Comments on: Frugal Making Do

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:04:47 +0000

Our 2 year-old is in desperate need of some larger bibs. The baby bibs just don’t protect his clothes anymore. I’m going to put together some old dish towels and collars from old T-shirts to make nice, long bibs for him. They’ll even match the kitchen’s decor!

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:57:37 +0000

I’ve been turning old stained tshirts into rags. I’m going to start using them for “napkins” too since we have so many!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:32:15 +0000

My friend bought a wool skirt at a thrift store, took it apart and used the fabric to make a vest for her husband. Inexpensive and beautiful.

By: Forest

Forest — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:17:28 +0000

I just rarely buy stuff unless it’s really needed. I never send physical cards anymore unless I make them myself and I wrap in brown packing paper and brown string.

As for everyday making do, I buy ingredients fresh rather than use convenience foods, learning to cook is fun and becomes an almost free hobby if you stay on cheap recipes.

Thrift stores, craigslist and ebay are essential shopping places, why buy new when so much nearly new stuff goes to waste?

By: Roxie Meiske

Roxie Meiske — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:25:56 +0000

Years ago I read in a book the idea of buying clothes at yard sales, thrift stores, etc. when you can get it cheap. Then take it apart. You have buttons, zippers, and fabric to use for something else. I have seen this done with men’s suits. Make a quilt with the wonderful wool fabric. Etc.
There is so much waste out there; if you are thoughtful you can have a lot of really wonderful things with time and effort.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:06:45 +0000

I’ve made decorative balls with Styrofoam balls. I had to do a lot of sitting and resting at the end of one pregnancy, so I bought some Styrofoam balls, some sequins, some tiny beads, and a package of straight pins. I put a tiny bead onto the pins first and then a sequin, and then I pushed each one into a ball. Once the ball was covered, I had a ball that resembled ones I had seen in expensive shops. It wasn’t free, but it was cheap, and I needed something to do with my hands. (Obviously, it was my first pregnant. I have four boys now and never get bored.)

For another one of the balls, I found something on clearance with the silk florals. It was sprays of red berries about the size of small blueberries. I was able to pull the berries off the stems, leaving a small stem intact to be used to push the berries into a Styrofoam ball. I used hot glue first to cover the ball with leftover fake moss from another project because the berries did leave small gaps that were uncovered.

I did a third ball, but I don’t remember what I covered that one with. All three balls went into a bowl during the Christmas season. When that was over, I stuck the ball covered in red berries on a tree stem I got from the backyard. I found a small pot I wasn’t using, put floral foam in it, and stuck the other end of the stick in the foam. I covered the foam with more of the moss, and then I had a decoration I could leave out all year.

By: Heather Mac

Heather Mac — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:41:45 +0000

We do a lot of re-purposing Thrift Store and garage sale clothing. Example: I bought 2 $0.10 Play Princess dress at garage sale. They were both too immodest for my daughter and the straps were broken on one. I used the ruffles from one and added to the bottom of the other dress to make it longer. Then I used the rest of the material and added sleeves and a panel to the front to cover the chest. Tah-Dah a perfect gift for Purim and now my daughter can dress like she is Esther!

I also make do with whatever yarn I can get my greedy hands on. A lot of people will just give you yarn that they do not use when they find out you crochet or knit.

I also do a lot of recycled crafts with the kids for homeschool, using lots of household “trash” items.

Have a happy frugal day!
Heather Mac