Thrifty things at the cottage Feb/March/April 2014

Hmmm, I said I would do this weekly!  HA!

Actually, I think monthly is probably a better idea.

Some of the thrifty things I have done over the past few months:

• I buy my hair dye on special for $10 per box.  Usually I buy 10 at a time because I get free delivery and free samples.  
• Dying my own hair has saved me thousands over the years.  I'm totally NOT ready to embrace the grey look yet (or maybe ever).
• Baked muffins and weetbix slice for snacks and lunchbox treats.  I took six muffins to my hairdressers for morning tea and six to my mum and dad's for morning tea too.

• Took my lunch to work every day
• Used the little car to run errands (it uses less petrol)
• Sold the twins cots on a buy/sell Facebook site. 
• Bought the twins some bunk beds.  Brand new these were well over $2K (excluding mattresses).  I looked on ebay and Gumtree until I found a set I wanted for $500 (including mattresses).  I found the drawers on ebay for $160.  All up, including new linen I got the whole set up for $760 (a saving of more than half price on the beds alone).  All it cost was a bit of running around for one afternoon.  The boys love them.

VERY difficult to get a good picture of the bunks in their room.  They look lovely in real life.

• Got some cute pictures for the boys room for $30.  These prints retail for RRP $8 - $15.95 each.  I got them already framed.

I got 8 pictures for $30

• Purchased some movie tickets from my work for half retail price.  My daughter and her friend enjoyed going to the movies and will again with the tickets I still have.
• Got some free mulch delivered for the garden that a tree lopper had leftover.

• Had to get some new glasses.  When looking at the frames the least expensive ones were $240!  I asked the optomerterist if they had any less expensive frames.  Low and behold - the No Gap or $50 Gap frames came out of the drawer!!!  I got a nice set of $50 Gap ones (they looked the best).  It pays to ask because they were not on display.
• I got completely caught out when my son needed antibiotics for an infection.  Went to the local Chemist and the script was $26 for the antibiotics (as it was late and an urgent appointment due to the infection).  Went to a different chemist for the repeat and it cost $6.90 for EXACTLY the same medication.  It pays to shop around for scripts.
• Bought a bunch of Lego for party gifts for 30% off.  I usually give a Lego set as a gift for when the boys get invited to a birthday.  Target was having a sale and I bought a number of sets with the discount and also got free delivery because I spent over a certain amount.  These sets had a $8 - 9 saving per box.

• Bought birthday cards at the cheap shop and Reject shop for $1 each.  I have a card box and like to have a stash for when birthdays come up.

• I bought mothers day cards for my mum and Greg's mum too.

I love being thrifty!