A little bit of this, a little bit of that...
Otherwise known as a miscellany post!
$0.50 flowers. Yes, please.
When I was last at Aldi, I noticed that a shelf of plants had been marked down.
Waaaaay down.
As in, $0.50 for each hanging basket.
Now, they were looking unappealingly brown, dry, and neglected, but I figured that 50 cents wasn't much of a gamble. So I brought two pots home, watered them, and they're feeling much better now.
Pants, Swagbucks, and Ebates
Mr. FG's work pants were wearing out recently, so I got him a couple of new pairs from L.L. Bean.
I like these pants because they require almost no ironing (unless you leave them crumpled up in a laundry basket under other clothes for days like I do every now and then. Ahem.) and because they last quite a long time.
Fortunately, I remembered that Swagbucks now offers L.L. Bean gift cards, so I redeemed my points for one of those.
Aaand, once I got my gift card, I remembered to sign into Ebates before making my purchase, so I got a few dollars in cash back rewards. Schweet.
Not Buying Things is my preferred method of saving money, of course, but when I have to part with my moola, I do like me some discounts.
The Freecycle Circle
Want to know something?
Lisey's first bike came from the trash. I didn't rescue it-a fellow freecycler did, and then offered it on freecycle, where we snagged it. A perfectly good bike, and someone was going to throw it away. I just don't understand that!
We've used that bike ever since (with three girls in the family, it wasn't going to collect dust!), and now we're at the stage where we don't need it.
The little pink bike clearly still had plenty of miles left before it needed to be retired, though. So, back onto freecycle it went, and now it's living with another family, where it'll hopefully be well-used.
Maybe it's silly to be so happy about this, but I just love that something that was saved from the garbage is still being used.
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Joshua's 365 post: Shades
I *love* Freecycle. I had heard about it for years but honestly only signed up/tried it based on you mentioning it! Thus far I have only given away but it is even easier than driving to donate items. Post, respond and the items I am giving away get picked up from my driveway most often the same day! Can't ask for better than that.
I definitely need to be on the lookout for plant discounts at Aldi's! I'm generally not very observant about anything other than what's on my list, but $0.50 is an awesome deal.
I also love Freecycle! Have you heard about the groups on Facebook that are similar? They have "yard sale" sites and free sites for most neighborhoods. Sometimes you can find some great deals/free stuff you need on there, and it has the added bonus of a) documenting your interaction and b) letting you see who you're dealing with. For me, at least, that cuts back on some of the anxiety I have about dealing with strangers.
I too am nervous about dealing with strangers. Does any one have any suggestions? Do you have stuff picked up at another location?
When I offer things on freecycle, I generally opt for porch pickup, which just means that I leave things out front for people to pick up. So, I don't even usually meet the people that are picking things up.
I personally would rather use freecycle than Facebook, just because I kind of don't trust Facebook as far as I can throw it. =P It's very difficult to keep your personal information, well, personal over there.
I suppose that might make you feel better because then you can know more about who is picking up your stuff, but on the other hand, they also can know more about you.
I don't think I'd feel comfortable with strangers knowing where I live! That seems extremely unsafe to me, especially when you're dealing with someone who is a complete stranger where you don't even know what they look like. It isn't difficult to keep your Facebook information private; you can even easily check your profile to see what people who aren't on your friends list see (and the people you would be buying/selling from would not be on your friends list, obviously).
Except Facebook is forever changing things. Hence the distrust. 😉 But we certainly all have different preferences as far as this goes, and I think you should do what you feel comfortable with.
Usually people meet in large store parking lots like Sam's Club, because most people do NOT want strangers knowing where they live (talk about unsafe!). And as far as other people seeing your information on Facebook, as long as your privacy settings stop people who aren't on your friends list from seeing your info you're good. Unless you add them as a friend, of course.
Hi Kristin,
I also love Freecycle. I've given and received. One person was requesting a a telescope for her 7 year old who was interested in stars. She posted as a "long shot" for one for Christmas. I happened to have a nice one that I never used. She was surprised and very happy. I needed a decorative metal shelf for my bathroom. I also thought it was a long shot . Was offered one within hours. It is definitely a good service!
Patti
Great deal on the flowers! I'm hoping to find something like that (price-wise) today, for a plant swap/fall potting project with our neighborhood garden club.
My husband and adult son love both the L.L.Bean and Lands' End no-iron all cotton slacks. They do seem to wear very well. A year ago I had a coupon to use at the mall, so bought a pair of no-iron slacks at Penneys (their house label), and they already have a wear spot. Disappointed! Whereas, the ones I bought from Lands' End two years ago are still looking great.
Yep! If you only have to wear them every once in a while, a cheaper pair would probably do just fine. But when you have to wear them 5 days a week, you need something that will last.
I too have turned to LL Bean for my husband's work clothes. They last and last and I never have to iron them-even the dress shirts. This is a case of something that is worth the extra money.
My hubby bought me a ficus tree for Valentine's Day about 5 years ago. It was marked down at Aldi because of it's sad state. Hubby figured that I'd kill it anyway, it didn't matter if it had a head start. It's a little misshapen, but it's still going strong!
Side note: I always ask for rose bushes, shrubs, plants etc for Mother's Day. Aldi has beautiful rose bushes (they are hardier and prettier than the ones that are 3-4 times the price at the garden stores). I usually have a very pretty bouquet on my table, and I grow it myself. Other than a carnation after I had my son (in December) I haven't received cut flowers for years!
Love Aldi plants! Tulips going in the ground soon...
Haha, that's like me! I kill plants on a frequent basis, so I try not to spend a bunch of money on them. Then if they die, at least I won't have wasted a bunch of money.
It makes me happy to hear the bike has been used for your family and now another family will use it. I am a freecycle user and love it - we have given away much and gotten just as much. I also have used things and then put them back on freecycle.
I love extending the life of things... and am very happy to give away items rather than resell them if they are going to a good home or will make something greater than the sum of its parts.
My dear (now departed) Gran was a music fan. After redistributing most of the (few) things she left with us (organised lady was my Gran!), I took some of her old LP's to a car-boot sale a couple of Sundays ago. A lady picked up an old Elvis double LP, as she reached in her purse to give me the tiny amount I was asking for it (hey I was there to get rid of stuff as much as make a few pounds) she explained how her son was an art student who painted the LP design onto the vinyl and framed them together. She'd got me... Not only did I refuse the money I gave her another 5 LP's FOC. I wanted her son to have them, my Gran would be so pleased. One good deed generally proceeds another I find and it did in this case. She gave my Daughter, who was selling some of her old toys, some change for her piggy bank.
We had a few bikes that we got free but since there's a local annual Christmas bike giveaway, that's where they went after my children outgrew them. But freecycle is just as good.
My secret passion is upcycling, donating and gifting ... it just makes me so happy to think of the things we use as a family, having a second, third or fourth life with another family.
Actually, I've been rather inspired by your Food Waste Friday posts, to start a weekly Upcycling Sunday post on my blog! We have soooo much 'stuff' to find new homes for, and I'm looking forward to keeping track of just how much stuff we will be able to give away. See - you're inspiring us at every step!
Ooh, what a great idea! You could do a linky too if you wanted others to participate.
I love that idea! Thanks Kristen 🙂
I'd participate... always have a project on the go. Am currently upcycling shoe boxes into toy containers - which doesn't sound very complicated, but I'm putting a bit of effort into it!
I'm with you...I love trash to treasure stories...got plenty of my own and they do make me happy. How easily amused we are! 😉
Kristen, I don't 'do' freecycle, but I do often put decent, used items I don't want out to the curb, the day before trash pickup. It is common to do that around here, as lots of people drive around looking for 'good' items, which they can then use, freecycle, or sell as they see fit. Seldom is anything left to actually go on the garbage truck---and even then, sometimes one of the collectors will set it aside, and come back later with their own truck! So, not everything out for the trash is 'trash'.
Nice! That's great that people find stuff they need that way.
It's like that in my neighborhood too! And I have been the receipent of trash finds too! Recently I found a metal outdoor chair that was still in very good shape but just needed a very good paint job. I am going to spray paint that metal chair candy apple red and give it to my daughter for her first piece of outdoor furniture for her new house that she bought!
Pants that don't have to be ironed?! Be still my heart. Could you possibly tell me exactly which pants you get him. Perhaps a link? Please? Thank you so much!
Sure! These wrinkle-resistant chinos are the ones we normally buy. There are a lot of different styles too, if your guy prefer pleats or a slimmer cut or a bit of elastic in the waist.
Thank you kindly:-).
Freecycle was amazing when I first moved to this city with very little stuff. Unfortunately now that I live with Mr Omnivore we have way too much stuff, so I unsubscribed to the mailing list, although we should probably list some stuff...
My mum has also had success with giving things away for free on gumtree, and says it's easier to use than freecycle.
Love the full-circle tale of the bicycle. We have a "rocking fish" (instead of horse) that was trash-picked from the neighbor's curb a few years ago. One day another neighbor was over for a visit, and her teenage daughter jumped on it and said it was just like the one she had when she was a little girl. Turns out they had given it to the same neighbors we trash picked it from! Hoping to keep it moving thru the neighborhood when my kids outgrow it in a few years.
I wish our community had a more active freecycle page. I love this time of year for picking up plants. There was not money in the budget this year but in past years I have gone to our local home improvement center and picked up perennial's for $1 to $2 a piece that were once as much as $20 in the spring. It is a bit of a gamble but I usually get around 80% of them to survive over the winter. What helps is the long warm fall we have where I live, I think it lets them get their roots established a bit before winter.
I've just found your blog and we are one of the same...I too love to live frugally (and cheerfully) and have my entire life. I've only read a few posts thus far, but plan to read and follow more...freecycle is a wonderful resource. I have a fabulous 'free' resource in my town - the town transfer station. They have what I call the 'freebie barn' - it's a place where residents leave unwanted (but good) items for others to take, for free. When you tire of them, bring them back and allow another to use...recycling at its' best! I've found some incredible things this way - furniture, dishes, cookware, boots, jackets, toys, tools, rugs, glassware, the list goes on and on. I even blog about my finds and the simple things I do to live well on less - I too hope to inspire... Many towns in New England offer such places/areas at their transfer stations, but unfortunately, many do not - if only every town/city could have such a place - how lucky we would all be? Even the planet - all the stuff being 'given' away, is not ending up in the landfills...plus, what a great feeling to not consume. Freecycle is a fabulous option to anyone not lucky enough to have a town 'freebie barn'. All the best to you and your family and I look forward to reading more from you!