downloadable iTunes - Some of my personal favs to spice up any Gloomy Gus - Louie Armstrong's "Bare Necessities" Stan Jones and Thurl Ravenscroft's "Saddle Up" and "Disco Mickey Mouse" just to name a few. These Disney classics will put a skip in anyone's step and won't put a dent in your pocketbook.
3. Outlet Extravaganza - you never know when a Disney Outlet will show up in your neighborhood, but that's half the fun. One day it's the empty hole next to Macys and overnight - poof! - Disney goodness at 80% off abounds. Just a few of my dollar treasures - Disneyland in the 70's travel mug, patriotic Mickey antenna topper and a Proud Family Kwanza pin.
4. Target Dollar Section - A Monster's Inc icepack, Finding Nemo zip lock Baggies, Hannah Montana pens, Cars magnetic play boards and more. The ever-changing selection keeps this treasure hunt unpredictable and frugally fun.
5. The Squashed Penny - The quintessential Disney souvenir and it costs less than a dollar. You'll have to go to the parks to pick one up (or should I say, to squash one flat) but when I think about the Disney deals that brighten my day, this one takes the cake.
Those are my top five. What are yours?


