At estate sales, it can pay to be very late.

Went to an estate sale today at the last hour. There wasn't much left, but I was able to bargain down some great prices because I bought a big pile and there wasn't much time for anyone else to buy the stuff. Very happy to now have several new prints from an artist I have long admired (had one of her prints for a long time...screen prints, which I like...couldn't afford her originals).

Difficult to resist new stuff that's cheaper than used stuff. #Kohls

Last week I purchased a several items for the offspring at Kohl's. He is seldom in the mood to shop and even less often agreeable to used stuff so a couple shirts and pairs of pants at good sale prices (and with a coupon and a discount) ended up being an efficient, affordable, much needed (really how many days in a row can you wear the same outfit before it walks away on its own?) shopping trip.

Of course the trouble with Kohl's is the Kohls Cash. I got a $30 certificate to use the next week. The offspring was no longer in the mood to shop and it was too early to shop for Christmas, so that left shopping for me. Another $10 coupon in my email had me heading to Kohl's. I do need jeans and they carry the jeans I like, which makes shopping fast and easy. I bought two pair for what ended up being $3 a pair...that's about half the price of jeans at Goodwill. I also ended up buying a very nice flag-themed t-shirt on clearance for $4...a little pricey, but I always feel bad when I don't have anything patriotic looking on the 4th of July. I know buying "new" defeats my recycling mission, but some bargains are offers I can't refuse.

Actually found some "not new" glasses...or, at least, close to it.

I found these on craigslist for $15 and they fit well enough so I bought them. They aren't used, but I'm guessing they've been through at least two sellers, so close enough. The offspring says the glasses make me look like a goofball. I told him they were designer (Aquaswiss) glasses and the goofball look is in. I was a bit disappointed as I had to pay $51 for prescription lenses at Value Vision. When I went there a few years back you could get cheap plastic lenses for $25. Perhaps they don't carry those anymore. Perhaps I should have thought to ask.

$9 Bose speakers at Goodwill. Pays to search the whole store.

Sorry that life has been keeping me from posting, but it has also been keeping me from doing any "not new" stuff, so there hasn't been much of interest to post about. I did get out to Goodwill to pick up a pair of shorts (Elizabeth brand, which is Liz Clairborne's fat lady division), a pair of jeans and the Bose speakers.

Was I shopping for speakers? No. Am I delighted to have them? Yes. It pays to search the entire store over as long as you are there. The speakers aren't wireless, but that's just fine with me. Maybe now I'll get more music and Science Friday in my life. If I ever get around to hooking them up.

I can't resist a thrift store sale.

Around here, a good many of the non-profit thrifts have 50% off EVERYTHING on most holidays. Last year I cleaned up at AmVets on Labor Day. I managed to squeeze in a visit amidst family drama on Memorial Day, but didn't have much luck. I picked up these mock turtlenecks for $1.50 and $1. Can't remember which was which. Not really in season, but basics like this always come in handy...and I hate to leave empty handed.

The thing I love most about thrift stores? The crazy items that turn up.

I did not buy this saddle, but I was slightly tempted. Fortunately, I don't have a horse or a place to put the saddle. Or the time to turn it into seating (though it would go nicely with my buffalo skull and longhorns). It was $79, so not cheap. Beautiful tooling on the leather, but it was well worn. Kind of entertaining to come across, if nothing else.

Just bought a giant ham I don't need. At 69 cents/lb., how could I not?

Every now and then I join BJ's because they have something I need and can save more than the cost of membership when purchasing. Then, when they send out their coupon books, I tend to get drawn in for a visit...as was the case today. They had Smithfield spiral cut hams ("purchase by" date later this week) for .69 lb. This is one of those times when I have a lot of food in the fridge. But, at that price, it's cheaper than dog food (and far more appreciated). While we will eat some of the ham, the pooch will get a lot of it. I'm sure I'm creating a demanding monster (things haven't been the same since the dog tasted cheese), but the bargainista in me couldn't refuse. At least I already have it disassembled and bagged up.

I am a bargainista extraordinaire, but I gave up couponing and have never looked back.

Part of the problem was that I would forget I had coupons in the first place. And then I'd buy something without the coupon and all my time cutting the damn things was for naught. But, I really rarely buy things that have coupons anymore. I sort of shop the perimeter of my grocery store (produce, meat, bakery) and leave the center aisles (processed food) unwalked. Not bothering with coupon sections is freeing...and makes it less likely that I will buy some stupid treat just because I have a coupon. Not couponing may actually be saving me money. So there.

Some thrift stores are hard to find...but worth it.

I found out about a thrift store I'd never heard of at a meeting I attended tonight. I came home to look up the details on the Web, but could not find it on an Internet search of thrift stores (but, I did find dozens of thrift stores I'd never heard of when I searched "thrift stores" in the Yellow Pages, so I have lots of 'sploring to do when I get the chance).

Anyway, the thrift store in question is run by the Mental Health Association and is on the Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus. Apparently, lots of doctors donate to this store and almost every item sells for $1 (except coats are $4). The meeting members were raving about what great clothes they had there. (I imagine doctors can afford some nice duds.) It got me thinking that there might be some other thrift stores associated with local hospitals that aren't well known unless you are part of the hospital community. I'll have to nose around some. And so should you!

This artist is making sort of "not new" new oil paintings at affordable prices.

I love his work. I'm not disturbed by his method, if that's the way he's got to do it to make a living. The artist, Graham Gercken of Australia, is sort of a one-man starving artists shop from what I can tell. He offers dozens and dozens of scenes (he is mostly a landscape artist) that he apparently has painted in a variety of sizes. The prices are excellent for original oil paintings. The one first pictured is a 30" x 24" for $298. The second is a 1"6 x 12" for $129. I feel bad that the guy has to paint in what I assume is a rather production-line type method (I imagine he does one painting after the other of the same scene...or maybe works on multiple canvases at once to gain speed...it would be interesting to see how he does it). But, I'd love to have one on my wall. Looking at art sort of calms down and gets my creative juices flowing simultaneously. Here is the link to his Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GerckenGallery?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Finishing in-progress jewelry, because it's also about using what you have.

Today I dug out the old jewelry-making supplies. I had a couple half-finished items that I completed. I have a couple items in need of repair that I did not have the right supplies for. And I have TONS of beads and baubles. I am going to hope my resolve holds strong and sell off most of the beads on Etsy. (I did not realize Etsy doesn't take care of sales tax for you, so I filed to get a sales tax certificate of authority today and will wait the 3 weeks for the certificate before putting more merchandise up for sale. The "not new" lifestyle should be about only having what you use. Purging supplies is (emotionally) the most difficult part, but there is no way I'll make that much jewelry before I die.

New lipgloss and "not new" perfume.

Full disclosure: I bought a tube of new lipgloss. Could I live without it? Yes. But, it's an $8 pick-me-up that puts me in a good mood, makes me feel special, and helps me put in a bit of effort on the otherwise lost cause of my appearance. Lipgloss is the only girly thing I use. No other makeup, no facial products, nothing fancy for me. I even buy Covergirl Outlast lipgloss because it lasts all day. I'm not one to touch up the hair or makeup during the day.

I was surprised to find that you can buy second hand perfume at the thrifts. (Note: the photo is from a drugstore...look at those high prices.) They had it at AmVets and I've seen it on shopgoodwill.com. I seldom use perfume as the smell makes my mother ill, so I'm always conscious about whether I'm going to be close enough to anyone to bother them. I do enjoy perfume, but have enough to last me a lifetime (mostly from gifts). If I needed some, I would not be shy about going "not new" for perfume. But, um, the lipgloss...that has to be new.

Planning a bargain perennial garden: if it's large, go with Purple Echinacea.

A large garden and small budget practically require this plant...if you also have some patience. The first year, you'll just have the one plant. But, this baby reseeds readily, so you'll have big purple/pink flowers all over the place in years to come (NB: if you don't want these everywhere, best not to plant any...or be extremely vigilant about deadheading before the seeds fall).

This is a perennial, so it comes back every year. That also means it doesn't bloom the entire season, but it does have a long blooming season. Plus, it's difficult to fail with this plant. It tolerates drought and some shade. When I first started my garden, I used this as a "filler" plant. But, as I've gotten more plants over the years, I've eliminated it (I have no spots left to "fill" and was tired of pulling this out of spots I no longer needed it). However, I've introduced other echinacea variants that aren't as hardy and never seem to reseed. kind of miss this one, though.

The offspring now has a real wardrobe, just shy of $100

Took the 20-year-old to Goodwill and Savers. Boy, was he in a shopping mood! (Unfortunately, we have a very small Goodwill, so most of his shopping was accomplished at Savers). Still, he has all the shorts, t's, belts, sunglasses and hats he needs for the summer, all in one swoop. Glad he was in a mood for "used"...often, he won't go near the used stuff.

Some estate sale companies are better than others.

Probably for different reasons for buyers and sellers. I've noticed some overcharge so much it is not worth bothering with their sales. Others, I only go on the days when they offer a discount. Some are always priced appropriately. I so miss the estate sales that were run by a little 90 year old lady in our area for a few years. Her company didn't have a name, but when she advertised the sale, she would always call it a "nice sale." She was so honest, I remember her fretting once because the sale was so small and crappy, she didn't think it was a "nice sale," so she didn't know if she should use her company line.

My only problem is, there are so many getting into the estate sales business, I now have to keep notes so I remember which ones to avoid.

Gaaah! My lack of math skills cost me at the estate sale.

The offspring has always wanted to airbrush paintings and t-shirts. Airbrushes and compressors are pricey, but their popularity is waning quickly. When I saw the estate sale I was at had two air compressors, I felt I'd be safe waiting for the second day of the sale, when things would go half price. That also gave me a chance to research the choices, so I knew exactly what I wanted when I went back.

Both compressors and all the accessories were still there the second day, so I picked up what I wanted and asked if they would take $100 for the lot, which they did. But. I had added incorrectly! I ended up just getting the box of jars for "free"...which I thought they should have thrown in no matter what. I wanted to knock another 20% off the 1/2 off cost since that's what I figured was fair price for equipment that was not in demand, and may or may not last very long. But, I added wrong in my head. I hate me!

Worse yet, there was a third day of the sale when things were 75% off! Gaaaahhh! I paid sooo much more than I should have. Still not sure if the third day was added on at the last minute or if I somehow messed up and didn't notice there was going to be a third day. I'm not going to look it up. I couldn't stand to know if it was me messing up. On the bright side, the offspring is thrilled to have some airbrushing equipment.

12 bean soup with ham and kale...meals for pennies

Can't get a much heartier soup than beans and ham and it is mighty affordable, too. Especially when made with dried beans. Though, I suppose if you add the cost of Beano...

I made a ton after Christmas as hams were on sale (they have great, extremely affordable spiral cut hams at Aldi's and after the holidays, they are often reduced further...usually $5 off). I go for their top-price holiday ham (usually under $2 a lb. and comparable to the $6 a lb. ham at a 'regular' grocery store) and it's still a bargain. Couldn't really taste the difference between Aldi's and the expensive leftover ham my sister gave (expensive to her...free to me). I made gallons of soup and divided it into two different batches to season differently so we wouldn't get too bored. Most of it went into the freezer to be brought out bit by bit. I used a curry mix in one half and the other was "plain." The carrots and maybe some of the onions were from my garden. With Spring coming, we're finishing up the last of it as we'll be in the mood for something lighter (the chicken veggie soup I made the other day will be more fitting).

Saved by the Scrabble game (from the Internet auction).

This is not what I was saved from. I'm hoping to purchase this lighting fixture later this week for $90. That's not cheap, but I think it is a very good deal as it will fit the style of my room and would likely cost at least 3 times that much new (I consider 60% off as my "base savings target" for a decent second-hand deal on most items). Do I NEED this fixture? No. I have another where it will go, but I don't like that fixture. I'm hoping I can sell it for what this one costs and consider it a wash (plus a lot of footwork and trouble, but I'll be happy).

Do I need the stuff I just didn't get at the online auction? Some yes, some no. There was a sturdy looking metal tool chest for under $10 that I really could use for the garage. But, as long as I was getting that, I probably would have gotten the really cool looking metal chairs for under $10 and a couple end tables which may or may not have worked out. I keep telling myself something just as good will come to me much closer (the items were 40 minutes away and there was only a 4 hour window on Saturday to pick everything up, so it would have been a bit of a pain). Still, I feel loss over that durn tool chest and those chairs. Sigh.

The good news is, instead of watching the close of that auction online, I was playing Scrabble with the offspring and hubby. Difficult to get quality family time with the 20-year-old son, so I definitely made the right choice.

The one that got away (a good thing) at the 50% off AmVets sale today

I picked up the most amazing buffet for $20 at AmVets during one of their half price sales last fall. But, I still haven't had a chance to refinish it (winter came to soon...I need to do the work outside). So, when I saw a nice Dixie dresser today for $25, I was sooo tempted. However, I made a deal with myself to finish one upcycling project before starting the next, so I walked by. Whilest shopping (and not finding much...only spent $5.25), my resolve was fading. I really don't see pieces nice enough to refinish at prices that low very often. As luck would have it, someone purchased it before I got back to the front of the store. Probably lucky for me. I really don't have a spot to put the durn thing while it's waiting to be refinished.

Add used sports equipment stores to your savings arsenal

Since I am, um, not playing any sports these days, I forgot to include used sports equipment stores in my suggestions. These are great places, especially if you have children on sports teams. You can still get equipment at Goodwill cheaper (got a great pair of ski boots there once), but finding what you need is difficult. Used sports equipment stores usually have a full array of equipment in every size. I picked up some cheap weights at one last year (for an outdoor umbrella, not lifting).