DH called around for a new exhaust system to be put on my suburban. It has had glass packs (I'm getting old-I want something quieter with chrome tips). We found a shop fairly close for around $200 and went with it. We took it in today and it ended up only being $126.

We have killed our last 2 vacume cleaners within the past 3 weeks. (we had 4 between the 2 of us when we got married 3 years ago...). I found one today at the thrift store for $17. It is bagless (as the old ones were), so no bags to buy (plus you can recoup the dimes and earrings that get sucked up). It works wonderful, and has more attachments then my last one did. It is built different though-the handle pulls up and turns into the hose and wand--oh--it also has a reverse on it and will air up items such as blow up pools and such.

DD3 and I spent $28 in the thrift store and come out with a vacumme cleaner, 2 kids learning computer CDs for her younger sisters, a black velvet skirt, a navy velvet dress with a matching jacket for her younger sisters, another Christmasy dress for her sisters, 2 shirts and a necklace for her, and a pair of used kids insulated carhartt coveralls (new, those sell for $60-I got a used pair for $5). Oh--and 3 hard back books. The blue velvet dress still had the JCPenney tag on it for $48. I paid $2. It is brand new.

Earlier in the week I found at another thrift store some items made from horseshoes for $3 each. I got 1 napkin holder and 2 mail/paper holders--one for DH desk and one for my desk in the office. I guess I should have gotten one more for my desk in the classroom, but I wasn't thinking. I have seen these before for around $15 each.

The girls have all outgrown their carhartt coveralls from the last 2 winters (I buy big so they last 2-3 winters), so I sold one pair on craigslist for $30 and the other is on ebay. But, I bought one set already today for $5 so only have to find 2 more. On a good year, I can sell them for the same price I am buying a bigger set for. On a great year I come out ahead on the deal. We will see.