Last Thing You Bought?

Bought some plastic water hose to siphon water into and out of my 50 gallon barrels at the land (20 feet @ 24¢ a foot = $4.80)
2 metal handles I'm thinking of mounting beside the doors on my trailer for hand holds ($2.49 each = $4.98)
A small plastic children's wading pool for my dog ($12.99)

My pup loves the pool. Unfortunately every time I get her (somewhat) dry enough to come back in the house she quickly runs over and lies down in the pool. I went through 3 towels before I was able to get her inside without her making another trip to the pool.
 
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I have been severely lacking creative inspiration/outlets lately and my fiance has been on my case about needing more hobbies. I spent some time on Pintrest and Etsy this weekend looking for ideas for simple crafts that don't require a massive monetary investment in the event that they end up not suiting me. Plus I wanted things I could work on for short periods of time sporadically and perhaps sell for supplemental income. Today, my friend and I went on an excursion to the local craft store. I came home with the following haul:

3 T-shirts - $10
I want to try some of the no-sew refashioned t-shirt ideas I have seen online.
I got one purple girly cut shirt to try this technique
I got one oversized men's cut shirts to try this method
And I got another to try this method

2 eight-packs of scrapbook paper - $2 on sale
2 tubes of acrylic paint (6.75oz each) - $3 each on sale
80z jar of Mod Podge hard coat - $7
With these, I want to refinish a two-tier wooden end table I rescued from the curb. It's structurally solid but in need of a face lift. Hoping to follow this technique, more or less.

A multipack of Sculpey mold and bake polymer clay. 30 1oz bars - $18 on sale
I am not sure what I will make with these yet, but it seemed the best bargain just to get the assortment on sale and have options. I was thinking of making some little figurines just for fun.

I wanted to give paper quilling a try, and the starter kits cost more than the separate components so I selected the following:
2 piece quilling tool set - $8
1 fine point quilling tweezer - $4
1 quilling ruler/circle sizer - $3
1 pack of quilling paper strips - $3

2 solid color "fat quarter" fabric swatches - $1 each
No plan for these yet but I liked the colors and figured if I want to learn to sew or do some mini projects, it would be nice to have something to start with

Grand total $62.83
 
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I walked over to Whole Foods yesterday and got a few things, basically to tide me over until I can go shopping at Ralphs supermarket today. I got:

2 Greek salads (both now eaten)
1 box of organic cherry tomatoes
1 bunch of organic bananas, one of them now eaten
2 cups of Greek yogurt, peach mango, one of them now eaten.
1 quart fresh squeezed organic orange juice.
1 package Tofurky Deli Slices, Italian Deli flavor
 
GingerFoxx said:
I have been severely lacking creative inspiration/outlets lately and my fiance has been on my case about needing more hobbies. I spent some time on Pintrest and Etsy this weekend looking for ideas for simple crafts that don't require a massive monetary investment in the event that they end up not suiting me. Plus I wanted things I could work on for short periods of time sporadically and perhaps sell for supplemental income. Today, my friend and I went on an excursion to the local craft store. I came home with the following haul:

3 T-shirts - $10
I want to try some of the no-sew refashioned t-shirt ideas I have seen online.
I got one purple girly cut shirt to try this technique
I got one oversized men's cut shirts to try this method
And I got another to try this method

2 eight-packs of scrapbook paper - $2 on sale
2 tubes of acrylic paint (6.75oz each) - $3 each on sale
80z jar of Mod Podge hard coat - $7
With these, I want to refinish a two-tier wooden end table I rescued from the curb. It's structurally solid but in need of a face lift. Hoping to follow this technique, more or less.

A multipack of Sculpey mold and bake polymer clay. 30 1oz bars - $18 on sale
I am not sure what I will make with these yet, but it seemed the best bargain just to get the assortment on sale and have options. I was thinking of making some little figurines just for fun.

I wanted to give paper quilling a try, and the starter kits cost more than the separate components so I selected the following:
2 piece quilling tool set - $8
1 fine point quilling tweezer - $4
1 quilling ruler/circle sizer - $3
1 pack of quilling paper strips - $3

2 solid color "fat quarter" fabric swatches - $1 each
No plan for these yet but I liked the colors and figured if I want to learn to sew or do some mini projects, it would be nice to have something to start with

Grand total $62.83
Click to expand...

Wow! Quite a start!

You must post on the board how it all works out for you. :)
 
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Stopped at the hardware store and bought 4 flats of pint canning jars (12 jars each). 3 wide mouth flats and 1 regular (they only had 3 wide mouth flats). On sale for $8.99 each, total = $35.96.
Also bought some new lids for my old jars. 2 packs of wide mouth and 1 pack of regular. $2.99 each, total = $8.97.
I decided to try out some Tattler (brand) reusable lids and rings so I bought a couple boxes of those also. 2 sets wide mouth lids and rings $7.99 each, total = $15.98.
On top of these I bought a new jar lifter for $5.99. I can't remember if that's the real name of this tool -it's a pair of tongs designed for lifting jars out of the canning bath. I lost my old pair a few years ago and have been getting along with a pair of regular tongs since then -which is kind of dangerous as they slip.

Canning is getting expensive, and it's actually quite a bit of work. If I didn't save money compared to buying the produce, believe that I come up with a better tasting and healthier product, and hate the idea of wasting the produce I've grown, I'd skip the whole thing.


--I'd like a new pressure cooker, but they want something like 150+ dollars for one of usable size, and I'm having a problem talking myself into spending that much..... though I'll probably break down and buy one sometime soon.
 
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Without spending a penny, I earned 5,000 Swagbucks and redeemed them for a $50 Amazon gift card. I just used the $50 to buy food; specifically, a 12-pack of canned soup and a 12-pack of canned beans. Those will last me for a while, although I may give one or two of each to my sister.

After taking a break from Swagbucks, I'm back on the site earning SB, although it's only a few at a time. This time I'm going for the long haul; either 10,000 SB to earn a $100 Amazon GC or 25,000 SB to earn a $250 Amazon gift card. Earning the 5,000 took me about a year, so I don't expect to reach either goal any time soon. Wish me luck!

Swagbucks - Free Gift Cards for Paid Surveys and More
 
Came back from staying a few days on my land (in a travel trailer). On my way through town I bought a few supplies (at 2 different stores):
12 pack of Coke Zero for $4.99
Bulk dry black beans (about $1.19/pound - I don't remember exact cost per pound) $5.30
One block extra firm tofu (I wasn't sure how many I had frozen (I had 3) wanted back up just in case I was out) $3.25
Two 3-oz glass spice/herb containers (refillable) $1.25 each = $2.50
3 oz. of crushed red peppers at 97¢ an ounce = $2.91
3 oz. of marjoram at 87¢ an ounce = $2.61
One pound of mixed salad greens (they call it "Herb Blend") $4.99
Two bottles of different flavored vinaigrette dressings (I don't remember the flavors and I'm too lazy to go look) 2 for $4.00 (on sale)
About a 1/8 pound of bulk unsweetened dried banana chips (my dog and I both like snacking on these) $3.89 a pound (don't remember what I paid for these)
4 oranges at $1.89 a pound -not sure what I paid for these either.
I know I had $15.00 left from a $50.00 bill when I was done shopping though, so.....

50 - 15 = 35

4.99
5.30
3.25
2.50
2.91
2.61
4.99
4.00 +
------
30.55

35.00
30.55-
------
4.45

The oranges and banana chips cost $4.45 (approximately - I might have had some change in addition to the $15).

TMI
 
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I had to wait until today ( debit card payment starts on the 20 th) to order 2 books :

From the Depository Book co uk ; Whole Grain Vegan Baking

From Amazon co uk ; La Tartine Gourmande
 
I drowned my cell phone doing laundry on Sunday... I went to the Verizon store and, as I suspected, I was not due for an upgrade. The new version of my phone didn't have any special offers or rebates, and full retail price would have been $150.00. I don't use a smart phone, because 1) 90% of the time I am an arm's reach from a real computer and 2) I don't want to pay an additional $25/month for a data plan I don't often need. There were no basic texting phones that would have been cheaper, but the salesman referred me to this place that sells older generation/pre-owned phones at a discount. Of course, they were not open on Sunday, so I had to wait til Monday after work. I got my same phone, a generation or two older, for $60.00, which was a lot more budget-friendly. Unfortunately that kind blows the money I had budgeted for stuff for my condo for this paycheck, which means waiting another 2 weeks til I get paid again. But hey, it could have been worse, right?
 
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More phone troubles. My iPhone 5 broke so I bought a 4 second hand which I'll sell when my contract ends in 6 months. I'll also sell the 5 for parts.

Bloody phones.
 
GingerFoxx said:
I drowned my cell phone doing laundry on Sunday... // I got my same phone, a generation or two older, for $60.00, which was a lot more budget-friendly. Unfortunately that kind blows the money I had budgeted for stuff for my condo for this paycheck, which means waiting another 2 weeks til I get paid again. But hey, it could have been worse, right?
Click to expand...
I'm kind of a Luddite, I would have just skipped getting a new phone and cancelled my contract.
Then they would have either scrambled to give me new "deal" or I'd have had a good excuse for being without a cell phone - I pretty much hate cell phones anyway. -I don't even like land lines and cell phones are even worse - they're just another leash.
 
Dropkick said:
I'm kind of a Luddite, I would have just skipped getting a new phone and cancelled my contract.
Then they would have either scrambled to give me new "deal" or I'd have had a good excuse for being without a cell phone - I pretty much hate cell phones anyway. -I don't even like land lines and cell phones are even worse - they're just another leash.
Click to expand...


I don't know how it is there but you can't jut cancel your contract, you'd have to pay for the rest of it, even if you have no phone. :/
 
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raggle said:
I don't know how it is there but you can't jut cancel your contract, you'd have to pay for the rest of it, even if you have no phone. :/
Click to expand...
Right. Plus, I am on a family plan, so me doing my own thing affects what everyone else on the plan has to pay. Also, Verizon still have the best service coverage, and since 95% of the people I know are on Verizon, it means anytime I call/text them, it doesn't use minutes.
 
I've never bought into a plan I couldn't drop if I wanted to.
.......I did mention that I'm somewhat of a Luddite...

- actually I'm a very confused Luddite. As I don't like what technology is doing to our society, nor do I enjoy dealing with it. Yet I'm aware that everything would collapse and descend into chaos without it. Plus I use these things that I dislike on a daily basis, I'm above average in my knowledgeable of the use and repair of many of these technological gadgets, and I appreciate the comforts they supply. On the other hand I plan to move off-grid into the hills and leave most of it behind (except for my e-readers, music, and extensive DVD collection). See - I'm confused.
 
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Today I bought another potable water container (6 gallon) for hauling water up to the land ($12.99)

I'm planning on building a stand for my plastic (food grade) 55 gallon drums (for water - at the land). I'd like to set them on their sides and put a valve on the lower, small (1 inch) bung hole. This would make them much easier to work with. However I can't find anything that will fit the threads on the hole, so I'm going to try to jimmy a set up so I can attach a valve. Don't know if it will work but I'm giving it a try and bought the parts today.

Straight vinyl ball valve 1/2 inch female $2.99
Two vinyl 1/2 inch male to 5/8 inch hose barb ($1.27 each) $2.54
2 small hose clamps (.47 each) .94
Five foot 5/8 inch flexible vinyl pipe (.27 a foot) $1.35
One 1 inch rubber cork $1.98
Tube of silicone caulk $5.98

I drilled a hole through the cork and put the pipe/hose through it. I used the silicon caulk to make sure the pipe was watertight to the cork. Tomorrow I'll pound the cork into the bung hole along with some more silicon, let it cure and then fill the barrel and see if it sealed good enough to work.
If not maybe I'll build a pump instead.
 
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