The Frugal Girl

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

.” The rewards usually are a little credit toward a digital purchase, and since Sonia and Zoe sometimes like to stream things on Amazon Prime, the little credits do always get used. Inside my package: an eye mask to use for my dry eye issues. Hopefully the new one I ordered will serve me well for a while.

Frugal 182

Frugal Sewing Thrifting College 182

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Large store chains typically offer their shoppers the ability to bring in ads from competitors and buy those advertised products for those discounted prices right in their store. Consumer goods juggernaut, Wal-Mart, offers its consumers the chance to bring in ads and essentially use them as coupons at the register.

Groceries 252

Groceries Grocery Bills Used 252

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 30, 2014

We’ve been in the house for about a year, and now have a well furnished home. We furnished our house almost for free by using a few methods: Repurpose Old Pieces . Since there were four chairs and only three fit at the island, we repurposed the fourth chair by painting it and using it as a decoration in our spare bedroom.

Furnishings 189

Furnishings Home Craigslist Furniture 189

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 17, 2013

I stopped by my two favorite thrift stores last week: Salvation Army & Community Aid, a local store. I only go on Wednesdays, because both stores offer an additional 50% off on almost everything. Finally, spring has arrived in central PA, so I carved out some time last Wednesday to hit the thrift stores.

Thrifty 100

Thrifty Finds Thrift Stores Thrifting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 6, 2013

Anything you now longer want that is still wearable and in reasonable condition can be donated to thrift stores. Garments that are in good condition, especially well-known or high-end labels, could be donated or sold to secondhand clothing stores or through eBay or other online sites. Go Frugal Go Green'

Saving Money 249

Saving Money Green Money Clothing and Accessories 249

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 30, 2012

I think I have become pretty darn good at it, and I will even haggle successfully at big chain stores like Macy’s, Home Depot, and Best Buy. Hopefully this advice can help you save some money as well and turn the art of haggling into a habit. I always use the example of big ticket items like furniture and electronics.

Haggle 211

Haggle Haggling Bargain Home Depot 211

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 4, 2021

I have used the extra money to pay off debt, fund family trips, or build up our Christmas savings. I calculate the per-hour rate from my plasma donations to make sure it’s a good use of my time. Oh well, I thought–I can sleep in that weekend. Finding extra money is a game for me. This money equates to about $36.67

Money 130

Money May Donation 2020 130

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 17, 2012

Plastic grocery bags can be irritating and useful all at the same time. These days most grocery stores no longer offer paper sacks, and if you have forgotten your reusable bags, you are probably going to go home with anywhere from one to two dozen little plastic sacks. They are useful carry bags in general.

Reuse 272

Reuse Groceries Grocery Recycle 272

Family Balance Sheet

DECEMBER 4, 2020

I tend to focus on certain brands that I really like and that fit me well. While I like to shop at thrift stores, I have a hard time finding TALL length jeans for my 5’10 frame and I was in need of new jeans. I went back to the register and left the store paying $20.14 Awesome, the new price will be $19.99

November 130

November 2020 Frugal Old Navy 130

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 22, 2012

“How to Live Large and Have Fun”, “How to Spend Millions on Credit and Never Pay a Dime”, “Live Large and On Charge…Cards”, “Living High on the Hog: The Art of Budget Busting”…these are all titles of fictitious books, but they might as well be bestsellers. Used Doesn’t Mean Abused. That is $100 a week you can be using to BUY GROCERIES!

Saving Money 221

Saving Money Money Budgeting Budget 221

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 15, 2015

If you are in more of a hurry, find a thrift store instead. But, find one in a high end neighborhood, one where the store sorts through the donations to select only the best. For example, if you want to buy slightly used home furnishings, find an upscale neighborhood where the kids are mostly grown. My best finds.

Garage Sale 100

Garage Sale Garage Finds Sale 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 16, 2013

She also scarfed up any other gift wrap that looked usable, and she stored it carefully away for use the next year. Use paper drop cloth to wrap. I bought a roll in 2011 and have been using it for everything from Christmas wrap to kid crafts to posters to mailing packages every since. Use paper from other sources.

Thrifty 174

Thrifty Christmas Gifts Thrift Stores 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 23, 2013

Rinse the comb often as you use it, to send those fleas down the drain and off the animal! Using a broom is nice, but doing so can just move fleas and their eggs from one place to another. By using a vacuum, you can suck them all up and dispose of the bag when you are done. Vacuum your home often. Wash your pet’s bedding often.

Bath and Body Works 207

Bath and Body Works Pets Vacuums Thrift Stores 207

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 30, 2014

Many people overlook the power of using textures in a home to add points of interest as well as space and a homey feel. Don’t use a uniform texture for everything; using wood blinds with shag-type rugs and interesting focal points will help create a visually appealing space. Use Patterns Sparingly.

Home 182

Home Making Furniture Thrift Stores 182

Saving Cents With Sense

AUGUST 30, 2013

Thrift Store Style. Thrift stores, on the other hand, offer affordable, stylish clothing. Thrift stores, on the other hand, offer affordable, stylish clothing. You can find cool vintage threads as well to mix and match. Many shoppers are now turning to thrift stores to find fashionable items.

College 102

College Student Public Transit DSL 102

Saving Cents With Sense

OCTOBER 1, 2013

It is like stores know how much we love getting our homes festive and so they put out décor at high prices, hoping that consumers won’t know any better and will just snatch it up. Well this Halloween season, you don’t need to fall for this trap! Use candy corn creatively. This site uses affiliate links. Get spraying!

Halloween 93

Halloween DIY Frugal Dollar Store 93

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 4, 2013

From food waste to packaging to disposable items, there are a lot of resources being used by humans. A meal plan can be one of the best ways to avoid last-minute takeout runs, as well as ensure that you have a way to use the food you buy. Find Ways to Re-Use as Much As You Can. Nor is it healthy. You can do the same.

Re-use 278

Re-use Home and Garden Bulk Electronics 278

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 19, 2011

Some people keep their recipes on the computer, but I prefer my binder with its well-used, splattered pages. But I have seen a variety of binders at yard sales and thrift stores for pocket change. Do you use binders to stay organized? Let us know in the comments. I find it visually calming.

Office 159

Office Organic Organization Friends And Family Sale 159

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 22, 2013

Spending our precious and all too limited time searching online and in stores. Sometimes, as we shop we see things we would like to own and decide to treat ourselves with a gift or two as well. So, hey, I guess I can take the tax reduction next year as well as this! I know I do. In fact, I did today! Other tips.

Buy 223

Buy Buying Consignment Shops TVs 223

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 21, 2014

Our sweet Ruby has assimilated into our family quite well. It was a low cost investment and it came with a training dvd for my husband and I to understand how to use the collar properly. For us, the results were incredible. The girls and I hit my favorite thrift store this week. She’s such an easy dog.

Thrifty 100

Thrifty Thrift Stores Daughter Adidas 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 23, 2017

Those affected by our recent Great Recession have had the benefits of saving reinforced as well. But, in college, I spent my summer earnings – on clothes, on a used car and on school activities. As a young mom, I saved like mad – going to garage sales, thrift stores and accepting hand me downs on toys and clothing.

Making 124

Making Recession College 401K 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 29, 2011

Using epoxy, attach a saucer to a garden stake. If you have china that is past the point of usefulness, broken or severely cracked, break it some more to create mosaic tiles for other craft projects. Never toss china or tile into the garbage bin; these little well used and cracked porcelain treasures are up-cycling at its best.

Cycle 199

Cycle Budgeting Budget Christmas 199

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 17, 2013

Many of us throw the broken or outdated item out. I’m guilty as well. I used to darn my family’s socks, but now don’t. Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”. What happens when your favorite pair of leather boots starts to lose it’s soul? Few try to repair or get it repaired.

Repairs 214

Repairs San Francisco Radios Garage 214

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. Encourage your child to use their imaginations to come up with a costume out of materials on hand at home.

Halloween 138

Halloween Green Reuse Garage 138

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 16, 2015

When you walk into a grocery store with a plan, you eliminate impulse & duplicate purchases. We used to spend hundreds of dollars a month going out to eat at restaurants. Water – Unless you have a well, you probably pay for your water. It saves us $67 a month. All of which I regularly find at the thrift store.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Thrifting Thrift Stores 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 1, 2021

Cut your s pending , BUT still live well: No one wants to read, “ cut your spending “, because what they hear is live like a miser. This first group of ideas is about cutting back–but still living well–AND putting that money not spent into your emergency savings. Add it up to get a total.

Emergency Fund 130

Emergency Fund Money Finds Friends And Family Sale 130

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

We use an online account like, Capital One 360 (my referral link). Stop Spending, BUT still live well: 1 – Declare a “Needs Only” month. Plan your gift giving for the year using my FREE Gift Spending excel spreadsheet. If you need to work a second job, it might as well be interesting to you.

Emergency Fund 100

Emergency Fund Money Finds Friends And Family Sale 100

Saving With Shellie

AUGUST 8, 2012

I also love dressing my kids well. About five years ago, I started thrifting. As a grad student, I had hit a few “vintage” shops but had never really looked to outfit myself or children using resale clothing. I find it hard to really look when someone is tapping his toe at me. :: It’s not a deal, if you won’t use it.

Thrifting 76

Thrifting Thrift Stores Clothes Clothing 76

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 19, 2014

All those items got plenty of use as all three of my kids used them. The article specifies that Garlick did not buy any birthday or Christmas presents for her children, but I’m sure that they got items from well-meaning relatives. However, who is to say that they did not also buy their own items used?

Friends And Family Sale 176

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

Saving Cents With Sense

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

We were able to find the cup and saucer at our local thrift store for just a quarter each. Mini ornaments and glitter can be found at most dollar stores and crafting stores rather inexpensively as well. Place this charming piece of homemade holiday décor anywhere you can use some sparkle. How to Make it: 1.

DIY 105

DIY Gifts Thrift Stores Crafts 105

Couponing 101

OCTOBER 4, 2019

When you use it as an opportunity to dress up with your boo, the fun can increase exponentially. The notorious bank robbers were one of the most well-known couples in the 1930s. Halloween is already fun on its own. But coming up with a fun and creative couples Halloween costume isn’t always easy.

DIY 49

DIY Halloween Barbie Thrift Stores 49

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 13, 2012

Use nature – cut cedar or pine boughs from your yard or from a friendly farm nearby (ask first for heavens sake!). Just bare twigs in a large vase, with old ornaments tied to them can be pretty as well. We live on the edge of the prairie and prairie grasses grow well here. Thrift stores are also a great place to shop.

Holiday 202

Holiday Friends And Family Sale Kids and Family Christmas 202

Saving Cents With Sense

JANUARY 18, 2016

Thrift Shopping. With your wardrobe in mind, start with thrift stores. Thrift stores are not the dusty, smelly places of the past. Shopping at an online stores like Overstock means you’ll be able to get name brand clothing at a discount. Never shop online without finding coupons online as well.

Thrifty 40

Thrifty Budgeting Budget Mom 40

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. 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

Saving Cents With Sense

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Not only is it easy (which I love), but it is so inexpensive as well. You can peruse your local thrift stores for one as we did, or find them for just a few dollars at your local retail store. Using your green ribbon or scrap fabric, tie the pillowcase closed. This site uses affiliate links.

DIY 104

DIY Frugal Green And Frugal Newspaper 104

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Use your own car or SUV instead, and look for local campsites that’s easy to get to so you can save on gas. Not all sites will have water sources you can use, so plan accordingly. Old 1-liter Gatorade bottles are light, sturdy and do the job extremely well. Borrow or buy a used tent. Save on Gas and Transportation.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Family Kids and Family 100

Penny Pinchin' Mom

MARCH 11, 2024

The post 7 Clever Ways Moms Used to Save Money appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom. There are so many clever ways moms used to save money that our tips and tricks today pale in comparison to what they could achieve, considering how little they had to go on. Imagine keeping the family afloat during periods of strife, such as WWII.

Saving Money 52

Saving Money Money Mom Used 52