I got my eyes checked before I left home. I was due for a new prescription and looking for both new glasses and contacts. After my $100 check-up of blurry barns, letters that I trusted were actually letters, and air puffs into my eyeballs, he smiled kindly and asked if he could help me choose some new frames.

I smiled kindly back, and replied, “No thanks. I’m going to China.”

And so I have.

So with the help of Shannon and good friends (Alice and Wind) who vowed to help me look younger and cooler, I picked up two new pairs of glasses (frames and lenses) and a year’s worth of contacts for just under 700 yuan… about $98.

And all that was after we had treated us and four of our friends to a feast at a favourite restaurant… for 40 yuan (under $6).

This post comes to you from our sponsors at “Types of Shopping that Make me Smile”.