This here cake pan cost .99 at Value Village. Nobody loved it until now...
Two things that the majority of people I know (other than you, loyal thrifty-loving reader of thrift blogs) don't get about me:
1. I like to thrift, but that doesn't make me a total weirdo. I also shop for new things at new stores for boring things like pants. I don't bother discussing it because there isn't much scope for a conversation about buying a jacket on sale at Old Navy. New things don't have a back story or mysterious history.
2. Blogging is great fun, but I don't actually put EVERYTHING on the blog, nor do I write about every thought that comes to me.
If you blog, do you have people in your life who don't quite get it? Now that I'm 40, I should care less, but yesterday, a staff member made some friendly quip about how I must like the cost-cutting measures taken at our school to avoid paying for supply teachers during professional development workshops. "You must like it since you love yard sales so much."
I just laughed and told myself to let it slide since it would be pointless trying to explain that there's nothing wrong with buying anything at a thrift store or garage sale. And there's no way I could convey the happiness thrifting brings to myself and others when we find that perfect collectable dish or maybe something else that's pretty for the house. I guess it's a hobby that isn't as socially acceptable as tennis or sushi making.
Now it's filled with Rice Krispie treats and makes the wee children smile.
Happy (belated) birthday, Erin!
ReplyDeleteI think there's such a difference between loving thrift shops and liking cost-cutting measures!!
Thrifting is about the hunt, the surprise, the undiscovered excitement and the adventure. To an extent it's about the bargain, but given that I often pay retail prices for cool, thrifted finds, it isn't always. Nothing beats wandering in to a secondhand bookstore and finding something from your childhood, or a new-to-you favourite. It doesn't mean new bookstores aren't fun: it's just different fun.
We in the thrifting community support you!! xxx
I have restocked my wardrobe since my move to England STRICTLY from the charity shops. The joy is that I can own very nice clothes for a fraction of the cost new. Another joy of the thrifting? The ability to by something cheap, plonk it on ebay, and make a bit of pocket money for myself for crafting supplies. I take alot of stick fom a few fellow co-workers who just don't get it, but heck if I care.
ReplyDeleteI tell myself that we thrifters are doing society a great favour by upcycling wonderful objects that still have quite a bit of life left in them. Why buy something new when there is a used item in perfectly good shape?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it is also about the joy of discovering.
I don't tell everyone that I go to thrift shops and garage sales, just the ones who get it. Keep the rest guessing!
Um... what? I love yard sales/rummage sales/thrift stores, etc. For me, the hunt is the most fun. Sometimes it's putting a little work into something to "bring it back". That gives me great satisfaction. I make a pretty good income, and I don't NEED to shop second hand. I was raised shopping second hand, and like doing it.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how that's associated with wanting to not hire a temp or on-call person to do a job. That makes no sense.
Back when I had a job and someone would compliment me on something I had on and I would proudly say, I got it at a thrift shop! One of my friends took me aside and said, I know you got a good deal but you don't have to tell everyone where you got it. She didn't get it! I was proud of my bargains. I still am and always will be. I say it's their loss...of money! I get more for less and better quality. Go us!
ReplyDeleteand that smile right there is something you just can't put a price on!
ReplyDeletehappy birthday, belated, erin!
Thanks for all the comments. I agree with everything. I love the idea of upcycling. We live in such a disposable culture. When we thrift we are helping to keep stuff out of the landfill.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Erin
P.S. I thrift for clothes as well as buy new pieces too. Kelly Grunge Queen and Another's Treasure (amongst others) are champions of thrifted clothes.
A lot of people don't get it. Some don't see the point of buying second hand and some find it disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI used to get a lot of teasing @ my old work place ad will probably get some when I find a new job.
I was raised by thrifty parents out of necessity but my dad still thrifts and pick up stuff from the garbage even if he's not gurting for money now.
I love the surprise, the unknown and the possibilities of thrifting!
Ha ha, some people seem to find it more admirable to spend $250 on a designer jacket in a department store than to pick it up in a thrift store for $10!!! I love old vintage and retro stuff, can't imagine I'll ever find it in Target and although I do buy a lot of new stuff too, you're right, who wants to hear about that in our blogs :-)
ReplyDelete