Guest feature: Forays of a frugalista

By Christine Case

My mantra goes something like this: "I have three children in diapers. I can't afford, well, anything."

Maybe that's stretching the truth. Maybe. But our family's choice to live off of one income so that I can stay home with our babies definitely makes things tight.

If it ever comes down to a choice between groceries and new curtains, well, obviously groceries come first. But you know, I really want those curtains. Next to being a wife and mother, decorating my home is the one thing that gives me the most self-worth and fulfillment. How can I feed and clothe my family while also outfitting my home?

Well. Sit back and let me tell you.

1. Shop for bargains. I don't just mean hit the department store on the 20% off days. I mean bargain hunt. Budget a small amount of cash, say $20 a month, and go to garage sales and thrift and consignment stores regularly. Scour the classified ads. Become a regular haunter of Craigslist. Get over any phobias about using things secondhand--you're saving money and the environment all in one fell swoop. There is no reason to pay full price for an item when you can get it for up to 90% less secondhand. And when you finally find that bargain, that thing you can't live without, well then...

2. Offer half. In situations where you are buying directly from the seller (think garage/yard sales and classified ads), don't be embarrassed or afraid to offer way less, even half, of what the seller is asking. The worst they can say is, "No." Simply continue to bargain from there.

3. Never pay more than what you truly believe an item is worth. Try not to get your heart set on it if the seller is determined to get more money out of it than you are willing to pay. Remember, you are in charge of setting the price. If the seller refuses to budge, say, "Thank you, but I'm not willing to pay that much," smile, and walk away.

Chances are you can either:a) find it somewhere else, or b) live without it. This rule holds true for consignment situations, too, where you have less control over the prices. If the consignee is asking too much, walk away and find it somewhere else. Better yet, hold out, visit regularly, and buy it weeks later when its price has been slashed.

4. Scour the trash. Don't think you need to dumpster dive or visit your local dump, although those are certainly options. Simply keep your eyes open. The night before the garage collectors come, go down a few alleys. You'll be simply amazed at what people are willing to throw away. Some of my best finds were found in the trash, including our dearly loved green chair and ottoman, now both a focal point and fantastic seat option in our living room.

5. Scour your home. Chances are you have some items just sitting around in the attic or basement that could be put to good use in your home with just a little imagination. I have done this countless times, most notably with a dirty, rickety china cabinet that the previous owner of our home had left. It sat neglected in our garage for a year and a half while I bellyached about not having a china cabinet. Finally I brightened up, cleaned the cabinet, and, using a minimal amount of time and money, transformed it into a lovely and workable china cabinet. It now sits proudly in our dining room, showcasing my wedding china.

6. Be willing to do some work. Some bargains will be perfect and simply require a little surface cleaning; some, on the other hand, will require stripping, staining, painting, lots of glue, and some prayer before they are house-worthy. Don't be afraid of hard work. Hard work is good for you, and it is something we all too often shun in favor of time-saving devices.

Sure, it's faster and easier to pay $100 for the brand-new, pre-made curtains, but imagine the knowledge and confidence you will gain if you buy the clearance fabric and sew them up yourself, not to mention the pride you can take in honest work and thriftiness.

Too often beautiful furniture pieces are thrown away because their owners couldn't bare to make them lovely or workable again with just a little work. Set reasonable work goals and transform, transform, transform!

I hope I've given you some ideas and some motivation to tackle a few projects and beautify your home using a small amount of money, a little ingenuity, and some hard work. Get off the beaten path and surprise even yourself with your daring and know-how!

Christine (Becker) Case graduated from Olivet in 2005 with a degree in English Education. She taught high school English for two years before settling down to be a stay-at-home mom to 2 1/2-year-old twins Jack and Baylor and 14-month-old Charlotte. She and her husband, Stephen ('05) live in Kankakee. Stephen teaches in the Physical Sciences department at Olivet and directs Strickler Planetarium. Christine and the kids fill their days visiting libraries, dancing to old musicals, and playing with matchbox cars.