Don’t look now, I have not been so frugal wench-ish…
Let me tell you a story. On November 3rd, after paying off my credit card balance from France, I declared myself in a month of no-buy.
In the days since – a mere 27 days – I have purchased so many things, my cards are asking to retire.
Here is a list of everything I have purchased so you can either call an intervention on my behalf or deeply understand how I could not resist and then ask to borrow.
I would like it to be known that I didn’t pay full price for any of these items.
Trader Joe’s hair oil – This is a very very important purchase that I cannot recommend enough. Please try it out, it’s such a good deal and really packs a punch.
In 2024 I spent all of my money… no, literally all my money. But don’t worry, it comes back. Let me tell you about the best things I spent it on!
Blundstones : By far my most-worn clothing addition to my wardrobe this year. I bought them in Melbourne because I knew that buying them closer to Tasmania, where they are originally from, coupled with the Australian exchange rate heavily in our favor, was perfect timing. They go with absolutely everything and take me one step closer to my ever-present nature girl goal.
Silver spoon cuff : Found this absolute gem of a bracelet at the Eumundi markets and the artisan resized it to my arm. It quickly became one of my most prized possessions and my favorite piece of jewelry.
Afends polka dots dress : I scored this at a sample sale for the brand in Byron Bay. It fits like a glove, got it for a steal, and I’ve worn it so many times.
Peach linen pants from Captains Helm : Need I say more!
Tulip painted umbrella from a museum gift shop in Switzerland : What’s better than an automatic open umbrella with a quality handle? Truly, it’s the little luxuries of life.
Aesop body balm for a hand cream : Sampled it on the street and my jaw dropped. I couldn’t stop thinking about the smell. I put it on right before bed and it became a sort of Pavlov’s dogs trigger for me.
A box of Crayons : Such an accessible way for me to make art because no set-up or clean-up is required and they are literally 5$ for the big pack, which makes me feel like the coolest kid in class.
Mother of Pearl phone case : I bought on Jan 2nd for a little over $20 and has lasted me until today, making me happy all year long.
Yellow painters jumpsuit : I love a one stop shop when it comes to an outfit, getting ready has never been quicker.
Cappuccino Mug : I found a stall that was selling a man’s handmade pottery collection from his assisted living home after he passed. I’ll give you a moment to wipe your tears. Although I bought multiple pieces, this espresso cup makes me look forward to coffee in the morning.
Silverware organization tray for makeup storage in my room : The biggest hack for me this year, couldn’t recommend enough. This one was $9 from Marshalls.
Little blue purse from poshmark by the same brand that made knock-off coach bags but with genuine leather in the US : I can’t get enough, Dorcelle for the win!
With such limited space for this trip, we were faced with the daunting task of narrowing our wardrobes down into the elite pieces we wanted to bring. Luckily, we were heading into Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so clothing is tiny! Though it still baffles me how quickly itsy-bitsy bikinis can add up.
The true secret is packing cubes. My coworkers were adamant about how useful a set can be when you are trying to pack light. For me, it wasn’t so much packing light, but more keeping organized. In the end, the rumors were true! The cubes were awesome and the size of each cube offered a helpful suggestion of how much of each category I should bring.
Starting with bottoms: two jeans both light wash; two jean shorts,one black, and of course my perfect pair. Then four soft shorts. Lots of tank tops, some for going out, some for casual. But this trip, unlike when we went to Hawaii and I was always wearing the most colorful thing I could find, I am leaning toward basics.
My favorite thing to wear and pack during summer is a sundress. I brought five. But since it’s one and one, I consider that space saving. Other notable mentions: a large linen shirt from my grandma which serves as the perfect beach cover up, one white light-weight sweater, and a kantha beach blanket. Three types of shoes: running shoes, cute sneakers, and flip flops. Overall, I feel I covered all the bases. I did my best, but in no way was this a light pack. In fact, it was a heavy pack.
Here are some tips from Erin’s bag:
I chose a Marie Kondo style of packing for this trip. I went through my entire wardrobe and said “does this spark joy? Does this say Australia?” All of my yeses went into the first draft pack. From there, I cut options I thought were unnecessary. The method had a varying level of success.
For example, how many white shirts does one person need for a vacation? I haven’t had my color analysis done, but even I know white isn’t my best color. Yet, is it not the perfect simple outfit to wear a white tee, tank, or blouse with a pair of denim shorts? After narrowing it down, I ended up with six items that COULD be considered a white shirt. Recommendation: do what feels right.
I used an Alohas bag that I got for free at a breathwork-in-the-park event as my “packing cube” for my bikinis. Double utility. I used the same method for choosing swimwear, but I think the 12 options will serve me well on this beach-focused adventure…
Toiletries were my hardest pack. Skincare is an absolute must for looking and feeling good on vacation. But even if tiny bottles pass through TSA, they weigh A LOT. I chose to put those in my carryon backpack to save weight in my larger suitcase. Bad for the spine, good for the max pack.
Non-clothing essentials:
Kindle: I must be able to finish my re-read of the Throne of Glass series
Clip on reading light: For when I’m up late and others don’t want to be
Travel carbon monoxide detector: Heard a scary story from a friend at an airbnb and many here don’t include one
Art notebook and supplies: We bought oil pastels for a fun activity. In Hawaii we watercolored, but this seemed like lower maintenance.
The most Frugal Wench thing to do is pack 50 pounds and say a Hail Mary.
Crikey! Bitten by the travel bug once again! Erin and I are off on a new adventure, this time to the land of kangaroos, koalas, and handsome men— all things I’d like to cuddle. We have a general plan of where we would like to visit, swim, surf, and explore. But all this movement presses a larger question– what are we going to wear and how are we going to pack it?! We are in no way, shape, or form, “light packers”. We each brought one of the largest suitcases I’ve ever encountered, a backpack, and a personal item (a Boat Tote and a 2×3 beach bag.. Against my best efforts, my bag is overweight from the get-go. By the grace of fashion gods everywhere, the people checking me in on these flights always let my bag pass on the way there at no charge! Sometimes kindness is enabling… On the return flight….well, we will cross that bridge when we get there. Frugal Wench is locked and loaded for an adventure-filled, summer-chasing 8-weeks mostly consisting of lattes, high step-counts, bikinis, and sunblock. The best part—we’re taking you along!
We know what you’re thinking. How in the word is a Frugal Wench affording a two month trip? Also introducing, Frugal Wench Professional Endeavors—Looking for a new job after traveling full-time.
Some like to call it Spring but I prefer: Skinny Scarf Season. A skinny scarf is like a jean vest, absolutely no warmth provided, simply vibes. The art of the skinny scarf is making a comeback like most 2000s era trends and yet again, we choose to embrace. I believe a skinny scarf can elevate and set the tone for an entire outfit. I found this particular skinny scarf at a thrift store in Laguna beach about two months ago after avidly searching for quite some time. A skinny scarf should be two things: as skinny as Mariah and make you feel like Lizzie McGuire.
I paired the colorful knit skinny scarf with a simple back cashmere sweater and a new pair of thrifted Levi cutoffs that I cut and distressed myself. Then, my favorite tie-up sandals from Madewell and sunglasses from Captain’s Helm.
If you still aren’t convinced to buy or event knit yourself a skinny scarf, here are some iconic skinny scarf moments for inspiration. For all we know, the scarf Taylor left at Maggie Gyllenhall’s house could have been skinny.
Thrifting is a mix of things, dedication and luck. My friends often get frustrated when my only answer to “Where did you get that?!” is, “A thrift store!” and I totally get it. When I hear that response from someone that I ask, I know it’s nearly impossible to get myself because this person bought the only one in existence. But that’s the beauty of thrifting- a sense of individuality. A lot of my thrifting could be attributed to luck and the abundance of options in my size, but I have also been thrifting regularly since 5th grade. Which leads us to some helpful strategies we’ve adopted to make us better thrifters:
1.You can’t expect to walk into a thrift store and find exactly what you’re looking for, like a perfect pair of vintage jeans. But don’t be discouraged either, that of course could happen but when it doesn’t, don’t give up! We often keep a running list of styles or ideal pieces we are looking for in the back of our minds (or written down if you’re organized like that). That way, every time you go to a thrift store, you might not find the ONE thing, but you could find something on your list, and you won’t forget what to look for next time.
2. The secret is fabric. Things often jump out to me based on the quality, color and pattern of the fabric. I find this strategy is most effective when looking through tops, but it applies to all sections of the store as well. When I walk into a thrift store, I head straight to the tops. Tops, I find, are the easiest to go through because sizes are the most liberal and I go through every single one at lightning speed. My arm is literally sore by the end, that’s how fast I go. Same thing goes for denim and other bottoms.
2a. If you can try things on, pull anything and everything you think might work. Sometimes magic happens when a piece comes off the rack and onto your body. And if it’s the opposite, at least now you know.
3. If you end up trying something on that you absolutely love but doesn’t fit right, consider tailoring! I have had several pieces adjusted by our favorite local tailor and it was totally worth it. The main thing to consider before frequently opting for tailoring is budget. It’s not always inexpensive to tailor something so consider how much the item costs plus how much the tailoring will be to decide if the item would be worth that price if it fit perfectly.
4. Bring your metaphorical magnifying glass to check for stains! This may seem obvious but some stains are not always visible when you’re looking on the rack. Pull everything out and change up the lighting to make sure there aren’t any permanent damages to the item like stains but also holes.
5. Another important tip is to check tags for the care instructions. If you’re low maintenance and don’t like to dry clean anything, that could help you decide if the piece is right for you. If there’s one thing we’re serious about it’s following the care instructions. It definitely adds to the lifetime of a piece, especially something that is pre-owned!
If you post if any of your thrifted finds, tag #frugalwench to show us what you’ve found!
Frugal Wench 