Five Frugal Things — Cheap Sandals & My Coat Has Returned!
1) I stopped into the Goodwill that’s near Winco Foods for a quick browse. Per usual, I looked up twenty items and bought just one.
I’m going to give an example of the above hand painted Italian salt and pepper set. I looked it up because it was obviously not mass produced.
This is the first eBay listing that showed up for me:
You’d think it would be a no brainer to grab it, since the Goodwill one was priced at just $12.99, right?
Wrong. It’s important to check both listed prices and “Completed Listings” when doing eBay searches as a reseller. Sellers can whatever put pie in the sky number they want on their listings, but how much something actually sells for is the only amount that matters.
These are all completed listings for the same brand, (a crossed out number means the seller accepted a lower offer) and I couldn’t find a single sold set that sold for more than $50. That’s too much of a gamble for me at $12.99, so I left it for someone else.
2) What did I buy? This pair of Keen “Elle backstrap sandals” that sell new for $95. I’m on the tall side and as such wear a women’s size ten, which makes it challenging to thrift for footwear. People . . . these were a size ten!
I’ve been looking for a pair of comfortable walking sandals all year, which makes this pair that much more exciting! Sure, they’re a bit grubby, but nothing that a quick scrub won’t remedy in under ten minutes.
They’re even the exact style I’d been looking for!
3) I then drove the couple blocks down to Winco for a quick grocery shop.
One of the items on my list was onions, which I always keep on hand. Note that the cheapest onions were 68¢ per pound.
Luckily I shop this Winco frequently enough to know they have bagged onions a couple aisles over that end up cheaper per pound.
68¢ X 3 = $2.04
So I’m saving 6¢, hardly worth writing home about. However, there’s always more than three pounds in these bags, so I pulled a three or four bags and bought the one that felt the heaviest.
4) Here’s everything that I bought. (Almost — as I did buy six or seven dates from the bulk bins and snacked on them while driving home.) I spent $51.83, which isn’t terrible as the yogurt and gluten-free flour were both pricey items.
I do enjoy that my Barkeeper’s Friend cleanser rang up as “Friend Cleanser.” Perhaps I need to invite a friend over for an abrasive spa session!
I just now noticed that I was charged for “hazelnuts,” when what I bought were actually almonds. I’ll have to check on my next visit to see if I was charged extra or got an accidental bargain.
5) The last frugal thing is my favorite, as I finally (finally!!!) found my beloved Land’s End coat! (Missing for at least a year and a half!) I tore my house apart trying to find it and was super annoyed that I’d lost my coat!
I wrote about that frustration is this blog post.
It turns out to have been hiding in my mother’s coat closet this whole time, which may sound like an obvious place to have checked, but she never uses this closet and the door was actually stuck closed for years at one point! I actually assumed it was stuck.
Either way, I’m finally back in business and ready for winter weather!
Not that you asked, but this coat:
- Fits me perfectly. Zips across my chest without straining, (an issue with all my shirts, sweaters and coats.) yet isn’t too loose at the waist.
- Is long enough to warm my derrière.
- Has an adjustable hood.
- Is waterproof for inevitable rain.
- Has a very thin fleece lining, which keep me warm without getting too hot.
- Cost around $1.50, as it’s from the Goodwill bins.
So happy to have it back in my life!
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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Congratulations on finding your coat, and for finding the perfect sandals! A very good day!
Yesterday I took the train to the library to return and pick up books, but to my dismay it was closed for professional development! I’m sure that was announced somewhere, but I didn’t see it. I returned my book at the outside bin, but I had to wait till today to pick up the two books on hold.
I didn’t want to waste the trip yesterday, so I stopped at Target and bought sour cream and coconut milk for a recipe. I didn’t pay anything out of pocket, because I successfully used my virtual gift card. I also picked up three extra receipts.
This morning I went back and got the books, driving this time because I wanted to gas up for a trip to Indiana tomorrow. I will spend several days with my buddy there. Gas — at Sam’s, the cheapest around — was $4.63 a gallon.
I came home and made creamy chickpea pasta. There is enough to take some to my friend’s tomorrow. She won’t eat any, but it’s nice to bring something for myself since we eat so differently.
Temperatures have dropped and my radiators came on. That was a relief, because so often the boiler doesn’t get turned on this early. I have had some miserable Octobers in the past..
Thank you, I spent all last winter annoyed about the coat.
Sorry about the library being closed, I get it.
I have gathered you are in the Chicago area, with much more expensive gas.
Indiana is still having a gas tax holiday-credit-thingy, so expect to pay less than $4.00.
Yes, my plan was to get gas in Indiana, but I didn’t think I had enough to get there, and I didn’t want to worry about it. I will top up the tank in Indiana on the way back. And yes, I live in the Chicago area.
Likely robbing road maintenance funds. I understand the concept of “tax holiday” but long term it is not a good deal.
Beth, gas up in Indiana, it’s.75 to $1.00 cheaper. At least it was for us on Tuesday.
Katy, I wonder if you’ve seen the cashmere sweaters embroidered with (among other things) political messages, sold by Lingua Franca? (linguafranca.nyc) They came through my “threads” feed and I thought – “A thrifted cashmere sweater and an hour, and I’m in business!”
Reminded me of your Ralph Lauren embroidered denim shirts.
Thanks for your blog. I’m down in Salem and I catch up on it every few days. I appreciate the overall message you present, but especially love all the insider/homegrown PNW references.
Checked out the sweaters – I know what I’m doing for Christmas, to thrifted sweaters, with thrifted floss.
That’s great that you found your coat and scored those wonderful sandals.
Yesterday I made egg salad to use up a couple of eggs. Bought a teeny jar of mayo at Dollar Tree because we generally are not mayo consumers. A bigger jar just goes bad before being used up.
Went to bookclub at the library, which always includes free cookies as a snack. Mended an old flannel sheet with some thread from my late mother’s sewing kit (she died 15 years ago) and mopped the most used half of the house with the awesome Libman Freedom mop and washable pads. Received a box of free OTC items from my health insurance: Curad bandages, dental floss, vitamins, arthritis relief gel, and generic Tums.
Katy, thank you for your google lens tip (from a previous post) – I have used this several times since and am embarrassed that I didn’t know of it earlier!
1. In my quest to reduce spending, I looked into getting a cheaper rate for both Walmart+ and Amazon Prime. I had heard that this is available for people who receive government assistance (SNAP, Medicaid)….turns out that this is correct! I submitted some paperwork and voila, cheaper rates! I am very thankful.
2. I attended a school function this morning and took advantage of the breakfast offerings.
3. I am car-pooling for kids’ sports so as to save on gas.
4. I have inventoried my various gift cards, put them in one place, and plan to use them so they don’t end up being a free donation to the big corporations.
5. I brew a pot of coffee only 1-2 times per week and store it in mason jars in the fridge for daily consumption. I am trying to drink water instead of iced tea, but my sweet tooth is protesting.
@Ecoteri – as soon as I put it out into the world that I was considering donating or selling my children’s Lego, what happens? My youngest spotted the bin I had collected and spent the evening setting up an intricate Lego village in the living room. I guess we are not quite ready to let it go 🙂
AHH, so glad you weren’t accused of getting rid of the box without consulting (which I was, while the box(es) were just in a different closet than expected). Lego is quite meditative, tbh, if you aren’t trying to follow a specific ‘recipe’. I am looking forward to my Grandson being old enough that Lego is beyond being considered a choking hazard – then we shall have some good times at Granny’s!
The last time I was in Walmart they had a sign that said college students including grad students can get a special Walmart Plus Student card and you get your merch at 50% off. I don’t know all the details but it would be worth looking into. Made me want to enroll in junior college for one course! But seriously, any of you who have college aged kids might want them to get this and then accompany you on shopping trips…or do your grocery shopping for you.
So cool you found the sandals, keen are so comfortable. The lost coat is perfect timing, so glad that mystery is solved. I really liked the salt & pepper set, but not for $12.99.
I’m having a “shoulda” day. Shoulda quit reading the book and picked up leaves/yard work.
I did plant some Muscari bulbs the neighbor shared with me.
I am borrowing my cousin’s food trailer for our HS booster club we are making air fried chili tots with a menu of add ons (queso, pico, guacamole, sour cream) we are raising money for our scholarship fund.
I feel like every day is a “shoulda day!”
How wonderful you found your coat? Did you do a happy dance when you spied it? Found just in time for fall weather. Those are nice looking sandals. It is exciting to find just the item you need at a thrift store.
1.I was inspired by a freezer cleanout on this site & FG. I had more of a pantry cleanout. I saw 3 cheese lasagna soup on the menu at Panera. I looked up a recipe & it’s easy to make. I had ground beef in the freezer, lasagna noodles, pasta sauce, chopped tomatoes, & beef broth in the pantry. I had a wrinkly onion in the fridge. My garlic powder was dried out so I put boiling water in the bottle to unglue it. I am not going to buy any more canned goods or pasta until I use what I have. The soup turned out nicely. I only had 2 types of cheese for the topping but that worked. It has finally cooled off & soup will be a good work lunch.
2.Rain fell last night so the sprinkler system is turned off. The A/C is off too as the temp has cooled.
3. I like to change up my bedroom look w/ the chg in seasons. I got out a different matelasse’ bed covering & sheets I have not used in awhile. I pulled out a small rug that I rediscovered in the laundry room. A new look at no cost.
4. I pulled out a frozen container of chx broth w/ a chx frame in it. I removed what chx remained & strained the broth. It went back to the freezer for a later soup concoction. (When I had the food processor out to make lasagna soup I grated the onion I had. Half of it is in the freezer.) Making soup or chx & dumplings will be easy peasy for a future meal(s).
5. I got a $10 off a purchase coupon for BJs. I don’t usually shop there but I think I’ll get ground meat w/ my coupon. I had a Groupon offer to get a BJ card for $10 so I thought I’d try the store. Mostly I use the card in FL to buy gas.
Your #3…I’ve found switching out blankets, tablecloths, table runners, rugs for different ones I already own and moving pictures and wall hangings from one room to another is the cheapest way to go when I need a change. I’m still in the same four walls but the walls look different. Lol.
Mine isn’t terribly frugal, because I took a trip to Iceland. However, I took advantage of a deal that Icelandair was having way back in July and my entire trip (not including food and the tattoo I got) was less than 1800. Which is an amazing price for flights with upgraded seats, transportation to/from the airport, hotel, and 3 different tour packages. Iceland is beautiful.
While I was in Iceland on day three, I had my hand in my pockets of the jacket that I had been wearing every day. And felt something funny. I thought maybe my pocket was falling apart, but I pulled out a dime. (20 years ago, my late husband said he always wanted to go to Iceland, but we never made it. So he made it with me.) It’s the first dime I have found in months.
The only souvenirs I brought home were my tattoo, and eight, 45 records. Two were for my son.
I also met a couple that lives 20 minutes from me. We were staying at the same hotel, and kept running into each other every day. We’ve exchanged phone numbers and are looking forward to getting together now that we’re both home. (We were even on the same flight coming home, with me right behind them).
Frugal fail, I arrived home late Wednesday/Thursday and realized Thursday night that I no longer had my knitting with me. I remember putting it on the floor in the plane while I was taking my iPad out of my backpack. And I know I did not put it in my bag. The airline does not have it. But it was a leftover ball of baby yarn, and a cheaper pair of circular needles. I was making some baby booties to have on hand, so even if the airline had found it, it’s not worth the money for me to drive into Logan airport to pick it up. It also proves how exhausted I was (my flight landed at 10, but by the time I got through customs and got on the Logan express bus and got home at 1, it was roughly 5AM Iceland time. So I was exhausted. And very sleep deprived).
I am on the schedule to work about 16 hours at the town hall for early voting and then will be working on voting day, all day. So I’ll make a little pocket money. And my second pension and my widows pension are both starting in November.
Oh my goodness! Color me green with envy. What a score on the Keen sandals. I have 2 pairs of those -also in size 10- and I paid full price. The only slightly frugal win for me is that I bought them via the military exchange store so no sales tax. I have to say those are the best sandals. They have some cushion so you can protect yourself from jarring steps on asphalt roads etc. Great find!
No sales tax here in Oregon!
I’m happy to see that your coat reappeared. Now, if only the weather will become coat-worthy. I can’t believe it’s October 16 and I’m wearing shorts and sandals. Oregon is turning into California!
I’m in Portland for the weekend. A sign of the times is that there is a foreclosure notice taped to a neighbor’s front door, because he hasn’t paid his mortgage in over a year (the house has been vacant). This was a decidedly non-frugal neighbor who received multiple Amazon packages every day, and changed decor frequently. It was always the talk of the neighborhood, with people wondering how someone could afford a lifestyle like that. Well, I guess he couldn’t afford it!
I feel sweaty just thinking about it!
1. I went to the library to work my volunteer gig, return two books and pick up another one. With the gas prices, I always try to batch errands. On the way out the door, I noticed on the Spice of the Month table were packets of Cumin. It looks like each one holds about 2 Tablespoons. Of course one came home with me.
2. I have a dollar store card ready to be mailed out to my friend in a nursing home. Still can’t beat the price at .50 unless I made my own.
3. Not frugal except free enjoyment but my Christmas Cactus (so called) is developing buds that will likely bloom around Thanksgiving. A beautiful pale pink color.
4. I met friends at the indy bookstore and stuck to a cup of tea. The pastry there is marvelous but I’m trying hard to lose weight and as always, save money.
5. While there the owner lended me a book about a murderer on the Appalachian Trail written by a retired policeman who had worked on the case. It’s written in novel form but based on real events.
Christine – it is so nice to think of your friend with cards. Every couple weeks I send one to my last surviving aunt. I always get the 99 cent Trader Joe’s cards. Last week she sent a card back saying how much she loves them and shows the cards to everyone. Trader Joe’s is in walking distance so still a good deal .
Thanks Beth. It seems such a small price for something that means so much to someone.
I can’t believe you found your coat at last!! Things like that really just seem like they are gone for good. The best surprise! It really does sound like the perfect jacket, especially in the fit!
Good deal on the Keens, as they look practically brand new!
I attempted to make gluten free banana bread. I am not celiac but tend to get stomach pains/bloating if I have too much wheat in a day. My husband’s homemade sourdough doesn’t seem to have that effect though. I had left over squash and banana so I combined them in the bread, which sounds weird but actually worked really well. I used a combo of Trader Joe’s gluten free bread along with cornmeal and buckwheat flour. Quite an experiment but we were happy with the results.
I had to get my new crown today. Our very sweet dentist takes 10% off for seniors.
Tonight we will have ‘monastery stew’ which is an old recipe from one of those hippie cookbooks from the 70’s (Yes, we were hippies). I used some leftover chicken broth and tomato sauce for the base.
In the ‘overflow’ shelf at QFC, I found bags of perfect organic honey crisp apples for $1.75 per bag. I got three bags. Weighed them when I got them home and each bag was about three pounds.
My son is leaving on a weeklong vacation to Vancouver Island. I am so glad he will be giving Canadians his vacation dollars.
This week, in doing genealogy, I discovered that the Premier of BC is a relative of mine. I looked up his Wikipedia page because I noticed that his last name ‘Eby’ is the same as that of many of my ancestors. And sure enough, we had the same 5x great grandparents. So please, David Eby, will you let us move to BC?? Genealogy can be endless fun.
Our fun this weekend is that big ‘get out the vote’ rally. I need to make a new sign tonight, I think.
Trying not to buy much new stuff but I did find cotton long sleeve shirts for the winter (to put under things)
For only $2.99 a shirt on the ultra clearance rack.
Nice weekend everyone!
Canada just passed Bill C-3, which allows for citizenship via descent. I have already applied, since my great-great grandparents were born and raised in Canada. All I had to do was send copies of documents proving the lineage, and pay a small application fee. It will take a year or two, since so many others have applied, but it will be worth the wait!
Came here to say this! Best do it now, just in case.
Honeycrisps are my husband’s favorite and often pricey here. Great find!
Katy, I was hoping your missing light fixture was in your mom’s closet, too!
1. Received three packages of hot dog buns from Buy Nothing. Made croutons out of some of them and froze the rest.
2. Graduated with honors from physical therapy so no more $25 copays. The ten sessions I did have was the best $250 I’ve ever spent.
3. Completed a free three-part series called “Being Mortal: Advance Care Planning & End of Life Choices” through my library. We will be updating our health care directives based on what we learned. We’ll also have another discussion with our alternate health care agents to make sure they’re on the same page with our wishes; if not, we’ll go to Plan B.
4. Bought a fancy coffee drink (a first) at Caribou Coffee in solidarity with a friend. Oof, was it potent. I took mini sips and then brought the rest home, diluted it, and spread it out over three days.Â
5. Received a 10% off coupon when I sold something to Half-Price Books. Â
Try finding sizes less than six – new or used. Size seven used to be average, I have no idea these days.
1) The NWT bra I thrifted last week is the most comfortable and flattering I’ve ever had. Now to find a few more on eBay/Vinted. I went thrifting again yesterday and found a few things to resell, along with a package of fancy Welly bandaids for my grandson outing tote and NIP Sodastream bottles for $2.20/2, expiring in 2029.
2) Still staying with my charming, frugal friend while prepping our old house for sale. I usually take her to dinner every week, but with DH’s job loss, not advisable – but I did pick up some excellent tacos and tamales from a nearby Latine grocery, along with handmade tortillas, mayacoba beans, cheap/excellent avocados, and a few treats and novelties. Tonight, we made clear out the fridge tacos and margaritas with various citrus and quick homemade simple syrup. Absurdly tasty and satisfying and about a dollar apiece.
3) I dropped and broke her new Brita pitcher, but was relieved to find a gift card I won’t be using anytime soon in my Target account, because boycott. I ordered it for pickup, along with some BKF cleanser, which she wants to try.
4) My dad was contacted by a past bank about a very substantial CD that was lost in the shuffle during my mom’s precipitous illness and death. She handled the finances, and he was in no condition to go digging through the files afterwards. They couldn’t reach him since he’d moved, but tracked down my brother to get in touch. This reminded me to check missingmoney.com – the only legitimate site, run by the association of state treasurers – to find a few small amounts under my name, another $600 or so for my dad, and $700 for my sister. My dad needs a NOKBox (next-of-kin, for all relevant records for end-of-life care) made up; our son may go visit and help him organize it, as he’s very good at it and is unable to work at the moment due to illness.
5) canceled/paused another few subscriptions, cashed out a few online accounts, spent absolutely nothing today.
Thanks for the info about missing money. I found a small amount for myself and an undisclosed amount for my son, which I will pass along to him.
https://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/go-get-your-money-on-missingmoney-com/ This blog post spells out how to do it.
Amazing. Two people found around $9K!
Two things I learned:
– search every name variation, including just the first initial. My dad’s name was misspelled.
– I didn’t have to submit any paperwork for my piddly amount, but DH will for his $150 or so.
I join in the general rejoicing over the Keen sandals (those look comfy!) and the rediscovery of your coat. And I sure wish we had a Winco here.
Thank you, it’s so funny how I’ve created a community that celebrates my used shoes and misplaced items!
Congratulations on finding your coat and those sandals are cute.