frugal victoria tips

New Digs!

2007-04-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, readers!

If you follow Frugal Victoria Tips in a newsreader or blogroll, I have some news. I've launched a new site, designed in feed-friendly Drupal. Please come and visit the new frugalvictoria.com and pick whatever feeds you fancy!

Thanks for reading!

Museum Admission

2007-01-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

This week (Jan 2-9, 2007), admission to the Royal BC Museum is by donation. Great savings opportunity, especially for parents trying to amuse kids not yet back to school. For guidelines, regular admission for adults is $14, for youth (6-19), seniors (65+), and students (19+ with ID) is $9.50; families (2 adults plus 2 youth) normally pay $37.50.
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Fresh Laundry...

2006-12-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

Didn't get an expensive LG Washer/Dryer with that funky steam "refresh" setting? No problem. Just chuck your dress (or drapes, or whathaveyou) in your average dryer with a damp towel for a few minutes. Viola!

Discount Cafe Mocha

2006-11-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

If you buy Cafe Mochas from Tim Hortons but don't like the added calories from the whipped cream, here's a tip: don't order a "mocha, hold the whip." Instead, order a "coffee with hot chocolate" -- you'll be charged less.

Frugal Fruit Fly Control

2006-09-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

Find a jar. Put two tablespoons of cider vinegar or a slice of fresh fruit in the bottom, insert a paper funnel in the top. Presto!

Once the fruit flies are captured, take them outside to destroy them or free them.

U-Pick, U-Preserve

2006-05-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

Farms and Wineries, Vancouver Island, BC: Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association

Great resource for finding what is in season and when and where you can find it locally. Making your own preserves is time consuming and takes a little cash up front, but your efforts go a long way.

XtremeOutreach

2006-04-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been in yet, there is a newish thrift store on Burnside (about half a block from the Salvation Army thrift store) called Xtreme Outreach. The big difference, is that there are no price tags -- everything is by donation; they only ask that you do not resell what you buy but use it personally. Seems fair to me.

At a glance there are lots of books, some clothes and kitchen goods along with a few other small items -- not really any furnishings.

Where the Sales Are

2006-04-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Craigslist is one more place to check for garage sales/yard sales/rummage sales and the like: victoria, BC garage & moving sales - craigslist.

Swap N Shop

2006-04-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

I saw some signs up around town advertising a regular Swap N Shop, first Saturday of the month at 1250 Gladstone, I think. I'm guessing that is the heart of Fernwood. If anyone has more details, I'd love to share them.

Lewiscraft closures.

2006-03-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

If you are a crafter, you might want to head over to the Tillicum or Bay Centre locations of Lewiscraft which are currently closing out. Basically everything is at least 30% off; deeper discounts will be added as the stores near their closure (end of May was the latest as I understand)

From the Lewiscraft website it doesn't seem that the chain is going under... but it is clear that Victoria is losing one craft store chain -- they're selling the fixtures, so they are not moving.

Two Big Sales, coming up!

2006-02-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Always popular, the 9th annual Times Colonist Book Sale runs Saturday Feb 18th and Sunday Feb 19th; this year the location is the former Brick building on Quadra between Hillside and Bay.

On Monday, Feb 20th, you will find everything on sale -- half price -- at Value Village on Store street.

Cinecenta Family Matinees

2006-02-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

During the regular term (Sept - April), UVic's Cinecenta theatre runs family matinees at 12:30 on Saturday and Sunday. There are also matinees of feature films Friday and Saturday at 2:30. All seats for matinee films are $3.75!

Spices and much more

2006-01-17T22:26:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a huge variety of spices and spice mixes -- almost an entire wall of the store is devoted to them -- look no further than Seven Valleys Fine Foods and Deli, on Douglas near Bay Street. Of course, they sell much more than spices; they import and sell a variety of mediterranean, middle eastern, and kosher foods and they have a wonderful deli (including the best soy cheese I've eaten) and baked goods too. If you have special dietary concerns but are on a budget, it's worth checking out.

Kids Eat Free

2005-10-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

At Humphries Restaurant, in Vic West (just over the Point Ellice Bridge), kids can eat free with any adult (one kid meal per adult who buys a meal worth at least $6.95). For $14.07 my kid got a grilled cheese sandwich with fries while I ate a very full meal (note: drinks are not included in the free meal offer).

Pumpkin Fun

2005-10-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Over 400 artfully carved pumpkins will be on display at Government House from October 24-31 6-9 p.m. Opening night includes free apple cider. Donations for United Way are encouraged.

Check out the official media release from Government House.

New Discount Store!

2005-10-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

New to Victoria, in the old location of Fanny's Fabrics on Nanaimo St. (just off Finlayson) is XScargo; their motto is "Nothing But Bargains." They carry an array of home appliances, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, automotive supplies and other items.

Some of the prices are AMAZING -- we got a rice cooker for $9.99 that would normally retail for about $30 to $40; the same item is packaged at Michael's for soapmaking and selling at about $27.

XScargo buys close-outs, bankruptsy inventory, "was-seen-on-tv" and factory refurbished returns (buyer beware). This should mean inventory will turn-over quickly. Happily, XScargo appears to be a Canadian company, based in Alberta.

Moss Street Paint-In

2005-07-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

July 16th 2005 marks the 18th annual family-friendly Moss Street Paint-in hosted by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. If you've never been, it's an amazing festival with most of Moss street from Fort St. down to the waterfront packed with artists not only displaying their art but also working on current projects between 12:30 and 4:30.

Enterprising neighbours along Moss Street hold yard sales and erect lemonade stands for the day. The festival wraps up with a popular (but not so frugal) beer garden at the Gallery.

festival freebies

2005-06-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Festivals are coming to town for the summer; always a good time to check out the freebies that accompany many of them. JazzFest includes free concerts inMarket Square in June; free concerts are part of Summer in the Square through July and August and the Fringe Festival includes street performers (donations suggested) and FringeKids freebies in late August.

One-off events include the Moss Street Paint-Inn (16 July) and Luminara (23 July).

Summer Concerts - Langford

2005-06-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

There are free Sunday concerts (2-4 pm) at the Veteran's park in Langford throughout June July and August. See who's playing (weather permitting) at Music in the Square (City of Langford website).

Half-Price Museum Admissions

2005-05-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Many Victoria-area museums and attractions are celebrating International Museum Day [canada.com network], May 18-19 (I guess they wanted to make it 24 hours) by offering half price admission, special tours, and other promotions. If you visit three of the museums you can enter to win annual passes.

Note that some of the attractions (for example the Hudson's Bay Company Gallery and the Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery) are regularly free, so "half-off" isn't a bargain. However both the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Royal BC Museum are both participating to give you your biggest value.

Fabric anyone?

2005-05-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Another store closure in Victoria -- Fanny's Fabrics (apparently the entire chain is going under)! According to staff they are on "24-hour closure notice" so they can't tell you how long they will be there. My guess? Until they meet their stock sell-off quota (that's how it worked with Zellers). I have been told everything is on sale -- fabric, patterns, and notions. Find them at 3090 Nanaimo Street; 388-5132 (near Mayfair Mall/Sleep Country).

Family Food Mart Closing

2005-05-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Family Food Market at Shelbourne and Mackenzie is closing after tomorrow, and they're offering 25% off everything in the store.

(Thanks to revolvingplates posting in LiveJournal for the tip!)

Frugal Shaving

2005-03-28T22:39:00.000-08:00

According to the Shopping Bags, one of the best lotions for shaving legs is hair conditioner!

Cheap Cookware

2005-03-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

If you notice a store that sells Walker's Andy-Pack Tray Toffee, ask the clerk what they do with the metal trays. With any luck, they simply toss them, though some stores (notably the British Candy Shoppe on Yates St.) will sell them for under a dollar each and they make fine oven trays for anything from baking cookies to cooking chicken wings. The trays measure about 8x10 inches with a small lip. I've been using some of mine for over 10 years -- they can take quite a beating.

Smart snacks on Sale

2005-03-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Fairway Markets have a good sale price on Sun-Rype Fruit-to-Go fruit leather this week -- on sale for 5/$1.79.