The Vintage Homemaker list posted this link today that so much fun I am passing it along to you. Mrs Catherine's blog and other simple living sites have posted challenges related to not purchasing anything new for a month. When I read through the *rules* of the challenge it actually meant nothing new outside of food/medical etc. Well shoot, that's no challenge lol! Being a dedicated thrift shopper I had come to consider anything I purchased at these establishments to be *new*. They were new to us anyway!
We do love thrift shopping. For one thing, the prices are awesome and you can find very high end labels for next to nothing. Move over ebay! Someone suggested I try there for Hanna Andersson clothing yesterday so I checked. Yes, in fact you can buy up to 3000 pieces of that designer at the moment. BUT, not for a buck by any stretch. Where else but the thrift store can you get a dryer for less than $50? Or the lovely Blue Willow tea cups we found stashed on a shelf for a dollar a piece? Three ring binders for 75 cents or less? A bread machine for $7?
Our routine has us visit one of a few stores each errand day. Normally if I need something for the home we start there and give it a couple weeks. On the off chance we can't locate it by then we will hit a chain store. Doesn't happen that often. If you want to give it a whirl but don't know where to start check out The Thrift Shopper online magazine. Lots of fun articles and a search vehicle for your area.
I saw the pic on this site as well. Repurposed containers are on my mind lately since I have been slowly reorganizing the pantry. I LOVED the ideas Stacy Julian had on the first round of Clique TV but no way could afford to re-do all my storage with lined baskets. The thrift shop highlighted in the web mag has these coffee tins for storing small items. They used bottle caps to tie on the prices. I thought they would look nice with a scrapbook tag and label printed in a nice font for dry goods.
Can't picture how thrifting would translate in your life? Check out these sites:
Thrift Store Art Revamp challenge This is cool! All sorts of art made by repurposing thrift finds. I so want that bag.....
Decorating with Thrift Store Finds more to follow on this thought.....
I could go on and on about my great thrift store finds. Just yesterday our Goodwill had kids clothes for .99. I purchased a beautiful Hartstings Skort, Gymboree pants, another pair of pants that I could never have found if I went to a store or mall, and a beautiful Lands End dress. I love the unexpected surprises and how easy it is to shop just this one store and find items from 100's of different stores. I also found two more book for our Beatrix Potter collection. It was a good day for $5.25. I am glad to know there are so many others that are wildly passionate about thrifting. Glad to see you are reclaiming some of your links and favorites.
Posted by: Nina | November 29, 2006 at 03:05 PM