I’m back to share some more Goodwill tips.
Last time we touched on this subject, I showed you how to make the most of your shopping experience when it comes to picking up items on the cheap. Then you guys pitched in your own tips (which I personally have been able to put to use so I owe ya a huge ole THANKYOU for saving me even more dough). Well, I am back to spread a little more good will (pun intended). Here are some additional ways to help you save money by buying gently used items at your local thrift stores.
1. BUY OFF SEASON ITEMS
The time that people clean out their attics and their basements (and closets, storage rooms, etc.) is generally not between Thanksgiving and Christmas. People do it in the spring and summer. That means you can pick up some of those pretty Christmas bulbs, turkey platters and Halloween costumes for pennies during the warmer months. Plus, the good people at thrift stores are more likely to price seasonal items LESS at times when you can’t use em. So check out those christmas ornaments (like I did – these antique bulbs were only 80 cents a box!) or white elephant gifts or wreaths NOW.
2. KNOW THE STUFF YOU GOT
Whenever I go shopping, I make a mental note prior to arriving about what items I own. For instance, we only have queen beds and a twin daybed. That means sifting through the full or king sized sheets would only be useful if I am looking for sewing fabrics or photo backdrops. I know this because I know what I own. I also have a list on my phone that helps out. Each room is listed with the colors that I have incorporated and the names of the furniture in that room and large items that I am looking for in that space. I also have saved a photo of each room from my house to my iPhone so that I can reference it quickly.
The lists look a little something like this example:
Master Bedroom.
Cream/Chocolate/Blue.
Canopy furniture.
Leather Bed.
Need: bookcase or desk or semilune table/floor mirror/floor basket/large frame with mat.
Then as I am out shopping, if I find something cheap I can immediately make a decision whether I should buy it and where it will go in our home. It is really helpful – especially when I find something like the cube ottoman covers pictured above. We bought the storage ottomans a few years ago and just recently scored these extra slipcovers (for only $7 a piece) at the Pottery Barn outlet. Talk about a steal! Not only do they meet the criteria for our living room (green & white? check. fit for a cube ottoman? check!) but they will definitely come in handy once Will starts the whole grubby-hand-and-walking thing. Now whenever our normal slipcovers are getting washed, these can protect the ottoman. C’mon. You wouldn’t want to leave an ottoman all exposed. It would be indecent 🙂
3. WAIT AND SAVE
Patience can be a virtue. And that is never more true than when you shop for nonnecessities. You gotta be uber-patient to get the sale price of an item you love. not like. LOVE. Take for instance this wedding album we got for $20. Most wedding albums can run ya a few hundred dollars (especially when you buy direct from your wedding photog)…but we figure that our alternative will end up costing us only about $40 when it is all said and done. First, we cut a deal with our photographer that we would have the rights to the photos. That means we can print them willynilly at any size of our choosing. Then we also waited almost three years till we finally took the plunge by buying an album that we LOVE. Sure, twenty bones isn’t exactly the cheapest album in the world but considering it comes with a box that you can slip it into, all covered with rich silk fabrics that match our den and a personalized plate that you can have monogrammed at the place of your choosing and then adhered to the front for a truly expensive looking album – it really is a perfect match. Now to get those photos ordered….hopefully that won’t take another three years.
4. THEME TEAM
Do you know your style? Is it country? Cottage? Beachy? Modern? Whimsical? Nautical? Being able to nail down your personal style will help you when it comes to accessories. Once you identify your style you can use it as a benchmark for your thrifty shopping. All you have to do is find an item, hold it up and ask yourself – “IS THIS _______________?” (fill in the blank with your own personal style.)
When it came to this boat I spied on the Goodwill shelf, it fully met the criteria for my love of nautical style. I do believe there was an audible “COME TO MAMA, SANTA MARIA!”. Granted, I don’t dig the little paper flags on the top of the ship but that’s nothing that a little pinch and flick won’t take care of 🙂
5. GET A BIG WOODY
A big woody frame, that is. Goodwill and thrift stores usually have a huge stash of frames that look like they belong in a sleezy motel. But under closer inspection, you can find wood frames that are just begging for a makeover. Look for the frames that have non-cracked glass and wood frames (bonus points if you can get a mat!). After you pull your frames home, pull out the spraypaint and some sandpaper to get a custom look. If your mat doesn’t match your decor you can always use a little adhesive spray to cover it with fabric of your choice. Personally I would go for a white frame with a burlap mat…but really the combinations are endless.
6. A TISKET, A TASKET, BUY A CLEAN BASKET
Thrift stores are the best place to score a basket for only a dollar or two. I always find the best baskets at Goodwill for cheap and use them for gift baskets, bread baskets, cabinet storage and in-drawer-separators. To get rid of the little critters that I know are dwelling between the woven bits (eww! I am itchy just thinking about it.) I make sure to double check the inside of the basket for any previous leakage marks or sticky substances. Then I do what we all want to do to Lindsay Lohan – vacuum the heck outta the thing and wipe it down with two dozen Clorox wipes.
7. MULTIPLY THE LOVE
My ultimate favorite Goodwill find was this little bird. Yup. I had to fight off a Jeff Gordon fan to get it but it is mine oh mine. That encounter happened quite a long time ago. So you can imagine my elation when I spied the twin bird on the shelf just this past week:
The tip here is that multiples are your friend. If one is good then two, or even three is better. Now I can use these birdies to create a tablesetting centerpiece or flank a grouping of candlesticks. Or I could even use them in seperate rooms to decorate different areas. The point is, I love them and think that when you love something a twin or a triplet is just double or triple the love.
So there are some more thrifty tips aimed at helping you save money while shopping for things that you will love for years to come. Any favorites? Or maybe you have another tip to share? Perhaps you just want to brag on a recent deal? Or maybe you just feel a little more inspired to kick some Goodwill booty?