Smile and Wave

Hi! This is Mandi from Here's Lookin' at Me, Kid. I'm so happy to be guest blogging for my kindred spirit and fellow thrifty maven. Whenever I unpack my suitcase or give tours of my home, someone inevitably says, "How do you have such luck at the thrift stores? I never find anything!" My friends all want to witness the magical powers that appear on my thrifting adventures which cause glorious vintage treasures to materialize on the store shelves. But the truth is, I don't have any magical powers, just learned skills! And I'm willing to share my 8 rules for becoming a thrifty maven. Here are the rules, plus inspiration from other thrifty mavens. (All images found on flickr groups Thrift Store Decor and 100% Thrifted. Click images for links.)

Haven't you heard? The early bird gets the mint condition 1950s wiggle dress in the perfect size. That's why I typically assign three hours for thrifting one day a week and show up as the shop doors are being unlocked. Each week I go to a different area than the week before, so the thrift stores have time to replenish themselves, kind of like crop rotation.

The name thrift implies a small dollar sign, but when you're walking out of each store with bags full of goods, the dollar signs quickly grow. My local Salvation Army stores have 50% off family days on Wednesdays, so I can fill my cart without apprehension. Also, I am currently on Goodwill's mailing list so that I know when a customer appreciation day is coming. Just be warned- this technique isn't a secret, and the hard core thrifters come out in droves- so make sure to show up early and have a game plan!

I'm convinced that costume influences behavior. So if you want to choose something fabulous, wear something fabulous! What kind of clothes will you be inspired to buy if you shop in sweat pants? I usually like to wear comfortable shoes and a loose fitting dress in a modest length (all the better to reach with, my dear!). Just whatever you do, don't wear anything too fabulous... you don't want to attract undesired attention from the menfolk (or womenfolk) completing their community service hours at your favorite creepy thrift store.

If you have some spare time in between appointments, spend it at the thrift store! Make sure you know where all of your local thrift stores are (and thrift stores in neighboring cities, if you're hardcore like me) so you don't get lost and end up late to your afternoon appointment. Spontaneous thrifting is how I've stumbled upon some of my favorite furniture items in my home. Buying furniture on a whim? But of course! That's the attitude of a true thrifty maven. And don't worry- they usually let you come back within a few days to pick up your purchase(s).

You might be thinking... "Isn't it kind of gross to buy upholstery from a thrift store?" Well, I don't know about that. There is usually a certificate of sanitation on the furniture I buy, and I'm more than happy to take their word for it. If you're not, you can surely have it professionally cleaned (I usually use a Hoover steamvac on my thrifted furniture.).

I have certainly been on thrifting adventures with a particular something in mind. But more often than not, I don't find what I came looking for. Usually I find something else entirely that I didn't exactly need. But this is how you find objects that become your treasures. If you love it, buy it! Yes- even if you don't need it. And that leads to rule number seven...

Just like mom never said, if in doubt- do! Unless, of course it's a huge doubt or an equally huge price tag. Chances are, if you're interested in something on the shelf, the cosmic forces have drawn you to it, and if you pass on it in the moment only to return for it later, someone else will have snatched it up. This "buy now, think later" practice can lead to quite the stash of thrifted goods, but that's what basements are for, right? And, you can always purge your stash once a year and give back to the charity shops. There's nothing like good thrifting karma to enrich your shopping experiences!