Frugal Finds- Listia

I got the outfits in this picture for Ella and it cost me nothing!  

How did I do that?  I got them through an auction style called Listia.

Check out Listia at this website.

It is a website like Ebay but you aren't paying with money, you are using credits.  Many of the auctions offer free or low cost shipping.  When you sign up, Listia gives you credits to make your first purchase.  After that you can earn credits by auctioning off your unwanted items.  It is like an online garage sale.

I get most of my credits my auctioning off points like Pampers Gifts to Grow, Huggies Rewards and Coke points.  I save the codes from those items and list them on Listia.  Poeple that are saving up on those sites to buy something special will give you credits for those reward codes.  It does not requireme eto ship anything since the codes can be emailed.

I also sell off things that have low cost shipping like books.  They can be mailed through media mail and I offer free shipping to the customer and get tons of credits that I use towards "buying" things I want.

Here are some more things that I got on Listia and paid nothing for them...

Check out Listia by clicking here today!

Frugal Finds- A Dress Co op

Money is tight.  I think most families can relate to that especially with more tax money coming out of their paychecks this year.

I wrote in this previous post how I love to buy dresses for my little Ella.  I wrote about how I save tons of money by shopping at my favorite consignment shop.  Another way to add to those savings is to have a dress co-op.

My friend, Lindy, came up with the idea.  She and I were both pregnant at the same time.  We were actually due just a few days apart last spring.  Ella surprised us by arriving early so the girls ending up being a month apart.

With us both having girls so close in age and size, she suggested that we share the dresses that each bought- a dress co-op.  It has worked out really well so far.  

Ella wearing the dress for Christmas 

Today Emily wore a dress that my sister had hand smocked for Ella.  My sister made it roomy so that we could get some use out of it.  Since the girls both have the same first initial, my sister can even monogram a dress for my little E and Lindy's little E can use it too.

Emily wore the dress to church today.

When money is tight, you have to get creative!  Even if your financial situation is comfortable, why not save some cash by starting a dress co-op of your own?

Frugal Finds- Shop Used

So many of us need to tighten the purse strings in this economy.  In the Delmanto house, we have been trimming the excess fat from our budget since Aaron was laid off last month. One way I keep myself in check is by shopping for used items.  

My favorite shop is called  "My Little Haven" which is located on Main Street in Spotswood (my home town.)  The shop carries infant, children and maternity clothes.  They also sell baby goodies like strollers, bedding, swings, etc.

Got all of the dresses for next summer for $15

They are starting a clearance sale tomorrow on their winter clothes.  Clothing items will be $2 each!  They only sell quality used items and everything I have gotten from there has been in :like new" condition.  Since the kids are already stocked up for this winter I will check out clothes for them for next year.  It is pretty easy to anticipate what sizes they will be in then.

Got all of these for $35 (that includes the snow
pants for Sydney)

Since the store takes consignment, you can save even more.  Bring your clean, lightly used baby items to them and they will sell it and you get a share of the sale.  I keep mine there as a store credit and shop with my store credit.  There have been times I have left there with bags of clothes for the kids and never had to open my wallet.

Got this Gymboree dress for $1.95

I make every effort not to pay full price for anything.  I only buy new clothes for the kids if it is on clearance at Kohls and if I have a 30% off coupon and there is Kohls cash available.  

Everyone knows that it is so fun to shop for little girl clothing.  It can get costly trying to dress up your little "doll".  By shopping consignment, I am able to fill my need to shop for Ella and not have to spend a fortune!