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What is your latest money-saving idea? email this discussion to a friend?

myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues3 months ago

I make things to put in our church Holiday bazaar each winter. Currently I'm crocheting dog sweaters. One pattern requires two buttons.

I went to buy some buttons and discovered that they averaged $1 per button! I couldn't believe it. If I spent that much on the sweaters plus the cost of the yarn they would have to be priced too high for people to buy them.

So I got an idea. I went to a thrift store where they sell used clothing and looked through the racks for something with the kind of buttons I wanted. I bought a dress with six buttons for $2! And I didn't even have to worry about finding a dress in my size. lol

I also buy old bead necklaces there to harvest the beads. Nice beads are getting really expensive and if I can find old ones I like I can get a string of them for a $1.

I've started thinking of what other craft supplies I might harvest from used items found in thrift stores. I'm thinking that belt buckles might be my next quest.

So what creative ideas have you come up with to beat inflation?

 
 
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pyewacket (8522) response was accepted on 8/13/2008.
denotes best response.
tags:  money, thrift, inflation, savings, idea
 
1. myLot reputation of 85/100. barbie84 (2168)   ranked 695 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues   3 months ago

we save all our loose change up in a sealed jar and no one is allowed to open it untill it is full, once it is full we go to the bank and change it then used the money to treat us, usually a holiday


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Good for you! And with the goal of a treat everyone is motivated to participate in adding to the jar. Hope you have a great one! happythumbup

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2. myLot reputation of 99/100. jillhill (6745)   ranked 13 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues   3 months ago

Those were very good ideas! I also keep the extra button they attach to a new piece of clothing....and those little bags they come in are perfect for my craft sales for something small. I paint old windows and everyone gives them to me....I paint an image on them or scene and resell them. So I take something that would end up in the garbage and turn it into something beautiful.....sounds like you do the same thing! Good for you!


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Thanks. You are a bit more ambitious than I. You might look at the Habitat for Humanity build it again stores for old windows cheap if you don't get enough given to you. You can find all kinds of great stuff there for next to nothing in cost.
happy

 
3. myLot reputation of 98/100. pyewacket (8522)   ranked 407 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues   3 months ago

Oh wow..I would love to see pictures of your doggie sweaters. Have you ever looked in those 99ยข stores? Sometimes you can find things on the cheap there too. Sometimes they sell necklaces or beaded type bracelets so of course very cheap. I do a lot of beadwork myself, but since I use so many beads of all sizes from seed to crow/pony beads I have to rely on getting my bead supplies from craft places....some really aren't too bad in price and you can actually wind up saving money if you buy in bulk

One good place is Enterprise Arts

http://www.enterpriseart.com/

another is Factory Direct


http://www.factorydirectcraft.com/

Finally another place is Fire Mountain Gem--which tends to be a bit more but they really have some beautiful beads..when bought in quantity can be cheaper in the long run

http://www.firemountaingems.com/


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Thanks! I'll share those websites with our crafters group at church.

I don't have a dog to model the sweaters yet. I'll get pictures when I can.

How about you? Any photos of your beadwork? happy


myLot reputation of 98/100. pyewacket (8522)   ranked 407 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Oh, I have a fewphotos..LOL

 

myLot reputation of 98/100. pyewacket (8522)   ranked 407 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

This is my crowing achievement though...ever do something and then years later look at it and wonder...how the heck did I do that??
This is a Native American pipe I got years ago...the original suede trim and beads were tacky looking so stripped it all off and did the beadwork you see now...it's called the guord or peyote beadwork stitch..it took me a full month to do--can't figure how I had the patience for it then

 

myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Gorgeous! Do you have an outlet to sell your work? It is as good as any I've seen elsewhere. happy


myLot reputation of 98/100. pyewacket (8522)   ranked 407 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Nope I don't really have an outlet to sell my crafts....I do have a website that shows off my work though .....but to be honest I just plain haven't been making my crafts like I used to so I'm not showing off my site like I used to..since you do crafts you know how time consuming they are to make and haven't had time lately to do much..have to do my own stocking up on supplies...LOL


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

I really hit the jackpot Saturday! I went to the thrift store to find silver buttons. Found a dress that buttoned clear down the front. I harvested 14 lovely silver buttons for $1.99!!! lol


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  2 months ago

Doggie sweaters

 

myLot reputation of 98/100. pyewacket (8522)   ranked 407 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  2 months ago

awww..that sweater is adorable and what a great model you have...thank you for the brhappy

 
4. myLot reputation of 88/100. Angelwhispers (4601)   ranked 383 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues   3 months ago

I am not a very crafty person at all Youdontsay, but I admit your idea here is fantastically genius of you:))) You would love to trawl our area thrift shops we seem to have an abundance of them. I am to busy trying to find ways to cut the grocery bill to think of other things.


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

I hear you! I'm glad I'm not feeding a family. My two daughters and their families all visited the first part of the month and cleaned me out! Sure couldn't feed them on an ongoing basis! happy

Have you come up with any great ideas you can share with the rest of us?

 
5. myLot reputation of 99/100. applefreak (1433)   ranked 594 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues   3 months ago

wow that's some great ideas you have. i wish i am as creative when it comes to problem solving. i've not managed to come up with any creative ideas to beat inflation. all i could think of doing is reduce consumption. not going out as often saved me some. using water from washing clothes to flush the toilet is another. getting energy saving bulbs for all my lights to cut my electricity bills is part of the plan too. maybe i should start cracking my head to come up with creative ideas. the ones you've got is brilliant. thumbupthumbup


myLot reputation of 86/100. youdontsay (2011)   ranked 109 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

Thanks. Creative problem solving is something I really enjoy. It is a talent I have developed out of necessity. A single mother raising two kids on next to nothing kind of forced me to be creative. happy


myLot reputation of 99/100. applefreak (1433)   ranked 594 out of 5,689 in have discussion on day to day issues  3 months ago

way to go girl thumbupthumbup take care and stay strong.

 
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