Why, yes! I do accept free stuff!

 

I’ve gone through 3 high chairs with my 3 kids. I know,  call me crazy. But the first one was just a cheapy I got on Craigslist for about $15. I sold it after our first kid because it was starting to tear and I was worried it wouldn’t sell if the cover was all torn.

 

I made my $15 back and turned around and purchased one for $25. Once again off CL.

$10 more got me a LOT. Single hand sliding tray, 2 trays actually, adjustable height, rolling wheels. I mean, this was FAAAANCY!

(And MUCH easier to clean I might add!)

But when my daughter grew out of it, the thing was nothing but bulky. I didn’t want to haul it up to the attic, and I wasn’t going to leave it sitting there. So I added some spit shine and put it on Craigslist. It sold for $30 after a warfare of phone calls. Apparently the belts in Highchair’s are really important to some people and mine had them.

We figured with kid #3 we would just use this:

Oops, I mean this:

However, where that is great on the road and extra room at the table. It isn’t good for tiny tots like ours is still.

So off to craigslist yet again.

I’ve missed you my friend.

I wanted to spend $10 maybe $15 at the most.

 

A lady had her’s posted for over a month, cost: $15. I saw a terrible photo of it, talked her down to $10 and said I’d like to see it. She happened to have it stored right near a thrift store. Lucky me. While in the thrift store I saw and UGLY highchair for $4. Cheap but…well, not as “thrifty” as I’d like.

I think the difference between “thrifty” and “cheap” is Thrifty gets you what you want for less. Cheap gets you anything that’s out there and doesn’t cost much (and will probably break).

Anyway, the car seat was all wrapped in plastic from being stored but I could tell it was in decent condition. (Which turned out to be really, really good condition!) And I wasn’t about to talk her down any more when they had just dug through their whole storage unit for it! Oh, and they GAVE ME A STROLLER.

Yes, it is rather nice, though worn, Graco stroller. I cleaned it and it is in good condition. I really don’t need it but how can I pass up free?

And the highchair?

Its a hit! With lots of growing room!

Free preschool learning tools!

 

I am not sure where I got this idea from. I think it is a mix of pintrest idea and my own stingy nature to do things for free!

They are reading sticks! Very easy to make and a great way to get your child over the “sounding out every letter ‘til they forget what the whole word sounded like" stage! Yea, you know! That stage!

 

All you need to make this is a paint stick (free at the hardware store) A paint chip with wholes in it (compliments of Lowes) a magic marker and string! (Painting the stick is optional. I used acrylic for mine. One could also spray paint)

My 4 year old loves them. And my 2 year old! They are great for car trips!

  

Oh, and while you are at the store grab some larger cards and turn them into a color book for you learning-colors child! I love free!

Weekly Round up! What I sold on eBay!

 

 

Well my first week back into selling in months and my reports say I made…….

$185.32

Saaawwweeetttt!

Hello eBay! I’m back!!

I bought a few bags of stuff for 99 cents each….6 to be exact! And thankfully, my 1st sell paid for all 6!

I sold these Trash Pack toys for $7!

  \

I was pretty excited to see these smurfs due to the movie, alas, they only sold for 99 cents, but that paid for the whole bag of toys I purchased, some of which I’m not even trying to sell so at least it wasn’t a bust.

 

 

One thing I tried to sell but it didn’t sell is this AWESOME melissa and doug butterfly!

The circles come off AND the shapes come off! My 6 mo old likes it, my 2 yr old plays with it and my 4 yr old was showing Daddy how it’s done. Defiantly worth the 99 cents I paid for the whole bag! Wait, though, I got that back already- Score.

I was surprised that Melissa and Doug items don’t resale for much.

Any thoughts?

 

 

Sold these for 99 cents as well! That double paid for another bag.

They don’t usually sell well for me so I was happy. If I had more storage I might try to save up and sell a bunch, but I guess I’d have to get more if I wanted to do that and I just don’t see them often.

 

 

One of the bags had this Tonka bulldozer. It fits in the palm of your hand so it is small and it sold for: $2.99

 

 

I know none of those seemed like that great of sales but I got more than my money’s worth and when I buy miscellaneous stuff I’m just happy to break even with the risk!

 

On to bigger and better things!

This OSU cover didn’t work for my friend’s phone when she realized she wanted a hard case for it. She said she paid $20 for it and just gave it to me.

I sold it for $12. Someone got a good deal by buying this!

Several people have given me clothing to go through. I found two items of lingerie and since I’ve never sold it but figure it sells good I figured I’d stick it on there!

This Gilligain and Omalley sleepwear sold for $5 with shipping. Not much but something!

 

This Intimissimi Pink and cream top and bottom lingerie Victoria Secret  Faired better bringing me $10.01 with shipping.

 

Sold for asking price of $10. I should have done a higher BIN price but I think I was pretty tired when I posted this! Now I’m wondering if I should snatch up any animal skin colored items!

This Nike pull over was worn by me last spring. It just didn’t work for me any more. I got it for .99 cents and sold it for $3. When I add getting to wear it for a season, I’m happy.

 

These J Crew pants were a pleasant surprise when a bidding war happened and they reached $15.50. With this horrid photo to boot! Can you tell I kept them folded over a wire hanger since summer? NOT doing that again!

 

 

  

 

Homemade Play rug/ blanket

I started out with a fleece I got from trying out a Taste of Home cookbook.

And then I took a bunch of my kids toys:

 

I thought I would start with some electrical tape to do the lines. I got this pack plus a yellow one at Sutherlands for about 75 cents.

 

I tried taking the tape and  making roads out of them but, even though my son played for about an hour with the area I taped off below, it didn’t seem as though it would last…so I did plan “B'”

I tried sewing a ribbon on to outline the roads.

I ended up just using a magic marker. I figured I can always change it later  if it is a big hit.

I cut up a business card for the bulldozer to “push.”

 

The road dead-ends….

 

Air strip….

 

 

Farmland

 

Parking lot. All the “areas” are removable.

Pedestrian crossing

 

Copter pad from our  train set.

 

 

Craigslist! I’m back!

 

Well, I took a long sabbatical from Craigslist but I am back! I got in the mindset that eBay was easier because I can just walk out to my mailbox. But eBay can take 7+ days to sell and then the money goes to paypal, then you can do something with it but you never REALLY see it. I REALLY like cash in hand!

I got this bed at the thrift store’s spontaneous “all furniture is 1/2 off right now” sale.

 

And no, that is not my garage. Want to know how lazy I am? I stole this photo from Google image search! It is the same bed but I didn’t have the slates or the hardware for the one I got for $7.50. I thought about keeping it. I could paint it black and it would totally match the kid’s room furniture! But I really don’t need any more furniture anywhere in my house. So I thought about painting it white so it would resale better. But without the slates I couldn’t really set it up for a good picture. So I decided to flip it for the few bucks I could get out of it. I listed it for $25 or $39 if I painted it black or white and I got 2 calls the first day with a return call the second day and a pick up! Score! I sold it for $20 and felt great cuz it was an awesome grandparent couple who were sooo sweet!

I never took it out of my car until they met me and they met me at my church where I was at for a meeting…didn’t even spend gas. It was a $12.50 turn over which is small for furniture, but I have a happy older couple with a bed for their kids and a happy husband, who never saw the bed outside the van, and $20 in my pocket to go thrifting with! I’d say it is a win win win!

I know. It doesn’t take much to excite me.

I did get inspired and reposted a breast pump I got much earlier this summer.

The lady at the garage sale was giving it away and thinking I could use it for my sister-in-law I picked it up but now it is just collecting dust in my closet so after having little luck selling it earlier I posted it back on and had 2 questions about it within the 1st 30 minutes. One said she wasn’t interested in it but the other is still asking questions.

 

When buying just doesn’t go well…

 

I should stick with buying what I know. I have learned this over and over and over again. Today was one of those “agains”!

I purchase another grab bag purchase. Yes, and once again I paid for the whole bag just to get one water bottle.

Hey, I live in the Midwest. It’s over 100 every day. Got to have me some nice water bottles!

Ok, but maybe not a whole grab bag with 11 of them!

 

 

And that is why I was soo excited about this blue Camelbak. I’ve been wanting one of these, though not this one, which runs about $8 at REI, which we really need here in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Just sayin….

Anyway, notice anything special? Ya. Its the mouth piece. The thing that makes Camelbak’s so stinkin popular! Its, um…well, its just, lets see…. PLUMB NOT THERE!

“No Problem!” I thought. “I will just get one online…the big thing is having most of the bottle in tacked right?”

WRONG!

(By the way, this is a new bottle, not sure if ever got used!)

Ok, back to my unsound judgment story. Just had to through that in here.

Apparently these mouth piece cost… and I kid you not….$8-12 on EBAY. Got to love it.

Ok, so I don’t.

It' is ridiculous.

Ok, so it is also ridiculous that I got all those bottles and a Camelbak for 45 cents. But hey! I’m looking for stuff next to nothing…not for replacement parts that cost as much as a stinkin’ new bottle!

So I found someone who had one listed, and not sold, with a few other water bottle parts I didn’t want and asked her to just sell me that one mouthpiece for $1.50 plus $.50 shipping. Or maybe it was a him…the name was Chris. I have no idea

She/he wrote back and said:

Hey, I have lots of this Camelbak stuff, more than I want to bother selling. Send me your address, I'll send you one, you can pay me something for it if you choose to after you get it. Best --Chris--

Ok seriously. The world is right again…I mean who does that!? And to top that he/she lived in California which is the most expensive in State place to ship for me. Oh yea. This kid was raised right. I have a friend. Ok. Not really.

Anyway. Moral of the story is there are Chris’ out there on eBay to make all the jerks look like extra jerks and them look like angels. Thank you Chris’ of eBay!

He/she ended up sending it to me for free and told me not to worry about the price. How awesome is that!!???

So that is that story. Here are the other bottles I salvaged from that bag.

  

I’m hoping the rest can be recycled. Want them to be a bench I sit on someday! Lol!

 

I got some American Eagle shorts for my hubby to work in. He likes this brand but I rarely find it in his size. These were $5. I know, big spender on my Manly Man!

UPDATE: They don’t fit him. Apparently the size on the tag is not the size of the shorts. STINK! Going to try to sell them to get my $5 back! (I hope)

 

And now the newsboy hat…oh that hat.

   

Very nice isn’t it? Perfect condition. And what can beat leather?

NON-LEATHER. That’s what.

Yep. Didn’t read the tag. I am far to trusting of a person. This is actually made out of…get this.

Vinyl.

Yep. Vinyl.

Isn’t that what siding is made out of? Well lucky us. We can now wear it on our heads.

Great.

Ok ok, only 45 cents as well, but it doesn’t even fit me! Maybe I’ll give it to my brother as a Christmas present…hey, not a bad idea! Of course I’m listing it first….=)

 

Alright, on to the next disappointment of my life… er…day.

This really cool AND only 45 cent toy! Leapfrog…ya can’t go wrong now can you?

You sure can. At least if you are Handkerchief Gal! What can I say? I’ve got a rare talent. Hang out a while, maybe it will rub off.

Ok. Or run away screaming. That works too…

Because the above pictures, my dear friends, is a leapfrog baby toy that needs a TV, a hook up and a dvd to be functional. Oh, and it’s heavy. And I’m not sure if it even works cuz I do not have any of the before mentioned items. Completely not sure what to do with it. Sell it as is? No, they don’t sell on eBay. Sell it for parts? Maybe. But did I mention it is heavy? However, it was only 45 cents. At least I’m not making expensive mistakes. Yay me.

Blah.

 

 

Now check out my stylish new pocketbook.

Ok, not stylish, but I believe it is new. Maybe not worth much but…well, did I mention it was 45 cent sell day yet? Yep. 45 cents. Aren’t ya all jealous. Um-hmmm.

Actually I needed one half this size but I found this one and figured it was time to retire the one I already have.

I’m not sold on it yet. Cuz I empted my old one into it then tucked the “retired” one into a drawer. Yea. Not sure I like this one yet.