Five Frugal Things -- Goodwill and a Hotdog
1) I spent $8.34 at the Goodwill Outlet bins and brought home the following items, both to keep and to resell:
- Two large pieces of burlap/hessian to line my wire hanging baskets.
- A University of Oregon T-shirt for my kid to keep at the house, as they often shower here after exercising and have nothing to change into. The graphic is vintage and kind of cool.
- A pair of quality lil' pointy scissors.
- A faux classroom map.
- A pair of Boden cotton shorts, which I'll list on eBay.
- A pair of Rag & Bone brand bike shorts, which'll also go on eBay.
- A single rubber gasket for a ratcheting lid glass jar.
- Seven needlessly gendered clothespins.
- A quality cotton dish towel to keep.
- A Cuisinart food processor pusher thingy, which I've already listed on eBay for nine bucks.
No home runs, but still still a worthwhile trip.
Especially since I've been keeping an eye out for burlap.
I won't get rich off selling this Cuisinart piece, but I can help it get back into useful rotation and out of the landfill. Plus the money I get from selling it will cover the entire cost of this shopping trip.
2) Afterwards I stopped by Costco for a rotisserie chicken and a hotdog. The Goodwill bins are already about halfway to Costco, so it wasn't that big of a schlep.
Unrelated, but I really miss the era when they had sauerkraut!
3) I'm figuring out how to form fit the burlap into the wire basket, but in the meantime the clothespins are coming in handy. I'll for sure double up the fabric so the potting soil won't completely wash away.
My recent binge watch of the The Great British Sewing Bee has convinced me that I can tackle any sewing project.
I'll cut the babies off my spider plants and transfer them into the baskets. They should fill in nicely to make nice bushy baskets.
4) I dropped off this turquoise necklace to be restrung, as I accidentally put it through the washer and dryer and then had to gently pick apart the string to get it untangled. I live in fear of breaking this necklace, as the beads are graduated in size and it would be a nightmare to place them back in order.
My husband purchased this necklace for me in 1991 or so while visiting his parents in Albuquerque and paid all of thirty bucks from a flea market vendor. That was a big purchase at the time and it's my favorite piece of jewelry. The cost to have it restrung at a local shop will be $20.
5) I listed the faux classroom map on Facebook Marketplace for ten bucks, which'll put it in the hands of someone who'll appreciate it. The map itself is not actually old, even though it includes the U.S.S.R. I'm guessing it's just a recently manufactured poster.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
1. I dropped off a pile of egg cartons at a food pantry that also has a small thrift store. I picked up a few items to sell and they let me pick a free item. I chose a box of tissues.
2. I made a large dish of scalloped potatoes and ham. This used up some sprouting potatoes and a partial onion. I shared it with my mom. She and my sister will have it for dinner tonight.
3. I portioned the ham in washed out freezer bags and froze what I will use later. I saved some out for my daughter to take home.
4. I took a bottle of sherry vinegar and a Bonne Maman jar from a free box at a garage sale.
5. I found a shirt on the ground while out for a walk. I washed it and will donate it.
For the burlap planters my mom taught me to line a small portion of the bottom inside the burlap with plastic reused from a bag or something similar. It helps with a bit of water retention without drowning the plant.
Those are some nice finds. Did you sell any more of your challenge stuff?
I’m still hanging out in a rural setting, but yesterday I got a day off from caregiving, so I went into Portland to water my plants and pick up a few things, and I took advantage of the nice-ish weather and went for a walk. I miss being somewhere with good walking opportunities. In the rural setting, there are no sidewalks — just narrow-shouldered farm roads with reckless drivers in dualie pickups.
I digress.
When I was walking around Portland, I noticed a pickup truck that was swooping about and cleaning out the free piles. Maybe it’s someone who sells at a flea market? I know that free piles are fair game, but taking everything seems like poor sportsmanship!
I can’t wait for my next chance to visit the bins!
An idea on the burlap: turn the planter baskets upside down, get the burlap wet, and drape the burlap over the upside down planters and let them dry. That should get them into the approximate shape they need to be to go inside the planter baskets.
That is a great idea! I watched a gardening YouTube video today where she used big burdock leaves to line the baskets.
Li,
I thrifted a hunting vest for my Mom to wear while walking on our road. She is adamant that the best time to walk is between 9:30 & 11 to avoid traffic. She is dodging log trucks,so ymmv (pun intended).
1) I continue to enjoy making recipes from the forks over knives magazine I have on Libby through my library. So far all 3 recipes I’ve made from it have been some of the best food I’ve ever made! This week I made green goddess soup, which also used up a ton of salad greens (don’t know what I was thinking when I bought a container of greens at Costco!)
2) This didn’t save me money but saved the school PTO money. I needed to place a large order of custom items (shirts, hoodies, etc with the school logo) I started the order but there were a couple more people I still hadn’t heard from as far as sizes needed so I didn’t finish it. A few days later the site sent me a coupon for 15% off if I completed the order. Given the size of the order, this ended up saving over $100! I will need to remember that going forward, start an order way ahead of time and then wait awhile before placing it.
3) Listening to the last book in the Thursday Murder Club series from the library. I’ve really enjoyed this series.
4) Hosting my book club tonight. I already have some unopened red wine left from a previous book club. I’ll make some bruschetta with tomatoes that came in my produce box this week and a sliced baguette I already have in the freezer. I did have to buy some basil for the bruschetta but otherwise a pretty low cost to host. It also helps that everyone attending always brings food or drink to share so I don’t need to provide a ton.
5) Safeway gave me a coupon for a free box of their O organic herbal tea so picked that up today on my lunch break (I can walk to Safeway from my office so no gas used either)
That start-a-cart and leave it trick seems to work in a number of situations, thanks for the reminder!
I love the occasional Yiddish , my teen years were spent in a very Jewish suburb in Sydney , Australia in the 1960’s, I was Shabbas goy for my very frum neighbours, whose grandchildren I went to school with.i still have a pretty good Yiddish vocabulary for a shiksa! It’s a shame it’s slowly disappearing from use as that generation dies, it somehow encapsulated so much about them as people.
I sold a similar map at my yard sale a couple of years ago. Same price you're asking and a grateful teacher bought it for her classroom.
1. A bit chilly outside today, only in the 50s, but we kept the heat off. A sweatshirt to the rescue.
2. We had a couple of hotdog buns left from two previous meals of hotdogs and Boston Baked Beans. I made a batch of tuna salad to utilize them. Does anyone else think tuna rolls taste better than tuna sandwiches? I do, for some reason.
3. I save the water from the cans of tuna for my cat Bear.
4. My son took me out to lunch for my birthday. We picked a spot halfway between our houses we both like. After we ate, he urged me to get a dessert...well, okay, if you insist...
5. I have a library book on hold: "Labor" about a doctor's experience working as an obstetrician/gynecologist. What would I do without our local library?
I find I can no longer tolerate tuna from a can. Packets only and frankly I don't care if the cost is more. I taste can no matter if water or any kind of oil.
Oh my gosh! Today was garage sale day. We had so much fun.
My favorite cousin went with us, so I got guy stuff. A brand new potato fork for $5, they are $45 new. A cool cast iron dolphin night light $5, will put it in the guest bathroom.
Assortment of handy clamps for $1 ea.
A queen sized down comforter with an Ralph Lauren light colored plaid and linen backing all for $10. A pair of dress pants, a dressy top and a cardigan all with tags for $6. A pair of vionic dress shoes $5. A big set of drill bits for $5 and a pencil sharpener to replace the 50 yr old broken one for $2.
2 sets of sheer curtains for a kid's house or apartment $2.
A laptop backpack for $2, plus it had a built in power bank, she didn't know what it was as it was left at their vacation rental. And a 12 qt. Stainless steel pot for $2. It was brand new still in box. At 5 different garage sales the same exact Cuisinart coffee pot was up for sale. So totally weird how that happens.
Burlap looks good as a liner!
That sounds like a gold mine of a sale!
Katy, where are you getting the necklace restrung? I have a bunch that need it and $20 sounds perfect.
I took the necklace to Beads at Dusty Creek on SE Division Street.
I need to know your tricks with your beautiful spider plants, mine do NOT look like that!
1. I took my rototiller to the local fixit guy as it will spark but won't start – and a thingie broke off. The fixit guy is slammed with Spring challenges, so I have booked a rental tiller from him for next week, when Wonder James is back. We have a lot of a project to do, however more than a few hours of tilling is all any body should do in a day, so I only booked for half a day. I took advantage of being in the neighbourhood to finally drop off some styrofoam from my daughter's TV that has been languishing in my truck for months – and since I knew I would do THAT, to make the trip even more worthwhile I loaded up my soft plastic and a few more bits of styrofoam to clear out some of the basement.
The styrofoam drop-off meant I was right beside the glass recycling bin, out of which (I am delighted to inform you all) I was able to scrounge a Bonne Maman jam jar – and the lid was conveniently and obviously placed in the lid recycling. GO ME!. I also pulled out a quart small mouth mason jar that once held a brand name soup.
2. Made another enormous pasta pesto salad using the remainder of the Costco pesto sauce, plus some of my frozen arugula and almond pesto. Emptied more of the containers in the fridge (artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives) and used some of the gorgeous bell peppers I got on sale.
While I was chopping I also made up a big greek salad, which I was able to share with #1 son when he dropped off the grandbaby. I would love to help them out more with meals but I seem to be wheat central when it comes to transportable easy for me to make options, and my daughter Outlaw's gluten intolerance has put a stop to those. Greek salad for the win.
3. I have barely seen my GS for three weeks (sickness at their house then they were away for a week). Today we are trying to get back in the swing – and I was just asked to do a quick short 'babysit' tomorrow for an hour, as DOL will be in my neck of the woods for an appointment. YAY! It means I get time with him, and my son will get a couple of unexpected hours at home without anyone, two days after a holiday – you can imagine how much he will appreciate not being 'on call' or interrupted by my busy GS.
4. I was able to give my GS a lovely thrifted spiderman hoodie, which he wore home. The one he's been wearing was getting a bit small, this one cost $2 and was pristine. Unfortunately for my GS, the ride home was a bit – er – messy? so it already needs a wash, LOL That's why we get kids clothes that are inexpensive and easily washed, right?
5. My buddy called after GS went home to ask me to join her tonight for the theatre. She'd purchased two tickets but her other friend jammed out. I get to go instead (and I did want to go to this show, just wasn't organised)
1. Our store got a huge shipment of eggs yesterday and priced them at 89 cents a dozen. I bought 2 dozen. Last night I called everyone I knew to tell them about this unbelievable bargain price!
2. Hopefully this is the last chaper of that continuing soap opera, The Moving Van That Pulled Down Half My Tree. The adjuster for Progressive County Mutual Insurance came by and took measurements and interviewed me. I let him upload all the photos I'd taken of the mess and he also took photos of my notes on the moving company and its owner, including the information I found about the man's prison sentence/felony convictions. Methinks he is going to have his policy cancelled or, at the very least not renewed, because the adjuster said "that's not the kind of person we like to do business with. " The adjuster admitted they don't do criminal background checks on policy applicants. Perhaps they should. But had the biz owner come and cleaned up his mess, and acted in a nicer manner, none of this would have come to light.
3. Ate a big salad for lunch and saved the rest for tomorrow .
4. Went to vote in the mayoral election. The early voting polling place is at the library. So I grouped my errands and used the library computer for some business. Saved on gas.
5. Did not say nasty things about the Pope.
1. I bought a pork roast and a whole chicken. They were on sale for 99 cents a lb so I bought them for future meals. Into the freezer they went.
2. I found three 32 oz boxes of Swanson's beef broth that was in date in the Dol Gen dumpster. The expiry is not for 7 months. I washed the boxes thoroughly w/ soap & water before putting them away.
3. At another Dol Gen dumpster I found a 25 lb sack of dog food. That was donated to the animal shelter to feed the critters. The sack was heavy & hard to retrieve but I was determined.
4. The husband has gained weight. I got him 2 pr of pants in a larger size at the thrift store. I got myself a jersey dress. The clothes were 3 for $10. One pair was Old Navy that looked brand new. The other pair was a diff color of blue & dressier.
5. I found a small framed picture on my evening walk. I will put it in the bedroom.
OMG, Texas Silver. It seems odd that a store would discard a food product before its expiation date. Please check to make sure the Swanson broth was not recalled. I don't say this to be critical; I just want you to be safe.
My friends are down for a weekend visit, so I’m trying to think of fun things to do. I did make a ham dinner tonight for everyone. For less than $50, I fed 9 people, including dessert, with some of the ham leftover.
My friend brought down a bag of hand-me-downs. I was about the fourth or fifth person to go through them, and I found quite a few pieces. I did keep a Purdue Christmas sweater, thinking I might try to sell it on eBay.
Some new NBPR rebates popped up on the site I use to find them, so I have sent off for $10.50 in rebates on things I was already buying.
My granddaughter has enjoyed playing with the free and cheap toys and books we find her.
Today was my long-awaited MRI day. It went well, except I lost a ring with a lot of sentimental value. I thought I slipped it into my purse before the procedure, but it wasn't there when I got home. I went back to search for it, but no luck. I left my info in case it is found.
It is a garnet ring with a couple of chip diamonds. It is probably worth about $200. I am trying to tell myself the stone was slightly chipped, it was too tight on my finger, so not that much of a loss, but I'm sad.
I did come home with a nice drawstring bag, a bottle of water, and non-slip socks.
At suppertime I met the family at a pizza restaurant. Contributed $10 toward the Sicilian deep dish pizza we all shared. (I had only one small piece).
When I went to the hospital this morning, I took the train instead of the car. A young woman at the station asked me if I could swipe my card twice to let her in. I explained I couldn't since I had a ride-free card, which cannot be shared. However, I did have a ride card with a small balance left over from the time before I was granted the R-F card, and I let her swipe that. It's of no use to me, anyway. I was happy to share.
Beth W...I lose many things in my purse! I empty it several times, and then, three days later, I find the item. No idea why gremlins are attracted to my purses, but they eventually return everything. Hope this is true for you.
Thank you for the thought. I have been through it thoroughly several times. And it's a small purse, not many places in it.
I called the hospital's lost and found and no one has turned it in. So I'm saying good bye to it. Left my name and number just in case.
I love maps and I am sure someone will be very pleased to get the one you are selling.
1. Said no to an invitation that would require me to buy something appropriate to wear. It was on short notice and I already had an appt for that day so didn’t feel badly for not accepting.
2. 90 cents off Kroger Gas
3. Putting cardboard down around plants and adding mulch on top. Doing my own yard work frugal.
4. Exercising daily and walking for my health
5. Making 3 meals a day for 5 people.
I'd let some of the burlap hang outside the basket and use dental floss and big stitches to sew the burlap in place.