Let's Get Frugal: How I Got This Craft Cart Entirely FREE

3-Tier Rolling Craft Cart, FREE from Michaels.com 

I first spotted this mint colored metal rolling craft cart in my local Michael's craft store. It was just the cutest, and so functional for someone looking to turn their second bedroom into a home office. It was also $60. Not the amount of money I was willing to spend, unfortunately. So I left it behind. 

About a month later, I got an email advertising a blowout sale on the Michaels website and decided to see if my little mint craft cart was available. It was! And for just $23.99 it could be all mine.

But the thriftiness didn't stop there. I decided to open my Ibotta app and check my balance. I had more than enough to cover the costs. So I made a withdraw and deposited  that right into my PayPal account. 

What is Ibotta? Well in short, it's free money for minimal effort. If you have a tablet or smart phone, you simply download the free app and set up an account. You search for stores you shop at the most, from electronics and home goods, to pet supply stores and supermarkets. And if you buy any of the products or offers listed, you get cash back on your account by clicking a few buttons and taking a picture of your receipt. No scams, no gimmicks. It's like virtual coupons with savings that you can bank for store gift cards or PayPal deposits. 

Don't believe me? 

Just check out my lifetime earnings thus far! I downloaded the Ibotta app in January and have already saved almost $140. Now, that may not sound like a lot to some people. But when you use those funds to buy the little extras in life, the non-necessities, if you will, that extra little income can really can be helpful. 

My advice? To really stretch those savings, use your withdraw on items that are on sale, or that you have a coupon for...or even on items that earn you money back on Ibotta!  

If you'd like to get started, you can download the free app using my referral link. Or download the app and use the referral code: "ejkusoc." You'll get a $10 welcome bonus after your first approved purchase, and I'll earn a bonus too. It's a win-win! 

The perfect FREE storage solution for my jute, burlap, brushes, and more. 

Ah, to have things neat and tidy! I actually got those tin cups from Hallmark after Valentine's Day. They were on clearance for 29 cents each---a total steal. The little jars are for homemade under-eye creams, to be featured on a future post. And since I'm a nerd...I have a label maker, naturally. 

The bottom shelf needs a bit more organization to it...but since Bernie the Beagle is constantly stealing my latex gloves and drop cloth...I might have to rethink their placement. 

Dollar store plastic bins, thrifted baskets, or small wooden crates go a long way when it comes to storing craft supplies. So if you're looking to score your own craft cart for free...and organize it for cheap...you've come to the right place. 

Stay frugal, my friends.

2 Simple Tips For Thrifty Shopping Without The Thrift Store

She's the most interesting thrifter in the world.

Being thrifty means more than shopping secondhand. Let's face it. There are times when you can't find everything you need or even want from the local thrift store. So how do I reconcile retail shopping and staying thrifty? I have two basic maneuvers that I encourage you to practice whenever possible.

• Scour the clearance section. While not every retailer will have a section specially for clearance merchandise, many do. It never hurts to look. I've scored clothes, shoes, books, food and much more for far less compared to standard retail prices. Just be sure to check product condition and expiration dates if applicable.

Retail price $12. Supermarket clearance price: $3.

There are certain things I can't typically buy cheaply. Face products and haircare products cost me a pretty penny, since I have sensitive skin and have to be wary of what I use. $3 for a big bottle of my favorite hypoallergenic facial cleanser? Yes, please! 

I pillaged the Barnes and Noble clearance section. 

Ah yes, clearance books. Nothing like a stack of cheap reads. I usually have no problem finding interesting books at the thrift, but that doesn't mean a visit to Barnes and Noble is a fruitless trip. 

Madame Bovary: Regularly priced $5. Clearance price with member discount: $2.25
Ghost Towns Yesterday and Today: Originally $25. Clearance price with member discount: $5.40 
M is For Monster: Original price $22. Clearance price with member discount: $2.70

• Work the sales and the coupons like a pro. You don't have to be on Extreme Couponing to know a bargain when you see one. Be patient and search sales fliers for deals, then get to the coupon clipping. Want some examples? 

Black patent leather wedges, brand spankin' new.

Another expenditure where I can't afford to be too stingy are shoes. I have clown feet, in size 11... size 10 if I'm lucky enough to find certain styles with a wide-width. So when a sale and a coupon can be combined, by George I do it! These shoes are $60 regularly priced. But I also found a lovely button-down top on sale for $15 from the same store. Fortunately for me I had a $25 off a $75 purchase coupon. Original price for shoes and shirt: $90. Sale and coupon price: $50.

The average cost of this can of soup is $3.00

I like canned vegetable soup. Its saves a heck of a lot of time in making lunch. It's not always cheap... but today it was. My supermarket had a one-day only special sale on select varieties of Progresso vegetable classics for just .79 cents a can! But that's not all, folks. I had a coupon for $1.00 off 4 cans of Progresso. Soooo.....

.79 x 4 cans of soup is $3.16  - 1.00 coupon  = $2.16

That's $2.16 for 4 cans of soup! 

. . . . . 

Sure, I love thrifting. I love flea markets and garage sales and thrift stores the size of shopping malls. But sometimes you have to do the retail thing. And you don't have to sacrifice your frugal ways. Trust me. I know how it is. Now, isn't it nice to know you can still be thrifty when it comes to retail with just two simple steps? 

How do you stay thrifty outside of the thrift store?