Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 21, 2014

I found myself feeling suffocated by our home, my schedule, my diet, our budget, and my mind, so I’m focusing on decluttering in 2014 and hopefully by the end of the year, I’ll feel much freer and less stressed. I pulled out clothes that I don’t wear and I’ll donate to the thrift store.

Thrift Stores 100

Thrift Stores 2014 Garage Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 16, 2013

Shop garage sales and thrift stores and estate sales. Christmas decorations, wrap, bows and ribbon all are continuous offerings at pretty much every garage sale, thrift store or estate sale I’ve ever shopped. Use them to package your home made Christmas cookies and candies.

Thrifty 174

Thrifty Christmas Gifts Thrift Stores 174

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 21, 2014

The flooring in every room in my home is either laminate or hard wood. 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. Homekeeping Saving Money - In the Home'

DIY 100

DIY Thrifting Thrift Stores Vacuums 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 17, 2013

He built his own garage. At garage sales, are you attracted to those still usable but slightly defective items that no one else wants? At garage sales, are you attracted to those still usable but slightly defective items that no one else wants? Remember when high school kids were required to take shop and/or home economics?

Repairs 214

Repairs San Francisco Radios Garage 214

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. From attending costume parties to converting their home or yard into the scariest place in the neighborhood, they are causing part of the surge in Halloween spending.

Halloween 100

Halloween Thrift Stores St. Louis Thrifting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 3, 2014

Home owners get bored and re-decorate or re-vamp their homes. I can park my car and walk from sale to sale, getting a bit of exercise, enjoying the fine weather and seeing the architecture and landscaping of the homes along the way. Here is a short list of some of my favorite finds at garage, estate and thrift store sales.

Buy 178

Buy Buying Garage Sale Garage 178

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 23, 2014

riding lawn mowers, garage door openers and many, many more things we take for granted today. The average home size in America was around 1100 square feet. 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.

Growing 180

Growing Home and Garden Radios Kids and Family 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 23, 2017

Once baby comes, we might become major spenders on toys, a new home, a bigger car and more. As a young mom, I saved like mad – going to garage sales, thrift stores and accepting hand me downs on toys and clothing. The things that give us pleasure vary by temperament. Time of life.

Making 124

Making Recession College 401K 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

But, because we leave behind the accumulated stuff in our parent’s household, we really end up with less that we had at home. We leave the nest – move out of Mom and Dad’s well stocked home. Moving to a bigger home. A bigger home provides the room you need – and has more room for additional stuff.

Cycle 113

Cycle Kids and Family Friends And Family Sale Garage Sale 113

Saving Cents With Sense

JANUARY 5, 2014

Lastly, if you haven’t searched yet, there are numerous links on Pinterest to workouts you can do at home. A gym membership might be a good option, but you can also consider adding a few things to your home workout space. Check out local thrift stores, Craigslist ads, and garage sales for low cost (and sometimes free!)

Bank 111

Bank Banking Cable Service Money 111

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 12, 2013

Having discovered how much better my de-cluttered work space made me feel, I decided to try the same strategy at home. 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. As you de-clutter your home, consider more than simplifying your closets.

Making 238

Making Work Occasions Pace 238

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. For those with the desire and aptitude to design clothing or home decorations or craft items and then make them, sewing is an avocation and a delight, and sometimes even a business. Sewing today has dropped out of main stream life.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 26, 2016

Choose Thrift First. I have made a pact with myself that if I don’t already own something that I need, I will either: make do with what I have, find said item at a thrift store, borrow, or forget about it. And if forgetting about it isn’t an option, only then will I step foot into a store to purchase it.

Financial Goals 100

Financial Goals Goals 2016 Debt 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 1, 2015

We put in new windows this year at our 1985 home. There are just two of us at home now. Plus, the styles that fit are usually made by the high end manufacturers and carried in exclusive (expensive) clothing stores. Help me out, am I being cheap or just smart about money? I save tape and paper and old paint drop sheets.

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. 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

JANUARY 12, 2016

Lastly, if you haven’t searched yet, there are numerous links on Pinterest to workouts you can do at home. A gym membership might be a good option, but you can also consider adding a few things to your home workout space. Check out local thrift stores, Craigslist ads, and garage sales for low cost (and sometimes free!)

Bank 40

Bank Banking Cable Service Craigslist 40

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. You can also find older, quality items at used furniture stores. Ways to save on furniture.

Re-use 100

Re-use Used Furniture Furniture Recycle 100

For the Mommas

JULY 24, 2016

Shop around at garage sales, thrift stores and online classifieds for furniture and other household items. Find all kinds of fun activities you can do at home. If you calculate your mortgage interest, the cost of insurance and maintenance, buying can be much more expensive than renting. Plan a movie or game night.

Frugal Lives 49

Frugal Lives Frugal Living Frugal Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions 49

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 17, 2018

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. I’m curious to see how much we can save and also how creative we can get by making do with what we already own or looking for things at a thrift store. Save a starter Home Emergency Fund.

Financial Goals 113

Financial Goals Goals 2018 Debt 113