Ways to Save...series.. This instead of that

Today's "Ways to Save" is going to be using the this instead of that mentality. I used to be a heavy soda drinker. I loved my diet coke till I gave up diet drinks because aspartame is not good for you. So I switched to coke. I loved my coke. Until I realized I had to give up caffeine - it is not good for us either plus if I did not have a coke I would get a bad head ache, a head ache that wouldn't go away. I knew then that I had to give it up. And thankfully I did because I found out later that caffeine makes hot flashes worse - I don't need that!

So now when I am going to have a soda I usually I drink rootbeer, sprite, or Canada Dry Ginger Ale(my favorite). If I open a 12 ounce can - I am tempted to drink more of it than I would like - so I have been getting Walmart brand little 8 ounce cans of rootbeer or cream soda. I don't do this all the time but ever so often for a treat. They used to price the six pack at $1.50. The last time I went - the price had gone up to $1.62. I thought that was too much so I passed. When I got to the produce department I picked up a bag of key limes because our granddaughter was coming that week end and she loves Key Limeade - I do too! That is when I got the thought. I like her to drink the limeade instead of soda's because of her getting the vit. c and white sugar is probably better for her than corn syrup. So when she comes to visit I do my best to have it here. I buy a bag or Key Limes and then I process them- I usually use 7-8 per 2 qt. pitcher. So I wash the limes, cut them in half and I squeeze them into my glass measuring cup. Then I pour it into my pitcher and I add about 1 cup of sugar and fill it up with water. I mix it up really good. Then I do the same process with the rest of the sets of 7-8 but instead up pouring the juice into the pitcher - I pour the juice into a small Tupperware container that has a lid. I put these in the freezer till I am ready to use them. This time my bag of key limes made up 4 batches. I paid $2.48 for the key limes. When I figured up per 8 ounce servings of each here is what I found :

Great Value soda -8 ounces - 27 cents a serving
Key Limeade - 8 ounces - almost 18 cents a serving. That is including the sugar added.

That is almost 10 cents cheaper per serving - plus healthier for us and has vit. c! I think it is a win for the Key Limeade!! :O) I will make sure I have stuff to make key limeade here so when I get a hankering for something sweet to drink - I will make up some key limeade! :O)

Sometimes I get an even better deal on the key limes - which makes each serving even cheaper!
This is a treat - not something I usually drink. I am trying to be healthier which means water is my usual drink of choice.

My Best Deal ...series "Candles"

So any of you remember Home Interiors? It was a company that ran kind of like Tupperware and Pampered Chef. Anyway years ago - probably about 20 years ago - I went to a few of the Home Interior Parties and I had a few of the Home Interior Parties as well. One of the things that I discovered from Home Interior is that they made some of the best candles around- at least better than any candles I had seen and I bought some. Twelve votive candles came in a box.

These are the candles I have left. I use them sparingly. I guess because I knew once they were gone - that would be it. You can find some on Ebay and probably other places but by the time you pay for them - you are paying quite a bit.

As I was perusing a local Goodwill - I noticed this box: 

Something drew me to the box. I opened it up and smelled the candles and found a delightful scent that signaled the chance that there were good quality candles. I was kind of thinking that maybe Home Interiors had changed names and that maybe this was that company.

I have since done some research and discovered that Home Interiors did change names and is now called Celebrating Home.

Anyway back to my best deal post - so I looked up these candles and discovered that brand new these candles run $9.00 a box. Plus I am sure you would have to pay shipping as well. Anyway with just taking the 9.00 a box in to account - it make each candle run $1.50.

I paid $2.49 for the box bringing the cost of each candle down to about $.42 a piece! That is a much better deal. Plus they will smell good! I am so thankful when I am able to find something like this - something that is important to have around - in case of emergency and will smell good as well - without having to pay the high prices for them! :O)  

My Best Deal...series Bible Journaling Book

Today's best deal - I actually came by it accidently. You see I did not realize what an awesome resource this book was or what a great deal I was really getting when I bought this book. I had went to my local hole in the wall thrift store looking for some special devotional books I had seen just a few days before. I was really hoping they would still be there. There is never a guarantee that things will still be there in a few days. Well I lucked out and the books I wanted were still there. And I decided since I was there to look around. And underneath some other stuff I found this awesome book:

One of the classes that the church that I am going to has been offering has been a Bible Journaling class - hence my interest in the book. I am so glad that it worked out that way because otherwise I might have walked away from this awesome deal!

Notice what this says:

I didn't notice that until the second time that I picked up the book after I got home with it and was looking at it. My first thought was that there would be a good chance that the stickers and all are gone at this point - but they were not!!!

Right now this little thrift shop is running a 50 cents a book sale! Yep! What a deal!!

I looked the book up and here is what I found out:

Then you have to add shipping cost on top of the prices you find on the internet usually. So I got an even better deal finding it in person! 

I could almost kick myself in the butt. About a month ago there was a good sized Bible that had wide margins. I debated about getting the Bible a couple of times, but because I already have several Bibles- seriously like 4 or 5 maybe more - I decided not to get it. Now I find this great Bible journaling book and am wishing I had have bought that Bible. I will just have to keep my eyes open for another one. :O) 

I just have to share - when shopping at thrift stores - you are not always going to find awesome deals. Many times you will leave empty handed. And that is alright because you want to find good deals. I just wanted to share that because with me sharing about good deals I have found it would be easy for someone to think that I always find great deals every time I go. There was one week(last week), that I went to 4 different thrift stores in one week and did not buy at thing at any of them. Lucky for me on Friday on my way to get groceries- I decided to stop by a goodwill and I found 4 tops! You just have to be ok with leaving the store without anything sometimes because that is just the way it is. But when you find the great things- you will be happy you passed up all the other mediocre things. 

Frugally Building a Stash

Yesterday we found out our granddaughter has strep throat. I have been feeling worn down the last several days. I figure I am trying to get sick. At the same time I am doing what ever I can to take care of myself and work towards better health. So far I am holding steady. Not at 100% but at least not going down hill.

 

Today I wanted to share with you a great way to build your stash frugally. I stumbled upon this method recently and so very glad I did. And truth be told this method may not work for everyone. Plus this method is not fool proof.

 

So a couple of weeks ago, I was looking around one of the thrift shops near where my Quilting Store is. And I found piece of fabric folded up and taped with a price of about 50 cents written on it. I thought for 50 cents it would be worth me buying it to see if it would be good quality fabric or not.

 

This is where this method could get tricky - not all fabric is of good quality and good to use to make quilts. So you need to get a feel for good quality fabric. And when the fabric is all folded up and taped in that position it is hard to see if there is any information about the fabric on the fabric. Many times on the edge of the fabric is the name of the company that produced the fabric and then they also have the name of the fabric line. These details can be very helpful to know what quality the fabric is. Utilize this when possible.

 

When I got home and opened up the piece of fabric I found a great quality piece of fabric! The next time I went to the store, I decided to look in the same area to see if I could find some more good quality fabric. They have fabric there many of the times that I go to this store- not all of the fabric is the quality of fabric I am looking for, so I have to be selective when looking.

 

This is the batch of fabrics I found last week:

The two fabrics with the cream back grounds were 1/2 yard pieces of fabric - for $1.00 a piece I thought it was a bargain.  The blue and beige fabric and the birdhouses fabric were 1 yard pieces  - for $1.50 per piece I was happy to add these to my stash.

This 3/4 of a yard piece of fabric was found at a different thrift store- for only a quarter - I could not pass it up. Sad thing is that there is not much fabric that goes through this store- but I will certainly keep an eye out for more good quality fabric!

 

Oh and for those of you that may not know- when you buy good quality fabrics at quilting stores you will probably pay about 10.00- 12.00 dollars a yard - give or take a little. You can find some fabrics at other type stores for less money - and some may be good quality to use making quilts - you just have to really pay attention to quality. 

So when you realize that the price of quality quilting fabric is quite high - it really shows what a good deal I got on my fabric. And also why I have found it important to have these other place to shop to add to my fabric stash. I don't have a lot of money to put towards fabrics. And it is so fun to find great fabric at great prices!!

I hope you are lucky enough to have some stores in your area that have good quality fabric that come through - so you too can add to your stash for very little money! :O)

 

I Scored!

 Last week - I went to a favorite little thrift store and I found some awesome books!! As you can tell I found several of Morris Venden book's. He had twenty something books - and I would love to find them all! When I am able to get them for 50 cents for soft cover and 1.00 for hard back - it makes it something that I can do and it won't break the bank! In fact this pile of books cost me about 4.00! 

So since God has been trying to teach me the importance of surrendering my life and my will to Him - made it a logical choice for me to start with this book:

"Salvation By Faith and Your Will" 

 

Plus this little "Welcome" yard art - was only 1.50. 

 

Monthly Clothing Report

So for the months of Jan and Feb - a grand total of $8.98 was all I spent on clothing. Well obviously by my above photo - I have had better luck this month.

So I decided instead of lots of individual photos I would post it like this. I only figured this out because on my phone photos - it was set up like this so I took a photo of what was on my phone screen and then edited it. But I am quite happy with how it turned out. The colors are not always true to product - example of that is the two blue top and then cami.

OK so the first photo - I just wanted to show you my cute little pen I found a few weeks ago - it's one I share with the granddaughter- the little body comes out when you are going to write and then pop up and disappear if you aren't. She helped me write out information in my binder in my purse - until I thought how heavy she was and found a pencil.

Ok - I am not even sure ya'll are interested in knowing how much each thing cost - if not - then next month I will leave that off - if anyone has any feelings either one way or the other - let me know.

I will go left to right - starting with the first row:

Bill Blass capris - these cost $3.93

Then we have a like new pair of Faded Glory capris $7.57- these were actually gifted to me.

The top on the right - is a Catherine's brand top- it was half off and I only had to pay $2.24 for it. On the hanger it is not as impressive as it is on- I have worn it and got a compliment on it. I think that navy blue is one of my best colors to wear.

Next row:
Grey St. John's Bay top- this was $4.94
(the top two buttons seem to have a problem staying buttoned - I am planning on going in and sewing that closed so that it can stay modest and look nice)

The next one is a Beverly Drive sleeveless slinky top- $3.93
(this is a great top for church and I will wear with a black skirt that I have)

Next one - Faded Glory - this was new with tags- tag stated a price of $11.97 but I only paid $5.45

Cato- sleeveless top - New with tags - price of 19.99 crossed off and had a price of $13.99 printed. but I only paid $6.56

Bottom Row:

Avenue sleeveless top with a lace panel down the front- New with tags - tags said $34.00 but I only paid $3.73

Cato's brown cami with lace - $1.91
(this cami will be worn with the cato sleeveless top - unless I sew a panel of lace in where it goes too low in the front)

Apt. 9 turquoise cami $3.93

Last but not least:
a pair of Cato jeans - with white stitching - $4.94
(I have worn these and absolutely love them!!)

Not pictured is a black half slip - $2.99

So a total for the month of March is $ 44.55

Sounds like quite a bit but when added to the previous things bought for the year- $8.98 for a total of $53.53 - when dividing into 3 - for the 3 months of the year - it equals about $17.84- which is actually more than some people spend on one piece of clothing.

I will be continuing to look for summer clothes and also short sleeved tops. - so hopefully I will have some more luck!

One More Reason

Today I want to share one more reason to try clothes on before you buy them. When you try things on - you will notice not only how the item fits you - but it will give you the perfect opportunity to really check the piece of clothing over. You will find the answers to many questions like:

 Are all the buttons there?

Does the zipper work?

Does the snap work?

Are there any stains?

Are there rips?
Has the item been altered from the size it says it is? I have come across this on several occasions. 

If you don't try the item on - you might miss something that is wrong with the item. So take the time - try it on. You will be glad you did.

Really Look It Over

There is something else important that my sister and I have learned while thrift store shopping. And it is something we have learned from experience.

It is a very good idea to really look over each piece of clothing that you are thinking about buying. We have learned from experience that people donate clothes with stains, holes, and even clothes that they have altered that may not work for us.

And of course, it is a great idea to try things on. There have been many times that because we tried a piece of clothing on - we have noticed a stain or hole that we may have missed had we not tried it on. Also button - buttons and zip zippers. Sometimes clothes come with extra buttons - so if it is missing a button you may be able to replace it with one sewn into clothing elsewhere. And sometimes it would work to just replace all the buttons.

Having a bad zipper is a harder fix indeed - so be sure and make sure they work.

One more think to take notice of is the design on the top - check it out. I bought a cute top once that was really cute. It even had new tags on it! I though I had gotten a great deal. Once I got home - I noticed that on the back by one of the arms there was a distinctive flaw in the design. I was disappointed. That is why I say be sure and just really look each item over.

Many times thrift stores have policies that once you buy the item you can not return it so check those clothes out before you buy them. You will glad you did.

One Simple Trick

Today I want to share an important thing to remember when buying clothes used. It will seem very simple but many do not do this one simple trick.

I believe for a long while I missed out on some great items because I did not try stuff on. Mostly because of what size the time said it was. But one time I was shopping with my sister and she pulled out a pair of really cute jeans and said, "hey try these on. I think they will fit you." When I looked at the jeans, I noticed that they were a size smaller than what I wore. Well thankfully I listened to her and tried them on. They fit and I learned something important that year, I learned that a size in one brand may be called another size in another brand.  I also learned that over time some brands have actually changed how they size things. I know for sure that both Wal-mart and K-mart have done this. Because of these reasons it is important to keep an open mind and when looking for clothes- be sure and try them on- especially the things you really like. You may be surprised at what you find! I know I was! In my closet right now I have several different sizes of jeans and tops and that is ok - as long as the items fit me and I like them.

So remember - be sure and try things on. You may find favorite pieces just because you took the extra time to try stuff on. Also you will see how it fits you and that is a great thing. Not all things are made the same. And just because one things fits you good doe not mean that everything will.

Holding out for Favorites

Over the years my sister and I have learned to hold out for favorites when it comes to buying clothes. By that I mean that when we are shopping we try hard not to buy something just because it will do. We want what we buy to be things that we love.

In years past we didn't do such a good job with holding out for things that we loved. Many times we would get things because they meant a certain criteria. One main criteria for tops that I buy are tops that are long enough. I don't like short tops. And so sometimes when I found tops that were long enough - I would get it even if they color or design was not something that really spoke to me. But as time goes by I/we are really doing better at waiting for pieces of clothing that we really like. For example we try to hold out for great colors, favorite designs and favorite styles. There are times- that we might slip and buy something that doesn't fall under favorite category, but it is much less often now.

I am hoping by using a book to record what I buy, that I can also record and keep track of how many of my purchases are actually favorites. I understand that something things that seem like they are going to be favorites- end up not hanging right or what ever-  but overall I hope that I see a trend to more and more holding true to myself and getting things I love.

Stay tuned because I have a little more to share about things we have learned about thrift store shopping.

Record Book

Sometimes I get my best ideas from other people. today I am going to be sharing an idea that I have gotten from my sister.

So you know that my sister and I do a lot of our shopping for clothes and such at thrift stores? Well a year or so ago my sister began to wonder how much she was spending on clothing. So she bought a small notebook to keep in her purse so that she could keep track of her purchases.

Then she set a budget for herself. Then for the entire year of 2015 she would record what she bought and how much money she spent. And by the end of the year she discovered she had not only stayed in budget, she had some money left over!!

So I decided that I would like to see how much money I spend on clothes and such each month and for the year. So I went and bought a little notebook for my purse and I will begin keeping track of my purchases. Here is my record book:

 I am kind of thinking that I may want to keep track of other purchases as well. It will be interesting to keep up with how much money is spent.

I may do some posts about my purchases throughout the year. I am not sure yet. 

So I am just wondering - do any of you keep track of what you spend and what have you found the best methods?