So in August I tried to curtail my unbridled spending of last month, mainly by bargain hunting and using gift cards that had long sat dormant in my wallet when I felt the need to shop, it doesn't hurt that there are major end-of-summer sales lurking around every corner. That and some of my favorite stores are bestowing the gift of birthday time savings.
Yard Sale
Yard Sale
1.) Right after the Fourth of July a huge metal cargo container arrived in my next door neighbors yard. As if their white trash RV wasn't enough. Then it sat, and sat, and sat some more. FInally they opened it and started to unload an unbelievable array of antique furniture, lamps, china, and more. I took them the better part of three weeks to sort it, then one Saturday when I got up at 6 to feed the cat they were finally having the yard sale. So I threw on clothes an went over. For $15 I got all of the vintage jewelry above, a box of probably 150 old sewing patterns, and a stack of Saturday Evening Posts from the 1950s. Can't put a price on each individual piece, but over all some great stuff, especially the necklace for really cheap, when most of it could have been priced at more than $15 per individual piece.
Gifts, etc.
The next few items were all hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law's sister L'Oreal, she's been good enough to pass along lots of clothes to me in the past as she out grows or tires of them
The next few items were all hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law's sister L'Oreal, she's been good enough to pass along lots of clothes to me in the past as she out grows or tires of them
2.) Black Ann Taylor Loft sweater set (shell is underneath, not very visible)
3.) Maggie London teal and black dress
4.) Signature by Robbie Bee coral, brown, and white dress
The following items I didn't photograph because they were in the process of being cleaned:
5.) Black and brown satin dress by French Connection
6.) Red draped tank top by BCBG Maxazria
7.) Silver, charcoal, and coral coral satin dress by BCG Maxazria
8.) New York and Co. bag, free, found by the side of the road. Yes, I suppose it is a technical dumpster dive, but really it was in a box marked "free stuff", there were also dishes, exercise stuff, I think the people's child may have used it for a play bag because I found fake money and a homemade paper credit card in the side pocket. In perfect condition other than one small spot that washed right out with soap and water,
Walmart Supercenter, North Attleboro, MA
9.) Miss Tina, by Tina Knowles $5, nice lightweight printed top, it is a little on the large size (which is why I think it was marked down) so I'm going to take it in a little, but I love the print.
Francesca's Collection, Legacy Place, Dedham, MA
I had been given a gift card to Francesca's Collection last Christmas, and had to look it up because I had never been to one and even though there are two only about a half an hour away from me it sat in my wallet until a couple of weeks ago. I like what I found but wasn't all that impressed with the store overall, its a bit young for me, hemlines too short, necklines too low, and overpriced for the quality, its a slightly funkier Forever 21.
I had been given a gift card to Francesca's Collection last Christmas, and had to look it up because I had never been to one and even though there are two only about a half an hour away from me it sat in my wallet until a couple of weeks ago. I like what I found but wasn't all that impressed with the store overall, its a bit young for me, hemlines too short, necklines too low, and overpriced for the quality, its a slightly funkier Forever 21.
10.) Dress (I assume) Buttons $34 (full price)
11.) Sparkle Oxfords by Not Rated $24 (on sale)
Total $58
-$50 gift card
=$8
Salvation Army Family Store, Swansea, MA
12.) Variation Ltd. pale blue silk dress, $3.99
13.) Forever 21 navy blue and black leopard print flyaway cardigan $5
14.) Merona blue, green, and white floral print cardigan, $5
15.) vintage Alfred Dunner mint green tweed trousers, $3.99
16.) vintage, no label, black and white paisley trousers, $4.99
17.) Venezia star print shorts, $1.99, I very much admired the patriotic shorts Jessica Quirk was DIYing over at What I Wore, but it seemed like way too much trouble, I'll settle for these at less than $2
18.) Classic Fashions men's red, navy, and gray plaid blazer $3.99
19.) Land's End Fuschia ruffle cardigan with gold buttons, $5
20.) vintage red elastic belt with enamel covered metal buckle by Motion East, $1.99
21.) Fashon Bug zebra print buckle flats, never been worn, $6.99
22.) Carlos by Carlos Santana red and gold leopard print peep toe pumps, $13.99
Rhode Island Antiques Mall, Pawtucket, RI
23.) 1960's carnival glass cameo, $10 -20% 0ff= $8
24.) Vintage metal and plastic flower brooch, $5
25.) Vintage 1980's red leather purse with metal trim, $5
26.) Vintage tapestry bag (mint condition, appear to have never been used) $20- 20% 0ff, = $16
27.) Vintage 1950's mint green lace dress by Form and Fit of New York
with matching original belt, $55
DSW, North Attleboro, MA
28.) Enzo Angiolini nude and neon yellow pumps, $7.50
29.) A Touch of Nina silver D'orsay pumps, $25
Total $32.50
-$5.00 birthday savings pass
- $3.40 left on a gift card
= $24.10
Savers, North Attleboro, MA
30.) Ocean Breeze (dress top, not sure what it was originally, it was on a dress rack) with halter top removed to be worn as a skirt, $6- 50% = $3
31.) Bellisima black and white circle skirt, $5 -50% off = $2.50
Anthropologie, Garden City Shopping Center, Cranston, RI
33.) Weston Wear 'Trove Top' $40
34.) Leifnotes dress, $60
Total $100
- 15% birthday discount = $85
- $50 store credit = $35
-$20 giftcard = $15
Totals: Yard Sale = $15
Walmart = $5
Francesca's Collection = $8
RI Antiques Mall = $89
Salvation Army = $56.92
Savers = $12
DSW= $24.10
Anthropologie =$15
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Total Spending for August = $225.02
Certainly under last month, and there is a lot of stuff here for that price, but still I think I need to go back to work and stop shopping, at least for the time being!