Sunday 27 May 2012

A housewife's thrifty essentials...

I spotted one of these at North Cross Vintage in Dulwich when Mr FHCS and I were on a rare weekday out while the kids were at school. Vintage shops are often lazily described as 'an Aladdin's Cave', and I can't think of a better description for this one, but sadly you do also need plenty of the genie's cash to shop there, given its swanky gentrified location. The one they had on display was blue, but otherwise identical, and they wanted £15 for it. As it turned out, our trip was cut short by the school ringing my mobile to tell me that Boy1 had come off worse in a battle between the playground and his head, so I didn't have a chance to decide to overspend on a glorified money-box, and we whizzed straight back to pick him up.


Rent, Coal, Gas, Electricity and a blank section

The key is missing, so I can raid it whenever I like

Anyway, Boy1 is fine, and our shopping hiatus meant I could get home and browse eBay instead. And I found and won this 'thrift box' for 99p. Bargain. Sorry, but we housewives need to prioritise our spending.


And we know what's important.


 Lakota x

Don't forget to link up all your best makes, buys, outfits and achievements with Ta-dah! Tuesday tomorrow.

37 comments:

  1. Priorities stacked up in the right order I see ;-)

    Fabulous box - absolutely love it!

    Jem xXx

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  2. Oh that is amazing!!! I so want to find one, not sure if we have them in NZ. Hmmmm I could make one.
    Love v

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  3. Ha! I've never seen one of those before but it's excellent.

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  4. Now that's something unusual!

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  5. Ah now I am of an age when I can remember my Mum having one of these. She is one of the most thrifty people I know and her generation had to learn to budget very carefully following the war. Mum’s box was red I remember.

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  6. I love these boxes. My gran had a red one too. I need one I think!
    xxx

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  7. A savings box without a key - that's just like my bank account. I put money in ostensibly to save, but heyho as soon as I'm out charity shopping, I make a beeline for the cash machine. No discipline, moi.

    Well done on the eBay find.

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  8. The only time i saw one of these was also in a carefully chosen 'antique' shop. Also over priced. Good idea to check up on a missed thrift on Ebay. Nice One.

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  9. My Nan had one of these - it's such a good idea. Glad you found a thriftier version.
    Jo

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  10. Cor, loving that, Mrs! I'm going to try and hunt one down. It's not very likely it will ever have any dosh in it, saving isn't my thang, but it might encourage me.
    Ebay... I never seem to get the things I want for the money I want and have just tiptoed into selling and although I've sold a couple of bits, I was expecting it to make me a millionaire very quickly and it 'aint!
    I shall perservere.
    Right over to ebay to see if I can score a bargain thrift box.
    Happy Sunny Day!
    xx

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  11. I used to have something like this years ago when I first left home at the tender age of 16! Takes me back.

    x x

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  12. I'm glad your little one is okay xx
    I love that savings box, it appeals to my sense of order!

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  13. Oooh great thrifting.

    What a good mum you are to cut short your shopping and dash to your son's side (hopes I would do same in similar situation).

    LOVE your box, that's exactly what I'd have put on the spare too x

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  14. you are queen of ebay! great find and a worthy cause ;)

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  15. Ooh I've never seen one of these before, love it!
    Victoria xx

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  16. ha! fab, glad you have your priorities right ! Reminds me of the meter that used to be on the back of our tv when I was a child. That had no lock either and was frequently raided by my dad for beer money !!!

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  17. Ace! I would have labelled the last slot 'champagne' :-)

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  18. Love this item, I have a similar modern day system for my spending money so I needs to find me one of these babies labelled up for 'chazza shopping', 'box o'wine', 'cake' and 'haberdashery' x

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  19. OMG I want one of these now... I'm on a mission! It's frickin FABULOUS. Sarah xxx

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  20. For real. This is the coolest thing EVER! I love it. I don't go on ebay enough- I find I kind of, er, get addicted to hunting, so have to really limit myself.

    This is gonna suck me in and keep there for a good little while now.

    EEK!

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  21. You really do have your priorities right, a wine fund's the kinda housekeeping I approve of!
    I used to have one of those when I first left home, I haven't seen one for years. x

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  22. What a cool find! And what a creative way to use the box...i need one too!

    mongs
    mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

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  23. What a bargain! I remember my Aunt using a tin just like this! x

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  24. Hey hey, well done you! But the bad news is, now *I* want one. *off to search ebay*

    Penny Dreadful Vintage

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  25. Oooh I love it! How useful to! x

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  26. £15?! It's charming and all but still... I always get so disappointed when a place looks so promising but everything is super expensive.
    But how wonderful that you found one for 99p! I love that idea - one with a lock would be better for me, though.

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  27. I have never seen a money box like that, I love it!
    So glad you were able to purchase it at a lower cost.
    Hope Boy1's head okay.

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  28. Would you believe I had one of these as my money box in the 70s? Mine was red, my sister's was gold. Can't believe you found one!
    PS. Hope the playground isn't dented after its clash with your boy's head! xxxx

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  29. Who needs coal anyway? Oh, to be as organised as that with my finances!
    I remember money boxes next to phones when I was younger.One boy made me put 20p in his mother's phone-shaped wooden money box after I made a 3 second phone call to my dad instructing him to pick me up.
    I was affronted, I tell you.

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  30. Very neat!

    I'm going to try to implement jars in our house similar to the jars Gail uses on "Til Debt Do Us Part". We'll see if that flies. I don't think Gail would appreciate me spending money on the jars & then on the sticker chalkboard thing from eBay.

    Sir Thrift-A-Lot
    http://www.sirthriftalot.blogspot.com

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  31. I need one of these money boxes, but with a heavy duty lock because i will take out the money and spend it on shit.
    I would of labeled the last slot prosti stuff.
    Besos

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  32. Brilliant box! I have a tin with one little slot that's been sitting in the kitchen for months - still empty - keep raiding it for the kids' various clubs. Need a lock.

    Know what you mean about those shops in Dulwich - they always look so tempting though :)

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  33. Fabulous addition, I love stuff like this, there's something quite retro about storing/saving money this way. That is my one great hate about antique shops/aladdin caves, far far too expensive xxx

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  34. awww i now so want a thrift box - its amazing! Scarlett x

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  35. He he, loving the saving for wine section! Very cute and yes that was definitely a better price! (You can now spend the money saved on wine surely?)

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