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. What less than satisfactory part time jobs have you done to try to make a buck?

Money 173

Money Making Garage Sale Contest 173

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 23, 2013

We wanted to make conversation piece centerpieces for each of the 10 tables, utilizing some of the many spring flowering daffodils we usually have at this time of year on our acreage. We decided to re-label 10 empty wine bottles using a picture of an historical event for each decade of her life. How I made centerpieces for $2.70

Making 187

Making Paper Wine Friends And Family Sale 187

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 6, 2011

A buyer who could easily make the loan payments is often unable to afford the large down payment lenders currently demand. Rent-to-own is a way to make a property transaction work without a lender involved at the start. The buyer gets the unique opportunity to thoroughly use and investigate the home before actually buying.

Rent 183

Rent Home Real Estate Work 183

Couponing 101

JUNE 12, 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. Make your own keepsake boxes. Please read our disclosure policy here.

Money 55

Money Making Consignment Shops Garage Sale 55

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

We do put up decorations (ones I buy at garage sales or thrift stores and reuse each year). Bring in your slightly used, but in good shape costume and pick one from those others brought in – as a swap. Don’t buy, make. Re-purpose the used costume. Tip # 3 Use up your pumpkins.

Halloween 138

Halloween Green Reuse Garage 138

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. We’re fairly frugal and try to limit our expenditures. throwing them in the garbage) as she makes new creations. After all, it’s so cheap.

Garage Sale 180

Garage Sale Garage Daughter Friends And Family Sale 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 5, 2012

I could empty one out, put some valuables at the bottom, and then re-pile my tools on top. There is duct tape all over my garage, so this wouldn’t look out of place. I don’t like the idea of using fake safes inside the house, since they look kind of obvious, especially in an incorrect location. A lot of us frequent garage sales.

Garage 188

Garage Home Garage Sale Painting 188

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

APRIL 24, 2013

If you want to save money, one of the best options is to buy used. Not only can buying something second-hand help you save money, but it also reduces the amount of resources that you use. Buying used is one way to increase the sustainability of your life. There are many consumer electronics items that you can purchase used.

Saving Money 213

Saving Money Money Used Buy 213

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 28, 2014

You don’t have to go back to the days of living in a log cabin without electricity to make an environmental impact. We live in the city, so we’re not allowed to hang our laundry outside. Make your own laundry soap. Don’t wash clothes until they’re truly dirty. Use mason jar containers.

Saving Money 191

Saving Money Simple Money Friends And Family Sale 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 180

Arkansas Frugal College Kids and Family 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 26, 2014

If you’d like to take an easy step to go green and save money in the process, the first place to make changes is in buying disposable items. While I grew up using paper napkins and towels, we only used paper plates when we were on a picnic. You can often by these cheap at garage sales. Paper towels ?

Saving Money 242

Saving Money Green Money Paper Towels 242

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 don’t like mahogany furniture, and hubby hasn’t gotten around to spending time on those end tables, so I doubt these things will ever be of much use to us. Here is why.

Garage 200

Garage Lamps Garage Sale Free 200

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!).

Kids and Family 189

Kids and Family Parenting Cars Car 189

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 22, 2014

I took at least three trunks full of “stuff” to Goodwill, I had a garage sale, and I sold things online. However, I wasn’t able to complete the job before moving day arrived, so some of our “stuff” we didn’t need came with us. Boy, did I declutter. Seriously, how does this happen?

Home 189

Home Re-use Painting Garage Sale 189

Koupon Karen

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Be ruthless in your decision-making process; if you haven’t used an item in the last year or it doesn’t hold significant sentimental value, it’s probably time to let it go. Consider hosting a garage sale or listing items online to sell.

Home 52

Home Tucson Furniture Friends And Family Sale 52

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 24, 2012

When I redid ours, I used that spray meant to re enamel tubs to re-finish the vanity tops. I sanded and re-stained the wood cabinet and fashioned a matching frame for the mirror out of molding strips from Lowes that I got for about $3 each. Garage or estate sales. Make it yourself items. Craigs list.

Renovation 189

Renovation Home Real Estate Re-use 189

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 15, 2012

Many of you have specifically asked where to find used equipment. When you can, it is imperative that you use jars that are specially made for canning. Never try to use non-canning jars to preserve your food – doing so could lead to dangerous (invisible) bacteria growing in your food. Canning Jars. Accessories.

Canning 185

Canning Cheap Garage Sale Garage 185

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

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. But, I can’t believe people are making big bucks telling other people how to control their spendthrift ways, or sharing how to shave a few cents off a grocery bill.

Thrifty 213

Thrifty Garage Spendthrift Fair-Trade 213

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. Make your own keepsake boxes.

Money 40

Money Consignment Shops Garage Sale Office Supplies 40

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Have you ever shopped at neighborhood garage sales? I’ve used these finds to help furnish and decorate a vacation rental and to fill in pieces we lacked at home. Some folks view re-decorating as a hobby. Hearing the comments the folks looking at homes to buy make is so hilarious. Trends come and go.

Home 100

Home Money Home and Garden Painting 100

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. using what they already have. I love to shop garage sales. Get Social.

College 192

College Money Personal Finance Student 192

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 3, 2013

The Women in World History website reported the following as Evidence Taken by Children’s Employment Commission February 1841: “Miss — has been for several years in the dress-making business…The common hours of business are from 8 a.m. I got 160,000,000 results today using Google Chrome. til 11 P.M To decorate.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 6, 2016

I pick up a lot of them at garage sales for 25 cents to a $1. Digging into this formula investment technique (which is similar to dollar cost averaging), led me to the re-discovery of multiple other types of formulas and techniques which are supposed to help us make our money grow. Stock picking formulas.

401K 100

401K Money Emergency Fund Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 21, 2013

We didn’t know the county planned to put in a divided highway just down the street and that our nice quiet state highway would become a busy feeder to the new divided highway, creating huge noise pollution and making it nearly impossible to even walk across the road to get our mail each day. There was a septic system instead of sewers.

Real Estate 202

Real Estate Home Buy Buying 202

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

Our current neighborhood used to be in a quiet country like setting with little to no traffic. It doesn’t pay to re-decorate every few years. When I go to garage sales, I see folks selling nearly new home decorations for a pittance. Government agencies can dictate to you what you can and cannot do on your land.

Home 100

Home Washer and Dryer Do It Yourself Garage 100

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. The only investing strategy that makes sense to me is buy and hold.

Credit Cards 220

Credit Cards Credit Finance Personal Finance 220

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