Non-Consumer Photo Essay -- Wobbly Photos!
Today's blog post is going to be out of focus and wobbly, as the forward facing camera on my iPhone finally remembered that it got run over in Albuquerque.
I stopped at both a standard Goodwill and a Goodwill Outlet in search of resellable treasure.
I picked up this piano bench, which featured a hand needlepointed cover and priced at only $14.99. I paid 10% less, as it was senior discount day. I paid for it out of pocket, so it's not part of the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge.
I'll list it locally on Facebook Marketplace and probably ask $75.
I went to the AirPort Way bins location, rather than the one on Ochoco and paid 36¢ for three small objects. The bins weren't very full and essentially only contained the same low quality over-manufactured items that you'd find in a Temu dumpster.
I did find a dime outside the store, which cheered me up. I'll add it to my Found Change Challenge jar!
Here's what I bought:
- A small tin compass.
- The hardware to hang a plate on the wall.
- A ceiling fan remote control.
Again, I paid out of pocket.
I mixed up a batch of no-knead artisan bread, which turned out great. This is the best photo my camera could produce. Looking at it is making me dizzy.
I'm going to let this be a short blog post, as I have an errand to run.
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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I tried twice to leave a comment on the previous post and it never posted. This is a test.
1. I needed BBQ sauce last week. I thought I had enough but did not. I found a recipe online and made a decent sauce out of ketchup and spices. Of course I made too much. Tonight I used up the leftover sauce in a different dish. It did not work very well after being baked. I'll stick to store bought but I'm glad I made do without a trip to the store.
2. I had a day of doctor appts and packed a lunch I could eat in the car to avoid take out. I did stop for coffee and read a book for an hour between 2 appts and that was a nice treat. But no desire for fast food
3. After getting a ridiculously high electric bill I finally have dh and dd on board with trying to keep lights off. Hoping next month it is a lot lower.
4. Made homemade muffins
1. My ensemble today was the blouse I most recently bought at Goodwill, paired with red slacks this time, and red earring studs from one of those $9.99 cards containing 20 pair from Walmart. The blouse is super frugal and super versatile because its print features cute little blobs of red, pink, lime and lavender against a white background -- and therefore I can wear it with any of the above-listed colors...or with black. Last week I wore the same blouse with salmon pink colored slacks that I bought for $3 at a consignment store sidewalk sale. I wasn't looking for a short-sleeved blouse when I saw it at "The GW Boutique". last December --but I got it anyway, knowing it'll be great to pack for vacation. Meanwhile, I'm wearing it now that temps are in the 80s.
2. I had filled up my ⛽ gas tank at $2.59 last week. Today, when I drove by the same H-E-B, I saw the price is now $2.99. Already! Thanks a lot, Trump.
3. I culled out some torn-up bath towels as part of my decluttering effort. Except for one old Canon towel from college (I graduated in the late 70s), Every. Single. One. was from Ollie's Outlet, and were no more than 2 years old. Grrrr! They were all frayed around the edges, had tears, and one had a hole in the middle. I'd bought them all at Ollie's at different times, and they were not all the same brand. Some were labeled "Hotel Quality" but all I can say is that it must have been a cheap, one star hotel. The messed up towels are getting donated to the dog pound, and from now on, I am not going to buy linens from Ollie's any more! 4. Because of No. 3, I shall resume my former frugal practice of buying nice looking beach towels from Walmart when they go on sale late this summer. The ones I bought 5 or 6 years ago from Walmart still look new -- no tears, no snags and no fading. They are even prettier than Ollie's towels.
5. Checked inside an "empty" shampoo pump bottle before throwing it away. Good thing I did: There is still enough product in there for yet another go-round (or 2) if I just take off the pump and pour some of it out. So it's back in the shower and will get used tonight.
Weird. I was at the airport bins yesterday. I saw a plate hanger and passed on it because I couldn’t visualize a plate I’d like to hang. Of course, as soon as I got home, I thought of a plate I’d like to hang.
I went in the morning after, and it was crowded! I didn’t find any treasures.
Do they do the senior discount at the bins??
Oh the bins! I am ready to go again!
My gluten free pizza dough recipe calls for egg whites so I Used the yolks to make a batch of oatmeal craisin bacon cookies for my mom.
Used the last of the honey crisp apples in apple hand pies using my Great Grandmas recipe.
I finally got the gold and stones bracelet appraised, it had a bit of damage, he priced it at $495, with repairs. I will consign it there. The stones are light pink sapphires.
Call it an aesthetic vibe for this post!
1. My husband took our kiddos to a free playgroup and they each came home with a snack and a free book. We saw on the back of the books that they normally cost $10-20 a piece!
2. I wasn't feeling very formal for lunchtime so I grazed on a homemade granola bar from the freezer and a whole wheat English muffin with some peanut butter and cinnamon sugar.
3. I finished Pretty Girls from Karin Slaughter on Libby last night. Very well written, horribly dark, I enjoyed it but probably need something a little lighter next. I have six items on hold for now.
4. My husband is making pretzels for dinner and the kiddos are having a more balanced variety of leftovers from the freezer and fridge since they're not big soft pretzel fans.
5. The well intended patch in my husband's jeans decided to throw in the towel today. I need to find a better patch or maybe see if I can reattempt another repair.