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Last night I repaired a camping recliner I’ve had for a dozen years. I paid about $100 for it back then. The lacing on the edges is elastic to a degree, just a little stretch. The lacing had worn out and broke the other night. My chair is a dark forest green. It's really comfortable for snoozing.

Using 550 paracord I replaced the lacing. I bought a 1000ft roll years ago, still have several hundred feet left. For pennies I now have a perfectly good camp recliner.

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Bacpacker said:
Those are nice chairs Peanut. We have a set we use when we go campin
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They are comfy. I've used mine a lot at different times. For years I used it at the farmers market when selling peaches, a month every summer. I used to do a lot of camping in general and weekends studying plants in the hills. It was well used but still in good shape but for the lacing.

I'd taken it down to the nursing home to dad's room. There were no comfortable chairs for sitting hours at a stretch. I was in it for hour when the lacing broke on one side... well worth repairing.

The lacing on mine was tricky. It was doubled in a odd pattern at pressure points. I had one side that didn't break to copy.
 
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One of our members (I’m sorry but I’ve forgotten who) was looking for extra cash. When I was a kid my grandfather and I would buy these chairs as a kit, unfinished. We would assemble them, stain them and weave bottoms for them from various materials. White oak strips make beautiful chair bottoms but is time consuming. It is skill I no longer possess.

One material we used often was baler twine from hay bales. We’d save the twine as we fed cows all winter. We’d assemble and stain the chairs. In spring we’d weave bottoms for the chairs. In summer we’d sell them for extra cash. I liked working on chairs maybe I should take it up again.

There are many patterns and materials for weaving chair bottoms. This chair we did almost 50 years ago with baler twine. It’s still a good chair and I still use it.

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Peanut said:
One of our members (I’m sorry but I’ve forgotten who) was looking for extra cash. When I was a kid my grandfather and I would buy these chairs as a kit, unfinished. We would assemble them, stain them and weave bottoms for them from various materials. White oak strips make beautiful chair bottoms but is time consuming. It is skill I no longer possess.

One material we used often was baler twine from hay bales. We’d save the twine as we fed cows all winter. We’d assemble and stain the chairs. In spring we’d weave bottoms for the chairs. In summer we’d sell them for extra cash. I liked working on chairs maybe I should take it up again.

There are many patterns and materials for weaving chair bottoms. This chair we did almost 50 years ago with baler twine. It’s still a good chair and I still use it.

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I like ladder back chairs! Someday I'll find a nice set to go around my table.
 
I busted! Only February- my self challenge didn't even make it 2 full months :cry:
I spent $20.42 on items that weren't on my eternal list. But on the same note, I will share what I got and why.
A pair of right handed all metal pinking shears $1. Reg price $20 (about)
Set of full sized sheets for spare bed $3. Reg $24.65 (cheapest found online).
Hand crocheted lace valance $3 Reg $50 or more
Hand crocheted spread $5 Reg $100 or more!
Lg (1gal.?) food mill $1. Reg $35 :)
3 half gallon jars (1 ball and 2 Kerr) 75 c each! Reg $3 ea
Bundt cake pan $3. Reg $20
Small pillow with Irish Rose lace $1. Reg ?
Several yards of hand crocheted lace edging $1 Reg. $?
Guesstimation of savings $240.40!!!
For our spare room, I've just made the bed with misc. sheets we had on hand so it will be nice to have a real set. Also, there is only the blind in that room so the valance will go in there too. I was very excited about the food mill. I've used a small one, but got rid of it as it wasn't big enough to do much. I'm hoping it will be good for tomato sauce. The bundt pan will replace the one I have. I had two and when decluttering the kitchen, got rid of my one shaped like this. The one I kept is rose shaped. I prefer the plain after all. The 1/2 gal. jars, I use all the time. Two of the three have a lavender tint - just beginning to turn. Oh and if you add it up, I think it was $18.25 the remainder was tax.
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LadyLocust said:
I busted! Only February- my self challenge didn't even make it 2 full months :cry:
I spent $20.42 on items that weren't on my eternal list. But on the same note, I will share what I got and why.
A pair of right handed all metal pinking shears $1. Reg price $20 (about)
Set of full sized sheets for spare bed $3. Reg $24.65 (cheapest found online).
Hand crocheted lace valance $3 Reg $50 or more
Hand crocheted spread $5 Reg $100 or more!
Lg (1gal.?) food mill $1. Reg $35 :)
3 half gallon jars (1 ball and 2 Kerr) 75 c each! Reg $3 ea
Bundt cake pan $3. Reg $20
Small pillow with Irish Rose lace $1. Reg ?
Several yards of hand crocheted lace edging $1 Reg. $?
Guesstimation of savings $240.40!!!
For our spare room, I've just made the bed with misc. sheets we had on hand so it will be nice to have a real set. Also, there is only the blind in that room so the valance will go in there too. I was very excited about the food mill. I've used a small one, but got rid of it as it wasn't big enough to do much. I'm hoping it will be good for tomato sauce. The bundt pan will replace the one I have. I had two and when decluttering the kitchen, got rid of my one shaped like this. The one I kept is rose shaped. I prefer the plain after all. The 1/2 gal. jars, I use all the time. Two of the three have a lavender tint - just beginning to turn. Oh and if you add it up, I think it was $18.25 the remainder was tax.
View attachment 35456
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Good prices on the sheets, handiwork(lace edgings,valance,pillow etc.)
 
They sound like fantastic prices to me for all the things you got @LadyLocust .

I got to day 4 of not spending any money and then busted Friday buying some bargain markdowns in groceries saving $17.40 on usual prices and restocked on 20 vol peroxide as we were getting low on it.

Back to day 2 of not spending any money today.
 
Power bill was $55 less this month - yay! And I still haven't been able to unplug a freezer. I keep consolidating, but just can't shove it all in there so I can unplug that spare. But I'm persistent. It won't be long.
 
I didn't buy a new garage door opener!

Current garage door opener is 25 years plus old. Replace it before it fails and the time suits me or wear it out and replace it when the install time could be inconvenient?

Research tells me the Chamberlain brand is the way to go. $200 for a 1/2 hp motor and WiFi or $300 for a 3/4 hp also with WiF plus surveillance camera? Drove to the closest big box store that had both models in stock for comparison. Couldn't make up my mind which model so I positioned the decision until warmer install weather.
 
I've been doggie sitting for neighbor couple for free.seeing how she's laid up in the hospital. and he's been going to doc appointment's to visiting her to missing her big time..so today i did something nice for them.by taking their dog to a vet whole trims dogs toenails for free.total cost to me.time to go get it done.
 
jimLE said:
I've been doggie sitting for neighbor couple for free.seeing how she's laid up in the hospital. and he's been going to doc appointment's to visiting her to missing her big time..so today i did something nice for them.by taking their dog to a vet whole trims dogs toenails for free.total cost to me.time to go get it done.
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Jim this should be in random acts of kindness. That's awesome of you! It's things like that when one is stressed that are let go but so meaningful to have them done. I can't imagine how grateful they will be, not to mention the comfort and well being of the pooch.
 
I went shopping yesteday and found some deals. Most of the deals will be for Christmas gifts next year. I went to WM a couple of weeks ago and found some great deals, but all those deals are now gone. They are quickly cycling thru their clearance products. I was able to snag sunglasses for $2 per pair and hoodies for $5 each a couple of weeks ago but all those deals are now gone. However, I was able to get the following:
bathroom towel set $10
bathroom shower curtain and mats set $15
Snuggle socks $5
Scarves $2
Swiss Jacket $15
Denim shirts $5
Football pull over $5
Tin foil .75

WM also had a lot of underwear and socks on clearance, along with a lot of clearanced winter clothes and purses. I also saw clearance tags on dishes. To find the deals, you really need to go thru every department, especially on the end caps that are furthest from the main isles. It seems every department has clearanced items right now. However, the hunting and camping sections are discounted, but not deep clearance prices yet. Unfortunately, you really have to wander the store in order to find the really good deals.
 
Yesterday when I did my monthly shopping at Wal-Mart, I also found small bargains.
As I have smaller feet now from weight loss.
Found 6 pairs of no show ankle socks for a $1 size 4-10(kid size)
Tennis shoes for grand daughter toddler size 8 for $3
4 yards of corduroy fabric in the bargain bin for $4.
In my future will be corduroy jumper for this next winter for myself and grand daughters.
Got too tired came home, but will go back to look over clearance clothes for me.
 
Got a bunch more Kraft mac and cheese for the kiddos at 59 cents a box, tuna at 59 cents a can, and the clearance rack had Bear Creek Soup Mix Tortilla Soup for $2.99. I bought all 8 pks. Did find some marked down family packs of hamburger, the angus lower fat mix. That's going in the freezer. Another store had pinto beans for 97 cents a one lb bag.
 
Canceled a Term Life insurance policy I had purchased hundreds of years ago.

Way back our Credit Union offered term life at a reasonable rate for $100,000. Married with young children at the time and I thought the wife should have protection against lost of income on my death. $100,000 will take care of her and the children for a few years. Cost for the policy was automatically withdrawn from my savings.

Fast forward to today. I'm retired and debt free. My Social Security pays for the monthly household expenses and repairs, pension is placed in savings. Former employer's paid into my Health Saving Account which I let accumulate. 401K I haven't touched and we don't need it for expenses. All major house appliances have been replaced along with a new steel roof on the house. Replaced wife's car with a 2 year old car, last one we'll need.

On my death wife will get my SS, pension, 401K and house. She will not need the term life insurance.

I called my Credit Union. I would like to cancel the life insurance. I'm transferred to the company that handles life insurance. Insurance company has no recorded of a policy in my name. Thank you good bye.

Go online to pull up my financial statements. There on January 2019 there is a withdrawal for $45 encrypted as INS PREM. Yep there it is again in January 2020. $45 a year for a $100,000 policy seems VERY reasonable to me, perhaps I should keep it?

A second call to the Credit Union. She wanted to transfer me to the same company as before. I explain again that I had purchased this policy over 35 years ago and perhaps it was with a different company back then? She puts me on hold..........................................yes it was with a different company and she will transfer me. Thank you.

Second insurance company found me in their records. I paying $45 quarterly for term insurance and disability. $180 a year put a different perspective on the situation. When I told the customer service rep I wanted to cancel her tone turned cold and she repeated all the benefits that I would be losing if I canceled. I understand, cancel the policy.

Now I'm saving $180 a year.
 
I think I mentioned I am doing the envelope system for groceries - putting $200/mo. in it. We were spending $350-400 in the past so this was a pretty steep challenge. Last month had about $50 left over and this month have about $10 left over. So in two months, we've saved roughly $360!
Haven't spent since last weekend when I broke 🥴

@The Lazy L Think how much you'd have if you paid yourself that $180 to an interest baring acct. for the past 35 years. Actually, maybe don't do that - I don't like to make anyone cry.
 
Busted today.
Went to Dollar Tree to purchase garden supplies for soon to be 5 year gift.
Spent $10, just about got everything I need to make practice Turtle flower planter.
Also got most of the things I will need to make real deal with said soon to be 5 year old.
Getting chicken wire from my cousin and landscape cloth too.
All I have yet to get is plants, but our plant budget is no more than $10.
And she gets to pick out the flowers as long as we stay within budget.
Her favorite color is purple.
This little girl is the youngest of my bonus grandchildren.
As my family doesn't call them step children.
We call them bonus children.
Her older sister by 2 years can do no wrong.
Unfortunately they don't think she can do anything right.
So this bonus Granny is going to help this neglected child make a turtle planter.
I think I have some planting soil, and muslin.
Really couldn't afford it, but will cut costs somewhere else so this child will have a Happy Birthday.
Really hate to see a child sad because she thinks no one is going to celebrate her birthday.
But this Granny is going to celebrate her birthday.
Ps. I'm making her a cake too from scratch.
 
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