With such a busy summer, it’s been awhile since I’ve shared my Saturday morning thrifty treasures.. I have been a little lax on my early morning excursions, but I still have gone out at least twice a month and found some fabulous finds. (I’ll have to gather them up to show you.) This was a great morning, so I have enough to show just from today.
If you are a thrifter, you’ve all experience that one big find that got away. I am still trying to celebrate the wonderful things I did get today, rather than mourn my loss, but I had one of those days. ALL summer long, I’ve been hunting for a patio set, both large and small. I have been looking for a table to seat eight, as well as a small round table/chairs for our side deck. I gave myself all summer to find it, and then I would invest in one of the two at either Lowes, Home Depot or Sears (which ever slashes the most at the end of the season.)
While I was in deep discussion with the homeowner, yes, we chatted too much, her neighbor pulled up to sell as well, and pulled out the EXACT set for which I have been looking. I strolled on over to snap it up, and a man jumped in, “Nope, it’s sold.”
ACK!!! SO SAD! I was talking. I was there even before the man ever drove up. Yes, I broke all my professional yard sale rules, and was enjoying the process too much, rather than focusing on my finds. I am going to trust that he needed it more than I did because admittedly, it was a want, not a need. 🙂
Ok, now that I was able to get that off my chest and vent for a moment, I feel much better now because the reality is that I found a rare find in the form of an older camera with a GREAT lens.
For those who own a SLR camera, you know that the investment comes in the form of the lenses. I have started saving for some additional camera lenses because they really make a difference in what you can achieve with your camera.
I saw this old Canon Rebel camera. Old, as in, it takes real film. Remember that? I miss film because I actually enjoyed looking through my pictures rather than never just have them live on my computer and never print them out.
I didn’t give it much thought until I looked closer and started realizing what was before me, one of the lenses that I have been really wanting. We tested it, and yes, I was quite certain I found a treasure. I got home and I HIT the jackpot. It works with my camera!! I love when the Lord surprises me with little things like that.The owner even kept the original receipt from years ago, and he paid $500 for it. I got that all for $10, and I took all these pictures with my new lens, just to test it out. (Well, except for the picture of the new camera. :))
You all know how much I love using glassware to decorate. I found a few neat pieces this summer with the $1 green vase being one of them.
The colors of this $1 basket drew me in. It can be used as a catch all basket, bread basket, or possibly a storage center for our crayons and markers.
I hit the jackpot on shoes. I love when families invest in expensive shoes and then clean out their closet. The best find was this pair of men’s Cole Haan brand shoes. These begin at $250 retail and quite often, I find these shoes for my husband or sons second hand, they wear them a bit and then we take them in to have them resoled. These shoes are an amazing investment because they last forever.
If you feel weird about wearing used shoes, read my post, “Should I seriously wear second hand shoes?” It might have you reconsidering, but I’d understand if it doesn’t.
Kitchen tools are one of the things I choose to invest in, but if I can find them second hand, I’m thrilled. These old fashion shredders and graters are fabulous. I would love a brand new food processor, but this $2 yard sale find works wonders on the cabbage that I shred almost every day. Yes, I now have two, and am determining which one I like better and will give my sister in love the other one since those are items that you rarely see at yard sales.
I have heard people rave about the George Foreman grills for a long time, but I typically see the smaller sized ones. This one is HUGE and I am fairly certain they sold it due to a storage issue, which I understand. I still am not sure where I’ll put it, but it will be amazing for my Ten Minute Dinners recipes. They wanted $10, but I got it for $7.
Do any of you use this grill often? Any tips?
You just never know what you might find, and I was ecstatic about these strings of white decorative light up balls. They were only $1 a string, and now I regret that I didn’t get the three colored strings as well. I am going to hang them up outside for some fun party lighting on a budget. Items like this are so expensive and because I am such a fan of ambiance, these are right up my alley.
Yes, I had a HUGE yard sale success day, and as I type this up I realize that I am so grateful for my many treasures, that I am barely sad about my big table loss. I am off to donate a few things now, to make room for some of these larger items. I have to get the clutter under control and it really should start with not bringing in more thrifty treasures, but since that is my entertainment budget for the month, I’d rather just de-clutter old stuff.
Have you had any fun finds lately?
I’d love to hear about them.
That’s great you got a new lens for $10! How lucky! Also, I love those lights – they are just so pretty!
[Reply]
I “borrowed” a George Forman grill from my sister and we love it. It makes delicious toasted sandwiches quickly and makes wonderful quesadillas. I also saw someone grill peaches with it but I haven’t done that.
[Reply]
great finds!!Almost makes me want to go out for some yard saling. BUT we have been working on our own decluttering and got bombarded with MIL’s. Unfortunately, she did not differentiate between important papers and stuff so it has been quite labor intensive.
You ended with deluttering note and I am curious to know if you use the “rule” new item out,like item out.. This has been the clothing closet rule forever and have also implemented this with other items in the past few years.
You will wonder how you ever did without the George Forman once you incorporate it into your menus. I was skeptical and felt oh no not another gadget to store but it has been great and it does get rid of a good bit of the fats in most foods. and Eleanor should try the peaches and bananas are good also. NO I AM NOT A SALES PERSON> sorry
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 25th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Brenda – my heart’s desire is to keep that rule, but it’s been more like 3 items in, one out, therefore, my own decluttering that needs to be done in abundance. I typically set a few days and just go through a bunch of things, but since I had a big yard sale haul today, I need to do that sooner than later.
So glad you love your George Forman. I am excited to try it.
[Reply]
I have had amazing thrifting luck this week. I found 12 wine glasses in my Spode Christmas Tree pattern at a local thrift shop for $1.50 each. Unfortunately, the girl broke one when she wrapped them up, but I’ll still take having them for $18.00!! I went out to yard sales and scored some great linens, including two 1930 era quilts for $20 and $40. Everything else was $1 which is about as good as it can get!!
You will love your GF grill – we use ours for all kinds of grilled meats and fish… all done in under 5 minutes. You should check out a cookbook from the library or look for one at a yard sale. It is amazing how quickly they cook both sides of the meat (you don’t turn it). Your teenagers will be able to whip up a hamburger in no time!
[Reply]
I love my George Foreman. I recently bought the same one (sadly, new at Wally World). I love to do turkey burgers and tilapia on it. I just sprinkle some Spike seasoning on the fish and grill. YUM!
[Reply]
Jen, a while back, I scored a brand new pair of ladies ice skates WITH blade protectors for $5 bucks! Also a mini reindeer family (2 children, lol) made in that plastic wicker(?) stuff, covered in lights for $5 bucks! Then, ironically, a few short weeks later, I scored the “parents”, whose heads move as they should for a total of $12 bucks! I had wanted those Christmas decorations for several years, but just couldn’t justify paying retail.
I also scored a food processor with several other items, for somewhere around $12 bucks, if memory serves me correctly. My husband has wanted a food processor for like, forever!
I also use the “one in, one out” rule, and quite literally, weekly, I’m finding more and more items to put in my donate pile. That is why, even though I LOVE yard sales, I’m so very picky when it comes to what I buy, because I’m thinning my house out a lot and I don’t ever want to go back to the way it was!
[Reply]
I actually stopped at a garage sale in my neighborhood today. I got my niece who just had a baby boy 2 pairs of really nice Nike & Stride Rite infant shoes, both $40+ retail each, for $5 for both pair. I’ll have to ship them to Tx, but I thought that was a deal I couldnt pass up.
I had a deal that kind of slipped thru my fingers today too. I was looking at some very unique old cast iron skillets that they wanted too much for my pocketbook. I asked the gal if they’d take a lesser amount & she told me to come back later and it’d probably be accepted. I got busy & didnt go back.. 🙁 Guess I didnt need em that bad. 😉
[Reply]
KimH Reply:
August 25th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
@KimH, Oh… wanted to say too.. what great deals you got!
I had one of those giant George Foreman grills but I unlike most people I talk to didnt really care for it. My step son took mine to his then workplace so they could make burgers at lunch and never did get it back. I wasnt happy about it but it was always too big for my kitchen.
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:12 am
oh Kim – I would have had a hard time losing those cast iron skillets too. I’ve been on the look out for the large dutch over or the even bigger Brunswick stew pot,but I think I’ll have to do Craigs List for that. How sweet of you to think of your niece. She’ll LOVE those shoes.
[Reply]
I found two very large, vintage Pyrex bowls for $3 each at a church’s missionary rummage sale! I was so excited because around here at the antique fests these go for between $20-50. They are fall colors and I need to research the pattern they are. One is a mustard yellow with flowers and the other is brown with the rooster motif in gold.
Also, found some hardly used Tupperware containers with green marbled lids. Maybe from the 1980s or 1990s? Not sure. Off to research that, too.
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Those Pyrex bowls are SO in right now in the home decor world. That was such a GREAT find! I saw some turquoise ones on a blog last week and now I’ll have to look for them for my new hutch.
[Reply]
Joy Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
@Jen, The patterns for mine are Butterfly Gold 1 and Early American. Some turquoise ones would look great in your hutch! I actually put mine in my hutch that I inherited from Dh’s late grandmother. Apparently, the large mixing Cinderella bowls are hard to find (which is what I found) so I’m very happy. Oh and I think the Tupperware is rare, too. They may have been consultant pieces only. Just not sure of the year they were offered. They are large acrylic rectangles with green marble tops.
[Reply]
The Tupperware was $1 each and large containers.
[Reply]
Jen – Been loving your blog for a long time. We’re almost neighbors – I live in Concord – just down the road!
Wanted to comment on the George Foreman. We’ve had one for 15+ years and love it. My family’s favorite thing to make on it is meatloaf. I make up the mixture like I normally would, but then make patties (like hamburgers) and cook them for 6-7 minutes. You don’t have to turn them and they cook perfectly every time. Quick and easy. We also love to grill our hot dogs on the GF. Enjoy!
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:14 am
Melissa – that is a perfect idea. Thanks so much! I definitely thought of burgers, but not meatloaf. Love that. 🙂
[Reply]
My daughter just cleaned out her closet and found 12 pairs of new, with tags, undies so I decided to clean my dresser and found 7 pairs of new undies and 2 prs of new socks. I also scored a small 3 shelf unit with 3 pegs from her that I’ll use the pegs for my growing collection of necklaces. She also gave me 3 assorted glass mixing bowls and other kitchenware. I currently life with her but am soon moving.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:15 am
ISn’t that fun to find thrifty treasures right in our own closet. I know if I cleaned out mine, I would find MORE than I care to admit. 🙂 The peg unit is a great idea for necklaces. I have to come up with an alternative for mine too.
[Reply]
I also love my George Foreman! I use it for all of the above and more. But I do have a question for you. What in the world do you do with grated cabbage everyday?
Love your blog!
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Believe it or not, but one of our favorite salads has been a mixture of shredded red and white cabbage, sometimes I’ll shred carrots too mixed with Italian dressing. Now I exaggerated and it’s not every day, but we eat it a ton. Even our 9 year old loves it. Craziest thing ever but I love the fact it’s so inexpensive and healthy.
[Reply]
I have a George Foreman just like that. I find I go through phases of using it. It is AMAZING for grilling chicken for salads etc. I will grill a bunch up, slice and have ready for lunches.
I don’t have a problem storing it even though it is big. When we first moved in to our new house, I measured all my kitchen cabinets and got shelving cut at home depot to add extra shelves. You will be amazed at how much space you gain. 🙂
http://www.ordinarymom.ca/create/index.php/2010/11/tailoring-your-home-to-fit/
[Reply]
Love that green vase and those lights Jen! Still trying to get over my already worn shoes aversion, but I’m slowly coming around. 🙂
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 10:37 am
haha – oh friend, I know, and I do understand. I will never force the shoe issue with anyone. 😉
[Reply]
We have the same shredders and same grill! we store the grill in our garage. We have shelves and storage there so we put our bulky kitchen items on one side and on the other we store our home canned goodies. We primarily use the grill during the winter when its kind of cold to go out and grill. We mostly only grill chicken and sometimes pork on it but never beef because it would have a weird texture. Hope this helps!! p.s LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts and I love that you are so God oriented!! thanks for blogging!!
[Reply]
Did I understand you right? The lense from the film camera works on your digital camera? I have a great old film camera with some pretty awesome lenses but I haven´t used them in years. Film is just too expensive. Every now and then I day dream about getting an expensive digital camera with interchangeable lenses. Wonder if there is a model out there that my old Konica lenses would work on.
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
September 21st, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Yes, believe it or not, it TOTALLY Worked. Now, not as well as my newer lens, but it still did. 🙂
[Reply]
Our friend Jess has a booth at our local flea market and she sets up a ‘quarter’ wall every weekend. Her quarter wall is my source for many amazing things that other people seem to not value. Maybe because I should have been born a hundred years ago, her oldest things have the greatest appeal to me. Like the Haviland China sugar bowl that I will use to hold buttons (isn’t that silly!). One of my favorite finds is an old round filigree metal light fixture. I took the light out, spray painted the filigree white, put a plate on top and glued a candlestick under it and have an amazing Victorian-ish cake stand. I’ve just recently found your site and am back-reading your posts. Please keep thrifting and posting – your inspirations are perfect!
[Reply]
Jen Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
You are so sweet, Beth. Thanks so much. I LOVE hearing about your DIY cake stand. It sounds beautiful. And I don’t think I will ever stop thrifting, although I’ve had three thrifting posts that I never got up and I NEED to since I go every single week through the fall. 🙂
[Reply]