The Girl Scouts started selling cookies to fund their troop activities way back in 1917. These budding entrepreneurs made them at home and sold them by the dozen for just 25¢ - now a box can run you $4. It's true that Girl Scout cookies are big business, according to the WSJ, the girls made $714 million last year. The sales had been declining, so this year the varieties have been pared down to increase their profits. Don't worry though, the best-selling Thin Mints will still be available (they want more profit, not a riot!). You can't buy cookies online, but don't fret if you don't have a supplier. Just enter your zip code in the Cookie Finder. And don't feel guilty about all those boxes, you are doing a good thing. 70% of the purchase of each box stays in the local Girl Scout council.

Here's how the overall sales stack up:

25% Thin Mints 19% Samoas®/Caramel deLites® 13% Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs® 11% Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos® 9% Shortbread/Trefoils

The other varieties combined account for the remaining 23%.

For more information on the Girl Scout cookies and their history, check out the Girl Scout site.