Post your victories HERE!!!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Have you had a frugal victory? Maybe something you didn't buy that you would have normally? Or did you get a great deal on something (or even get it for free)?

Did you find a way to avoid shopping at that big repuke donating business?

Even if you think it is a tiny victory, please post it here and keep this kicked! Reason is, if we post our victories, it may give other DUers inspiration and good ideas they hadn't thought of!

Here's mine for today:

1. I avoided buying a $4 magazine I normally love. It's called Real Simple. I haven't bought a magazine in over a month (they were a weakness of mine) and I realized it's $4 and all it does is make me want to BUY THINGS. So I didn't get it!

2. I found a way home that is a bit shorter than my old way home and I don't have to go through the HUGE commercial/shopping area I used to go through. Now I only go that way if I need to go to the store, otherwise I use the back way, which is all residential. Out of sight, out of temptation.

Those ARE small things, but I consider them to be frugal victories. Please share yours!

[vinessa4freedom]

1. I make a list

and stick to it if it kills me. Totally put the blinders on. And it's working at school, too. I've gotten several people to stop shopping wal-mart, including a wal-mart employee.:bounce:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. WAY TO GO!!!!

You ROCK for doing that, keep it up, EVERY little bit helps!

[cmf]

2. On the topic of magazines

I have a weakness for them, too. Especially ones like Martha Stewart and Real Simple which are full of beautiful things. Anyway, I use the library often, but I usually just pop in and grab some books from the new arrival shelf and then pop out. This week, I went with my husband, who had to do some research. So, while he was researching I sat down by the fireplace and read magazines there. It was just as satisfying as buying it myself, and I saved all that money!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. Oh I used to LOVE to do that.

Believe it or not, I am trying not to even read them for free. Reason: reading them just makes me want to BUY stuff and I am trying so hard not to. Christmas, I am especially weak. Probably by January I can go back to reading them at the library (mine has a great selection of magazines) but not now. The compulsive shopping urge would bite me BAD.

Good for you for reading them for free!!!!!

[cmf]

8. You are right

Those magazines (especially Real Simple - my husband calls it "Real Expensive") really encourage people to buy stuff. Marketing is their main purpose. It's amazing how much less I am prone to buying cosmetics and clothes now that I don't read fashion magazines anymore. And I wouldn't even buy the expensive ones in the magazines, it's just that the magazines would encourage me to buy something.

[K8-EEE]

10. Real Expensive!

LOL!! That's really the truth -- the stuff they have in there IS practical but it's not like you really NEED it.

[yardwork]

29. Real Simple is owned by Time-Warner, I found out.

I agree with everyone posting here - all it does is make me want more things, which has the opposite effect from simplifying my life!

[crispini]

3. My victory today.

I went to Whataburger for lunch instead of somewhere terribly red. :D OK, it was a small thing, but I tried!

Also, I did the research on Central Market and decided it was OK to shop / eat there! Yay! It would've broken my heart to not eat at CM!

(AND I submitted my findings to the Progressive Pages! Yeah!)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. What are the Progressive Pages?

Oh and thank you for your research on Central Market/HEB. I passed it on to someone I know who LOVES Central Market and he was quite happy to hear what you found out. I was, too. I like Central Market (but I spend too much money there!). I usually go to the one on I-30 and Hulen in Ft. Worth.

Good for you for your victories today!

[crispini]

7. *Our* Progressive Pages!

http://www.globalblogs.com/progressivepages/index.html

By DU's very own Sapphocrat!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. COOL! Thank you so much!

What a great idea.....

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. Most of the Texas stuff in there

was submitted by yours truly and crispini (but I've been working all the other sections too...mostly retail and food/beverage).

If you can think of some good red or blue businesses in your area (or can get family to share theirs, let me know!)

FSC :-)

[K8-EEE]

9. Real Simple, My Fave Too!

I let my subscription lapse to that one and took to reading it in the store, LOL, or at the library. Although sometimes they don't have the current one there. But a two year old Holiday "Real Simple" is totally relevant....if I really wanted a recipe or something I could Xerox it there.

My husband kept his "Sports Illustrated" cuz you can't read old sports mags! Disgusted with all media, we haven't been getting a paper delivered for about 2 years.

I'm embarassed to post this one -- I kept my shopping, shipping and party budget to $1,000 which was my budget, and if that sounds like a lot I did about $2,600 last year. And all Blue retailers -- didn't shop Target or Pier One and let them know why.

Oh another victory!! I approached a few good friends and asked if they would mind if we didn't exchange gifts. They were ALL supportive of this! Instead they are coming over for a pot-luck holiday brunch, very casual, just girls.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Pier One?

No, no please don't tell me! Pier One???

[K8-EEE]

17. Yeah....

They aren't HUGE contributors but check it out.

http://www.followyourmoney.com/cgi-bin/FYM.cgi?p=find_company&company_id=7151

I sent a copy of this a couple of weeks ago when I cancelled my store credit card and at that time it said 100% so now it's only 91%?

I'm not sure of the accuracy of this site, that's why I sent this to customer service and told them to correct me if this is the wrong info; but I haven't heard back so I skipped them this year.

Getting my candles at a new indie place I found by my house where they make them, so, it turned out to be good.

[jmm]

11. After spending $2.73 on a damn tomato this summer

I refuse to buy produce at the supermarket anymore. I save alot of money now but even if I didn't at least some small produce stores and farmers markets are getting business.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. Oh my GOD

$2.73 on a SINGLE tomato? Sheesh, yeah that's way too high. It better be the best damn tomato I have ever tasted for that money. I don't blame you one bit. So I take it you go to small produce stores now?

My local grocery store has a sucky selection of produce...the pears always suck, the tomatoes aren't good, they don't have a very wide variety, so I am trying to find a small produce stand I can patronize and buying frozen in the meantime.

Good for you on shopping the farmer's markets! (It's fresher anyway.)

[kayell]

20. Take a look here and see if you can find some local markets

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=255x161

There are links to finding farmers markets, CSAs (community supported agriculture - basically a subscription to fresh weekly produce), pick your own farms, local dairys, etc.

[Cats Against Frist]

35. I paid about $3.45 for a tomato in the Magnolia (Seattle) QFC once

I just about had a heart attack. It was about three years ago -- before I discovered Len's Veggie Corral in White Center -- where organic vegetables go to die, when they aren't "purty" enough to be on the shelves of the "real grocery" stores.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. After replacing the suit jacket that got eaten by moths :-(

I decided that I didn't need any more winter clothes, so I'm not buying.

I'm still keeping the moth-eaten suit jacket, though, for days when the temp goes below zero and the central heating doesn't quite do the trick.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. Good for you!

Thanks for posting your frugal victory here!

[Lorien]

18. I gave away a bread machine and some cat supplies

on Freecycle. I answered some "wanted" postings. Now a wheat intolerant nursing student won't spend $100+ on a bread maker, and a stray cat has a new home complete with carrier, toys, some food, litter box, catnip, brush, etc. (some left overs from my kitty that I lost last year, others were just items that my cats didn't care for or had too many of). I figure that by giving stuff away, I'm not only de-cluttering my home, but I'm helping others to be less of a drain on the environment and their own wallets!

[K8-EEE]

23. That Is Excellent!

I've been in MAJOR de-cluttering mode this year. In fact, living as I do with three packrats, I've taken many executive decisions. If my kids haven't played with or used something for a year, I just take it to my local shelter and believe it or not THEY HAVE YET TO MISS ONE THING...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. Man, I wish my youngest brother would do that

Literally half his basement is full of perfectly good toys that his sons no longer play with, and some of them are even still age-appropriate. You could literally fill a pickup truck to overflowing with the stuff his kids have received and no longer play with. No, make that two or three pickup trucks.

[K8-EEE]

26. Yeah Same With My Friend...

OK I have this friend. She is not QUITE as bad as Crazy Ebay Mom but her hall looks just like the hall in that thread, piled on both sides with stuff and you sort of squeeze through it.

So among this stuff are two of those plastic play structures -- a play house and some kind of fort or something, and whenever I offer to take them (they would fit in the back of my wagon) off her hands to the Woman's Care Cottage or Goodwill, she says "I ASKED but they aren't ready to give them up yet!"

At a certain point you have to be the PARENT and just say hey, you guys haven't touched this stuff for a long time -- we're going to give it to some little kids that will use it." End of story!! What is all this asking permission stuff? I'm a use it or lose it mom myself.

[JaneDoughnut]

27. Has he looked into Toys for Tots?

http://www.toysfortots.org

They do take used in good condition.

[Dora]

31. Sister-in-law makes their kids pick toys for the garage sale/charity

The rule is they don't get new toys for Christmas until they've cleared out all their old toys they no longer play with. The toys either go to charity or into the garage sale.

[SW FL Dem]

49. When my son was young, we started our own

tradition of cleaning out his room twice a year (before the holidays and before his birthday). He gets to choose what toys/clothes/books he doesn't need any more to donate. We make room for the new stuff he wants and he feels good about giving the old stuff to kids who will appreciate it. Every year I am amazed at his generosity. Now that he is 13, I find myself pulling some of his discarded stuff out of the pile and putting it in his memory box.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Well we found a LOCAL mechanic

for our two older cars, instead of dealerships

May not be the cheapest, but it suports the owner and his three mechanics....

Hey and he is GOOD... and HONEST.

As an aside one of the cars is an almost 20 year old bmw 325I, my father's truly, our big victory is in convincing to keep that car... reality is folks its gas consumption (now that is extremely well tuned) reaches that of the hybrid... scary, I know.

[kayell]

21. I finally got around to some mending

and repaired the necks on some turtlenecks and sewed on buttons so I won't be tempted to buy new clothes. I hate sewing, but I HATE shopping more, and this took a lot less time.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. My neighborhood coffeeshop has a book exchange shelf

I could drown in books if I allowed myself to, so I've been gradually moving my excess library over there, a couple of books at a time.

They're mostly disappearing, too.

[JaneDoughnut]

28. I'm free!

I've largely freed myself from AOL and Verizon. I'm not quite sure if I like being without a cell phone or not yet. That was a convenience I got used to pretty quickly. But fortunately, Working Assets has a cellular service I can try if I wuss out.
AOL - I called them and found a way to keep my email address, which I'm very attached to, without paying for Internet access. Now they only get $4 a month from me instead of $24.

[Lorien]

32. How does that work?

I have AOhelL too, but don't want to lose the address because my clients have been using it for so long. What can/ can't you do with the new service?

[JaneDoughnut]

36. It's very minimal

You get to keep your user name, IM, and email address. You can also use it for a mere 4 hours of Internet access a month. I'm using a free Internet access service through a friend that owns an IT company, so that was not an issue for me. Like you, I have been using my email for publishing and writing for so long I'm afraid of the contacts I would lose if I got a new email addy. If you usually access the Internet through something other than AOL, this should work well for you.

BTW, when I made the change, I was on the phone with India, but the quality of customer service is not noticeably worse. The gentleman I talked to was very helpful.

[yardwork]

30. My family has a lot of inertia and bad habits, so we are starting slow

I read all the blogs and keep a mental list of the red and blue companies. While we're driving I bore my teen sons and husband by telling them what is "on" and "off" the list.

They are mostly unhappy because most of their favorites are as red as a fire truck, but we have made some progress.

[Dora]

33. It's silly, I know. Ziploc Baggies!

But I'm finally reusing my ziploc sandwich baggies instead of throwing them out each day. I'm just tired of spending money on things that I'll throw away.

That's the same reason I started using cloth napkins all the time instead of paper napkins or paper towels. A roll of towels lasts much longer now, and my husband really likes using the cloth napkins at dinner. I throw one in my lunchbag, we use them to wrap our egg sandwiches in the morning, and they're great for wrapping around a sweaty water bottle or can of soda.

I buy used linen off of eBay or find them in antique stores. My mom-in-law finds them for me too.

No, I don't iron them.

[Cats Against Frist]

34. The magazine thing is funny

It reminds me of my best friend -- who buys all kinds of "simplify your life" things -- and then ends up with a clutter of magazines books, and just as much stuff as she would have had, otherwise.

I gave up material possessions when I was 21 (I'm 30, now) -- the first time it lasted for about three years -- until I was 24, and spent about two years totally in a shallow spiral -- and then, after the birth of my son, I started writing poetry, and focused on my three loves -- my son, poetry and politics -- and I have no time for material goods, and no love or use for them.

Occasionaly, I'll shell out $3.50 for a giant fruit platter painted with a Roman nudie scene at the Goodwill, or a $14 kiwi green plush chair -- but beyond these few items, books, cigarettes, my internet provider, and a few frou frou foods (smoked salmon, brie) -- I'm pretty much an ascetic.

I have a wardrobe made up of three dresses, a couple cardigans, and three pairs of shoes -- one sandal, one tennis, one boot. When it's cold, I throw on some long johns underneath and layer.

I've done well. Every once in a while, I'll be tempted -- you know -- things like Super 8 projectors and home movies from the 50s on Ebay -- but even that is purchasing secondhand, of which I am all in favor.

I try to shop locally -- but since I'm in Iowa City, IA, it's easy, because even though there are two Wal-Marts, and a Target and a K-Mart here, part of the civic program is to keep the downtown thriving with independent shops, and there is a good co-op and lots of places to buy small farm-raised meat and vegetables -- since we're in the middle of Iowa, and all.

Every once in a while I'll get tempted with the things that they actually market to "bohemians," like a Subaru Outback, or a purty red IKEA table, or some pseudotribal art or something -- but getting over it all is pretty easy IF, IF, IF you have plenty of other things to fill your time.

I've recommended Walter Benjamin's "The Arcades Project" on here before -- it's about the early "arcades" in France -- basically, where they built glass ceilings over the streets, so people could shop in inclement weather -- which were the forerunners to the shopping mall. His late 19th-century observations and collection of quotes, and fake quotes -- are as appropriate today, as they were at the time. It's basically a collection of eyewitness accounts of how society and purchasing and possessions changed, after the Industrial Revolution. It talks about Jung and Baudelaire and the "eternal return:"

"From time immemorial, this enigmatic need for sensation has found satisfaction in fashion. But in its ground, it will be reached at last only by theological inquiry, for such inquiry bespeaks a deep affective attitude toward historical process on the part of the human being. It is tempting to connect this need for sensation to one of the seven deadly sins, and it is not surprising that a chronicler adds apocalyptic prophecies to this connection and fortells a time when people will have been blinded by the effects of too much electric light and maddened by the tempo of news reporting..."

-- From Jacques Fabien, Paris en Songe, 1863 (from the Arcades
Project).

and

"Of course this same magic prevails more covertly in the interior of the bourgeois dwelling. Chairs beside an entrance, photographs flanking a doorway, are fallen household deities and the violence they must appease grips our hearts even today at each ringing of the doorbell. Try, though, to withstand the violence. Alone in an apartment, try not to bend to the insistent ringing. You will find it as difficult as an exorcism..."

He liked to smoke a lot of hash, but it's a fascinating book. :)

My victory needs to come when I can fully confront my loved ones with strict guidelines for buying my son gifts. I feel that they spend too much money and buy him too much crap. If they wanted to donate money so we could buy our farm, that would be much more useful -- but there's no quicker way to piss someone off than to rob them of the joy of getting a small child a toy, or dressing him up like a 3'5" Ivana Trump.

I have done well living without "things." I was raised in a consumer household, wherein my parents still speak in "commercial phrases," and even though my mom hates George Bush and the GOP -- she still doesn't connect her Giant SUV, Wal-Mart Shopping and Quarter Pounders with their empire of crap.

[CitySky]

37. Joined Costco tonight

and bought mostly necessities -- the one "luxury" item was some candy for care packages I send to soldiers & marines.

This Costco is in a Republican area of Houston.

But the membership person I dealt with was a lively New Yorker, so I told her that one of the major reasons I joined is that Costco gives money to Democratic candidates. "You know," she said conspiratorily, "this isn't the first time I've heard that lately."

(Did y'all know that Costco's receipts were up 5% last month over the same month last year in the same stores for stores that have been open more than a year? "Great"-Wal-"of-China"-Mart had a decline using the same stat.)

"Well," I explained, "there's something of a movement..."

And then we proceeded to discuss her excellent medical and dental benefits. :)

[fudge stripe cookays]

38. That's GREAT!

When you go back, give her the link to our Progressive Pages, and see if she knows any good Houston entries!

http://www.globalblogs.com/progressivepages/index.html

The movement is working! That is SOOOOO great to hear!
FSC

[Mend]

39. New Vacuum from Costco.com

We could have bought it from our usual store owned by a gay couple who always vote repuke (they want to be identified as in the party of the "rich"). We could have got one from wal-mart's. We could have gone to sears. We couldn't have gone without as ours is completely dead. We are not Costco members so we paid an $8.00 fee plus S&H and bob's your uncle.

[K8-EEE]

43. Good For You!!

Enjoy your new vacuum!

[marlakay]

40. Stopped shopping at Walmart, going to Costco now

I buy all my groceries at Whole Foods. Are they bad? I don't know they have mostly healthy foods like Trader Joes.

I haven't started shopping this year just not in the mood but glad to have this site to refer to. My husband thinks I am nuts but I don't care!

Next time I go to my local Costco I am going to tell the store manager, my kids are grown so I stopped needing larger supplies of stuff so I haven't shopped here much in the last few years, but now that I have found out you support dem causes I am going to do a lot more shopping here. I think they need to hear it from us all.

[K8-EEE]

42. If You Can Find A Like-Minded Neighbor...

You can split the big sizs of some stuff. My friend does that with toilet paper, canned stuff, and chicken. Her neighbor goes with her once month and they get stuff to split.

[jmm]

44. I do that with my brother and his roommates.

It works out great for all of us. Four bachelors living together can really use some help from a woman when it comes to shopping ;-) and I get a ride to different store and use of his roommate's Costco card :D.

[marlakay]

45. Thats a great idea

We are new living in an apt before we move to Washington in Oct. small town and I already met my next door neighbor very nice. I think we will be friends same age, also kids grown.

[K8-EEE]

41. I CLEANED THE TOILET BRUSH....

Believe me in before my recent frugal kick I would have gone down to Target and bought another one!!!

[kayell]

46. Spent the day weatherstripping and caulking.

And cleaning the refrigerator coils. Amazing the number of places you can find to caulk in an old house!

[NMDemDist2]

47. i cleaned my reefer coils as part of my Feng Shui "declutter"

mania a couple weeks ago....

[Zorra]

48. Convincing repubs and Libertarians to buy Mom and Pop and American.

The first step is convincing them to buy American Made Products. The second step is to convince them to buy from Mom & Pop.

It's working. A few republicans and many Libertarians have a genuine patriotic ideal. It is often ignorant and misguided, particularly among republicans, but in general they do comprehend the concept of taking care of Americans. Libertarians seem to comprehend the concept of buying from small businesses more than republicans do.

Personally, I will take any, victory, no matter how small, any way I can. If I can convince a republican or a Libertarian to not support a transnational RW corporation, then it is, IMO, a small victory for American democracy.

Tonight I had tghe pleasure of introducing the concept of boycotting transnational corporations to a former Bu$h supporter. He thought it was a great idea. Whatever it takes, no matter how little.
:thumbsup:

[kayell]

50. This is great. I think this may be the one area where we can consistently

find common ground with most republican voters. In all my conversations with them, I've always been able to get them to agree about the outrage of corporations shipping jobs overseas and closing down American plants.

Pushing for American made products and local buying is both good for all of us, and gives us some common ground to talk about economic problems.

[JaneDoughnut]

51. I'm done with Christmas

I just spent way more than I intended to at Seva. But I cured 7 people of cataracts that were severe enough to cause blindness (one cataract surgery for each branch & last name of my family).

I also got to enjoy a little irony that probably won't be noticed and can be easily denied. When being anti-war and concerned for the environment is considered radical, I feel like I'm sighted in the land of the blind. So take that, blindness!