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SeaStar Forum Moderator


Joined: Sept 16 2006
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 6:34am | IP Logged
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In conjunction with our recent thread on frugality, I thought I'd start a post each Friday so we can post our latest frugal finds.
This could be a great deal you found, a new way/trick you've learned to save money or time or a website/blog post that gave you a great frugal tip, gift idea or food for thought.
I find it very encouraging to read how others are saving time and money.
Hopefully this will provide inspiration for all of us.
My frugal find this week was at the thrift store, where I found two pairs of Lands End cargo shorts for ds in the next size up for $1 each. Score!
I also read a tip about using the "light" soil level on your washer vs. the "regular" level. Unless your clothes are really, really dirty, the author claimed the light setting works just as well and saves time, energy and wear and tear on clothing. I'm definitely going to give this one a whirl.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator


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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 7:17am | IP Logged
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Good tips! Granted, our laundry is almost always "really, really" dirty , but I'll definitely keep that in mind if I happen to be doing a full load of my clothes or for dh's work clothes (which get washed separately anyway).
I wish I could thrift more. It just seems like one of those things you have to do habitually to really get the most out of it, and that is hard with little ones.
We do have good luck with dh shopping the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store during his lunch break. He's picked up hardware needed for projects, light fixtures exactly like what we were looking for, and even a couple of pieces of furniture, all at deep, deep discounts. We spent $50 for a heavy duty kohler cast iron sink complete with solid stainless faucet for my outdoor sink in the garden (far out of our each brand new at more than $300!) and he bought 4 louvered doors for $5 a piece and built me an adorable little shed. The furniture selection is often better than our local thrift store, and we got my very heavy, well made sideboard with perfectly moving drawers and such for a very reasonable price (which escapes me atm). Anyway, since he.'s gotten into the habit of going there before he goes to Home Depot for home repairs, I know we have saved a bundle!
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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guitarnan Forum Moderator


Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 7:43am | IP Logged
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I shop on our local military base, so my frugal finds aren't available, but I'll share yesterday's score just in case any military moms are reading...the Commissary has some fun-flavored cake mixes on sale for less than 50 cents...pink lemonade, etc. Yum!
At our local consignment shop, I found a pair of black flats, Italian made, for $16 in my weird shoe size. Yay!
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Servant2theKing Forum All-Star


Joined: Nov 13 2005
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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Haven't been shopping or thrifting much lately, but we just can't beat FREE wild blackberries on our land. Dh and dc have been picking faithfully. So far we've put up more than 45 jars of jelly, frozen multiple bags, and there are still berries left! We have so many blackberries I'm tempted to forego the $1/pound blueberries we usually pick from a farm in a neighboring town. Then again, frozen blueberries are so nice in the dead of winter, and I prefer fruit with no seeds! Love hearing everyone's frugal finds!
__________________ All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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pumpkinmom Forum All-Star


Joined: March 28 2012 Location: Missouri
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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Target this week has Edy's products on sale for $2.99 and when you buy 5 you get a $5 gift card. Our freezer is stocked with frozen treats. My boys (including dh) like the fruit bars and I like that they are real fruit and not high fructose corn syrup and water. Target does this in the summer a couple times and it's the only time I buy those fruit bars so they truly are a treat for the boys.
__________________ Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator


Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 8:31am | IP Logged
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Ooh, I remember now what I did this week.
After a hectic couple of years, dh and I finally updated our defensive driving courses. We get a significant discount on our insurance for completing the course, which is now available online. It is definitely worth looking to see if your state has a similar offering. We paid $30 per person to take the test and save about $600 over the next 3 years.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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SeaStar Forum Moderator


Joined: Sept 16 2006
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 8:52am | IP Logged
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Wow! These are some great frugal finds. Nothing beats free berries!
The Habitat Store near my house also has books, and I have been able to pick up some like-new field guides there for 75 cents. I agree it is a great resource for household stuff. What luck that your dh can shop there on his lunch break, Lindsay.
I am going to Target tomorrow- have to check out that sale. Do you have to do anything to get the gift card, or does it automatically print at the register?
I had never heard of the defensive driving course- definitely going to check into that
Shoes Go, Nancy!
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator


Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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Check with your insurance first that you are eligible for a discount. It may be that you're limited in the number of discounts you can get and you don't want to spend the money and then find out that you're already getting as many discounts as they allow.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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pumpkinmom Forum All-Star


Joined: March 28 2012 Location: Missouri
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 10:17am | IP Logged
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The Target deal should just ring up as you check out. Occasionally it gets missed. I put my items together (and the cashiers tell me this helps too) to be checked out at the same time. If it gets missed I ask and they will double check the ad and what you bought and then give it to you. Target has this gift card deals all the time on certain things and I always stock up on stuff when they do and use my gift card next time I go. I also got a coupon for $1/3 of the fruit bars when I checked out and if I had the room in the freezer I would have gone back to get the deal again and use the coupon, but the freezer is full!
__________________ Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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MelissaClaire Forum Pro

Joined: May 16 2007
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 2:02pm | IP Logged
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If you have a Costco, there's a little better deal on the Edy's frozen fruit bars. There's a coupon in their book they put out for $2.50 off and last time I was at Costco the pops were $8.50 or $9.
Also--if you're kids are in sports and you'll have to bring the end of game snack Costco has coupons out for both the Annie's individual snack packs and the Doritos type ones too.
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jawgee Forum All-Star

Joined: May 02 2011 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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At Rite Aid this week:
Pantene Shampoo is 2/$7. Use the $3 coupon from last week's newspaper insert, and they are 2/$4. In addition, you earn a $2 UP reward (to be used towards a future purchase) which makes them 2/$2.
Head & Shoulders Shampoo is 2/$7. Use the B1G1Free coupon from last week's paper and they are 2/$4.50.
Conair Brushes and Elastics are $2.99. Earn a $2 UP Reward for each (up to four items) to make them 99c each.
__________________ Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
The Catholic Cup on Facebook
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Servant2theKing Forum All-Star


Joined: Nov 13 2005
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Posted: Aug 09 2013 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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Well, we picked blueberries after all! The price, like everything is up ~ $1.25 per pound. But they were selling them for $4.50/pound already picked, so it was definitely worthwhile! On the way home we chanced upon a vegetable stand in someone's front yard ~ FREE zucchini and summer squash! A fruitful day in more ways than one!
__________________ All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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Erin Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
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Posted: Aug 12 2013 at 5:02am | IP Logged
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Latest find was to buy a doona $5 and a sheet $2 which I've converted to fabric bins and liners
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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SeaStar Forum Moderator


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Posted: Aug 12 2013 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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Nice sheet find.
But what is a doona?
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Erin Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
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Posted: Aug 12 2013 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Just did some googling turns out you would call them comforters.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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Christine Forum All-Star


Joined: March 23 2006 Location: Washington
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Posted: Aug 12 2013 at 3:27pm | IP Logged
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I was at Walmart this morning and they had Lego Hobbit on clearance.
An Unexpected Gathering was $45
Attack of the Wargs was $35
Escape from Mirkwood Spiders was $21
I am always happy to find birthday and Christmas presents that the children want at discounted prices.
__________________ Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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