3.06.2012

THRIFTING CAN BE EXPENSIVE

Oh I paid $2 for this and $3 for that, have you been thrifting lately? You should totally go because all of the cool kids are doing it and you can totally find so much stuff for next to nothing.  I buy clothing, jewelry, housewares, and furniture and let me tell you, I NEVER spend over $25.  You don’t know how to thrift? Oh well there’s an app for that.  Better yet, there are people that will teach you for a small fee.

 

This topic has been on my heart for a few weeks now and I finally decided to let it out.  We all know that thrifting is all the rage now.  Any décor related blog you click on these days is going to reference how they’ve found something while thrifting.  I personally LOVE thrifting and you guys know that! What I don’t love is how I’ve become overly slightly obsessed/addicted to it.  I’ve gotten to the point where I go into a thrift store out of habit not need. I haven’t shared recent finds with you because I’m not as excited as I once was when I come across something. 

This post is not to tell you that I’m anti-thrifting all of a sudden.  I just want you to know that for me, I see that it’s easy to get on a band wagon because we see it as the “it” thing.  Thrifting is definitely a lifestyle for many and I can appreciate that.  But for those who do it to have something to talk about or “brag” about, think about what you’re actually doing.  You’re probably wasting A LOT of money like I have on stuff that you really don’t need. 

These are a few pictures of my over indulgence in thrifting. 

Painting my Kitchen Table 021 

Painting my Kitchen Table 019

Painting my Kitchen Table 028

Painting my Kitchen Table 031

Painting my Kitchen Table 030

(I have a lot of GOOD STUFF, but looking at it here, it’s junk and I don’t need it all)

 

Here are my tips for thrfting

*Buy what you need.  Don’t buy what you MIGHT need or what MAY work later.  I say this because usually when we do that (I’m guilty of this) , we really don’t need it.

*Make a list of what it is that you have seen on blogs or in other places, and already know what and where you’re going to use it.  For instance, I want to do a wall with painted empty frames.  Because I already know where I’m using them and about how many more I need,  I will go thrifting for them.

*Set a monthly spending limit for thrifting.  If you do like to go often, set aside an amount that you WILL NOT go over every month.  I say no more than $50.

*Take on a new attitude when it comes to bringing things into your home.  Maybe when you bring something in, you take something else out.  Or something else that may work for you.

*Stay off the thrift train.  Yeah it’s cool to thrift! It’s a form of recycling. But set limits for yourself.  I often think of Sarah Richardson who buys things vintage and refinishes the pieces in the homes that she work on.  There may be 1 or 2 pieces in each room that’s thrifted or vintage.

*And for those that like the idea of furnishing your entire home with vintage finds found while thrifting, that is ABSOLUTELY fine! Again, know what it is that you are looking for, set a budget, and definitely have a plan.

*Listen to people around you.  If you hear people saying that you’ve become addicted then chances are you have.  Evaluate what’s going on and find a solution.  For me, it’s time to use some of my finds or get rid of them. 

 

I’m not bashing anyone for their love of thifting (again, I love it too!), but I do feel like it was important for me to share my feelings on the matter.  I hope this helped at least one of youSmile

17 comments:

Sing of Singature Style said...

Good post. Because things are relatively cheap I can see how it can get off of control. I don't have that problem here because most of the thrifts in the city are overpriced. Now when I go to the burbs, that's another matter.

SHERRY HART said...

Gurllllll.....you are cracking me up! I can relate to the words " dang this is such a good deal....somebody will want it!"
I'm your friend.....yes.....you need to back away from thrifting! I had to stop going to Scott's for a while a long time ago because my basement got sort of like that :). I'm better now......

Myssie said...

I want to go shopping in your garage!! ;)

Elisa @ What the Vita said...

Your honesty is refreshing. I agree 100% on being honest with ourselves and buying only what we need or what we can USE NOW instead of putting them away in the garage.

Why not try to sell them to make some cash and tell us all about your selling adventures? That might help a lot of your readers who might have the same problem?

Niki McNeill Brown said...

OMG! First of all, I can totally relate. Tricea threw out the idea to go half on a storage unit where we could store our thrifting finds and I told her absolutely NOT because I know if I had the space, I'd just fill it up!

I am REALLY good at restraining myself now, but I could totally see how if I had more free cash I'd be addicted. Because I love it as much as you do!!

PS - Our next Design Talk video is about thrifting ;)

autumn said...

well, amen to everything you said! i had to chuckle at your "stash" of stuff. i had a huge pile in my last garage, and the only reason there isn;t a huge pile in this garage is because i swore of thrifting until i actually USE at least half of what i have bought so far. it can be so tempting to buy "just one more frame" or lamp or side table. you are so right! too much of a good thing is sometimes....well, NOT good!
:)

Miss Charming said...

Your post was spot on and made me laugh. (Especially the part about if people are telling you you're addicted to thrifting then you probably are.). I'm trying to limit my own thrifting but still get excited over a great find.

Tonia Lee Smith said...

I can totally relate. I have so much that my garage is floor to ceiling wall to wall full of stuff. No parking. I've curbed my thrift buying tremendously. I only buy when I'm looking for a particular something. No longer so I buy it because it was $1 Those dollars add up.

L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoys said...

Well I'm glad that there are people out there who understands where I'm coming from! Looking at those pictures make me feel like a hoarder!

I'm a work in progess;)

Robyn Lucas said...

Wow! Looks like some great finds. Let me know if you ever have a garage sale. :)

Justine said...

Very good post, I think some of us have a gene that makes us just see the potential & fun in stuff, even if doesn't fit in our home - we can always sort that out later, right? I have family members that are that way, and I'm the same. It definitely takes impulse control. Looking at your photos, I'm with Myssie and Robyn, I want to go shopping in your garage. Now only if I had enough room in my garage to put it! :)

Unknown said...

I see so many gems in your Garage! But I forbid you to do in more thrifting :) Shop your garage first so many treasures out there :)

A Perfect Gray said...

oh yes! this does happen! great tips...donna

Misty Mathews said...

Great post! I go through phases of being really interested in thrifting, but these days I am a LOT pickier about what I actually buy. It's disappointing to leave empty-handed sometimes, but then I know I'm not spending money on things I don't LOVE.

Mothering4Money said...

Must. Have. That. Blue. Dresser.

Unknown said...

This is wonderful advice. I have recently had to downsize and realize that I am hanging on to things that really truly I know in my heart I will never get around to using. Time to part with them and make life more manageable. Now when I see great deals I have started asking myself if I can use it now, if not will I most likely be able to find another when the time comes that I want to use it. The answer is yes, there will be another great deal next time. It is hard, but thanks for sharing your tips on getting our thrift mania under control.

Unknown said...

Oh BTW, you really should do something with that blue dresser though! It is to die for!