Monday, April 14, 2014

Thrifting Finds--Now With 20% More Vintage Linens!

Here's something different:  I'm not going to start off by complaining about the weather!  It was really quite lovely this weekend, if a little humid.  Turned on the ceiling fans because I absolutely refuse to turn on the AC in April.

So.  We hit our usual spots, as well as a flea market.  Can't tell you how long it's been since we went to one.  The thrifts all seemed to be overflowing with merchandise this weekend--full shelves and unshelved carts all over the place.

And yet somehow there was nothing worth buying.  I almost got a new decanter for my mouthwash, but it was marked $8.00, which was about $7.00 more than it was worth.

Well, there was almost nothing worth buying.  I did get a couple of things, including the above-mentioned vintage linen.  Oh, and there was an Avon lady at the flea market, so I managed to scoop up 10 tubes of the hand cream that Hubby likes at two bucks a pop.  It was worth stopping just for that.  No picture, because who wants to look at new hand cream?

Here's what I got:


1.  Bob Newhart!  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I said sometime back that I wasn't going to buy any more records. But c'mon--this is Bob Newhart.  Unfortunately, it's not the album with the bit about the Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company, but it'll still be good.  Rescue Mission Thrift, $1.00


2.  Vintage Tablecloth!  Christmas tablecloth, no less!  My first!  I can honestly say that this is my first-ever sighting of a vintage tablecloth, much less a Christmas one.  It had some pretty bad stains, but most of them came out with an overnight soak in Oxyclean and Biz.  There are a couple of "shadows" still, but I think a little Spray & Wash and another trip through the washer ought to take care of the problem.  I made the rookie mistake of not unfolding it and checking for damage but luckily, there was none.  I don't think it'll fit my dining room table but on the other hand, there isn't a tablecloth made that will fit it.  So I'll just deal with it.  No tag, so I don't know who made it.  Flea market, $5.00


And that's it for the purchases this weekend.

In Other News:  Your ol' Uncle Veg had a bit of an adventure this past week.  Okay, it wasn't much of an adventure, but you know how I live--anything out of the ordinary is an adventure.  Anyhoo, I got to do a taste test for a spice company!  I don't know if I'm supposed to mention the company or not, but I live in Maryland and it's a major spice company, so do the math.  Basically, I got paid 30 clams to eat two chicken tenders.  Can't say I cared much for either one, but the money was good.  
Edit:  If you're interested, you can sign up here:  https://mccormickconsumertesting.at-hand.net/tqm/AppForm.aspx
I love doing this kind of thing.  A few years back, I was on a consumer panel for a major power tool manufacturer (again, this is Maryland, so put 2 and 2 together) about rechargeable vacuum cleaners.  I can't remember if I got paid or not, but I definitely walked out with a very fancy Dustbuster, and they also sent me one of those rechargeable jump starters that I put in Hubby's trunk because I worry about him.

Thriftiness Update:  You may remember from last week that I've begun a program of belt-tightening.  Here's the update so far:

Newspaper:  We have officially started our $10/year Wednesday 'n Weekend subscription.  Of course, the old subscription hasn't expired yet, so we're getting doubles.  Which is fine on Sunday, because it means double coupons.

FIOS:  This was kind of a nightmare, but what do you expect from Verizon?  I successfully cancelled our TV service and when I did, the woman I spoke to said "Oh.  Looks like I saved you another $5.00 a month.  I'm not sure why..."  Okay, that's fine by me.  I also asked to have the speed of our Interwebz access bumped up and supposedly that went through as well.  And yet somehow I managed to still save $15.00 a month.
Well, it turns out that the Interwebz upgrade actually didn't happen, which explains the savings.  When I called to get it bumped up, the woman said it would add 10 bucks a month to the bill, which is exactly what I expected.
Until she told me that her system was adding 20 bucks a month to the bill.  Even though it should only have cost 10.  She was understandably confused, yet didn't seem at all motivated to find and fix the problem.  So I left things as they are and for the time being, I'll enjoy my $15.00 a month savings.  I may revisit this in the future, but it's fine the way things stand now.

FreedomPop:  Still have not received my new cellphone, so cannot comment on the service.  Well, I guess I can, since they say it'll take 2-3 weeks to ship the phone, which seems like an awful long time to me.  But I'll hang on and when the new phone arrives, I'll report back.

And that's it for this week's installment.  Linking up with  Sir Thrift A Lot, Thrifter/Maker/Fixer/Farm, and We Call It Junkin.

16 comments:

  1. I used to do those consumer panels when I lived in the Bay Area. Fun! My fave was the one on tea.

    Fabbo tablecloth. There are some like it for sale on eBay but none list a brand so my guess is it never had a tag.

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    1. I like anything where someone wants my opinion. No matter what, I always seem to have one!
      I'm really pleased with the tablecloth. Now this probably means that they're going to start showing up left and right and I'm soon going to be over my head...

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  2. Someone I worked with used to do recruiting for those focus group things. She was supposed to get people off the street but used to mostly just get people from work - we were all on strict instructions to pretend we didn't know each other. I did a few - I can manufacture an opinion on just about anything. Good money too.

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    1. I am occasionally reminded of something I once said at work: "Just because I don't know what we're talking about doesn't mean I don't have an opinion."

      Apparently, I didn't mean it ironically.

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  3. Love that tablecloth! And I wish I could get paid $30 to eat chicken fingers...that's wonderful. ; )

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    1. It was basically 15 bucks per chicken finger--Win!

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  4. How did you get connected with the unnamed spice company? I'd eat chicken tenders and tell them that they'd just be better with Old Bay.

    The only consumer thing I ever did was earlier this year--Under Armour is looking into expanding into ladies' shapeware. So I have a pair of UA spanx. Eh. I'd rather have the chicken fingers.

    Love the tablecloth, btw.

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    1. See above--I added a link so you can sign up to be a taste tester.
      They had samples of Old Bay on the way out. The smell makes Hubby sick, so I got him a pencil instead.
      Hmmm. UA's testing facility is like ten minutes from my house. Maybe I should drop in and offer my services.

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  5. I have a massive farmhouse style dining room table. I own one single tablecloth that will fit it. So what I do is fold all my others into runner sizes and use them that way! So glad that you found a Christmas one. Bet you can't wait to use it!

    ~Erica

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    1. You're right--I can't wait to use it! Frankly, I'm ready for Christmas again.
      Our dining room table is an antique and just a really odd size. If I wanted a tablecloth that would actually fit it I'd have to make it myself, and that probably isn't happening!

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  6. That vintage Christmas tablecloth is something I would like to find in my neck of the woods.
    Have a lovely week.
    Denise

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    1. I'm really surprised that I found it. It's the first time ever I've seen one in the wild, as it were. So keep looking--if I can find one, so can you!

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  7. From snow to humidity, huh? We have been having a warm, lovely spring here in SC, then it almost got down to freezing again. It always gets weird around Easter. Love that tablecloth!!! Thank you for sharing this at History & Home this week, take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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    1. Not just from snow to humidity, oh no. From snow to humidity TO SNOW. I kid you not.

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  8. weather is finally catching up to our Alaskan spring! lol I hear you on the "dang that crap just isn't worth it" front--seriously 8 bucks for a decanter? nope!

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    1. I wouldn't have minded if the decanter was actually worth 8 bucks, but it totally wasn't. I'm pleased to note, though, that the Spring Green casserole that one GW priced at $15 was at another GW for $5.00.

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