After some light reading at Out-of-Town Newspapers (Le Figaro for 60 cents, the Crime for a dime), you summon up your energy for a final push up Brattle. The Lodge has coats, pants and sundry for gentlemen of varying fashion persuasions up to 50 per cent off. Cardullo's food shop doesn't believe in sales ("that's for supermarkets"), but with each purchase of Bulmer's Cider you get a free horoscope book.

Woolworth's will sell you four golden-oldie 45's (like "Girl Watcher" by the OKaysions, "Forget Me Not" by Martha and the Vandelas, "To Know You Is To Love You" by Bobby Vinton, and "I'm Wondering" by Stevie Wonder) for $1.01. They're regularly three for a dollar. At Reading International, you can get a Xerox for a nickel, Xerox for a nickel, Xerox for a nickel, Xerox for a nickel ...

Kitty Haas advertised their sale on page eight of yesterday's rag. Thanks, Kitty.

There is not much on sale at Truc, but the browsing is good. However, Truc loses the prize for the most fun browsing to its new neighbors to the north, Design Research. The five-story all-glass-and-cement store is one big maze of beautiful, expensive things. DR had a sale when they moved from across the street, so there is none now.

The Gertrude Singer Fashion Studio on Church Street is having a sale.

BUT when you're through shopping what happens? You bring home your rabbit skirt or your feather duster and it's the wrong size. Or you get a tie for Joe, Bobby Vinton for Nancy, a blue chip for Dad-and Mom feels left out. And of course most sale items are non-returnable. Shopping is fun, but what can you get that the whole family can enjoy?

Well, our sources report that grass is high (no slowdown in Christmas sales) starting at $15 an ounce, but hash is a bargain at $3-5 a gram. Mescaline is up at $2.50 a throw, but acid sales have not kept apace and prices are consequently lower.

And of course, in everything, caveat emptor.