Monthly Archives: March 2011

Just Between Friends sign-up

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m buried in outgrown kid clothes/stuff and am anxious to purge them (even though it is hard to let go a cute outfit like this one). Some of the clothes and gear I’ve already passed on to friends , but honestly there a lot of value still left in them and I’m reluctant to pass them all on without recouping some of cost. Any way about it, it’s going to take a big effort, but I want to be as efficient as possible and get the most return for my time, energy and kid stuff . Plus, any proceeds from my sale are earmarked as spending money for our Denmark trip, so I’ve got an incentive.

So, I had heard about  the Pass It On sale  from my friend Stacy, and was about to research it some more when I was on UrbanMamas and saw an ad for Just Between Friends at the Portland Expo, April 30th – May 1st . This one appealed to me more, since it’s on the MAX line, so I’ve signed up as a consignor and a volunteer.


My goal this spring was hold a huge yard sale, but honestly the idea of sitting around all weekend hawking kid stuff isn’t my idea of relaxation. I’ll probably still do a household porch sale, but at least I won’t be buried in kid stuff. Plus, I don’t really think I would be able to get the same volume of sales as at a huge consignment sale, like Just Between Friends.


Also, the idea of selling at consignment stores was even more daunting. I’ve taken a some clothes to Bella Stella, but out of several bags of high quality in season clothes, they took about a 1/2 bag. Then in order to get the credit I have to go back and shop within six months…which reminds me that I need to shop soon!


“Just between friends” if you’re interested in getting first look at some of my stuff, get in touch. Also, let me know if you’d like to shop together for sale itself.


Have you consigned, shopped or volunteered at a consignment sale?


~*~*~*~*~*~ 
Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

Story of Citizens

As always, I can’t help but share my enthusiasm for Annie Leonard and her brilliant Story of Stuff films series. So here’s the latest, which is about corporate power and how citizens lost control. It’s less than ten minutes, and you’ll no doubt be inspired…or at least motivated to take action:






What are your thoughts on the film/topic?


~*~*~*~*~*~ 
Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

February Money Notes

I’m still trying to digest our expenses for the month of February, because it honestly doesn’t feel like we spent that much money. Once I looked closer at the expenses, there’s actually nothing we purchased the will last longer than what’s in our fridge/cupboard. In fact, w e spent a total of $438.83 on groceries, and another $278.77 eating out. We also spent $170 on charities. But we were frugal in other ways, my $20 haircut and we only filled the gas tank up once (still have a half tank too).


Now I can better see how Hubby’s common saying is that “we are hemorrhaging money!” It does make it seem more real to type it all up and share it with you …here it goes:


Feb 1st

  • $60 – boot camp classes – cash
  • $60 – paid remainder of birthday party expense – cash
  • $4.50 (+ .50ct tip) – Fuego burrito cart – cash
  • $41.17 – Spud –  AmEx Costco card

Feb 2nd

  • $1,954 – Childcare tuition – automatic debit

Feb 3rd

  • $66.90 – Turbotax – debit card
  • $9.45 Hubby’s lunch – debit card
  • $65.49 Electric utility – automatic debit
Feb 4th
  • $47.21 at Whole Foods – debit card
  • $47.91 at Trader Joe’s – debit card
Feb 7th
  • $14.70 Philadephia’s – debit card
  • $12.50 Southpark Wine – debit card
  • $15.00 The Nines Urban Farm – debit card
  • $17.85 Paradise Bakery – debit card
  • $45.81 gasoline – debit card
  • $50.00 Water for People charity donation – debit card
  • $1,624.98 Continental Chase card payment in full – debit card 

Feb 8th

  • $3.75 Hubby’s coffee – debit card
  • $3.99 my lunch – debit card
  • $10.00 OPB member donation – Continental card
Feb 9th
  • $4.38 my lunch – debit card
  • $26.28 Rite Aid – no recollectiondebit card
Feb 10th
  • $2.75 Hubby’s coffee – debit card
  • $9.99 Netflix – automatic debit
  • $146.24 – NW Natural Gas – automatic debit
  • $37.58 – Spud –  AmEx Costco card
Feb 12th
  • $21.99 Sparky’s pizza – debit card
  • $103.10 Freddy’s – debit card
  • $34.99 Clear wi-fi –  AmEx Costco card
Feb 13th
  • $18.90 breakfast out – debit card
  • $7.55 overdue library book fines – debit card
  • $15.47 IKEA (meatballs, etc.) – debit card
  • +$48.87 IKEA returns – (wine glasses and shoe rack)
  • +$15.00 Target return (sweater dress for Girly)
Feb 15th
  • $87.83 Allstate Insurance – automatic debit
  • $36.00 Hubby paid for lunch with co-workers – debit card
  • $401.00 Subaru car payment – automatic debit
  • $15.00 2 tickets to Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Flycheck
  • $125.00 EcoMaids cleaning service – Continental card
Feb 16th 
  • $7.75 lunch out with friend –  AmEx Costco card
  • $10.37 date with kiddos – AmEx Costco card
Feb 17th
  • $47.74 – Spud – AmEx Costco card
  • $11.68 Burgerville – Hubby – debit card
  • $110.00 Church tithe – Continental card
Feb 18th

  • +32.98 Costco return of wine glasses
  • $156.04 Costco purchase – AmEx Costco card
  • $91.91 doctor’s bill – Continental card
  • $136.37 doctor’s bill – Continental card
  • $18.00 Milagro’s – 3 cloth diaper liner rolls – Continental card

Feb 20th

  • $28.75 Cup and Saucer breakfast – debit card
  • $14.00 Oregonian Fri/Sat/Sun home delivery – Continental card
Feb 22nd
  • $0.40 Parking tab – debit card
  • $7.50 Hubby matinĂ©e – debit card 
  • $10.75 Kettleman’s bagels – debit card
  • $46.91 Safeway – debit card ($40 cash for Hubby)
  • $800.00 Costco American Express (early payment) – debit card
Feb 23rd
  • $5.47 snacks for co-workers at mtg – debit card
Feb 24th
  • $48.35 Spud – AmEx Costco card
Feb 25th
  • $17.90 Lunch date for Hubby, Big Guy and I – debit card
  • $28.50 Mississippi Pizza night out – debit card
February 26th
  • $5.99 ice cream ($40 cash back) – debit card
  • $20 haircut – cash

February 28th

  • $13.97 – healthy work snacks – debit card
  • $288.00 – student loanautomatic debit

February total = $6782.76 (credit cards paid off from previous month = $2,424.98)

Cash = $145
Check = $15
Automatic debit = $2,952.55
Debit card = $2,345.79
AmEx credit card = $383.99
Continental credit card = $505.28



Have you written out your expenses lately…or ever?!









~*~*~*~*~*~ 
Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.