Retail Therapy for Friday: Do you consign, sell or donate?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Rene'

I sold a few clothing items on ebay just recently.

I made some money. Not a lot but anything is nice for clothes that want to be worn but that just hang listlessly in my closet.

I started wondering what other people do with clothes or accessories they no longer need/want/like.

I have a love/hate relationship with consignment stores. I like to shop in consignment stores, but the consigning process is always painful.

When I get to heaven I am going to own a pain-free clothing consignment store.

But anyway, sometimes I just donate because I am feeling generous (or lazy).

And other times I use Ebay because I am pretty good at it and usually have good results.

Sometimes I even buy items at thrift stores and then immediately resell them on Ebay. I am a wheeler and dealer like that. Not really but in my dreams.

Do you donate?

Do you consign?

Do you sell on websites like Ebay?

Do you have any tips?

http://cargocollective.com/joanafaria/Wardrobe-Mistress

Selling Tips for Ebay

1 Listing: Research the item to find a reasonable used price. Don’t expect to get rich.
- And be careful as you are listing not to add features that cost extra. Most listings can be completed for free, and Ebay takes 10% of the final selling price.
- Always make listings for 7 days, ending on a weekend when more people are buying online.
- And don’t be afraid to re-list an item if it does not sell the first time.
2 Pre-weigh the item so you know how much to charge for shipping. USPS website is a great resource ! Priority mail is usually the cheapest.
3 Use the listing suggestions to find the correct category for your item and make sure to spell the description correctly.

I knew someone who bought a nice car off Ebay for really cheap. The seller explained to this person that he just didn’t understand why no one else bid…well the seller had spelled the name of the car incorrectly so when other bidders searched for the car brand name his listing never came up.

4 Be honest in your listing. If the item you are selling is not perfect let bidders know.
5 Take GOOD pictures of the item. Use online images if the item is still for sale new.
6 In the listing, state what the item sells for “new.”
7 Do not offer international shipping. It’s not worth the hassle. Canada is the only other country I will ship to.
8 State in the shipping instructions that you have a 3 day handling time. And ask bidders to pay within 24 hrs of the end of the auction.
9 Buy your shipping supplies at the dollar store. I know Dollar Tree in my town has all the shipping supplies you could possibly need. The more you spend on shipping supplies the less money you are making.
10 It’s cheaper to send the item in a thick package or envelope than it is to ship a box. If you can stuff that pair of jeans in an over-sized envelope than do it.
11 Once the item is sold, use the online USPS site through Ebay for purchasing shipping labels The cost of shipping is slightly cheaper when you buy and print online. You can place the package in/beside your mail box, and the post office picks it up for free when they deliver your mail. You do NOT need to wait in line at the post office.

Monday Randomness: for Tuesday

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Rene'

Yes, I know today is Tuesday which makes my Monday Randomness post even more random.

This post was supposed to go up yesterday but:

#1. I fixed dinner for my whole family (15+) on Sunday afternoon which is usually when I edit photos,

#2 We are trying to refinance our house and the appraiser called yesterday to come appraise the house yesterday.

I am sure your house is always appraiser ready, but mine it not.

We were sanding sheet-rock this weekend.

It looked like it had snowed inside our house (AND IT DID SNOW OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE).

So we spent a lot of Monday whirlwind cleaning in preparation for the appraiser.

This is the point where I would have added pictures of the snow and sanding if I had my act together.

Okay I am done with excuses.

On to other random things:

My niece was finally big enough to wear this little Madeline corduroy dress I found at Goodwill last year for a $1. (please also note the snazzy red shoes)

She was not happy about posing for a picture before church, so just pretend she is smiling.

Did you like Madeline books? I loved them!

_____________________________________________

I bought some of this stuff this weekend.

Publix brand artichoke spinach dip.

It is amazing!

Then I went to Target, and they didn’t have the mascara I usually buy.

So my sister Nancee Lee convinced me to buy the kind she normally buys because it’s so great.

And she was right.

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara

This is not for those who like dark ~~trampy~~ I mean vampy looking eyes.

Its just minimal coverage with lots of added length. Perfect for everyday.

_________________________________

And last but not least, I got my wedding photos back today.

I looked through them once already (and teared up).

They are amazing.

This is one of my favorites.

Me and all my siblings.

It’s a rare occasion that we are all together.

Photo by http://marymckittrick.com/

I hope you are having a great week!

Retail Therapy for Friday: The hunt for a kitchen rug

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Rene'

I have been looking for a nice kitchen rug for months.

You would think finding a fab kitchen rug would not be that hard, but apparently it is.

Or maybe I am just really high maintenance when it comes to rugs.

Probably the latter.

I wanted an over-sized rug with a dark background to hide kitchen stains.

I didn’t want to pay a lot, of course.

Anyway I walked into Marshall’s Homegoods on Wednesday, and it looked like the mecca for all cool kitchen/accent rugs.

Most were $19.99 to $29.99.

Score.

I choose this one because:

#1. It matched my kitchen curtains.

#2. It had a dark background but still has vibrant colors.

#3. It was super plush which would make washing dishes while standing on it almost luxurious; the key word there is “almost.”

#4. I liked that it was sorta unusual and not everyone has it; aka it didn’t come from Target.

Here it is:

I placed it right in front of the sink.

And it really ties in well with my kitchen curtains, which my mom made.

The curtains are simple lined panels made from fabric remnants from a few of my decorating jobs.

Please don’t judge me because of my apothecary jar full of sweet ‘n low.

Thanks.

And while editing these pictures I was reminded of how badly we need to paint our cabinets.

And how much we need to replace our countertops, backsplash etc….

One thing at a time, one thing at a time……

Happy Friday!

Home Improvement: A Pottery Barn Drum Pendant Look-a-Like and a Patient Husband

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Rene'

First of all I have to say that my Chihuahua, Poppi, insisted on sitting in my lap while I wrote this post.

So if there are lots of typos it’s because the dog ate my homework.

Or the dog sat on my homework…you get the picture.

Anyway, we finally installed our Pottery Barn Drum Pendant Look-a-Like this weekend.

A pendant kit (found on ebay), a floor lamp shade from Cost Plus World Market and two washers were all the hardware we needed for the whole DIY fixture. You can read about how to find the kit and the lamp shade in this post that I wrote regarding the hunt for the right pieces.

Super super easy and inexpensive.

It was so easy that describing the process to you is a little silly.

#1 Opening shipping box.

#2 Remove kit.

#3 Slide a washer down the electrical wire on the kit.

#4 Slide the shade on top of the washer.

#5 Slide another washer on top of the shade.

#6 Screw the kit together.

#7 Install in the ceiling.

The end.

And I am so pleased with the results.

Here is the process in pictures:

Removing the old yucky fan.

Measuring to determine what the length of the chain and cord on the new fixture should be.

Because they were so cheap and we didn’t want to have to return to the store if we bought the wrong size (we are a lazy people), we bought two sizes of washers because we weren’t sure exactly which would fit well. 2″ washer with a 3/8″ hole was perfect, but other sizes could have worked.

The new light fixture went up as fast as the old one came down. Super easy installation (so I am told).

I love how it turned out.

And I think the style goes well with my grandparent’s 1950′s table and (freshly upholstered)chairs that were gifted to me.

But if you give a mouse a cookie….

Once the fixture was hung I realized that the table needed to be centered under the light.

Then the rug needed to be moved.

Which meant the china cabinet needed to move to the sun room.

Which meant the bookcase needed to be moved back into the kitchen and the my blue painted chest needed to be moved under our stained glass windows.

But through it all my husband and step sons were so patient. Thanks guys.

How do you like my new fixture?

Featured on Not Just a Housewife

Home Improvement: Our Bedroom Progress

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Rene'

Our bedroom has been a tough project for me.

Working my thrifty chic magic in a room my husband has to live in was a challenge.

If I lived on my own, my bedroom would look a lot like my guest bedroom. Vintage, floral and romantic.

But in order to make my husband comfortable in his own bedroom, I wanted to keep this room neutral with pops of color and oriental accents which he likes.

I still have have more accessorizing to, do but we have come a long way baby.

We removed all the carpet and installed new hardwood floors throughout the upstairs(all before our wedding day).

You can read about this project here.

MB 4

Picking paint colors

Decided on Behr Studio Taupe

Once we got back from our honeymoon, I moved in myself and all my stuff and started girl-a-fying the place.

I always get questions about where I score finds for my house so I included some specific details following the pictures.

I basically read everything that Barb Blair at Knack had written on furniture painting for Design Sponge and then I dove into this dresser.

When my grandmother was in high school she actually purchased this dresser and mirror with the other furniture from this post.

My paint and waxing job is not perfect, but I love it.

And my grandmother is so pleased because it’s gotten a second life.

The jute hardware is from Etsy store, Kris Kraft. Kristi was great to work with!

White Tray- Pier1 $20

White Decorative Coral (from this post) – Goodwill $2

Gold and White Striped catchall- One Kings Lane $20

Please ignore the fact that there is a random topiary in this picture. Thank you for your cooperation.

Old wooden folding chair- Pickens Flea Market $5

Lumbar embroidered Pillow- Pier 1 $20

Vintage oriental lamp- Southern Housepitality $50

Wool oriental rug- Carolina Consignment $100

4 Black acrylic plates with mother of pearl- Palmetto Home and Garden $25

I made these simple lined drapes. You can read about them in this post.

2 Upholstery chalk drawings- The Plantation Shop $75 each

2 Pagoda silhouettes- Esty shop, Pink Pagoda $30 each

Painted bench- The Picken’s Flea Market $5 (covered in foam $10 from Hobby Lobby and remnant fabric $5)

Vintage oriental silk painting- antique store in Philadelphia, $20

Blue ceramic lamp- Feather Your Nest $27

The crocheted topper on my nightstand was a wedding gift made by a dear friend . Thanks, Judy:)

Silver bowl as a catchall for earrings, etc- Goodwill $1

I made the Euro pillows from leftover curtain fabric; I found the 24×24 pillow forms brand new at the flea market for $3.

Navy and white silhouette pillows- Southern Housepitality $7 each

Large metal circle mirror- Real Deals $78

White duvet cover- Goodwill $3

And last by not least our bed. You can read about this huge black miracle bed in this post.

What do you think?

Retail Therapy For Friday: Two Fun Goodwill Finds and an Easy DIY Decorative Coral

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Rene'

Yesterday we had a monsoon here in Greenville, SC.

Oh we needed the rain so badly.

But to escape the deary weather I ran into Goodwill after work.

I scored two decorative accessories that I was actually looking at buying new at other stores.

From Goodwill:

From West Elm and One Kings Lane:

Both the giraffe and the coral found places to call home last night…but I might be using some spray paint on them this weekend.

Yay for chic cheap decorating.

And Fedex man just delivered the remaining pieces of hardware for my Pottery Barn Look-a-Like light fixture, just in time to get it installed this weekend.

Common Sense note: If you want some chic inexpensive coral decorative pieces in your home, this tip from Bubbly Nature Creations is genius.

Walmart fish tank coral, $4.32

Krylon Fusion Spray Paint for plastics.

Tada!

Love how her project turned out.

Check out her site.

bubblynaturecreations.com, Walmart fish tank coral (from the pet section) painted with white spray paint.

Home Improvement: My Pottery Barn Pendant Look-a-like and a Cheap Chic Challenge

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Rene'

I am so excited to share this project with you.

It all started with a post I did a couple weeks ago.

I wrote about the lighting options I had selected for our dining room.

The overall vote via the comments section and Facebook was the West Elm pendant.

And it happened to be my husband and I’s favorite as well.

So I started doing some research to find the best price, etc.

While we still love the West Elm pendant, I found two problems:

#1. It only held one 60 watt bulb.

I guess we could eat dinner in the dark every night.

No one would know if I had burnt the meal or not.

#2. It only had a nylon cord.

And I refuse to use those cord covers that look like over-sized scrunchies.

Makes me think of big bangs and side pony tails.

I don’t want to think about side pony tails while I am eating.

No offense if you have the said scrunchie on your light fixture.

Personal preference only.

Anyway, we decided to stick with the drum shade style, but to look for a better option.

So I looked, and looked, and looked.

Finally, I came across Pottery Barn Drum Shade Pendant.

It fit all our criteria and definitely gave off more light (200W). Guess I can’t burn dinner now.

But…..it was $250 with shipping.

There were several listed on ebay, but they were still about $200 once you added in the shipping.

And for some reason, I had challenged myself to come in under $100 for this project.

I love a good cheap chic challenge.

So I looked, and looked a little more.

And all of a sudden I had a inspired moment.

A drum shade pendant is simply a light bulb on a cord with a huge drum shade.

We can totally make that.

Then I searched.

And good ol’ ebay came though.

Several sellers had just the Pottery Barn Drum Pendant hardware kits up for sale.

$55 with free shipping.

Then I search Pottery Barn for the replacement shades…..just the shade was $150 with shipping!

So I found the measurements of the Pottery Barn shade.

And did some more researching.

Tada!

World Market came through for me.

They carry HUGE lamp shades for $29.99!

So many options.

Thankfully, I had studied the Pottery Barn shade that was listed online to make sure I knew what kind of fitter was needed to attach it to the light kit.

This HUGE blue burlap shade fit the bill.

I will keep you all updated on our progress.

My drum pendant total so far: $87.75

Yay for cheap chic.

Update: I am posting the finished product on 1/29/2013.

Here is the link to the finished product.

Featured on Not Just a Housewife

Monday Randomness: My 2013 Calendar

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Rene'

I have been following Barb Blair’s blog Knack for several years.

I just love her work and her passion for life.

Recently she did a little write up on her sister and daughter who share a birthday.

In the post she also featured her sister’s work that is sold on her Etsy.com store, Cranny.

To be perfectly honest, I have drooled over some of the items in her Etsy store for a while now, but Barb’s blog post was just the push I needed to order something.

Both of these women seem beautiful inside and out, and I just wanted to be a part of that beauty.

I ordered the 2013 Calendar at a Glance.

It came in the mail last week.

I was just giddy when I opened the shipping box.

It was just as great as I had hoped.

Thanks Sarah and Barb for all the inspiration for my work and play.

Retail Therapy for Friday: Window Shopping

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Rene'

Well my husband and I started off the new year with food poisoning from a local market.

We are back to work today, but still not quite 100%.

I was hoping to have the latest DIY project up today, but that’s not going to happen.

The positive side to languishing on the bed/sofa for 24 hours is that I had time to do some online window shopping.

And I found some great “new to me” places to shop.

I am in love with this dress! Lexi Dress in Black, $51

Ruffle Thermal, $28

Cross Bangle, $16

Happy window shopping.

Bailee’s Nursery with Leftover Wedding Supplies

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Rene'

My baby sister, Nancee Lee, got married back in August. (See pictures here and here)

Three months before I did.

It’s been the year of the wedding.

Boy, are we glad there are no more family weddings for a while!

Anyway, in keeping with the clean- up and clean-out theme I have going this week I thought I would share what my sisters both did in my niece’s nursery over the weekend.

They used leftover lanterns from Nancee Lee’s wedding that they cleaned out of the “wedding closet” at my parents’ home because my mom is in a clean out mood too.

They still have more accessorizing to do with the bedding, but I thought it was so cute I just needed to share.

Here is what they used:

Martha Stewart Weddings: Eyelet Lanterns in Blue ($7-13)

Ikea Iron Bed: Tromsnes Daybed ($149, no longer available)

ikea_tromsnes_daybed

Plus, thumbtacks and twine from Dollar Tree for the “installation” of the lanterns.

Tada! So cute and so cheap!

Category Archives: Thrifty Living

Retail Therapy for Friday: Do you consign, sell or donate?

Monday Randomness: for Tuesday

Retail Therapy for Friday: The hunt for a kitchen rug

Home Improvement: A Pottery Barn Drum Pendant Look-a-Like and a Patient Husband

Home Improvement: Our Bedroom Progress

Retail Therapy For Friday: Two Fun Goodwill Finds and an Easy DIY Decorative Coral

Home Improvement: My Pottery Barn Pendant Look-a-like and a Cheap Chic Challenge

Several sellers had just the Pottery Barn Drum Pendant hardware kits up for sale.

Monday Randomness: My 2013 Calendar

Retail Therapy for Friday: Window Shopping

Bailee’s Nursery with Leftover Wedding Supplies

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