This is how nonconsumers shop

6-things-you-can-do-this-black-friday-to-help-main-street-full-480x640

“Black Friday” is the day after Thanksgiving, and my advice is to do anything else rather than go shopping. Since I’m not a fan of crowds or the possibility of being trampled, I stopped shopping on that day years before I joined The Compact. I know there are deals to be had, but are they […]

Recent Estate Sale Finds

IMG_0565

A couple of weeks ago I was driving through the neighborhood fairly early in the morning and noticed a line up of people outside a residence. That seemed unusual, and then I noticed an “Estate Sale” sign. Since I’d never been to one, I was curious and pulled over to check it out. Despite being […]

When patience pays off

IMG_0533

I’ve been looking for a tile table for our backyard for… 5 years. I seem to see them everywhere, but “everywhere” turned out to be mostly other people’s backyards. I gave up looking for one new even before I joined the Compact because it was clear the kind I was thinking of might cost hundreds of dollars. I searched […]

Let’s talk about…shower curtains

Update: Once again, readers of this blog have responded with some brilliant ideas. Thank you all so much, and readers, I encourage you to check the Comments section. I am more concerned about using and tossing plastic than I am about spending twenty bucks on a new shower curtain. I’ve gotten some great ideas here […]