Lucky frugal finds.....

[locolorenzo24]

So, spent yesterday moving my dad out of his house and cleaning up the house he's moving to. In the midst of furniture and junk, found an old wallet. Asked stepmom if there was any money in it, she said "no". As I went to put it in the trash, decided to hold onto it, as I could use a new wallet. got home, took a look in it, and found $40 bucks!! Whoo hoo. Plus picked up two new endtables, a footstool, a desk, and some assorted decor items.
Then, the downstairs neighbor is moving out, so finding good stuff from him. Gotta talk to landlord about getting the mowing yard deal he had, saved 50 bucks on rent. Good deal, especially in the winter.
Got me wondering, what's the best frugal find you've ever come across?

[baselle]

I don't know where this is my best, but it is my favorite.

Twenty years ago I renewed my drivers license. My picture was awful, and I was bummed. I went into an antique shop (not a thrift store) a couple of doors down to forget. Inside, I found a classic old toaster with bakelite handle and a sign "$6 as is" taped to it. The owner told me that the toaster didn't work, and demonstrated that when you depress the lever, there was no tic tic tic of a timer. I talked the owner down to $3 -- using sympathy from my awful picture -- and bought the toaster.

I brought the toaster back home and DH (at the time, merely BF) took a look at it. Turns out that the toaster worked by a heating thermocouple not by a timer. It made fine toast quietly, and for 3$.

[kathysq]

When I got my first apartment, one of my new neighbors gave me an old recliner. They would've had to pay to get it hauled off. I bought a slipcover for it at Goodwill for $3.00, but it didn't quite fit. There was a big pocket on the side of the recliner that was in the way. So I took the scissors and started cutting it off. There was a $50 bill inside!

[mom-from-missouri]

My most frugal was a vehicle I got. List price was $23,000. I then told them I had a trade in, and they offered me $5,000 for it. Then told them I got a discount thru my work, and their dealership was on the list to honor it. Then, they had a sign up at the dealership that it was youth week, and since I was a scout leader and 4 H leader, they would pay the sales tax... I walked out of there only paying $13,000 and the blue book price was $24,000. Not a scratch on it, milage was higher, but they were highway miles, well maintained, and I still drive it now. I think they were glad when I left!! But, I have since sent them more business from friends, who could not believe the deal I got.

[locolorenzo24]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

My most frugal was a vehicle I got. List price was $23,000. I then told them I had a trade in, and they offered me $5,000 for it. Then told them I got a discount thru my work, and their dealership was on the list to honor it. Then, they had a sign up at the dealership that it was youth week, and since I was a scout leader and 4 H leader, they would pay the sales tax... I walked out of there only paying $13,000 and the blue book price was $24,000. Not a scratch on it, milage was higher, but they were highway miles, well maintained, and I still drive it now. I think they were glad when I left!! But, I have since sent them more business from friends, who could not believe the deal I got.

I guess, i understand that. To buy a used car from a dealer, (which it sounds like you did), IMHO is one of the worst things you can do when buying a car. Private users are usually much more reliable, and you take it in for your mechanic to check out, and if you know someone who knows cars they look at it with you and know what to look for.
If it works for you, go right on! Plus at least you saved a good 10 grand! Not too shabby!

[Armywife]

My best frugal find was in Florida. I lived there a couple of years ago and my then father in law took me to yard sales on weekends. I acquired three awesome things for fifty cents.

1. A BEAUTIFUL Crystal Candy dish (the person who sold it wanted to get rid of her mom's junk) Value: ??? Not sure but I won't part with it.
2. Four GI Joe Action figures NEW in package with the Toys R Us pricetag INTACT showing the price as 3.99 (Currently valued at 20.00 each one for this particular series)
3. A Limited Collectors Plate of Nolan Ryan with COA (after I paid for it, the owner of the plate came out and CURSED his wife for selling it.. apparently it cost him 40.00 at the time of purchase) Valued: ??? hubby says I should wait a few years.

On a side note, my Father in law (a man who would tape his shoes because he didnt want to buy new ones) once purchased an awkward looking table with greek stuff on it. The guy who sold it to him was upset because FIL talked him down to fifty bucks. FIL took the table home, cleaned it meticulously, and sold it to a private collector for $10,000.00 on the spot (it was an extremely rare ivory table limited edition by some odd designer). Bottom line... You never know what you find at yard sales... I just wish we had good ones up here in NY

[crosses]

I love garage sales. I always find interesting things. The best? Antique silverware set for $2. I even felt bad getting it for that price.

[miclason]

my daughter's booster seat!...it was on sale and I had a coupon, so I ended paying about $20 for it, eventhough it cost almost $50!