Five Frugal Things -- A $6.99 to $60 Miracle!
1) My college friend Lisa was in town, so we made plans to hang out. When asked what she wanted to do, her answer was "lunch and thrifting." Suffice it to say, I was down to clown with this plan!
Our first stop was the main Goodwill on S.E. 6th Avenue, where I picked up a vintage lily pad lamp for $6.99. I was drawn to the heavy bronze finish base, reminiscent of a classic Tiffany lamp. I didn't like the frilly glass shade, but Google Lens showed it was actually original to the piece.
I was hesitant to buy it as I have zero need for additional table lamps. I believe the way I phrased it to Lisa was "I need another lamp like I need a hole in the head!" I bought it anyway, as I figured I could always sell it.
Which I did! My time between listing it on Facebook Marketplace to handing it over to its new owner was a hair under an hour-and-a-half, which might be a record!
2) Lisa then treated me to lunch, which was a lovely generous act, as you know I love me some free food. In my defense, my husband and I took her to lunch in Seattle last month.
So I'm not a total mooch!
2) Lisa and I then hit a smaller Goodwill on S.E. 52nd, off Woodstock Blvd. (My favorite Goodwill.) I picked up this 99¢ Nemadji Pottery piece, which I might actually keep. (At least until I thrift another one to then sell as a "lot.") 99¢ didn't hit the minimum for a debit card purchase, so Lisa actually paid for it as I was cash poor.
Thank you, Lisa!
3) I found a shiny quarter on the ground next to the registers at Goodwill, which got kerplunked into my Found Change Challenge jar.
4) I woke up to the above eBay sale. I thrifted these Birkenstocks a few days ago at the bins for the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge, and my share after eBay fees is $23.69. Slightly less profit as I underestimated their weight.
Click HERE to see the listing!
For those keeping track, I've sold three items for the Oregon Food Bank in May so far:
- Hooters tank top -- $15
- Purse frame -- $75
- Birkenstocks -- $30
Yes, it's the randomest group of items to ever exist!
5) I decoupaged the thrifted December 30, 1930 New Yorker cover onto my day planner, which completes me amending it to fit my finicky and specific needs.
Note that I sewed the elastic a little tighter, as it had too much slack. Okay . . . now I'm done fiddling with the planner. Please enjoy that the background is my eBay inventory storage area.
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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This blog post includes an eBay referral link.
I LOVE how your customized day planner came out! Fun use of that New Yorker magazine cover you thrifted. You are so creative!
Katy, your decoupaged planner turned out great. I noticed The New Yorker covers in the earlier picture of you and your dad in the kitchen, so the aesthetic continues. My friend gives me her magazines when she's done reading them, and the current price of The New Yorker is $10.99 vs. the 15 cents on your planner cover.
Hello MB in MN,
I read the New Yorker on the Libby app. I’ve set it up to deliver every new issue(delivered every two weeks).
There is also a New Yorker podcast, about 30 minutes long and delivered twice a week, Tuesday’s and Friday’s.
In Canada on Sunday mornings at 5:00 am the CBC( Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ) plays that weeks New Yorker podcasts.
All for free, well my taxes support the library and the CBC:)
Hello T, thanks for the info!
I am a planner person and I love your vintage decoupage that has great memories of your Grandfather. Cool.
I purchased a vintage, stuck closed silver plate jewelry box in a junk sale and got it opened this morning. It had 1968 & 1965 half dollars and a roll of buffalo nickels. Shocked. I paid $2. Is that considered found money?
I also picked up a Boggs tote insert for $1, I scrubbed it up and will list it. I only found out what a Boggs tote was a short time ago. My daughter calls me her 'non trendy analog momma' truer words...yadda yadda.
I bought another club chair for $100, that opens up into a twin bed, just like a sleeper sofa. They had never used it. Now we can comfortably sleep one more without blowing up a mattress.
Picked my mom a bouquet of dutch irises and red and white roses. Baked her a batch of cookies. She requested pizza so I made the dough last night to slow proof in the fridge.
We are expecting a large turnout for dinner...about 40.
I made Texas sheet cakes and ice cream with caramel sauce.
I love that lily lamp. You have such a good eye!
Blue Gate Farmgirl - always intrigued by your large dinners. Do you host in a community that shares meals? Have a lot of friends/family? Tell us more!
1) Went to a free workout class this morning. I have a pack of classes, and it was free on Mother's Day, so saved one of my classes. They are pretty pricey, so I was thrilled for the freebie.
2) DH is making dinner at home for me, and attempting a Persian recipe that he hasn't made before (zereshk polo). We'll see how he does.
3) DS20 is working a double shift at a restaurant, so DH made him breakfast (to go) & I packed him a big lunch.
4) DS19 sent me "proof of life" from his Yosemite backpacking trip, and it was him cliff jumping into water. Gorgeous scenery, although I'm not sure I'll rest easier knowing this guy is such a dare devil.
5) I sent my mom a card for Mother's Day (we all filled it out), as I paid for her checked bag on a flight I was helping with a month or so ago as her Mother's Day gift. We are all quite practical, so she loved this idea.
Hi Hawaii!
My husband and I fostered 19 kids and I stopped fostering when I lost my hubby 5 yrs ago. I will always have an open door to all of my kids, their friends, my cousins, their families. We live in a very rural farming community and we started having community dinners before our volunteer fire weekly meetings. We invite everyone in our valley to come eat and have their blood pressure checked (I'm always a nurse), do a cursory roll call and wellness checks. My great uncle gave us his smaller shop to use and we have a lending library of tools, tables, chairs and coffee urns. We have a two bay automotive repair spot for community help with mechanical issues.
Every Sunday I host dinner for friends and family, I never know how many will show. Sometimes it is potluck, most of the time it is me and my cousin cooking. I learned large batch cooking from my bestie who caters and raised 8 kids.
This is amazing - thanks for sharing.
Blue Gate Farmgirl, I agree with Hawaii Planner: This is an amazing community you and yours have created.
And BTW, I'm stealing the "Non-Trendy Analog Momma" label, except that I'll have to change it to "Non-Trendy Analog Auntie." One of my own nephews and several of DH's nephews and nieces are in IT, so this applies to me.
I love the lamp, and I'm glad it found a good home, and that you came into some money!
1. For Mother's Day, my son and grandson made an elegant brunch -- breaded salmon, shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes, egg bites, roasted asparagus, and layer cake topped with strawberries. Afterwards we played a board game. I couldn't clean my plate, so I brought home a doggy bag which will provide lunch for tomorrow.
2. My friend gave me two paperweights to sell on eBay. She doesn't want the proceeds if they sell, just wants to re-home them.
3. I made it home from the wedding weekend without stopping for gas. I did stop for breakfast, but ordered light and ate in the car.
4. Avoided the toll road on the way home, knowing that Sunday morning traffic would be light.
5. A new round of cool weather has made installation of my window AC units unnecessary -- for now.
It has been a while since I've posted, so a very belated thank you to A. Marie for posting Lindsey's obituary. Her impact will live long and wide.
1. I picked lilacs from my tiny backyard, which I enjoy profusely during their short time in bloom. The vase is from 1994, which I bought when backpacking in Ireland.
2. We share recycling bins with our upstairs neighbors, and as I was recycling, I found 5 soda cans that they had left. I dug in and added to our stash for redemption. When buying gas yesterday, I also saw a can in the trash next to the pump, so I promptly grabbed it. NOTE: it will take a LOT of found cans to help pay for the increase in gas prices. It cost me more than $50 to fill up, about $15 more than normal.
3. I went to a conference for work, and thus out for dinner. At the last meal, I had enough leftovers to feed me a dinner when I was back home.
4. Laundry is drying in the backyard, which is a process as we don't have a clothesline, so I have to drag out a portable one, which is awkward.
5. With a few extra mystery shops at grocery stores + free farm share that my partner gets from work, I'm trying REALLY hard to not spend more than $20 a week at the grocery store. Tonight's dinner is pork banh mi burgers, roasted potatoes and slaw with ground pork, brioche buns, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, mayo all free, and using up cilantro and basil that we had for other meals. Drinking free [crappy] coffee at work as well as free lunches at work, too.
Betta, I've missed your posts. Limiting your grocery spending while eating as well as you do is so fun to read about.
I too am glad to see you back, betta. And re: Lindsey, you're welcome--but along with everyone else, I wish we'd had the benefits of her wit and wisdom for many more years.
Hi A. Marie, Working to catch up on Katy’s posts. Can you share which date had the post with Lindsey’s obituary please? I always enjoyed her writing and her kind hearted thoughts.
1. Got back into the swing of listing things after 2 trips to take care of grandkids and taking care of a daughter with mono/tonsilitis/sepsis (a horrible combo). Sold a plant yesterday, and gave away 4 rooted grapevine cuttings and 3 kids workbooks. I often come home with the urge to clear things out, and things had really piled up due to the events of the last 4 weeks (see above!).
2. Dh franken-built a door for a small bookcase, at my request. I dreamed it all up and he did all the work, except the painting. The old cupboard doors in the garage were the right width, but too short for the bookcase that needed a door. So we took 2 of the cupboard doors and cut them down to size and joined them. Total cost of the project, $7.18 for 2 new hinges at our locally owned Ace hardware. I am inordinately pleased with the price and the result.
3. While painting the door mentioned above, I used the sample pot of paint to paint the bookcase that the door was going onto, plus the bookcase that it's next too. It's a huge improvement, I had 3 bookcases side by side along a very visible wall and they were all 3 different shades of cream/white. Now they are all the same. I already had the sample pot of paint, which is now entirely gone-I stretched that paint a loooooong way.
4. Mother's Day gift for my mom is a micro dwarf tomato plant that a friend of mine raised from seed. Cost to me: $0. That's a price I like! My mother is pleased and it's a size that is very manageable for her.
5. Taking advantage of the nice weather by doing some seasonal laundry (coats, duvets, etc) and drying it all on the line. I line dry everything, my free-to-me dryer is reserved for guests or shrinking new fabric.
1. Hosted Mother's Day lunch at my home. All the food was a huge hit, and there's plenty of leftovers, even after sending some home with everyone.
2. I got my mom a pair of Skechers slip-in walking shoes as a gift. They were new in box and I snagged them for just $13 on Posh.
3. Last night we attended an Art and Wine event. It was local, and tickets were cheap at just $30 each. It included 10 tastes, music, charcuterie, and art displays. All monies supported the city area arts council.
4. Sold three items over the weekend, and listed many more.
5. Cooked up food for the week to take for lunch, and to have quick meals on hand. Hoping for good weather so I can ride my bike to work most days this week.
I have a question for Katy. Do you claim your eBay and marketplace sales on your taxes?
I’m just asking because I am considering selling items on eBay and don’t know if you have to report it on your taxes. Thanks.
There was talk of taxing eBay income but it never came to fruition. IMHO, there are some eBay sales that are like garage sales but there are some eBay sales somewhat game the system. I'm sure eBay dumped cashed into politicians pockets but given the drunken sailor debt increase since inauguration 2025, I suspect the working class is going to be called upon to fork up more money.
You do. You can also write off your costs.
I love the look of lamps, unfortunately I hardly use them, so I have several "aesthetic" dust catchers that take lightbulbs. I have vowed not to take them with our move!
1. I cleared out the bananas from our very forgotten produce drawer, (my kids decided bananas were the least desirable snack after I bought 2.5 bunches) and made 26 banana muffins.
2. It's leftovers day here, lunch and dinner have cleared out the last of the leftovers from the last few days.
3. Took advantage of the cleared out fridge to give it a good wipe down.
4. Finished "All of us villains" on Libby, it's a two book series so I snatched up the next book. I'm very excited for the next 19 hours of listening!
5. I wished the mothers in my life a virtual happy mother's day, no $11.99 Hallmark cards in this house thank you very much.
The new cover for the journal looks very nice. Katy, you have nice handwriting also. (When leave handwritten comments on my students' work I print. Some of them can't read cursive letters.)
1. I got several free breakfasts last week at McDonalds for Teacher Appreciation Week.
2. I went to a retiree luncheon. After the event the servers said there was leftover food. I got a to go box to take home.
3. I made some marinara meat sauce using 1/2 lb of ground meat & 1 lb of freshly grated carrots. The carrots bulked up the sauce & disappeared in the marina sauce. It was tasty & made a large amount.
4. Took my lunch to work last week. My school does not have a cafeteria so that makes the decision easy. (There is a coffee shop across the street but it often runs out of food.)
5. I went to a discount store I have visited a few times. I got some good deals on a few food items. A 240 count box of British Yorkshire tea, a box of Wheat Thins crackers, bottle of garlic powder, a 1 lb carton of oatmeal, and a 20 count pack of single serve Oreo cookies for 5$. Each item was 1 $. Those British tea bags were a real find. I should not have to buy tea bags for a long time.
Great haul for $5!
Today I made pizza from scratch for dinner, and took care of “future me” by making 6 little personal pizzas to freeze as well! Homemade sourdough crust, homemade sauce. A lot of work for one evening, but I think it will be worth it when we’re tired and craving something fun
Best frugal thing we do is stay out of restaurants! I made our family favorite manicotti with sausage gravy for Mom’s Day meal (It was also our son’s birthday!). and a large Caesar salad with garlic bread on the side. Of course a lemon cake and ice cream. Slightly carb heavy but oh so good!!
My husband then sat down and watched a whole movie with me (he is generally not good at movies..but watched the WHOLE THING with me!). We were able to borrow an account password and watch “Remarkable Creatures” with Sally Fields.. oh so good. My husband loved it too!!
Attended a FREE art and craft afternooon at the home of a gal from church. Everyone brings their own project and we gossip, laugh,act silly, and enjoy the small dogs running around, as she is a doggie day care provider for a couple of sweet elderly dogs.
Enjoyed FREE LUNCH on CInco De Mayo (A big thing in Phoenix!) as it fell on our Hand and Foot card day game.3 of my neighbors play cards with me twice a month.We rotate houses, all on same block! NO GAS!! Hostess makes lunch and Elaine made theBEST chicken enchiladas, salad, guacamole! In 2 weeks it’s my turn to hostess. Will be doing frugal ham and cheese sliders and a cake from a mix I have stockpiled in my pantry from early grocery store sale.
Been STAYING OUT of my favorite thrift stores, as I have cleaned my closet dramatically and DO NOT NEED A THING. If I go I WILL come home with blouses and books, etc. that I do not need!!
Katy, the New Yorker cover is absolute perfection! Love that so much.
Question: buyers don't seem to mind the darkened footbeds of Birkenstocks? I tend to get grossed out by the obvious toes! But you seem to be able to sell them well enough?
1. We did not do ANYTHING yesterday. My rehearsal was cancelled and we bailed on a comedy show. It was lovely to watch TV, putter around, and read.
2. I did leave the house to go food shopping, which supplemented our freezer stash well. Pulled out turkey meatballs, hot italian sausage, and chicken breast as our proteins this week.
3. I also pulled out two half-full containers that got chucked in the freezer before some travel last week. One was ground turkey with peppers and spices and the other was pseudo buffalo chicken dip. I reheated both for us and we grazed with chips (my fave way to eat!) while watching SNL reruns.
4. I competed in a powerlifting competition at my gym on Saturday. While I pay for the gym, the competition was free to enter. I came in dead last 🙂 but I don't care - I got to learn new skills, support my friends, and be supported in trying something difficult together!
5. Looked at my financials and it appears I have just enough money to...stay home and read in the dark for the next two weeks. The bright side is I would rather know this ahead of time instead of accruing more debt. I will keep reminding myself that decluttering my dresser and doing the dishes are both free activities.
My curb picked TV set did not work. The city charges a fee to haul off electronics. Oh no!
Meanwhile, I have been very upset that some out-of-town phony "charities" have set up donation bins and donation stations all over our town. This has been going on for years and no one does anything about it.
What makes me mad is this: These so-called "charities" do not help anyone in our county (I know, I did the research, and even went up to some operators loading up a bin one day and they told me they weren't from here and I'd have to go to another city to apply for aid from their organization). Yet they take away donated items that could benefit the local charities helping local folks. (Lots of poverty where I live.)
I figure if the people in their(wealthier) out-of-town cities do not support these organizations, perhaps there is no need for the out-of-town "charities" in the first place. Many of them have vague wording on their bins, like generic names or "Help Veterans" or "Help Children" and no actual street address. Chances are they are run by flea market vendors wanting free merch to sell, or other scammers, my cop friend told me, but so far there is no local law against it. So he can't ticket them or anything.
Hmm...Perhaps these scammers should get a taste of their own medicine.
So, I donated the junk TV and a broken lamp to one of these donation stations. Items that will soon be taken to a metropolitan area 250 miles away. That big metro area is far more prosperous than our poor little town.
I save the landfill fee, this keeps 2 items out of our local landfill, and maybe just maybe the phony baloney operators get taught a lesson.
I wonder what the relationships are between the businesses whose parking lots they are set up in and the "charity." Does the landlord or business get a tax deduction or a fee?
And I fear yours will be neither the first nor the last junk donations they get. Unless you are the straw that finally cracks them, but I doubt it.
On a whim and in a downsizing mode, I listed two cast iron pans on FB Marketplace as one lot: one an old cornbread pan (six molds in the shape of ears of corn) and the other a contemporary cast iron mold for flowers, butterfly, etc. They sold in two hours, asking price $10/lot. I underpriced but I wanted a fast sale. I was pleased how fast it was! However, I still have several other items lingering on Marketplace. You never know how fast or how slow a sale will be.
Love the sneak peek at the sale staging area. Have been inspired to consider more eBay listings, but not quite sure how to start or manage inventory.
Love the journal upgrade!
That planner is a beauty
For those who subscribe to The New York Times online:
When my All Access subscription is up for renewal, they always want me to renew it at $25./month. I always ask to unsubscribe, as I feel the rate is too high, and usually get an immediate offer at a much lower price. Last year I paid $8/month, this year they offered $4./month.
In addition, I get the emails from https://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/100/10000. They send you emails with offers of free magazines, some digital and some mailed to you, for free - no fee or postage at all. They also have digital books for free on business and other subjects, such as many of the "Dummies" books, How to books on AI, computer languages and many more subjects. These too are 100% free.