Five Frugal Things | I sold stuff. Yay me!
1. I sold an outgrown bike.
I used Facebook marketplace and no lie, the bike was picked up and paid for in less than an hour. At full price.
I was so impressed!
2. I sold the girls' scooters for them.
They used to love these, but they've outgrown 'em. So, I listed them on Facebook and they sold too, though not quite as quickly as the bike did!
Of course, I'm giving the money from this sale to the girls, since the scooters were their personal possessions.
For whatever reason, I really hate listing and selling things. So I'm giving myself big gold stars for these first two frugal things.
3. I saved a broken hanger from the trash.
One of my kids broke the bottom part of a hanger. The top was still fine, though!
So I pulled the broken pieces off, use a wire cutter to trim the remaining staples, and used the hanger to hold a shirt, rather than a pair of pants.
4. I saved on a Jersey Mike's gift card.
I had some credits at Sixth Continent, so I used those to pay for half of a $25 gift card, plus I'm getting $1.75 back in more credits from buying the gift card.
So, this will make for a nice cheap date night in the future.
(You can get a pretty inexpensive $25 gift card when you make a Sixth Continent account through my referral link. The deal is good for first-timers only.)
5. I...
made dinner last night even though I didn't feel like it. Also, I inadvertently took the toll-free route to Joshua's rental. And we ate leftovers for lunch yesterday after church.
1. Continuing to make dinner rather than buy it, even though I'm even more burnt out on cooking than before.
2. Fixing two side tables (using glue I had and clamps I had to buy) rather than hiring a competent person to do it. The clamps are an investment in future DIY repairs.
3. By buying the clamps as separate transactions and combining them with Ace Hardware coupons, I bought 2 clamps and 2 flexible cutting sheets for less than the 2 clamps alone would have cost.
4. Bought $50-60 of needed items from CVS for about $10 out of pocket, by combining mfg coupons, CVS coupons, CVS store deals, and CVS Extra Bucks. The register didn't account for the "percent off" calculations correctly (it calculated based on post-Extra Bucks price, when it should be on pre-Extra Bucks price). With some persistence, patience, and politeness, I convinced the store manager to make it right.
5. Some movies I want to watch are available on STARZ only. I'm going to get the free 7 day STARZ trial and binge-watch next weekend.
FRUGAL FAIL: about 1 cup of cooked meat went bad before I got around to dealing with it.
Unfortunately I have found that to be the case whenever I use ExtraBucks at CVS. The % discount comes off after the EB have been subtracted. I have never tried to argue it, since it's just the way that the registers calculate it. Good for you.
EBs are a form of store credit. It changes how much cash you pay, not the price you are paying. It makes sense that it's applied on the sale price. It shouldn't be applied to the coupons or the store credit - neither item changes the price that the store receives for the product.
I also contacted CVS HQ about it. It'll be interesting to see what they say.
Many gold stars for #1. I feel you!
1. I noticed a garage sale listing close to home and got there as they opened. She was moving and everything inside the garage was fill a bag for 5.00. I packed bags so full I gave her extra but for 30.00, I had a full trunk. Some things I got for resale for an upcoming garage sale including full cans of Annie Sloan chalk paint. I sold the two I couldn't use for 40.00. I'm already running at a profit!
2. Ran errands on Friday including Kohls to use a 5.00 reward card. I found a returned summer shirt for 7.20. With the 15% discount, I paid 2.00.
3. I cleaned and repainted fairy garden houses and accessories with ancient craft paint yesterday. One more use out of them before they get tossed.
4. Combining spring cleaning with gathering stuff for the family garage sale. It feels so good to have items we no longer need heading out the door. And making money from it is awfully nice.
5. Grocery bill is remaining crazy low thanks to marked down produce and .98 cent milk from Aldi's. Our closest Aldi's milk is 1.98 but I pick it up when I'm running errands near the other one.
Think that's all! Have a great week, Kristen!
Wow, $0.98? It's never that low at my Aldi.
1) One of my daughters opted for a family activity instead of having a birthday party. We found out the place she wanted to go gave a 20% discount on Saturday’s if you wore plaid, we all showed up on plaid/flannel.
2) Kicked off Spring Break with a free library craft session and picked up books and dvds for the week.
3) Gratefully accepted hand me downs from a friend
4) My husband and I spent Sunday afternoon decluttering, organizing, and repurposing things.
5) Last night we have our weekly finance check in so we both know where we are at for the week.
I stacked some discounts at DSW online and bought two pairs of incredibly comfortable shoes (Dr. Scholl's No Bad Days Platform Sneakers, although they sure don't look "platform") for fifty bucks, and will get double points so I'll get another ten dollar certificate within a month. I've been searching for really comfortable shoes to wear with leggings or jeans or joggers for ages, and I tried these last week in lilac and they're a winner, so I went back for black and silver. The last pair of really comfortable casual shoes I had were from Duluth Trading Company and they didn't last long enough for what I paid for them.
1. I re-purposed a pair of too short sweat pants into a pair of just right shorts. Yay for sewing machines! (I thought I was supposed to shrink as I get older.)
2. I found a new home for the very pretty glass light shade from the old ceiling fixture in my living room.
3. I made clean out the fridge soup. Yummy!
4. I very carefully washed my new winter jacket instead of dry cleaning it. It looks terrific.
5. I found a beautiful spring dress to wear for my daughter's college graduation next month at our local hospice store and I helped a good cause.
1. Among the week's meals that I cooked, one entree was dried peas seasoned with a ham bone from the freezer that was frozen in a wax cereal bag, and paired with cooked brown rice also from the freezer. And we have leftovers.
2. I took a box of books to the public library resale store (yay for decluttering), and found several books by an author my son had been wanting. They will be part of his birthday gift. I also picked up a great Spanish-English picture dictionary for a friend wanting to increase her English skills.
3. My husband repurposed 2 wooden writing desks in his workshop.
4. Made homemade laundry detergent, which I switched to several years ago.
5. I found a (now popular as farmhouse style) white sign with red lettering 'FOR SALE' during the workshop cleanout that will be used as house decor and I repeat: yay for decluttering :).
1. Bought chicken thighs on Mark down for 1.99 ( 2 packs)...cooked them in slow cooker Sat. Pulled the meat and put in freezer for future meals. ( MAY IS CRAZY FOR US).
2. Made chicken broth from bones. Put 4 cups in the freezer for future use.
3. Made a 6.00 total dinner for 3...using loss leaders from the grocery,
4. Ordered graduation invites for my son....saved 98.00 with coupon codes. AND FREE SHIPPING
5. Got a nice bridal shower gift on clearance.
Good going on the sales! I draw back from posting for sales, too. Sometimes I can get my daughter to do it for me. 🙂
1. I used an Amazon gift card, bought with my Swagbucks, to purchase a birthday gift for a long-distance friend. I have Prime, so it was shipped for free and the gift was free.
2. Since I found I can use the recycling bin where I work, in another county from where I live, we have been hauling off no less than half as much as our former amount of trash each week. Less bags purchased, and sometimes we don't have to take our trash to the roll-off site each week anymore, so less gas and time. I live in the country, so we have no trash pick-up, and our home county's recycling is a joke.
3. A food co-op where I often shop offered 20% off anything that would fit in their reusable bag this past weekend. I bought several items that were already on sale, plus got some of their bulk items, which are usually the cheapest prices I can find, anyway. Since I'm an owner, I got some items at the owner's price, which was better than the standard sale price. I got 20% off of it all, sale items included. I made sure I only bought things I will use.
4. I went to the doctor for a yearly check up, and my insurance says I don't own the co-pay. I'm glad to hear that, but suspicious that there is a mistake there, as this is my first medical appointment this year. I will keep an eye on that. In the meantime, I can hang on to my $25.
5. Our weather was really warm until that storm front came through -- there were no damages in our areas, than heavens -- but I opened windows and ran fans rather than the air conditioner. Today, the weather is almost 20 degrees cooler so I had to shut off the fans.
Hello!
Re. the doctor's appointment, it's true -- you will not owe the copay if you have insurance and are going for a yearly check-up.
🙂
1. My daughter got a new bedspread with king size shams. I repurposed them into throw pillows for the bed. A very easy sew and she loves them.
2. Read two free books on my kindle this week.
3. Being homebound, I looked into Instacart delivering my groceries. I can compare prices online and get the best deal. In doing so I make up for the delivery charge in savings. A win-win since I can no longer go myself.
4. Eating out of my pantry as much as possible.
5. Been decluttering and finding things I forgot I had!
I'm sorry you're homebound. You should also check out delivery of groceries through Shipt. They have a special deal on the membership fee and they don't increase the prices like Instacart does.
1. Got two tubes of toothpaste free due to two CVS coupons that totaled more than the tubes did, used the balance for sunscreen which we didn't realize we had run out of as it's been too chilly to sit out without a jacket until Saturday.
2. Made turkey soup from broth I made two weeks ago plus lots of little turkey bits my husband diligently pulled off the carcass, so we have several lunches and dinners for this week.
3. Used up leftover pot roast gravy over meatballs and pasta for dinner. Made extra meatballs for a later in the week to have in sandwiches.
4. Took leftover dry bread with me to have with my soup for lunch instead of buying a roll nearby. Since it will be dipped in the soup the dryness doesn't matter.
5. Recycled coupons that have been tempting me to shop for clothes I really don't need. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind!
I love these posts!
1. I had my kids mix up waffle batter for breakfast-for-supper and they accidentally put way to much baking powder in. We made a new batch, but didn't waste the first batch. My husband suggested we try to make it a cake, so I added sugar and vanilla and bake it, turned out very edible!
2. Earned another $3 Amazon gift card from swagbucks.
3. Bought clearance mascara and dry shampoo, then scanned the receipt for 20 cents on Ibotta (I've been doing Ibotta for months and only have about $4, is it this slow for other people? I determined at the beginning not to allow it to push me to make purchases I wouldn't usually make).
4. Bought a drainer from Goodwill.
5. Ate leftovers for lunch.
Katy, I can say earning cash back on Ibotta has been slow for me, too. Some weeks, it's only 10 or 20 cents....other weeks, it's a little more. I don't mind, since it's on items I'd buy anyway. I almost always use it if I buy a Groupon, but I check eBates to see which offers more back.
I think I Ibotta cycles...sometimes I will make quite a bit on items I buy, then go 6 weeks with nothing.
I work really hard to not buy something just because it is on the app!
1. I didn't eat out at all last week. I'm making progress on using what we have in the house.
2. I bought a couple of tomato plants. While not as cheap as starting from seeds, hopefully they will be worth the time and money.
3. We used store rewards, coupons, and a promotion to buy a suit for a loved one without the resources to buy one himself. It was very little out of pocket.
4. I donated some items to a local history museum that is holding a yard sale fund raiser in a few weeks.
5. I have been borrowing DVDs from the library instead of paying to rent movies or paying for online access to TV shows. I have some ebooks checked out as well.
Love your#3! So often we're frugal to save money for ourselves, I love seeing creative ways people are money savey to help others!
I always hate selling stuff on Facebook and Craigslist as well. It's always so much hassle even when it's something super simple.
1.) Remembered to cancel my free trial to a streaming service on my Fire Stick
2.) Turned off the central heat/air for two days last week because the temperatures were just so nice.
3.) Used up all the leftover food in the fridge and had zero food waste
4.) Turned in library books on time, we've been sick lately and getting them in time before late fees started was a miracle and I'm so counting it as a frugal win lol
5.) Found a cheaper hotel booking for husbands work trip this week, while it will eventually get reimbursed it's still money out of our pocket up front and keeping those costs to a minimum is a priority right now.
1. We sold s bunch of stuff and made $80 that we then used to buy a $100 L-shaped desk I've been looking for for over a year. Finally found one a good price on facebook marketplace and we did it! Far better than the over $500 they go for brand new, and that's for ones that aren't nearly as sturdy as the one we got.
2. Ate dinner at home 5/7 nights this week. One night we had a potluck for my grandma's birthday where we brough fruit and a green salad and the other we stopped and grabbed some fast food on the way to pick up the aforementioned desk.
3. I shopped poshmark for some new jeans. I was able to get several pairs and a new swimsuit top that all retail for about $90 for about $25 each!
4. Hubby brought his lunch every day last week.
5. We worked it out so we only needed to take one of our cars on the 45 minute drive to visit our family rather than both like we had originally planned. It involved hubby taking half of today off work so he could take his car in for an oil change before taking it on a business trip tomorrow and since he was taking the time off to do something he needed to do for his upcoming trip he didn't even have to use vacation time, score!
Great job on #1!!!
We pulled carpet & laminate at the kids house, they are replacing with a different laminate. They save $2500 with doing the work them selves.
The old laminate was in good shape, listed on FB MP & had 4 offers in 5 minutes. It was picked right up.
Our dishwasher bit the dust, normally I would fix but we are unsure which part is needed and it is over 10 years old so I bought a new one. I ordered thru Best Buy using Swagbucks then because its my birthday BB offered and additional 10% off. That made it worth while. He can scrap the dishwasher. If it matters any my dryer is 25 years old. It may dry forever...
My dog has pancreatitis so I requested sample foods from several different companies, only had to pay shipping. So far she will eat it. She refuses any kibble.
I am on month 4 of no shopping, broke down this weekend and ordered some pants from Old Navy as I need a couple of new pair for meetings. I ordered enough to get free shipping but I only need 2 pair at most, I will save them for meeting days so I will take the rest back to the store.
1. Instead of hiring someone for a spring cleanup, I spent Saturday doing yardwork.
2. Husband fixed a cabinet door with some wood glue instead of replacing it. We will also try the wood glue on a few of the kitchen chairs that don't quite stay together.
3. I forgot to thaw chicken for dinner, so we used canned salmon with our stir fry bowls instead of running to the grocery store which inevitably turns into a $20-30 purchase
I'm stuck on thinking of other frugal wins recently. I'll have to work on that. 🙂
Oh, I thought of #4.
I remembered to eat up some spaghetti squash that was on its last day in the fridge today.
I am going to need lots of these for the nest year because my oldest daughter got ENGAGED. We are so excited.
1. My son cleaned out his book shelf. I brought my cousin a box of books for her boys(which they loved). She gave me some Easter chocolates that she made as a thank you.
2. A house near bye is being emptied. The lady died over a year ago and the family was throwing everything away. I took 8 boxes of items to sell(already started listing stuff) and Hubby found some electronics that he can use. My son found some books that will replace the ones from #1.
3. I cooked dinner even though it was a crazy day. There is enough leftovers for my daughter to take for lunch tomorrow.
4. Deposited tax refund and a Bic rebate into the college fund.
5. I used a coupon code to get a discount on the flowers I sent my daughter at work.
1. I'm not doing a proper grocery shop this week which has ended up as odds and ends being picked up during the week. But 45 dollars is cheaper than 120. And I'm using up what's in the pantry and fridge since I have time off from classes.
2. I've been running in the morning, and running is free.
3. I was reading part of a book on googleplay and then wanted to read the rest of it, so I checked my library and requested it. Luckily it will be at my local library in a few days.
4. I am trying out a free trial of a tv subscription provider. I have my finger on the unsubscribe button once we've watched what we've wanted to watch.
5. I am almost 1/4 of the way done with my college course which the government is paying for, the ultimate in frugal things. Once I complete it, they'll actually pay me 100 dollars for it.
A bonus frugal thing, I'm still getting fresh herbs and pumpkins from my garden despite the fact that it's autumn in australia
1. Picked up huge bags of clothes someone was giving away on Next door. Kept about 10 shirts and 2 pairs of shoes for myself. All Ann Taylor, DKNY, Gap, etc. I never buy clothes or shoes, so this is a huge treat for me
2. Ate all meals at home
3. Made baked french toast out of leftover bread
4. Found a push lawn mower on curb and listed on Let Go
5. Listed 2 items on ebay, which will sell for about $100 total
1. Getting ready for a yard sale, I loaded up a bag of books. I found one that I hadn't read yet, so I read it right away instead of just laying it aside, It was a good story, so hopefully someone will buy it! Nicholas Sparks "the Choice".
2. Used up all the leftovers in the fridge in a yummy casserole.
3. Ate at home all week except for a church pitch-in Sunday night. Why does food always taste so much better when I don't have to cook it myself and I also don't have to pay for it?!!!
4. I'm not buying a new dress for Easter, even though they are on sale. Buying nothing saves more money than buying something, even if that something is on sale!
5. My local bank is having a special rate of 2.2 percent on a CD held for 22 months, I'm going to call tomorrow morning to get all the details!
Hi Kristen, I smiled at your no.5 visiting your son in his place, so lovely to hear
Well done on making yourself sell those things I struggle a bit with this too & generally just end up donating but I have been thinking I should sell some of the things I don't want anymore; we shall see...:)
1. I fulfilled a loooong held dream to drive to work so early I could get a great park, walk around the local sportsground a couple of times, eat porridge in the work staff room for brekky & be early for the morning meeting. This meant I too had time to use a toll free road, & the trip was 30min instead of 50 saving me petrol too... I hope to keep this up 🙂
2. I have a members card for some op-shops here ( thrift stores) it cost me nothing but your accumulate points for every purchase no matter how small. I wanted a mirror for my powder room & I got a lovely one with a white painted wood vine pattern filigree frame for $11 as I had a $2 credit, I'm thrilled as it's just the sort of mirror I wanted.
3. I love traditional hot cross buns but only one shop sells sulphite free fruit ones but that bakery also has a rewards card so I got 6 hot cross buns & free loaf of my favourite wholemeal grainy bread
4. I love my hot cross buns re-baked in the oven so they are hot & then spread real butter on them...YUM; I don't have a functioning oven yet but a friend told me you can cook then in a sandwich press in baking paper - I did them in George! it tasted just like oven ones! (although he did squash them a bit but I don't care it was awesome) & cheaper than using or buying an oven 🙂
5. I am sick at the moment with a virus which is keeping me home more which saves petrol but I feel the need for more hot cross buns...(but with each bag of 6 I'll get a rewards stamp on my card!)
Donating is just so much easier. But then there's the whole money thing...
I hope you feel better soon!
Had a great week of frugal
1. Sold two pair of new sub zero Mt Hardware gloves for $90. I got them free at a free rummage sale. FB Marketplace!
2. Had a weekend trip to Philadelphia . Stayed at a hotel suite that had breakfast buffet included as well as weeknight “social hours” that included a light entree, soup and salad as well as beer and wine and you were also allowed to take food to your room. While the room/suite was a bit more per night then a regular room we more than made out with breakfast and dinner included for the three of us as well as being able to pack our lunches from the leftovers!
3. While in Philly I walked 3 1/2 miles back to the hotel from my conference which not only saved Uber fare but I had a great time exploring the city.
4. Our city has a monthly “free store” where you bring things you no longer need and take what you want. I got some spring clothes for us, a food dehydrator, books, a plant, and some homemade pins and magnets that my son plans to sell at local craft fairs
5. Picked up some free individually packaged snacks for our Easter baskets while volunteering at a local event.
Love these posts, and looking through the comments. Always can find some great ideas and inspiration 🙂
1. Bought coconut milk yogurt on sale, then after Ibotta rebate, it's free. This stuff is $$$$!!
2. Bringing leftovers for lunch at work. I work in Berkeley, CA, the HEART of foodie nirvana (aka the Gourmet Ghetto). Always a success when I don't buy something to eat near my office!
3. Got a good walk in before work, then plan to go for a run after work. Good health saves lots of money long-term.
4. Randomly cleaning out my closet & selling items on Poshmark. Great way to get a little extra money here & there for items I'm no longer wearing.
5. Shopped early for my kids' Easter baskets, finding nearly free items. Since they're 17 & 20 yrs old, they'll get razors & deodorant along with some candy 🙂
What brand of yogurt did you buy?
The brand is So Delicious
What are the advantages of selling items on Facebook marketplace vs craigslist or others like them. Have never sold anything online before Just curious
Well, there's a TON of traffic on Facebook, so your listing is more likely to sell there. Craigslist is just not as busy as it used to be, so it's a little tougher to find a buyer there. It's free on both places, though!