vintage

8 Classic Toys That Won Christmas

Damian Davila — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:01:04 +0000

When you're trying to connect with your child, nephew or niece, little cousin, or your best friend's kid, you may have a hard time getting their eyes away from Pokemon Go or the Elena of Avalor TV show.

Fortunately, as the holiday season is getting nearer, you have one great way to get their attention: must-have toys from yesteryear. From the Radio Flyer Wagon to the G.I. Joe action figure, let's walk down memory lane and review eight notorious holiday toys that still provide hours of entertainment.

1. Radio Flyer Wagon (1923)

I have learned many lessons after having twins. And one of them is that some classics just never go out of style. First known as the No. 4 Liberty Coaster and handcrafted in wood, the Radio Flyer Wagon was a must-have item in most lists of good boys and girls in the 1920s. Nowadays, these wagons are colored in their signature red, made out of stamped metal, and continue to encourage kids to go outside and play.

Fun fact: The inventor of this wagon, Antonio Pasin, named it after his two favorite inventions, the radio and the airplane.

2. Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol (1934)

First introduced in the Amazing Stories comic book series in 1928 and eventually landing his own TV series in the 1970s, the futuristic superhero Buck Rogers has been captivating audiences for nearly a century. Rogers' iconic rocket pistol was first sold in 1934 and made a signature "Zap!" sound. Getting your hands on an original one might be too expensive, but there are many manufacturers making plenty of much more affordable versions of the classic toy ray gun.

Fun fact: There are many versions of the Buck Rogers rocket pistol, including the XZ-31 Rocket Pistol, XZ-38 Disintegrator Pistol, and XZ-44 Liquid Helium Water Pistol.

3. Slinky (1945)

"It's Slinky; it's Slinky. For fun it's a wonderful toy. It's fun for a girl and a boy!" That TV jingle that has been hashed and rehashed for decades. Little changes has been made to the same Slinky walking spring toy that was a hit during the 1945 Christmas shopping season. Still, all of us still marvel at Slinky's nonstop journey down any set of stairs.

Fun fact: In recent years, most kids first got exposed to the Slinky while watching the Slinky Dog (also known just as "Slinky") character in the Toy Story movies from 1995, 1999, or 2010. Fans of the movie will be happy to hear that Slinky is coming back in a fourth installment in the series scheduled for 2019!

4. Lego (1958)

The name Lego is an abbreviation of the two Danish words "leg gods," meaning "play well." This is not only the company's name, but also its ideal. If you think that these little interlocking color blocks were invented in no time, think again. The Lego Group has been around since 1932 and it wasn't until 1949 that the group came up with the first design for the first set of blocks. It took nine years of tinkering to get the design of the Lego as we know it today. Besides the classic Lego set, you can find brick sets in a wide range of models, purposes, and colors.

Fun fact: Some Lego sets can become great investments: An Imperial Star Destroyer worth $249.99 in 2002 today is worth about $2,185 (a 774% return). (See also: 10 Places to Stash Your Money Besides a Savings Account)

5. Chatty Cathy (1959)

1959 was a great year for dollmakers, and they came out with many iconic dolls that are still beloved by little girls everywhere. First created in 1959, Chatty Cathy was groundbreaking as it could say 11 phrases, including "Let's play school" or "I love you," after pulling a string on her back. If you can get a hold on an original or reproduction version of Chatty Cathy, you'll definitely have a conversation starter as they are very hard to find nowadays.

Fun fact: Besides the original blonde and blue-eyed Cathy, Mattel also release a brunette Cathy and an African-American Cathy.

6. Barbie (1959)

While Cathy generally appealed to a younger set of girls, Barbie attracted many groups. With her virtually endless collection of accessories, clothing pieces, vehicles, and homes, Barbie is the top selling doll of all time. To address the consumer demand for Barbies with more realistic body shapes and more sensible career choices, Mattel has released updated dolls, including the Barbie Careers Game Developer Doll and the Barbie Fashionistas Doll & Fashions Emoji Fun, Curvy.

Fun fact: Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She is from Willows, Wisconsin and celebrates her birthday every March 9th (she'll be 58 in 2017!).

7. Etch A Sketch (1960)

Originally L'Ecran Magique, this toy was a total flop when it was first introduced in 1959 at an European toy fair. Still, the Ohio Art. Co saw the toy's potential, bought the rights, renamed it to Etch A Sketch, and released the mechanical drawing toy a year later in the U.S. Today, you can find the classic Etch A Sketch in a wide variety of sizes, including keychain-size and giant board.

Fun fact: The toy was so popular during its release that the Ohio Art Co.'s factory workers had to work until noon on Christmas Eve to meet demand!

8. G.I. Joe (1964)

The original G.I. Joe action figures stood 12-inches tall and represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps). While the popularity of G.I. Joe drowned out over the next couple of years, the "real American Hero" was successfully relaunched in 1982 with a more kid-friendly size (3.75 inches, or 9.5 cms.), an animated TV miniseries, and an ongoing comic book. True to its fighting spirit, the Joes keep making a comeback to protect us against modern versions of their lethal archenemies, Cobra, as they did in the G.I. Joe movies in 2009 and 2013. Go Joe!

Fun fact: G.I. Joe and Barbie went out on a date in 1996 in a memorable Nissan TV commercial.

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Earn Money on Etsy — No Craft Required

Ashley Eneriz — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:00:16 +0000

Etsy is a wonderful marketplace to sell crafts and other handmade goods. However, you do not have to be crafty to make a profit on Etsy. There are several individuals who make their living off of selling a wide range of art supplies (that do not need to be handmade or customized), as well as vintage items.

Selling Supplies on Etsy

For individuals selling art and craft supplies directly to consumers, there are not many online markets. Both eBay and Amazon can prove profitable, but the reach that Etsy has as a crafting platform and community is beyond compare.

Generally, people who buy or browse Etsy are individuals who love handmade goods and are interested in crafting at some level. The benefit of selling supplies is that all crafters need it, both beginning hobbyists, as well as experienced craft makers who sell their work for a living.

How to Sell Supplies on Etsy

In order to be successful selling supplies on Etsy, you have to know the field. For example, if you want to sell yarn, you will need to know a thing or two about knitting. This doesn't mean that you have to be an expert knitter, but you do need to be willing to put in the research about yarns and yarn related crafts.

Is important that you also have the ability to find quality products for inexpensive costs. When considering what to list, think of Etsy's fees. Having an Etsy shop is free, but listing a product costs $0.20, and Etsy then takes 3.5% from the selling price. Therefore, if you list a skein of yarn for $9, then you will pay $0.52 in fees. Calculating fees beforehand can ensure that you make the most possible profit for your item.

Depending on the supplies you want to sell, you will be able to get inventory through local craft stores with coupons and a wholesale license, which allows you to buy the item tax-free. You might also need to purchase supplies in bulk, overseas, like through Alibaba.

Selling Vintage Items on Etsy

eBay is a popular selling platform for selling used items, but many times the kitschy and fashionable items do not get the respect or views they deserve. Etsy allows individuals to sell vintage items in the same way as a boutique owner would sell their wares.

Veronica Staudt, owner of Vintage Meet Modern, used to sell her vintage jewelry finds on eBay before Etsy was popular. However, she has seen more success using Etsy, because it is a more personable platform. "I did a lot of homework about where I could sell vintage goods and have them respected, understood, appreciated, and desired," she says. "At the time there were not very many selling platforms that allowed for that. Etsy is one of the few that appreciates what makes vintage special and unique." She is more than just a username and seller ID, unlike on eBay. She was able to create a brand through Etsy, which just would not have been possible to do through eBay or Amazon.

Heidi Ferguson, owner of Princessntheflea, is another successful vintage shop on Etsy. She originally started selling her vintage finds on eBay in the late 90s, but took a five year break when eBay changed its business model and made selling vintage items harder. "I started my Etsy shop in August of 2015 with about 10 items to get a feel for how the site worked and quickly sold out of items," she says. "I started making goals of 20, then 30, then 40 items in the shop until I finally reached 100."

Lauren Arkin, owner of LABoudoirMiami, says, "My vintage business LA Boudoir started off as a brick and mortar shop and after five years of my clientele being mainly locals and tourists, I wanted to reach out to more potential clientele nationally and internationally. Through some research, I thought Etsy had a great platform to reach that goal. Now I have clients all over the world including those in Europe and Asia. It took about six to eight months to get my Etsy shop to where I am happy with it."

How to Sell Vintage Items on Etsy

The three women above are proof that selling vintage items on Etsy can be a successful side business, but how do you get started? First things first, find a niche that works for you. If you don't know anything about jewelry or designers, then those should not be your first choice of items to buy and sell, unless you are willing to put in many hours of research.

Once you find your niche, research the best selling items in your area of interest. It is important to know how much certain items go for, so that you will know what buying price you need to stick to. You can find inventory at thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales. It can be tempting to want to buy a lot of inventory when you first start, but it is better to start off slow and buy items of the highest quality.

If you are looking to explore a side business, don't overlook Etsy. Both crafters and non-crafters alike can benefit from Etsy's personable and tight-knit selling platform.

Do you sell on Etsy? Share your experience below.

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

My 5 Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time

Kentin Waits — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 09:00:07 +0000

I was raised by parents who loved antiques, amassed wild collections, and roamed auctions and thrift stores for sport. Destined for the same weird passion, I thrift-shopped across the Midwest for the first 22 years of my life, hunted honey holes in Chicago for a decade, and picked all over the Pacific Northwest for a few years after that.

Nothing gets my blood pumping quite like crossing the threshold of a hopelessly disorganized junk shop piled high with all things dusty, rusty, and forgotten. And like all thrifters and pickers, I have a personal hall of fame — objects that are special because of their rarity, value, or shear splendor. Here are my five best thrift store finds of all time:

1. Eames Chair

Furniture is usually one of the best deals in any thrift store — especially when you find a piece you can flip for a handsome profit. Last year on a road trip through eastern Oregon, I stumbled across an authentic Eames dowel leg desk chair from the 1950s. Though the wooden legs had been slightly damaged by a chew-happy dog, I took a chance and picked it up for $14. Once photographed carefully (warts and all), I listed it online and sold it for $400. This find reinforced an important lesson: If the item is rare enough, a little damage is entirely forgivable.

2. Experimental Fiestaware

In 1999, I found a Fiestaware relish tray at a Chicago thrift store. The piece was covered in an unusual iridescent glaze that made it look exactly like metal (in fact, it looked so much like metal, that it had been tossed in with the pots and pans). I was familiar enough with Fiesta to know the relish tray was not standard-issue, so I happily forked over 90 cents for it. After a bit of research, I learned the glaze was experimental and there were very few surviving examples. A few weeks later, I sold the piece on eBay for $280. Remember, it pays to follow your hunches and devote some time to research!

3. Two Pine Harvest Tables

Granted, this find didn't come from a thrift store, but it did come from a very old department store. During a picking trip in Iowa, my brother and I happened upon a closeout sale of one the last remaining Ben Franklin stores (a Midwest five-and-dime chain that peaked in the 1970s).

The owner was selling everything that wasn't nailed down. After convincing her that we had cash and weren't afraid to get dirty, she let us explore the store's stone cellar where we found two hulking eight-foot long pine harvest tables buried under 50 years of junk. Carefully clearing off the tables and hauling them up was part of the bargain — a very good bargain at only $50 each. We loaded the tables, advertised them locally, and sold them as a pair for $1000. Discovering these beauties illustrated an important picking tip: Sometimes the best stuff is tucked away out of sight. Don't be afraid to ask permission to explore.

4. Adrian Pearsall Chair

Ahh, this one's my biggest success and my most profound regret rolled into one. At a neighborhood thrift store in Chicago in 1996, I discovered two matching mid-century teak club chairs. Each was low, sleek, beautifully designed…and covered in the ugliest upholstery I'd ever seen. I must have been on a budget that particular day, because I violated the first rule of buying secondhand: Never separate a pair. A few years later (after I had my single chair tastefully recovered in period fabric), I learned it was an Adrian Pearsall. Pearsall was an icon of midcentury American furniture design and his vintage couches, chairs, and tables command premium prices. In 2010, that little $7 treasure sold for $1100 (if only I'd had two to sell!).

5. Dog Portrait

Finding something truly unique is one of the many reasons I love thrift shopping. Earlier this year, I was leisurely thrifting my way through central Iowa and discovered a vintage hand-painted portrait of a dog — a big, noble, lovable mutt of a dog. I didn't think it was worth much (and I was right). Still, for $3.99, I had to have it. The painting occupies a prime spot on my wall and every time I walk by it I wonder about that dog, its master, and their ball-chasing, picture-painting story. It reminds me of an important concluding point: Don't hesitate to buy a treasure that's priceless only to you. Chances are you'll never see another one like it.

Are you a diehard thrift-shopper? What are some of your hall-of-fame finds?

This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Everyday Inconveniences We Don't Miss

Paul Michael — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 11:00:11 +0000

When thinking about the "chores" we have to do these days, it's laughable how easy we have it. Our ancestors would spend hours washing clothes using a washboard and a mangle. Doing the dishes after a big meal took an eternity, with two people washing and drying. And before microwaves, reheating meals could not be done in just a few minutes. Here are 10 inconveniences we have thankfully waved goodbye to.

1. Programming the VCR

Today, we are completely spoiled by our entertainment technology. We simply pick a show from the channel guide, hit record (and that includes doing a whole series recording), and everything else is taken care of. But recording TV shows and movies used to suck. You'd have to input the day, date, and time of the show you wanted to record, making sure you had a blank VHS tape in the machine with enough space on it to record the whole show. Of course, if the ball game ran long, you recorded that, and missed the start of your show.

2. Looking Up Numbers in the Phone Book(s)

They were a staple of every household. Right next to the home phone and the Rolodex, there were a stack of books so thick you often used them as a replacement stepping stool. Yes, the phone books were essential… and really annoying. Flicking through the Yellow Pages to find a gardener or plumber, then having no clue how reliable they were, was no fun at all. Trying to find a name in the White Pages was even harder, especially if the person you were looking for had a really common name. Now, our smartphone does it all. We get instant reviews with the business phone numbers, and personal information with the residential numbers. And yet, they still keep printing those phone books!

3. Reading Printed Maps

There was a time when Google Maps did not exist, and GPS navigation was something only the rich and famous could afford. When we wanted to get somewhere in a city, we had to buy an A-Z. Rand McNally and National Geographic printed new ones every year, and if you didn't have an updated version, you could find yourself at a dead end. Arguments raged in cars, marriages were threatened, and men everywhere would happily get lost rather than ask for directions. Those days are over.

4. Paying Bills in Person or By Mail

With Internet banking came online bill pay; for most of us who choose to use it (and some don't), it's a wonderful thing. You can choose when the money comes out, to the day, and also use auto pay so that you don't even have to remember when the bill is due. In the past, paying bills was horrendous. Your home calendars were filled with reminder dates, and you had to figure out exactly when the mail would deliver your check to ensure you did not get a late payment fee. Even worse than using the mail was standing in line for an eternity to pay a bill in person. The only time that really happens now is the dreaded DMV visit.

5. Returning Movies

Oh Blockbuster, how you loved to squeeze every last cent out of those movie rentals with late fees. And how apt that you were put out of business by a company that didn't charge them, ever. When Netflix was first around, with its mailable DVDs, it spelled the end for Blockbuster and other rental chains. But when streaming movies became the big way to watch films and TV series, it was all over. No more trips to the video store, especially those frantic ones when you had five minutes to get there before the store closed, or you were paying another $4 for the night. No one will miss those days except the former CEO of Blockbuster.

6. Developing Film

Okay, so not literally sitting in a dark room with a bunch of chemicals and some photo paper. But, the new age of digital cameras, and now phones that do everything, meant we could kiss goodbye to those rolls of film and all the guesswork. Remember what it was like? You'd take a bunch of photos on vacation, bring the rolls to a one-hour photo place, and then collect your prints. How many were in focus? How many were filled with people closing their eyes, or looking away? We no longer have to deal with any of that, and it's glorious.

7. Accessing Dial-up Internet

"Dooo-de-dooooobrrrrrr-brp-brp-deeee-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebrrrp-bzngg-bzngg-bzngg-kkkksksskkkkkkkkkskskskkkkkkskkskrhghryghsjghjkkkjhjkhgjsghjfghsfghfsghfgs." That dial-up sound, which will haunt many of us, has pretty much been made extinct by broadband. Dial-up Internet not only took forever, and was painstakingly slow, but in the beginning it was billed by the minute! To those people reading this article via dial up, for the love of your own sanity, stop and replace it with broadband immediately.

8. Using Payphones

As little as 20 years ago, many of us made sure we left the house with change for the payphone, just in case we needed it. And when we did need to use it, there was no guarantee it would work. They were the targets of vandals, and in Britain the big red telephone boxes were used as toilets by homeless people and drunken morons. Sometimes, there would be a line to use the payphone, and then there was that awful moment when you realized you still had talking to do, but had no more money left. "Call me back at this number now, it's 555-867-5…arrghhhh!"

9. Paying With a Check

Ask yourself, honestly, when was the last time you paid by check at the grocery store, the home improvement warehouse, or the hairdresser? Now ask yourself, when someone in front of you pulls out a checkbook to pay, how much do you boil and bubble inside? Paying by check was time consuming, and remembering to bring that checkbook with us, just in case, was more than a little annoying. Now, with debit cards, we have a checkbook in our wallet at all times, and they only take seconds to use.

10. Trying to Remember… Anything!

Seriously, when was the last time you had to make a mental note to do something important? You just put that reminder in your phone, tablet, or computer and let it remind you when the time comes. No need to remember birthdays. No need to commit phone numbers to memory. And facts… they are now with us in seconds. Who was that guy who played that alien in that movie that came out last year? IMDB.com. What is the main ingredient in that Thai dish? AllRecipes.com. How do I find out what is turning my lawn brown? Google it! Is this making us all a tad lazy? That's still to be decided. Maybe we're all just focusing on other things now.

What inconveniences are you glad we've left behind in the good old days?

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Childhood Collectibles Worth Big Bucks Today

Mikey Rox — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:00:12 +0000

Remember when your mom told you that if you didn't clean up your room she was going to throw away all your stuff? Well, your stubbornness totally cost you, dude, because some of those toys and games are worth major money today. (See also: Reselling Antiques: The 5 Principles of Power Picking)

Take a look at these nine nostalgic items from your childhood and the price tags they now command, and then lament the fact that you didn't listen to your mom.

1. Buzz Lightyear 1st Generation — $205.00

The highest bid on this eBay item — a first generation Buzz Lightyear action figure with utility belt — is relatively low compared to the final price of other items on this list. The listing says that it comes with a certificate of authenticity and that it's "brand new" in its original box. "Brand new" probably isn't the best phrase to describe it — it is 20 years old, after all — so a better description might be "mint condition" or "factory sealed" if that's the case. Considering that this toy probably cost around $25 when it was released in 1995 (I'm assuming at the same time as the first Toy Story movie), this sale is a decent win for its owner. Anytime something increases in value eight times over, you can pat yourself on the back.

2. The Mummy Mystery Game — $888.99

The final sale price of The Mummy Mystery Game from Hasbro might encourage you to hoard all your board games from now on. Perhaps you can retire early on a first edition Monopoly, or pay off your credit card debt with a vintage Taboo.

3. GI Joe Air Sea Rescue Set — $909.77

GI Joe isn't just the 1980s icon we've come to know and love. Rather, the line of action figures from Hasbro has been occupying the imaginations of little boys (and girls) for more than 50 years. Over the past half-decade, Joes have changed — most notably from 12 inch figures in the 1960s to 3¾ inch figures when it was relaunched in 1982 — but interest hasn't waned. The whole gamut is worth a pretty penny these days when in good condition, but if you happen to have an old-school GI Joe Air Sea Rescue set, you're in luck. This couldn't have cost more than a few bucks at its regular retail price several decades ago, but you can thank inflation, vintage status, rarity, and eBay for its nearly $1,000 price tag today.

4. PEZ Baseball Glove, Bat, and Plate Dispenser — $950

It's no secret in my family that I'm an obsessive-compulsive PEZ collector — if I see one I don't have, I have to buy it — so this collectible's resale value makes me optimistic for the future. The starting price of this early PEZ dispenser that features several parts and no modern "feet" (a collector's dream, by the way) was $275, and quickly shot up to $950.

5. LEGO Sculptures Statue of Liberty — $2,950

I was rather surprised to learn that LEGOs are pretty big business on eBay. I mean, I know they're popular, but I wasn't aware that they were thousands-of-dollars popular. The priciest listing I came across was for a DIY Statue of Liberty sculpture (otherwise known as "3450" to LEGO-philes) that was described as unused and unopened — which was true; the actual bricks were still sealed in factory plastic — but the original box was a bit mangled. Still, this toy managed to fetch nearly $3,000, likely from someone who values playtime over presentation. If that doesn't blow your mind, there's a hefty $9K price tag for the same item (but better preserved) on Amazon. I can't definitively say that someone bought it for that price, but it's certainly listed as such. Other high-value sets include the Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower.

6. Pokemon Shadowless Unlimited Booster Box — $2,325

I never got into Pokemon — it was a little past my time — so I can't honestly say that I understand a craze that was built on trading cards. Paper trading cards, people. Seriously, is that where the world went wrong?

In any case, this factory-sealed Pokemon Shadowless Unlimited Booster Box — I have no idea what that means — went for more than $2,300. The listing description says, "Booster boxes are considered even more rare than 1st Edition and Unlimited Boxes because of the short print." Sure, okay, I believe it. I do, however, have a hard time wrapping my head around the retail value of $4,000, which the seller calls a "great investment." I'd say.

7. Webkinz — Up to $5,000

I'm not sure I've ever heard of a Webkinz before, but apparently millions of people have. These small plush toys have a playable online counterpart in Webkinz World — stay with me here — and when you enter a secret code into the portal, you can play with your pet virtually on the website. Or something like that. Anyway, these seem to be big business on eBay — even though the product line is only 10 years old — with listings spanning from lots in the $600 range, single or double animals at $500-ish, and there's someone with a lot of gall who is asking $5,000 for a "rare" lot of 85 Signature Collection animals.

8. 1978 Luke Skywalker Action Figure — $12,600

Star Wars memorabilia has been among the most consistently sought after collectible items for many years, but the vintage Luke Skywalker 12 Back-B AFA 90 action figure in mint condition (this jargon is lost on me) has to take the cake for the greatest difference in original and resale values for any action figure ever. One loyal fan shelled out more than $12,000 to relive his childhood fantasies — which I'm confident has made his family very proud.

9. Nintendo World Championship GOLD Cartridge — $100,088

Even the most entrepreneurial kids of the 80s and 90s couldn't have predicted the insane future value of Nintendo games. It was just a toy back then, and one that often caused us hassle; we all remember having to blow into the godforsaken machine to get it to work after we had it for a while. Fast forward a quarter century and it's not the actual system that's hauling in the cash, but rather some of the more rare games in the form of those iconic grey cartridges. The record-setter? The 1990 Nintendo World Championships (Gold Edition), which grabbed a whopping $100,088 from someone with too much money and even more Nintendo nostalgia. Only 26 of these cartridges exist, and they were originally given out as prizes in a contest held by Nintendo Power magazine.

Have you bought or sold a childhood collectible? What was the item, and how much did you sell it for? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

In With the Old: 4 Vintage Frugal Resources

Meg Favreau — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 10:24:23 +0000

A lot of the frugal lifestyle has to do with self-sufficiency — cooking for yourself, repairing what's broken, and so on — skills that fell out of practice over the last several years. So it makes sense that some of the best frugal living references are from a time when more people practiced these skills regularly. This is by no means an exhaustive list; I only included resources I have personally used. (See also: Self-Sufficiency, Self-Reliance, and Freedom)

The USDA's Home and Garden Bulletin

Published between the 1950s and 1990s (yes, the 1990s is hardly "vintage" — no matter what teenagers already nostalgic for the decade say), the USDA's Home and Garden Bulletin covered everything from canning (not just fruits and vegetables (PDF), but also meat (PDF)) to tailoring a woman's suit (PDF) to budgeting for young couples (PDF). The first time I made my own cottage cheese (PDF), I followed the recipe from one of these bulletins.

Old Children's Books

While I watched my share of TV as a kid, I usually preferred to be doing something. These days, one of my hobbies is collecting old books, and some of my favorites are children's books, like The Boys' Own Book of Indoor Sports and Choice Parlor Games from the late 1800s. It teaches kids how to do everything from build a pig out of a lemon to perform plays with fantastical costumes to how to throw boxing punches (okay, maybe you don't want to teach your kids that one). Unfortunately, there isn't a copy of that book online, but there are several other old children's books digitized by Google Books, like Boys' Own Book; A Complete Encyclopedia of Athletic, Scientific, Outdoor and Indoor Sports. Your best bet for books like these, though, might be poking through your local library and used book shops.

Archive Films

The Prelinger Archives at Archive.org is one of my favorite sources for "found" footage when making comedy videos. It's full of classic informational films, newsreels, commercials, and even personal films of vacations and Worlds Fairs. A search for "thrift" in the archives yields plenty of movies, like this one showing how a young couple refinishes secondhand items:

Watch video

The Joy of Cooking

If you're saying, "Huh? That new book on my shelf?" it's probably because this classic cookbook is updated regularly. We had one of the older copies of The Joy of Cooking in my house when I was growing up, and its exhaustive desserts section was instrumental in my learning how to bake. While The Joy of Cooking is one of my favorite examples, lots of older cookbooks provide simple, tasty recipes with frugal, easy-to-find ingredients. Scout out yard sales, or try searching "cook book" (it used to be two words) on the Free Google eBooks section of the Google Books search.

What are your favorite vintage frugality resources?

This article is from Meg Favreau of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Seamstress Sui Generis - Designer Amy Doan (aka Shrinkle)

Andrea Karim — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:17:50 +0000

Amy Doan (aka Shrinkle) is a designer and entreprenuer whose work I came across quite by accident. Amy's been selling her fashionable creations on eBay for over six years. Her self-described "Trashy Clothes for Classy Hos" have accrued a cult following all over the world. A mixture of unique fabrics, thrift-store finds, and lots and lots of ribbon, Amy's punky-girly-gothy threads are so unique that even an old fogey like me can appreciate her artistry and keen eye for detail.

Amy is one of those women who can wear brilliant purple eyeshadow, glued-on feather eyelashes, and bright pink Manic-Panicked hair and still manage to look like a million bucks. I'm floored by her creativity, vitality, and innovative nature. Since she's an eBay aficionado, like our own Amy, I asked Doan to tell us a bit about her business, her plans for the future, and her attitude towards money.

-----------------------

Why do you sell your clothes on eBay? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have your own web site and sell your clothes that way?

I'm actually in the process of setting up a store on my website to sell my clothes! It should be up within the next month.

One of the pros of selling on eBay is that I have a lot of trouble setting my prices. But with eBay, the customer gets to set their own price by bidding however much they are willing to pay. So it takes a lot of the burden off me! It is also really great for exposure, because everyone and their mom is on eBay.

Do you sell anything else, besides your own clothes?

I started selling Kryolan makeup after I started wearing their eyeshadows in my auction pics and was bombarded with emails begging me to share what colors/products I was using. At the time, Kryolan was a practically unknown company that did very little advertising, so no one had heard of them, and their products were a pain in the ass to find. That's when a light bulb went off in my head and I decided to become a dealer for them.

Besides that, I also sell vintage/punk/goth clothes not made by me. Being a total shopaholic and master thrift shopper, I acquire a LOT of stuff.

Have you ever been screwed over on an eBay sale?

Yes. But I'd rather not talk about it because it's depressing!

Is the clothing industry easy to break into? Do you have any advice for other aspiring designers? Should people go the eBay route? Is it possible to start a business with a $90.00 sewing machine and a dream?

I always find these types of questions very difficult to answer, because I don't consider myself successful yet. I've made a decent living designing clothes, but I constantly strive to do more, so there is never a point where I feel like "I've made it" or that "I've broken into it" yet. Does that sound overly self-conscious? I am just being honest... I don't feel like I'm in a position to dispense advice on how to make it, as I'm still trying to figure that out.

But yes, I think eBay is a fun way to get your name out there in a low-pressure setting. Especially if you're like me and you don't know how to build websites!

How do you track your finances, as an eBay seller? Do you wrack up a large amount of debt that needs to be paid off every month?

I am horrible at keeping financial records, but for some reason I'm rarely ever in debt. I'm awesome at paying off my credit cards. I'll order $2,000 of fabric and charge it to my card, and then pay it off by next week.

What are profit margins like for clothing designers such as yourself? Are clothes expensive to produce?

Since I sew my own stuff, I'm mostly just spending money on materials and eBay fees. It's not bad. On average, most of the dresses I make sell for about $200, and the supplies/fees probably cost me less than $20. But before you think I'm a total machine, also remember that time is money, and I put a lot of time into making these things too!

Would you ever want to have your own mass-produced line of clothing, where you make millions of dollars and your creations are banged out in Indonesian sweatshops?

I want to hire a few seamstresses to help me sew my designs, but only enough so that I can sell in multiple quantities to local boutiques. I don't want to have so much of my stuff out there that I turn into the Gap or something. I want people to feel special and unique wearing my clothes.

Do you consider yourself financially savvy?

I hope so! I've been doing this for about five years now, so it would be sad if I wasn't.

You’re based in the Silicon Valley, not exactly known as a fashion hotspot. Why not move somewhere like New York or Los Angeles, or even London?

I love visiting NY and LA, but I could never live there. I like that San Jose is mellow enough for me to get work done without distractions, but big enough to have good places to eat and fun things to do. And it's close enough to San Francisco so I can party whenever I feel like it. I've seen too many people move to big cities to live out their dream, but then party their lives away. It's easy to forget what your priorities are when the booze is a-flowin' and you're surrounded by drama. I like that San Jose is still a major city, but without all the fame-hungry crazy people.

Sometimes I feel like I could be tired of San Jose, but I've lived in the SF Bay Area all my life and have made some lifelong friends that I would miss too much! People spend their whole lives searching for fulfilling relationships that make them feel complete and happy, and I'm lucky to have so many of them. I can't leave and start over. I wish I was more daring and spontaneous, but I'm pretty old-fashioned!

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: