The Hall of Frugal Fameby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 13 Dec 2006 09:08 AM
One of the great things about being frugal is the excitement I get when I come across a really great frugal find. I just can't wait to share the news with family and friends. Do you know what I mean? Some finds are just so good, they should have their own "Hall of Frugal Fame." I love reading about finds and great deals that others have gotten. It is fun to see what other people are doing, and it renews my spirit for living frugally. Here are some of the best frugal finds of which I know. Will you share yours? I would love to post your best finds in here, in a future article for the Families.com Frugal Living Blog. You can be a frugal inspiration to others! I mostly find my finds at yard sales and thrift stores, but I know those aren't the only places for treasures. Just take my friend, Elaine, whom you will meet in a minute. At a yard sale one summer, I found a complete set of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV episodes) on VHS tapes for only 50 cents. This was a great gift for my husband, who is a fan of the show. He clutched the box with glee. There were more than 30 videos in the box. After that find, he doesn't mind going to yard sales with me. One of his finds was a box of white long-sleeve t-shirts that were left over from a promotion. They were thick and of good quality, and still in the packaging. My husband didn't mind the small black logo near the breast, especially since he layers his clothing for warmth in the winter. He walked away with five brand-new shirts for $1. At another yard sale, I found a huge tub of legos for the kids. The tub alone would have cost $10 in the store, and the legos inside were worth in the hundreds. There were many unopened sets of legos in the tub. The yard sale was winding down, and the sellers let it go for just $5. My oldest son has loved Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story since he was two. I had been searching for Buzz bedding for many months in the stores, but nothing seemed to work. Guess what I found at various yard sales? The perfect sheets and a thick comforter for his bed, all for less than $4 total! My friend Elaine is the queen of great free finds. Through freecycle and curb shopping, she has found some amazing items. One time, I went along on one of her famous curb shopping hunts with her (I'll have to tell you all about it in a future blog post) and came home with one of those large kids' wooden busy cubes. It was in excellent shape and would have cost hundreds in the store. Over the years, I've seen Elaine decorate her home with many free items, from a vintage fireplace mantel she uses next to her fire pit for ambiance, to nautical items for her sons' room. Just the other day, she told me about finding a train table for the kids' Thomas the Train pieces. Again, someone was throwing it out, so she got it for free. Can you top these finds? Please comment and let me know! Related Articles Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments  Mary Ann Romans |
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