At least the gloves from etsy.com fit

I was bound to be disappointed in these gloves since they cost $5 more than some really sharp looking new ones I saw on ebay. But, they do fit nicely and they are long enough (I wanted long gloves as my dress coat sleeves creep up when I extended my arms). While they look okay, they seem mighty fragile around the edges. Not sure if that is from a lot of use or age. However, since I will only be wearing them when I am all gussied up, I shouldn't be putting too much stress on them. Hopefully they will last the couple decades I have left above ground. I suppose if everyone got just one pair of gloves used instead of new, it could make a huge difference, so I'll keep that thought to make me happy.

What's a good discount for something used?

They say your car loses thousands in value the minute you drive it off the lot. Seems these days, other stuff may not. I see Savers charging close to the original price on some things. Lots of stuff on goodwill.com goes for over half the original price...and they don't even guarantee that it works! I try to pay no more than .30 on the dollar since you never know how much "life" is left in the product and usually have no way to return defective items. (Of course, I prefer to pay much less.) Still can't get over people who will pay too much for used stuff. Are they new to used or just don't care what they spend?

Took a foray into a pawn shop

Even though I love bargains and all things used, I'd never been in a pawn shop before. Just seemed like some sort of shady, dark world I would not be equipped to navigate. I mean, there's the three balls, the connection with crime and sketchy characters. But, that really didn't seem to be the case (except for the balls). I went in because I'd seen a telescope listed there on craigslist.com. I've been looking for a telescope, hoping I can employ it in bird watching (not to mention, I've always kinda wanted to get a better look at the stars). The place was in a safe area and the merchandise was in good condition. This one seemed to specialize in tools and I might go back for the miter saw they had. There wasn't all that much merchandise in the store, but what they had was well organized. They were asking a bit much for the telescope. I probably should have got the guy down another $20 (I paid $60), but I'm not good at bargaining, especially when the other party is likely struggling financially more than I. However, my "not new" telescope is in great shape, has all its parts and I'm happy to have gotten it in one quick, easy trip (been looking at estate sales and thrift shops for months and haven't found anything). I'll try going to more pawn shops in the future.

Tuesday cheapy movie night at Regal

I don't know why theaters have specials when they do such a lousy job of promoting them. Tuesday is bargain day at many Regal Cinemas. $5 for the movie and $2 for a small popcorn, which you can upgrade for just a buck or two, depending how far you want to go. You do need a Regal loyalty card, but that is free and takes just a few seconds to open. If you are going for the bargain, be advised that special movies are not always included, so best to find out first.

Hating on ink jet printer companies just a little bit

It is sooo nearly impossible to get refillable inkjet cartridges these days. They are programmed to fool your computer into thinking they are still empty after you refill them. Plus, they suggest the ink level is low waaaayyy too soon. My current Kodak printer (bought because the ink was cheaper) told me my ink levels were low a couple months ago. Since then, I've printed out over 40 4x6 photos for my Christmas cards and many pages of print materials. While I don't bother even trying to refill cartridges anymore (because of problems stated earlier), I do get the refurbished ink cartridges from a mailorder company and they have been working great for me at a considerable cost savings. Still, makes me mad when companies purposefully thwart their customer's efforts to economize/ecologize. (I know that's not a word, but it probably should be.)

Downsizing my"not new" collections with etsy.com

I have put three items up for sale on etsy.com in the past 2 months and I just sold my first item. The cost of listing and selling seemed much more reasonable than ebay. I am downsizing my collections of my favorite things in anticipation to moving into smaller "retirement" quarters someday. It is difficult to purge a lifetime's supply of beloved items, but there is also a sense of accomplishment that comes with decluttering. I also know (by the price I am charging) that they are going to people who should appreciate them for their true value. This first sale was a mid-century modern apothecary-style jar. I haven't seen anything like it. I'll miss it...except when I'm dusting!

Spending $5 more for used gloves. This is sooo not me.

I went into the "year of nothing new" as an experiment in saving money as well as the environment. Spending MORE for something used is not something I enjoy doing. I am retired and have to watch every penny. So, I hope the vintage gloves that I just ordered through etsy.com are worth it. I saw brand new gloves on ebay that I really, really liked (more than the vintage gloves I ordered) for $5 less. We'll see what happens. Certainly won't be saving the environment if the gloves don't work out. As it is, I'm worried about the fit of mail order gloves, especially vintage ones. My hands are very small, as women's apparently were back in the day, but I have pudgy little wrists.

Taking a step backwards: new hair

For the past 9-ish years, I have been cutting and coloring my own hair. I would simply part it down the middle in the back, bring each side forward, and clip the ends straight across -- which would leave me with a nice, rounded, graduated cut all the way around. Hair color from Sally's Beauty Supply was about $5 total as opposed to the $40+ at a salon.
However, age caught up with me. In addition to it being odd for a woman of my age to have waist-length hair, it became so thin, it would fall out of the clips I used to sweep it up and out of the way. And my hands go numb now from lifting them for so long to apply the color. I had to give in and go to a professional. I had an "old" stylist I love, but he is pricey.
I suppose it's difficult to see much difference from my before and after photos, but the layers I got cut in today give my thinning locks the look of a lot more volume. And the pricey highlights make me look and feel younger/better. Hopefully I'll only need to do those twice a year or less.
The total bill with tip was about $200. Egads! But, spending hardly a dime on my hair all those years (when I was younger and could still look okay even if my hair wasn't styled) makes me think it will all even out in the end. After all, I likely only have 10 years before I give up entirely because nothing really "improves" me (if I even have any hair left by then). Ah well. What I really need is my neck done, but I don't think that's going to happen. My scarf collection is the next best thing.

I seem to need something every other day. This time, it's gloves.

I thought going all-used would be easy because at this point in my life, I have everything I need, right? Wrong. Amazing all the little things that pop up. Yesterday, I found myself without gloves--in Buffalo, NY, winters, that is not acceptable.
The thing is, I'm forgetful. To offset that, I have a pair of gloves for each jacket. I keep 'em in the pockets of my jackets, so, when I need them, the gloves are there. And I almost never lose any gloves because I am so used to stuffing them in my pockets.
Enter the "not new" dress jacket I bought. I have been swapping out the gloves between that and my leather jacket. Didn't check before running out the other day, and ended up without gloves.
I have small hopes for finding "not new" dress gloves that please me. Gloves are one of the few things I splurge on, getting ones I really like for looks and warmth. For my "not new" dress jacket, I'd like to get longer black leather gloves. We'll see what happens. At this late date, I probably won't even be able to get any on clearance. Sigh.

The free TimBit brings me in

The husky is mine, the other is my "dog niece." The dog usually only gets to go for a drive when I'm taking him to the dog park or groomer. However, when I find I must take him for errand-running, I'm a sucker for stopping at Tim Horton's drive thru. They always have a free Timbit for the dog. He otherwise doesn't get sugary snacks, but I feel the need to reward him when the trip involves some waiting alone in the car for him. Plus, the dog likes the attention of the cashier. Otherwise, I'm not much of Tim's fan. I don't drink coffee and they are inconsistent about which locations have lemon for their tea. How can you sell tea without lemon? Inexcusable.

Organization is a key skill for going "not new"...unfortunately, I'm lacking.

Haven't had to buy much lately. (I did purchase a gift...my first I'll be giving that's "not new," but I haven't given it yet, so info will have to wait for another post.) I did decide to keep the $25 Chefman blender as I've been to several other sales and thirft stores and haven't found what I wanted, plus, I happened to wander into Ollie's again and they don't have any more available, so that sealed the deal.
My problem now is trying to organize stuff I feel I should keep on hand. For instance, I have a broken phone charger for my car. The wire on that thing could make a handy tie for a plant...it is strong, yet the rubber coating would protect the plant. But, how am I going to keep things from getting crazy if I start holding onto stupid little things like that? Sigh. I saved it because I felt I had a good place for it, but I am worried about becoming a pack rat (I already have those tendencies).

Double dipping on restaurant rewards

While I try to frequent locally based restaurants, I do go to the chains as well and some of them have great savings programs. The Outback, which always delivers a really good meal, has a 15% discount on most weekdays for AARP members. Combine that with some of their weekday specials and.or, for instance, the $20 bonus gift certificate they give away during certain holidays (probably be something like that coming up for mothers/fathers day) with the purchase of a $100 gift certificate, and you are eating mighty affordably indeed. TGIFridays has some great deals through their loyalty program, too. You just have to read the fine print. For instance, the $20 bonus gift certificates at Outback usually expire in about 6 weeks.
This post was inspired by a double-dipping tip from http://livingthesmalllife.blogspot.com/2015/01/quick-dinner.html on my last blog entry. Thanks, Alex!

Be sure to checkout the back of those receipts at the grocery check out

If you shop at a grocery store that prints coupons on the back of its receipts, check 'em out! I officially gave up clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper inserts because they are mostly for processed foods and I don't buy processed foods. But the grocery receipts have some interesting local pizza joint coupons AND, at least in my area, $4 off at AmVets coupons...which usually have a longer expiration date than the coupon on your receipt at AmVets.

Overpriced estate sales

What's a good price for something used? Unless it's a special item, my feeling is that thirty cents on the dollar (from the original price) should be considered a good return for the seller. Lots of times I see people asking up to ninety cents. Really? It's not worth driving out in hopes of finding something.
I went to two sales today and found nothing priced well enough to buy. With the huge, ancient population dying or retiring around here, estate businesses are going to soon realize that prices gotta come down. It seems like the companies that plan multi-day sales (with staged discounts each day) purposefully overprice on the first day.
If nothing else, I thought I would find the electrical tape or laser pointer I needed at one of the sales. Alas, no luck. I can wait on the laser pointer as it is just to engage the dog in jumping on the offspring when I need to get him out of bed early. For the time being, I'll just continue to strain my voice.

Less "new" eats.

Went out to dinner at Mulberry's in Buffalo, NY (Mmmmmmm!). First time in a long time I didn't bring home a doggy bag and now I'm sad about that. Fact is, I've had this weird strategy for making my restaurant meals last that started years before I thought about going "not new."
Unless I'm in the mood for something that won't be good the next day, I'll often order a soup with my meal (LOVES me any homemade soup) and chow down on the bread basket, then take at least half my main meal home in a doggy bag. Sometimes I can make that last 2 more meals. NO COOKING for 2 extra meals! (Usually have other leftovers around the husband can heat up.)
BTW, the pic is not from a restaurant, but a friend's Halloween party. She sure sets a lovely table.

To return or not to return...the saga of the blender continues.

So, the offspring broke my beloved $40 Ninja blender. My several-weeks search for a used same-model replacement has been fruitless. (Why would anyone giveaway such a great blender, right?) The Chefman $25 blender I found, which I think is by the same maker as my beloved blender, has new safety upgrades rendering my spare parts from the old blender useless. Do I:
1. Toss/giveaway and keep the $25 new blender because who knows if I'll ever be able to find one again.
2. Return the new blender and keep hoping I'll come across a used unit of an identical model to my old one.
A blender isn't that essential that I can't go without one for another month or two, but I am missing its use and the spare parts from the old one are taking up a lot of space.

A day full of free

Didn't buy anything today. Went out to look at wildlife with the husband and offspring. Saw many, many deer. I think I also caught a glimpse of the snowy owl I've been trying to find, but it was so far away, I only saw its silhouette. I suppose I should start looking for a (used) spotting scope or super strong binoculars. I will have to go back and feed the ducks at South Park Lake at the Botanical Gardens. When we pulled up to admire them, they all started waddling toward the car so hopefully, gently quacking away. They likely depend on handouts in this cold weather. Their lake is frozen and the ground is covered in snow. I know it is bad for them to eat bread, but I can pick up some cracked corn that they will likely love. I might even see if they like safflower seed.
In the evening I went to a free meeting. There are many out there depending on what your personal circumstances might be, including writers' groups, photography groups, knitting groups, book clubs, bible study, volunteer organizations, self-help groups for hoarders, pet owners clubs, support groups for families with a member with mental illness, grief support groups, overeaters groups...really, the list is endless. Any group I've ever gone to, I've found the meetings interesting, entertaining or helpful. (And the picture isn't from today, but an earlier wildlife-viewing excursion)

Thinking I am "allowed" to buy this "new" blender and charger.

The offspring broke my Ninja blender, which I loved. It was a $40 blender that did a fabulous job at a variety of tasks. I've been cruising estate sales and thrift shops for an identical blender for weeks to no avail. I wanted an identical blender not just because I loved it, but because I still had all the various blades and bodies (so, spares if any should break or get lost).
I found this Chefman blender at Ollies. It is identical to my old Ninja, so I'm guessing (hoping) it's a rebranded version and all the parts will be interchangeable. At just $25 and giving me the ability to interchange my existing parts, I could not resist (especially since I did have an "ick" factor in buying a used blender...I feel like you can never be sure plastic parts are thoroughly sanitized). I also picked up the charger I went in for. The phone chargers I use in my car get banged around so bad, it seems even the best ones never last a full year. So, I have a decent lighter-adapter "plug" that accepts a usb port and I replace the usb connectors with cheap ones as needed. At $2.99, you can't go wrong...if I could even find one at a thrift store it would cost close to that.

This just in: Target shopping secrets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj8qaA7z3xM Check out this short, concise video to discover Target's markdown schedule and strategies. One thing the video fails to point out: open a Target charge and save 5% on every Target purchase. For easier reference on their markdown schedule, here's what the video says:
Mondays: electronics, kids clothes
Tuesdays: women's clothes, groceries
Wednesdays: men's clothes, furniture
Thursdays: shoes, toys
Fridays: cosmetics, jewelry

IMHO, American funeral breakfasts have evolved weirdly.

Once upon a time, mourners would gather at the home of the family of the deceased. Everyone would bring food. It was a great tradition.
In our busy, modern lives, we evolved to have wakes in funeral homes (where you didn't have to worry about cleaning your house, etc., especially since you were squeezing in family members coming from out-of-town). People often still drop off food so the family can have healthy meals without having to worry about cooking. BUT, with the need to have a final gathering where everyone can relax informally and spend time sharing memories of the loved one after the funeral, funeral breakfasts have emerged.
Something about the funeral breakfast doesn't set right with me. Your loved one is gone, now you are expected to pay to feed everyone you ever knew. I feel like I'd like to pay for my meal or even some of the funeral expenses, but putting money in a sympathy card feels so tacky (I'm sorry for your immeasurable loss, here's $50?).
I have seen some churches sponsor funeral breakfasts. Parish volunteers do all the cooking, serving and clean up. I would guess the costs are very small. Hopefully, everyone in the parish would eventually act as a volunteer and this would add to a greater sense of community. I think this makes sense. That being said, when the time comes, I'm sure I'll be hosting funeral breakfasts at restaurants where it is so much easier and more convenient (since I don't belong to such a church) and I won't want people sticking money in sympathy cards. But, as a guest, I'll always feel it's just weird.

Is it the snowstorm that will cost me a bundle...or my own stupidity?

While I didn't buy anything, today likely cost me a lot of money. I got caught in the snow and foolishly soldiered on, spinning my wheels (oh, that horrible smell of burning rubber) when I should have just given up. I put on expensive, new snow tires in October. At least one of them is likely to be useless now. Not to mention that I might have killed my engine and/or transmission (why would my brake like come on when I have the pedal to the metal in 2nd gear?).
If I had just abandoned the car about a 1/2 mile from home, I likely could have walked the rest of the way. But, no, I kept pushing my car to the limits and still didn't make it home (left the car about 8 doors down...so I got close, but that would still be no comfort if I'm going to have to spend hundreds of dollars in tires/repairs). The snow was so deep, my car was acting like a plow, forming a snowbank in front of me that the offspring then had to get out and kick out of the way about every 15 feet. Now, I'm kicking myself. Stupid stupid, stupid me.

Really would like to go to "less new" movies.

The snow is supposed to pile up again, so the husband and I got out for a movie while we could. The husband is a movie fanatic, meaning we usually see movies right when they come out. (Do NOT even ask me about how we managed to get married on the weekend of a major movie opening...geesh!).
While we didn't pay full price for anything at tonight's performance of "Inherent Vice," it was certainly MUCH more than a discount show. Let's see, we had a free ticket from our Regal Cinema's membership, a discounted AAA admission ticket ($8) and a free Regal Cinema's membership small pop that we upgraded to a large ($3, I think) so that's $11 for a movie and pop. If we went to the local discount cinema, we could get a movie, pop and popcorn for $10 for both of us. If only the husband could show a little self restraint. Sigh. Delayed gratification just isn't his style. Except for home improvements. He's all about delaying home improvements.

It is amazing how often I'm forced to buy "new."

It's just short of 2 months since I decided to spend a year buying nothing "new." In that short time, there have been 3 birthdays (gifts and cards), a death (card and flowers), a broken thermostat, toaster and blender and now, the pegs (plastic) holding up two of the shelves in my kitchen cabinets have failed. Pretty sure from perusing the odds and ends at the thrift stores that I'm not going to find those there and it's definitely not worth the time and gas to try (especially since it is 5 degrees F today). I was at least lucky enough to find some on clearance at Lowe's ($5 as opposed to $8). I'm having company in from out of town this week, so it was not something I wanted to put off.
If you're curious and too tired to look through my posts, I replaced the toaster with a $1 used toaster from an estate sale (after a week or two). The thermostat was replaced with a new one (though, I did first try to find one at a re-use shop) and I'm still hoping to find a used Ninja blender somewhere, someday.

Mother Earth News, hopefully, to the rescue...and family bowling fun.

Just suscribed to Mother Earth News magazine, the guide to living — as one reader stated — "with little money and abundant happiness." I subscribed many years ago and found it very helpful with tips for my garden at another house. Since I am planning on installing a large, raised bed garden in the Spring, I'm hoping to find new tips and inspiration. (I've been growing a large part of my family's veggies at a community garden where I rent a plot, but having my own plot in my own yard will mean fresher produce and the ability to grow perennials.)
The one problem with Mother Earth News is that it is so aspirational. I'll find myself wanting to build the solar hot water tank or whatever. Hopefully I'll be able to resist the projects that are beyond me, but still find some do-able ways to save (money and the planet).
Tonight the extended family celebrated two birthdays at the local bowling alley. It was great fun, some exercise, and we all agreed we should do it again soon. It was nice to get a little inter-generational competition going and very affordable (best yet, this alley has a fairly decent restaurant attached to it).

Are these $3.50 lights "cheating"...they are new, but I think, allowable.

75% off after Christmas, they were certainly cheap enough, but they were new. However, I wanted some battery-operated LED lights for my mantle and for seeing if I could use them for an art/craft project I hoped to make and eventually sell.
The technology is so new, I don't think I'll find used battery-operated LEDs...at least not for a few years, so I am allowing myself this purchase. I only bought one, even though I could have used at least two...I figure I'll experiment with the one and if it works out, there's always next year.

Couldn't find a "not new" thermostat

My thermostat broke. I did LOOK for a thermostat at Buffalo ReStore (they often have new merchandise donated from stores and manufacturers), but had no luck. Didn't have time to look further: I needed heat! I did resist the fancy-schmancy Nest and Lyric thermostats that you can program from your phone (over $250 AND I don't trust them). I did spend the extra $6 ($26 total) to get a 5/2 day programmable unit even though, being retired, we don't need it. I figured the next owners will appreciate it.
Turns out thermostats often contain mercury and need to be properly recycled. You can find out where here: http://www.thermostat-recycle.org/zipsearch

Getting "nothing new" might get expensive

I'm worried I might make up in volume what I save on cost. Stopped into Savers the other day (it was a Tuesday...won't go unless I get my 25% senior discount) and picked up this Silkland blazer for $11. As you can see, it washed up nicely. (The tag said "dry clean only," but I never dry clean silk. I beleive it is not even good for it.) I didn't even have to iron it (hung it up while still damp).
I haven't quite gotten the hang of figuring out what I might need in advance, so I go into thrift shops regularly to peruse their odds and ends. Hopefully, I'll get the hang of living used soon, so I won't feel the need to do that.