What's Too Frugal? Another Take

Gathering all the loose change at the end of the day and socking it away in a container to cash in yields some respectable savings amounts. Claiming the lost money in the laundry, left in pockets, a soggy mess to dry out, can lead to a tidy stack of air dried bills. No one would dispute these money saving schemes. Picking up money on the ground, perhaps too frugal? Does the value of the money matter?  This was actually a hallway conversation the other day, a colleague wearing the fruits of her ground picked up pennies in the form of a new to her blanket scarf. The I Pick Up Pennies blog name I believe originated from this practice. A recent post  at Kate Wolk-Stanley's blog The Non Consumer Advocate summarized her found change total for 2016 and back several years. 

I know I have picked up the odd silver change or dollar bill in a hallway from time to time. I can't say if I have or haven't in my life picked up change on a side walk or out in public on the ground. I may have in college when I was a completely broke waitress, so already in the habit of  picking up change on a floor that had fallen off tables, and any few pennies seemed like a help. 

This leads me to think of other frugal boundaries people have regarding claiming things. Curb side items with a sign marked "free" or "please take", might be a yes for me if it really was something I could use. I've never have hauled something home, though. Seeing an item in a garbage or set out for pick-up, easily a no for me, and I think that is illegal, right?  I have read that people will go to the persons house and ask if they can  have something they see. I personally would not do that because of my own comfort, but see it could be a smart frugality. Again, maybe back in college or just starting out if I wasn't already the recipients of so many hand me down items from family, I would have been more proactive in asking for other peoples cast offs. I've thought a bit more about cast offs as I brainstorm upcycling opportunities for some missing furniture pieces in my home. 

What are your thoughts on found money or finding freebies? Do I have a stupid squeamishness about  change on the ground? Has anyone had any great curbside finds, either with a note, or by being brave and knocking on the door to ask about said item.

Replace or Renew?

Photo Teresa Tuma-Pinterest

DD#2 and I were reading on the deck the other night when she said she knew what we needed.  We have a two tiered deck, but the upper part is just sitting empty right now.  "Either we should put a hot tub up there, or get one of those big hammocks with a roof." I definitely do not want a hot tub.  It would be a lot of upkeep for very little use, but I do like the hammock idea.  I responded that we could keep ours eye open for the right piece, but for now, weren't the chairs pretty comfy for reading? She rolled her eyes a bit and said, "they're so old." Now we have had them a while, but they are hardly too old, and a little rust-oleum paint, and any chipping is easily fixed.  I said, yes, we probably need to put another coat on the  frames this year.  Her response was less than cute. "You know. mom, sometimes you just need to get new things." She didn't know it, but she has now set off a challenge in me to find the perfect piece for the deck, in an up cycle sort of way. 

Our deck is nothing fancy.  In fact, it probably should be on  it's last couple years.  We have discussed tearing it down, and either rebuilding, or doing more of a patio with garden pavers. I have lot's of inspiration on my Pinterest wall. Still, we get glorious sunrises with the Eastern view, and from about 3:00 on, earlier in the fall and early spring, we have a nice shady relaxing spot for reading, working, or having dinner. Deck or patio, having a nice lounging spot would add some simple luxury to our short warm weather season. I had a couple plastic resin chaise chairs that I bought for $15 each about 10 years ago.  An unexpected storm, worse than was predicted, took them air born, and smashed against a tree. I priced some By the Yard furniture, claimed to be indestructible with a lifetime guarantee, but the $600 a piece price tag is more than off putting. My sister in law seems to be in the right place at the right time.  Her daughters condo complex was replacing communal furniture in their patio area.  My niece nabbed two extra large wrought iron, incredibly sturdy, double wide recliners, free for the taking. They did need a little sanding with steel wool, and a touch up of paint, but anything comparable would have been close to $1,000. I love the 1969 retro chaise I found at Teresa Tuma's Pinterest site. If I could find one or two similar, we would be reading in vintage pleasure.

I will need to do more than keep an eye open for the perfect find.  I am starting to spread the word to others.  I'm looking at Goodwill and Salvation Army for pieces that might work, even if they weren't originally intended to be used out doors. It's time to put that Pinterest board to action.  Who has had good luck finding  the perfect things for your outdoor living space? Did you get creative and use something unexpected, but it completely worked?

Our perfectly adequate deck chairs, with too small a table.

DD's "hammock" spot.