When I first posted these photos I thought I was going to talk about things I do to stay busy during the winter or something like that, but then I noticed that all of these photos contained a common thread.  Every item in the photos was purchased for less than $3.  When I realized that I knew I had to write for a bit about the things I buy.  

Making a beautiful home is a pretty big deal for me.  My husband grew up in a gorgeous home beautifully decorated by my mother-in-law and I come from a long line of nesters.  Even in the first days of living on my own I tried to do things to make my place feel like a home.  Sometimes this can be a challenge when there is not a lot of money to spread around.  Ever since I remember I have been a thrifty shopper.  I still remember going with my mom to consignment clothing stores in middle school, and if fact still own the beautiful wool pea coat we picked up for about $15.  David wears a cashmere Saks Fifth Avenue winter coat I bought for $12.  The world of second hand allows us to live well outside of our means.  

Many of you already shop the thrift stores, and are probably nodding your heads in agreement.  But it occurred to me that some people may just not know where to begin.  What kind of stores do I find my treasures?  How do I approach shopping?  So I thought I would talk about that.

First off, let me say that when i refer to thrift stores I am almost always talking about serious thrift stores, not cute boutiques.  We are talking Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charity houses.  I think the boutiques are so cute, but when my ultimate goal is the ellusive bargain I can't justify the boutique markup.  I find that to really get the deals you have to become a regular.  I probably go thrifting every two weeks or so, hitting my three top stores within a day or so of each other.  They are putting stuff on the shelves daily so you really have to stay on top of it.  Although I never really know what I might find, I am usually on the lookout for linens, cooking utensils, and furniture.  Those are my big three.  Those are things that usually can be found for bargains and blend will with newer items in the home. 

Furniture is a slightly different deal.  Although I have found some nice pieces at thrift stores, I usually have better luck with garage sales and craigslist for larger pieces.  The price will probably be a bit more, but the furniture is usually in better shape and a bit more relevant.  I will also go to furniture consignment stores.  They are great places for pieces.  That is where I found the mid-century dresser.  The man working at the store commented on what a great deal we got because the family selling the items just wanted to get rid of them.  Often, at a consignment place, the price will go down after a certain period of time, so if you find a piece that you like but isn't within your budget just keep watching it for a price reduction.  You might get lucky.  

I am laughing to myself a bit as I sit in our kitchen.  Looking around the room I realize that everything in here was thrifted:  easy chair and ottoman $30, settee $25, cocktail table $5, occasional chair Free, stool (used as side table) $5, small pouf $5, tea table $15.  I will say that many of them need to be recovered, and that is something you have to look at when buying a piece. Can you do it yourself?  Would it cost too much to have done professionally?  Can you live with some imperfections?  For us these pieces will have a few stains for a while until my kids stop getting sticky hands on the upholstery.  I also tend to think a $25 chair is worth the risk of trying to tackle it myself, you know?

Finally, another big spot for us are the clearance section of big box stores.  The slippers were $3 at Target on an endcap section.  Almost always at Target I just go straight for the endcaps and ignore the rest.  I never shop in the regular section.  I think you just have to start thinking of places like this as thrift stores too...if the item sells out before a clearance it just wasn't meant to be.  Many, many of my lamps have come from the endcaps at Target.

Not only do I find thrifting to be fun, always scouting out a treasure, but I feel good also that I am living more green.  A repurposed item is always the greenest choice.  Why buy a new cake pan when an old one still bakes up fine?  Stop and ask yourself who is even going to know that it is old unless you told them?  I'm telling you, that cake will still taste terrific!