Sweet Vintage Lamp...

I managed to stop by a little hole-in-the-wall thrift shop yesterday and found this sweet 50's(?) lamp there.  It has no shade, the birdie on top is loose and the handle for the well is missing, but the electrical works.  I'll probably glue the bird on, find a shade and call it fixed.  There is a night light in the well and the regular bulb.  You can turn on either one or both.  I know they made this style into the 80's, but mine has aqua legs and looks more 50's in design, but labels are missing so do not know for sure.  Any ideas?

Oh, I am joining Selena's Thrift Share here http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/apron_thrift_girl/ .   Join us... it's lots of fun!

Savings Gurus...

At the height of my search into savings there were a couple of books out titled The Tightwad Gazette.  This gal was serious about saving.  The author, Amy Dacyczyn, wrote a total of three books on frugal tips then combined them and some newsletters in to her final work and retired.   Apparently, she still continues her frugal ways and has returned to anonymity.

Let me say.... she was a serious saver, even to using plastic bread bags as plastic pants to go over her babies' cloth diapers... a little too frugal for me, but to be commended.  I owned her first two books for awhile and did use some of her ideas, then must have loaned them out or sold them, 'cause they are no where in my house now.  If you are serious about saving you might want to check out her compilation, available on Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250

Warning... some of her ideas for feminine hygiene are pretty radical... just sayin'.

Hope your weekend is great! :)

More Savings Ideas...

Yesterday I wrote about couponing, etc. for groceries.  Having raised five children on one income, I have had to find great deals on clothing as well as groceries.  As a new mother I lived in a university town with a large turnover in population.  Another new mom friend and I would plot a yard sale map early each Saturday morning and hit the sales that advertised baby clothing and equipment.  We would often find new clothes with tags still attached for a mere fraction of the original cost.   Good, used equipment is easy to clean and utilize and can save you a bundle for your Bundle. :)

As my children grew I began shopping at consignment clothing stores for our entire family.  I do live in a larger, metropolitan area so such stores are abundant.  I found they have a great diversity of styles and the prices are usually good to fabulous.  Of course, there are always the local thrift stores, which one of my daughters loves to haunt for clothing.  I do find clothing at these stores, but prefer them more for household and miscellaneous items.  Finding the right clothing is sometimes very time consuming at these places, but can be done, plus prices are pretty great.  Here is a site that may help you find thrift shops in your area http://www.thethriftshopper.com/index.htm 

There is a group near me who sponsors a clothing swap occasionally.  Most of my children are grown now, so I have never participated, but it sounds like an interesting idea. Where do you find your best deals on clothing?

Saving Money...

Aren't we all looking for ways to save a few dollars?  One of my daughters is a coupon queen, often getting things for free with coupons.  I don't quite have it in me to throw the amount of time and paper into couponing to that degree, but it is commendable.  However, I do scan the grocery ads each week.  This week one store had a $5 of $50 purchase or more, Friday-Sunday.  It is not the store at which I shop, but my store takes competitor's coupons.  Also, my store, Publix, had a coupon in their ad for $10 off a $50 gas card - can't go wrong there.

 We are trying to eat organic now, for which there are not many coupons, but I do try to save where I am able.  The grocery store at which I shop has Buy One, Get One Free deals each week.  Many of these items are not the healthiest, but not all.  I try to stock up on items we use when they are BOGO and clipcoupons for items we use on a regular basis.  My couponing daughter donates some of her freebies to shelters and social service groups.  She also has yard sales with her sister-in-law where they sell new household cleaning items, personal care items (make-up, razors, etc.) and more at lower than sale prices, but still at a profit to themselves.

A few times Hubby has been unemployed and we have lived out of our pantry for a while.  It is amazing what you can find tucked away.  It is the same with household and personal items in hall closets and drawers.  How do you save money?

A Full Garage....

Hubby, son and I worked hard at the beginning of summer to clear out my side of the garage.  Have not been able to park my van inside it for a year or more.  After hours of hard work donations were made, college kid stuff was packed tightly to one side and, once again, Vanny was safe from being pelted by a freak hail storm. 

However, my parents are scaling down to a much smaller home and when I went to visit last week I returned with a bedroom full of furniture and boxes of china, etc. for which to find space.  My side of the garage is full again (sigh...). Yet, I am so happy to have my parents' beautiful, hard rock maple bedroom set and a chair from the mid 1950's.  I grew up with this furniture so it is very special to have it in my home now.  Thank you, Mom and Dad! Now to find room in the house for them. :)  Oldest son heads back to college in a couple of weeks and he will take one set of twin beds and a chest, so will probably be able to move the maple set indoors at least by then.  Now to find room for the china and all. I will try to remember to take pics of the 50's china, etc., when I unpack to post here.

I have done very little thrifting lately, but oldest daughter has been out and about and found this cool Star Trek uniform for my youngest son.  He has a large basket full of costumes in his room.  This is a welcomed addition.  Thanks, Sis!

Hope your summer has been great!

Leah :)

Summer Fun...

Joseph and cousin, Emma, enjoying the cool water.

Sister, Suzanne, and daughter, Caroline

 

 

I haven't been blogging much this summer.  All three of my sons are home and things stay hopping.  Some of us went to the hills of Missouri last week to visit Grandpa, Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.






 It was hotter there than in Florida.  Two of those days we sneaked off to the Castor River to cool off.  The water felt great.  Missouri rivers are much cooler than the pools and lakes in Florida in July, plus there are no alligators (only water snakes :).

Hubby launching kids

The kids hounded Hubby until he finally came in to throw them in the water.  Most of the time the adults sat in our chairs on the rock beach. Some of us Floridians even got sunburned.

Me and my sister

It is always great to visit with family, relax and refresh.  Hope you have been enjoying some of that this summer.

Blessings, Leah :)