Feb

25

Sucking Up Value

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maid cleaning

It was August in Florida. Not a time you want to go out in the daytime, if you can at all avoid it. It’s steamy and rainy so I decide to stay in and clean the house — and my cordless electric vacuum cleaner dies. So I drag the thing downstairs and out through the dampness and bring it to the closest service place, and the guy tells me it’s too small a unit to repair and they won’t honor the guarantee! I put on the charm and do my best to get him to change his mind, but he wasn’t having any of it. So, back into the steam, back to the house and onto the phone to voice my complaint to the manufacturer. By the end of the call, the sweet woman at the other end promises that a replacement machine should arrive at my home in 7 to 10 days.
 
Two weeks later and my carpet is very dusty, and no new vac has arrived. Back on the phone, another promise, and voila — two days later, a brand new vacuum.

And two days after that, another!

I often speak affirmations of abundance — maybe there is something to this affirmation stuff. I now have an abundance of vacuum cleaners.

Today’s lesson in living the frugalcious life: never take no for an answer. But always be nice about it. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Read more about discount decorating here

Dec

4

Saving the Swedish Way

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There’s just no place like Ikea for decent, inexpensive and stylish home decor. My friend Judith (my yard sale partner) and I recently hit the new store here in South Florida (and are going back on Sunday, much to my dismay, to return some of the stuff we bought). There was quite a bit of controversy when they first talked about opening here — too big, according to some people (who obviously don’t savor the deliciousness of a good buy!). Then, the first weekend it opened, people lined up outside the night before like they were giving away free Stones tickets, and the store had to set up additional parking at a nearby stadium and shuttle the shoppers over!

I’m happy to say that the crowds have dissipated, and we picked up lots of items and even more ideas. Nothing great this week in the scratch and dent room, but I did score on some marked-down bedding that was just the color I need for my new bedroom. Judith loved her virgin trip there, and is planning to bring her hubby back soon. I spent under a hundred dollars and bought curtains and hardware for three rooms.  Plus, if you use your debit card, the give you a little rebate to use on your next purchase (keep ‘em coming back for more!).

If you don’t have an Ikea near your, definitely check out their website — then go to ebay and search for anything you like. Items are often cheaper on Ebay than in the store itself — plus you get to skip the crowds.  Happy holiday shopping!