Sunday 9 June 2013

Bargains to be had at the car boot sale

Have a guess at how cheaply we can buy clothes in North Lincolnshire. There are two carrier bags here, six items in each bag, bought from two different places. Go on, have a guess, how much do you think they were.......The bag on the left cost £1, the bag on the right was 60p. Amazing isn't it, so why were people shopping across the road in Tesco and Next, and up the road in Matalan? I'll tell you why, because they wouldn't be seen dead rummaging through piles of clothes at a car boot sale. Pride, that's all it is, yet if you washed and ironed these clothes, they have years of wear left in them. Most of them are nearly new, a couple of items look brand new. Most of them are better than the rags I walk around in now.
I will be washing them, but I didn't buy them to wear, most will be used in sewing projects. Kath over at Hillside House has sent me a template to make a quilt, I may just start one in the near future. I also fancy making another rag rug. I picked these for their vibrant colours.

This is a lovely top with a Berketex label, it's polyester so no creases. It is slightly too big for me, but I can take it in at the sides for a better fit. This was in the six for £1 bag,  
This shirt is nearly new, it's a nice thick cotton, and it probably will be butchered and made into something else.  
After the car boot sale, I popped into Tesco as I had some money off vouchers for some things I normally buy. A box of 44 Felix pouches is on offer at £9 and I had a further 85p off. I also found some reduced fruit, grapes, strawberries, and peaches. While I was browsing the continental section I saw that these were  half price at 24p. I have been getting a bit bored with my usual dilute cordial drinks, and wanted to try something different, so I bought one of each. They are the 250 mil size, a single portion with a straw.  
Pour it in a glass....
and top up with water for a bigger drink. The Passion Fruit is lovely.
My lunch today was a Quorn quarter pounder, on offer at £1.50 for two, with a 45p voucher off. Served on a bed of spinach, with grated carrot and grated cheese, and a few dollops of plain Value yogurt (45p). It was very filling.
This afternoon I got my party tent out of storage in the downstairs lavvy, checked it over and made sure all the parts are there. I didn't bother to put the four sidewalls on, as I know they are alright. The last time I used it was about six years ago, I got it for my business when I set up a stall at agricultural shows and suchlike. I have slept in it a few times when it was a two or three day event. I shall be taking it to a birthday party next weekend, Uncle Stan will be 90, and he is having a bit of a bash. They want some cover in the garden in case a lot of people come and they don't all fit in the house. If it is sunny I will put two sides on, then if it rains I can put a third side on and there will be some shelter.
I'll be back tomorrow with the Sleaford photo's, haven't forgotten. I'm taking three days off next week, I'll be off out somewhere, haven't decided where yet. I'll decide tomorrow,
Toodle pip.

13 comments:

  1. Sometimes I think we are on the exact same wavelength, Ilona :) Just yesterday I took four old shirts that are too ratty for the thrift shop but not a good fabric to use as cleaning cloths, and washed them and aired them. I'm going to cut off the sections with pockets (they have zippers or velcro closures) and save them for sewing projects...instant pockets on a tote bag, maybe? Saved all the buttons, too, with matched sets strung on a loop of thread. Feels good to harvest something useful before throwing out the stained and holey bits!

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  2. looking forward to seeing what you do with all these items! you are a real bargain hunter :-D

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  3. Great idea. I rarely give clothes to the charity shop because, to be honest, I'm one of those crazy ladies that actually wear my clothes until they wear out. I then cut them into usable pieces to do other things with. At the moment it's a rag rug for the bedroom, but I have a load of shirts waiting to be quilted. I have not made a quilt before and would love to see what you do and how you do it. I even keep tiny scraps to stuff cushions with. Your tea looks so nice and hope all goes well with the party. Debbie x

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  4. I can't wait to see the photo's of Sleaford, I was born there

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  5. Hi Ilona, we like a bit of money saving and bargains. Good news and bad news today. The good news is 31 items many reduced for £20 from the supermarket. The bad news is a mis hap with the money saving hair clippers. My wife forgot to put the attatchment on and i now have a bald stripe on the top of my head. Gotta go to a charity shop now to get a hat.
    Dave.

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    1. Dave, you make me laugh, keep on commenting :o)

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  6. IM an akward size so I dont buy clothes to wear from carboots or charity shops. However, like you Im finding both a very cheap source of fabric (and just happen to use them on quilts and other sewing projects), pillowcases (50p) and single duvet covers (£3.50) aremy faves as there is minimal unpicking. :o)

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  7. Save some of your rags for uncle Stan's painting. He hasn't yet been forgiven for painting in public with a pair of his wife's old panties hanging on his easel!
    Love P

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    1. Will do Pat. I see you have cracked the commenting maze :o)

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  8. You did really well at the car boot sale Ilona. I know you will put your items to good use.

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  9. I love that check shirt, but no good for me, it's miles too big but at least you've got lots of fabric there :-)

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  10. Danneke calling in.I remember your party tent and you sleeping in it at the shows, those were the days !!!!. You did get some good bargains for the patchwork Quilt at the car-boot. I made each of my children a quilt for their beds when they were young, took ages but they loved relating about bits of fabric and what the patches were from. If you are off on travels near to Scarborough Ilona the old YHA has opened up again , was closed for a long time and up for sale for some years but a young couple have bought it and its been done up and re-opened a few weeks ago. It is in a lovely spot and near a couple of good pubs and also close to the old railway line, now a walkers and cyclist paradise (Scarboro to Whitby old line ) If you do get my way let me know and I will meet you for coffee or more, that is providing I am not called into hospital for my hip operation.

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  11. Hi Danneke. Good news about the hostel in Scarborough, I might get there one day. I'm going south tomorrow. Hope you don't have to wait too long for your op.

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