Five Frugal Things -- I Sold Another Goodwill Gift Card Item!
1. I sold the bins-purchased Peugeot salt grinder for the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge. I think the reason it took awhile to sell is that I had the box dimensions completely incorrect, which made the shipping look like it would be oddly expensive. Oh well, I accidentally made a few extra dollars on the sale and it's off to her new owner.
Click HERE to see the listing.
I still have $54.15 on the gift card, so maybe I should go to some Goodwills today!
2. My friend Lise and I hit Trader Joe's to pick up staples and catch up. I bought milk, bananas, salmon, lettuce, green beans and a package of green scallion pancakes. I always give myself a huge pat on the back when I leave T.J.'s without impulse items, as that instinct can easily double your bill!
I have a theory that Trader Joe's would boil down to a single aisle if all impulse items were removed.
3. I didn't buy any traditional souvenirs while on vacation, but did come home with:
- Two $1 used pillowcases.
- Two flattened pennies. One of which was 51¢, the other just popped out of the machine for free!
- A pretty pinecone from the University of New Mexico campus.
- One $1.50 Goodwill paperback novel.
Thrift store shelves are crowded with standard souvenirs solely manufactured for the tourist trade, such as wooden clogs from The Netherlands, miniature Eiffel Towers from Paris and Union Jack tchotchkes from England. My theory is that people buy these things as gifts, which get quickly donated or find their way to thrift stores through decluttering sessions or estate clear outs. Anything that features prominently in thrift stores is both overmanufactured and under appreciated.
4. I turned two bubble mailers inside out and used them to mail out two eBay sales. This gives the packages a nice clean outer surface while delaying their journey to the landfill.
5. I gave my garbage picked Diane Von Furstenberg suitcase a good scrub before putting it back into storage, as it was looking a bit worse for wear. It's kind of goofy looking to begin with, but there's no reason for it to also scream "fllthy!"
I found the photos from when I pulled the suitcase from a Goodwill dumpster HERE!
Remember when I thrifted the LL Bean duffel bag and picked out the name "Eleanor?" Ahh . . . that was fun!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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The blog post includes an eBay affiliate link.
Using birthday freebie at Red Robin with hubby for late lunch.
Will use my Black Bear Diner freebie for breakfast on Saturday
Picked up a Chicos blouse for $4.50 at Presbyterian church thrift store.
Sold a couple and packaged up a couple of sales using upcycled packaging
1. I have two hopeful pickups for Facebook marketplace sales today
2. Went to the thrift store and did not buy anything. This is right. Next door to Trader Joe's and I bought only the things on my list!
3. Worked on my Spanish learning for free online. Also, with the free version of Duolingo, though I am solely tempted to upgrade to the paid version to avoid all of the ads.
4. Gift wrapped Valentine's gifts for my grandchildren ( items were zero out of pocket) with free wrapping paper. Made their cards from free scrapbook materials. Their gift is useful and will give them many hours of pleasure. No Dollar store tchotchkes.
5. The heat is off and the doors are open to passively warm my house.
I collect various size pine cones wherever I go! They sit in a row on my window sill.
Love the suitcase though! It's so easy to spot!
1. The gear backpack saga has come to a close by finding a company that resells outdoor gear. I found the backpack I wanted at 50% off and previously used.
2. The company also sells a lot of other gear, including fleece gloves for outdoor sports which I was in desperate need of. Found a pair new for 70% off.
These two items will make my enjoyment of the outdoors better and I am glad to not have bought them full price! Patience pays off.
3. Some stomach bug had me in its clutches yesterday. Fended it off with medication already in the bathroom, peppermint tea, and chicken broth. Being sick to your stomach is a great way to avoid takeout or shopping, although I do not recommend it as a strategy.
4. Booked ski accommodation for a trip out to british columbia in March. We are splitting a cute spot with some friends and were able to book using a gift card from christmas, bringing the total for 3 nights per person down to $150. This may still seem like a lot, but given that we are used to holding our noses and paying up to $100 per night usually this feels like a steal.
5. Agreed to not get valentine's day gifts this year. Feels good in advance of a lot of travel this spring. I'll get DH a card since I'm a sap and enjoy time together.
1. Gas station had cream cheese 8oz on sale for $0.29, but I only paid $0.25 because it is a “penniless” business, so they round down to $0.25 for the cash purchases.
2. Name brand cereal of pb puffs on clearance for $0.32 12oz. Paired with discount 1 gal milk at $1.50. Kids are happy, & my pocketbook, too.
3. Continue to shovel out fire hydrants on our street that kids & I adopted this winter. Helping hands for the community, fresh air & fun. We’ve received over 13ft of snow so far this season. Will be recognized at local posh cookie store at event in March with local fire department & city officials.
4. Found nice plaid gift bag on street walking kid to school. Just wet, hanging to dry & then reuse many times.
5. Continue to use local trails for ski, snowshoe & hiking adventures right from home. No fees & no fossil fuels used to get there.
On the theme of holiday souvenirs. I saw someone keep coins from their trip and attach them to magnets with hot glue. I have kept a few coins back from our RTW big trip to try this. I am looking forward to seeing them everyday.
I brought scrubby sponges in Istanbul, I can think of the trip whilst washing my dishes!
I donated the items from amenity kits to our local emergency preparedness. Our community centre acts as a hub when SARS are working or there's some other disaster. Hoping a a fresh pair of socks and a toothbrush will help an emergency worker get through the day.
Gave a neighbour some other coins and a grocery store card to save them on their upcoming trip. They were happy for the small gift.
Happy to be home in our little house.
That is a good idea for coins. I have a smashed penny like Katy got. Mine is not from NM but I could glue to a magnet to use on fridge.
1. I took both cats last Sunday to get a free rabies shot & tag. The clinic allows teachers, police, and fire fighters to get their pets vaccinated for rabies for free. My cats live indoors but if they need to see the vet they must have a current rabies vax.
2. Had my annual physical. I will get a $25 dollar reward added to my insurance card.
3. The facility to which I will accompany my students has free beverages for employees and students. I checked out the coffee machine (all sorts of coffee beverages & the soft drink machine) this week. That is a nice perk for me & my students. I helped myself to a French Vanilla coffee for the drive home.
4. Frugal Fail: I took a preliminary trip to my assigned facility which burned gas & time. However, it will prevent stress on the 1st official day I have to go. I like to know ahead of time where to go and to park so as not to be late.
5. Found a couple of receipts to scan for Fetch.
6. Husband rehabilitated the cat scratch post with heavy rope. They are good cats who will use their post and not the furniture.
7. Enjoying warm weather in north Texas w/ the central heat turned off.
8. Staying home for Spring Break. The airline prices are too high. I'll wait for the summer when I can get a better price & there is no rush to return home.
I thought I was the only who picked up unusual souvenirs! Thrift store finds, pretty rocks I find, locally made art and jewelry are my only purchases. T shirts wear out and the other stuff just gathers dust.
Paid a hospital bill in full, getting a 25% discount for doing so.
Paid property taxes by check, avoiding the $25 in fees to pay online.
Had our semi-annual maintenance on our heat and air unit. Preventative care over responsive care just as with people when possible. I do not want to be without a/c during TN summers.
We decided to have a day away from home after being cooped up with winter weather plus my husband recovering from shoulder surgery. Went to Ollie’s to pick up several seek a word books for my mil who does them for hours each day. They are much more expensive at other stores. While out we had lunch at a vegan restaurant to help support them after they were closed a few days due to the ice storm. Also took 3 old laptops and cords to Best Buy to recycle since we were in the area.
Mil also reminded me she likes to do crossword puzzles so I ordered her a pack of 10 from eBay that should last her quite a while. $2.99 each was a great price.
FFT, Neighborhood Business Edition:
(1) Having persuaded NDN1's PCP to tell her that a move to assisted living is "doctor's orders" (see my Thankful Thursday comment today on The Frugal Girl), her other CF and I are taking her tomorrow for lunch and a tour of the assisted living facility CF and I visited back in January. May the Force be with us all. (Note: A neighbor down the street told me this morning that she found NDN1 attempting to bust ice off her front steps with her lousy plastic shovel in our recent 5-degree weather. We need to get her into assisted living yesterday.)
(2) The Bestest Neighbors and I are very glad that Dr. BN was able to put out the fire quickly when the pork ribs he was grilling for last night's dinner went ablaze. The grill's a complete mess, of course, but both it and Dr. BN came away unscathed. And the three of us crunched down on the ribs and reflected that charcoal is said to be good for the stomach. 🙂
(3) The BNs and I agreed over the charred ribs, plus the salad and the half-loaf of bread I brought, that our "serene, historic cul-de-sac" (I'm quoting a recent real estate listing) is considerably overdue for both an update of the neighbors' contact list and a block party. Several new young families have moved onto the street, and we old'uns need to do some outreach.
(4) "King James," our indispensable snow wizard, turned up today for a complete plow-out despite having had a tooth pulled yesterday, heaven bless him. In chatting with him as he was taking a break, I happened to mention the 1/4 steer I've bought for the last decade or so from friends who raise the animals. I ended up selling him 10 lb. at my cost ($2.57/lb. this past year), and he's all in on being a member of my "beef club" as long as the aforementioned friends are in the beef business.
(5) And I haven't sat in the White House and done anything that's just @#$$%!! self-serving and stupid (you name it, the Orange Julius has done it). This is both neighborhood business and world business.