THRIFT STORE SHOPPING AND TESTING A MONEY SAVING IDEA...

Today I made a trip to my favorite thrift store looking for a 1" binder (sorry no picture) and a pair of pantyhose to try a frugal idea I had seen on online.  I found the binder for $.50 and the pantyhose for $.99.  Today all blue tags were 50% off!  

For several years now I have heard about wool dryer balls and how they work much better and are much less expensive than dryer sheets...even the cheap dollar store brand.  I searched my yarn stash and found a few small skeins of tapestry wool.  Since I don't know if tapestry wool will felt, I simply wound one skein into a ball.  I sliced off one leg of the pantyhose and inserted the wool ball, tying off the pantyhose above and below the ball.  Right now they are in the washer on hot.  I will dry them on the hottest setting and see if they begin to felt.  The online source that I used for instructions said that she had washed and dried her wool balls three times to get them properly felted.  If it works, I have several more skeins of tapestry wool to use up.  Oh, and the tapestry wool?  I got it for free several years ago from someone who was cleaning out all of her yarn!  If these dryer balls work as well as I anticipate, I will be saving money from now on...with very little investment! 

 

While roaming around the thrift store I found a cute little ceramic bag for holding pens in my sewing room.  For several years now I have used a wall vase to hold my pens.  However, it never really worked as well as I would have liked, so I will eventually list the wall vase on eBay to sell.  This little ceramic bag was also a blue tag and cost me only $.49 after discount. 

Last but not least, all wallets and handbags were 50% off.  I purchased these two small wallets for a total of $3.00.  I hope to be able to use one of them to corral all of my gift and loyalty cards.  Right now I have them in a vinyl zippered pouch, which is much bigger and takes up way too much room in my handbag.  Whichever one I do not end up using will be listed for sale on eBay! 

All in all it was a wonderful "thrifting" day.  I only spent $5 and fulfilled several needs and even scored an item to sell on eBay!  Frugality RULES!!!

Toodles...

THRIFT STORE SCORE...

Today I had an appointment around the corner from my favorite thrift shop.  Sooo...I absolutely HAD to stop in there.  Right?  I was saving gas and wear and tear on my car by stopping while I was in the neighborhood.  Right? 

Besides the fun I had combing through my favorite haunt, I managed to check three things off of my master "To Buy" list...at thrift store prices rather than retail prices!  SCORE!  In addition I picked up a few other crafty goodies that were just calling my name, lol.

First thing on my list was a small CD case.  I had read about a fellow quilter who used such a case to keep her small rulers organized.  What a GREAT idea!  This pretty blue one was only $2.99  Second thing on my list was a pack or two of ring binder index dividers to organize some household files.  I found two packs of 10 dividers each for $.49 a pack with an additional 50% off.  My kind of pricing!  The third thing on my list was some type of folders/page protectors/binder indexes to organize my quilting and sewing patterns.  I found 7 packages that each contained 5 "tabbed" binder folders for $.99 each with an additional 50% off.  The folders should work well to hold any templates that go along with the patterns.

I shudder to think what all of these items would have cost in a retail store!  Hopefully my deal on indexes will help me get my glut of paperwork (both household and crafting) organized...once and for all!!  Sigh.  I've been saying that for years...

When I had finished looking for "needs" I wandered over to the craft/fabric section.  I found 1.25 yards of cotton fabric for $3.75.  I have drawn up a design for a wall hanging that has been in my mind for a while.  I will definitely need some brown fabric to complete the project.  Then I dug into the button box.  I found 5 "cards" of buttons for $.99 each, with 50% off and 3 "cards" of buttons for $.49 each, with 50% off.  When I think of the amount of money I have saved simply by keeping a good "stash" of buttons I'm amazed.  Recently, I needed a button to mend a pair of pants and didn't have the right size in my stash.  I went to JoAnn's to buy a replacement.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Buttons have gotten ridiculously expensive!!!  So I add to my supply whenever I can.  I would have liked to have a dig through the "single button" box to look for something really unusual, but I didn't want to spend any more money.  I was determined to go home with money still in my pocket.  Next time for sure!!!

On the way home I stopped at Chick-Fil-A and bought myself lunch with my free gift card and got a free drink with my "calendar" card.  All in all it was a GREAT day!

Toodles...

THRIFT STORE SCORE.....

WOW...two posts in one day!  The stars must be aligned just right, lol.  Actually I just had to share my thrift store scores.  After I treated myself to breakfast at Dunkin Donuts I headed out to my FAVORITE thrift store to do a little browsing/shopping.  Even though today wasn't the "everything 50% off" sale, I did manage to get some really good deals!

Starting at the top, that little fold out sewing box was only $7.49.  I have wanted a bigger version of this box for AGES, but refused to pay the ridiculous prices asked.  This smaller version was just the ticket to satisfy my need for an accordion box...without the high price.  I intend to paint the box pink, blue, white or turquoise.  Decisions, decisions...

The little crystal cordial glass was a necessary replacement.  Many moons ago I received a beautiful Waterford wine decanter as an engagement gift.  It held a place of honor on my dining room buffet, surrounded by much less expensive Crystal D'Arc (sp?) cordial glasses that just happened to match beautifully.  Unfortunately one of the small glasses was accidentally broken.  Thankfully it wasn't my beautiful decanter!  Today I found a replacement for a mere $1.49.  Score!

Next to the cordial glass is a flower shaped wire holder, I assume for toast?  Whatever it was originally intended for doesn't matter because I think it will make a cute little quilt ruler holder; and at just $2.99 I couldn't let it slip away!

Next were four Fimo polymer clays...tagged at $1.49 each...but all Yellow stickers were 50% today.  WooHoo...$.75 sounds MUCH better!

Next to them is a small rolling pin I will use when playing with polymer.  It was tagged at $.49...but since the tag was yellow the price was only $.25!

Next to the rolling pin is a pack of 6 peel and stick foam sheets.  I am going to use them to make a few project boards a-la Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet.  If I stick the foam to some scrap cardboard they should be firm enough to cover with batting.  At $1.50 it is worth the experiment. 

Under the foam sheets is a single vinyl placemat for $.49.  I REALLY need something to protect my work surface when using glue or paint.

The remaining items were all found in the "Thrift" shop of the thrift store, lol.  They were $.25 each:

a set of small buttons to cover, a set of extra large buttons to cover, two bias tapes, four DMC embroidery flosses, and a Hello Kitty lanyard.  I dislike Hello Kitty intensely and will trash the ribbon, but purchased the lanyard solely for the clasp. 

OOPS...I forgot to include in the picture a 45 mm. OLFA rotary cutter for $6.49.   It was hiding in the bottom of the bag, lol. 

So once again the thrift store has proven to be an incredibly inexpensive source for many of the things on my "wish list" or "need list".   What I couldn't find?...9 x 12 manilla envelopes, snack size plastic bags, dark green rick rack, rubber bands, a power strip with a flat plug, skinny elastic hair ties, and ice cube trays.  Maybe next week... 

I SPLURGED!....BUT OMG THE SCORE!

 

Yesterday was the monthly sale at my favorite thrift shop.  I was spending the day with my mom and dad, so I asked if they would mind if we did a quick run through one of the 5 storefronts that make up the thrift shop.  Mom and Dad were more than eager.  

Within the first 5 feet into the shop we hit a WALL of people, but my mom and I started spotting "treasures" right away.  I knew how to navigate this sale as I have done it twice in the past.  Mom was trying to casually browse around while I made a bee-line for the sewing/crafting area.  The technique is grab first...decide second, lol!  If you wait even 5 minutes to decide if something fits your needs, there is a really good chance it will have already flown off the shelf.  The store had only been open for 30 minutes and the line reached the back wall and people's carts were overflowing.  

I had only grabbed a shopping basket and quickly realized my mistake.  

At the back of the store, in the overlap of the crafting and storage sections I spotted a portion of a small black "cubbie" organizer.  I had to wait for the man in front of me to finish gathering his items before I could grab madly for the cabinet.  Oh, PLEASE, don't let him want that little chest.  Fortunately he had focused on an old electrician's tool box.  Phew...that was close!

With both hands I reached out for the little cabinet.  Visions of the State Farm commercial flashed through my head.  "Hello, beautiful!".  I picked it up and was AMAZED at the weight and construction!  It was marked $14.50 but I am sure sold for MUCH more in a regular store.  Even better, there was a second cabinet behind it!  Unfortunately that cabinet was marked at $9.50 because it was missing a drawer pull.  No matter, I was sure I could find one somewhere.  I quickly handed one cabinet to my dad and I carried the other as we stepped into line.  After moving only a few feet my dad said, "There's another up there!".  I grabbed the intact cabinet off of the shelf and slid the damaged cabinet into it's place.  SCORE. 

My dad and I continued inching forward while my mom "browsed" around the aisles we had zoomed right on by.  

 

Within just a few minutes my mom was weaving her way back to us, something shiny silver cradled in her arms.  "Look!  Isn't this nice?"  OMG, it was a shiny chrome kitchen scale!!!!!  I had been wanting a new kitchen scale to replace my crappy plastic one for AGES, but had been unwilling to spend the $50 it would cost to make one mine.  The cost of this one....drum roll please...$12.50....and it WORKS!

We had only moved past one more aisle when I spotted the side of another black cubbie.  Could it be?  I handed Dad my second one and pulled the third one off the shelf.  I was back in line debating with myself whether I had enough cash on me to even buy three cabinets when the lady next to me chimed in.  "Today's the big sale.  Remember?  Everything is half price!"  OMG, how could I have forgotten???  I was just so overwhelmed with the fabulous items I had found at such wonderful prices that I totally forgot the reason for the crowds!  

At check out the woman asked me if I needed any more of the little cabinets.  She had just put out a few and had more in the back.  Wow, they may have been a close out item donated by a larger retail store!  For a moment my heart skipped a beat and I almost said yes.  But, as I wasn't sure exactly where I was going to use them...picking up any more would have been greedy!  Happily I paid my money and wove my way out of the store. (Of course I am STILL questioning the wisdom of leaving cabinets behind!)

So, my "quick run through the thrift shop" led to my biggest thrifting score to date.  Fifty-six dollars worth of treasures (that I KNOW sold for at least double that amount retail!) for a mere $28 dollars.  While the cubbies aren't perfect, they are incredibly heavy and beautifully made...and the imperfections are nothing that a little soap and water and permanent black marker won't fix.  And my scale, well it is just perfect the way it is.  Heavy, well crafted, accurate and shiny, shiny, SHINY, lol.  Of course, I have to cut the tag off....but then again maybe I will leave it on for a while as a reminder of my greatest score yet!

And, talking about GREAT....some exciting news is soon to be shared!  Stay tuned....

THRIFT STORE SCORE!!!

Thrift store shopping...

Why, oh why did it take me almost 50 years to discover the THRILL of thrift store shopping???

Anyone who sews, quilts, crochets, knits...or does any kind of crafting...knows that supplies can be exorbitantly expensive; at times even prohibitive!  I had begun shopping garage sales in order to find supplies at a better price.  But, since I can't walk well and need to drive from house to house, it becomes really annoying to have to park, shop for a few minutes, drive to the next house a few doors down and park again...over and over and over.  My dear sweet hubby began taking me to the garage sales and dropping me off at each house, but that tied up our Saturdays and to get the really good bargains and selection you had to go early.  I felt horrible asking him to wake up early on a day off.  He works too hard not to have a day to sleep late!  Sometimes, even though I really wanted to "treasure hunt", it just wasn't worth the hassle.

Then someone suggested I check out the local thrift stores and a nearby multi-storefront "church run" thrift shop in particular.  One trip and I was HOOKED!  I had been told the thrift shop was huge, but I never expected what I found...5 separate, HUGE storefronts.  The wares are divided into individual shops:  Furniture, Books, Clothing, Variety, and Thrift Outlet..the "thriftiest" of the thrift shops.  Every week a different color tag is on sale half off and the third Friday of every month EVERYTHING in the stores is 50% off (with some minor exceptions).  On that day the Outlet lowers prices to $.50 per item or the lower ticket price.  Amazing!

Today I had to go to my primary doctor's office, which happens to be fairly close to the thrift shop.  I started at the Thrift Outlet and then made my way to the Variety store.  In all honestly, I skipped 75 percent of each store as I honed in on the sewing and crafting areas.  As I walked past the "candle" aisle in the Variety store, I remembered that my mom has been looking all over for votive holders.  She had two navy blue "hobnail" style glass holders and was looking for something similar to add to her collection.  I made a quick detour down the aisle and was amazed to find a sealed set of two ocean blue "hobnail" glass votive holders and 4 blue candles... for just $3.50!  I snatched the box off of the shelf and held it tightly in my hot little hands!  My first treasure of the day!!  Finding something within the first 10 feet of the store should have been my cue to get a cart, but thankfully I could only spend money on what I could hold, lol.  I'm sure my husband and my bank account will be grateful.  I was in such a rush to deliver my find to mom and dad that I neglected to get a picture to show you.  But, believe me, they were LOVELY. 

Now for me, I got quite a lot of sewing notions:

• 7 Zippers for $.50 each
• 4 packages of Maxi Piping for $.25 each
• 2 packages of Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape one for $1.00 & one for $.50 (green labels were on sale)
• 2 Button Cards for $1.00 each
• 1 Travel Sewing Kit to keep in the car for emergencies for $.50

There were still so many notions I wanted to buy, especially novelty buttons, but I tried hard to be good.

In yarn I got:

• 5 Skeins of Acrylic Yarn.  These are all in my favorite colors.  There were so many others I wanted to buy, but I had to draw the line SOMEWHERE, lol. 

And my last item was a "just because I love it".  It is a valance...which is NOT how I will use it.  I fell absolutely head over heals in love with the lace and plan to use it on something really special someday.  It cost me $4.50...which I think is well worth such a beautiful find!

I have been staring at my treasures for close to an hour already and have yet to put any of them away.  So, do you think I have a problem? 

Yes?  I agree.  Hello, my name is "Lin" and I'm an addict...

So what thrifting scores have you had recently?  How often do you hit the shops for your "fix"?