Seven Reasons to LOVE Thrift Stores, Flea Markets & Garage Sales

You might think reason numero uno would be price...but no.

Except for the pillow, EVERYTHING in the above photo was either free (church storage building clean-out) 

or was purchased at a thrift store or garage sale. EVERYTHING. Even the faux flowers and artwork.

Reason #1 - QUALITY

Old stuff is REAL. Real wood, glass, ceramic, metal, etc. 
More than likely, your thrift store piece is not made of resin or plastic. It has already stood the test of time. A little cleaning (maybe some glue or paint or stain) and you're good for another 50 years. 

Detail of my $60 sofa after its $1.50 Makeover

Reason #2 - PRICE

Not only is it nearly impossible to find the quality in new stuff that you find in old stuff, but if you DID find it, it would be extremely expensive. People may THINK antiques are expensive, but compare them to the prices of new furniture...
Old stuff has nicer wood, cooler carvings, amazing hardware and even casters. 

Except for the Bible, the art glass piece next to the ceramic bottle and a Walmart lamp shade, 

everything in this photo was found curbside, at a thrift store or garage sale. Even the topiary.

Reason #3 - STYLE

If you're reading this, most likely you are not someone who prefers to go into a furniture store and purchase a total room of matching furniture. You want to express your individuality and have a home with layers, textures and history. If you weren't blessed (like my friend Marsha) to have a family who kept all the cool old stuff, you have to seek it out. My grandmother wanted everything new and shiny, chrome and glass. She grew up in the Great Depression. She was not sentimental, and sold things in garage sales for pennies. 
NOTE: If you are blessed to have family pieces, it's a great connection! USE them.

Now, I go to other people's grandmother's garage sales. :) I have a home full of adopted history. I LOVE mixing old and new, fancy and plain, rough and refined. It excites my sensibilities!

Reason #4 - IT IS NO BIG DEAL
If something breaks, it's not precious. It's great for houses with children, and for single fifty-something clutzes alike. 
If it can't be fixed, it can be replaced. No tears. No regrets. Things can remain in their proper place - less important than people and good times spent together.

Reason #5 - IT IS "GREEN"
I like the idea of "saving" something from a landfill and giving it a new life in a new environment. Even though I would do this even if it weren't green, this is a bigger deal for some people than it is for me. 

Picture frame turned faux antique mirror

Reason #6 - IT IS GUILT-FREE
If you decide you suddenly want to go all-white, or change your color palette, or for some reason you just look around one day and decide it's time to change EVERYTHING, you can do it without regret. If you don't spend much for your stuff, you can give it away, sell it (probably for MORE than you spent), or repaint it. You probably won't be destroying the value of a priceless antique...but it is wise to look for marks on the underside of your furniture, just in case you decide to paint a Heywood-Wakefield table aqua. 

Reason #7 - ADVENTURE!
Seriously - you NEVER know what you'll find that will excite you so much you end up redecorating a whole room! And you CAN do it, since you won't pay much for the new-old stuff and you didn't pay much for the old-old stuff! (See #6) 

Word for the Day:
Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.commonground-do.com/	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday

The Day Shopping for "Real" Was NOT Fun...

Last night, I went shopping for a wedding gift for a friend's son who will be married on Saturday. I thought it would be fun, but I had anticipated incorrectly. And I like shopping.

I walked into the department store toward the gift registry kiosk and printed out a list of items. I thought, "What a great idea!" We all want to buy something someone actually wants, right?

My retail experience these days usually centers around Walmart and off-price stores. I would only buy thrift store items for someone I know would appreciate them - would prefer them, as I do. This was not the case.

So, list in hand, I perused for something in my budget - $25-30. I assumed it would be enough for this mid-level department store. I wanted something nice, but couldn't afford the Keurig machine or Juicer on the list. ( I would NEVER pay $60 for a ceramic bathroom set - that included a soap dish, toothbrush holder, cup and soap dispenser. Sheesh!) 

I decided on a set of drinking glasses - $30, and headed in that direction. I looked high and low, and the ones on the list were no where to be found. After making 3 trips around the kitchen shop without success, I decided to look for something else they might use - a "generic" sort of gift. 

I hoped to find something like a really cool pepper mill, or a set of nesting bowls or something functional but special. 

Well, maybe thrift store shopping and Walmart shopping have warped my sense of relative value, because there were no baking dishes, nesting bowls, cool tools or anything AT ALL in the whole kitchen section that fit my budget and my common sense.

At 8:15 p.m., I lacked the energy and was too frustrated to even consider a trip to Walmart where I knew reasonable, generic wedding gifts could be had for a price within my budget.

Then I saw nice over-sized bath towels on sale - buy one, get one for $1. There were electronic price signs with the "sale deal" on them, and nowhere could I find an original price. How bad could it be? We're talking bath towels in a regular department store. 

I grabbed two in a color I knew to be the Bride's favorite color, and two in a color I knew the groom liked as well. (Thankfully, the mother of the groom and I had recently had a discussion about wedding decor and favorite color information had been revealed.) I planned to request a gift receipt, in case they clashed badly with the bathroom decor.

Besides, who wouldn't like fluffy new towels in your favorite color? And since two of the towels cost $1 each, I should SURELY be within my budget. At check-out, I was JUST barely in budget! 

I felt as if I had been punched, robbed and left on the parking lot. "I don't ever have a reason to come to this store again..." was my thought. Even the sale prices were WAY out of my budget, and I KNOW there is nicer stuff to be had for much less at Ross, T.J. Maxx and yes, Walmart. 

FYI, all the thrift store items above cost $5 TOTAL.

NOTHING is plastic. 

A coat of paint on some, a good cleaning, and they'll be even better than anything I could have found in that store. (At least in MY book.)

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. 

Word for the Day:

Matthew 13:44

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.commonground-do.com/	Vintage Inspiration Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

Thrifty Life Thursday #17, Features from Last Week, and Catching Up a Bit...

Weekend before last, I spent some quality time in a castle. 
Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs, CO, to be precise.
And what did I photograph while there? A tool chest. 

It was a seriously COOL tool chest. 

Oh, and we had a false alarm fire. So I HAD to take a photo of these other cool items...

It was lovely, and I'm still getting caught up on stuff...

When I DO have a few minutes for a blog task, it is cloudy or we're experiencing a habub/haboob. Yeppers - no spring gardening here as the drought is in full force still, as is the wind. We've gotten sprinkles, but no rain, which mixes with blowing dust and gives you the most lovely coating of dirt sprinkles on your car...and it's 99 degrees out.

Please forgive the whiny rant. On to better things now!  

Wanna see some cool features from last week's party?  I thought so. :)

Michelle from Farmhouse Allsorts built this hutch from shelves! She's styled it with lovely vintage things. Check it out!

Meg from My Vintage Life found some great vintage books and a beautiful small clock for good prices. It's fall in Austrailia...lovely photos and I'm dreaming of fall already!

Donna from Distressed Donna Down Home found a boatload of cool thrifty stuff...you'll just have to drop by to see it. Her posts ALWAYS give me the "gotta get to a thrift store NOW" fidgets. LOVE her - she is SOOOO funny. She doesn't TRY to be funny, she just is. Situational humor is my favorite kind. 

Shall we do this another time?

THRIFTY LIFE THURSDAY #17

Gathering Guidelines:

This is a gathering for people who enjoy hunting for treasures 

that may have previous experience or lived a former life elsewhere. 

Please share items that are second-hand or are composed of second-hand materials.

Types of Posts to Share:

• Home decor, furniture, collectibles, garden items and even wearables are welcome, as long as they have a second-hand element.
• Please, no food items, new pieces from "real" stores, or crafts, unless made with upcycled, thrifty finds.

• Hand-me-downs and curbside finds are welcome, as are items found in thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and other interesting places.
• Treasures may be listed as you found them, or with your updates, tweaks, and re-purposes; befores and afters are both welcome.

• Items need not be "vintage" but must be pre-owned or second hand.

• Posts including Etsy and other shop links are welcome! For visitor enjoyment, please link to your blog post, not directly to your Etsy shop. 

Etiquette:

• Though it is not a requirement, it would be lovely if you would follow Revisionary Life some way - via Blogger, Pinterest or Facebook or subscribe via email. Links are located in my sidebar to the right.

• Please link your post (not your blog address) back to Revisionary Life.             
• Please visit at least one other party friend.

• I'd love for you to comment and introduce yourself if we've never met before. :) Otherwise, don't feel obligated to leave a comment. 

Features:

• Featured items must meet the criteria above. 
• Only posts that link back may be featured.
• I will try to email you and let you know if you were featured!

Word for the Day:
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.