Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

We do put up decorations (ones I buy at garage sales or thrift stores and reuse each year). Buy one then sell, donate or exchange it. Don’t buy, make. Search the attic, the backs of the closets, the garage and see what inspiration presents. Like me, buy them used and then reuse them each year.

Halloween 138

Halloween Green Reuse Garage 138

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 21, 2014

I keep it charged in my garage and I have now gotten into the habit of Swiffering (is that a word?) And when these squares wear out, I’ll head to the thrift store for some cheap flannel shirts. Do you buy the refills or do you make your own? This post is linked to Follow Our Thrift. Back to my dilemma.

DIY 100

DIY Thrifting Thrift Stores Vacuums 100

Couponing 101

MAY 29, 2019

Buy Out of Season. Buy Used Clothing. You can find used children’s clothing at thrift stores, garage sales, or online via Facebook Marketplace or eBay. But you don’t have to empty your kids’ college funds to keep them decked out in the latest fashions.

Clothes 84

Clothes Clothing Simple Friends And Family Sale 84

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 16, 2013

Some retail stores do still give out gift boxes for free, always check if you are buying in a brick and mortar store. Shop garage sales and thrift stores and estate sales. My 5 year old grand daughter did it last year in my Grandma Rie’s Money Camp. This You Tube video shows you how. Ask for gift boxes. Make gift tags.

Thrifty 174

Thrifty Christmas Gifts Thrift Stores 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 19, 2014

There was very little I had to buy for my child after these showers. Many of the other items I needed like cloth diapers and clothes for the baby in bigger sizes I bought from garage sales. However, who is to say that they did not also buy their own items used? It turns out, quite easily. Others Support the Decision.

Friends And Family Sale 176

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

Couponing 101

MAY 10, 2012

One of the simplest ways to save money (especially if you love bread as much as I do) is to home-make your bread rather than buying it at the store. If you buy all the necessary staples to make bread at home, you can make never-ending loaves of bread for probably less than 50¢ or 25¢ each. Yes – bread machines can be expensive.

Bread 68

Bread At Home Frugal Bread Machines 68

Couponing 101

AUGUST 6, 2019

Buy Secondhand Equipment. You can find secondhand sports gear at thrift stores, garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and sports resale shops, like Play It Again Sports. Don’t Buy High-End Equipment. These savvy methods can help you save money on kids’ sport gear.

Sports 40

Sports Kids Craigslist Kids and Family 40

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

I carried this idea to our garage. Every home has those out of the way, hard to reach places, whether it is the top shelf of a closet, the attic, the basement, a far corner of the garage or the shed outside. Once I labeled the wall above or the shelf below with the type of things that belonged there, we started having less trouble.

Organic 177

Organic Organization Home Painting 177

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Kids will naturally accumulate stuff, even when they can’t buy it. Some get stuff from stores, the less financially favored head for thrift stores, garage sales, Mom’s house or the trash pickup routes. You go on a trip and buy a beautiful souvenir to remind you of the trip. You donate to suitable charities.

Cycle 113

Cycle Kids and Family Friends And Family Sale Garage Sale 113

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 1, 2015

Choose Thrift First Challenge. In 2015, the monthly challenge will be the Choose Thrift First Challenge. We will be challenging ourselves to resist buying retail and instead choose thrift by borrowing, buying second hand, or making do with what we already have. I’ll go into more detail in an upcoming post.

2015 100

2015 Money Debt Home and Garden 100

Saving Cents With Sense

MARCH 8, 2013

Kids grow out of them so fast that buying them new really is a waste. You can find lightly used clothes and toys at garage sales or thrift stores to save as much as 90 percent off retail, according to LivingOnADime.com, a site dedicated to frugal living. Another great item to buy used is your car.

Frugal 75

Frugal Family Student Thrift Stores 75

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 3, 2013

Home decorating is another area where it may be possible to sew your own cheaper than buying. Easy deal and much cheaper than buying drapes at the time. Today it is much less expensive to buy your clothes, even if you buy brand new and certainly if you shop some of the chic re-sale shops or even the thrift stores.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 19, 2012

I've been tackling clutter since January and I had the boxes stacked in my garage to prove it. As described by the IRS, "fair market value is the price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither having to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of all the relevant facts.".

Donation 100

Donation Taxes Furniture Clothes 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 12, 2013

We are encouraged to buy this, go there, do that and the result is that many of us are living lives that just don’t measure up to what we want. Have a big box ready to take the throw-away items and another for anything that is good enough to go to the local thrift store. Modern life is so frantic. Do I need it? Be ruthless!

Making 238

Making Work Occasions Pace 238

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 1, 2015

I had to part with $35 to buy one of those paint masks to even be able to apply it. Rather than going out and buying the new, now suitable styles, I am trying to wear out my old office clothes – even if they aren’t perfectly suited to the task at hand. I hate buying clothes new. My wardrobe needs have changed.

Frugal 100

Frugal Cheap Clothes Clothing 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 11, 2016

Whether you are just starting out; wanting to freshen up your own older items; or furnishing a second home, furniture buying can make a big dent in your budget. Garage sale and thrift store furniture bargains abound. I was able to buy the upholstery fabric to redo it for just $50. Ways to save on furniture.

Re-use 100

Re-use Used Furniture Furniture Recycle 100

Saving Cents With Sense

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Thrift and craft stores can also inspire your creative spirit, as well as offer great low cost accessories for your new costume. Check closets, the garage, the linen closet, or your craft cupboard to make your own costume! 5) Buy in Bulk. Buy candy from a super-store, like Costco or Sam’s Club. 2) Make Your Own.

Halloween 98

Halloween Friends And Family Sale Clothing and Accessories Saving 98

For the Mommas

JULY 24, 2016

Buy as small a house as you can while still being comfortable. Buying isn’t always the better investment. If you calculate your mortgage interest, the cost of insurance and maintenance, buying can be much more expensive than renting. Create a weekly menu, then buy the groceries, and cook dinner every night.

Frugal Lives 49

Frugal Lives Frugal Living Frugal Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions 49

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. Buy a big roll of brown paper at Lowes or Home Depot and use it to wrap gifts. These make nice gifts too. They kind of look like the ones for sale at Curious Country Creations.

Holiday 202

Holiday Friends And Family Sale Kids and Family Christmas 202

Saving Cents With Sense

JUNE 13, 2013

Check out some thrift stores, vintage stores, flea markets, and garage sales. Besides buying new things, you can also spruce up your home décor by refurbishing your old pieces. It can be overwhelming going to look for new furniture and seeing all of those price tags. But there is good news. 2 – Look for free stuff, too.

Saving Money 89

Saving Money Money Home Furniture 89

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 17, 2018

Choose Thrift First. I want to challenge myself to rethink our purchases by taking advantage of more cost effective solutions, like borrowing, buying second hand, or just making do with what we already have. While I love thrift stores, I can be easily swayed to run into Target, TJ Maxx, and/or Kohl’s when I feel like I need something.

Financial Goals 113

Financial Goals Goals 2018 Debt 113