Thurs 2/10 - What frugal trick do you hide?

[oreo]

I buy all of my son's clothes at thrift shops now (unless there is something I REALLY need and can't find). I also buy a lot of his toys there. Some times they are missing a part or 2 but if I can make something to make it work, I buy it anyway. I think I've only bought like 4 or 5 books at regular stores--almost all of his books are also from thrift stores. I always inspect the items to make sure they don't have hidden issues (although for books, if a book is one I REALLY want, I'll overlook some imperfections--he doesn't care about the condition at this point). I have also purchased a lot of items for him on Craigslist including his playhouse, and a variety of outdoor climbers.

When I need something, I think about other things that I might already have that will work. More often than not I can find something I already own that will work.

I'm not as coupon savvy as a lot of people on these boards but I do shop the sales at the grocery stores and frequently use coupons when I eat out. I currently use my Discover card whenever we eat out somewhere because I get 5% cash back. I use my Chase card right now at grocery stores and get 5% cash back. If I am going to buy some items at Target for example, I buy a gift card at the grocery store for the amount I expect to spend and use it at Target (in essence getting the 5% off). I then use the 5% off points to either buy a Lowes/Home Depot or restaurant gift card (whichever I can get a $50 gift card for $45 worth of points). Late last year our local grocery store was giving away 4x points when you bought gift cards there. My Chase card gave 5% off at the grocery store. I need to buy a refrigerator at Home Depot. Bought the gift cards at the grocery store and I ended up with $58 back at the grocery store and $75 worth of Lowes gift cards from my Chase card rebate. That worked out pretty well!

[newsmaker]

That before buying anything, I will check the dollar store first.

[gsbrq]

I am not tiny enough to do this myself, but my best friend is very petite, and she buys her t-shirts off the clearance rack in the kids' department. She gets cute shirts, much cheaper than the women's section stuff.

[daylight]

Just reply "it was a gift" if you don't want to tell people it's from Walmart. I'm all for honesty and being straightforward, but really, some people, as Donna's story showed, won't talk to you ever again if you show signs of being frugal. Naturally, if a person stops being a friend he is doing you favor. But the same situation can hurt you bigtime at work.

[girlonthetv]

This message has been deleted.

[girlonthetv]

Feb 10, 2011 21:06:04 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

Confession: I buy shoes from Payless Shoe Source.... mainly because I wear a women's size 12 (notoriously hard to find, trust me) and because I really like casual tennies and Keds and flats and they usually have a nice selection. I've also been known to buy casual clothes at Walmart ~ especially this last year since I was outgrowing clothes pretty quickly. (I lost about 115 pounds in 2010 and went through about 6 sizes.)

Mollymouser

How did you lose the weight? I need to lose about that. I'm a 4 time Weight Watchers dropout.

[girlonthetv]

I work for a local government agency in a very affluent area. One day a lady came into complain about something. Her whole attitude was 'woe is me' and how she leads such a tough life. All this while in authentic Burberry raincoat, and carrying a Dooney & Burke purse & wallet. I just kept smiling and stood a little taller in my Jacklyn Smith shirt and pants.

[montanatransplant]

Molly, I, too am waiting on your weight loss trick. But I think as a diabetic, if you really follow the eating plan, you just loose weight. Is that correct?? I'm sure all that biking you do is a BIG help. You are so awesome--what a model for the rest of us!