Frugal Friday with Marsha --Week in Review

This week has been about as busy as last week!  I need a slow down.

I wrote a couple of bubblews posts pertaining to being frugal:
Cancelled my Club Pogo Subscription  and  Supper 2/19/15

$5.99 a month may sound like frugal computer entertainment, but it's not frugal if you aren't actually spending time playing the games.
$3.60 for our supper foods last night is very frugal.
I hope you will click over to read more.  Both will open in new windows.
Here is a picture of my supper plate though:

Gasoline is holding steady at $2.19 a gallon.   I still wish it was under $2 a gallon like it was for awhile, but still can't complain after prices we have seen in the past. 

I'm still working on crocheting the pink washcloths and working on the pink hexagons.   I bought the yarn at a yard sale and the hexagons fabrics were given to me.   I love that I rarely buy any materials new and that I have about 10 years worth of projects that can be done right now.
The fact is that the only thing I should have to buy in those 10 years is some needles for my sewing machine and blades for my rotary cutter.   I seriously have collected so much fabric and other things either by buying at yard sales and thrift stores, or that has been given to me, that I can work all day every day for many years. (Now if I would just get in to my sewing/craft room and organize it all!)

Still working here and there are eliminating clutter and organizing.  There is a lot to be said about the saying "less is more".  Even going back to the cleaning and organizing of my sewing room, I have lots of things in there also that I will never use.  I wonder if next Friday I can tell you that I've been working in there?

I Love Being Frugal Postcards by giftshirt
Browse I heart frugal Postcards online at Zazzle.com

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha--More Shopping

I have had a lot of fun this past week with the buy 5 get $5 sale.  I posted some of it last Friday, and this Friday I will post the rest of my shopping.  You know I love it!

For what is in this photo I spent $10.38.  I used $30.99 in coupons.  My savings was 83% with sales and coupons and I walked out with $15 in catalinas.

I paid $4.32 for what is in this photo.  I used $22.70 in coupons (including the $15 from the photo above).  I saved 90% with coupons and sales.  I walked out with another $5 catalina.

You can find more details about these 2 shopping trips in my post at: http://www.bubblews.com/news/626185-two-shopping-trips-today-woot-woot 

 For what I bought in this photo, I paid just .77!  I used $11.40 in coupons (including the previous $5 catalina)  A total savings of 96%.  Full details of the shopping trip can be found in my post: http://www.bubblews.com/news/631283-77-cents

Last Saturday I also hit those yard sales.  Granted, I did buy some unnecessary things----maybe mostly unnecessary things?   I have a post about that as well if you would like to check it out and "judge" for yourself.  http://www.bubblews.com/news/630759-some-of-my-yard-sale-finds
I do know that I had a great time shopping the sales and spending time with my youngest and oldest daughters.

Otherwise, I have hung all laundry on the line this past week, even including the sheets.  I haven't been hanging them out because of their size, but I will from now on.  
We keep our air conditioner on 80, which is fine by me.  We have replaced most light bulbs now with the energy saving ones.

The garden is growing along.  More rain would help with the cost of water  :)  I do have loads of weeding to do and a lot of hay to put down and around everything yet.

How has your week been? 

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Estate Sale

First thing this morning I went out to an estate sale.  Estate sales are my favorite.  You seem to find the better deals at them.  I like how you can buy a box full of something.

This sale was advertised as Ladies Only estate sale---Crafts, quilting, fabrics, etc.  You know I had to go!  I told my husband it could be dangerous.  After all, really, I have enough supplies in my craft room to keep me busy for the next 4 or 5 years at least, and that is if I work everyday on things.

Here is what I purchased:

 Breakdown:
Paper doilies .25  (Always use these making home made Valentine's)
Bells .25   ( I put these inside baby blocks that I make with plastic canvas)
Miniature tea set  .50  (just for fun for one of my granddaughters that I have over every other weekend by herself.)
Teddy Bear corduroy  $3
Maroon soft fabric  $3  (these 2 items will become a blanket for my new grandson on the way)
Green netting  .25  (I make dish scrubbies with this)
Crocss Stitch kit  .50   (I will give this to my sister in law)
Blue Christmas print and border (I hope to make 2 wall hanging out of this)  .50
Watermelon Apron print fabric $1 (hope to make myself an apron)
Thread spool holder $1  (I just thought this was cool to put my thread spools on)
Sunflower print fabric   .50 (I hope to make a wall hanging with this)
Bag of Misc trims  .50 (I have some projects I have idea for)
Box of plastic canvas sheets  $1  (I make cross magnets, the baby blocks and coasters with this---sad part is that I had actually run out and just yesterday used some of my amazon earnings to order some!  Don't you hate when that happens?  Oh well, I do have plenty now!)
3 bandanas  .75  (I am in hopes of making a dress with these for my oldest granddaughter)

Total:  $13     I didn't think this was bad at all!  I was just gathering things without adding.

It's yard sale season starting........do you go and look for bargains?
Another type of garage sale I look for are the ones that are held at churches.  They also tend to have the lower pricing.    And....how about those neighborhood sales??  Wow!

However, how many times are you guilty of buying things that you don't really need?  I would say more often than not.    I don't know anyone who is not guilty of this!
I do tend to look specifically for items like I bought today----craft items.  

I remember last year hitting one of the neighborhood sales.  This was blocks and blocks of sales.  I only spent $30 total at over 50 sales, but most of what I bought, I just did not need.  Well.....did I need ANY of it?  Yeah, probably not.  I did end up with fabrics and other craft items, most of which I have used now.  I also bought a small tv with built in DVD player for my daughters room.  (I figured that alone was worth the $30 total that I spent)  I think I bought 20 VHS movies.  I bought books and toys and candles and more.  Yes, I got far more than my money's worth!!  One thing I bought is the binder that I use for my coupons---paid just .50 for it---seen the exact same binder at Walmart on markdown for $7.    I picked up what I thought was 2 ink cartridges for my printer--got home and found they were empty cartridges.  However, the people had given the cartridges to me, so all was good---and I mailed in them in to the Lexmark exchange program towards free ink.

Do you have any garage sale stories to tell?

I look forward to your link ups this week. 

Frugal Friday Link Up 9/2/11

Happy Friday!

I have spent this week going after about everyone and turning off lights that aren't needed to be on. Those electric bills have been scary.

I've not been good, in fact, I've been lazy. For 2 weeks now I've been using the dryer instead of hanging the clothes out on the line to dry. Someone kick me! I'm going to just kick myself and get back to hanging them outside. I know this will save on the electric bill.

My best frugal thing this past week was all the yard sales I hit this past Saturday. I got so many craft supplies!! I will link up the post in this week's linky for any of you who missed it. Now if I can just figure out how to find the time to start making those materials in to things. Life is so crazy all the time....and it's about to make me crazy.

Here are this week's tips from the 99 Cent Solutions book. We are still in the baking soda category.

1. Make fluffier omelets. Add a scant 1/4 tsp of baking soda to every 3 eggs. Zthe omelet will be light and fluffy. This also works to make big fluffy curds when scrambling eggs. Be careful not to add too much of the eggs will taste bland. Also, don't over salt since the soda adds a slight salty taste.

2. Clean your brushes. Hairbrushes and combs should be washed periodically to remove hair oils that build up. Remove any hair, fill the sink with warm water and stir in a couple spoonfuls of baking soda. Let the brushes soak for several hours, rinse, and dry. Toothbrushes can be cleaned the same way.

3. Discourage weeds in cracks. Sprinkle on baking soda and sweep it in to the cracks. Grass will stick to the lawn instead.

4. Wash the dog's ears. Dirt or mites in your pet's ears can drive him nuts with scratching. Clean out the dirt and put an end to the mites with a cotton swab dipped in a mild solution of 1 cup warm water and 1 teaspoon baking soda.

Yard Sale Bargains--all this for under $23!!

Until today I've only been to maybe 4 yard sales all season.  I've just not have cash on me to spend.
I was thrilled last night when my daughter told me that  a lot of the sales were advertising craft things.  She asked if I had any money and if I wanted to go with them.

We left this morning just before 8 am.  We hit about 20 or so sales and got home about 12:30 pm.  It was really hot by then.

Here is my haul:

 Dora sheet and pillowcase for $2 (will be turned into fabric bags) and a large box of fabric--$2!!

 Photo album still in wrapper--$1  Skirt  .25

 $2 for a box of shiny fabric and fine netting.  Also had a mirror and 2 roses in the box.

 $5 for this box of fabric.  Individual prices came to over $10

 $1 for this box full of fabric.  Some nice pieces in here!

 $1 for this box of soft material (I will use it on the inside of a quilt) $1 for a yard total of fabric.

 Pantyhose for .10, pillowcase for .25, flip flops for .25 and a blanket for $1

 3 curtain panels .50 each (these will also be made in to fabric bags)  Scott Foresman 3rd grade science set for $1, Science puzzles book .25, Math on the Moon set .25, and Oregon Trail 5th edition still in wrapper for .25

soft material for .75 (going to put this inside a lap quilt) bag of hair accessories for .10, and a thread container, including thread and such for $1

Not pictured is 3 Garden magazines and 7 Mardi Gras necklaces at .10 each .  She charged me .90 instead of $1.

All this for a total of $22.85!!!   Can we say that now I really need to concentrate on finding time for my crafting?  I know I can.   
I already had enough supplies to keep me busy for about 3 years....now it's 4 or 5 years.

I had so much fun.  Now, where am I going to stash this stuff?  My oldest granddaughter, Ariel, says in my craft room corner.  I told her that corner is already stuffed.

Have you found any awesome yard sale bargains lately?  Share them with me in the comments and if you've posted about them, please share the link too!  Hey!  These make great posts to add to my Frugal Friday link up as well.

Shop Hop Saturday 8/27/11

I am a lot later today getting my shop hop post done but I was out having a blast all morning and in to the afternoon.  I actually got to go all over to yard sales today!!  Yeah, I'm excited.  I will be doing a post at a later time with photos of my buys.  I got LOTS of material and things for my quilts and crafts.  You know what that means??  It means now I must find the time to get to work on things, get them made, and get them listed in my stores.

This past week I did a few things towards my business.

I added just one new listing to my etsy store:

Washcloths Set of 3 in Country Mauve 

 

I added just one more item to my zibbet store as well:

Cotton Crocheted Washcloths Peach colors Set of 3

marsha32

$6.00

 

I put up some box tops for education on listia:

25 Box Tops for Education

Winner will receive 25 Box Tops for Education

Other Stuff in Hutchinson, KS

 

And, I started getting some books listed for sale over on half.com.   I only have 3 listed so far but it's a start.  I've not sold there for years, but used to do pretty well with it. You can get your career as an Author started by using the Guide to Career Education. It was a suggestion by my friend Heather to give it a try.  I hadn't even thought of it.

 

Well...that's my report for this week.  I am linking up with abitosunshine.  Please click the button below to link up and/or support others!