Five Frugal Things -- I Sold Another Goodwill Gift Card Item!

1. I sold the bins-purchased Peugeot salt grinder for the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge. I think the reason it took awhile to sell is that I had the box dimensions completely incorrect, which made the shipping look like it would be oddly expensive. Oh well, I accidentally made a few extra dollars on the sale and it's off to her new owner.

Click HERE to see the listing.

I still have $54.15 on the gift card, so maybe I should go to some Goodwills today!

2. My friend Lise and I hit Trader Joe's to pick up staples and catch up. I bought milk, bananas, salmon, lettuce, green beans and a package of green scallion pancakes. I always give myself a huge pat on the back when I leave T.J.'s without impulse items, as that instinct can easily double your bill!

I have a theory that Trader Joe's would boil down to a single aisle if all impulse items were removed.

3. I didn't buy any traditional souvenirs while on vacation, but did come home with:

• Two $1 used pillowcases.
• Two flattened pennies. One of which was 51¢, the other just popped out of the machine for free!
• A pretty pinecone from the University of New Mexico campus.
• One $1.50 Goodwill paperback novel.

Thrift store shelves are crowded with standard souvenirs solely manufactured for the tourist trade, such as wooden clogs from The Netherlands, miniature Eiffel Towers from Paris and Union Jack tchotchkes from England. My theory is that people buy these things as gifts, which get quickly donated or find their way to thrift stores through decluttering sessions or estate clear outs. Anything that features prominently in thrift stores is both overmanufactured and under appreciated.

4. I turned two bubble mailers inside out and used them to mail out two eBay sales. This gives the packages a nice clean outer surface while delaying their journey to the landfill.

5. I gave my garbage picked Diane Von Furstenberg suitcase a good scrub before putting it back into storage, as it was looking a bit worse for wear. It's kind of goofy looking to begin with, but there's no reason for it to also scream "fllthy!"

I found the photos from when I pulled the suitcase from a Goodwill dumpster HERE!

Remember when I thrifted the LL Bean duffel bag and picked out the name "Eleanor?" Ahh . . . that was fun!

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.

The blog post includes an eBay affiliate link.