I'm Back at The Goodwill Bins!
I've been feeling kind of embarrassed that my $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge hasn't been more of a booming success, but I didn't let that didn't stop me from the hitting the bins for fresh inventory. As always, my goal is to find high value-lightweight items.
Luckily I had this above Pixies T-shirt sale from a previous trip to brighten up my morning. That's an additional $16.10 (after eBay fees) for February's Oregon Food Bank donation.
I ended up buying just four challenge items, spending $12.05, leaving a remaining card balance of $29.36.
I was unable to resist this adorable pair of Vans toddler shoes, that were actually in better condition than they look in this photo. A quick soak in Oxyclean and a bit of a scrub brought them back to life.
They don't sell for that much, but I probably only paid 25¢ as they checked the "lightweight" box. Fun fact -- "Velcro" is a tightly copyrighted word and eBay won't let you use it.
I'm pricing them low to get them sold in a timely manner. I need some momentum! Click HERE to see the listing!
I also picked up a pair of women's Nike Air Jordans, also filthy but cleaned up nicely after a bit of a spa day.
Click HERE to see the listing.
I grabbed this lightweight 1970s desk organizer, as I know the classic design is appreciated by midcentury enthusiasts. The drawers had fallen out and I had to scrounge the bin to find them all.
I was able to identify the brand and style number using Google Lens, which is an invaluable reseller tool.
Click HERE to see the listing.
The last item I bought for the challenge was this hyperrealistic anatomically correct newborn doll. Some of them sell for a pretty penny, but this one had big scratch on the arm, (which I noticed after I got it home) so I priced it at just $30. Hopefully to get a quick sale.
You think I'm kidding about the anatomical correctness? Click HERE to see the listing!
As always, I ended up buying a few items to keep, which set me back a whopping $1.60. Nothing too exciting, but all these mostly practical items will meld seamlessly into my home.
I'm only at $77.29 for February's net profit, but I still have 18 unsold items that'll eventually find buyers.
Total net profit so far is $206.49 for eight sold items.
I'm still waiting to find a hugely profitable item, which I feel is right around the corner!
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.
This blog post contains eBay referral links.
I'm waiting for the year end total since I know how long it can take to sell an item on Ebay. The total so far is impressive considering you've only sold a few items. This is a fun challenge and I enjoy hearing about all your bin finds.
First commenter! Woo!
1) Stayed home after dental work, using the PTO hours my work provides. No one gets a trophy for having unused sick days. Using company benefits is frugal!
2) Turned down one of the pain prescriptions my dentist offered. I can't get rich if my money is tied up on unused medications.
3) Eating soft foods I've concocted from groceries I already have. Today's lunch was cooked lentils from the freezer, frozen leftover rotisserie chicken, bulk & outlet spices, and homemade chicken broth (rotisserie chicken skeleton and my bag of veggie scraps from the freezer). Drinking an Ensure protein shake free with an Ibotta reward. It's so chocolately I'm mixing it with plain almond milk.
4) Finally got an eBay sale! This site has taught me the to not worry about quick sales and just keep relisting. Packaged it up in a repurposed envelope from work and used gifted stamps for the postage. Gave me the energy I needed to list several more items. Several posters here have mentioned that it seems to help sales when fresh items are listed. Refreshed some old FB Marketplace listings while I was at it.
*Frugal fail--the envelope ripped a bit and in fixing it I got some packing tape on the edges of the stamps. The postal clerk told me they were invalid since they had tape on them (even a tiny bit), so I had to pay $3.56 to cover the voided stamps. This was at the second post office location, since the first one told me the carrier wouldn't deliver the stamped package since it looked suspicious (??!!). I've been mailing gifts, Paperback Swap books, and online sales with stamps and have never had a problem before. I always ask for stamps as gifts so that I can use them this way.
5) Went inside CVS by the post office to use a coupon I got on my receipt from my prescription fills. Kellogg's cereal is $1.99 a box right now. Got 3 boxes for $3.40 by combining the coupon and Ibotta rebates. Promptly drove one box to the little free pantry.
Interesting. I used to save uncancelled stamps from received mail and carefully tape them to mail I was sending out. It's been a while so I guess I better not try that anymore.
BelleStar, good first list! What a bummer about the stamps.
I think you're doing great on your challenge. When you consider that all the bins merchandise has already been pawed over and rejected, it's pretty amazing that there is anything marketable at all!
What is the yellow thing in the photo of items you bought to keep?
I'm guessing it's a wooden Brio-style train, for wooden train tracks. They have magnets on both ends to connect the train cars. My kids are really into these!
IMHO your Goodwill Challenge has been going well!
1. I found 3 gallons of still cold milk in the Dol Gen dumpster. There was more but we have nowhere to store more milk.
2. My HVAC system uses furnace filters that are 4" in depth. They are expensive. The last one I bought at Home Depot was $30. I found a similar filter at Ace Hardware for $11.99. I was happy to fine a cheaper replacement.
3. Fridge making a funny noise. Husband took off the back & cleaned coils, etc. The noise has stopped. I hope it's fixed.
4. Cut the end off the toothpaste tube to remove the last of it.
5. I got a BOGO taco offer at Taco Bell. 2 tacos for $2.15. Not too shabby. I had a drink w/ me so there was no cost for that. As fast food goes, Taco Bell tacos are decent where nutrition & calories are concerned.
6. My friend on Nextdoor Neighbor gave me 3 64 oz cartons of orange juice. I gave her a tub of Folger's coffee.
7. It seems whenever I run out of something the husband has it in his inventory. I needed bar soap for the bathroom. He had found a 3 pack. I was out of cotton tipped swabs. He had a package of those. Powdered dishwasher soap, he produced a box. What will he pull out of the rabbit hat next?
I must admit that I don't know the origin/meaning of the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge. Can you please explain? I will try to look back at this post for the answer. I have been reading for a while but just can't seem to find the original post. Thanks.
Here's the original blog post where I wrote about bring optimizing a $100 Goodwill gift card for the Oregon Food Bank:
https://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/how-much-can-i-make-from-a-100-goodwill-gift-card/
Those dolls are so creepy. I hope you sell it quickly and get it out of your house!
I went out for dinner with friends where we split the bill evenly, and it wasn’t a frugal outing! I am telling myself that friendship is priceless and I’ll skimp on some other aspect of my life to make up for it.
I find it difficult to tell people about my frugal ways because it’s been my experience that people assume this means I’m “poor” and then they treat me in a weird, patronizing way. So annoying.
Noone should be making assumptions about you. You know what they say about people who "assume"!! People know we are not poor, or whatever, because of my husband's position. (Although you never really know about anyone!! LOL) So my soda can recycling, goodwill shopping, old car, preferring to not replace things, etc. makes them "assume" I'm eccentric, weird or a bit nuts!! I could care less!
My parents are also frugal. When I was a kid, the neighbors caught them carrying a decrepit looking bed frame into our apartment. (They later restored it and they still have it!) My parents saw it as a diamond in the rough. The neighbors saw it as garbage, and assumed that we were too poor to buy a proper bed frame. Until we moved away, the neighbors went to great lengths to help us with gifts of food and hand-me-down clothing, which we didn’t want or need. It was sweet of the neighbors to try to help us, but it was super awkward, since we were likely more well-off. Thank goodness we moved! I’ve had similar experiences (to a lesser degree) as an adult, where acquaintances don’t see me as eccentric, but rather as “poor”, and then they think they shouldn’t include me in expensive outings.
I agree, awkward. I clean houses for a living, and some clients assume I'm poor. Now, I will take hand me down clothes, but make a point to not wear such items to their house.
We are frugal go the max. I buy nothing new, until my house is payed off.
Less then 30 thousand yay me!
30,000 left, way to go!!! 🙂
Katy, I think your Goodwill gift card challenge is a huge success!! And it's still only February. I love seeing your Goodwill and bins purchases. You find the best stuff.
After you posted about the chicken fryer pan Katy, I found one at my Goodwill a couple of days later!! It was either total serendipity or on my search image radar due to you mentioning it. It was in pristine condition, so no steel wool needed; it looked like it had simply sat in someone’s cupboard for the past 60+ years honestly; I’m not sure if it was ever used. At any rate, I used your Key Word “chicken fryer” and got 4 offers in the first day, all from Louisiana! Fun and profitable.
I am impressed you are able to do so many sales and know what to buy! I do not have a clue so don’t be embarrassed !!!
$206? That's double what the card is worth and you still have some funds on your card. You are a real champ in my book! And you're not done yet....
1. Inspired by you, I once again listed my gas space heater/fireplace on Craig's list since our weather is forecast to be in the 30s this weekend. This time I posted photos and lowered the price. Made sure the cash price is a multiple of 20 so buyer can go to an ATM for the dough.
2. Decluttered some scented candles and gave them to my cleaning lady as a "tip".
3. Got some free samples of Chiro Care from the natural foods section clerk to help the pain in my legs.
4. Reused some large shopping bags and plastic packaging that a big multi pack of toilet paper came in for trash can liners.
5. Did not have the Supreme Court strike down my evil tariff scheme and then whine like a great big baby about it on national TV.
Katy, I think you're doing great on the challenge. And remember there are at least two of us here who are matching your contribution to our own food banks, making your impact even greater.
I love that, thank you!!!!
You are doing amazingly well on your gift card/eBay/food bank donations, so don't be discouraged! I also love the creativity.
1) Completed DS20's taxes, and he's getting a nice refund, which will go into his long-term savings account.
2) Went to the bank on the last day available to re-negotiate a CD & change the terms. I'll save $350 over the 3 months of the CD in higher interest. I'm not a fan of going to the bank, but will definitely suck it up for $350.
3) Had the last glass of a bottle of wine we bought back from NZ, because we didn't drink it while we were there.
4) DS20 had leftover pizza for lunch, and then I froze the rest for future DS20 meals.
5) Made dinner out of the freezer (orange chicken) & fridge (leftover rice + salad).
Your Food bank Challenge is so interesting and informative and successful!!! You notice things I would cruise right buy.
Dh broke a couple bowls, so I hit gw to find replacements. (I also had an eye out for that chicken pan!) I dug around until I found 4 that were on discount for $1 ea. Just plain white Ikea bowls but I'm not expecting the Rockefellers for cereal!!!
While In town, hit the discount grocery store and followed up with Aldis. Squeaked home with $2 left and everything on my list. I stayed under budget, so win!!! This is a slow time of year for Dh's work. When spring comes, things will pick up.
Made an ebay sale. Packed in an used manilla envelope with two of the postage stamps I found in a puddle. (I glue them on if they are not sticking well. I use a kid's glue stick.)
Dropped off a book at the little free library in front of our local high school. Placed a cute denim purse in there as well. It was my niece's but she outgrew it. Too young for me, but I hope to spot it being carried by a girl in town. THAT would make me very happy!
Was very fortunate coming home from Ds's basketball game at the Y. Driving down the gravel road and happened to see a calf with its feet uphill. It sounds silly, but cattle can get their feet in such a position that they cannot right themselves and die. Anyway, I pulled the car over, told Ds to stay in the car, climbed the fence, and bolted across the pasture. Grabbed a foot and rolled him over. He wobbled to his feet and stumbled off! He was kind enough not to kick me, which I appreciate!! 250 pound calf, not big by any means but big enough. I'm thankful to have found him in time and that he was visible from the road.
Dh started tomatoes in one flat and cole crops in another. We are almost out of potatoes from last year. I'll be on the look out for seed potatoes. Ds has requested sweet potatoes in this year's garden. Sounds good to me!
Laura, I love what you did for that calf! Now I know what to do if that ever happens.
I so enjoy your forays in the bins!
My bin found glasses sold for 80. I sold them on consignment at my cousin in law's eye clinic. They sell mostly vintage frames. That makes $120 to purchase items for the youth weekend food pantry. You are an excellent roll model!
When I was in my 20's, after college, I took on side hustles to use for remodeling my first home that I bought for $1, and had it moved to a double lot. I was contracting with the local Mercedes dealership detailing cars for resale. A gal that had a tech company in my building, saw me working there and felt sorry for me working 2 jobs. About 6 months later she offered me her car since I drove a vintage VW bug. I bought it, detailed it and sold it to Help pay for building my unattached garage.
I have (and are still using) that desk organizer. Different color but of the same era. Makes me wonder what it originally sold for?
I love grabbing toddler/kid shoes! I often sell them on marketplace for a quick flip. As a toddler mom, they are easy to spot, often overlooked, and I love passing on a good deal to another parent! They are also quite expensive new.