Something smelled foul at Value Village. No, it wasn’t the scent of grandma’s 50-year-old fur wrapped in decade long mothballs. Nope. But the smell was indeed stank and it seemed to stink up every corner of the popular Canadian thrift store, which is called ‘Savers’ in the United States.

After careful inspection and a few frugal laps around the so-called ‘village of value’, I found the odorous source. THE PRICES! Have you smelled the prices at Value Village lately? They STINK! Well, at least they seemed a little rank under my schnoz for savings.

Being a person of curiosity before accusation, I left Value Village empty handed for the first time ever, and went online to see if fellow thrifters smelled something stinky too. Turns out a lot of former villagers are turning up their noses at the higher prices and flaring their nostrils on Value Village’s Facebook page. Check it out these comments:

Were these disgruntled bargain shoppers right? Could you really buy brand new clothing at retail for less than the price of used at Value Village? With my squawky senses tingling, I launched my blue Smart Car in search of savings, and even examples of price gouging at Value Village. This is what I found.

First of all, Value Village still sells some tacky-a$$ed s$it. This maybe-wooden windmill ‘decoration’ will give your friends hundreds of reasons to mock you for only $14.99.

Buy this dusty puffball thing with garish googly eyes for $4.99 and I’ll personally teach you about The Trouble With Tribbles. Don’t make me do it.

After a little fun, I got down to some serious money-crunching journalistic-like work. Since I know a lot about jeans *cough*, I decided to hit up Value Village’s denim racks first. And the prices boggled my blue pant lovin’ brain.

Are you freaking kidding me? Paying $14.99 for a pair of used Gap jeans may seem a steal, but I’ve found them for far less new by sleuthing the sales. Check out my brand new pair of Gap 1969 boot cuts for $4.97. I squawk you not.

The best part about not shopping Value Village’s denim rack? No one’s crotch has ever worn, wiggled in, or worn out my brand new pants. Crotch-free shopping for less, people. I’m into it.

Now onto winter wear, ’cause I live in Canada and it’s cold outside.

Behold the $49.99 pair of USED snow pants. U.S.E.D. As in frolicked in the f-cking snow a few too many times for a dollar shy of fifty bucks. You know who’s a dollar shy of a Canadian loonie? Value Village for pricing this sad pair of padded pants for $50. I bought my winter wonderland pants for $29 at Costco last year. That’s right, no one has dangled their winter woobie in my snowies AND I saved $20 over Value Village by shopping brand new.

Invest $17.99 in this very used Gap vest at Value Village and cry in the cold when this badboy gets discounted for around $25 in Gap stores across North American in late November. That’s how much I paid for mine.

Wanna go dancing?

You’ll be trippin’ the light fantastic in these moldy heels for $9.99. I called Payless, Winners (called T.J.Maxx in the States), and Walmart for a price comparison on these stellar shoes. Payless, Winners, and Walmart wouldn’t sell me moldy shoes at any price. Sorry.

Speaking of Walmart shoes, check out these ‘Wizard of Oz’ type kiddie kicks for $4.99.

If you want a real deal, I suggest you follow the yellow brick road right back to their home at Walmart where you can buy this pair for $5 on sale. The savings will make the Tin Man squeak.

Time to play with some toys.

Thrift stores like Value Village can be the perfect place to score barely used kid’s toys for a buck or two.

But this $4 baggie of used teething toys is very well-chewed, and kinda gross. I’d rather spend $2 more at Walmart and come home with something fresh for my baby to drool over. I’ll chew on the peace of mind, thank you.

Speaking of chewing…

Would you pay nearly $4 for this red dragon thing to growl at you? The dollar store sells dinosaur figures like this for under $2, brand new.

Behold two naked Barbie dolls in a bag for the price of $3.99. These double gal pals are a fair price, but they’re naked. And every little girl knows that Barbie needs clothes! So you’re still on the hook for a dress or two. Unless your Barbie is a stripper — then she’s perfect straight outta the plastic baggie. Kudos.

Kids grow fast and need clothing to keep up with their lengthening limbs. Thrift stores can be a great place to replenish their clothing for less. Maybe.

I’ve purchased hats, onesie bodysuits, and t-shirts brand new for $1.99 or less at Walmart, Carter’s, OshKosh, and Old Navy. Why would I buy this stuff used (and shrunken) for the same price? Pass.

While you won’t find many savings on kiddlet tops at Value Village, the pants can be a steal. But you have to hunt! Bottoms up…

I couldn’t resist this $2.99 pair of Baby Gap overalls. They’re green! Heaven. These retail for over $25 new, and it’s nearly impossible to find a set of crazy green Gap pants for under $3. Sold.

The ‘Genuine Baby’ line of clothing are by OshKosh and sell at Target. A similar pair is currently on sale for $11.90. I prefer this used set for $2.99. Sold.

Two pairs of overalls — that’s all I bought during my trip to Value Village.

So where am I going with this?

The prices at Value Village currently stink. The company has addressed people’s “concerns”, which are really hundreds of negative comments pointing out the price increases on Value Village’s Facebook Page. Value Village welcomes your feedback.

If you’re feeling miffed and a little stiffed by shopping thrift, I suggest you take your business elsewhere and email your customer complaint to Value Village here: customercare@savers.com. Companies only listen when people like you speak up.

Sure, I’ll still peek into Value Village during their big 50% off sales and maybe find something rare and awesome (like green overalls), but as a savvy shopper who price checks everything, I’ll likely stick to the department store sales to find great deals on new items since they often cost the same used at Value Village.

I’m curious about your thoughts.

Do you still shop at Value Village? Are the prices fair, or are they way too high for used goods?

Love,
Kerry

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The salesperson offered the gal a 10% discount for a wool cardigan missing a button. If the picky gal hadn’t snubbed the deal, she would have saved $8.50 (plus tax) on a high quality sweater with a fixable flaw. Since the extra button was still attached, I offered to take the cute cardy off the salesperson’s hands for 15% less, and went straight home to play with my sewing kit.

My trusty Mason jar sewing kit has been one of my secret money saving tools for years. Sure, I’ve pocketed a few extra bucks negotiating discounts on blemished clothing, but my simple sewing skills have mostly helped me mend the quality gear I already own. Extending the life of your loved clothing can save you some serious cash, and doing the work yourself may save you from paying a seamstress to do a trivial repair.

Unhinged hems, missing buttons, teenie tiny holes — it’s all fixable if you keep your tailoring tools handy and in working order. To help you get your fabric fixed, go ahead and convert a Mason jar into a sewing kit with a pincushion lid — you’ll have the cutest kit on hand to put most mending needs in stitches. It’s the perfect gift for students, new homeowners, maybe even husbands, or anyone who gives a darn.

Fashion 12 Classic clothing pieces every gal should own Is your fashion frugal? These twelve essential wardrobe pieces could cut your clothing budget. Read More »

Mason Jar Sewing Kit: Stuff you need

You’ll need to collect sewing items to put in the kit, as well as the bits and pieces for building the pincushion lid.

To build a pincushion lid:

• Mason jar — wide-mouth, pint-sized with two-part lid
• batting: cotton or polyester
• thick cardboard
• fabric
• hot glue gun

Sewing kit items:

• thread in basic colors: white, black, beige, navy, green, brown, red, gray
• small scissors
• measuring tape
• needles (assorted sizes)
• straight pins
• safety pins (various sizes)
• seam ripper
• buttons — extras saved from clothing
• fabric pencils
• small containers (optional)
• Fray Check (optional)

Gift Option: Mending Kit in a Jar

It’s a well known fact that I like to stick things in jars. I’ve squished fish (not real ones), I’ve baked pies (real ones), and I’ve stuffed some strangely themed things into Mason jars. So it’s no surprise that I suggest stuffing a few sewing staples into a jar as a thank-you gift too, but you’ll need a few sewing instructions to complete the craft.

Download: How to sew a button

Mason Jar Sewing Kit: Instructions

A few easy steps to sew up this project.

STEP ONE: Separate and trace. Separate the Mason jar lid sealer and screw cap. Trace the lid sealer onto the cardboard. Trace another circle one inch larger onto your fabric.

STEP TWO: Cut and cushion. Cut out both circles. Plump up the fabric circle by stuffing the batting between the cardboard and fabric circles.

STEP THREE: Glue cap. Assemble. Turn the screw cap upside down, and sandwich fabric, batting, and cardboard pieces together neatly. Glue down fabric around the exposed cardboard, then stick the top of the lid sealer to the cardboard so the fabric is cleanly contained. Press firmly, and screw onto Mason jar until glue is dry.

STEP FOUR: Fill. Fill your sewing kit with mending supplies of your choice, and top the pincushion with a few needles.

STEP FIVE: Mend something. A few instructional videos for your (improved) sewing pleasure.

How to Sew Buttons, Snaps, and Hooks

How to Hem

How a Stitch is Made

Question: Do you mend your clothing?

Love,
Kerry

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• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
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Your linen closet is the perfect place to go shopping for a frugal last minute Halloween costume. Whether you need a kids Halloween costume or something more fitting for a teen or adult, the answer to your costume conundrum can be found in an old stack of used pillowcases.

Any pillowcase color will do. White makes a great ghost. Green can become a hulking ghoul. Slap on an eye patch, and a black or brown pillowcase turns into a pirate costume. Got a wacky patterned or bright colored pillowcase? Get creative and call it a fruit costume. The possibilities are eerily and deliciously endless.

To show you that homemade costumes can be just as cool (and far cheaper) than the store bought stuff, I made three Halloween costumes out of pillowcases. Two pillowcases were bought for $1 each at my local dollar store, the other was sitting unloved and crumpled in my closet, just waiting for a costume party to attend.

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In total, each costume cost me around $2 to stick together. Take my no-sew pillowcase costumes for a spin and maybe your ideas will be funner, scarier, or more spooktacular than you could imagine for just a few bucks.

Pillowcase Halloween Costumes: Stuff you need

The possibilities are really endless. This is what I used for my three costumes.

• Pillowcases: green, purple, brown
• Leftover felt fabric
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Glue gun, or fabric glue
• Pencil
• Construction paper, paper bag
• My free costume templates
• Optional: Fabric markers

The instructions are fast and simple: Get a pillowcase. Measure your kid’s head and arm diameters. Cut head and armholes into pillow case. Download and cut out a costume template. Stencil template to felt fabric, or use fabric markers to transfer template directly to pillowcase, and fill in using markers. If not using markers, glue felt fabric to pillowcase. Done. Happy Halloween!

Skeleton Costume

Yes, I’m wearing a set of homemade skeleton bones plastered onto an old purple pillowcase this year for Halloween. I’ll have a heart of a pumpkin.

You can have a pumpkin heart too. Download my skeleton template and these bones are yours.

Download: Skeleton Template

Gather your costume ingredients.

Cut out your fabric. Glue. Done.

Just wear a dark turtleneck paired with matching tights or pants to complete this frugal Halloween look.

Crayola Crayon Costume

Bright pillowcases can be turned into condiment containers (yellow mustard, red ketchup, or white mayonnaise), but the brightest blues, greens, and reds can become the cutest Crayola crayons too.

Get your crayon on with the right costume ingredients.

Download my crayon costume template.

Download: Crayon Costume Pattern

Measure your kids, and cut out a few (OK, two) armholes and some space for a head. If the pillowcase is too long, chop off the bottom. I won’t tell.

Transfer crayon template to felt fabric, or use fabric markers to draw in the details.

Add a matching winter hat to top the look, or construct a cone hat to become the sharpest crayon in the box.

Bring the whole family along and become a big box of crayons. Easy.

The Paper Bag Princess

Sit down Disney. I’m done with your Sleeping Beauties, Snow Whites, and generic Barbie doll-shaped princesses living life just to marry the perfect Prince Charming (Shhh, he doesn’t exist). I’m raising my daughter to kick some a$$, kinda like Princess Elizabeth in my favorite kid’s story book The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch.

You’ve gotta admit that any princess who rescues a prince from a fire-breathing dragon using serious brain smarts while wearing a paper bag is cool. Plus, she lives happily ever after by dumping his privileged arse. Turns out he didn’t like her garb. Again, take that Disney.

Download: Crown Template

I love this book. So when Chloe is big enough she may just ‘Trick or Treat’ in a pillowcase costume to look just like The Paper Bag Princess.

For this super simple last minute Halloween costume you’ll need a brownish pillowcase, a brown paper bag, an elastic, and some yellow paper. A belt or ribbon tied around the waist pulls this costume together.

Download my crown template, and assemble the crown parts with a little elastic looped through the crown ends.

Cut three holes for arms and a head into the pillowcase, stick on a brown paper bag, and the costume is done. Total cost is under $2, although the book costs a few bucks more.

When you’re done with this costume, go ahead and make yourself some gourmet popcorn in a brown paper bag.

Three homemade Halloween costumes (perfect for last minute tricksters) on a very slim budget.

Happy Halloween,
Kerry

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• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
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I don’t know why I’m doing this. Carving a pumpkin isn’t going to save you mega millions. Tracing a pumpkin stencil won’t significantly boost your retirement nest egg or help you pay back your student loan. I should know. I’ve done the mathy math to see just how much moolah you’d save carving pumpkins, and the savings are frightfully abysmal. To be honest, the savings stink like a week old Jack O’ Lantern.

But I’m not here to judge you (or your week old Jack O’ Lantern). It’s nearly Halloween, and I’ve come to the frugal conclusion (since I’ve done the math) that carving your own dang pumpkin face and using one of my free pumpkin stencils is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying some plastic ghoulish crap from Walmart, or Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton sells plastic ghoulish crap, right?

Holidays, Recipes Frightfully Fun Halloween Cupcakes Try these five easy Halloween Cupcakes for a frightfully delicious time. Read More »

AnygettingsuedbyLouisVuitton, carving pumpkins is fun. Halloween is funner. And turning an orange gourd into Charlie Brown is the funnest. (It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown). So download my free pumpkin stencils and tell Louis Vuitton (or Walmart) where they can stick the candle.

Note: When picking your pumpkin from the patch be sure to select a squash that suits the stencil. Some patterns work better on rounder, squarer, or taller pumpkins.

Download: Scary Face Stencil	Download: Charlie Brown Stencil
Download: Skull and Crossbones Stencil	Download: Skeleton Stencil
Download: Celebrity Stencil	Download: Pumpkin Stencil

DIY, Holidays 8 Pumpkin Stencils: Scary Printable Pumpkin Faces (and Marilyn Monroe) Download more pumpkin stencils. Read More »

Pumpkin Stencil Instructions:

1. Download and print the pumpkin stencil you like best. Or all of them. I won’t tell.
2. Use scissors to cut and remove the shaded stencil area.
3. Make small incisions along the stencil to help it lay flat on the pumpkin face. Tape the edges of the stencil to the pumpkin.
4. Transfer the pumpkin stencil pattern with a marker.
5. Prepare your pumpkin by removing the top or base. Remove the pulp and seeds.
6. Use a sharp knife to carve a scary face! See How to Carve a Pumpkin for a few tips!

Happy Halloween!
Love,
Kerry

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Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

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I wanted to unsee the homemade ‘sketti’ recipe whipped together by Mama June and her 7-year-old daughter Alana, the stars of TLC’s new reality TV hit Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

For weeks I tried to pretend this likeable family livin’ on a tight $80 per week food budget didn’t really eat a microwaved ketchup and butter concoction dumped on spaghetti, calling the mess an “old family recipe”.

But no matter how hard I tried — and I really did try — I could not stop thinking about this so-called cheap recipe. Was it really that cheap for Mama June to nuke a few squirts of ketchup and call it dinner? Or is there a healthier ‘sketti’ recipe a family could enjoy and still stick to a tight budget?

Take a guess. Is it possible to cook something cheaper than Heinz on noodles?

I figured, if I could make a Starbucks Frappuccino for $0.32, create healthier Lunchables for 32% less, and stretch 1 organic chicken into 22 healthy meals for $49 bucks, then I could surly remix and squawkify Honey Boo Boo’s ‘sketti’ recipe into something tastier, healthier, and far more frugal. Right?

It all starts with a shopping list.

Recipes: Sketti vs. Squawketti

To squawkify Honey Boo Boo’s ‘sketti’ into a healthier and less expensive spaghetti dinner — which I’m calling it Squawketti — I went to Walmart for a little grocery shopping action. I figured Walmart would be a Mama June approved shoppin’ place, and I like Walmart too.

Attention Walmart Shoppers: I stuffed the cheapest spaghetti, Heinz ketchup, and margarine I could find into my shopping cart. I know Honey Boo Boo and Mama June rave about butter in their ‘sketti’, but if you watch the video clip closely, you’ll see they’re melting Country Crock margarine into their ketchup ‘sauce’. Yes, margarine. So I bought margarine to keep it real and make authentic ‘sketti’. This is serious journalism, people. SERIOUS! *cough*

I figured a competin’ ‘sketti’ recipe would have to be made with store bought ingredients too. I don’t see Mama June growing her own herbs and tomatoes to cut costs. In my frugal world, I’d grow basil and heirloom tomatoes from saved seeds to really save money. But my world ain’t Honey Boo Boo’s, so let’s keep our Squawketti fully packaged and bought. Albeit, Squawketti does have a few fresher ingredients (basil) and foods with higher nutritional value (whole wheat pasta, tomatoes). Both recipes yield approximately 16oz (473ml) of sauce, which should feed a family.

Cookin’ Roadkill? Like Mama June, I’m a little light on fresh roadkill these days, so my spaghetti recipes are served without tire treads and deer caught in headlights. Sorry.

Honey Boo Boo’s ‘Sketti’ Recipe:

Sketti Ingredients:

• ketchup: 8oz (240ml)
• margarine: 8oz (240ml)
• spaghetti: 1lb (454g)

Sketti Cookin’ Instructions: Throw cooked pasta against a wall. If it sticks, that $hit is done. Dump ketchup and margarine into a plastic container. Without letting the container melt, microwave on high until ‘sauce’ melts together. Serve on pasta.

Squawketti Recipe:

Squawketti Spaghetti Ingredients:

• 1 can of diced tomatoes: 14oz (414ml)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• whole wheat spaghetti: 1lb (454g)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• small bunch of fresh basil
• pinch of sea salt, fresh ground pepper, chili pepper flakes

Squawketti Preparation: Cook whole wheat spaghetti according to package instructions. In a large saucepan on medium heat add 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add chopped garlic and chili flakes. Stir. When garlic browns, add basil and canned tomatoes. Turn up heat to high and stir for a minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain the spaghetti and transfer it to the pan with tomato sauce and stir. Serve. A similar recipe can be found in Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, or in any dang cookbook written after 1968 (except those semi-homemade recipes by Sandra Lee).

Cost and Calorie Comparison:

Shop around and you can often find lower prices on tomatoes, spaghetti, margarine, or any other ingredient. For a fair comparison, all ingredients were purchased at regular price in the same stores. My price and nutritional comparison use these serving sizes: Spaghetti 85g (3oz), Sauce: 120ml (0.5 cups).

Bottom Line: Priced at 12% more, Honey Boo Boo’s ‘sketti’ has over twice the calories, nearly nine times the fat, and almost one-third the fibre of my Squawketti recipe.

Don’t believe me? Here’s the ingredient cost breakdown. My recipe is less expensive — I squawk you not.

Bottom Line: For the same serving of food, my Squawketti spaghetti recipe is $0.09 cheaper — that’s a 12% savings — compared to Honey Boo Boo’s so-called budget ‘sketti’.

So where am I going with this?

Eating cheaply doesn’t mean you have to eat poorly. Sure, you need to watch your food budget and aim to stock up on staples when they’re on sale. But adding foods with higher nutritional value and preparing more wholesome meals on a tight budget is easy if you use your dang noodle. Don’t get me started on the roadkill.

Love,
Kerry

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Love the blog? Get the book: 397 Ways to Save Money

Top Squawks

• How to make a budget (series with downloads)
• How to write a resume (series with downloads)
• Frugalicious Recipes
• 50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year
• Credit Card Calculator
• Download your free 92-page eBook: The Insider’s Guide To Frugal Food & Fitness

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