We're out of the house and back into an apartment. Not a big deal for us. Some repairs were made to the house but there was so much wrong with it. It needed more work than we were told, plumbing, structure, etc. Just goes to show you even if you think the repair job is good you could run into more than you can handle.
One of the things we're going to have to fix is the amount of stuff we have! From the 15k sqft house to a 700sqft apartment things certainly do NOT fit. So how to make it fit? First we downsized out entertainment center from a 2 piece to a small 1 piece that fits just the tv and game system. The desk has gone from a corner desk to a single top desk. And no more dining room. That last part is the only sad thing about it all.
But what did we do with all the stuff? We sold most of it! Between Craigslist and a yard sale we got rid of many things we didn't need and made a small profit. The rest of it went to charity. Since we don't have room I didn't want to keep it all here; we didn't see the point in renting a storage unit for things we don't need. So, out it went!
Here's to a less cluttered home!
Stay green,
Yasha
Showing posts with label consignment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consignment. Show all posts
Monday, July 01, 2013
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dumpster Score!
Say what!?
Most Parents discourage children from touching, going near, or even thinking about dumpsters. I try to encourage mine to look at them. Why? Well sometimes people throw out completely good things. Toys, chairs, couches. Any of these things can be spruced up and resold or kept depending on he condition.
Now I haven't gone so far as to actually jump in a dumpster nor would I let my kids do it (or see me do it if I ever work up the courage.) Jumping in a dumpster takes some preparation and caution. You don't know what is in there. If it will shift. If it will break. If there are bugs. *shudder* However, things conveniently placed next to a dumpster are fair game.
Trash day has become one of my favorite days. I have found some of the more affluent neighborhoods are awesome to cruise through on trash day. Amazingly, there are still a lot of people out there that never take things to Goodwill. They just leave them on the curb.
Still think I'm crazy? Take a look at some of the treasures I found.
Most Parents discourage children from touching, going near, or even thinking about dumpsters. I try to encourage mine to look at them. Why? Well sometimes people throw out completely good things. Toys, chairs, couches. Any of these things can be spruced up and resold or kept depending on he condition.
Now I haven't gone so far as to actually jump in a dumpster nor would I let my kids do it (or see me do it if I ever work up the courage.) Jumping in a dumpster takes some preparation and caution. You don't know what is in there. If it will shift. If it will break. If there are bugs. *shudder* However, things conveniently placed next to a dumpster are fair game.
Trash day has become one of my favorite days. I have found some of the more affluent neighborhoods are awesome to cruise through on trash day. Amazingly, there are still a lot of people out there that never take things to Goodwill. They just leave them on the curb.
Still think I'm crazy? Take a look at some of the treasures I found.
 |
| Kitchen Chair needed a new bolt (Please ignore the pile of blue bags in the corner. They're full of donations waiting to go.) |
 |
| Fully functional keyboard needed new batteries |
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| Dora the Explorer chair Hole needed sewn up |
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Getting the most out of the resale shops.
I love to shop at the local resale shop. It's great to find clothes that look new and have a small price tag. Here are some tips to shopping smart second hand.
1. Scrutinize. Look at the item closely. The people at the front may or may not have seen a stain or missing button. Check to make sure the item is in good shape.
2. Be Selective. If you do find a stain, missing button, broken zipper, tear, etc consider how much it will take to fix the item. If it will take too much put it back. I bought a dress yesterday that was missing a button after a quick search I found a spare button sewn to the inside.
3. Haggle. If there is something wrong with the item and you still want to buy it ask the shop keeper to discount it. The dress I bought yesterday was marked at $3.50. After pointing out the missing button they took 20% off. I paid 2.80 for a dress I could easily fix.
4. Put it down. If you don't feel you can fix it or the shop keeper doesn't take enough off the price put it back. Don't take a second look at it. If you buy it and never fix it you've wasted your money.
5. Know your Shop. Only shop at reputable shops. If you go into a shop that has racks and racks of crap all marked the same price, chances are you aren't going to find anything worth buying. You can still search but it may be a waste of your time to return.
6. Look Up. Take a look at the walls. Many shops feature their best items on the walls or above the racks. If the items on the walls are dirty, stained, or torn chances are you won't find anything good on the racks and you should leave.
7. Is it Clean? Look at the floors and shelves. If the floors and shelves are dirty just leave. A good bargain is not worth bringing mites, nits, or fleas into your house. My mother once scored a great bargain on some clothes at a dirty little used clothes shop. The clothes were great but she had to spend over $40 to get the fleas out of the house. Not a great bargain anymore.
8. Remember your last trips. Although you may not find anything you like on your first or second visit you may score on the third. However, if you find that you keep walking away from the same shop with no clothes again and again, it may be safe to assume you never will. Find a new shop and begin a new search.
9. When Reselling go to the shop that will offer you the most for your clothes first! If the shop you like to frequent offers more money great! However, you may get more money from a different shop.
10. Distinguish between store credit and money. You should only think about store credit with stores you frequent. If you don't return a store at least once a month you may want to think about cash. Also check on how the store keeps track of credit and how long it is valid. If the store gives you a sheet to keep track of your own credit keep the sheet in the car. Also, if the store credit is not valid after 3 months go with the cash or pick a different store.
Stay green,
Yasha
1. Scrutinize. Look at the item closely. The people at the front may or may not have seen a stain or missing button. Check to make sure the item is in good shape.
2. Be Selective. If you do find a stain, missing button, broken zipper, tear, etc consider how much it will take to fix the item. If it will take too much put it back. I bought a dress yesterday that was missing a button after a quick search I found a spare button sewn to the inside.
3. Haggle. If there is something wrong with the item and you still want to buy it ask the shop keeper to discount it. The dress I bought yesterday was marked at $3.50. After pointing out the missing button they took 20% off. I paid 2.80 for a dress I could easily fix.
4. Put it down. If you don't feel you can fix it or the shop keeper doesn't take enough off the price put it back. Don't take a second look at it. If you buy it and never fix it you've wasted your money.
5. Know your Shop. Only shop at reputable shops. If you go into a shop that has racks and racks of crap all marked the same price, chances are you aren't going to find anything worth buying. You can still search but it may be a waste of your time to return.
6. Look Up. Take a look at the walls. Many shops feature their best items on the walls or above the racks. If the items on the walls are dirty, stained, or torn chances are you won't find anything good on the racks and you should leave.
7. Is it Clean? Look at the floors and shelves. If the floors and shelves are dirty just leave. A good bargain is not worth bringing mites, nits, or fleas into your house. My mother once scored a great bargain on some clothes at a dirty little used clothes shop. The clothes were great but she had to spend over $40 to get the fleas out of the house. Not a great bargain anymore.
8. Remember your last trips. Although you may not find anything you like on your first or second visit you may score on the third. However, if you find that you keep walking away from the same shop with no clothes again and again, it may be safe to assume you never will. Find a new shop and begin a new search.
9. When Reselling go to the shop that will offer you the most for your clothes first! If the shop you like to frequent offers more money great! However, you may get more money from a different shop.
10. Distinguish between store credit and money. You should only think about store credit with stores you frequent. If you don't return a store at least once a month you may want to think about cash. Also check on how the store keeps track of credit and how long it is valid. If the store gives you a sheet to keep track of your own credit keep the sheet in the car. Also, if the store credit is not valid after 3 months go with the cash or pick a different store.
Stay green,
Yasha
Monday, May 10, 2010
Recycling clothes... and saving money
So the easiest way to save money, at least that I've found, is to sell things you don't use. I guess that isn't really saving money but making money off of things you don't use. But money is money lets not quibble over how it gets into our pockets.
Every time my baby outgrows something I take it to a resale shop. Most of the shops offer store credit for items brought in and I use the credit to buy new clothes. I've seen a lot of outfits that still have tags on them. I've even located a few resale or consignment shops around town that take adult and teen clothes. Saving money and recycling how much better can it get?
For all of the clothes I can't sell at shops I sell in yard sales. This is a slightly trickier since I don't have a yard or driveway. I have found, however, if you ask a friend they will let you borrow theirs. If you don't know anyone that has a driveway sometimes you can locate community yard sales. For a small fee you get a spot to display your stuff. These are similar to a flea market but usually much cheaper.
Shopping at yard sales are a good way to recycle as well. When I was pregnant a coworker went to neighborhood yard sales and bought me a whole maternity wardrobe! Many of the items were brand names and quite stylish. It's not always a score but if you shop the nicer neighborhoods it's very easy to find great clothes usually in decent condition.
One last place I like to shop is Goodwill. Now I know they don't really have many nice clothes but when I go to donate items I can't get rid of at shops and sales I do peruse the racks. Do I buy a lot there? No. But time to time I find a cute shirt in great condition or a pair of pants from my favorite store.
So how is any of this recycling? If it doesn't go straight to a landfill and someone else is reusing it wouldn't that be recycled?
Stay green,
Yasha
Every time my baby outgrows something I take it to a resale shop. Most of the shops offer store credit for items brought in and I use the credit to buy new clothes. I've seen a lot of outfits that still have tags on them. I've even located a few resale or consignment shops around town that take adult and teen clothes. Saving money and recycling how much better can it get?
For all of the clothes I can't sell at shops I sell in yard sales. This is a slightly trickier since I don't have a yard or driveway. I have found, however, if you ask a friend they will let you borrow theirs. If you don't know anyone that has a driveway sometimes you can locate community yard sales. For a small fee you get a spot to display your stuff. These are similar to a flea market but usually much cheaper.
Shopping at yard sales are a good way to recycle as well. When I was pregnant a coworker went to neighborhood yard sales and bought me a whole maternity wardrobe! Many of the items were brand names and quite stylish. It's not always a score but if you shop the nicer neighborhoods it's very easy to find great clothes usually in decent condition.
One last place I like to shop is Goodwill. Now I know they don't really have many nice clothes but when I go to donate items I can't get rid of at shops and sales I do peruse the racks. Do I buy a lot there? No. But time to time I find a cute shirt in great condition or a pair of pants from my favorite store.
So how is any of this recycling? If it doesn't go straight to a landfill and someone else is reusing it wouldn't that be recycled?
Stay green,
Yasha
Friday, May 07, 2010
What recycling really means
So I'm sitting here eating my cheddar bunnies and thinking of what recycling really means.
Recycling is not just the act of taking stuff to the recycling centers or putting it out in your curbside bin. It's more than that. Recycling is taking items to consignment shops, resale shops, goodwill, and yard sales. It's throwing that banana peel on a compost pile instead of in the trash. It's using cloth, hybrid, or green diapers.
You know that old t-shirt with all the holes in it? Well if you can't wear it anymore use it to wash or dry your car, dust your house, or wash windows, counters, etc! It's amazing what you can do with things when you put your mind to it.
The side of my cheddar bunnies box recommends using it for a bookmark, arts and crafts projects, and coloring paper. Go figure, my box of bunnies has a life outside of holding cute little edible rabbits.
I know that flylady would pull her hair out at my collection of boxes towards the end of the week and yes I know it's unsightly. However, as I find more ways to recycle I find myself getting rid of more clutter around my apartment. I guess recycling is a lot different from how my mom taught me it should be.
Stay green,
Yasha
Recycling is not just the act of taking stuff to the recycling centers or putting it out in your curbside bin. It's more than that. Recycling is taking items to consignment shops, resale shops, goodwill, and yard sales. It's throwing that banana peel on a compost pile instead of in the trash. It's using cloth, hybrid, or green diapers.
You know that old t-shirt with all the holes in it? Well if you can't wear it anymore use it to wash or dry your car, dust your house, or wash windows, counters, etc! It's amazing what you can do with things when you put your mind to it.
The side of my cheddar bunnies box recommends using it for a bookmark, arts and crafts projects, and coloring paper. Go figure, my box of bunnies has a life outside of holding cute little edible rabbits.
I know that flylady would pull her hair out at my collection of boxes towards the end of the week and yes I know it's unsightly. However, as I find more ways to recycle I find myself getting rid of more clutter around my apartment. I guess recycling is a lot different from how my mom taught me it should be.
Stay green,
Yasha
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