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.