Compacting Mommas? - Page 19

[kathirynne]

Need suggestions

I have 2 tables and a cabinet that I want to top with glass. Does anyone know of a Compact-friendly source for custom-cut glass? (Or will this project have to wait until next year?)


TIA

[bendmom]

We had a peice cut a few years back. We contacted an auto glass center/home glass center. Maybe if you feel that you really need it you could consider it a craft/project? I am in the same boat. I have two new Pottery Barn lavender velvet euro shams that need the actual 30"x30" insert pillow. I am not sure even if I make the inserts myself if it can be considered under the compact since I don't really "need" them. (did I just hijack?)

[Ravin]

No flames. You bought a USED car. Meets Compact, even if it seems snazzy to you.

For me, a major goal corollary to the Compact is to buy a car. The money I save by Compacting is going into the Car Fund. I am not taking on any new debt, so I will be paying cash, and of course buying used.

But it sure as heck will be new to ME!

[bendmom]

Originally Posted by celestialdreamer

Oh, and we did get a new to us minivan (which was planned purchase, and very much needed) last week. It is 5 years old but has lots of bells and whistles so it feels like such a hypocritical purchase when I'm buying used clothing for our family, etc. I guess I'm a little uncomfortable going from driving my 10 year old base model sedan (which was not working for us) to something that I consider so upscale. Nobody flame me please, I'm feeling guilty enough already :

I'd rather have used clothing and a really safe car!

[Natalya]

My update- So far I've been doing well. Today is my two week anniversary! It seems longer than that though. I've been feeling guilty because I've been eating out more than I want to, but the only thing I've bought new is some much needed undies and socks. Oh, and under my exception I'm allowed to buy craft stuff, but I did HORRIBLY today at JoAnn's. I didn't have my written list, and let myself browse, and it got ugly. It was all CRAFT stuff though... Eeek. For Halloween I was tempted to buy a costume, but I didn't, got creative and ds was Charlie Chaplain instead (though I am never doing that again because too many people thought he was Hitler). However, I'm still tempted about Christmas gifts... still thinking though. Oh, and Margie- Great idea about 10,000 Villages! I always forget about that place.

[phroggies]

Coming out of deep lurkdom (I'm very inspired by you guys but not quite ready to join yet) to say in response to this:

Originally Posted by momaste

I need a new calendar refill. I've been using a Franklin Covey binder
and mine was destroyed last month in a freak baby accident (he pulled
out and chewed on a bunch of the pages!) Calendars can't especially be
purchased used, right? Would a calendar refill be a reasonable
exception?

and this:

Originally Posted by Malva

How about something you make on the computer and print? I'm sure there are free calendar pages somewhere on the net.

. . . here's a link for a (free) "diy planner" that you print out on the computer. It can very readily be configured for your own requirements, so it might make a great notebook for transitioning from the professional world.

[momaste]

Thanks for the DIY planner link! That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!

I have a box of adult toys leftover from when I was doing pleasure parties (like tupperware parties with adult products.) They aren't used, but are sitting in my closet awaiting a new home! I'm not sure where to sell them. I hate to throw them away since I did pay good money for all the inventory, but I will never in my lifetime use all this stuff!

Would anyone be interested in bartering for them? Suggestions of where to sell them?

[beansricerevolt]

Originally Posted by momaste

Thanks for the DIY planner link! That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!

I have a box of adult toys leftover from when I was doing pleasure parties (like tupperware parties with adult products.) They aren't used, but are sitting in my closet awaiting a new home! I'm not sure where to sell them. I hate to throw them away since I did pay good money for all the inventory, but I will never in my lifetime use all this stuff!

Would anyone be interested in bartering for them? Suggestions of where to sell them?

I might: It depends on what you have available. What do you have?
You can PM me if you don't want to post your list of stuff.

[saras]

Art Supplies?

Okay, I'm not OFFICIALLY compacting, but this thread has really made me more aware of my spending, and just thinking about it really helps our budget and our less cluttered lifestyle.

Having said that, I've got a 5-year old DD who REALLY likes doing art projects. We tend to find and recycle lots of paper, shoe boxes, cardboard, etc., but don't have much luck with tape, glue, markers, crayons and the like. Any ideas for finding some of this stuff somewhere other than the oh-so-tempting Target?

[Natalya]

I have crafting stuff in my exception, so you could do that. Or maybe you could put an ISO list on craigslist, I know I have a ton of barely used art supplies laying around (I keep thinking "I'll use that...") You'll find something.

[Mom2Wilmo]

Okay ladies I need your opinion on this one!
DH got his lunch-box stolen (with his lunch inside) out of the refrigerator at his job. GRRRR! Because he is there for 12 hours he needs a large insulated lunch box. Is this a work related expense? Has anyone ever found such a lunch box at a thrift store? I have never seen one but then again I never looked for one either. What do you all think I should do?

[momaste]

It's a little expensive, but I can't recommend the Mr.Bento lunchbox highly enough. I got one for DH last Christmas and it has made packing lunch much easier, and it's fun to eat meals with courses. There are four bowls, one that closes tightly enough for soup, and it is insulated so hot stuff stays hot all day. I think Tupperware now makes a version of it. (There is even a Flickr group dedicated to pictures of lunches in the Mr.Bento!)

You can buy it used on amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Stai...&s=home-garden

[Mom2Wilmo]

Originally Posted by momaste

It's a little expensive, but I can't recommend the Mr.Bento lunchbox highly enough. I got one for DH last Christmas and it has made packing lunch much easier, and it's fun to eat meals with courses. There are four bowls, one that closes tightly enough for soup, and it is insulated so hot stuff stays hot all day. I think Tupperware now makes a version of it. (There is even a Flickr group dedicated to pictures of lunches in the Mr.Bento!)

You can buy it used on amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Stai...&s=home-garden

You know I was planning on doing that before we started the Compact and forgot about those. If I can find them used that would be great! Thanks!

[Ravin]

There weren't any straight up used ones on Amazon, so you might try Ebay, or else go with a refurbished one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...on=refurbished

[saras]

About the art supplies -- I did get lucky today:

Originally Posted by Natalya

I have crafting stuff in my exception, so you could do that. Or maybe you could put an ISO list on craigslist, I know I have a ton of barely used art supplies laying around (I keep thinking "I'll use that...") You'll find something.

Thanks, Natalya! I ended up contacting someone from our local "Freemarket" here who was getting rid of markers, crayons, pastels, and reams of paper! DD will be in heaven.

Just needed the push to make this work.

[anthasam]

Compacting, planning and my attic...

Everything came together yesterday

We are starting to plan better because I know that we should not buy new items. So, I've been thinking a lot about gifts (now and for the future for DD). DH and I would love for her to have a train table sometime next year. (DH reminded me that she doesn't have any trains yet; he thinks I'm putting the cart before the horse. Trains are easier to get than a nice table, IMHO.)

Anyway, we needed to clear out the attic because of the roof construction starting next week. While I was up there, I spotted an old Ikea tabletop/desk and the 4 metal, screw-in legs. A TRAIN TABLE DH says he can remove the feet from the legs, cut them down, attach the feet again and yea! a train table for DD. For free, from our attic built from a desk we long forgot about :

[Mom2Wilmo]

Originally Posted by Ravin

There weren't any straight up used ones on Amazon, so you might try Ebay, or else go with a refurbished one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...on=refurbished

I forgot about ebay!! I'm gonna try that next because I don't have $30+ to spend on a lunchbox right now. I'm saving up for our trip to NYC (no kids!!) later this month. Plus, DH is a sandwich man and I think the bento boxes would be better for him.

[aolinsmama]

lurking as well, but i wanted to put this out there, (you all may know this already) the woman that did the little brown dress experiment is now doing another, recycling clothing already in her closet. i was in heaven last night after perusing her links. oh. my.
i have been doing this for a week, just experimenting (will start Jan 1 07)
all of our halloween costumes were made at home, with materials from home, except some velcro & a bit of elastic and a shirt from goodwill.
my issues so far-kinko's (mostly copies/faxing-dh business, homeschool)
lightbulbs, house maintenence type stuff you can't get used (we are painting, and we did get some paint from freecycle but had to get spackling)
anyone running into things like this?

[momaste]

aolinsmom: I would put things that are essential for running the household, like lightbulbs, on the safety list. If you have no light, you can't safely get around your house. I think, though, that new lamps don't count. Lightbulbs are consumables that can't really be found used. You could probably barter for some, though. (I actually have a bunch of incandescent bulbs leftover since I've switched to compact flourescents. If you want them, PM me and maybe we could barter?)

Could you see about purchasing a second-hand fax/copier? They're often new for $100, so you could probably get a used one on Craigslist or Ebay pretty cheap. That could help with both the faxes and copying. I use mine all.the.time, so I can see your dilemna. I think it ends up being cheaper to own fairly quickly if you're doing a lot of copying and faxing.

There is a great blog about refashioning: http://wardroberefashion.blogspot.com/ You'd probably enjoy that!



I posted this on the Yahoo! group but wanted to post here too because I'm excited:

I have been talking to my mom about not buying a bunch of new things for Christmas, and she's had a hard time with the idea of not buying new. This morning we were talking and she mentioned that my nephew (2 1/2) has a Little People farm and Noah's Ark set that he never really played with, and do
I want it for DS? I said yes, that would be a great holiday gift. She said that she'd give DS the farm and me the money she would have spent on him for his college account. Fantastic! I was so thrilled that she suggested it, and the money in his college account will go farther in his life than a few plastic toys.

It's fun to see the idea spreading.

[Natalya]

Originally Posted by momaste

There is a great blog about refashioning: http://wardroberefashion.blogspot.com/ You'd probably enjoy that!

Another blog to read! I've never heard of refashioning! Me and my sister were just talking about doing this the other night, and joking about how she could refashion her clothes, but since she's such a bad sew-er and doesn't have much of a wardrobe anyways she would end up with one shirt.