Thrift does not mean cheap.
Thrift style living doesn’t mean buying cheap stuff. It means knowing how to buy high-quality items for less money. A lot less.
I started thrift store shopping back when I was in college. It was my sophomore year, and I was about to move into my first apartment. I needed a bedroom suite. I went to several department stores to find one, but I got a rude awakening. I couldn’t believe the prices. The bedroom suites were thousands of dollars, and it was all I could do to pay my rent.
I was desperate. Then my aunt told me to try going to estate sales. I did, and guess what? I found a Queen Anne poster bedroom suite, mattress included, for just $900. After that, I shopped at several thrift stores to find other items for my bedroom.
My mantra became, “Thrift is good!”
A few years later, I bought a 100-year-old, handmade, Oriental rug for just $40. I once snagged a sterling silver goblet for $1.98. Oh, and I still have the Coco Chanel vest that I purchased at a thrift store for just $4.99.
Several years ago, a client of mine bought a painting for $3.88 at a thrift store. Later on, I was one of several appraisers who helped identify the painting’s origins. The artist, it turns out, was the late President John F. Kennedy. My client sold that painting for thousands of dollars. Now that’s what I call thrift style living!
Are you intrigued yet? That’s why I’m writing this blog. I’m a licensed auctioneer and an estate sale and thrift store shopping addict. I’ve learned over the years how to recognize value and how to separate trash from treasure. I can teach you how to do it too. Keep reading!
