Five Frugal Things -- Buying and Selling From Goodwill
1) I sold a "bins" remote control on eBay for $15, which puts $11.65 into the Goodwill Gift Card Challenge for the Oregon Food Bank. It weighed a single ounce, which means I paid around 18¢ for it.
Click HERE to see the listing.
2) My sister and I hit up the Goodwill bins for an hour or so and I bought this pretty hunk of honed marble for my own personal use. I'd been actively keeping an eye out for something to use as a large coaster and this seemed like a cute solution. I have an ancient roll of adhesive green felt, so I cut corner pieces to pad the bottom surface.
I was worried that this heavy item would cost too much, but in the end they only charged me $2.46. I paid for it out of pocket.
3) I also bought this pair of "Papillo" Birkenstocks to resell for the gift card challenge. I currently have them up for sale on eBay for $25.
4) I couldn't resist this soft as butter alpaca cardigan sweater. It has a stain above the right pocket, but I welcome the opportunity to work on my stain fighting skills. I'll list this on eBay after it completes its beauty treatment.
5) Lastly, I picked up this Gecko brands dry bag, which I listed on eBay for $22. It was super light and should hopefully sell quickly.
I spent $6.36 and sadly have just 95¢ left on the gift card. Boo!
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."
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
This blog post includes eBay referral links.
I am always interested to see what you buy. You definitely have me thinking outside of the box!
I have sold one of the Planetbox lunchboxes I bought at Goodwill, so I'll be packing it up today and listing the other one.
I need toilet paper, so I'll go to Sam's while I'm out, and I'll get my Sam's regulars -- rotisserie chicken and raspberries. And I'll buy Always Discreet pads if they have the right size. They usually don't.
I went through all my books, but still didn't get up to the total I need to send a package to Thriftbooks. I will start looking at little free libraries differently. I think I have a better sense now of what they want. Somewhat.
What great finds. The sandals are cute and the sweater is so pretty. What's your magic stain treatment?
I just posted late last night so I don't have much to add.
1. My mom and I are going to visit my MIL today. We'll bring her McDonalds for lunch. We all get a McChicken and small fries which are BOGO for $1. She's 91 and would not tolerate living in an assisted living facility. She's where she will be happiest. This is my brothers-in-law's decision and I fully support it. Her children and grandchildren visit usually daily to make sure she's taking her medications and has what she needs. Both her sons stay overnight at least weekly for one and the other comes for several days each month. He drives 10 hours each way. Now that's love.
2. My sweet daughters are trying to figure out what to do about my very old Kindle Fire which will be bricked in May. Amazon will no longer support the old versions and since that is how I read all my library books I will have to figure out a solution. We all have a healthy (unhealthy) hatred of Amazon so I'm enjoying all their Shmeff Shmezos comments.
3. My mother gave me some tuna noodle casserole. I don't know how I can manage to screw up such a simple dish, but hers always tastes way better. I don't even bother to make it anymore. That will be dinner tonight. Thanks Mom.
Buy Nothing has been very generous, as always. Over the last few weeks, I've received:
1. Bedroom blackout curtains and rod (with nothing extra needed from the hardware store!)
2. Food storage containers for winter Airbnb
3. Travel containers and toiletry pouches
4. Dozen grocery items. Brought some to the food shelf.
5. Piece of foam that I put under our dog's crate that we keep in the car. Now it doesn't jangle so much.
Glad I could fulfill someone's Buy Nothing wish for tiny glass jars with lids.
Oh, that looks like so much fun!
My access to the bins is diminished now that I’m living my life in the hinterlands. The closest bins is in Salem, and it’s small.
I’m entertaining myself with Winco bulk bins iron chef challenges. Last night I made a pilaf involving bulgur wheat and slivered almonds (plus assorted veggies).
I'm guessing those Birk's will sell quickly! I haven't seen that kind with the three straps in a bit.
1) I've had a week, and convinced DS20 to go pick up lunch for us, by purchasing lunch for him as well (a bribe, of course). Used a Subway BOGO coupon + a gift card. With a tip, the gift card covered it all. No money out of pocket. I have enough for a second lunch as well.
2) I'm convincing myself that the work trip I leave on tomorrow will generate enough airline miles to cover another flight for Christmas. I don't want to go, so this is how I'm mentally convincing myself.
3) We ate leftovers all week for dinner.
4) DS19 gave a tour to extended family members of his college. They were going to take him to lunch as a thank you, but ran into a snafu. They "tipped" him with Venmo as a thank you. While totally unnecessary, he was absolutely thrilled, and is incredibly broke as we approach the end of the year, so I know he appreciated it.
5) Gave away some sunblock on BN, cleaned out a ton of expired COVID tests (we used to get them for free from work) & found an old Cue device that it looks like I might need to find electronic recycling for.
1) I shifted my winter clothes into storage and pulled out my warmer weather clothing. I may make a blouse or two for myself, but beyond that I'm well covered.
2) Over the weekend I'll sort through the hand-me-downs to outfit my younger child for warm weather. If there are glaring holes I'll add it to my thrift store list.
3)For dinner last night I found some sausage meat hiding in the fridge and made toad-in-the-hole, complete with onion gravy using odds and ends from the fridge. Cheap, filling and comforting.
4) Leftovers have formed the base of our meals this week- I suspect burritos this evening will take care of the rest of it.
5) Beyond that- I'm taking the bus, packing my lunch, making my coffee and rocking the thrifted wardrobe.