And that makes two!!!

Holy Narwhal!

(okay...I really just wanted to use the word narwhal in a sentence...have you seen the song on youtube?)

There are now TWO 365 Non Consumption Challenge peeps!

Welcome Becky!
Becky's post is here if you would like to see it.

It is great that other people have taken this to heart and I think it's even better that they are making the challenge their own. Becky is going for 30 days instead of 365 but she is giving up Starbucks!

I can't wait to read more about her challenge...

What do you think about all this??? I'd love to know!!!

L

A tale of two GUCCI's

So one would ask can you have your cake and eat it too? Or, in my case,
have your Gucci and not buy new?

I say yes you can! And here is the story of two wonderful things (both bought for under $20).

The first a vintage Gucci day timer/agenda bought at "Kay's Korner" in Victoria.

The day timer was on sale for $15.00!!!

 It is very fantastic with rings inside for papers and a slot that will hold an ipad! Not that I have an ipad but if I did it would be perfect! in the meantime I plan on using it as a vision binder posting reminder notes to myself of all my goals and dreams. My sister found it for me and had to grab it, she did good!

The fact that it matches My Gucci Pelham bag is a bonus!

how pretty are you?

The second fantastic find...

This is why, when you are driving through a small town and you see the crazy thrift store you should stop! let me set the stage:

Enter: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island, B.C., me and my sister.

Me: "Salvation Army! We gotta stop."
Sister: "I've been there a million times they never have anything good"
Me: "I wanna go."
Sister: "I'm staying in the car"


Me being me didn't care what she said and entered anyway, and let me tell you this store is in the middle of NOWHERE beside a gas station, surround by trees. My first stop was the showcase, as it was just inside the front door and low and behold look at what is inside. I calmly ask the clerk to see it, read the price tag and hand over my debit. As the sale goes through...

Clerk: "You don't think it is real do you?"
Me: "I know it's real."
Clerk: "How do you know it is real?"

Debit pin pad reads approved, I grab my receipt and reply,
"I work in designer handbags, one of which is Gucci. Thanks!"

Ahhh... that was a priceless moment! My sister freaked out and insisted we go back into the store and scour it for more goodies...

This happened a few years ago when I was still employed at a high end Canadian retailer, and I recently sold the bag on Kijiji for $350. I never used it, I am more of a hobo bag girl and if you read my last post you know I have a tiny house and need to conserve space!

That reminds me, I forgot to tell you the price I paid...
the bag was $18.00
so I made $338 dollars on that deal! Not bad.

You never know what your going to find....
which leads me to a new slang term, as I have evolved
from a fashionista...
to a frugalista...
to a treasure-ista: "a person who still loves the good stuff but is happy to buy it in a way that limits impact on raw materials and is economically responsible (I don't do debt!)"

Got any good stories out there you want to share? Or something fantastic that you just don't have space for anymore? Send me a message and I'll give you a post! I know there is other Treasure-istas out there...

Enjoy your day,
L

savings calculator: Adding $588.oo (see bottom of blog for running total.
Day timer $250 (I would have bought a good quality one, I like my things to last.)
Handbag $338 (new Gucci Boston bag is easily $800 but this one was vintage...)

No buying new? In Victoria? What???

So I'm in Victoria for the second leg of my vacation and, as you know, no buying new.

Oh yeah and I'm traveling with my 10 month old who needs:

- an umbrella stroller.
- a portable high chair.

My childless (aka lots of money and free time)  sister wouldn't have either of these things on hand so I had to buy it there.
So as were walking around the "Fashion District" I stumble upon this great invention in a very upscale boutique:

By Hoola Loops

How cool is that?  It easy, compact, and $38 brand new on the shelf.

This is when my sister turns to me and says "you can't buy it. Ha, ha. I guess you'll have to find it in a kids consignment store."

Yep, she was right. So with only a bit of non-buyers remorse I left,
but I didn't forget...

Enter "Sailor Jack"

www.sailorjack.ca

We head over to this wonderful little shop and the very first thing I do is walk up to the counter and ask, "Do you have a portable high chair?"
Yeah they do!
And it's almost identical the one I had seen, actually it's better because it has a purple crown motif and my baby's a princess for sure.
So for 15 bucks I grab the perfect chair and another $13.00 later I score a pretty princess umbrella stroller as well. (Adding $42 to the savings calculator.)

So glad I didn't succumb to temptation!


Thanks Sailor Jack!

Enjoy your day,
L

You tell me!

 So I wasn't really expecting anyone to be inspired by this blog but a couple people have messaged me about joining on! One already started, you can see her blog here.

Some have mentioned that they don't know how thier own challenge should begin so I thought it might be fun to get people thinking by asking you readers a question...


Do you have a favorite vintage find?

A thrift store that you love to shop at?

This is you chance to promote your favorite shop with other like minded readers and/or brag about your score *smile*!


Looking forward to your stories.

Enjoy your day,
L

Whatta way to start...Go on vacation!

Yep August 1st came and went without a single word from me.

Did I give up?

No! I went on vacation to Quebec and Victoria (aka really great places to shop *tear*).

Quebec wasn't too much of a challenge. My in-laws live on a beautiful farm 2 hours from Montreal and although every inch of me wanted to go hunting in thrift stores, last year I scored a pair of seven jeans and TR jeans there, my 2 little girls were not so inclined. Instead we counted the baby chicken delivery, drew so many pics I am inspired to start drawing again and went to Bromont's insane water park.

However, when my bestie showed up at the farm (yep, we coordinate our vacations) we were able to sneak away to the "friperie" (french for used clothing store) where I picked up a really cool hat.

That's my bestie!

I am a lover of simple. Jeans and a t-shirt is my MO. Which probably explains my love for a great accessory. Whenever I see someone out there rocking the fedora I want one.

I love the one I found for $4, it is the perfect color to wear with jeans and the red feather on the side elevates it I think, I get so many compliments when I wear it. It's the perfect topper to a simple jeans and T outfit.

So Aug 1-10th was pretty uneventful...it was in Victoria that I really felt the pain...stay tuned.



Retail $19.99 (conservative)
used $4.00
saved $16.00

Garage sale haul

Hello All,

I was out hitting garage sales the other day and picked up a couple things I have been wanting to find for a while.

Most importantly a new Wii game for my daughter.
I was able to save (my estimate) $45.00 by buying her game (and steering wheel) at a garage sale.

Not to mention of course, consumer trash.

So I decided to add a tab at the very bottom of this blog to record my monies saved to date. i know the challenge itself doesn't start until August 1st but I thought it would be fun to add it now all the same.

My Challenge- What is it all about...

So I know, that you know, this is a crazy world we are living in.

It seems to me- and let me just say that I am a college drop out so I am no expert- that people are consuming things, ANYTHING, faster than they can use it and in a lot of cases even pay for it.

 I don't think I need a PHD to figure this out.

Be honest how many times have you or a friend of yours said-
  "OMG! I have all this stuff in my closet. Some of it even has the tag still on it!"

-Busted right!

So here is where I am at-
Why do we NEED to BUY, BUY, BUY to feel like we are someone?

Now I know we all need things, if your kids grow as fast as mine do you are probably out there every other week getting something. MY GOAL to by reused at every opportunity, and NOT be ashamed about it.

So starting August first I will be posting my story, I hope it is a good one.

I will tell you about my "hauls" (like the time I got a pair of seven jeans and true religion jeans for a total bill of $21).

and my failures- the times I chose buying new.

I just hope this will make us all think- because our average family debt is only dwarfed by the piles in our landfills...I know we can do better.



Who are you? What does your REAL look like? Be the change you wish to see....

Enjoy your day,
L