Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 24, 2012

Home renovations are a necessary process when you own your home. Not only will renovations provide pleasure and function to you, but they could increase the sale value of your home a bit. When I redid ours, I used that spray meant to re enamel tubs to re-finish the vanity tops. Thrift shops.

Renovation 189

Renovation Home Real Estate Re-use 189

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 25, 2014

I’m in good company with my love of all things used. Just look at the many people scouring garage sales in the summer. If you think buying used is just for people who are on a tight budget, think again. The most famous large family, the Duggars, routinely buy as much as they can used. Kitchen Appliances.

Buying Second-Hand 177

Buying Second-Hand Saving Money Money Garage Sale 177

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Have you ever shopped at neighborhood garage sales? You will find the most amazing collections of nearly new home decorating materials at them – beautiful lined panel drapes; lovely dining room furniture and display cases; wall art, wing back chairs, clocks and more – all for a pittance. Trends come and go.

Home 100

Home Money Home and Garden Painting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 3, 2014

Now, we’re planning another move, this time 2,000 miles away. While we’re decluttering, we’re learning a lot about where the clutter comes from. While we’re decluttering, we’re learning a lot about where the clutter comes from. Where Does the Clutter Come From? Other Clutter We Found.

Garage Sale 180

Garage Sale Garage Daughter Friends And Family Sale 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

Home decor, costumes for the kiddies (and adults!), Once the kids left home, we ended up with zero trick or treaters at our house on a state highway. We do put up decorations (ones I buy at garage sales or thrift stores and reuse each year). Re-purpose the used costume. Tip # 3 Use up your pumpkins.

Halloween 138

Halloween Green Reuse Garage 138

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 3, 2014

Are you a ‘buy it new’ snob – one of those people who shudder at the thought of using someone else’s cast off stuff? I swore I’d never buy used junk again… but now I’ve changed my mind. Fashion changes and new or nearly new clothing gets sold at sales or donated to charity.

Buy 178

Buy Buying Garage Sale Garage 178

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 21, 2013

We’ve only bought 4 pieces of real estate in our lives, including two homes. We lived in the first home 10 years and are going on 23 years in our current home. You probably should be buying your home for the long term. Understand what regulations there are on the use of the property.

Real Estate 202

Real Estate Home Buy Buying 202

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 4, 2013

I love going to garage sales. Lately though, I’ve begun to re-consider. The free item needs too much re-furbishing. I brought that wheel barrow home for hubby. On our last visit, my Brother urged us to take that lamp home with us. Maybe, maybe not. Here is why. It was beat up but usable.

Garage 200

Garage Lamps Garage Sale Free 200

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

Have you heard the old saying: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”? We were poor, Mom and Dad lived every day showing us what it meant to ‘make it do’ and we often ‘did without’ Here are my thoughts on frugal ways to make things do. Buy good clothing, used. Use up your food.

Making Do 219

Making Do Making Green And Frugal Friends And Family Sale 219

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 28, 2014

We live in the city, so we’re not allowed to hang our laundry outside. We’ve used this for about 6 weeks now, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised with how economical it is as well as how good it works. Don’t wash clothes until they’re truly dirty. Use mason jar containers. Conserve utilities.

Saving Money 191

Saving Money Simple Money Friends And Family Sale 191

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

First I looked online to see what the average cost of re-upholstery services were. Along the way, on one of my garage sale shopping expeditions, I stumbled across a matched pair of wing backs (non-reclining) for $20 each. I also sanded down the wood parts and re-stained and lacquered them while the chair was bare.

Sewing Machines 100

Sewing Machines Furniture Re-use Arm and Hammer 100

Couponing 101

JANUARY 20, 2019

It’s definitely a hard process to go through especially if you’re like me and tend to keep EVERYTHING! The other thing you can do once you’ve finished the whole process is have a garage sale! Use shoeboxes for storage. I’ve come up with some ways of saving money during this process!

Money 60

Money Making Consignment Shops Garage Sale 60

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 29, 2011

Back before the internet was invented, I used to write short fiction stories and try to get them published. It kept me busy and out of trouble, used up a lot of stamp money, but never yielded a dime. Hubby used to be way into contests and giveaways. Most garage sales don’t have many antiques – or even collectibles.

Money 173

Money Making Garage Sale Contest 173

Couponing 101

JANUARY 20, 2019

It’s definitely a hard process to go through especially if you’re like me and tend to keep EVERYTHING! The other thing you can do once you’ve finished the whole process is have a garage sale! Use shoeboxes for storage. I’ve come up with some ways of saving money during this process!

Money 40

Money Consignment Shops Garage Sale Office Supplies 40

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 3, 2013

In many parts of the US, people learned to sew as part of their life skills – from parents or family or schools. Although Mom didn’t sew much (she did mend), she made sure I took Home Ec in high school. I got 160,000,000 results today using Google Chrome. Sewing today has dropped out of main stream life. To decorate.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 2, 2011

Not many – but by planning ahead now you might find ways to lessen the expenses you will face next month and use the annual experience as a teachable moment in your child’s personal finance education. using what they already have. I love to shop garage sales. using tax free days. Don’t Pay Retail.

College 192

College Money Personal Finance Student 192

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

As a child and teen, I painted (inside and out), mowed and trimmed, punched holes in concrete to install decorate iron railings, worked with hand and power tools and helped my parents do everything from putting up a garage to putting up storm windows. Yet, over the years, I kept discovering new things about home ownership.

Home 100

Home Washer and Dryer Do It Yourself Garage 100

Couponing 101

DECEMBER 8, 2012

If you’re planning a Star Wars party for your child, hopefully this post will give you some money-saving ideas! I purchased a few packages of silver and lime green balloons for less than $1 each and some ribbon for $2 that we used to decorate with as well as for playing some of the games. We used a black tablecloth ($0.90

Birthday 107

Birthday Son Cupcakes Clearance 107

The Frugal Girl

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Today, we’re meeting a reader who has managed to live for 2.5 Tell us a little about yourself When asked the question “Where are you from? My interest in frugality is less about saving money specifically, and more about making good use of the resources I have. years with no car (and two small kids!). We lived for 2.5

Kids and Family 191

Kids and Family Parenting Cars Car 191

The Frugal Girl

JANUARY 29, 2024

We’re meeting an Arkansas reader today and initially, I thought she was the first one! Tell us a little about yourself Greetings from the NW corner of Arkansas, where I was born (around 40+ years ago) and raised. We use the eggs, harvest meat & if I can’t get out to hunt venison we’ve had friends give us meat.

Arkansas 182

Arkansas Frugal College Kids and Family 182

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 26, 2014

While I grew up using paper napkins and towels, we only used paper plates when we were on a picnic. I was surprised to learn that many families use these at every meal rather than real plates so they have fewer dishes to do. In fact, the Duggars of TLC’s Nineteen Kids and Counting use paper plates for every single meal.

Saving Money 242

Saving Money Green Money Paper Towels 242

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

For so long, we plodded along with next to nothing while our neighbors were running up their charge cards and using home equity loans to take vacations. We shopped at garage sales, turned down the heat, combined errands to use less gas, didn’t buy a lot of prepared food, cooked at home and the like.

Thrifty 213

Thrifty Garage Spendthrift Fair-Trade 213

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 14, 2012

This is not something I want to see, so today I have a few videos for you that will dispell credit card myths, teach you how to use them properly, how to keep them safe, and how to make sure you should be getting credit in the first place. Money Reasons : Home Security! Take a moment to watch them. You might just learn something.

Credit Cards 220

Credit Cards Credit Finance Personal Finance 220