Comments on: Q&A: Getting the Best Deals http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:05:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nola http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19136 Nola Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:25:27 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19136 Lots of good info and comments...I don't have much new to add. The only new thing I could think of is that about the clothes deals- consignment shops and thrift shops often have sales and clearance as seasons change. Its uusally around now, for us, to get the summer stuff for next year, as they want to get the fall stuff in. I find consignment stores to be pricey sometimes, but the $7.95 jeans can go down to $1. At our local thrift shop they have "fill a bag for $5" and its amazing what you can stuff in there. I get all sorts of sizes just depending on what is good that day. I do sometimes spend a little bit more now that I have two girls if I think it will last both of them, like spend a few dollars more I mean. I find fleece to be a good deal for us since it repels stains, seems to wear well if not put in the dryer and also is very warm which we need here. My oldest is in sizes 4/5 and I often get up to 8's even if its a good deal, like fill a bag or 25 cents or whatever. We also do combine trips to see family with Value village trips and the like (and combining the coupons too) and its sort of a thing we all go and do together and it makes it fun. We go armed with a list though that is carefully planned out. Oh and ask around about online classifieds for your community. My small community has one but its not one of the well known ones, and if we hadn't heard by word of mouth we wouldn't have known. Clothes for sale and also garage sales are on ours along with tons of other things. Lots of good info and comments...I don't have much new to add. The only new thing I could think of is that about the clothes deals- consignment shops and thrift shops often have sales and clearance as seasons change. Its uusally around now, for us, to get the summer stuff for next year, as they want to get the fall stuff in. I find consignment stores to be pricey sometimes, but the $7.95 jeans can go down to $1. At our local thrift shop they have "fill a bag for $5" and its amazing what you can stuff in there. I get all sorts of sizes just depending on what is good that day. I do sometimes spend a little bit more now that I have two girls if I think it will last both of them, like spend a few dollars more I mean. I find fleece to be a good deal for us since it repels stains, seems to wear well if not put in the dryer and also is very warm which we need here. My oldest is in sizes 4/5 and I often get up to 8's even if its a good deal, like fill a bag or 25 cents or whatever. We also do combine trips to see family with Value village trips and the like (and combining the coupons too) and its sort of a thing we all go and do together and it makes it fun. We go armed with a list though that is carefully planned out.

Oh and ask around about online classifieds for your community. My small community has one but its not one of the well known ones, and if we hadn't heard by word of mouth we wouldn't have known. Clothes for sale and also garage sales are on ours along with tons of other things.

]]> By: Debra http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19135 Debra Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:51:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19135 Great post! I agree about buying clothes ahead for your kids. We live in Arizona so I wait as long as possible to buy winter clothes so I can get the best deal. We have a very short winter season so I cannot justify buying any winter items if they are not deeply discounted - usually @ the end of the season. I am sure lots of you follow the same path for summer clothing if you live in an are w/ a short summer season. I am not much of a garage saler but I am sure that's the best place, especially for the younger ones. Great post! I agree about buying clothes ahead for your kids. We live in Arizona so I wait as long as possible to buy winter clothes so I can get the best deal. We have a very short winter season so I cannot justify buying any winter items if they are not deeply discounted - usually @ the end of the season. I am sure lots of you follow the same path for summer clothing if you live in an are w/ a short summer season. I am not much of a garage saler but I am sure that's the best place, especially for the younger ones.

]]> By: Kika http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19134 Kika Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:50:09 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19134 We are fortunate to have people passing clothes down to us for our two daughters. To fill in the gaps I check out the local thrift shop (small b/c the population here is about 8000) and otherwise we need to drive to the nearest city (2hs away) with a mile-long shopping list. We only go to the city about 4-5 times/year, combining trips with medical or homeschool appointments whenever possible. I don't find it valuable anymore to scour consignment shops in the city b/c the prices aren't that low and I am able to do well without them. Also, by shopping off season at favorite stores we are able to buy new at prices lower that what we've seen at consignment shops! We've found two local farmers to buy beef and eggs from but around here it is very difficult to buy poultry (people are primarily using it up for their own families). The nearest organic market, two hours or more away, is very expensive, so we do without certain foods. I also just relax, head out to the occasional garage sale, check out the thrift shop occasionally and it all works out pretty well. (But I always have a list of what we are still needing) My son is the exception b/c he is, at 13, wearing men's sizes and growing so fast it is hard to keep up. Good thing he doesn't care about having tons of clothing and, being homeschooled, he feels no pressure to wear specific brand-names either. We are fortunate to have people passing clothes down to us for our two daughters. To fill in the gaps I check out the local thrift shop (small b/c the population here is about 8000) and otherwise we need to drive to the nearest city (2hs away) with a mile-long shopping list. We only go to the city about 4-5 times/year, combining trips with medical or homeschool appointments whenever possible. I don't find it valuable anymore to scour consignment shops in the city b/c the prices aren't that low and I am able to do well without them. Also, by shopping off season at favorite stores we are able to buy new at prices lower that what we've seen at consignment shops! We've found two local farmers to buy beef and eggs from but around here it is very difficult to buy poultry (people are primarily using it up for their own families). The nearest organic market, two hours or more away, is very expensive, so we do without certain foods. I also just relax, head out to the occasional garage sale, check out the thrift shop occasionally and it all works out pretty well. (But I always have a list of what we are still needing) My son is the exception b/c he is, at 13, wearing men's sizes and growing so fast it is hard to keep up. Good thing he doesn't care about having tons of clothing and, being homeschooled, he feels no pressure to wear specific brand-names either.

]]> By: Beth http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19133 Beth Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:30:21 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19133 Stephanie thanks so much for answering my questions!! I have been hitting some garage sales and even just this morning went to a local thrift store and found some pretty good deals on clothes for the kids. I am not finding the really low bargain deals like 25 cents for a shirt, but $1 a shirt isn't too bad! I have already bought both of our boys their entire Christmas outfits for under $12 and they were a high quality designer brand no less! You continue to inspire me to be a better steward with our money and my time! Thanks so much! Blessings! :)Beth Stephanie thanks so much for answering my questions!! I have been hitting some garage sales and even just this morning went to a local thrift store and found some pretty good deals on clothes for the kids. I am not finding the really low bargain deals like 25 cents for a shirt, but $1 a shirt isn't too bad! I have already bought both of our boys their entire Christmas outfits for under $12 and they were a high quality designer brand no less!

You continue to inspire me to be a better steward with our money and my time!
Thanks so much!
Blessings! :) Beth

]]> By: Melanie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19132 Melanie Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:55:46 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19132 Another resource for finding local meat is to see if there is a local chapter of the Weston Price Foundation. If you do, they should have a list of local farmers / suppliers who have quality meat products for purchase. Here's the link to find a local chapter: <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html#locallist" rel="nofollow">http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html#locallist</a> If you live in an area where you can buy directly from the rancher than you can purchase beef, chicken, etc., for a lot less than the at the grocery store, choose the specific cuts and package sizes you want AND have it all delivered to your door! Another resource for finding local meat is to see if there is a local chapter of the Weston Price Foundation. If you do, they should have a list of local farmers / suppliers who have quality meat products for purchase.
Here's the link to find a local chapter:
http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html#locallist
If you live in an area where you can buy directly from the rancher than you can purchase beef, chicken, etc., for a lot less than the at the grocery store, choose the specific cuts and package sizes you want AND have it all delivered to your door!

]]> By: Katherine http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19131 Katherine Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:37:14 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19131 you live in the lower mainland/vancouver right? can you tell me where you get your free range chicken? i already have a good source for beef, but I haven't been able to find a good source for free range chicken. you live in the lower mainland/vancouver right? can you tell me where you get your free range chicken? i already have a good source for beef, but I haven't been able to find a good source for free range chicken.

]]> By: The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottage http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19130 The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottage Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:41:05 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19130 Another suggestion for children's clothing - find a friend through church or a play group with older children that will pass on clothes to you as her children outgrow them. I have two friends that I regularly pass on clothes to as my youngest grows out of them. Because we have three girls, one outfit might get worn by all three, so I am sometimes willing to pay a bit more for certain items, but usually not for the rough out play clothes. For the nicer items, I often will shop Lands End clearance sales. Because I MUST drive 20 min. to an hour one way to clothes shop we combine it with other things, but usually end up eating out as well. Because of that, it is cheaper to pay shipping on an internet order or find a free shipping deal than to drive. Another suggestion for children's clothing - find a friend through church or a play group with older children that will pass on clothes to you as her children outgrow them. I have two friends that I regularly pass on clothes to as my youngest grows out of them.

Because we have three girls, one outfit might get worn by all three, so I am sometimes willing to pay a bit more for certain items, but usually not for the rough out play clothes. For the nicer items, I often will shop Lands End clearance sales. Because I MUST drive 20 min. to an hour one way to clothes shop we combine it with other things, but usually end up eating out as well. Because of that, it is cheaper to pay shipping on an internet order or find a free shipping deal than to drive.

]]> By: Tina http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19129 Tina Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:29:40 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19129 As for the clothes, I usually shop a whole year ahead at end of the season clearance sales. I shop at stores usually where I have their credit card to get extra discounts and then pay it off immediately online. I usually end up getting about 90% off. Sometimes I got to the resale shops too. As for meat, after seeing Food, Inc. last night, I have rethought my meat purchasing. I no longer trust the claims of organic or all natural labels from my giant grocery stores. I plan on trying to buy from my farmers market and looking into the local meat shops. I have a chest freezer in the garage so I can stock up when I find a good source. I also plan on cutting back on our meat consumption in general, so that will cut costs, too. Basically I want to stop feeding the giant machine that is our food system! I don't want to give them my money anymore and let them think that what they are doing is okay! As for the clothes, I usually shop a whole year ahead at end of the season clearance sales. I shop at stores usually where I have their credit card to get extra discounts and then pay it off immediately online. I usually end up getting about 90% off. Sometimes I got to the resale shops too.

As for meat, after seeing Food, Inc. last night, I have rethought my meat purchasing. I no longer trust the claims of organic or all natural labels from my giant grocery stores.
I plan on trying to buy from my farmers market and looking into the local meat shops. I have a chest freezer in the garage so I can stock up when I find a good source. I also plan on cutting back on our meat consumption in general, so that will cut costs, too.

Basically I want to stop feeding the giant machine that is our food system! I don't want to give them my money anymore and let them think that what they are doing is okay!

]]> By: Domestic Chick http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19128 Domestic Chick Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:30:02 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19128 i really appreciate all of the incredibly useful information that you post here. the information on the meat comes at a perfect time for me. i have been racking my brain on finding a more reasonable way to purchase grass fed meat. thanks so much. i also use ebay to purchase items for our children's clothing. particularly my daughter. she has skin sensitivities and has to wear 100% cotton everything. this would be my preference anyway but it is a little more difficult to bargain shop with that restriction. just and fyi: most of gymborees clothes are 100% cotton. i really appreciate all of the incredibly useful information that you post here. the information on the meat comes at a perfect time for me. i have been racking my brain on finding a more reasonable way to purchase grass fed meat. thanks so much. i also use ebay to purchase items for our children's clothing. particularly my daughter. she has skin sensitivities and has to wear 100% cotton everything. this would be my preference anyway but it is a little more difficult to bargain shop with that restriction. just and fyi: most of gymborees clothes are 100% cotton.

]]> By: Becky http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html/comment-page-1#comment-19127 Becky Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:11:57 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/07/qa-getting-the-best-deals.html#comment-19127 I live in the DC Metro area, and the one of the best ways I've found to find childrens clothes are consignment sales. There are three big ones that are all semianual that I plan to attend. They are all hosted by local churches, generally on a Saturday morning. My favorite one has around 200 to 300 sellers worth of clothes, resulting in a gym packed with clothes and another room full of toys. Some of the deals are really good and some are not. I usually go with a friend and we arrive at least an hour early to get at the front of the line. I make a list and hit the high ticket items first then go through the clothes and toys. I got a $200 jogging stroller for $35. I also got my son's full 18 month wardrobe for under $40. These sales are often advertised on craigslist. PS - I LOVE this website. I live in the DC Metro area, and the one of the best ways I've found to find childrens clothes are consignment sales. There are three big ones that are all semianual that I plan to attend. They are all hosted by local churches, generally on a Saturday morning. My favorite one has around 200 to 300 sellers worth of clothes, resulting in a gym packed with clothes and another room full of toys. Some of the deals are really good and some are not. I usually go with a friend and we arrive at least an hour early to get at the front of the line. I make a list and hit the high ticket items first then go through the clothes and toys. I got a $200 jogging stroller for $35. I also got my son's full 18 month wardrobe for under $40. These sales are often advertised on craigslist.

PS - I LOVE this website.

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