Yard sale season has sprung, and over the last few weeks, I’ve been itching to get out thrifting, so I was having to compensate by going to the thrift stores. Of course, I love a good thrift store, but there’s nothing like the feel of finding true treasures hunting the garage and yard sales. Those are the best deals to be found, especially when people are truly clearing out for the sake of cleaning out. So, I’m excited to be starting up with my weekly Thrifty treasures posts. For me, it truly is a lifestyle, so I try to think ahead and buy things that I will use through out the year.
Since I recently got a smart phone, I have been sharing pictures and updates on my Facebook wall. The photo caption I shared this morning, in the middle of my yard saling, said, “So many treasures, so little room left to put them in my home until I clean out some more. Trying to be very strategic, which is so hard with cash in hand.”
Yes, that is my downfall, so I really am trying to be more strategic, and have been doing a lot of clearing out. I will splurge on a few things that I don’t necessarily have a place for, but only if it’s truly something I would regret later.
The first sale I stopped at ended up being a friend of mine. She had a ton of cute things that I truly wanted, including some great furniture pieces, but of course, I vowed I would paint some of the ones I bought last season first. So, I snatched up this beautiful round mirror for $8. Since it was a friend, I felt I couldn’t bargain it down at all, so I paid what she asked, which is always just a tad painful.
It’s a large sized mirror in perfect condition, and since a re-do of our great room is on the agenda, this will be perfect over our mantel.
I may antique it white, but I will determine that after I finally decide on a wall paint color. My “sample” spots have been painted for two months, and that’s as far as I have gotten in the decision making process.
This was such a fun find for me, since I LOVE decorative pillows. They can completely change the feel of a room and these pillows, originally from Pier 1, were certainly a pretty penny when originally purchased, so I do not mind paying 2/$5. I LOVE them.
Buying up glass canning jars has become my newest obsession. Last week, I purchased 12 brand new in the box at a thrift store. I am finding so many really fun uses for them (and of course, a post will follow.) Since I love giving yummy, homemade jar gifts, I won’t pass up this new Ball layered mix kit. It was $3 but came with gift jar cookbooks and many more accessories, which were already put away with the huge craft box I bought that was filled with miscellaneous goodies.
SAT book : because this is my reality for the next decade (and no, I don’t jest at this number.)
Since my experimentation of recipes for my new Ten Minute Dinners site is starting to ramp up, I can always use more cookbook inspiration. Have you seen my cookbook shelf?
If not, we all had fun in the comments when I asked, “What’s your Favorite Cookbook?” It’s always great to know someone else shares our obsession with cookbooks. My shelf has only gotten worse since that post and I have to think where I will put these or my shelf might break. All of these ranged from $0.25 – $1 and worth every penny.
This is mindless, fluff, Beach type of reading. Hardback book for $0.50? I filled my bag, yes, I did, and when I am done, I will sell them to our used book store, so in essence I will “make” money on them. I have been reading a lot these last few weeks. I had forgotten how much I missed it.
And because I am all talk about the many DIY projects that are going to get started, I thought I would fill my magazine basket just a bit more with all of these great resources – for free. The lady had about 100 more, but I limited myself. 😉
And now, all you girl mommas may want to sit down. Don’t hate me for my thrifty finds, just get excited because they are out there. American Girl Doll – Josephina and this swing. I am not even going to tell you how much, but know that one tiny outfit costs more than what I paid for both.
So have you found any fun thrifty treasures lately?
They don’t have to be from yard sales. It could be from a thrift store, outlet or even just a great deal.
We’d love to hear about it so that we can celebrate with you. It’s always so fun to see what other people found.
In another decade of my life, I used to garage & thrift a lot.. but I havent in a while. I did stop in the local Goodwill (that has been here for 3 years now) and I found a really cute Parmesan cheese shaker that someone had painted grapes & vines on.. It was adorable so I snatched it up.
Im more in the mode of taking stuff to the thrift store (Ok, they come pick it up) than I am finding any more treasures. I already have way too many of those. 😉
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What finds you got! Happy for you and love seeing what you get! I find presents for my granddaughters at yard sales too!! Happy Hunting!
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Great job!! I am not such a yardsaler as you, but I gave it a try early this morning. At 7 am I was one of the first at a sale that had at least over 50 teapots. My favorite!!!! I got one that matches my kitchen perfect and is one I will use a lot. This might become a new hobby for me.
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We HAD a yard sale today. The weather was perfect (although I thought I would freeze to death in the shade) and we had quite a few people. Not a ton of money made but I can see my attic now. But I sure did miss going out! I’d rather go to one than have one.
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I love the mirror and the pillows! How fun! We had a good day at a yard sale today, too. I picked up a wheelbarrow for our son and a farmhouse dining table for us! I am in love with the dining table. I’m hoping to write a post about it tomorrow. I have been wanting a farmhouse table since we got married more than 5 years ago, but we’ve never had the money to get one (or found a good enough deal on one) until today. I am so excited that we will finally be able to fit more than 4 people around our table (once we get more chairs).
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Garage sales and church rummage sales have just finally started again here. Went to church rummage sale on Friday and only bought a pretty black dressy shirt NWT (Kohl’s) for $1. Can’t wait until next week when there will be more church rummage sales. They are way better than garage sales because prices are cheaper. Haven’t been to thrift store in couple of weeks. Hoping to hit one or two this week. But I really need to plan my own garage sale soon.
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I bought what I’m sure was a dresser mirror frame at a sale this weekend. It’s at least 4′ tall and wonderfully interestingly shaped. I don’t know that my small house has a wall it will fit on right now. It currently has cork in it but I have no idea what I’ll do with it. But for $3 I couldn’t turn it down.
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Went to some good yardsales last weekend and found some baby clothes and gear for my brother and his wife. All of the kids in our families are now school age, so no one had baby items anymore. We were all surprised to find out that they were having another baby in their early forties. Wow! 🙂 Stumbled across a yard sale being hosted by a men’s group from a local church. They were so sweet — they came up to me with more baby things asking me, “Do you want this too?” Best sale of the day!
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Oh how I love me a good thrifting find! Your posts about your thrifting always inspires me to get out there again and see what I can find. I have found some neat designer clothes for just a few dollars at our local shop, but I can’t believe that you found an American Girl doll in such good condition. AMAZING!
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I too am itching to get a head start on yard sales, and also have started frequenting goodwill more to compensate:) I couldn’t believe it when I found a Dyson Vacumn last week- to take the place of our dying hoover. my husband took it apart and cleaned it, and it now works as good as new!
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I recently bought a genuine Coach bag at a yard sale. It was just two bucks! I couldn’t believe it. Since I don’t really care what brand bag I am carrying, I took it to a local consignmebt shop. The bagt really cute with bright spring- colored stripes,so I hope to make twentucks or so on it.
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I found some great spring/summer clothes at local thrift stores this past week! Great quality, great fit, great deals!
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