Good Finds, Steals, and Deals of a Lifetime

Steal: $2.00 at Payless



Steal/Find: Buttons from Salvation Army in Red Wing, 3 for a penny, I asked how much for the whole jar only two bucks, two bucks (get the viva and jerry reference?) Oh and the cool pottery bowl they are in I found at Evla on Grand Avenue. Part of my shopping splurge one day!


Deal: Square veggie serving tray from Pottery Barn I paid $5 at Hope Gospel Mission


Deal: Also splurge, Threade Bear was going out of business, sad, so they had all this amazing stuff 60% off. True Confession, I don't even knit, but this headband and these wrist warmers is what I would make with it if I could.

Deal: Glass fruit from Antique store in Ripon $6 total

So summer is here, and that means that it is Garage sale time. Sad, yet true, I have only visited one so far this summer. I thought I'd share some of my favorite bargains. (Note: these are things I've had for awhile and I'm going to put pics of my most recent bargains- the forty cent shirt you are all dying to see soon!)

Thrifting

Let's define a few terms to start off. Steal: this is the most misused one. You can only call it a steal if it is the most fabulous bargain of a lifetime. you need to do a double take on the price. it's often easily confused with Find a find is a good deal a really good sale, but nothing to write home about. I love steals, they're the best.

I had a good find the other day at Hope Gospel Mission. Now that I think of it, my whole home is filled with thrift store goodness. I love rummaging. I love finding a diamond in the ruff. I love unique things that I can't pick up conveniently at any old store. I like things with style and distinction. Old things are cool. Quality is usually better with the goody oldies! It's true, they just don't make things like they used to.


(Note: I wrote this in the winter when I hibernated inside with my computer)
So, I lived in a van down by the river all summer. I had one little crate of clothes with me all summer. And of the maybe 15 clothes items I had, I wore a quarter of them. I mainly wore just one outfit everyday. Sam's board shorts, a bikini top, and a little tank over it. That's it. I could go on and on about life in the van, but I'll spare my friends and save that for another day, but back to the point. I really didn't feel like I was missing out. I brought a couple skirts for days I wanted to feel girly. And I had warm stuff for cold icky days, but I didn't need other things. All of last year I was away from any major mall. I didn't miss it. And all I could think of was all of the clothes I had back home and really didn't need. I was explaining this to my mom and saying how I was going to get rid of everything when I get back home and she talked me out of it (thanks mom) So my question/problem I'm throwing out there is: Why, now that I'm back by all the stores do I want to buy stuff? Is it boredom, I have nothing better to do? Is it accesability? Is it the culture I'm surrounded by right now? Or is it because I had been away from it for so long and need to catch up for last year? What is it? I have been wanting to buy lots lately. I don't like it! After a lot of traveling I know I don't need much. Or do I just have a problem with sale items? I went on this huge after Christmas shopping spree with Ames on Grand Ave. in St. Paul. We had an awesome day. Actually I bought stuff all weekend. I did another big splurge when Macy's was having a great sale. And I had a little sock haul today at Target. I also went crazy one day at the scrap store I work at and bought a ton of stamps (1/2 off of course) Also Crafts Direct, my fave went out of business and I went crazy and spent $100 on crafting junk. I'm hoping the answer is a combination of those things. Or do most people spend like I do? So my weaknesses are clothes, stuff for my home, and artsy stuff. The artsy stuff I hope to use and turn around and make some money eventually. The clothes thing is the one that iritates me the most, I don't need it! I want to stop. Help please!
(Update, I no longer feel so guilty, because I do realize that I'm awfully cheap, I do still wonder why I go in spending spurts though. I just felt guilty before because I didn't feel like I could justify buying anything since I had no money, now, now I'm feeling much better! And I now get rid of clothes before I allow the new ones to go into my closet. This is helpful since we don't have much space in our tiny apartment. I also don't feel guilty because you know it's bad when your husband is making fun of the tank tops you have. Yes, he said they were from the late 90's! Ouch, so I got rid of them and found some new things, I'll share some pics soon!)