New or Used that is the Question

I have been thinking about this especially when it comes to how I shop. Are there certain things that I have to buy new or can I get away and enjoy used just as much? There are certain things that I buy that have to be a certain brand even but when it comes to these goods I think it is because I am a smart or should I say wise consumer. Now most of what I buy is used.

When it comes to clothing I buy used mostly. I love the feel of a pair of well worn jeans. Now who really likes to break in a new pair? I went shopping this week at Value Village and used one of the $35 GCs that I won last week at stocked up on a few wants: one was a beautiful silk red blouse($4.99) that will look great over my basic black dress( also a VV find for $7) for the holidays. I love finds like this and I cant tell you how many compliments I have gotten for my brown leather bag that I got for $3.99. Yes I know by buying clothes second hand you have to bring them home and wash immediately etc etc and you don’t have the latest trendy items but I am a vintage classic gal, so it works well for me.

When it comes to furniture I buy used and you can always find great deals either at Kijiji or Craigslist. There is not a NEW piece in my apartment. Now this means my apartment is a hodge podge but that again is ok with me but I guess if you are trying to achive a certain look then you might buy new. As for colors in my apartment. I use throws and pillows to bring things together.

When it comes to electronics unless it has been gifted to me( ie my current tv I buy new). My computer was a great deal when I bought it two years ago ( for $349). I got the last one Staples had when they were clearing out stock for me it has more then served me well. My MP3 player was a gift with a purchase I made.

For my music needs I don’t buy CDs anymore if there is a song I like I can usually get it for free? How I enter and win enough downloads from contests through the year. I have not paid for music in over a year-Thanks Rip to Win and the other contests that have netted me 56 downloads in the last 6 months. If you like music don’t buy CDs download them it is so much cheaper!

Now if my location ever changed( living in the heart of Toronto allows me to be a walker and TTC user) and I had to buy a car I would buy used. A car loses much of its value as you drive off the lot.

When it comes to groceries this is where I skimp alot without losing quality. Dominion here has the fresh or free policy which nets me about $30 a month in free quality groceries simply by checking expiry dates. I also coupon collect. Save.ca is great for coupons and then there are the  that line the stores. There are certain foods where the store brand simply will not do. We buy real Kraft dinner and Campbells soups only. They are the main stays of our lunches. Now for cookies I bake or go to the factory for them. I spend about $200 a month for the both of us and that includes cleaning and bathroom stuff too.

Now when it comes to toys here is where you have to be careful. Our kids come first right! I buy new mostly–mostly at Walmart or Toys R US when on sale. We have bought some toys second hand ( like Roo’s kitchen), a barbie dollhouse, and  the like. We have bought games second hand at garage sales after checking for pieces. As for books we love second hand and make great use of the library.

So does my use of second hand make me cheaper then cheap? I think it makes me a great consumer and smart shopper.

Frugal Blogs that I Love

I have been a blogger for years now and have just moved to WordPress. I have found over the years there are times when I write lots and lots and other times well I read and learn, cry over some of the stories, yell at how could they say that and the like…

On my journey to becoming a cheap mom I found that there were blogs and bloggers that well I just want to go and read and then go back and read again. If you want to be cheap or as some like to call it frugal may I say go see and read these sites, may they bless you on your journey to cheapness:

1. Dawn over at Frugal for Life  is a great blogger. She has wonderful interactions with her readers and even allows readers to write posts and there is always something to either learn about or remember. So go read Dawn!
2. The Frugal Duchessaka Sharon has a wonderful blog. She is a pro writer though so I have certain expectations and she doesn’t fail. So go read Sharon and find out how to be frugal and live well.
3. The Simple Momaka Deborah currently is cleaning off her bookshelves and getting rid of some of the books and programs she had laying around. Good for her. She is great for all kinds of great ideas.
4. The Organizing Junkie, yes Laura is insanely organized but that is a good thing. She like me is purging parts of the household and like me has a pile ready to go to the thrift store. Like me as well she is a Cannuck!
5. The  Frugal Hackersare a new find that I am quickly falling in love with. They are a team of contributors that write great articles all about frugality.
6. Over at Gluten Free Frugal ( another new find) I find a mom like me who is trying to live on the cheap while being gluten free. For those of you who are trying to do this you will know how hard it gets.
7. Frugal guy gives a guys perspective and cause I am a single mom it is nice to see what the other gender thinks.
8. The Festival of Frugality is a great way to find and read lots of blogs and articles on cheapness. We all want to save or nickels and dimes and this blog offers lots of us sharing the best we can.
9. Jennifer is a great homeschooling, frugal homemaker. Life on a Budget shares lots of tips for both homeschooling and homemaking. Since I am the parent of a special needs grade 4er I find some of here tips I can bring home.
10. Amy over at Motherload: The Mom Advice Blog is another great find recently. Her blog has been around for years and I know why, it is well written and a great source for us moms.

So there you have it my top 10 Frugal blogs to visit, go read, gets lots of tips and may they help you and me to live on the cheap.

Hello world!

Hi all for those of you who haven’t found me before as I have journeyed around blog sites, then welcome to my world..

I have had blog in the past on MSN, Xanga and blogspot, but was attracted here because of what I can do on the cheap, and for those of you who know me you know I like the cheap.

For those of you who find me the newbie on wordpress let me introduce myself and my world.

I am a mom first and foremost, who loves to find the best deals, all while raising my unique creative child solo style. I am an active community volunteer–vice chair of my daughter’s school SAC, teach nursery on Sundays, and enter whatever contests I find as a way of doing things for free. I even joined a FREE online website for weight loss and it will be the first site recommendation that I make here.  The tools alone are worth their weight in gold, and then there is the forums and motivational tools–well they are helping this mom get that healthy frugal lifestyle I only once dreamed of. So I give www.sparkpeople.com my first go to site award! Please if you are trying to get healthy I recommend this place, and well I cant be to far off the mark as it is winning lots of support as the place to go for health help. My goal is to be almost half the woman I am by next year at this time.

Well all it is thanksgiving weekend here so I will leave this post with a frugal tip for a low fat turkey gravy, drop a few ice-cubes into your drippings broth, the fat will be attracted immediately to the ice and then scoop them out and viola you are left with a low fat gravy.

May you and yours be blessed…

Hollie