Five Frugal Things -- What I Bought & Didn't Buy at The Goodwill Bins
1) I took a couple hours out of my day to scour my local Goodwill Outlet bins for vases that sell for $153,600. Sadly that did not happen, but I did pick up this $3 Ikea ÖRFJÄLL chair, even though the seat was pretty dirty. I own an upholstery shampooer and love me a good "before and after!"
New versions sell for $80, so I should be able to sell it for $30 or so. It was originally priced at $5, so I know it had been on the floor for awhile.
2) I also grabbed this pair of plastic "Essentials" Birkenstocks in my size, even though they were spattered with paint. I figured I could clean them up and even if that plan was a bust, they weigh practically nothing and that's a bargain from a pay-by-the-pound thrift store!
My first step was to throw them through the wash, which actually removed most of the paint.
Step two was to spend ten minutes or so with my Barkeeper's Friend and an old toothbrush.
Actually, there were only two steps. Ten minutes of hands on time to make them look almost new. I'd estimate I spent 50¢ on them, which is far superior to their original $50 price tag!
3) I chose this drapey T-shirt for myself as I never have enough tops. Unfortunately it smells like it was sprayed with Goodwill's signature stanky disinfectant, even after I put it through the wash. I'll leave it out on my clothesline for a couple days and see if it diminishes.
4) I also bought a Brooks Brothers Turkish towel, whose thick fluffiness stood out from the crowd. You can buy a single one of their towels on sale for $43.99, so it definitely came home with me. I rifled around that bin to see if there was another one, but sadly was unsuccessful.
I might keep it for house guests, but I'll probably end up listing it on eBay.
5) What didn't I buy?
This dollhouse sized cremation urn. What? Why?!
And this doll head, even though it was so adorable, not at all nightmare inducing.
Such a sweetie!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Mini cremation urns are widely available. They are super useful if you have cremains that multiple people want a portion of and/or you have a keep some/scatter some situation.
It was a single piece, the lid didn't come off.
Preparing to do battle with Dish network. The two year price guarantee we've had three times before is expiring, and a price guarantee, even at a slightly higher rate, is not available? Even though it is for new subscribers?
So I gave up and will try again tomorrow, and specifically ask for "loyalty" or "retention", to get a different agent.
I don't respond well to aggressive sales, either, and I wish they would believe my first "no."
Heidi Louise,
I don't have Dish or any other payment-mandating TV source. But I've noticed that in our community, Dish dropped one local TV station, and now it is dropping a 2nd one. (Both stations have publicized this over the air.) Apparently Dish is ripping off both consumers AND the local broadcasters. I wish you luck in your battle.
I think I'm getting nightmares looking at that doll head! And I'm not even asleep!
1. It's car (re-)registration time, and in my state, you have to put on a special window sticker to show your car is "legal," ie, you paid your yearly fee. So I had to take the old sticker off so I could replace it with this year's. When I removed the sticker, there was a lot of "sticky" still on the inner windshield. I grabbed an aerosol can of Windex* to clean it off with -- but found the sprayer thing was gone. Luckily, I had just run out of spray antiperspirant, so I grabbed the empty can of that from the trash can, and took off the little white sprayer. Put it on the Windex and VOILA! It worked perfectly. (*The aerosol Windex is something I normally don't buy, but last Christmas I needed something extra strong to do the breakfront cabinet's delicate glass. It worked a lot better than the blue liquid store-brand Windex-style window cleaner I usually use. But how we lost the sprayer thing, I don't know.) Now my windshield is clean, the sticker is stuck, and I don't have to worry about getting an expired registration ticket. Plus, having used the antiperspirant spray nozzle thingy, I'm sure my windshield's underarms won't be sweaty either, LOL.
2. Returned a too-tight blouse to Walmart and got a prompt and cheerful refund. (I bought a blouse one size too LARGE, but the way it fit was a size too small. Go figure.)
3. Went to the GW Boutique down the street from Wallyworld and used my 20% coupon to buy a blouse. It's much, much prettier than the one in #2 item today. Bonus: It matched the pants I was wearing so well that you'd think they were made for each other. (The pants were one of the 14 pair I'd gotten at another thrift store's bag sale for $10 for all. But I didn't have a blouse that went with this color.)
4. Cleaned out the fridge and ate leftovers.
5. Decided not to go to lunch with my out-of-town visiting Trump-loving pal, who (as usual) invited herself over. She uses my house as her own personal Bucky's when she travels through our region. I am beyond weary of her conservative Ditto-head lectures telling me how Trump is every bit as wonderful as Jesus. (I'm not being sacrilegious, she honestly "thinks" that. Except that she doesn't really think at all! ) Also, it can be dangerous: she refused to wear a mask during Covid, and brought over a similarly-unmasked traveling companion, and 3 months later, I heard the latter had died of Covid. No surprise there. So I conveniently got a "migraine" and called her and cancelled. (Well, she IS a headache, so that part wasn't a total lie.) Saved the cost of a restaurant meal, and my blood pressure didn't rise.