Top Thrift Store Finds

I am a thriftaholic.  I love bringing home other people's unwanted items from thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales (sheesh, I'd dumpster dive if I wasn't so short).  Anything I can buy for cheap (or make myself - but that's a different post altogether) is totally worth it.  Here's a list of my favorite things to buy used and why:

1. Baby Clothes

Now, those of you who don't have babies in your lives can ignore this first one.  Just keep this in mind if ever you do have a baby to buy for.

Babies grow fast - Little J has brand new baby clothes that he never got a chance to wear before he outgrew them..  If we weren't saving all his clothes for future babes, they would be donated (or sold at a garage sale).  Brand New Clothes, people.  So I'm sure you see my point:  when you buy used baby clothes, they aren't even necessarily USED.

*Sometimes, the same can be true for maternity clothes.  I always give the maternity rack a look, because maternity clothes are expensive to buy new.*

Whole outfit - Goodwill for under $4.00

2. Picture Frames

Sometimes you have to dig through stacks and stacks of dated, gross or broken frames.  And sometimes, even if you find a nice one, it takes a bit of creativity to make it nice.  That's where spray paint, fabric, Mod Podge, and craft paper come in.  (If you are unfamiliar with Mod Podge, don't worry.  I'll familiarize you in a future post).

Identical frames - one full-price at Target, the other $1.99 at Goodwill

3. Unexpected Decorative Items

Baskets, boxes, trays, pitchers, wall hangings... I have found some of my most favorite decorating pieces at Goodwill.  I have to give myself a little credit on this one though... I shop often, and I'm not afraid to really dig through the junk.  Thoroughly. 

$.99 tray - I painted it and added a plastic liner

Basket and lamp are both Goodwill treasures

4. Holiday Decor

Garage sales are great for this.  People love to go through and purge their Halloween or Christmas decorations in the middle of summer - and they don't mind selling this stuff for a lower price because it's summer and these holidays are out of sight, out of mind.  I have also found some fun holiday stuff at Goodwill, but you have to be willing to [a] shop super early (we're talking weeks, long before you're ever thinking of actually putting out your holiday decorations) or [b] dig, dig, dig.

5. Jewelry

Goodwill is not the best for this.  I find it hard to shop for items in the "locked display" at any store.  I hate hunting down an employee to open it and wait impatiently while I decide on my purchase.  But garage sales... are the BEST.  Some of my favorite jewelry cost me less than a dollar.  Seriously, it's worth it on this one to dig through the junk.  Don't expect to find priceless jewelry underneath all the plastic pearls and macaroni necklaces, but don't expect to find nothing either.  Keep an eye open for interesting, unique pieces.