Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 21, 2014

I pulled out clothes that I don’t wear and I’ll donate to the thrift store. I don’t print too many photos anymore, so many of these photos were pre-2000, before the age of digital. It turns out I didn’t need any of it anyway. The shoe shelf in our garage. My family has a shoe addiction.

Thrift Stores 100

Thrift Stores 2014 Garage Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 16, 2013

While I am not that thrifty, and I love prettily wrapped gifts, I don’t like to spend a bunch on wrappings. Do you have some leftover wall paper you won’t be using? This is easy to do and doesn’t take much in the way of time or materials. Shop garage sales and thrift stores and estate sales.

Thrifty 174

Thrifty Christmas Gifts Thrift Stores 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 3, 2014

Here is a short list of some of my favorite finds at garage, estate and thrift store sales. I didn’t have to do a thing to these pieces except get them home and hose them off. Are you a ‘buy it new’ snob – one of those people who shudder at the thought of using someone else’s cast off stuff?

Buy 178

Buy Buying Garage Sale Garage 178

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 17, 2013

I used to darn my family’s socks, but now don’t. I give away perfectly good electronics because they are ‘out of date’ – they don’t work with new software. In his world, if you couldn’t fix it yourself, you were pretty worthless – because you just couldn’t throw something out and get a new one.

Repairs 214

Repairs San Francisco Radios Garage 214

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 22, 2013

Sure I knew about the ‘White sales’ – the ones stores used to have in January on sheets and towels and such, but I really hadn’t a clue that there is a best time to buy many other things! You may decide you don’t need or want the item at all if you push yourself to wait to get a bargain on it! Winter clothes.

Buy 223

Buy Buying Consignment Shops TVs 223

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 24, 2012

You really can wait on most things – but do act fast on those items that will cause further damage if you don’t handle them. Garage or estate sales. Thrift shops. I found wood frames for my national park posters and a wildlife themed shower curtain at the local thrift stores. Don’t build more than you plan.

Renovation 189

Renovation Home Real Estate Re-use 189

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 23, 2014

riding lawn mowers, garage door openers and many, many more things we take for granted today. Ours was smaller (about 700 square feet) – 2 bedrooms (my brother and I shared one and my parents the other), a kitchen and a living room, No basement or garage. You didn’t start eating until everyone was served and seated.

Growing 180

Growing Home and Garden Radios Kids and Family 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 30, 2015

My favorite thrift store has a section dedicated to seasonal items. The number and variety of Halloween items in this thrift store surprised me. They didn’t even go with the kids to do the trick or treating. We typically didn’t spend more that $10 – $15 dollars total on Halloween back then.

Halloween 100

Halloween Thrift Stores St. Louis Thrifting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 23, 2017

If you don’t have enough money to put food on the table, you are going to do something about it. They won’t save up for it. As a young mom, I saved like mad – going to garage sales, thrift stores and accepting hand me downs on toys and clothing. What is it that makes a person a saver? The act of saving.

Making 124

Making Recession College 401K 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

You also know that picking a location to store something isn’t always logical and that things can get out of place over time, even after you have spent time and effort to optimally organize them! I carried this idea to our garage. Sure, it can be a pain to get to them when you need them, but they aren’t in the way all year.

Organic 177

Organic Organization Home Painting 177

Couponing 101

AUGUST 6, 2019

Luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get appropriate sports gear for your child. If your child is still relatively new to the sport, he or she probably doesn’t need new equipment just yet. Don’t Buy High-End Equipment. Sports equipment can get pricey.

Sports 40

Sports Kids Craigslist Kids and Family 40

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 19, 2014

Many of the other items I needed like cloth diapers and clothes for the baby in bigger sizes I bought from garage sales. Some people were very angry that these parents didn’t spend money on their kids. Others argued that they should not have children if they can’t or won’t spend money on them.

Friends And Family Sale 176

Friends And Family Sale Clothing and Accessories Kids and Family Clothes 176

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

We already know that we don’t bring stuff with us into the world and it doesn’t exit with us when we leave. Kids will naturally accumulate stuff, even when they can’t buy it. Because we don’t yet have jobs that pay much, we can’t afford to go get a lot of stuff. You want stuff.

Cycle 113

Cycle Kids and Family Friends And Family Sale Garage Sale 113

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 26, 2016

That was the month I didn’t know if we had enough funds to cover our expenses. I wouldn’t wish that feeling on my worst enemy. Fortunately, I’ve never met a goal I couldn’t handle. Choose Thrift First. What We Won’t Give Up. In other words, I’m coming up short. Restaurants.

Financial Goals 100

Financial Goals Goals 2016 Debt 100

Couponing 101

DECEMBER 11, 2019

Wouldn’t it be nice to earn a little extra cash without leaving your child’s side? You might look for deals at thrift shops, garage sales, auctions, or stores that frequently sell discontinued products (like T.J. There’s no doubt about it: stay-at-home parents work hard. Online Teacher/Tutor. Photographer.

Parenting 104

Parenting At Home Home Work From Home 104

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 3, 2013

Although Mom didn’t sew much (she did mend), she made sure I took Home Ec in high school. If you can’t save money, need extra tools and have to learn how, why would anyone learn to sew? Why you don’t want to learn to sew. You won’t save money. It wasn’t stellar, but it did the job.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 1, 2015

I don’t want to wait years. These will continue as long as I can find people don’t mind being open and transparent about their debt free story. Choose Thrift First Challenge. In 2015, the monthly challenge will be the Choose Thrift First Challenge. Lots of possibilities and many opportunities.

2015 100

2015 Money Debt Home and Garden 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 1, 2015

After living with windows through which we couldn’t see for at least 5 years, we finally broke down and had new ones installed. Believe me, brush on lacquer is s-t-i-n-k-y! It took me more time, but I just couldn’t see throwing out the tape and paper – which had more life left in them. Cheap or frugal?

Frugal 100

Frugal Cheap Clothes Clothing 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 13, 2012

Plan ahead and hit garage sales, but especially estate sales. Thrift stores are also a great place to shop. If you are providing all of the food, plan your menu to take advantage of less expensive and seasonal foods – and don’t over serve. In my growing up family, we didn’t get that many presents on Christmas day.

Holiday 202

Holiday Friends And Family Sale Kids and Family Christmas 202

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 11, 2016

Garage sale and thrift store furniture bargains abound. Furniture with cloth components can also harbor things you don’t want to even think about. Since I’m retired, my time isn’t worth money. But there are ways to save – consider used furniture. Ways to save on furniture. Getting the smell out.

Re-use 100

Re-use Used Furniture Furniture Recycle 100

The Frugal Girl

JANUARY 29, 2024

We use the eggs, harvest meat & if I can’t get out to hunt venison we’ve had friends give us meat. What’s one thing you aren’t remotely tempted to splurge on? I’ve been an RN for 22 years at the same hospital, primarily ER/TC. We have sheep, an old goat, chickens, guineas, dogs & cats.

Arkansas 182

Arkansas Frugal College Kids and Family 182

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 17, 2018

I won’t rehash our health insurance story here, because I have written extensively about it and INCLUDED OUR NUMBERS. I don’t want to use the term extreme frugality, because that sounds absolutely horrible. Choose Thrift First. We don’t travel extensively, but we do like to get away. Plan our Spending.

Financial Goals 113

Financial Goals Goals 2018 Debt 113

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 10, 2013

I''ll spend a weekend or two before the sale to go through closets, cupboards and drawers deciphering if this is the year that I don''t need that oval baking dish or that long sleeved blouse I haven''t worn since 2007. Apparently, people aren''t interested in a wool sweater when it''s 90 degrees outside, even if it is only $1.

Craigslist 153

Craigslist Sale Friends And Family Sale TVs 153