One of the few drawbacks to being a monk is the income.

While some things aren’t a worry, spending money is always at a minimum. We don’t draw a salary like traditional clergy. Instead, we get a monthly allowance for toiletries, basic living expenses, and (maybe) a little bit of fun.

I’ve decided that I’m going to start recreating the old comic collection I had in the late 70s through early 90s. But to do that, I need to practice snagging eBay bargains, looking online at want ads, and of course, becoming “bargain bin” savvy.

On my travels today, I stopped into The Great Escape, a mecca for used comics, records, movies and RPGs in Madison, Tennessee. I was in luck – two full long tables of bargain bins. Better yet, the bargain bin comics were 49 CENTS. The tables were full, and a neat second row of boxes was underneath each table.

I spent about an hour and a half looking through the bargain bins, much to the owner’s chagrin. These guys probably roll their eyes when someone goes right to the cheap books. But bargain shop I did, and I came out a winner. Plans are underway to go back next week on my day off to finish rooting through the remaining boxes. And here is today’s haul:

• Marvel Comics – Balder the Brave #1-4 (mini series from 1985)  (EXC)
• Marvel Comics – Excalibur Special Edition #1 (EXC-NM)
• Marvel Comics – Squadron Supreme #1-12 (mini series from 1985) (EXC)
• DC Comics – Sword of the Atom #1-4 (mini series from 1983) (VF-EXC)