modern thrifter
I love beautiful things and thoughtful design. I also live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, and our family lives off a single income so that I can be at home with our kids. Patience and persistence have been the key to finding stylish things on a tight budget.
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5 posts tagged life
![[ CHANGE OF PACE ]
I’m still here, I promise—still thrifting, too. I haven’t picked up any big “wow” pieces as of late, but I am quite pleased with some of my smaller finds—a shiny white Karlsson alarm clock, a book by the very funny David Sedaris that I’ve been wanting to read, and the perfect pair of italian leather sandals for summer, to name a few.
Projects around the house have come to a stall, mostly because we’ve been spending our spare time working on design projects, but also because we’ve decided to get really serious with our budgeting in order to build up a larger emergency fund/savings. It’s amazing how quickly we can settle into “comfortable” and start letting extra income flit away one dollar at a time.
It’s hard for me to not be constantly working on fixing up the house, but I’m taking this as an opportunity to find the neglected, tedious, and free things that need to be done. Yesterday we spent most of the day outside tidying up our yard [ivy jungle]. You may not know this about me, but gardening is just about my least favorite activity—cleaning moldy food containers wins the prize for most dreaded household chore, in case you were wondering.
Yard work really isn’t that bad once I get started, and it’s not the manual labor that I don’t like. It’s the creepy crawlies that I could do without. It would seem like being a mom of a little boy would have desensitized me to that by now, but, no. The only thing that eases the anxiety about plunging my hand into an overgrown patch of patch of mystery weeds is my pair of elbow-length leather gloves (I’d get shoulder length if they made them).
The other free chore that yields instant gratification is organizing, which is how I plan to spend the better part of this coming week. If I wasn’t so embarrassed about the current state of some of my closets, I would post before and after pictures to keep myself motivated. Maybe I’ll muster the courage to put them on twitter.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4pvs5EoDA1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ CHANGE OF PACE ]
I’m still here, I promise—still thrifting, too. I haven’t picked up any big “wow” pieces as of late, but I am quite pleased with some of my smaller finds—a shiny white Karlsson alarm clock, a book by the very funny David Sedaris that I’ve been wanting to read, and the perfect pair of italian leather sandals for summer, to name a few.
Projects around the house have come to a stall, mostly because we’ve been spending our spare time working on design projects, but also because we’ve decided to get really serious with our budgeting in order to build up a larger emergency fund/savings. It’s amazing how quickly we can settle into “comfortable” and start letting extra income flit away one dollar at a time.
It’s hard for me to not be constantly working on fixing up the house, but I’m taking this as an opportunity to find the neglected, tedious, and free things that need to be done. Yesterday we spent most of the day outside tidying up our yard [ivy jungle]. You may not know this about me, but gardening is just about my least favorite activity—cleaning moldy food containers wins the prize for most dreaded household chore, in case you were wondering.
Yard work really isn’t that bad once I get started, and it’s not the manual labor that I don’t like. It’s the creepy crawlies that I could do without. It would seem like being a mom of a little boy would have desensitized me to that by now, but, no. The only thing that eases the anxiety about plunging my hand into an overgrown patch of patch of mystery weeds is my pair of elbow-length leather gloves (I’d get shoulder length if they made them).
The other free chore that yields instant gratification is organizing, which is how I plan to spend the better part of this coming week. If I wasn’t so embarrassed about the current state of some of my closets, I would post before and after pictures to keep myself motivated. Maybe I’ll muster the courage to put them on twitter.
![[ HE IS RISEN, INDEED ]
I can only remember one or two sunny Easters in the past twelve years or so, making today a special treat. We spent the morning sipping coffee, watching the kids race around the house looking for eggs, and getting all dressed up for church.
Uh, wait, that’s never how it works out on Easter morning. Actually, the kids scarfed down more peeps and chocolate than I could count while I was rushing around trying to iron my last minute wardrobe substitution. There were tears about pajamas, socks, and snacks, grumpy words uttered my me, coffee spilled, and a late arrival to church. Thankfully, Jesus died and rose for all our sins, even the ones committed on Easter morning.
The rest of the day was mostly lovely, minus the hour long fit from a boy who had the rest of his peeps taken away for the remainder of the day and the dog poop on his shoe. We enjoyed a meal with good friends and played outside in the sunshine—girls on swings, men playing basketball, and Alden working tirelessly digging a big hole in the dirt.
I even managed to snap a few photos before their carefully planned Easter clothes were grass-stained and dirty. This year I gave each of them a little something homemade to wear. For Tula, a felt flower hair clip, and for Alden, a bow tie that I made out of the bottom of a thrifted vintage silk skirt that I hemmed.
I hope that everyone’s Easter was fantastic!](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m273nxZet51qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ HE IS RISEN, INDEED ]
I can only remember one or two sunny Easters in the past twelve years or so, making today a special treat. We spent the morning sipping coffee, watching the kids race around the house looking for eggs, and getting all dressed up for church.
Uh, wait, that’s never how it works out on Easter morning. Actually, the kids scarfed down more peeps and chocolate than I could count while I was rushing around trying to iron my last minute wardrobe substitution. There were tears about pajamas, socks, and snacks, grumpy words uttered my me, coffee spilled, and a late arrival to church. Thankfully, Jesus died and rose for all our sins, even the ones committed on Easter morning.
The rest of the day was mostly lovely, minus the hour long fit from a boy who had the rest of his peeps taken away for the remainder of the day and the dog poop on his shoe. We enjoyed a meal with good friends and played outside in the sunshine—girls on swings, men playing basketball, and Alden working tirelessly digging a big hole in the dirt.
I even managed to snap a few photos before their carefully planned Easter clothes were grass-stained and dirty. This year I gave each of them a little something homemade to wear. For Tula, a felt flower hair clip, and for Alden, a bow tie that I made out of the bottom of a thrifted vintage silk skirt that I hemmed.
I hope that everyone’s Easter was fantastic!
![[ WAITING ]
It was nearly two months ago that I placed my order with West Elm for our new living room rug. It was on backorder at the time, and so we waited and waited. Two weeks ago we finally received a letter informing us that the rug was out of stock indefinitely and that our order had been cancelled.
Emails keep flooding into my inbox from West Elm making other rug “suggestions” but really, they all cost more money than we care to spend right now.
So for now, we wait, trying not to notice the dingy, too-small, wool rug that currently resides in the living room. Waiting has never been a bad plan for us, though. It has kept us from several impulse purchases, and often allows us time to search out a really great deal.
In far better news, next week we are purchasing a much needed new (used) car for our family. Our current cars are twelve and twenty-two years old—obviously, buying a car isn’t something we do very often. The last time we purchased a car we had a very different financial philosophy and it took us five years to pay it off. This time around we will be paying cash up front and it feels really fantastic not to have any loans involved.
The car is coming from good friends who need to sell their vehicle because they are moving to Paris at the end of the month. It is working out fantastic for us all, since they will be able to drive it until just before they leave and not have to hassle with Craigslist buyers, and we are getting the exact car we’ve been wanting for a nice price, and from people we trust.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv2qqn81e51qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ WAITING ]
It was nearly two months ago that I placed my order with West Elm for our new living room rug. It was on backorder at the time, and so we waited and waited. Two weeks ago we finally received a letter informing us that the rug was out of stock indefinitely and that our order had been cancelled.
Emails keep flooding into my inbox from West Elm making other rug “suggestions” but really, they all cost more money than we care to spend right now.
So for now, we wait, trying not to notice the dingy, too-small, wool rug that currently resides in the living room. Waiting has never been a bad plan for us, though. It has kept us from several impulse purchases, and often allows us time to search out a really great deal.
In far better news, next week we are purchasing a much needed new (used) car for our family. Our current cars are twelve and twenty-two years old—obviously, buying a car isn’t something we do very often. The last time we purchased a car we had a very different financial philosophy and it took us five years to pay it off. This time around we will be paying cash up front and it feels really fantastic not to have any loans involved.
The car is coming from good friends who need to sell their vehicle because they are moving to Paris at the end of the month. It is working out fantastic for us all, since they will be able to drive it until just before they leave and not have to hassle with Craigslist buyers, and we are getting the exact car we’ve been wanting for a nice price, and from people we trust.
![[ BACK-TO-SCHOOL ]
The lackadaisical summer days have been replaced with the regimens of school, and though most schools across America have been in session for over a month, we have just wrapped up our second week. I was grateful to have a few extra weeks of summer, because September turned out to be the warmest month of the year. The downside to starting so late was that by the time we received the school supply list, the back-to-school aisle at Target was completely wiped out.
Not to worry, though. With the exception of a few odds and ends, like markers and copy paper and a few clothing items like jeans and underwear, we are reusing nearly everything from years past. I have resisted the back-to-school hype that my children need brand-new everything each autumn. Alden’s Four Peas motorcycle backpack is going on its third year and it still has tons of life left in it. His Speed Racer lunchbox—purchased at Goodwill—is on its second year. Binders and folders are still in good shape from last year. I was even able to pick up a Rubbermaid reusable juice box at the thrift store that was brand new and still had the packaging. Hoping to avoid buying individually packaged milk and juice, I was really pleased with that find. Also, pouring juice from the larger jug allows me to water it down a little to cut the sugar content—yes, I’m that mom.
If you have school-aged kids, how do you handle back-to-school? Are there things that you’ve found need to be replaced every year? What things are you reusing?](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls2by5lM2t1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ BACK-TO-SCHOOL ]
The lackadaisical summer days have been replaced with the regimens of school, and though most schools across America have been in session for over a month, we have just wrapped up our second week. I was grateful to have a few extra weeks of summer, because September turned out to be the warmest month of the year. The downside to starting so late was that by the time we received the school supply list, the back-to-school aisle at Target was completely wiped out.
Not to worry, though. With the exception of a few odds and ends, like markers and copy paper and a few clothing items like jeans and underwear, we are reusing nearly everything from years past. I have resisted the back-to-school hype that my children need brand-new everything each autumn. Alden’s Four Peas motorcycle backpack is going on its third year and it still has tons of life left in it. His Speed Racer lunchbox—purchased at Goodwill—is on its second year. Binders and folders are still in good shape from last year. I was even able to pick up a Rubbermaid reusable juice box at the thrift store that was brand new and still had the packaging. Hoping to avoid buying individually packaged milk and juice, I was really pleased with that find. Also, pouring juice from the larger jug allows me to water it down a little to cut the sugar content—yes, I’m that mom.
If you have school-aged kids, how do you handle back-to-school? Are there things that you’ve found need to be replaced every year? What things are you reusing?
![[ DATE NIGHT ON A DIME ]
I’m convinced that dates don’t have to cost a fortune. I’m also convinced that dating shouldn’t stop when you get married. Living on a limited budget, having kids, and being busy can definitely make dating more challenging, though. It’s easy to slip into the “we’ll just watch a movie at home and call it a date” routine, but that gets old pretty quickly. Over the years we’ve gotten better at figuring out how to go out without going broke.
Here are some of our favorite “going out” dates:
Museums - We like the Frye Art Museum (it’s always free, but they accept donations), or the Seattle Art Museum is free the first Thursday of each month. The SAM’s Olympic Sculpture Park is fantastic, and again, it’s always free.
Second Run Theaters - We are fortunate to live near the Crest Cinema ($3 tickets for all shows), my guess is that nearly all cities have a movie theater like this.
Live Theater - For those of you who are under 25, many of the theaters in the area offer $10 tickets for most performances as a way to encourage young people to engage in the arts.
Star Parties - The Seattle Astronomical Society has monthly stargazing parties at Greenlake and Cromwell Parks. Telescopes are set up at dusk and viewing is free.
Dance Lessons - I just received a Groupon this morning for one month of swing dance lessons for $24, something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.
Canoe/Kayaking - Once the weather gets a little nicer, check out rentals on canoes. We like going to the UW Waterfront Activities Center and canoeing through the arboretum. Canoes are rented by the hour, and the last time I checked I think the rate was $5–$10/hour depending on the day of the week and if you are a student or not.
Let’s face it though, sometimes it’s just too expensive or difficult to find a babysitter every week. Here are some of our favorite “staying in” dates (besides a movie and popcorn):
Cook Dinner Together - This idea comes from Ashley over at Not Without Salt, and I think it’s brilliant.
Board Games - Some people just aren’t game people, but we love them! A few of our favorites over the years have been Settler’s of Catan (the 2-player card version), Ticket to Ride, Dutch Blitz, and Cribbage.
Wine & Cheese - We like to get a few different cheeses and accompaniments like pears, apples, crackers, etc. and just sit and talk over a glass of wine
Lastly, I want to point out that I don’t think that all dates should be cheap. We spend less on the majority of our dates so that every now and then we can really indulge in a bigger date—an expensive restaurant, drinks at my favorite little French Cocktail bar, or an overnight trip somewhere.
Do you have an idea for an inexpensive date that I haven’t mentioned? Please share!
Photo by Acacia Bergin](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li286ig1Be1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ DATE NIGHT ON A DIME ]
I’m convinced that dates don’t have to cost a fortune. I’m also convinced that dating shouldn’t stop when you get married. Living on a limited budget, having kids, and being busy can definitely make dating more challenging, though. It’s easy to slip into the “we’ll just watch a movie at home and call it a date” routine, but that gets old pretty quickly. Over the years we’ve gotten better at figuring out how to go out without going broke.
Here are some of our favorite “going out” dates:
Museums - We like the Frye Art Museum (it’s always free, but they accept donations), or the Seattle Art Museum is free the first Thursday of each month. The SAM’s Olympic Sculpture Park is fantastic, and again, it’s always free.
Second Run Theaters - We are fortunate to live near the Crest Cinema ($3 tickets for all shows), my guess is that nearly all cities have a movie theater like this.
Live Theater - For those of you who are under 25, many of the theaters in the area offer $10 tickets for most performances as a way to encourage young people to engage in the arts.
Star Parties - The Seattle Astronomical Society has monthly stargazing parties at Greenlake and Cromwell Parks. Telescopes are set up at dusk and viewing is free.
Dance Lessons - I just received a Groupon this morning for one month of swing dance lessons for $24, something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.
Canoe/Kayaking - Once the weather gets a little nicer, check out rentals on canoes. We like going to the UW Waterfront Activities Center and canoeing through the arboretum. Canoes are rented by the hour, and the last time I checked I think the rate was $5–$10/hour depending on the day of the week and if you are a student or not.
Let’s face it though, sometimes it’s just too expensive or difficult to find a babysitter every week. Here are some of our favorite “staying in” dates (besides a movie and popcorn):
Cook Dinner Together - This idea comes from Ashley over at Not Without Salt, and I think it’s brilliant.
Board Games - Some people just aren’t game people, but we love them! A few of our favorites over the years have been Settler’s of Catan (the 2-player card version), Ticket to Ride, Dutch Blitz, and Cribbage.
Wine & Cheese - We like to get a few different cheeses and accompaniments like pears, apples, crackers, etc. and just sit and talk over a glass of wine
Lastly, I want to point out that I don’t think that all dates should be cheap. We spend less on the majority of our dates so that every now and then we can really indulge in a bigger date—an expensive restaurant, drinks at my favorite little French Cocktail bar, or an overnight trip somewhere.
Do you have an idea for an inexpensive date that I haven’t mentioned? Please share!
Photo by Acacia Bergin
