Budget-minded

First Night Northampton, Mass.: A New Year’s Eve Delight

by Deb C January 11, 2024

First Night Northampton, Mass: A New Year’s Eve Delight

It used to be that my husband and I would celebrate New Year’s Eve at a neighborhood party at a couple’s house we could walk to. Sadly, the hosts, and many of our neighbors and friends have since moved away. Some years, we have ventured the six hour drive North to Eastport, Maine, for it’s fun and unusual celebration. Searching for something a bit closer to home this past Dec. 31st., 2023, we found First Night Northampton, Mass., which is a New Year’s Eve Delight.

First Night Northampton, Mass.: A New Year’s Eve Tradition

First Night Northampton is a festive New Year’s Eve tradition going back decades to 1985. We live near Boston, Mass. which has a well known First Night, but we were unaware of Northampton’s. Like Boston, Northampton is a walkable city, and has a multitude of entities that participate in the festival. It’s grown to the point of 23 odd venues. Smith College, businesses, and churches, as well as traditional entertainment establishments, provide the necessary spaces for all the entertainers and audiences. Even a bank offers a warming center with bathrooms and hot beverages.

How it works: You purchase a button which admits you to all venues. Performances and activities are scheduled on the hour, beginning at 12 noon. They run for approximately 45 minutes so you have 15 minutes to walk to the next one.

Sometimes the settings are as enjoyable as the acts themselves. The Academy of Music building houses a wonderful vintage theater built in 1891 where Harry Houdini and Mae West and other legends once performed.

First Night Northampton, Mass.: A New Year’s Eve Delight for Young and Old

First Night Northampton has activities and entertainment for all ages and multiple interests. This festival of arts starts at noon with child-oriented entertainment, which is then a part of each hour’s eclectic performances until 6 p.m. Each event/activity/entertainment lasts about 45 minutes. About as long as many kids can sit still. Family activities this past New Year’s Eve included: a circus, a “mad” scientist, comedy magic, a juggler, face painting and balloon making, a yoyo guy, storytellers, and a puppet show.

The shows most likely to appeal to senior citizens wrap up by 9 p.m.

No staying up late or being awakened by fireworks! They start at 6:15, so that everyone can be in bed at a reasonable hour.

The fireworks are shot off a parking garage in mid-downtown. They can easily be seen from cars in nearby public parking lots and from many convenient vantage points, including in strollers. Once the show is over, it may be only a block or two walk to your parked car. There’s free on-street parking and in municipal lots, except for the downtown parking garage.

First Night Northampton, Mass.: 12 Hours of Musical Performances and Special Acts

Whether you’re seeking a day or evening filled with lively energy or a more laid-back experience, Northampton’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza has it all.

The contemporary performers at First Night run from amateur ensembles, such as The Raging Grannies, the AEIOUkes who are a mix of amateur and trained musicians, to professional musicians and groups of note. Some of the musicians and singers play or played with headlining Rock Bands and received Grammy nominations. Then there’s the delightful Ardaigh, an Irish band, and Klezamir, a rockin’ klezmer band as well as Happy Valley Guitar orchestra and the Offbeat Womyn’s Drumming Ensemble.

The Raging Grannies delivered their political commentaries in clever, whimsical, or poetic manner set to familiar tunes. We weren’t familiar with them, but chose them as the name appealed to us.

The casual upbeat atmosphere at First Night Northampton 24 lent itself to literal dancing in the aisles whether the two-step or the hora. For those who were in the mood for more dancing during the later evening hours, there was the Peace and Rhythm Dance Party.

As midnight approaches, it’s traditional to gather at the Hotel Northampton for the iconic raising of the ball. On Dec. 31, 2023, Steve Sanderson of WRSI hosted the Midnight Countdown with Peace & Rhythm DJs getting folks on their feet dancing.

Navigating First Night Northampton, Mass.

First, we went to FirstNightNorthampton.org.

We later picked up a newspaper that had a full page devoted to the event:

The website has all kinds of helpful information. We downloaded the performance schedule.

The next thing we did was look at FirstNightNorthampton.org to read the descriptions of all the performers and acts. They were impressive. My husband and I marked halfway across the box of which ones appealed to us with contrasting yellow and green highlighters. For most of the hour slots, we found performers we both agreed upon. We downloaded and printed out the map with the key to all the venues. As it was half the size of a letter size piece of paper, we then enlarged it to a full sheet. We highlighted the venues where we needed to go on the map. By and large, most weren’t that far from each other.

As you can see from the wear and tear of the the performance schedule and downtown map, we got a lot of use out of them.

Once we were sure we could commit to going, we bought our buttons online. We had to pick them up in person day of, but we saved $4 each by purchasing ahead of time and where we picked them up was in the heart of downtown. They also offered a discount for buying before Dec. 31, seniors, and adult day only (until 6 p.m.) buttons. There was a lower price for kids up to 10 and only 2 were free.

Finding parking was easy and plentiful when we arrived in Northampton on Dec. 31st., which was about 11:20 a.m. As we walked towards the Downtown, we could hear a lively band playing al fresco. Thorne’s Marketplace, where we could pick up our buttons, is in the middle of Main St., and just a few blocks away. We had no problem finding the First Night Box Office (tables set up in a hallway) and waiting in line wasn’t a trial.

As soon as we claimed our buttons, we attached them to our coats. Each venue had Greeters/Checkers at the door looking for buttons. It was very casual and easy as people just walked through entrances without pausing, much easier that using ticket takers. Checkers tended to be senior citizens and there was one in a wheelchair.

Note that, for those with children or finicky bladders, in addition to two designated warming centers with restrooms and hot beverages, several of the entertainment spaces allowed use of their bathrooms.

First Night Northampton, Mass.: Plenty of Shopping, Food and Drink Options

Downtown Northampton, Mass. boasts a charming downtown. It’s main and side streets are lined with charming shops and businesses. Thorne’s Marketplace, a circa 1873 historic three story commercial building, is home to an array of independent, locally-owned retailers and restaurants lining a sort of in-door wooden-floored alley. You could easily spend a day there. Check out ShopNoho and Northampton.live for more information about Northampton’s businesses. We walked by several vintage shops that I hope to explore someday.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that we are fans of craft beer. Whenever we go somewhere, we seek out breweries. Northampton has several, some steps away from where we parked. When it was time for a break, we went to Northampton Brewery Bar and Grill, western New England’s original brewpub.

It’s not only brewery, but also has a full bar and boasts a fireplace and rooftop beer garden. Unlike some breweries that have a sparce food menu, it offers a wide variety of appetizers, salads and soups, burgers, fish fry, and a kids menu. The food and beer were just right and service was quick and friendly. TV’s were placed so we could catch the end of the afternoon football game.

After catching the fireworks, and a few more performances, we found Progression Brewing Company on a side street off Main Street and just blocks away from our parked car. They had a more limited menu, but still better than many others. We split a handmade pretzel and enjoyed a flight of IPA’s. They were gearing up for a New Year’s Eve party with live band before we left for our hotel.

First Night Northampton, Mass.: A Fantastic Way to Spend New Year’s Eve

If you are looking for a fun and different way to spend New Year’s Eve, as we were, seriously consider First Night Northampton. What an incredible variety of entertainment and venues! What a reasonable price – $16 – for 12 packed hours! My only regret is that we didn’t go a day earlier to experience more of what the downtown had to offer. We were so busy moving from one performance to the next that we didn’t have time to take in much, except quick glances at the shop windows and signs. My other regret is that I wish we had gone a day earlier. If we didn’t drive there day of, we might have had the extra energy to go to the later dance parties and been part of the countdown and ball raising at midnight.

Do you have a favorite way of spending New Year’s Eve? Or a fun place to spend it? Please comment below.

So many beers and breweries, how to keep track?

If you want to keep more detailed records of where you went and what beer you enjoyed, you might like Keeping Up with Craft Beers: A Journal for Your Tasting Adventures. You can list up to 100 beers, as well as list breweries and brew pubs you liked as well as beer festivals.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

Want or need help with your blog or website? I’ve found inexpensive help on Fiverr.

Check out our Etsy shop, GrandmotherstrunkUS

January 11, 2024 0 comment

Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Coronation plate Canadian

Budget-minded Collecting Nostalgia Quirky Finds

The British Royal Family: Memorabilia and Collectibles Mania

by Deb C April 30, 2023

The Mania for British Royal Family Memorabilia

Note: This post is based upon my personal research and previously published trade article, not generated by AI.

Maybe it was the small red oblong tin with Queen Elizabeth on it that my Mother kept her bobby pins in. Or, maybe because my Grandmother Helen also had that tin, and was Canadian, but I was aware of Queen Elizabeth II from an early age.

The British Royal Family fascinates the world, and particularly Americans. With each Royal event, there is a deluge of news coverage and memorabilia to feed the “Royal Watchers” mania and the collectibles market. As I was growing up, there would be mentions of what the elegant Duke and Duchess of Windsor were up to, and that she was always on the “Best Dressed” list.

Even before Diana, Princess of Wales, wed Prince Charles, the sales of merchandise, books, and items related to “The Royals” had a niche in the American marketplace. The Diana fascination and merchandising was a continuation of generations of interest in the romances and escapades of British nobility.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the future Edward VIII was hailed the most popular and charming Prince of Wales ever. His love for an American, Wallis Simpson of Baltimore, his abdication, and their life as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor long fascinated the world. Copies of his abdication speech are now collectible ephemera.

Events and activities of the Duke of Windsor’s brother, George VI and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, can be documented through the china, cookie tins, and various souvenirs created celebrating special occasions.

British Royal Giveaways Now Collectibles

Collectibles related to royalty fall into two basic categories: personal/ historical and mass merchandise.

For centuries nobility would bestow personal items upon favored courtiers. Gifts of clothing were common, as fine fabrics, embroidery, and lace were prized possessions. Queen Elizabeth I’s wardrobe and gifts and losses are documented in Janet Arnold’s books Queen Elizabeth’s Wardrobe Unlocked and Lost from Her Majesty’s Back.

James II gave his 1683 wedding suit to a couple who aided him before he became King. In 1992 it was offered at Christie’s London with an estimate of over 200,000 British pounds. Passed at auction, it was later sold privately to a British museum.

Queen Victoria gave presents to favored individuals. One was a parasol commemorating her coronation in 1837. It turned up at an Antiques Roadshow appraisal day in the 1990’s and valued at $2,000 – $3,000.

Why so many British Royal collectibles and commemoratives

Mass marketed royal articles are usually made and purchased because of public interest and sentiment or dissatisfaction with Royal Family members. During the Georgian Period, disenchanted Englishmen showed their distaste by buying and circulating caricatures of royal and British upper class romantic and military misadventures. Such caricatures by Hogarth and Cruikshank are still famous and prized.

The reign of Queen Victoria saw the rise of the middle class with unprecedented disposable income. The British expressed their affection for their longtime Queen by buying decorative and ephemeral paper items associated with her reign and family. Traditionally, commemorative items have been created to celebrate Royal events: coronations, Jubilees, anniversaries, births, royal visits, and weddings. Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II lived so long that they had several Jubilees each as well as other special events. All were celebrated with commemorative trinkets and china.

You can purchase and download these images of Queen Victoria and her family at my Etsy shop, GrandmothersTrunkUS.

Typical British Royal collectibles and memorabilia

Mugs, plates, and tins with official portraits are typical items. Commemorative china dates from the 1600’s and transfer printing of Royal likenesses from c. 1780. Commemorative pieces commonly have either a portrait or silhouette or royal symbols such as crowns, swords, scepters, and initials, plus a date. The earlier ones associated with George IV, circa 1820-1830 command prices in the hundreds to thousands of dollars. (George IV, formerly the Prince Regent when his father, George III was mentally incapacitated. He sometimes pops up in Regency romances and may be referred to as “Prinny.”)

China from Queen Elizabeth II – on is common and at popular prices: a wide selection under $50. Many items have the Royal sanction and are sold in Royal castle gift shops. (When Charles and Diana divorced, the Queen ordered all Diana merchandise pulled from the shelves.)

In recent generations dolls, stamps, videos, and books are commonly produced and eagerly purchased. You can amass a significant collection of Diana books and materials at reasonable prices. I’ve found a number of books and magazines in thrift and consignment shops. I found a kerchief commemorating Charles and Diana’s marriage at a rummage sale in Maine.

Popular magazines such as People often have photos and articles about the British Royals. You can quickly accumulate a collection of those, either buying new, or scouting library magazine swaps, like I do.

Most of the illustrations in this article are photos of items I’ve seen at my favorite consignment shop, Classic Consignments, in Sudbury, Mass.

Of course you can also do your hunting online on ebay and other virtual sales platforms.

A unique auction of British Royal collectibles and memorabilia added to the mania

In 1998 Sotheby’s, New York, auctioned off the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Everything was special, limited, and personally connected to British Royalty. Many had true historic relevance and of museum quality. It took nine days to auction the 40,000 articles from the Windsor’s Paris mansion. The collection included photos, books, furniture, clothing, and royal family treasures documenting the life of the abdicated King Edward VIII.

The Duke was allowed to take historical family items following his abdication. He had the George III “Abdication Desk” on which he signed away the throne, a banner that belonged to his grandfather, Edward VII, and the red leather dispatch box stamped “The King” used to deliver state papers during the brief time he was Edward VIII. He also helped himself to a number of royal heirlooms, portraits, and personally inscribed historic photographs.

The Duke of Windsor also owned pieces of commemorative china passed down from Royal ancestors, as well as those of his own likeness before he abdicated. There were 10,000 photographs of the Royal Family from 1860s onward. Their wedding album with photos by Cecil Beaton, a piece of wedding cake, love letters and private letters, and their stylish clothing were all auctioned. Even their pugs’ silver-plated bowls were sold.

Before the auction, the collection was recorded on film and in an archive. It was also documented in the book The Private World of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

The catalog of the auction is also a record, as well as collectible. I cherish my copy that Sotheby’s sent me as I was a journalist writing about auctions, particularly those involving vintage clothing.

A mania for British Royal fashion collectibles

What British Royals wear, as well as what they do, is also an intense subject of interest. An area that the British Royal Family consistently influences is fashion. Queen Victoria made white gowns, lace veils, and orange blossoms for brides fashionable. Her son, Prince Albert, later King Edward VII, was a fashion trendsetter as well. Among other things, he made leaving the bottom button of a vest unbuttoned fashionable. Victoria’s great-grandson, The Duke of Windsor, popularized Fair Isle sweaters, plus fours, looser suits, and the Windsor Knot. He also designed jewelry for his Duchess. While much of the Windsor’s wardrobes went to museums, several items were auctioned and purchased by major fashion houses and designers. Gowns owned by Diana that have been auctioned have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.

Feeding a mania for British Royal memorabilia and collectibles

Collectors can choose several approaches to building a collection: by person, special occasion, material, or form. Quality ranges from tacky to upscale. I’ve found thrift and consignment stores to be good in-person hunting grounds for reasonably priced items. If you like reading about the Royals, libraries are great for free reading and book sales, as well as magazine swaps. You can find books devoted to British Royal memorabilia in libraries and online.

Just as “There will always be an England,” there will always be collectors of Royal memorabilia. In spite of over two hundred years of independence, the British Royal family still holds sway over the minds, hearts, and wallets of Americans. The family itself may be faltering, but its influence in the collecting marketplace is still strong. The Royal Outcasts: Diana, the Princess of Wales, the Windsors, and more recently, Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Essex, have seen to that.

Please note: I found many of the British Royal commemoratives pictured in this post over a span of 2-4 years at Classic Consignments in Sudbury, Mass. They often, but not always, have some item related to British Royalty in stock.

Do you collect British Royal memorabilia? What and where have you found your more interesting pieces? Please comment below.

See also my post about collectible comic books.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

Want or need help with your blog or website? I’ve found inexpensive help on Fiverr.

April 30, 2023 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts Family Fun Nostalgia Quirky Finds

7 Reasons Why I Love Consignment Shops and not just for saving money

by Deb C February 28, 2023

Why I love consignment shops

There are so many reasons to love consignment shops and shopping, but here I am narrowing them down.

Shopping at consignment stores is more than about saving money. It’s also a fun and entertaining hobby. Each consignment shop has its own personality, partly from the owners, the policies and pricing, the ambience, the consignors, and the shoppers. Shopping at consignment shops is a hobby for people of all ages, incomes, and lifestyles.

I’ve listed the reasons I love shopping at consignment shops. They are in no particular order.

Reason 1 why I love consignment shops: Free entertainment

Not only do consignment shops save you money, but they also offer free and fun entertainment. I may not buy anything during a visit, but I am usually entertained, one way or another.

Most of the shops I go to have a great play list of background music, which, for me, is mostly classic rock music.

Sometimes the people, either in front or behind the counter, are the entertainment. As you are browsing, you may hear the most intriguing stories, or gossip. Then there are times I feel sorry for the owner or employee. They get trapped by a customer who pours out their health, marital, or other woes.

Once at my favorite shop, Classic Consignments, a long-time fixture in Sudbury, Mass. I overheard a a particularly annoying browser. She let everyone within hearing know, that she had been living in Asia for years. She kept insisting that the hand-painted Japanese china was priced too low for the work that was put into it, not knowing the going rate. She treated the employees as if they were volunteers in a charity thrift shop who didn’t know what they were doing. She was the ignorant one.

Sometimes I meet someone I haven’t seen in years. A few times I discovered someone who remembers the same shops I used to go to when I was growing up. We have several pleasant moments mentally traveling down memory lane.

Then there’s the times when there are items that stun you, amuse you, or educate you. You may not want to take them home, but they make for an interesting visit.

Reason 2 why I love consignment shops: Education

This relates to Reason #1: Consignment shops can be educational, as your world is expanded by the eclectic nature of the items on display. You may get glimpses into high end tastes and designs you might never otherwise experience. The closest I chose to get to new high-end merchandise is through the windows in the mall. At some consignment shops I can handle lots of items up close.

The sheer variety of items I never knew existed and can study up close is incredible. Some shops which lean towards antiques and collectibles, can resemble mini-museums.

Reason 3 why I love consignment shops: Adding to your collection at reasonable prices

At some shops, you have a chance to add to your collection at a significant savings, rather than buying at an antique mall or shop, or on eBay. The owner of the consignment shop doesn’t wait for the top dollar and most shops have an automatic markdown system, so you may find some great items at reasonable prices. I buy vintage photos and ephemera and many times I have picked they up after their final markdown.

Reason 4 why I love consignment shops: Finding old favorites and repurposing

If a shop has a blend of eras, you may find items of character and design that are better made of better materials that suit your taste and living space. And, you can find items to repaint, refinish, and repurpose. You might also find a replacement for something that you loved and wore out. I am searching for some kitchenware that were my favorites. I don’t like the design or feel of some of the utensils available today.

Reason 5 why I love consignment shops: Better goods at lower prices

I touched on this before, but it’s not just saving money, it’s also having opportunities to buy higher quality gently used items for the same or less than those of much lower quality. We recently bought a piece of furniture at a well-known online retailer as a requested gift. We assembled it in the recipient’s home. Some components didn’t line up as well as they should have. And it was smaller than expected. It was definitely not designed for long term use. I would have rather put the money into a slightly used solid wood, better constructed item with some character.

I pick up charming English porcelain plates and pressed and lead glass dishes and serving ware for use when we have company. I also use vintage damask cloth napkins and tablecloths when entertaining.

Reason 6 why I love consignment shops: Learning the value of heirlooms

Consignment shops can also give you an idea of the value, or not, of your family heirlooms, or your household goods. You might think, or hear “Oh, my grandmother had one of these!”

But, as a sign that I have seen in some vintage and collectible shops says: “The only one who’s interested in what your grandmother had, was your grandfather.”

While a lot of “yesterdays” items are interesting or durable, or usable, like old Federal bureaus, only a fraction have any significant value. I owned an antique and collectibles consignment shop for 12 years. A memorable consignor insisted on discussing each item he consigned often saying “Now, this is really old,” expecting a high price just because it was old.

Well, it is true that sadirons like the one he had are old. But, unless the example is unusual in some way, and even then, they are common and not particularly sought-after.

Every winter I see vintage wooden sleds like Flexible Flyers, at consignment shops like Classic Consignments, but I also notice that they either don’t sell, or are coming to the end of their consignment period without any takers. They just give the shop a seasonal ambience.

So, either I see something my mother or grandmother had, and get a sense of the going prices, or if I try to sell something they owned, the market tells me what is valuable, and what isn’t.

Reason 7 why I love consignment shops: Make money

While it may not be, buy low, sell high somewhere else, sometimes I have made money doing just that. Either I bought an item at a consignment shop and sold it at another place, or online on eBay or Etsy, or bought an item at a yard sale and sold it on consignment.

Sometimes, it’s just easier to have someone else do the pricing and selling for you. I bought a group of vintage Easter postcards at a thrift shop. I scanned them and created a digital product and sell the images for download on Etsy. I also created a book for scrapbooking, junk journaling, and crafting that you can buy here on Amazon. Then, I consigned them in groups four to eight and most of them sold. I made back my investment and more just from consigning them. However, I do have a lot of sweat equity invested in the scanning, layout, and design of the digital and physical products sold on Etsy and Amazon.

Above are the main reasons I love consignment shops. They offer so much, as far as entertainment and education and they don’t cost you anything until you buy something.

Why do you love consignment shops? Leave your comments below.

Also visit my other blog posts about collectibles and consignment shops:

Clear your clutter and cash in with consignment shops

The British Royal Family: Memorabilia feeds collectibles mania

I talk about other ways to save money on my blog. Here is a post about it.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

February 28, 2023 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts

How You Can Save Money and Fight Inflation Shopping Clearance

by Deb C January 23, 2023

How You can save money shopping clearance and fight inflation

If you’re looking for ways to save money in the face of inflation, shopping clearance could be a great option for you. I’ve made it a habit when I shop and found amazing deals. From clothing and electronics to furniture and appliances, there are plenty of opportunities to save.

Shopping Clearance saves in more ways than one

Shopping clearance is a great way to save money and fight inflation. Whether I shop for specific items or not, shopping clearance helps me stretch a dollar further. I also treat myself to items I might not buy at full or sale price.

Whenever I am shopping in person, whether for groceries, clothing, or hard goods. I check for clearance items. Sometimes I buy things that we don’t really need, but are something I wouldn’t buy otherwise. Sometimes it’s a treat that ends up being a gift, or surprisingly useful. Either way, it’s a win, and light on the wallet.

When my kids were growing up, I used to have a designated drawer full of generic gift type items. Every so often, one of our sons would ask if they could pick a gift to take to school the next day. Having on hand gift items I’d bought on sale saves money and last-minute trips to the store. At times, I raid the drawer for donations for local non-profit raffles.

A lucky find at Lowe’s saved a lot of money

There are times when my husband or I have come across something we knew we would be needing one at some point in the foreseeable future.

One example is our 10+ year old washer. It still worked great, but I was getting a bit concerned about the rust around the holes in the basket in the bottom and at times there were suspicious damp spots extending from underneath it.

My husband and I discussed washers in general. We agreed that we didn’t like the front-loading type after studying our son’s and reading up on them. But we didn’t actively look for a replacement.

My husband often checks for clearance items when he shops at Lowe’s and has found items with great markdowns. One day he sent me a photo by text of a top-loading washer with a dent in the front. Regularly upwards of $800, and as of this writing on sale for $748.00, it was marked $208.00. It wasn’t a return, but was dinged in transit or unpacking. As our laundry area is in the cellar where no one sees it but us, the dent didn’t matter to us. It came with a full warranty just in case we had a problem.

It did have a minor issue, which a repairman fixed under the warranty, along with banging out the dent to ensure that the drum didn’t bang it when spinning.

We also used a credit card with rewards so we would save on booking a hotel or airfare. If we used our Lowe’s rewards card we might get more rewards, but we had so much trouble trying to make it work at checkout, we gave up.

We’ve also bought a storm door, kitchen cabinets, and a fire pit ($15) at Lowe’s on clearance.

More items to save money on by shopping clearance

You can find big savings on everyday items, like groceries, paper goods, toiletries and personal care, too.

I just bought a 12 ounce bottle of Pantene Pro-V Volume and body 2 in 1 Shampoo and conditioner for $.60, yes 60 cents, on clearance at a Walgreens. The receipt said the regular price was $5.99. Online Foodline listed it for $8.49 and Amazon listed it for about $12.00. I wasn’t in the market for shampoo, but for $.60, I bought it. At the same time I bought another hair product on clearance for $2.29 that the receipt said the regular price is $22.99. I was shocked to find that the prices online ran from about $15 to $22.

At the same Walgreens, I’ve bought a box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares for $ .50, a box of confectionary sugar for $.15, and paper plates significantly reduced. Walgreens brand of daytime and nighttime cold and flu relief medicine is much less than the leading brand. There’s more savings when it goes on sale. I picked up a pack for $6.99 once and I did find a bottle of the honey version on the clearance shelf for a great price another time. None of the above were anywhere near their expiration date.

I also find good buys on kid’s toys, too, like this toy car from the Cars movie was under 50 cents on clearance.

I usually find some good buys in Ulta’s clearance section, too. One year I bought some makeup cases at a great price. I gave one as a gift and donated another to a charity auction.

Sometimes I’ve gotten lucky at Shaw’s supermarket and bought hair care products for about 75% off. I recently bought packages of paper goods with the logo of my favorite sports team for 50 cents each there. You save even more at Aldi when they mark down an item, esp. some of their hard goods.

You can especially save money when you shop the clearance and sales areas in consignment and thrift stores. One of my favorite stores, Classic Consignments in Sudbury, Mass., recently had several quality gently used furniture pieces marked down. A trendy like new glass-topped table with four chairs was about $150. New the set cost significantly more.

Save more money shopping Clearance by using Coupons, Deals, and Discount Days

If a store has a discount day for seniors, get even more savings. Kohls and Walgreens are two chains that have weekly Senior Discount Days.

Through various websites and promotions, shoppers can find discounts on a wide variety of items. This can include anything from groceries, home goods, electronics, clothing or even travel packages.

One year we booked a cruise through Choice Hotels that was already discounted. We also received better rates on excursions while earning credits. This past year we found a deal on an off-season cruise which included the tip as well as a $50 credit towards either and excursion or onboard purchase. We’ve paid a lot more for shorter cruises.

There are many resources available online which specialize in finding and compiling the best coupons and deals across multiple platforms.

Save money and fight inflation by shopping clearance online

Shopping for clearance items online is another great way to save money and fight inflation. By shopping around on different websites and comparing prices, you can ensure that you get the best value possible while still saving money in the long run. Many times these stores offer additional coupons or discounts which make them even more appealing. Plus, most of these sites provide free shipping when your order is over a certain amount. That means you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees just to get your purchase delivered right to your door!

You can also earn rewards, not only from the stores you are shopping at, but from platforms like Swagbucks and Rakuten.

I earn rewards from online stores like Kohl’s and Macy’s and at the same time earn points from Rakuten. Honey will tell you the best coupons to use, too. There are many resources available online which specialize in finding and compiling the best coupons and deals across multiple platforms.

When I shop online, I select “Clearance” and then the “low to high price” options. I’ve found some great buys in brand name children’s clothes, books, and accessories, as well as clothing and gifts for family and friends. Some stores, like Kohls, give you rewards dollars if you have your order shipped to a store for pickup.

One time I went to pick up an order at Kohls on Senior Discount day. I picked up my order and also found some things to buy – on clearance. Instead of the Senior Discount a cashier suggested I take the 25% off Family and Friends discount they offered that day. They also accepted $10 in Kohls cash that I earned with my online order. When I got home, waiting for me was an email from Kohls with $5 Kohls cash reward for instore pickup. Save, save, save…

Shopping Clearance as a life habit

This fun mug on Etsy pretty much sums it up.

An over-arching benefit of shopping clearance is that it can help balance inflationary prices in other areas of your life. Milk and eggs or car repairs may be more, but they are offset by the savings on other purchases.

Not only do you get discounts, but clearance sections are constantly restocked with new merchandise. This means that you have access to new finds every time you visit your favorite store. I don’t make special trips to stores, but if I’m picking up a prescription, for example, I always check the Walgreens clearance area, and for their clearance tags around the store.

Shopping clearance is an excellent way to save money without compromising on quality. From home décor to clothing, there are great buys out there.

Take time to search out online and in-store discounts on products you need or want. Take advantage of end-of-season sales, holiday promotions, and special offers from retailers or manufacturers.

If you need school supplies, some office supply stores offer great buys just as the school year ends and the kids are sent home with supply lists for the next year. Then, once school starts, the stores slash prices on back-to-school items. I’ve found quite a few bargains in the clearance section at Staples all year ’round.

By taking advantage of clearance shopping opportunities, you can save enough, like I have, to offset inflation on many everyday necessities as well as larger more discretionary purchases.

____________________________________________________________________________

How have you saved money by shopping clearance? What are your tips? Leave comments below.

____________________________________________________________________________

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

January 23, 2023 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts Nostalgia Quirky Finds

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, You’ll Love Classic Consignments

by Deb C August 31, 2022

You don’t have to be 50plus to love shopping in consignment and thrift shops, but you tend to have more time to do so. Also, you may have more reasons to do so, like new hobbies, stretching retirement funds, and people to buy for, like grandchildren.

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, You’ll Love Classic Consignments, a shop on Rt. 20 in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

I love shopping at thrift and consignment shops, and Classic Consignments is my favorite. It ticks all the boxes.

Note: It is not a clothing store, but might have vintage and quality fashion accessories.

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, you’ll love the selection at Classic Consignments

The sandwich board sign reads: “home furnishings, jewelry, etc.” Well, the “etc.” is a bland word for what you may find at Classic Consignments. Unlike some shops, that limit themselves to recent decades, or to mostly furniture, or to antiques and collectibles, or a niche, items hundreds of years old may be mixed in with items across the years to today. The items range from practical to whimsical, from paper to chrome, and cover a broad range of interests and collecting niches. And it’s just plain fun hunting for collectibles and antiques there.

You may find items about British Royalty:

to immigrants:

What kind of collectibles might you find at Classic Consignments?

One day when I walked in, I was greeted by several boxed dolls circa the 1950’s. One of the boxes had a note that said something like “to Gramma, love from xxxx.” Evidently it was time for the collection to be disbursed and enjoyed by new owners.

It often seems that way, as you might see a large grouping of items, like miniatures, such as Sebastian figurines, or Longaberger baskets, Flow Blue or Dedham pottery, or its re-iteration of style from The Potting Shed.

Some shelves and cabinets are designated areas for things like linens, quality handbags, pottery, and vintage kitchenware and glassware.

The linen corner.

Long view of kitchenware, vintage cans and bottles, and utensils etc.

Handbags and totebags.

Close up of jugs on kitchenware shelf.

Here’s some Hall’s and Fiesta-style ware:

If you like British Royalty memorabilia, they often have something or other in china, tin, or paper.

They occasionally have comic books and usually have ephemera, from postcards to early advertising.

The walls and floor space offer an ever-changing cornucopia of visual and collecting delights.

What I also like about Classic Consignments is their pricing and mark down policy.

The staff at Classic Consignments work with their consignors to price their items fairly, given local and online markets. They urge their consignors to point out anything that will indicate what their expectations are and what characteristics might influence the price. They also have a computerized ticketing program showing automatic markdowns at dated intervals. If you are a buyer, this may influence your buying decisions. I know I am more likely to buy something if it’s marked down. Sometimes I pass on an item at full price, because I don’t NEED it, but figure if it’s still there the next time I visit, I can (sort of) justify buying it.

Here’s a ticket example on a Boyd’s Teddy Bear:

The original price is on the bottom and the markdowns with dates appear above the barcode.

What I also love about Classic Consignments is the staff and ambience.

The staff members are always pleasant and helpful. The employees are also very patient and tactful with customers and consignors. They wrestle with all kinds of calls, sometimes those that are all about the would-be customer’s needs and wants and last minute, that kindly, but firmly have to be told, “No, we can’t take…or you need an appointment…or just sorry, but no.”

They really should keep a journal of some of their stories. I know when I had my shop, I should have written down some of them.

One time when I was shopping, a woman who I gathered had been living in Japan for quite some time, and was now returning state-side, was particularly showing off her knowledge of Asian china to a friend. She insisted to the staff that some of the china should be priced higher, because she knew it was all hand-painted. She also talked down to one of them, as if the shop was a charity shop and the woman behind the counter just a volunteer, not a knowledgeable employee. The atmosphere in the store changed for the better once she and her companion left. I went over to the employee and made a commiserating comment and we both had a chuckle.

If you love jewelry, you will love Classic Consignments

David, who is their jewelry expert, and from what I gather, truly trained and certified in fine gems and jewelry, is particularly friendly and ready to share his expertise and recent consignments. He made a point of showing me a particularly unusual neck ornament, I would call it, that had just come in. It has a wonderful story, too.

According to him, the jewelry was consigned by a woman who was an Olympian in Paris in the 1970’s. Someone there gave her the neckpiece in honor and memory of her being an Olympian. The owner is moving away from the area and was downsizing. David noted that the style was “kind of Twiggy-ish” and that you would have to have a long neck to wear it. He said it is made of chrome, a mirror, and with sterling chain links. It came in the box he is holding. I looked up the name and it is of a chic hair salon in Paris.

David sang the praises of a particularly lustrous string of Mikimoto pearls. David also pointed out this custom-made shade to refurbish a period lamp. They used Czechoslovakian beads and re-purposed some embroidered linens and Chintz fabric.

David and I have discovered a common bond. Not only are we from the same hometown, we share our first childhood experience – I was probably 8 – of visiting a consignment shop. Our mothers both took us to a shop that we recall as a maze of piles of stuff and was only open at night. Hence, it’s name, The Owl Shop. When I cleaned out my Mom’s house a few years ago I found something that I bought there . It still had the faint consignor number and price written in pencil.

What the bargain-hunter in me really loves about Classic Consignments

The bargain-hunter in me really loves, not only the mark-downs, but the “back room.” As unsold items enter their final month of their consignment period, the staff move them to a back area of the shop. I generally save that section to browse in last. There I have picked up some great pictorial or coffee table books that were marked down to $2. I also find items that I hadn’t noticed before, as well as some that are marked down to what I am willing to pay. (Or justify buying.)

Here’s a few photos of the back area from a recent visit. There had been a round table there that they kept marking down. (It seems they sometimes keep furniture past the sell buy date and drastically mark it down.) I don’t know why, but I liked it, but had no use for it. Even at I think $10. I was glad when it wasn’t there anymore.

If you love collectibles, some final reasons to love Classic Consignments

With some exceptions for holiday weekends, Classic Consignments is open seven days a week. Yes, seven days to feed your browsing, collecting, and bargain-hunting soul. It’s a collector’s paradise.

Classic Consignments can be the best free entertainment if you like a fun, eclectic shopping experience with nostalgia and history thrown in.

The inventory is ever-changing as new consignments are going on the floor with regularity. Appointments are booked up months ahead.

The employees are continually moving and removing items, and rearranging so that browsers have a great experience as well as get a sense of how an item might look at home.

Finally, the consignors, customers, and staff are all interesting and entertaining in and of themselves. There is that saying: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

And you can’t. The synergy of the shop comes together all on its own.