Adventures in Estate Sale-ing. (Replaced the broken toaster!)

It’s always a challenge as to where to shop. Garage sales usually have the best prices, but it can take a lot of gas per purchase…and you have to get up so early! Estate sales can be pricey, but then again, it depends what you are looking for. I went to the third and last day of an estate sale nearby (so, not a lot of gas) and found a toaster for $1. Estate sale shoppers are usually looking for fancier stuff than toasters. And the company running the sale was glad to get rid of the toaster. There was some Karma going on as the toaster I picked up was the same toaster (only in a 2-slice size) as the 4-slice toaster I gave to Goodwill last year. (I had downsized to a 2-slice, but then the offspring broke the new 2 slice.) Also, for my mosaic endeavors, I got some glassware and a huge, old grinder for a pittance (under $10 all), so this was a very good estate sale for me. Sometimes I go away empty handed.

Oh dear, I bought myself a vintage mink jacket.

Did I mention I can’t resist a bargain? When I discovered that affordable vintage fur jackets were to be had, well, my spending restraint was put to the test…and failed miserably. I would NEVER buy a NEW fur unless it was some sort of animal also used for food or very ethically raised, etc. But, a USED fur is a different story. I’m okay with wearing fur from critters that were dead before I was even born. I am extending their usefulness. And no one is going to look at my fat self (looking even fatter in a fur) and think: “what a great look, I have to go get myself a fur that makes ME look that huge.” Of course, finding a vintage fur that fits a fat lady is not an easy task. The women that owned fur coats in days gone by seem all to have been very petite. So, when I found a decent-looking, ‘50’s-era mink jacket for $225 on Etsy.com, it caught my eye. Fur is incredibly warm. I needed a dressy winter jacket/coat. And I liked the style. I was still going to pass up the jacket when I happened to notice the seller was running a 30% off sale. That did me in. $157 for a kooky, warm, luxurious jacket that would last me the rest of my life (it’s not like I have THAT many decades left). I took a big risk (because returns were not accepted) and ordered the coat. As luck would have it, it fits great (and I am built really weird so that is very lucky

Going "nothing new" is going to be tough with a clumsy teen.

First, he broke the blender. Now, the toaster. Aiieee! I’m going to go to social media right now to ask friends for castoffs. (next day) OK, the social media thing didn’t work. Sigh.

Of all the things to have to buy new

(NB: Not posting in present time yet, this was written a couple weeks ago.) I went to put on my boots and the offspring had taken one of my shoelaces. We had just had a major storm that trapped us in our house for 5 days (driving ban plus impassable roads and 5’ of snow in the driveway). I needed to wear my boots and the thrift stores weren’t even reopened yet. Plus, I’d likely have to buy an entire pair of shoes just for the laces. I didn’t have any viable string or even leather I could cut into strips to make shoelaces. Not able to wait or wanting to waste time or gas money, I purchased new shoelaces plus some silicone waterproofing spray for our boots and metal shovels while I was at Target picking up groceries. While I’m on the subject of winterwear, let me rant about shopgoodwill.com. Some of the items on this site sell for ridiculously high prices. I’m happy the money goes to a good cause! I mean, $133 for a used rabbit fur jacket? It probably sold for less than that new (granted, inflation would alter that equation). Still, a good site for going used for the sake of recycling/charity, but not so good for going used and saving money. I’m as much about saving money as I am about saving the environment

The offspring broke my Ninja blender

Being frugal, and especially going "used," is all about planning. But, you can't plan for premature breakdowns. Sigh. We use the blender a lot. I make myself a nice, low-cal frappucino-type treat every now and then. The offspring makes these ridiculous fruit smoothies. (I say “ridiculous” because he does it in a difficult, nonsensical fashion). He, of course, put too much hard fruit in the blender and it broke. I hate the idea of buying a blender used (who knows what someone might have put in it?), but I suppose I will have to. I’ll just be sure to soak it in bleach water when I buy one. I looked for one at Savers, but they didn’t have anything I liked. I am hoping to buy the same blender I had as I still have all the various blades and bowls for it...and I liked the way it worked. I did see a few other things at Savers that might come in handy. I will go back on Tuesday (a discount day) and hope those items are still there. (Savers is, in my opinion, one of the higher-priced thrift stores. But, they are very well organized, making the shopping experience more pleasant. However, I don’t like the fact that they make themselves appear to be a nonprofit. They are a for-profit store and only give a small percentage to charity. They won’t even tell me exactly what the percentage is. I assume Target donates far more to charitable causes than Savers does. But, Savers fits the “used” criterion.) As far as the blender is concerned, I will just have to wait for one I want to be available, used, at a good price...or maybe at just an okay price...depends how much I miss my frappes.

The offspring insists on "new." Being in a store that sells "new" stuff is hard.

Went to Target to get the (teenage) offspring a nice white shirt for his job interview. It was really expensive! ($30) However, the offspring isn’t buying into my “all used” philosophy for himself and he is, for some odd reason, anti-TJ Maxx (I could have gotten a dress shirt there for almost half that price, there would have been a better selection and the shirt would have been nicer). The things we are willing to do for our children. I also saw a really cute sweater I liked at Target. It was a little sad to realize I wouldn’t be buying it even if it did go on a super clearance sale. Sigh.

Going "not new" turning out to be a workout for both creativity and memory.

I needed my ruler to measure some items I wanted to sell. (I’m starting an Etsy shop (ArtGlassAndMore) to sell off some of my prized possessions in anticipation of downsizing.) I figured I’d pick up a ruler at the grocery store when I realized it didn’t fit my all-used parameters. (My missing ruler actually was a garage sale find, a nice one, too…18” and very sturdy…wonder where it is …grrrr.) So, I wanted a measuring device fast and doubted they’d have one at the Goodwill store. Plus, it wasn't worth the gas. Amazingly, I couldn’t find any way to print a nice ruler off the Internet (on the back of a piece of a used piece of paper, of course), the files I found just crashed my printer. I was trying to figure out a way to get an accurate measurement knowing a piece of paper was 8-1/2 x 11 when I remembered I had a measuring tape in a very nice sewing kit that I picked up at an estate sale. Rescued from doing some tricky math!

First “need” stops me in my tracks

I brought four tropical plants in for the winter. But, one was new so I didn’t have a saucer for it. I was all set to stop at Home Depot for one of those cheap, clear plastic saucers when I remembered that would be buying something new. Dang. I really didn’t want to run the risk of one of my dishes getting ruined by using it as a plant saucer when I spied a package on the counter: the husband had brought home some brownies from Aldi’s and the lid would fit perfectly in my plant stand…it was the exact right size and shape as you’ll see in the photo...it works better than my old "bought-new" saucer on my other plant in the next photo. It is so perfect, it is almost invisible. I haven’t searched around the garage for a nice, decorative pot to go with, but I’m sure I have something that will work. Fortunately, I hate to throw things out. That will come in very handy in my year of nothing new.