"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)
"A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life." (Bishop Keith B. McMullin)
Work, industry, frugality that is very much what must be done.
I was putting my sewing needles in a tin yesterday.
When I thought about this …
Do you have needle and thread and the know-how to use it? It reminds me of the story of a general authority visiting a war torn area... they would hand out oranges, which is something they never got. When one woman went up to get her orange she spied the sewing kit in the suit case and asked if she might have that instead. They gave it to her and going back to her seat others said they expected her to share with them. Can you imagine life that hard? Can you be so hungry that upon seeing the sewing kit you put that need above food? Something to ponder…
You know just certain things stick with you and this story affected me so much. I try to keep my supplies up.
Can you imagine not being able to replace your clothes and not have what is needed to repair them? This is something we take for granted. What else do we take for granted??
The needles in the above picture were gotten from yard sales and thrift stores.
We have been visiting a bit on thrift stores and yard sales because yard sale season is upon us. I know it is work. Take a friend who wants to yard sale with you. My sister and I would have a sister time and go to yard sales. We would take a munchie or lunch with us and a drink. We each had a list. We would read each other's lists too. Four eyes are better than two! That was helpful for us. We had great sister time and stretched our money at the same time.
I was telling you in the comment section about the pasta machine…
This is the only one I was familiar with.
Then I saw this machine in a thrift shop...
This manual does not even have the USA flag and language in it has many others, just not ours. I would not have been able to read it except it had Great Britain and I could read that.
This machine is hand crank and even does cork screw pasta. I had not ever seen this nor have I seen it since but I ask myself, what if? On items I see…it is the same maker as the pasta machine above. That one makes noodles, this one does macaroni etc.
See the price? It was 3.99, a very good purchase.
At yard sales I find interesting things like the attachments here for ten cents. I have a kitchen aide mixer.
I just thought for ten cents I should get it. Well when I got home and read the directions I found out I needed the meat grinder. Thinking, oh dear, I put it where I keep my other kitchen aide items and then I saw that I had gotten the meat grinder at another yard sale for a dollar and forgot. So now I can use my machine to make pasta as well. I also was able to get a scraper beater for it from freecycle. So see, you just have to keep your eye out for things. All these items were at different sales at different times.
What if? Is a question I use a lot when deciding a purchase even at a yard sale. Is it a flash in the pan item I am not interested in like those pancake flipping pans? You can only make one at a time. How many can you get on griddle or even a pan? Exactly. This flip pan is not a good purchase. Fabric and notions are a good buy, unless really ugly fabric. So just think things through.
I plug in items like dehydrators and other electric items. Just ask to plug in. I plugged in one dehydrator. It went clank clank so I walked away, not a good purchase.
I call yard sales a good way to be frugal and being wise in purchases a good skill. I repaired this basket this week on a frugal note.
Years ago we were on a walk and I noticed a sign hanging in a yard, it simply said "rug weaver." I always thought that was what I wanted to do so when a rug loom showed up in Goodwill I loved it but the price was too high. I would visit it every time I went in and touch it. I noticed a drop in price still too high so I just figured it would not be mine. Then one day a friend called me and said she was there. I said, oh go touch my loom! She said I had better come get it as they were having a half price sale. I said even that price was too high. She said no, they dropped the price and that now it was half off. It was sixty dollars so we went and got it. They used a forklift to put it in our truck. It was a lot of work taking it all apart to come in and then restoring it, then learning to warp it and use it was a challenge.
But you see the pic at the top of the page, it all worked out and now I am a rug weaver though I am still learning lots but it's a skill I worked hard on to get this far.
I got this at a yard sale years ago, it is an on going learning skill for me. It was the most I ever paid at a yard sale but was way worth more than they asked and at that time I could do it.
This serger I got for ten dollars at a yard sale too. So you go put your frugal powers to work
Yard sales and thrift stores have helped me so much.
How are you coming on your skill building? How are you coming on storage? Keep working on these and being frugal it all works together.
You are so very talented. I have lots of sewing supplies so I should be good there! I've been buying thrift store clothing in pretty 100% cotton fabrics and cutting them up for buttons and quilting fabric.
ReplyDeleteYes great tips for others. Price of gas going up again twenty cents which will mean everything will go up in no time so working at being frugal is at top of the list working on storage too
DeleteWow, you've found some amazing deals! My husband and I enjoy visiting yard sales and nearby estate sales most Saturdays. We've found a lot of items we could use at really good prices. Most estate sales price things too high for us (though I did get a dulcimer for $20 last year!), but it's a lot of fun to see the insides of houses we normally wouldn't get to see.
ReplyDeleteIt really stretches the money. I never would have been able to afford the items new.
DeleteCollege is ending by us so Hubby and I drove around the dorms of a nearby college. We got 8 mini fridges, a vacuum, a shop vac, a glass jar , a bike frame and numerous wires/chargers. Will be listing most of it on eBay and Craigslist. Little work to make some extra money.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what they throw away we used to when in college go pick up things we needed everyone in married housing did the one treadle we have was being taken to the dumpster when i turned the corner it was a little oriental couple he helped me put it in my trunk i wasn't but a block or two away they kept telling me it no work it was a treadle how could it not work but they didn't speak much English when i refurbished it i put on a new leather band and it so works it could be they didn't know it needed a band i never saw them again but we all shoped by the dumpsters
DeleteI have found attachments for my KitchenAid and other equipment too. I am looking for another heavy stock pot and several other things now. They will turn up...some day. :) Here we have several Goodwill stores and one Salvation Army one. Only three independent red stores. Each sells things the other doesn't. Odd. Pony one sells patterns, yarn and such. i look for little bags of rickrack, bias and any sewing things or machine parts. They used to have reasonable prices but lately have started charging twice that price. I hope they drop the price again! :) They reduce the prices each week but it has to be two weeks before it goes 50% off and you need to be there at the right time etc... But then it is only the price it used to be when they first put it out! This store has always charged wayyyy too much for pots and pans and most kitchen ware. Goodwill is so much better. I am glad therefore that we do have several stores to choose from.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know how families make it without the help of yard sales or thrift stores, church rummage sales or handle-me- downs from friends. That is the only way of life our family knew and we still use. WE look for ourselves, the rest of our family and anyone else we know who is looking for this or that.
I have heard some colleges now will not let anyone rummage through the left overs from the dorms at the end of the year. They are arrested when they try!! I guess they would rather pay a dump fee. So sad!! I am sure some charity would haul it off to resell at least.
I am completely amazed at the amount of especially clothes at the used stores!!!!! It took someone hours to work for the money to buy the original item. Then they had to go and shop and bring it home. Then give it away and go buy more?? Our goodwill said their policy is that if an item of clothing falls off the hanger onto the floor it is now thrown out. They then take it to their big bin store. I used to buy dresses and skirts to reuse the material but now so many have so little material and the used stores price them so high it is not worth it. I do look if they are reduced way low but seldom do I see prints or the type of material I can reuse. I look for buttons etc though that can be used. Sheets are a better buy around here...if you can find them. :)
Thrifting is like adult Christmas. When we were little we saw the presents under the tree but did not know what was inside. What fun. Now as adults we go thrifting and again find the wonder of not knowing what is inside the store..what will we find? What fun!! Sarah
Yes i always say one an item of clothing is worn it is used so why pay the new price it sounds like you have good thrifting stores in your area we have goodwill and salvation army and a store i don't go in often as it is high in price. We would get toys used and fixed them up for Christmas thank you for sharing
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