August 2016 Frugal Chatter thread - ALL WELCOME!!!

[coupon girl]

oh I don't even want to start on crappy dentists as I am sitting here with a swollen gum above the crown he did wrong (happens 3-4 times a month) cant be fixed either as 5 months went by after the crown was put in wrong -too long (well at least he gave me a 1,000 cheque for my new crown done by my new dentist as when we had insurance they don't cover 2 crowns in a year and a half

-my new dentist is awesome but I will live forever with this sore gum problem and extreme dry mouth half the time

[Angela273]

oh I don't even want to start on crappy dentists as I am sitting here with a swollen gum above the crown he did wrong (happens 3-4 times a month) cant be fixed either as 5 months went by after the crown was put in wrong -too long (well at least he gave me a 1,000 cheque for my new crown done by my new dentist as when we had insurance they don't cover 2 crowns in a year and a half

-my new dentist is awesome but I will live forever with this sore gum problem and extreme dry mouth half the time

Your story makes me hesitant about getting the crown done, whenever that is. If I leave it the tooth might break and lose that corner of the tooth, or potentially break down into the root. But the dentist really had no idea how long my tooth would be good like this and pointed out that this is something to be aware of because it does not need to be done immediately. My mouth is sore from all the X-rays. They do digital ones and make you bite down on a big hard metal thing, which they know hurts the good thing is that even with these extensive X-rays they still couldn't find my wisdom teeth, which is just fine by me.

[jasperandchar]

Wishing everyone a wonderful evening

[Granger]

How do you ladies price things when you sell online?

It depends on the item's condition and how quickly you want to move it. I find an item that is actually used sells well around 10% of purchase price (current sale price or what was paid). I buy second hand, personally, to save money. I try to make some while giving someone else a deal. A new item will move well at 50% but you can ask for more if the demand is there. I sell children's clothing a $1 an item and adult clothing $2-3 an item, speciality clothing $5-$10 (e.g. an Easter dress). This is less than thrift stores in our area.

You're not supposed to have honey while pregnant. Babies aren't allowed to have honey until they are 1yr old.

My last pregnancy I read an article about the actual risks of the food restrictions. They are quite low. I know about delaying honey for children less than a year (due to botulism risks). Honey was never on my lists of restrictions for any pregnancy from any care provider. I know I ate it all three pregnancies. I make a salad dressing with honey and I would take a teaspoon for coughs since I couldn't have other medications. I was very strict with my first two pregnancies. Much more lax with my third, but had honey for all three. After reading the article, I realized anything pasteurized is fine (like soft cheeses) and I choose to eat lunch meat because the cases upon which the cautions were based were a negligible percentage.

Our current dental office is still working to fix some of their mistakes, but we all know that damage to teeth is permanent. I'm trying hard to make sure that my children don't end up with the same bad experiences and stress about dentists that I have.

My sister has extreme dental anxiety and just got implants. It took a lot of work to find Drs that would work for her. I know you have changed dentists already. I hope the ones you have now are sensitive to your bad experience. If not, and you haven't, I encourage you to share it or keep looking for one that is (not that you don't have enough to deal with!!!)

@Granger: Have you ever tried the Mr. B's Sketchers warehouse sale? I've never been, but they advertise shoes for the family each year. I also found that some Sketchers from the clearance section of The Shoe Company are specially made for clearance and not sold in their stores.

I just Googled the Sketcher sale you mentioned. I would have loved to check something like that out when I did not have three kids in tow. As there are no prices advertised, I would be hesitant to make the long drive for the same deal I could get at The Shoe Company. lol. Our Shoe Company store has layers of reduction stickers for clearance so you know how good of a deal you are getting and how long the items have been around the store. I also like the rewards program. The shoes I bought this time were Sketchers. I paid $30 for about $50 shoes. They were on sale, not clearance, this time. I love clearance buys!!!

I think both online shopping and "big city" shopping are different that small town shopping. Our The Shoe Company is a middle of the road store (not a boutique, but more expensive and better quality than Payless). I've noticed sometimes shopping closer to Toronto that the same store can either be more discount like or more boutique like. For e.g. The Bay is much more high end at Square One than locally.

***

I am off to visit a sweet newborn and snuggle her this morning. I am also planning to visit a sweet pregnant friend and her family tomorrow. Tell you all about it after the weekend. Hope you all have a great one!!!

[lilo0003]

Back from our short vacation, I am off for another few days so plan to get stuff done around the house. The basement needs a god purge and cleaning. So that's my day.
Sweet sparrow: I am still trying to determine how to ideally price stuff for sale. Sometimes things sell really quick and others they just sit. I have a bunch of stuff to list today so we will see how it goes. I have made 100.00 in 6 weeks so every bit adds up.

[sweet sparrow]

It depends on the item's condition and how quickly you want to move it. I find an item that is actually used sells well around 10% of purchase price (current sale price or what was paid). I buy second hand, personally, to save money. I try to make some while giving someone else a deal. A new item will move well at 50% but you can ask for more if the demand is there. I sell children's clothing a $1 an item and adult clothing $2-3 an item, speciality clothing $5-$10 (e.g. an Easter dress). This is less than thrift stores in our area.

My last pregnancy I read an article about the actual risks of the food restrictions. They are quite low. I know about delaying honey for children less than a year (due to botulism risks). Honey was never on my lists of restrictions for any pregnancy from any care provider. I know I ate it all three pregnancies. I make a salad dressing with honey and I would take a teaspoon for coughs since I couldn't have other medications. I was very strict with my first two pregnancies. Much more lax with my third, but had honey for all three. After reading the article, I realized anything pasteurized is fine (like soft cheeses) and I choose to eat lunch meat because the cases upon which the cautions were based were a negligible percentage.

I just Googled the Sketcher sale you mentioned. I would have loved to check something like that out when I did not have three kids in tow. As there are no prices advertised, I would be hesitant to make the long drive for the same deal I could get at The Shoe Company. lol. Our Shoe Company store has layers of reduction stickers for clearance so you know how good of a deal you are getting and how long the items have been around the store. I also like the rewards program. The shoes I bought this time were Sketchers. I paid $30 for about $50 shoes. They were on sale, not clearance, this time. I love clearance buys!!!

I think both online shopping and "big city" shopping are different that small town shopping. Our The Shoe Company is a middle of the road store (not a boutique, but more expensive and better quality than Payless). I've noticed sometimes shopping closer to Toronto that the same store can either be more discount like or more boutique like. For e.g. The Bay is much more high end at Square One than locally.

@Granger : Thank you for the sale guidelines.

Larger items like wedding dresses and cribs have different ones, I'm sure. It seems you can ask for a higher price in the big city, but I sold to a lady in a small town where the costs are much less. Well, it's moved, and that's something. We'll see whether or not there's any money in it as she could give him a sob story and he'd be the kind to just give it away for free. I'll include some bedsheets as well, but am undecided on the crib set as it includes a play mat that the new baby could use.

Expense update: DH bought the most expensive mattresses at the store for LO and the new baby's twin beds after telling me that he'll have to pay at least $100 for the bachelor party, not including food.

Has anyone ever cashed in their Swagbucks for Bay GC? I'm wondering if they work as the GC I had for Home Depot worked, while Lowes did not (they've since been removed from the site).

[coupon girl]

sweet sparrow -as for prices I price my items cheap -a few of my daughter's dress sold for 8.00-9.00 each like new they were (which is cheaper than thrift shops ) I just sold a dvd of 4 dvds -gangster movies for 5.00 -my son-in-law said he bought it months ago for 3.00 at dollarama -so I made $2 there -sometimes when they come up for renewal I lover the price also

-well called son-in-law last night as daughter was at work -looks like she has to have a C-section -as he is big and in the cannonball position (my son-in-law laughed when he told me that )I will now more this weekend when they sleep at my house -they are coming down for his mom's birthday -but his mom doesn't have comfy beds -so daughter said they will sleep here and maybe we can go out for breakfast with them and we will chat for sure -bought my grandson to be swim trunks at walmart today 12 -18 months on for 3.00 cant beat that price
-just spent $122 on groceries -but price matched my lean ground beef from walmart family pk 17.00 price matched to food basics sale price I paid 8.90 made 16 hamburgers out of it -we like are hamburgers not too big
-got gain pods 14's 4.99-2.00 and 2.00 after checkout51 and coupon I paid ..99
-persil 4.99-2.00 cpn 2.00 caddle=.99
love getting cheap laundry soap

[Granger]

I have yet to see a wedding dress move...ever. Though I am sure it happens. Items like that, people like low even numbers. If you want $400 for a wedding dress I would say price it at $200 and take the first reasonable offer that comes through (in this case I would say 50% of asking so $100). It is always a dance of moving the item and making funds. I price low because items that don't move don't make me anything, I would rather see someone enjoy my dress for $100 than have it sit for $200. BUT...my wedding dress gets worn each year...by my Christmas tree and is now a tree skirt.

Cribs, around here, second hand go for about $100 with a mattress. I buy and sell A LOT. If you aren't sure about pricing some items I am happy to help...you can probably price a little higher than me because of your location.

[lilo0003]

I almost think in the city you need to be in more than 1 group. I find that with an hour my posts are so far down no one will see it. I am not ready for the extra work of multiple groups so I need to be patient. Timing matters too, I had posted boys dress shoes in May thinking grad/1st communion but had no interest. Just reposted at the same price of 5.00 a pair and one was gone in under an hour and the other is to be picked up tonight.
i have been busy today. I have a bag of linen for a friend that the boys have grown out of. I have posted a bunch of stuff, three loads of laundry on and off the line and now I am tackling the basement. It's the boys hang out but it also can be a drop zone. I want to put together 1 more bag for Value Villiage. I have an almost full card and I always save them for my aunt. She is a missionary in Central America and is home soon and loves thrift store shopping. I am having so much fun purging that I am counting the number of things I get rid of today. Can you tell I have spent the last week reading a blog called Becomimg Minimalist.

[Ciel]

Am looking forward to seeing if the new Value Village opening in Ancaster next week might have items as good as Stoney Creek or Burlington stores. Rather optimistic that the store's donation centre will get more traffic once open as the two closest donation clothing bins usually get surrounded by bags of non-clothing items including small furniture. Those bins are now close to roadwork being done in the area, so perhaps the bins will get moved?
Upside to be a card member is getting invited to the preview night, so I won't have to do the opening day lineup!

[Natalka]

Hope everyone is doing well today!

Celebratory day in my family today, even though they are far away and I won't be celebrating with them - my 'little' brother's birthday, he's 10 years younger than me, he was the sixth and last kid; my oldest BIL's birthday; my second oldest sister's wedding anniversary; plus three days ago was my oldest sister's wedding anniversary.

Glad it's the second day which is cooler!

[Granger]

I am on two buy and sell sites. It is weird sometimes I get no hits on one and then in a couple of days I will post on the other and it is gone in seconds. I find it weird because I know there are lots of people who are on both sites...but also lots who aren't, I guess.

Got to snuggle the baby all morning. Only 3 weeks new. Brought the mom an iced capp and changed the baby's sweet cloth diapered bum.

[SassyAshley]

Good Evening,
The week is over and it has been a long one but it isn't really over yet. Tomorrow is our company golf tournament, record turn out of 87 golfers and 9 helpers, there will be a ton of events going on as we golf. Looking forward to it but a little stressed.

The roofers are here doing out roof, I am impressed they were able to get to us so quick as I know how busy they are.

Some of the cards have started to fall, the girl who took my place was let go yesterday so I have moved back into my old position until a replacement can be found. The good news is it means I will be home for a bit which will be nice bad news is no travel and knowing we still have a lot of things I should be working on.

Well time to clean up from dinner, have a great night everyone

[Angela273]

My dental cleaning went fine this morning. I still find it odd when I am their first appointment of the day and they are late, especially when I can only do a 50min appointment. Then I took the kids to the Family Centre, we haven't gone in weeks. I sold something for $10, but the lady was hours late. She complained that I wasn't home 1.5hrs after she said she'd pick it up. She eventually came at 2pm. I called my brother and found out that SIL was released from hospital again, but he didn't tell anyone. We had a free BBQ for supper at our public library to celebrate 50yrs. It has been raining this evening, so my vegetable garden and grass was watered for free.

Tomorrow our local police department has a free day for the public. Tours of the police station, fire department, ambulance, bouncy castle, popcorn, cotton candy, balloons, BBQ, etc. We took the kids last year when the twins were only 3wks old.

[lilo0003]

Angela: so far I have been lucky with the porch pick up. I don't want to wait around for people to show, but then every person has shown up when they said they would. Today I sold three items and one I will hold until Tuesday, but since that has always worked out I don't mind. The family is on vacation.