Cheap Skate

Recently I've realized that I've taken being cheap to a whole new level. It takes a lot to impress me. In light of the recent economic down-turn I'd like to share some of my favorite finds and money-saving ideas just in case you didn't know. Oh - and I'll warn you right now . . . you will probably find some of these ideas a little ghetto, but I'm ok with that!

Remnants, etc. You've seen this area rug in a million of my pictures - it's huge. When we moved into this house with wood floors my feet needed something soft. I had no idea that big rugs like this are $300+! Yikes. So we bought this berber carpet remnant at Lowe's for $50. Then I started calling carpet binders and was quoted $200 just to bind it! So I bought some quilt binding and hot glue and wallah! I don't think it looks bad unless you get your face right down next to it and it's held up REALLY well to all the little feet that play on it. Try it - you'll like it!I also LOVE the mistinted paint section - wal-mart, lowes and home depot all have them. Somebody got the wrong color and dipped their brush once and all of a sudden the paint is now 50% off or more! Try it - you'll like it!
Coupons - I'm not a huge coupon-er. I have stopped buying the paper because most of the coupons they print are foods we just don't eat, but this week I found a coupon for these three movies for $3.00 off. I also happened to know that these three were in the $5 bin at wal-mart (I LOVE the $5 bin). So - these $2 dvd's will go in the kids' Easter stockings. It pays to be familiar with the $5 bin.
These adorable plush animals were bought on clearance during the after-valentines sale. They were marked $6.99 each and I got them for $1.00 each. Except the brand new frog hand puppet which was marked $8.99 and I got for .50 at CCA (keep reading and I'll get to CCA). I took off the red valentine bows and added a personalized bow for each child and wallah - Easter basket here they come.

I'll also heads up here - I love buying fabric on the wal-mart clearance isle and that's where I get the fabric for all the nursing covers, blankets, and the kids clothes that I make - $1.50 a yard is a good deal!!! Wal-mart is discontinuing to sell fabric. One of ours has already gotten rid of all of their fabric and the one I shop regularly will put it all 50% sometime next year. Watch yours and ask the craft associate when it's happening at your wal-mart!
These are plastic food-grade buckets that I've been collecting for (gasp) FREE at our local grocery store bakery. They are frosting buckets and they'll save them for you if you ask. We use them for food storage - just wash them good first and make sure they're dry. Then you put a little dry ice in the bottom before you seal them (or use the silicone packets). A great mice-proof and bug-proof and water-proof way to store your food storage.
Now - this one will get a few of you - but I'm a big fan of garbage day. My neighbors are always throwing away things that I want! These cube shelves were garbage and just needed a little paint to match the girls room (remember paint is cheap).
This small bookshelf was the perfect size for Kabe's room, matched his other furniture and is low enough he can reach the books without tipping it over - NOT garbage! (p.s. the little tykes chairs came from DI - $1.00 each and they're indestructable).
See these drawers under the beds? I got two sets that my neighbor was chucking - they're in perfectly good repair and freed up a lot of space. Bonus? The kids can put their own clothes away because the drawers are so low!


My favorite place to shop? CCA (it's the Texas version of DI). I LOVE this place and go there every chance I get (I know, a little ghetto - but look at the finds!)
My huge produce bin ($5.00 at Michaels) $1.00
My favorite purse of all time - $3.00 (brand spanking new and real leather!)
My food dehydrator? ($7.00)
These cute napkin rings that will someday be candle holders in my patriotic bathroom. They were tagged $2.49 each and I got 6 of them for $1.00
My weird sticks in a vase that I like but I'm not sure why? ($2.00)
Ksenya's Easter dress ($5.00) Not one stain, rip or tear (I've checked close!)
Books! I got these hard-back Harry Potter's for $1.00 and so many kids books for .50!!!
Tyler's desk. Normally furniture at CCA isn't a good deal in my estimation, but this desk was a bargain. It was marked $45 and I talked the salesman down to $20. You have to haggle on these big items!!! It's solid wood and has a nice smooth top, cleaned up well and reminded me of the heirloom desk I refinished for him and then we left in Utah.
The cool stripped curtains in the girls room were only $1.00 each (I got 2)
I've posted about the little people but had no idea what a good deal I was really getting. I got 60 Little People toys for $3.00 and they're pretty indestructable too!
Games! My kids have hit the age where they LOVE board games and puzzles and most of the games in this picture were $1.00 at CCA.
My double jogging stroller was BRAND NEW when I found it at CCA for $35. Smokin' deal and it's seen a LOT of miles too!
Today I found this brand new cute ironing board cover. It was brand new, still sealed for $3.00

So - there you have some of my best ideas. Shop at Sprouts on Wednesday - but go early in the day. That is double ad day and by the evening the pickings are much slimmer and the place is crowded!

I try not to wait until I NEED a clothing item to purchase. I pick up snow pants at CCA in the off-season for $1.00 and then come winter I'm not hunting a $20.00 pair. I just found underwear for the girls for $2.00 a pack (they're usually about $6) and so I bought a package in each size all the way up. It also pays to be familiar with the clearance sections and I'm always finding new ones. Did you know there's a little clearance place in the kids shoes department? The intimates department? the toy department? There's also an overripe section at the grocery store where they have the ready to expire breads and some overripe produce . . . I love that spot!!!

My final new "find" is a place called freecycle.org ! This is my new favorite place where people in the community GIVE things away instead of putting it out with the garbage or trying to sell it on craigslist. It sounds corny but the website is a loving place where people aren't worried about what they're going to get out of it and you can even post things that you need or want and the other members will try to find it for you if they have it sitting in their garage. I'm a little sheepish about all the things that I've "found" on freecycle so I didn't take pictures - but there have been some wonderful things, including the flowers I planted in my backyard, home-schooling supplies, shoes for the kids, etc. Check it out and see if there's one in your area!!!

Anyway - hopefully some of my tips give you ideas and you'll dare to be a little more "ghetto".