the best deal on designer jeans ever {you won't believe the price!}

If you follow me over on Instagram, you might already know I scored big thrifting on Saturday! Plato's Closet was having a huge summer clearance sale, and I felt like nearly stole my 10 items for $10!! :)

I'd never been to their big clearance sale before, so I was floored I got to the store and saw there was a line to get in. 

I waited my turn, and I'm so glad I did. ;)

Here's what I made it out with:

Tops from Gap, Old Navy, and Lux {Urban Outfitters}, and designer jeans: Paige, Citizens of Humanity, Joe's, True Religion, and Cabi by Juicy Couture, along with a pair of Mossimo and American Eagle jeans. All for $1 each. And in perfect condition.

I certainly didn't need 7 more pairs of jeans {though they did all fit! crazy!}, but if I can sell even just one of them on eBay or at a consignment sale, I will pay for all of my clothes plus some!! :D Yay for shopping for profit! :)

Though there was a line around the store to checkout, I couldn't resist asking for a moment to pause and take a picture of this:

I couldn't believe I saved $201.00 off of their used clothing prices!! And I know at least four of those pairs of jeans would be more than $125 each new... I imagine that stack of clothing would have retailed for at least $600- $750 originally. And all of it only cost me $10 plus tax. :D

That's some pretty sweet savings if you ask me!! :D

Do you ever shop at Plato's Closet?

I rarely do but I also love Clothes Mentor, their sister store.

What's the best clothing deal you've found recently? I'd love to hear!

Do you have any luck reselling your clothes? What's your favorite way to recover your investment?

I've never done a consignment sale, but I have taken them to a store, and sold them on Craigslist and Facebook. :)

the best deal you could possibly get on shoes

Guess what! You won't believe it, but I beat every thrift store price I've ever seen at Kohl's a few days ago!

I was so thrilled to find these adorable striped flip-flops in the junior section:

The price?

Free.

:DDDD

I signed up for Kohl's rewards program a long time ago, and every few months they send me $10 to spend. The weird thing is that I don't earn the points or anything- they just randomly send me $10 for free! I love that! :) Most of the time, I end up spending a few dollars on top of the free money, but this time, they were $9.99 so I had a penny left over. :D

Free striped flip-flops for signing up for a reward program? Why yes, I'll gladly trade you my personal info for free shoes. hahaha! :P


Do you know of any other stores that give you free money like that? 
I want to sign up! :)

Flip-flops: yes or no?
Big fat yes here. :) I love those things. Though I do have to slip them off to drive every time I get in the car.

p.s. This is not sponsored by Kohl's in any way. I just like free stuff and I hope you get $10 for free too. :D

i can't believe these came from the dollar store

I so love $1 items.

I took the kids to the Dollar Tree the other day on an errand, and I was shocked to find these sunglasses for $1 in the checkout line!

They were definitely a little cheaper in quality than my usual Target ones; they had much lighter plastic and hinges, but the lighter weight didn't bother me once they were on! Plus, I'm terrible at caring for sunglasses so I was thrilled to get them for just $1. {I normally get out of the car and drop them on the ground, or step on them in the floor board... it's a good thing I don't wear real glasses, right? ha!}. 

I usually have to pay $5-$15 per pair every summer so I was super happy to find cute oversized shades that cover my face for way less! They are perfect for the swimming pool. :)

Watch them go and last 10x longer than my expensive pairs, too. Hey, if they last a month I'll be ahead of the game! :P

Are you hard on glasses too? :P Any tips for clumsy people like me to not lose them? :)

What's your favorite dollar store find?

Ray-ban people- are higher quality glasses less prone to scratch? Does better quality make them last longer to you? I break mine at the hinges too, so I'm curious if I'm just throwing away money every summer by buying cheaper ones? I wonder which would win- quality or quantity? {At the dollar store price I guess I could buy 100 pairs for the same as one Ray-ban pair, but the 100 would have no resale value...hmmmmm...}

a huge thrifting score {that I'm still swooning over}

Every spring and fall in East Texas, this magical thrifting goodness called the CCC sale happens:

The sale is four days of shopping in a convention center full to the brim of children's clothing and toys, with a little furniture and maternity clothing thrown in for good measure. :) It's kind of like going to Goodwill with only the better stuff to choose from {most of the time, anyway!}.

When Abbie scored free preview passes to this year's spring sale and texted me to see if I wanted to go, I think I responded with "Oh, yes" followed by multiple exclamation points. {I sometimes wonder if I speak in exclamatory sentences as much as I write in them. :) Had she called me, I know I would have this time!}

You know I brought my shopping cart along for this one. :)

In case you ever wondered, this is what the cart of two die-hard thrifters with 10 children between them looks like after 1.5 hours of thrifting:

Don't worry, we didn't keep all of it. ;) We always follow thrifting tip #5 I shared in my thrifting series: if in doubt, grab it anyway. {note: this is directly in oppostion to the rules of shopping at Target: "if in doubt, keep it out..."} :P

We went through our cart before the night ended and sorted that mountain down to our favorite items.
Here were a few of my winners:

1. Two matching Gymboree dresses, $7, and $10. These were from different people, but by some random chance, I found both of them in the girls' sizes. It was probably more than I would normally pay, but these were too adorable to pass up. :)

2. A fun Old Navy rugby stripe top, I think it was $3, but I can't remember for sure now. It was cheaper than GW, anyway! :)

AND my favorite find of the whole night?

3. This Ballard Designs banker's chair for....

$30!!! 

It wasn't exactly a Goodwill price, but we had been shopping for an office chair like this one and I knew at Pottery Barn they run $400! :D

This one was marked Pottery Barn by the owner on the tag, but when we were loading it in the car, I noticed it said Ballard Designs {which is usually more expensive than PB, so it was a good thing!}. :)

I also found a couple of other items I might get to show you later if I can get around to wearing them, and I have a few bargains to pass on to you guys of higher-end clothing that I found too {so keep an eye out!}.

Have you had any luck with big sales like this one? What did you think?

I've heard ours is very good! :)

Where do you like to find your desk chairs? 

My previous best score was $8 from GW, but it was one of those nasty but comfortable antique chairs that broke after a couple of years. We've had to buy a couple of new ones recently because Craigslist prices have been pretty outrageous these days. 

Do you own your own shopping cart too? {heheh!}

I found mine at Goodwill for $5! :)

31 days of thrifting recap + an interview on thrifting

I had the chance to do a really fun radio interview with the lovely Bekah Shaffer on WBCL 90.3's Mid-Morning Show yesterday!  {WBCL is a Christian radio station that covers Northeast Indiana, West and Northwest Ohio, and Southern Michigan.} Bekah was super sweet- we had fun chatting all about thrifting, and you can listen to it here {but only if you promise not to laugh! heheh :P}.

In the interview, she refers to this series I wrote a while back on how to thrift:

31 straight days of blogging was a huge challenge, but you know I had so much fun with this series! Talking about thrifting is so much fun. :) I tried to give lots of tips on how to thrift well, and I shared many of my very favorite finds. I went back and got all the links, so if you're interested, here are all 31 posts in order:

• day 1: thrifted find #1 & thrift store "ambiance" 
• day 2: thrifted find #2 + digging for treasure
• day 3: Pottery Barn + an undercover mission
• day 4: seeing green 
• day 5: thrifted outfits- GW style 
• day 6: saving some dough 
• day 7: task lamps & breaking the rules
• day 8: spray paint is your friend
• day 9: thrifty reader finds
• day 10: parties and planning ahead
• day 11: thrifting your party 
• day 12: dressy and casual thrifted outfits
• day 13: scooping up the bargains
• day 14: ugly chair transformation & seeing potential
• day 15: thrifting for baby 
• day 16: reader finds- american girls, hutch makeover + more
• day 17: my favorite day of the year 
• day 18: shopping for profit 
• day 19: thrifty outfits birthday edition 
• day 20: finding mysterious treasure .
• day 21: books galore
• day 22: stars and lights 
• day 23: furniture, shoes, & a designer bag
• day 24: toasting retail prices
• day 25: a top 10 find + why I shouldn’t have bought it
• day 26: fun high-end clothing finds
• day 27: pottery barn on a thrift store budget 
• day 28: finding nothing at the thrift store
• day 29: thrifty transformations 
• day 30: thrifty reader finds 
• day 31: thrifting goals 
• 
  

• 
  

super GW score: new fossil tote bag + 3 rules for thrifting

A couple of weeks ago we hit up my favorite Goodwill on the planet. :) It's in the DFW area {and it's so good, I can't tell you where it is unless we're related by blood... :P}. 

I think my shopping habits are definitely changing these days. I've set three standards for buying bargains that set the bar for my purchases a little higher: I have to either absolutely LOVE the item, buy it as investment, or already have a need for it in my house right now.

This usually keeps me from buying something just because it's a good deal or it may fit me someday {like the three pairs of designer jeans that I knew I wouldn't wear or sell quickly}.

So with my newer rules in place, I walked out of my favorite GW with just one item- this Fossil key per tote:

It fell into category #1- I loved it, and I knew it could also be a category #2, because I could resell it for at least what I paid after I finish using it.

It was brand new, with a few little flaws in the shiny patent polka dots on the back, FGW written inside, and a tiny cut in the bottom they do to every bag to prevent returns:

Other than that, it still had the wrapping on the zippers and was perfect. The original retail price for it was $118, and new ones have sold for $62+ on eBay, but I was happy to find mine for all of...

$10.  :D

I walked out of GW with my one happy item, and went on my way. :)

It's fun deals like these that always make thrifting worth it. 

Even when you leave with just one good item. :)

How do you decide what to buy when it comes to bargains?

What do you do with the money that you save when you buy secondhand? 

We have a big goal we are saving for right now. I hope to tell you more about it soon! :) 

___________________________

interested in thrifting? you can find more thrifting tips and finds here:

thrifty outfit: dressy bright peacoat steals

It feels like it's been forever since I've shared a thrifty outfit! I have to admit, this one isn't as much an outfit as a single thrifty item, but I still couldn't wait to tell you about it. :)

We've had some very cold days here in Texas, so I've been more than happy to be able to wear this bright GW/Old Navy peacoat lately:

scarf, American Eagle, old; boots, Frye birthday present {on clearance! :D}

My coats have always been hip-length or above, so I had no idea how much I would love a long coat.  After wearing this sweet little number a few times, I'm officially hooked on longer length coats. I can't believe the difference they make in warmth!  :D

I love the saturated color- I'm not sure I've ever owned such a bright coat, but it is so fun to wear! I found it at a Goodwill in Dallas the last time we went in October.

It fit a little better when I tried it on in October {it's a bit too big now}, but for $9.99, I'm okay with that. :D $5 would have been a steal, but it was Goodwill, not a garage sale, so you have to pay for convenience every now and then. ;)

Fuchsia {or is it magenta? what do you think?} peacoats for less than $10= still a win in my shopping book! :D


Ever owned a bright colored coat? 
I usually go for black or gray, but I'm loving this one!

What does a coat go for at your thrift store?
We found a wool one for Rob I'll tell you about another time, and it was brand new for $7! I once got a brand new leather coat at GW for $5!!!

Best thrifty deal you've found lately? {I need details!! :D}

thrifty thursday finds: metal goods + flea market finds

Confession: I have little to no desire to decorate for Christmas this year.

I'm tired these days {4 months without a full night of sleep helps}, and when you have a small infant + 4 other homeschooling munchkins, the idea of putting out tons of items for 3.5 weeks and then having to turn around and put them up again sounds exhausting. 

We did manage to get a Christmas tree up, though. Maybe next year we'll actually have stockings. :P 

Thankfully, my mom helped me out in the decor department. We went thrifting on Black Friday, and I was in love when I found these vintage style metal trees- 3 for $7:

But I didn't want to spend the extra money so I walked away, and my mom was awesome and snuck them into her cart. I thought she was buying them for her new house but turns out she was buying them for me. :) Isn't that cool? She's the best. I think they are perfect on the dining table!

My other thrifty find that day was this little gold tree for 99 cents: 

I think it's a jewelry tree. I like how it's a little funky too. I added it to my kitchen window to take off rings if I need to. :)

And did I ever tell you about my metal B? I bought it at a huge flea market right before Zane was born. :D Anthro sells big metal letters for close to $100, but I bought mine for $10! It's a little smaller than theirs, but it measures close to 24 inches tall.

I think it works on top of my bookshelf-turned-display hutch along with my thrifted bird cage! :)

Oh that hot, hot day at the flea market. :) I was one day overdue, and we were hoping the walking would inspire Zane to come while my family was still in town. Here was my big belly the morning we went:

He must have been 9+lbs already there! Even that long day of walking didn't make him budge though. It took 9 more days!  :P

I find most antiques and other things to be overpriced at flea markets, but the letters were a steal after a little bargaining: 

And the rest was just fun to look at:

What do you think about flea markets? Do you ever find good deals?

Have you ever been to Round Top? 
I haven't but I would love to go. I'm really not even sure I can afford to shop there though. :)

Have you ever seen vintage metal Christmas trees? 
I feel like they should be vintage but they're probably Walmart circa 2001...

8 fun and thrifty Walmart finds {fall 2013 edition}

With fall arriving, you know it's that time again... :) 

I had a ton of fun doing this series earlier this spring and summer, so I had to bring it back for fall! :P {Again, I'm not affiliated with Walmart in any way, I just have fun finding unexpectedly cute and affordable items there and want to share them with you!}. 

Here are eight of my favorite Wally World finds in no particular order:

1. Funky Floral Doormat, $11.97

If I didn't have one already, I would have hopped on this deal! It's very colorful and so much fun!

2. Ceramic statue night lights, $12.97 {in stores only}. 

I thought these were so cute! It would make a sweet and quirky housewarming gift too! Or a perfect little night light for a nursery or a new mom's bedroom.

3. Boyfriend cardigans, $12.54

I've regretted buying cheap sweaters in the past, but these seem well made and get really good reviews so I wouldn't mind trying one out for $12.54. They were really cute! I'm a big fan of the longer boyfriend style.

4. the Ruffle Scarf, $6.97. 

{I couldn't find these online}. The mustard one is thick and gorgeous in real life!

5. Button knit hats, $5.97. 

We call these toboggans here in Texas. Probably because we almost never need them and have never actually used or seen a real toboggan, ever. Too bad it's so warm here, because these were PRECIOUS. :D

6. Denim Jackets, $15.44

While I'm not a huge denim jacket fan myself, I know they're extremely popular at all of my favorite clothing places: J. Crew, Anthro, and Gap. This classic one gets great reviews. And you can't beat the $15 price {instead of $75+}, unless you find one used at the thrift store or a garage sale.

And I thought they did a pretty good job styling it to be J. Crew-esque here:

7. 6x8 Canvas, $3.97 {in stores only}. 

I tried to find these online, but didn't see them. This little one went home with me because LOVE does save the day!! He already did! :D

8. Danskin Microfleece Zipper Jackets, $8.96. 

I think I saw these in person the other day. This lightweight style is pretty much a winter staple here. These were very well reviewed too, and very affordable for sweating in! :D

And those are my eight favorites for fall!

What were your favorite finds at Wally World recently?

And what do you call that knit warm hat you wear in the winter? :D Beanie? Toboggan? I'm curious to hear what you say and where you're from!

Denim jacket fan or not so much? 
I have broader shoulders so they tend to look more 1990's on me. Hey, if shoulder pads ever come back, I won't have to buy any! :P

frugal mishaps {of the haircutting kind}

Because no frugal journey is without its mishaps, I just have to share one of the latest adventures I went on this week… ;)

So I’ve been cutting our boys’ hair for several years to save money- I figure it saves us at least $120 or more a year to do it at home. Several years ago we invested in a set of Wahl clippers, and I’ve been cutting their hair ever since, with the exception of a few special occasions. :)

I’ve never been good at it, but in the grand scheme of things- how much does it matter if they don’t have perfect hair? Not much, we figure. I’m no professional, so I nearly always waver when it’s haircutting time, but Rob insists that I do a great job and it saves us $30 a pop. So I do it anyway. :) Plus, we’ve paid $30 and been less than happy with the outcome plenty of times.

We hadn’t done any haircuts at our house since May, and it was TIME.

Noah was the first candidate to go under the clippers. Here’s the before:

All was going well until, for maybe the second time in all of our haircutting history, the GUARD fell off in the middle of a cut!

My eyes just got really wide, and Noah asked what happened and immediately started laughing…. {he was still laughing in the pic above}. He wanted to see it, so I took a picture of the tiny {ahem} mistake I’d made:

Eeeeewww no. Rob thought I was going to have to shave it off completely, but I did my best to salvage the style, and here’s what came out of it:

Not too bad, I think. :P I can still see the spot, but luckily his blonde hair  is much more forgiving than darker hair. I actually really like how it turned out! He was such a good sport about it too. He thought it was hilarious his mama accidentally scalped him. That’s my boy. :)

After Noah’s extra-generous hair cut, I was a wimp and barely touched Elijah’s hair. He just had a little trim.

Turns out haircutting on little sleep can be a dangerous thing. ;)

Do you cut hair at home?
While I do, and love to save the money, it makes me appreciate the skill of hair stylists all the more!

Have you ever messed up a haircut like that? What happened? {please make me feel better, hahah!}

Do frugal mishaps happen to you too?