jap631's comments

Freecycle Giving Tips - Blog Entry

07 Jun 2010 09:17 AM

I've had the same problem on freecycle. I require people to provide an exact pickup time in their email to me. The ones who don't, I don't consider. I figure if they can't follow simple instructions then they're not worth my time. Likewise I only respond via email, not phone and I put that in there as well. Yet, people still leave their phone numbers! I don't consider those people either. Finally, I also add that if someone has ever no showed on me in the past, I won't consider them.

Reasons Why Garage Sale Items Are Overpriced - Blog Entry

20 May 2010 05:09 AM

No kidding! I enjoy church and other non-profit rummage sales more than yard sales, because it's easier to find what I'm looking for.

I've stopped at a few rummage sales this season that were quite reasonable. $.25 for kids clothes, for example. Or willing to negotiate. Some even let you take what you want at the very end.

Last weekend I was at another one but it was terribly overpriced. $8 for a used dress from Target. $2-4 for well worn toddler pajamas. I had a bag full of kid's clothes and offered $9- would have been about $.50 per item. They refused my offer, holding up a worn pair of pjs claiming "These cost $10 new."

---Well, they're not new, and I don't buy new children's clothes!

Groceries Over Budget - Blog Entry

18 May 2010 05:01 AM

I live in Columbus Ohio where we have plenty of grocers to choose from. I mainly shop at Meijer, which is less than 1/2 mile from my house. I sometimes stop at Kroger, which is next to the park & ride we use for public transportation (there are other Meijers and Krogers around the city, along with Giant Eagle, Super Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Trader Joes, Whole Foods and independent markets, along with Aldi and Save a lot). I avoid Aldi and save a lot because the lines are LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNG, the people dont' know what they are doing, and the three times in six years I have gone in there, it's been nothing but a hassle and not worth it. The other part is that 95% of the people shopping there in my city are Somalian immigrants. They don't seem to realize how shopping at a store works- they don't want to pay- sometimes do not bring any form of payment with them (I see this at other stores too), and all sorts of other trouble.

I also shop CVS & Walgreens.

How to Be Frugal When the Power is Out - Blog Entry

12 May 2010 01:39 PM

Only six hours? We had to do this for 3 1/2 days when Hurricane Ike came through Central Ohio and took out our power in September 2008. And for 4 1/2 days in December 2004 at Christmas as the result of an ice storm. We ate without eating out, getting food poisoning or blowing out the budget.

When New Costs Less than Used - Blog Entry

07 May 2010 06:56 AM

I've experienced the same thing. I live in a big city (1million in my county) and we have a lot of thrift stores- Goodwill, Salvation Army, Ohio Thrift and more.

I saw baby onesies for $2, receiving blankets for $2, girl's tees for $5, girl's jeans for $5-6, used shoes for $5. Crazy! I did get to some church rummage sales that had equally nice things for MUCH less.

At the Mother's of Twins Club sale I went to last month, prices were mixed. You really had to sort through things to find the good deals.

Between rummage sales and then the one last thrift store that has decent prices, that's how I continue to outfit my family.

Toilet Frugality - Blog Entry

19 Aug 2009 06:00 AM

What about the old saying "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" for toilet water savings?!!

Eight Rules for Buying Groceries without Coupons - Blog Entry

28 Jul 2009 05:46 AM

I would add, if you like to eat things out of season, preserve them. Dehydrate, can or freeze them and enjoy them later!

How to Shop at Outgrown Sales - Blog Entry

17 Feb 2009 07:05 AM

what is an outgrown sale? I've never heard of it. i've bene to rummage sales, yard sales, etc. but not an "outgrown" sale.

Will Buying Used Clothes and Toys or Reselling Them Soon Be Illegal? - Blog Entry

09 Jan 2009 07:33 AM

Resellers have officially been exempted. See here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

Adolf Hitler Denied Birthday Cake - Blog Entry

18 Dec 2008 07:40 AM

Those children are going to be ridiculed and ostracized no matter what their personal beliefs, due to such a poor decision on the part of their parents.