treasure hunting!

I took a trip to Goodwill. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just treasure hunting. {some shop at malls or go to antique stores, I go to thrift stores} Sometimes I just like to look for a bargain, sometimes I have a list of needed items. I really love to craft, so I head for that section first. I had a budget of $10.00. I spent $10.08 before taxes.

I found my son a brand new skateboarding tshirt by a famous brand that he loves. It was $2.99 and men's shirts were on sale, bringing it down to $2.12. He's wearing it today, so I didn't get a picture. ☺

I found: 9 fall scented candles for $1.99 {I love a votive candle, in a mason jar, on a crisp fall or winter evening, so romantic and cozy!}

Also: 7 rubber stamps for $1.99, most still had original tags on them ranging from $4.99 to $9.99!}
This is a new scrapbook kit, was still in box and included 12X12 album, 5 pages of stickers and die cuts, 12 12X12 papers and page protectors. Original prices for these kits are usually around $25, this set was $2.99! YAY!!

I also found 5 steak knives for $0.99, we really needed these!

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And in the garden, I found one more spaghetti squash and 12 cherry tomatoes. Yum. Tomorrow I think I'll start digging up the root veggies. I'm not going to have time today. Darn job is getting in the way of my gardening..ha ha!

frugal b-day gift

I have a friend with a birthday coming. She loves to sew and also loves vintage treasures. So, I've spent the past couple of days treasure hunting. {my favorite thing to do} We have 5 thrift stores within a 5 mile radius. We are so lucky!



So far, I have found a beautiful vintage sewing box. {I let out a little whoop when I found it} I've also found various sewing supplies. I had a small Mason looking jar and many buttons, so I filled the jar with buttons. It looks so pretty!






I have a 40% off coupon for the sewing store, so I thought I'd go get a couple yards of fabric.



All in all, I may spend about $10-$15, but I know that she is going to love this new treasure.



It's the time that you take and the thought that you put into a gift that matters most. I really believe that!

shopping with a purpose

I am a "treasure hunting" addict. Okay, not really an addict, but I do enjoy the hunt.

Going into a thrift store, with my list in hand, and hunting for treasures is indeed a favorite pastime. I don't come home with every little thing that I find. Not at all. It would be very easy to go into a thrift store or even a yard sale, and come home with a lot of "crap"! Believe me, I've done it.

Lately, though I keep a list in my purse. I have a small daily planner {$1 at Dollar Tree} that I keep in my purse. Not only do I have my daily chores and to do list in there, I also keep a running list of items needed/wanted. This way, when I go on a "treasure hunt", I have a plan. It saves the budget as well as keeps our house relatively clutter free.

One example is a basketball net. I bought a "new" basketball hoop at a yard sale last summer. It was in great condition except for the net. I searched for 8 months. Last week I found one at Goodwill for less than $2. I was so excited to find this, I let out a little "whoo" right there in the store. Did people look at me. Oh yes, but tell me that don't get excited when they find a treasure!

Yes, it took awhile to find it, but I did and did not pay retail for the net. It takes patience to shop this way, but it does pay off in the end.

You don't cook for your kids? and decluttering

I was talking with a neighbor yesterday. We were talking about cooking. She said she doesn't cook for her kids. "If it doesn't come out of a box or a can, they don't eat". Her kids are 6 and 12. I asked if they've ever had a home cooked meal and she replied "oh yeah, when we go to a restaurant"! WOW! This is the neighbor always upset over their lack of money. Well, I'm not here to judge, but if you maybe cooked some meals instead of eating out and heating up convenience foods, you might get control of your finances. I can't say that of course. We are neighbors. You just don't want to have bad relations with neighbors.

On an unrelated note, I woke up this morning with the decluttering bug. I just started in the closet and then went to the dresser and night stand. It feels so good to get stuff out of here. Some of this stuff hasn't been used in a long time. Better to find it a new home!

In January, I did the ole turn your hangers around in the closet bit. {you turn all of your clothes hangers backwards. After one full year, any hangers that haven't been turned around haven't been worn and should be donated} I actually have been donating some of my clothes this past year, so I didn't have as many backwards hangers as I might have had. I did find 3 today. All three items went into the Goodwill bag. So far I have 3 bags today. I need to get my family to clean out their closets.

The best part of donating is that if you donate 2 or more bags, they give you a coupon for your next thrift store purchase. Yay!