When Glitzy Isn't Good

DISCLAIMER: I don't hate big, poofy, princess prom gowns. There, we have THAT out of the way.

Have you ever noticed how having lots of money doesn't guarantee you'll look classy and elegant? Need an example? Think Kim Kardashian during her pregnancy, walking the red carpet. Go ahead, I'll wait while you google a few pictures to refresh your memory.

There is a long held belief that, if you have $$$, you need to be dripping with gold and tons of accessories. Not so. Sometimes, refreshingly, a simple yet body flattering dress looks richer than if you decked yourself out in yards of fabric and sequins.

Case in point: earlier this week, Claire and I stopped in to Goodwill. We actually DID find her prom gown for next spring. It is simple and extremely flattering. No extra fabric that might add pounds to the eye. Sleek and elegant, and that's what Claire prefers.

We ALSO found a princess gown like the one pictured above. Easily a $400 gown new, it was heavily appliqued wiht gorgeous stones and embroidery on the bodice. Even the spaghetti straps were garnished with glitz. Tons of tulle underneath.

Of oourse, when our eyes found THAT gown, we KNEW it would be a show stopper. It probably would be.........on someone else!

Sadly, all that extra 'oomph' made for one very lumpy gown. It added pounds in all the wrong places on my girl. I had to admit, I had been blinded by the bling, and that's what made me encourage her to try it on. I'm sure, on the right young lady, it will look great.

As for Claire, her simple, classic gown will be the perfect compliment to her body come prom night. She will feel fabulous, and that's the bottom line.

As an added bonus, because it's so simple, she can glam it up with some killer jewelry :)

So remember: more isn't always MORE. Sometimes it's much, much LESS. Dress for your body type, not someone else's idea of what's fashionable.

Thrift Store Discount Cards & Curbside Treasures

I go for days, looking for inspiration for my blog. Sometimes I am dry as a bone in the inspiration department. Other days, like today, yield a double subject!

I don't know if Goodwill has this policy at all their stores in the United States, but here in Ohio, they issue their fabulous 'blue card.' If you've shopped at Goodwill and haven't been offered one, ask! They stamp each square with every $10 you spend, and when you fill up the card, it entitles you to $10 in free Goodwill merchandise! It's an awesome deal! I like to save my cards for times when we want to go thrift shopping, but don't have much money. Yesterday, Claire and I used my latest filled card on a prom dress! Yep, it's only the end of July and she already has her homecoming and prom dresses! Thank you, Goodwill!

On our way to run some errands yesterday, Claire and I spotted this treadmill. It was placed on the curb in front of a neighbor's house, and it had a 'free' sign on it. Immediately, I called Michael and told him to check it out. He did, and informed me it worked but needed new tread. Well, I left it up to him as to whether he wanted to grab it or not. He's my go to guy who can fix anything, but if he deemed it a lost cause, it wouldn't be worth it. Today, he picked it up on the way to work. According to our research, this model treadmill (electric and with an incline) runs on average $179. He's already found new tread on Amazon for $47. So, for that price and a little elbow grease, we'll have a nifty treadmill for that empty spot in the family room, perfectly placed in front of the television. No one in the house will have an excuse NOT to exercise!

Have you ever nabbed a curbside 'gift?' There's no shame in finding a lovely freebie by the side of the road. I've blogged about the microwave I grabbed for the shop, and I've found several nice tables, too. We have a great playhouse in our backyard that our neighbor threw out, and our granddaughter Makenna, LOVES it.

The next time you see something interesting at the curb, backtrack and take a look. It's the ultimate in recycling! What do you have to lose by picking up a freebie? Absolutely nothing. You could score big!

Brenda Couture: $70? Or &3.20?

This is my beautiful friend, Brenda. She wore this stunning dress to church yesterday. When I told her how gorgeous she looked, she was thrilled to tell me she got it on the clearance rack at Penney's, for $4 plus 20% off! FIREWORKS!!! This absolutely perfect for every occasion dress was snapped up for $3.20!!! HOW MUCH DOES BRENDA ROCK??

She works very close to Polaris Mall, so stopping in to check out the bargains costs her nothing more in gas. She is utilizing all the resources close to her, and she was greatly rewarded with this dress. Fits her perfectly, and it would be THE dress to wear anywhere........a wedding, lunch out, or church (lol!). An added bonus: It cost her LESS than if she'd thrifted it. All the short dresses we've gotten at Goodwill have cost $5.99!!

I went online to find similar dresses so I could compare Brenda's pricewise. According to my research, Brenda's dress probably retailed first for $60-$70. You may insert a big WHOOP WHOOP at this point!

There are truly rock bottom bargains to be had everywhere! You just need to be tenacious, and don't give up! Congratulations, Brenda! You are my inspiration :)

My 2nd Marriage Made Me A More Frugal Person

Today is my 8th wedding anniversary. Michael and I may not have been married very long, but we have known each other 34 years, having met as neighbors and classmates in 1979. To me, he's still the same tall, cute president of FFA in the cowboy hat. What a hottie <3

I didn't make the decision to marry Michael lightly. I was a underweight, scared of my own shadow, single mama of two equally scared kids. We had way too much baggage from my first marriage. I didn't ever EVER want to get married again. The national percentages don't help........50% of first marriages fail, 67% of second and 74% of third. Divorce was absolutely the worst experience of my entire life, and with those scary statistics, why would I want to take a chance again?

Because I couldn't live without this man. Michael can be a hearts and flowers kind of guy, but his specialty is practical things.......bringing sacks of groceries and cooking meals for us when I had nothing. Sacrificing to give me money for a moving van when I was court ordered to be out of my house and I had no way to move. Taking Brendan and Claire out to pizza and the park so I could have a 'girl's night' with my mom. Fixing my van, storing my stuff......and making me fall hopelessly in love. I honestly couldn't help myself.

When you're young, and it's your first marriage, you often have a lot of preconceived notions of what wedded bliss truly is. Boy, are you wrong. Day to day life leaves little time for the 'white lace and promises' of romantic fiction and the movies. Cars break down, finances gnaw at you, job pressure and the fun of in law issues can really wreak havoc on a young relationship. When you remarry, you're a little wiser (well, you should be, but remember those statistics!). When Michael and I tied the knot, we blended not only our possessions but 4 kids and interesting financial histories. Both of us unfortunately brought our prior romantic histories, too. We learned quickly we couldn't judge each other by the disappointments of the past. We needed to learn from each other's strengths, provide refuge from the weaknesses, and make a more successful life together.

I must be honest and tell you this: if you don't have God in your life, I don't give you much chance of having a successful marriage. As much and Michael and I have in common, we are still 2 very different people, and if we didn't have the advantage of being able to pray together and put the Lord first in our marriage, we wouldn't have the relationship we have today. Heartaches and happy times should be prayed about together. The stress of trying to blend our families could easily break us apart if we didn't have the Lord as the glue to keep us close. When you put Him first, you look at your problems and differences as lessons to learn from, not instances to contribute to another heartbreaking divorce.

In addition, Michael has taught me TONS about being a frugal person with common sense. Since we don't make much money, we learn to live with what we have and fix and reuse as much as possible. My husband is a MASTER at this. He has made being a packrat an art form. 9 times out of 10, what we need we have on hand. There are very rare times when Michael can't fix something. We have continually been amazed at his skill and knowledge. What he doesn't know, he researches on the internet. He also teaches us how to maintain what we have.......whether it be our cars or our kitchen utensils. He works fast and well. No lolly-gagging, no goofing off........if it needs to be done, do it quickly and go on to the next thing. Together we've built a backyard fence, laid ceramic tile over much of our first floor and the kids' bathroom, painted, put together furniture, built stone walls in the garden, you name it. We clean well together, and when he makes his fabulous culinary creations, I clean up the kitchen.

It ain't perfect. We have our disagreements, and sometimes they're fiery. Where I used to be a doormat, now I don't put up with ANYTHING, so we butt heads. The fights are fewer and far between the longer we're married, thankfully. We've learned each other's rhythms and ways of doing things. Michael is a man of few words and doesn't like social situations, while I have an easier time talking to people. Michael observes and sees things I don't. He's taught me it's better to use 3 well placed words than 20 jumbled ones. We play well off of each other. This is an especially good thing since we also work together.

So, as we celebrate 8 years of being married, we can look back and see just how far we've come, and be grateful for the good as well as the bad. Both have made us grow......individually, together and closer to the Lord.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I just heard Michael clear his throat. That's code for 'come help me wait on this customer!'

Debt Free

I don't know if Weight Watchers coined the phrase 'Nothing tastes as good as thin feels,' but they use it. I know from experience they're right. Know what else is right? Nothing feels as good as being debt free.

For the last 3 years, finances have been stretched to the limit at our house. A decrease in income, combined with medical debt and other expenses, have conspired to make things pretty grim financially. We've paid our bills, but there has been little for extras. Dinners out have been rare. We haven't had a vacation since summer 2009. We've had Christmas and birthdays, but it has required scrimping and working overtime. I don't want to talk about grocery shopping. It's stressful enough without having to constantly watch your pennies.

I wouldn't trade the financial hardships of the last 3 years for anything. They have taught this family lessons that we wouldn't have learned any other way. You don't grow as a person through the pampered good times. That's just human nature.

Michael started a garden and learned to can. I honed my skills at thrifting and started this blog. I learned to refashion clothing and remake jewelry. I discovered what a thrifty gentleman my husband is, and learned from his example. We had family nights at home that were so much fun, but didn't cost much money. You truly discover and reorder the important things in life when you have to draw on resources you already have, instead of throwing money or credit cards at the problem.

I also discovered that most people have NO CLUE what it's like to live on a budget. It boggled the mind when I heard so many people say 'We have no money, we have to watch every penny!' and then say 'We're going to the Bahamas! We just bought another new car! We're building a bigger house!' None of these things are wrong, but it was frustrating to see how many people think they have no money, yet can afford so many luxuries we could only dream of. It's not poverty, it's PRIORITIES. I've preached that on my blog several times.

This was a good discovery, though. Living on limited means cleared our minds and allowed us to see things we wouldn't have otherwise if we had been able to fulfill every material desire. Poverty can be extremely clarifying.

Thankfully, we had made good choices in the early years of our marriage that helped us during this financially difficult time. I had received stock from my prior marriage, and we used that to pay off our house and our cars. In addition, we had bought a boat! I don't recommend owning a boat if you have other debt! It's an expensive pastime! We used it and had fun with it, but in the last few years we had been so busy with our kids' other pastimes, we just couldn't justify owning the boat, especially since we were paying through the nose to store it. So, we decided to sell it.

This past week, God finally found us the perfect boat buyer, and we sold it for only $2,500 less than what we bought it for 7 years ago. Once the check cleared, we paid off every single stitch of debt. I can't even begin to describe to you the feeling we have of relief. It's incredible.

So, does this mean we'll start living it up? Eating out nightly, taking expensive tropical vacations, and shopping constantly? No. The lessons of the past 3 years were too precious to forget. We will be able to provide Claire with a wonderful senior year, buy things when we need them, and occasionally enjoy dinners out and date nights.

I'll still be thrifting everything I can, too.

Jeans: Broadening Your Denim Horizons

Growing up in the '70's my mother bought my jeans from Sears. They were called Toughskins, and they WERE tough. The premise was that kids wear holes through the knees of their jeans in record time, so Toughskins not only had reinforced knees, they also carried a money back guarantee should your little rug rat manage to bust THOSE, too. They came in all kinds of colors, and they were a godsend for my brother, who was a typical little boy that loved to play outside. Me, not so much. I have a synthetic/nylon allergy, so I got a rash on my legs. Oh well.

When I was a teenager, anyone who was anyone had LEVIS. Good ol' standard men's LEVIS. They didn't have the Vegas-style buffet of denim they do now, so we were limited to what the men wore. That was ok, girls looked good in them too, and the goal of my young life was to have one of these fabled pairs of name brand denim. Well, I never did until I got a job, because my father refused to pay for them. So, guess what I had? Penney's brand wannabes. I wasn't fooling anyone, and I'm sure that huge Levis-shaped hole in my psyche is still gurgling down deep..........

Come the late 70's though, designer denim made it's debut. Disco and Brooke Shields proclaiming 'No comes between me and my Calvins' were the battle cry! I actually managed to have a pair of Sassoon jeans that came from a discount house sometime early in my high school career. Honestly, I don't know what the fuss was about. My no names fit just about the same.

At any rate, a girl from my modest background had no hopes to wearing fancy jeans unless she bought them herself or my folks scrimped (they did, but it was to feed us, not outfit us for the red carpet). Garage sales and what passed for thrift stores back in the day had very skimpy jeans inventory, and most of them had lived their life. Folks wore their clothing until it fell off their body back then. We might do well to return to those days.

Today, there are MILLIONS of brands of denim, and LEVI alone has dozens of cuts and washes. No more stiff, dark denim if you prefer yours almost white and holey. Of course, you're gonna PAY for those choices.

So, what's a girl on a budget to do?

Hit your thrift store! I truly broadened my jeans' horizons when I started shopping for denim second hand. At Goodwill, any and all adult jeans are $5.99, regardless of brand. This has been a fabulous way for me to test the waters, fit wise, without breaking the bank. How else would I have my beautiful pair of White House/Black Market jeans today? They retail for at least $50, and mine were much less. Plus, they had barely been worn. SCORE!

I went through a period of time in the '90's where I couldn't buy enough second hand pairs of Levi's. I was definitely trying to fill that hole!!

Your First Place: The Dollar Store

As long as there's a computer, it's home sweet home..........

We're moving our 21 year old son, Brendan, to Canton this coming Sunday. He was originally moving to South Carolina, so 1 hour and 45 minutes away sounds a lot better to this mama! I'm still going to miss him, but I know I'll see him a lot more than if he were 9 hours away!

This will be Brendan's first place: a 120 year old upper level duplex with no a/c. Ah, good times! He'll be sharing it with a friend, but it's his first place too. So, not a whole lot of furniture or other necessary 'home accessories.' Both boys have beds and bedroom furniture. We are giving him my 'single mama' table and chairs, and whatever else we can spare. Things will tight for a while, so what's a good place for a young bachelor to get his cleaning supplies, rudimentary kitchen stuff.......even toilet paper and ibuprofen?

Friends, let me present to you The Dollar Store! A godsend for those small of budget, but great of need! Just what can our boy Brendan find at the dollar store?

all paper goods: paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, etc
basic meds to fill his medicine chest: ibuprofen, heartburn meds, ointments, vitamins, bandaids, etc
soaps, lotions, powders, hair products, toothpaste and toothbrushes,etc
packaged snacks, meal helpers, soda, candy, bottled water, etc
kitchen utensils and linens
trash bags, sandwich baggies
cleaning supplies, laundry supplies
plastic laundry hampers, trash cans, etc
hangers
office supplies
greeting cards (often 2/$1)
party supplies (he IS 21, after all)
plates, glasses, coffee mugs
gifts bags and papers in all sizes, shapes and colors
shower curtains, toilet brushes, brooms, etc
etc, etc, etc..........!!!

Sometimes the stuff isn't the highest quality. Sometimes it is because the store got a good deal on a close out. At any rate, it's the perfect place to get those goodies you don't know you need until you need them.

As for mama's homebaked chocolate chip cookies? Well, some things just have to shipped from home <3

Altering Your Thrift Store Finds

When we got the fabulous deal on Claire's new homecoming dress last week, we also snapped up a cute black eyelet number, also for $5.99. It's a wonderful faux vintage frock that's perfect for an upcoming wedding, and Claire can wear it with the beautiful satin White House/Black Market pumps. Throw on a few strands of pearls, and you've got a look at under $10 for the perfect wedding guest ensemble.

Except.

The cap sleeves are tight, but the rest of the dress is perfect. I thought the sleeves might be a deal breaker for Claire, but she asked,'could we bring it to Lucinda's?' Good idea.

Lucinda is our in-town go-to girl for professional, yet affordable, alterations. She has a keen eye, and years of experience. She is responsible for the fabulous formal attire Claire has worn that has needed just a 'tweak' or two. Ok, sometimes more than a tweak, as she pretty much had to redo an entire bodice on a dress that someone had completely botched. That only cost us $50, and the dress itself was $8. Money well spent.

When you buy a gown (or anything) second hand, the pennies you spend not only guarantee a happy checkbook, but also ensure you can spend more to get it altered, if need be. With that knowledge, the thrift world gets much larger, and you can see far more fashion opportunities than before. You are not limited by your size or what's available in it.

Actually, fashion consultants and stylists recommend buying clothing in a larger size, and then having it altered for that 'custom made' look. If it works for celebrities and their outrageous designer goodies, why wouldn't it make perfect sense for us normal folks with our Goodwill gems?

Looking Ahead When You Thrift

That fabulous Ann Taylor dress we picked up for Claire last night? It's for homecoming, which isn't until September or October. So what if it's July? We grabbed it!

One of the ways you can successfully thrift is by looking ahead. See some 'new in the package' toys your kids want? So what if it's March? Buy it and hide it (where you won't forget!). You never know when a truly great deal will knock you over. We had been looking for quite a while with no success. Nothing new in the formal dress section......until yesterday. Then, it was a plethora of frothy goodness!!

We've done this with Easter dresses, too. If it's in Claire's size, why not get it? Buying a dress that's perfect for Easter for $5.99, even though it's May, beats waiting until the last minute and shelling out big bucks the week before the holiday. You know what I mean!

Keeping a list in your dayplanner or phone of all the goodies you're hoping to thrift is a lifesaver when you've only got 5 minutes to spare, and want to run in and check out a thrift store. It prevents aimless wandering!

So, homecoming's taken care of. Now it's on to prom..........and the perfect white dress for graduation.

Gulp.

FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DO THE CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those of you who are new to my blog don't know of my hatred for J. Crew. Not their merchandise; you can find Crew goodies second hand all the time. They wear incredibly well, so it makes sense that they'd look just as great at a thrift store.

HOWEVER. Their retail pricing is HORRIBLE. Way too expensive. Why would you pay those prices when you can find them second hand? $100 bracelets that aren't real gold or silver, just plated. Tote bags that run $150 on up. And this lovely chambray shirt (see above).

If you pony up the funds for this top, you'll be out $78. For a DENIM SHIRT. Folks, if you go to ANY thrift store, you will see a sizable rack full of DENIM SHIRTS. At Goodwill, they run $3.29. Denim shirts are HUGE right now. You can dress them up or down. I'm sure that's why Da Crew jumped on Da Bandwagon with this fabulous, overpriced number. IT. MAKES. ME. SICK.

Remember Thriftnerd's credo: NO ONE should miss out on the fashion of their dreams due to their financial status. If you had no idea fashion this fabulous could be had second hand, you would view a J. Crew catalog through tears. NOT FAIR!! NOT TRUE!! I can't bear the thought of ANY of my Thriftnerd-herd going without!!

Don't do The Crew. Please.

When TV Shows Kill Your Budget

Every summer, Claire uses her spare time to develop a new obsession. Several years ago, it was The Beatles. The movies 'Help!' and 'A Hard Day's Night' were in heavy rotation. Last summer, it was Dr. Who. That started the Great Netflix Battle of 2012 between Claire and Brendan.

This summer's obsession is 'Friends.' I also am enjoying watching the antics of Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey all over again. I'd forgotten just how hilarious that show was!

I'd also forgotten how enthralling it was to check out the wardrobes of Monica, Phoebe and especially Rachel. Granted, we're talking circa 1994-2004 here, but how cute did those girls look? No one rocked the latest fads and fashions quite like those 3.

It brought me back to just how much those girls influenced MY shopping habits. Oh! I had those shoes! Wow, I wore tops just like those! Didn't everyone have one of those sweaters?

I realize I'm a pretty late bloomer, but I honestly don't remember being influenced fashion wise by any other TV show before 'Friends.' Even though I was born in the early '60's, even watching 'The Brady Bunch' didn't make me want to run right out and buy the latest double knit polyester monstrosity Marcia and her sisters were rocking on Friday nights.

When 'Friends' came out, I was a young mom of a 2 year old boy, and got pregnant with Claire that fall. Nevertheless, watching that show greatly influenced my clothes buying habits. Seeing each episode now makes me nostalgic for a simpler time, and a smaller-sized wardrobe.

I can honestly say I never got into trouble financially from watching 'Friends,' but I'll bet a lot of people did. You know what sheep we are. Buying those cute overalls will make me look like Jennifer Aniston!! Saying that with a straight face is almost impossible in 2013.

When the early Aughts came along, I started watching 'CSI.' Marg Helgenberger as Cat was cool and sophisticated, with a wardrobe to match. I loved her style, and I have to admit, more than one jewelry purchase on my part was made due to whatever Cat wore that week to mop up blood and chase bad guys in Vegas. I liked her minimalist vibe. Thankfully and yet again, I didn't run up serious debt channeling my favorite crime scene investigator, but I could have.

Let's be honest now. How many of us make our clothing purchases based on what our favorite TV and movie actors wear? You don't have to like the over the top fashion of the Kardashians to know what I'm talking about. Mariska Hargitay on 'Law and Order: SVU' is stylish and so pulled together. Even the 'poverty chic' of 'Two Broke Girls' has a certain appeal. I DO like Max's jewelry!

But, we're all adults, right? We don't let media influence our checkbooks. Or do we? Better yet, how about our kids? Taken a good look at Nickolodeon or the Disney Channel lately? Ever hear of 'Victorious?' Yeah, watching THAT show is like taking in a live action Seventeen magazine spread. Preteen girls are gobbling it up, and nagging their parents to drive them to the mall to emulate those expensive ensembles. It's hard enough to be a responsible parent, but gorgeous young models with perfect bodies and blinding white teeth decked out in $295 jeans can be very persuasive for the pubescent set.

Let's be careful out there.

Recover A Couch and Save The Planet!!

Like a queen on her second hand throne.........

Who doesn't love furniture shopping? Ok, scratch that. Who doesn't love the end result of having a lovely piece of furniture in your home? Yeah, it's nice to skip that first step. You know, the one where the salesperson drives you nuts.

Here's another thought. Do you have an antique piece of furniture, or even just a 20 year old chair, that has 'good bones' but desperately needs some new padding and/or fabric? Instead of trashing it or giving it away, why not have it reupholstered? Often you can give an old chair or couch new life for a fraction of the cost of a new one. It's a fabulous example of recycling, too. Less in the landfill, more in your home.

Here's a THIRD thought: why not go shopping at your local thrift store for furniture? Don't curl your lip at me, young lady/man. Have you ever perused the goods at Goodwill? If you haven't, give it shot before you turn up your nose. Odds are you will be flabbergasted at what you find.

Chairs, like the one pictured above, can be had second hand for $50 or often less. Don't like the fabric? Get it reconditioned! You'll have a custom piece for pennies. Is the paint yucky? Strip it and stain it a shade more your speed. Not just couches and chairs, but desks, tables of all sizes, china cabinets, dressers......the list is endless.

Yes, there is a good amount of crap furniture there, too. SOMEONE has to buy up all the plywood end tables, ya know. Sometimes I think the sets from 'Miami Vice' came to rest at a thrift store near you. The black veneer bedroom sets from the 80's? Yours for the taking, gang!

Dig through all that yang and look for the well made, quality wood furniture. It isn't too hard to find. Look past the '70's mustard yellow, bright orange and avocado green velvet couches, and pay attention to the wood end details. Sit on the thing and see how sturdy it feels. Don't be put off by the color and fabric! Remember, for much less than new, you can grab that oldie but goodie and reupholster it to your taste.

Plus, you can pay for it all in CASH. You won't be a slave to the furniture stores' handy dandy credit payment plan.

Claire is already dreaming of the day she furnishes her first apartment. She will be way ahead of the game, because she's going to do it all second hand. Plus, she'll save even MORE money, because she's a huge fan of those '70's colors and patterns.

Rock on, little one.

Claire Couture: $406.00? Or $28.27?

I'm particularly excited about today's blog post for several reasons. One, it stars my beautiful daughter, Claire. Two, it showcases just how awesome thrifting a wardrobe can be!

This was what Claire wore to church this morning. It's a fabulous outfit that she could wear just about anywhere, and look perfectly pulled together.

The cute summer dress is from Madonna's Material Girl clothing line. It retails at Macy's for $46. However, Claire scored it at Goodwill for $5.99. While it's perfect for summer and hot days, a jeans jacket, tights and boots could bring the dress into the fall and winter effortlessly.

The Dooney and Bourke purse!! Yes! Marvelous on trend crossbody from their All Weather Leather line. Retailing at a SHOCKING $250-$300, Claire nabbed it at Goodwill for $18.99. Definitely a score that she can keep forever. D&B are heirloom quality bags made from high quality leather and brass materials.

Claire's pretty black patent sandals are from Bandolino. Retailing new at $50-60, we again did quite well at $3.29 resale. Comfortable yet appropriate for pizza or a party.

The bottom line tally: brand new, this outfit would retail for $406!!! HEAVENS TO BETSY! We aren't talking a prom ensemble here! Yet, that's the retail total for all 3 pieces. While you catch your breath from THAT revelation, here's the THRIFTING total: a mere $28.27.

Would you believe that, once upon a time, Claire was bullied for buying her brand name clothing from a thrift store? That the store was more important than the look? Sadly, that was the case during her middle school years.

Who would even guess Claire paid less than $30 for a flattering dress and accessories, unless they asked? Why would anyone diss the savings? It boggles the mind.

The goal of Thriftnerd is this: NO ONE should miss out on looking nice and enjoying a fabulous wardrobe because they lack the funds to shop at high end stores. A little legwork at a thrift store pays off.

My baby girl is living proof <3

A Thrifting Rut?

I welcome the input of my loved ones! Such was the case yesterday, when I thrifted with the lovely Claire, Kelli and Nauka at Goodwill. Instantly drawn to the designer purses when I entered the store, Kelli made the observation that I might have a slight 'purse' thing going on. Judging by the pictures I've put on my blog and page, she's right! I do love a good purse and I have a vast selection in my closet!

However, I am so much more than the inventory of my purse collection! I thrift just about anything, and my house showcases my finds. Do you know this? Not unless you visit!

So, I declare July and August 'No Purse Months' here on the blog and page. Instead, I will feature all the OTHER fabulous buys Claire and I have found second hand. Books, music, elecronics and all areas of home decor! Plus a little DIY on the side :)

Poverty? Or Priorities?

I saw the best Facbook status the other day. A father was excited to go on vacation with his family, and made the comment that he may not be saving enough for retirement or a rainy day, but he and his family were making memories together. I LOVE THAT!! I'm not going to judge someone who's HONEST. He DIDN'T say, 'I don't have enough money to save for retirement.' It was his priority to take his earnings and spend it on a family vacation. Something tells me that man is providing perfectly well for his loved ones.

This post started me on a 'soapbox' blog post, so bear with me. I gotta write these every now and then!

Have you ever known someone who is always saying, 'we can't afford that' or, 'we don't have enough money?' We all do; in fact, that's probably us from time to time. Ok, next question: do those same people ALSO give equal time to statements like, 'we're going on a cruise!' or, 'I just bought a sports car!'

Yeah. That's a head scratcher.

Are these people that vapid that they can't see the ridiculous nature of their statements? They aren't poor; they spend according to their priorities.

Yesterday, I wrote about going to the mall, and being honest in our reasons for doing so. Today, I write about being honest and saying what we mean: we spend on what we consider important.

For an unfortunate majority of people, important expenditures are designer purses and sunglasses, vacations, frequent restaurant meals, etc. They do NOT consider paying bills important. Hence, the 'we have no money, but we're sporting the cutest 7 For All Mankind jeans' statements.

In the spirit of being honest, I must confess that once upon a time, I was pretty immature in my consumer habits. It was more important to buy clothes and jewelry than it was to make car payments. Fortunately, life conspired to grow me up a bit, and I realized it's fiscally prudent to make sure you have everything paid bill wise before you head out to party. Thankfully, that realization hit before I had children. They need to be your financial priority.

Are you all going 'DUH' right now?

I may be preaching to the choir. You are reading a blog post on a Facebook page about thrifting, after all. We may be kindred spirits. Or, this could be a huge revelation of Biblical proportions. Pay rent before I go see a movie? REALLY?

I guess what I seek is the kind of transparency we long for in our government: 'We want to balance the budget, but sometimes it's just so daggone fun to overspend on toilet seats for the Pentagon.'

Is it unrealistic to hope that someday soon, I will log onto Facebook and see statuses such as, 'I should have bought health insurance, but I hit Tiffany's instead?' Probably.

A girl can dream.

'I Just Wanna Go To The Mall!'

The mall.....not just for Mean Girls :P



This will be a news flash: I don't hate the mall. It's not my go to place to shop, but sometimes......nothing beats a mall trip.

Where can a girl get her ears pierced for the first time? The mall. Want an Auntie Ann's Pretzel? Mall trip! Looking for a new fragrance? Hit the counter at.....the mall. Need Spanx for your high school reunion? MALL.

When you're talking about shopping at the mall versus a thrift store, be specific and honest about what you need. After so many years of successfully thrifting just about anything you can get at the mall, there are very few instances that warrant a legitimate mall trip. Here are some reasons I'VE ventured out of my thrift store comfort zone........

My wedding set came from Zales. My husband bought the lifetime warranty that required me to have the set checked out every 6 months. This was fine until the store closed. Now, unless I want a road trip to Heath, I'm stuck.

Christmas was coming, and Claire wanted to ask for a certain perfume. We hit the fancy department store fragrance counter for a lovely session of 'spray and sniff.' An added bonus: sticking our noses in the coffee beans between sprays.

Claire loves TOMS. Unless I want to pay the extra $$$ in shipping fees, Journeys at the mall has a fabulous selection. Of course, I need to plan ahead. Deciding only a week before that I'd like to get Claire the red canvas TOMS as a gift for being in the school musical and then paying the ensuing rush shipping is NOT good for the budget.

When Brendan was starting the career center as a high school junior, he was leaving behind school uniforms. I knew he'd really love to have a wardrobe of concert tees, so every week we hit Hot Topic for a shirt. Of course, had I planned ahead (AGAIN) I might have assembled a satisfactory selection if I'd hit the thrift store months before. Nevertheless, a $20 shirt a week didn't break us, and we DID get to have a nice lunch at the food court. Plus, I don't believe I've EVER seen a Killswitch Engage shirt at Goodwill.

When Michael and I need a new appliance, we do a lot of online research. We also visit the Sears' 'scratch and dent' area. We got our lovely stove this way. Sometimes Sears' pricing and value is the best. Sometimes not, as we got our new washer at H.H. Gregg.

Got an Apple product? There's a reason to go, if you need the expert help from their Genius Bar for your Ipod or Mac.

I'd say underwear, but we all know you can get lovely panties and bras at Kohl's or Target.

Now, let's dissect these visits. You can get a nice wedding ring at a pawn shop. I've seen 'new in package' high end perfume at the thrift store. Same for concert tees and TOMS. I've bought brand new Victoria's Secret bras at Goodwill. Brand. New. I've also seen brand new stoves and even a whirlpool bathtub.

IF someone asks for something specific that can only be had from the mall, there's a legitimate reason to go. IF not, for a wedding or baby gift, why not a gift card? EVERYONE loves a gift card, and you can cheap out on your gas purchases, too.

Planning ahead is one of the earmarks of successful thrift store shopping. IF you buy something second hand you end up not needing, what are you out? $5? You can donate it and claim in on your taxes.

Then again, I'm always up for sharing a plate of orange chicken with Claire, at the Chinese place in the food court.

'I Can Never Find Anything At A Thrift Store!!!'

Successful thrift shopping is like eating right and exercising. You have to do it REGULARLY. Working out one day and then bemoaning the fact that it made no difference in how your string bikini fits is pretty silly. Eating a cup of lowfat yogurt on Monday, and then eating a McDonald's lunch every day afterward is the same kind of principle. To see the results you desire, you must invest a little time and effort.

If you want to shop at thrift stores and find good deals, start small. Find a store near your home or work, and then visit regularly. Maybe a couple days a week. You may not find anything one day, but the next hit the jackpot. Don't give up! Make this store very convenient and not a drain on your gas budget. I plan my thrift store visits in conjunction with other stops. I always hit Plato's Closet and Clothes Mentor in Westerville when I get my hair colored at my mom's. I only go to the Marion Goodwill when I'm in town.

I know thrift stores can be overwhelming. They aren't set up the same way as a store in the mall. You're often doing well to have things all organized by size, or item of clothing. Some thrift stores organize by color, and then it's up to YOU to find your size. Either way, making early scouting trips to acquaint yourself with the 'lay of the land' is the best way to find thrift store success. At my favorite Goodwill in Delaware, I have a set route through the store: first, the jewelry and high end purses. Then, the prom dresses. Next, the shoes and regular purses. And, so on. Having this route in mind is especially important on days I have a set schedule, and can't leisurely shop all areas of the store.

Always check out what kind of dressing room situation each store has. Goodwill has nice, easily accessible dressing rooms. Some thrift stores have NONE! For these particular stores, dress accordingly. Wearing leggings and a tank top ensures you can pop an item of clothing over your head in the aisle without worry. Also, wear shoes that are easy to take off in case you find that perfect pair of stilettos. At my Goodwill, they actually have a box with 'peds' so you can try on shoes even if you're not wearing socks or hose.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: TRY ON YOUR CHOICES. It will save you a trip back to return it! Try on the necklaces, rings and bracelets. Wear the purses and check out in a mirror how they look on your body. Is that scarf long enough for how you want to wrap it? Are there any stains or holes? Missing buttons? Now's the time to find out! Can you actually WALK in those stilettos? Don't worry, no one will judge you as you hobble around the store! It's a THRIFT SHOP!

I know thrift shopping isn't for everyone, just as running marathons is appealing for only a select few. If you want thrift store shopping success, using these pointers can help you achieve it!!