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By the author of the FREE online course Growing Self-Sufficiency: The Whole Picture
As Frugalites, we’re often trying NOT to spend any money. These days that’s getting harder and harder. Prices are going up up up, and the price of even the most basic item at the grocery store will often cause me to yelp in shock and surprise. What’s a Frugalite to do?
I thought in this article, I would do exactly the opposite, looking around my little eco-cabin and considering my life. What am I happy that I bought? Most of these things are relatively low cost and, yet, they are having a big impact on my life. After you read about mine, I look forward to hearing what you in the Frugalite community are glad that you bought.
The bowl of beauty
I am not a flower gardener, nor will I ever be. I live on a little half-acre in the middle of deer and rabbit country. My first (and only!) attempt at a flower garden was eaten by the critters in no time. Now, I focus all of my energies on food and medicinal plants….except for this!
Early one summer, I stopped by the hardware store in a nearby town to take a quick look at the end-of-season plant sale. One plant, around 50% off, caught my eye. It was a peony. It is traditional for folks out here to have peony plants around the front of their homes. At that time, I hadn’t started building my eco-cabin, but thought it would be nice to join in the fun. The peony was called “The Bowl of Beauty.” I decided to buy it. After all, it was on clearance for only a few bucks!
Each spring, I wait in eager anticipation for the blooms to open. They are bright pink on the outside with a stunning, scraggly cream-coloured “bowl of beauty” in the middle. Despite my low skill and interest in flower gardening, this bush makes me look like a superstar! This morning, I went out to see that the first bloom was open. The ants are hard at work at the dozen or so other “bowls of beauty.” For a few bucks, this plant has more than paid for itself in beauty and joy.
Two used indestructible lawn chairs
This past weekend, I had a friend come over who is good with a chainsaw. I needed some help working on my land, especially clearing out a dead poplar and another one too close to my micro-root cellar. We worked together for a few hours. While he wouldn’t take any money, he was happy to sit down with me and enjoy a pizza from a local restaurant and a cold drink.
We both sat in the two indestructible lawn chairs I bought for a few bucks at the thrift shop in a nearby city. They have a light metal frame and tightly woven mesh seating (sort of like these). Even when they get wet, they seem to dry off instantly. I don’t have space in my shed to store them, so they have been sitting outside continuously for 5 years since I bought them. They don’t seem to age, either. Come the apocalypse, I have a feeling these chairs will still be there, along with the cockroaches!
A damaged $3 shirt
One nearby village has a thrift shop run by the local church. They literally gave up their church building (and the associated expenses) to focus on helping others! The thrift shop is all run by volunteers, and they take the profit they make and put it right back into our local community, helping people in need. The great thing is that they still choose to keep their prices low.
One day, I went in and there was a beautiful shirt. It had long angel-like sleeves and an ornate floral pattern on it. On the front, you could see that there had been beading of some kind that had either fallen off or had been removed. The damage really wasn’t that obvious because of the pattern on the shirt, so I bought it anyway. I get compliments on that shirt everywhere I go! I feel great when I wear it. I’m glad I gave it a chance!
My not-so-new weed eater
Until recently, I was doing all of the trimming on my land with hand-operated hedge shears. This was taking a toll on my injured back, and there just weren’t enough hours in the day, or energy to make things look nice. Although money is, indeed, tight, I decided that it was now or never: buy a weed eater. I got a great deal on a high-end gas-powered model. Although I’m still in the learning curve with it, the front of my property has never looked better. I can get literally ten times the work done and it’s easier on my back. Sometimes it can be worth it to spend $150 or so when the impact is so positive!
Psssst! Want to know about the best weed eater string ever? Check this out!
An occasional splurge
I do love my coffee! Most of the time, I make a custom blend from bulk coffee beans that I buy in two-pound bags. This substantially reduces the cost. However, once in a while, I like to support our local coffee roaster and buy a small bag (yes, it’s less than a pound now…like everything else, it’s shrinking!) of super gourmet coffee beans.
I may even buy something new and unusual, like the recent Mexican coffee I tried. While everything doesn’t turn out to be my new favorite, I’m learning about coffee and enjoying a good cup. The roastery makes a special Veteran’s Blend, where a couple of bucks go to local programs to support our vets. I enjoyed drinking that coffee for a week or so each morning and thinking about my grandfather, who was a veteran of the Second World War. While I can’t afford to do this every week, once in a while, I find it is worth it.
Some things are worth it
Great buys sometimes only make themselves known after the fact. Could you see yourself buying any of the items listed here? Do you have your own great buys that you can share with us? Please tell us in the comments below.
About Colette
Colette is passionate about sharing her knowledge of thrifty living and self-sufficiency. She has developed her skills in self-reliance living in the suburbs, the city, and more recently, on her own Half-Acre Homestead. Colette lived five years completely off-grid and without running water in an eight by 24 foot tiny home while designing and building her own 18 by 24-foot eco-cabin. Her website, Half Acre Homestead is attracting followers from around the world who want to become more self-sufficient. Colette invites you to stop by the Homestead and check out all of the great resources including the practical How To Guides, A Tiny Home Resource Center and her organic gardening stories on her blog. She shares her wholistic model (body/mind/spirit) for achieving self-sufficiency in her Free Course, “Growing Self-Sufficiency: The Whole Picture.” Stop by the Homestead today to register free of charge!
18 thoughts on “5 Things I’m Glad I Bought”
One of my best purchases was a complete set of aviation hand tools from Snap-On. A local dealer offered newly graduating Airframe and Powerplant mechanics’ a whopping 50% off a one time buy. I had to borrow the limit from my 401K savings account to afford them even at 50% off. These exquisite durable tools served me well the last 40 years before I finally retired.
Very best purchase was the wedding ring worn by my beautiful wife for the last 40 years.
Hi James, What a buy on those tools! I wonder if those high quality tools would last another 40 years? What do you think? Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, as well. It is nice to look back sometimes and reflect on those blessings. Thanks very much!
#1. My Berkey Water Filter. I think I paid $200 to $300 for it and I was very reluctant to spend that kind of money on a Water Filter. Now I look back and have to agree that was some of the best money I ever spent. I wouldn’t be without one!!!
#2. My Presto PowerPop Microwave Popcorn Popper I found at the Thrift Store. I enjoy Microwave Style Popcorn on Bulk Popcorn prices!!!
#3. My Waterloo Tool Box. About 23 years ago I discovered that Waterloo was discontinuing the Tool Box I had my eyes on at the Tool Store I frequented. So I spent $1,000 on the Floor Model they had. It enabled me to consolidate my tools into one Tool Box and helped organized them. Best $1,000 I ever spent!!!
A final comment on the Church that sold its Building to open a Thrift Store. While it is commendable that they are helping the less fortunate, the number one priority of a Church is to preach the Gospel, see people become Born Again, and make Disciples. I wonder where the Church Members are going to worship and fellowship and hold weddings & funerals without a Building???
Hi Mustang, These are great examples! Safe water to drink, delicious homemade popcorn and a place for all of your tools: that is quite the combo. Regarding the church, while they no longer have an aging church to repair, they do worship in a range of local places, including other churches and the legion. Through their selfless example, they have inspired many to join and support them. Although I know that this path would not be for everyone, I do admire it. Thanks for your comment and thoughtful question. Much appreciated!
I don’t know if I have a list, but one thing I might actually regret buying only cost me $4. I love containers and am in the middle of trying to organize since we just moved to a new house. The beautiful, and I thought practical, container is still sitting around 2 weeks after I bought it because I can’t figure out what to use it for. I move it around when it gets in the way, and just keep wondering what I will use it for. Kind of a disappointing purchase. But the lesson only cost me $4 so it was a cheap lesson to learn.
Hi thisismyname, I do agree that it was a cheap lesson. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a use for it yet, or else gift it to someone who will use and enjoy it. Either way, it is win win! Thanks so much for your story.
Many years ago, when I was raising my family and we’d purchased our first home, I signed on to be a Tupperware lady as a second job. As part of my pay, I could get Tupperware products, free or at a reduced price. I concentrated on getting Tupperware Modular Mates to store my kitchen supplies (our newly purchased, but very old home had surprised us with lots of pests and mice!) More than thirty-five years later, I am still using those containers for flour, sugar, etc. and have never had products go bad or have pests. I see Tupperware containers in thrift stores at times, but seldom the Modular Mates — I think they get used forever and passed down in families for the next generation to use!
Hi Nan, What a great story about your Modular Mates, which sound like true friends. ha ha ha! I had to look them up in order to see what they were. I think my grandmother had some of these. You are quite right that they don’t appear in thrift shops often. I have not seen them, or I would have snapped them up. Good for you to have such a trusty way to foil the pests! Perhaps some Frugalites might keep their eye out for some like you now! Thanks, Nan!
Speaking of Tupperware…..I purchased what I think is a celery keeper. Long, narrow with a grid on the bottom that can be removed. I enjoy it so much for putting freshly washed garden lettuce in that when I saw another at a thrift store I bought it for my girl. Think I paid $6 for both; 2 for mine and 4 for hers.
Hi Kate, What a great find! How nice that you were able to find one for your daughter, too. With two for $6 that was quite the bargain. Wishing you the best, Kate!
Many years ago I stumbled across a broken water distiller (a Midi D model) at a local thrift store. They didn’t know what it was and priced it at $15. I took it home and located the company in Nebraska that was happy to sell me the both the user manual and the replacement fan blade which was all it needed. That was an easy fix for one of my best deals ever.
Back in the Y2K era I paid the retail price for a Country Living grain mill which could be either hand cranked or motorized. The hand cranking radius was way too short so I made a longer cranking arm from a piece of oak. That made it easy to hand crank long time storable wheat berries (or many other grains) into as much flour that I only needed immediately. That was key to making the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten. My purchase had included the optional bean auger although I wasn’t sure of its uses. I did know that it could make nut butter from many different kinds of nuts Then many years later I learned that instead of taking the very long time to cook dried beans … if they were ground into bean flour that flour (including what spices one might prefer) becomes edible after only 3 minutes of time in boiling water. Amazing to learn that many years after wondering what that bean auger was good for.
One eBay find was a used Tulsi solar oven at an east coast estate sale. The seller had specified cash only and local pickup only. I live many states away so I had to innovate. I learned that the uship.com company would do the pickup and pay the seller as requested and then ship that oven across country to me. The seller was surprised but agreed to my offer. That was a great acquisition. That Tulsi was a hybrid model which means that it had an electrical backup built in so that if the sun became overcast or if nightfall interfered … I could switch over to the electric system to continue cooking. It even came with four lidded cookpots. That oven was made in India with two different paint schemes. I got the civilian version. I had no reason to search for the camo paint version that was issued to some units of the Indian army. I regarded that knowledge as relevant credentials for the cooker’s quality.
Another eBay find was a seller in Florida with a very portable used Volcano Junior camping stove. Even then they had become very rare since the manufacturer had discontinued that smaller model … before they added a propane option to their much larger volcano stove. As is mine for fuel can use wood, wood pellets, charcoal, charcoal pellets, alcohol, hexamine fuel tablets, and probably other fuels I haven’t thought of. The box it came in lists these ways of usage: griddle, pan fry, dutch oven, stacked dutch ovens, wok stir fry, boiling and steaming, grilling, making coffee, etc. That was, and is, a wonderful prize.
–Lewis
Hi Lewis, My goodness! We are all lucky that you are so generous with your time and share your stories and knowledge with us Frugalites. I had never heard of uship.com. How interesting! I had a look at the website and was simply amazed. I enjoyed looking at some portable solar cookers. I saw that the Tulsi may be hard to come by these days, so good for you for having yours. As well, I had not heard of the Volcano camping stoves. I love the idea that you can use all those different fuels. I had no idea! Congratulations on such a wonderful prize and thank you for sharing the value of it with all of us. Much appreciated, Lewis!
I’ve wasted a lot of money over the years; mostly on small purchases. Lots of small ones. This is coming home to me now because we’re de-cluttering. A close relative had to go to a nursing home, suddenly and unexpectedly and it was a wake-up call for me.
That being said, there are a few things I don’t regret at all and 2 of them were big ticket items.
1. Our 1937 Steinway piano. I don’t play, but my husband plays beautifully and he has really enriched our home (and several churches we attended) with his talent over the years. It wasn’t cheap and we had to get a bank loan to get it, but I’ve never regretted getting it.
2. Our land. We were able to buy it with a Texas Veteran’s Land Board loan. It was cheap because a near neighbor had a really (really) junky place; so even though it would’ve been nice if their place had been cleaned up, it lowered the cost enough to get us out of the trailer park. The junky place was cleaned up years ago and our land is ours now, free and clear. Hallelujah!
3. A nice fedora we bought for my father back in the 1980s before he died. He always wore one and used to talk about the really good ones. There was a shop in Ft. Worth that made them, so we bought him one. Daddy never had a lot of nice things, so I was pleased to get him that hat.
4. A good quality leather purse for my mother several years before she died. For the same reasons as #3.
Hi Carla, My goodness, to have a real Steinway piano in your home and someone who can play it beautifully. What a blessing! I enjoyed your list of items. I read your story about how you got your land with a smile…..and then had to laugh that the junky place was cleaned up! Good for you. I thought that your story about the fedora for your father would make a nice short story or an essay. It would have been priceless to see the look on your father’s face when he opened that gift, and when he put the hat on his head for the first time. These are the memories we can treasure all our lives. Thanks for sharing some of yours! Much appreciated!
We had a good friend who could make small metal castings. He knew how to make big ones but lacked space to do it. He helped a well known local artist to set up the process so the artist could cast his own sculptures. Several years later I saw a piece of the artist’s work for sale at a local gallery. The price was fairly high (at least to me) but it was a wonderful piece. I spent a lot of our savings and a month’s grocery money to buy it for my husband for Christmas. We ate a lot of cheap casseroles, and I cut a lot of other corners to replenish the savings. When my husband opened his present, he was thrilled—a piece of great art with a connection to our friend ( by then deceased). It has occupied a prominent place in our home since, and it has been admired by many people.
Hi Mary, This is a beautiful story you have shared. Thank you! Not only does the piece of art have a personal connection, but it was clearly beautiful in its own right. There are times in life where some extra spending can result in a treasured item and wonderful memories. Your story is a great reminder of how to achieve this, especially as a thoughtful gift. Much appreciated!
My electric rice cooker. I had a cheap, Walmart one, and bought a fancier one that they carry at Asian groceries. I got it off of Amazon. I use it three times a week, easily. It cooks any type of grain, steams anything, and reheats stuff. It’s easy to clean and use. It was a tad expensive but so worth it.
Hi Denise, That is so interesting! I had never considered buying a rice cooker because I don’t eat rice very often. However, you have just enlightened me to their many other uses! I think what sounds the best to me about your new one is “easy to clean.” I’m glad that you are still so pleased with this purchase: that says a lot. Wishing you the best. Much appreciated!