We've shared some of Mrs. NtJS's keen garage sale shopping skills, now comes some of the proof. At the end of April, she found that we had $13 left in our cash envelopes. What to do? Roll it to next month? Take the kids out for lunch? Kick it into savings? All acceptable options. With a few garage sales catching her eye, she and the kids set out that morning with $13 to see how well she could do.

I was impressed. As she began showing off her loot, she kept using the word "and". "And this, and that, and then I found these at the next one...." 13 items in total, all for $13 of unspent budget money. Below is the manifest from the three garage sales that she hit:

• 5 pairs of shorts for Mrs. NtJS (J.Crew, Bass, other nice brands)
• 1 pair of nursing pjs
• 2 gap shirts for Mrs. NtJS
• 1 baby sleeping book - brand new
• set of 2 cds for baby classic/sleep music new in plastic wrap
• 1 baby pool floaty
  
• 1 Hanna Anderson shirt
• 1 pair Hanna Anderson leggings
• 1 pair Gymboree girls pants