Frugal vs. Splurges

I buy a lot of things used; my friends usually tease me if they know me well and ask if any new purchase came from "the thrift store"! All of Arden's shoes, pajamas, clothing, winter coat, etc. just came from a children's consignment sale. I just bought three twin sheet sets from garage sales ($3, $7, and $6 per set for super cute children's sheets). One was Ralph Lauren! I have bought used shoes for myself and the kids, if the brand is good, and they are in good condition.

However, I do splurge on items and buy some things new. I like name-brands, and I am not one of those people who wears clothing that is styled from the 1970's just because the whole outfit cost $3 at Goodwill. So, here are a few of my tips:

1. shop consignment and thrift stores regularly. The merchandise changes all the time. I find super cute home accessories from time to time. I always find good books for me and the kids (or my classroom) for .25 cents to a dollar for a hardcover. My favorite ones are Goodwill, The Salvation Army store on Walnut, and Helping Hands on 28th.

2. Consign and shop in large children's consignment sales like Rhea Lana to purchase a large amount of items for young children (and girls will have more in larger sizes than boys)

3. Ebay. This is where I go first when I want some particular brand or a particular shoe size. The per item price will be higher than consignment or thrift stores, but you can get a specific item. For example, I will do a search for "stride rite 10.5" to look for used shoes for Arden. With boys, I will typically have to buy new shoes at their ages now, but I can sometimes find NIB pairs on Ebay cheaper than the same item in the stores. Sheet sets are sold on Ebay for great prices (both new and used). Boutique brands like Matilda Jane, for example, resell well on Ebay, if you are willing to splurge for a special outfit for a photograph session, but it will still be about half of the new retail price. Every time I want to purchase a clothing/shoe/accessory item new, I search for it on Ebay first to see if it is available for less. I even order my salon hair products I love on Ebay for about 1/2 off, and they are new and sealed. I even bought my Delta kitchen faucet fixures from Ebay (new in box) for half of retail!

4. Discount Vouchers/websites: I get regular/daily emails to a variety of discount programs and buy vouchers for items that I would use, usually at 50% off retail. These sites are places like Groupon, Living Social, or NWA Piggy Deal. They have really good discounts on restaurants and services. Also, I shop at www.onekingslane.com for similar discounts. They hold sales each week that highlight certain high end brands, and you can find good deals on brands like Peacock Alley sheets etc. I have bought 6 items there in the past year at One Kings Lane, and I usually buy at least one voucher monthly for some service/restaurant from the other daily deal sites.

5. Stores that have good sales: I have to shop quickly and on sale when I do buy myself clothing. I like Belk a lot because it is smaller than a Dillards. I also love Ann Taylor Loft. They have wonderful promotions and sales. With the store credit card, I get extra promotions/discounts plus a teacher's discount, even on sale items. I always get everything there over half off the retail price. Since it is a small store, I can get in and out quickly, and I know what size I wear. They can order me sizes they don't have and get them shipped to my house for free! I also stay out of clothing stores, in general,unless I have a specific item that I am really needing to purchase. I don't have time to browse malls now that I am teaching full-time, but I also find that it stops me from making a lot of impulse purchases.

6. Coupon codes: before I order from any online retailer, I always do a search for valid coupon codes for that business. Routinely, I can find codes that get me 10-20% off at checkout or give me free shipping. I recently found a valid coupon code for $25 off at www.erincondren.com and purchased the popular life planner for half price by using the code.

7. Outlets: These are probably my least favorite because they really aren't any cheaper than regular stores with sales. However, I do love upscale handbag outlets like Coach because department stores won't have these bags on sale very often. I purchased two Coach purses last fall for only 1/3 each of the retail cost. The quality of the leather is worth the cost, and I got them for only a little more than leather purses from Target by going to the outlet. The closest outlet to me is in Branson, MO.

8. Friends: See if you can find a friend who has children older than yours in the same gender, then you can get free (or cheap) hand-me-downs. I have been blessed to have a friend who gives Arden a lot of her daughter's outgrown clothing. I know of other times I have "shopped" from friend's clothing, and they have let friends know they were selling clothing privately before they sent it to a consignment sale. They would price it more cheaply, and friends got the first picks of the nicer items.

My goal is always to decorate well, look nice, and find a bargain. I can't enjoy my home or my kids' clothing if I am worried about how much money I spent on them. Try a few tips, and see how it goes. Once you see the savings, you will be addicted!

Labor Day Weekend

My mom came for a visit this weekend and arrived on Friday; she will leave tomorrow when we all head back to work and school. It has been a fun visit with a visit to Braums to get hamburgers and ice cream, a tour of the Walmart visitor's center which has been recently remodeled, a visit to see my classroom, and a getaway to see the movie The Help which I have been dying to see (I read the book awhile ago and highly recommend it).

While we were seeing the movie yesterday afternoon, Arden and the boys were home with Stuart. During that time, Arden managed to sneak into the kitchen, get scissors, and take them to her bedroom. She proceeded to cut out several large chunks of her hair! Yes, the newly styled, adorable bob haircut that we got last weekend! Apparently, getting a haircut made her interested in cutting hair because people were telling her how cute her hair was. She told me she "wanted to be even cuter" by cutting it some more. It could have been a lot worse, but now she has a section on one side that looks like long bangs where she chopped off about 3 inches. It makes me sick, but I know it will grow back. I guess I need to go to Gymboree and buy more of these barrettes that stay in her hair, so I can pull it back to the side. It is too short now to put behind her ears or pull up into an elastic. I really don't want to cut the front into short bangs since I want it to grow out. Sigh.

The cooler temps from this weekend are beginning to make it feel like fall is on its way, and it makes me want to go to Silver Dollar City soon. The kids were hoping to go to the pool one last time this weekend, but we haven't gotten to do that since it got too cool. Maybe it will warm up enough for that this week!

Stuart got back from his trip to Seattle, and I have been doing constant laundry it seems trying to get everything caught up from unpacking. He has had to work several times this weekend to get caught up from being out of the office. And, yes, Owen has football practice TODAY, on a HOLIDAY!! This practice schedule is still driving me insane; I'm just not a die-hard football fan. I am probably one of the only people living in northwest Arkansas that doesn't watch a single Hogs game! I am not from here, didn't grow up around football (I lived overseas), and I didn't go to college at Arkansas, so it just isn't a big deal to me. But, my son loves it, and I love him, so off to practice we will go.

Erin Condren Life Planner

There has been a lot of hype about a planner by Erin Condren. It will supposedly rock your world . . . and your wallet. Anyway, I love organizational items, so I was very curious about this planner and immediately wanted one. They can be personalized, have your photos uploaded on the cover, etc. I missed a big half price promotion a few weeks ago, but I have just located a valid coupon code on the internet for $25 off the $50 planner which still makes it half-price! It was valid today because I just used it, and it went through on check-out without a glitch. My planner should arrive in two weeks!

If you are interested, it is "seeyousoon25" at www.erincondren.com. I have no idea how long it will be valid, so act fast if you want to get one!