Thriftastic Thursday: Thrift Shopping Tips and Recent Haul

I love a good thrift store. There is something so satisfying about being able to walk in, spot an item that is unique or unusual, or to be able to find items that you usually buy anyway at a discounted price. Today, I'm sharing a recent thrift store haul (you really never know what you are going to find), and some tips on what to look for while you are browsing flea markets and thrift shops.

Today's Thrift Shopping Tips:
*Look for hardback books to use in vignettes for decorating. Choose books that are in a specific color to go along with your color scheme, or on a particular subject. Also, thrift stores are a great place to score books for summer reading. I always look for hardback classics, too!
*Thrift stores are great places to find unique lamp bases. Painting the base is an easy way to update. Also, don't be afraid to re-wire a lamp. They sell kits at hardware stores like Lowe's and it's an easy process.
*Don't be afraid to paint an item! If it's the perfect shape, go for it!
*A penny saved is a penny earned! Filter the money you save shopping at thrift stores and flea markets into other areas of your budget.

Do you frequent flea markets or thrift stores? What are some of your favorite things to look for when shopping there?

A Collected Home

I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago about not wanting my home to look like I went to a "big box furniture store" and brought home a furniture set that was on display. I want to surround myself with things that I love, things that have character and tell a story.  I don't want a "buy it right now and settle for what I find" home, I want a "collected" home.

I think in watching HGTV and the DIY Network sometimes, it makes it appear as if you can have a fully furnished home with lots of unique finds in a day or a week.  And while the professionals on those shows may have a treasure trove of awesome oddities and full-of-character-furniture pieces at their disposal, it probably takes the rest of us time to collect just the right things for our homes. I like to wait to find that thing that really speaks to me. No. The thing that sings to me.

This chair was one of those items that sang to me.  I found it a flea market for $28.  I loved the tone of the wood. I loved the round seat, the lines of the back of the chair, and the beautiful legs.  Sometimes, you see something and there is no debating, Should I get it? You just know it belongs with you in your home.  Those are the things that are one-of-a-kind, the items that are unique and no one can go online or to a furniture store and find the same thing. These things have a story to tell.

I think accenting your home with these type things are what gives it uniqueness. And you can't do it all in a day or a year. It takes time to get that "collected" look. 

This chair is absolutely gorgeous, right? I'm so glad I found it.

Here are a few more items that "sang to me" over the weekend. No debate about whether to buy, just a confident You belong with me. 

This wooden lamp needs to be re-wired, but it is absolutely gorgeous and is quite large. It's three feet ten inches from the base to the finial.  

I loved the worn, chippiness of the wood and paint.  I loved the size and bulk of the piece. 

The shape of the shade is beautiful in all of its rusty glory. I may spray it with poly to keep the rust from flaking and use an Edison bulb in the lamp. Or I might get a new shade and use this shade frame to make a flush mount light. Not sure yet. (Got this for $5)

This little stool isn't quite sturdy enough for sitting, but is perfect for a small side table. I loved its worn, paint-spattered legs. And you can never go wrong with classic, hard-back books. (Stool, $3 and both books for $1.75)

The picture doesn't do this lamp justice. It is a very well-made, sturdy lamp, and it is bigger than it looks.  I love the adjustable swing arm and the lines of it. Just gorgeous. This will go in the reading nook in the living room when I get furniture to make the reading nook in the living room. (Lamp was $20)

This suitcase stand has lots of possibilities in my mind. It might become a base for a side table. ($3)

And this was the least expensive purchase that I made this weekend. Three wire baskets for $1. Yep,  just a dollar!  I love industrial stuff and these would be great in an office, or just to organize stuff. 

I love all of these "finds." They are unique and they have a story. Little by little, I am on my way to a collected home. 

What is your favorite "collected" piece you have found? Let me know in the comments!

How to Save Money Shopping Online

Since I started blogging, I've had a few people ask me how we afford to decorate and do the updates in our home.  I have been a stay-at-home-mom since my first daughter was born (she is seven), so we have lived on a single income for a while now.  

I wanted to share with you today some ways to save money when shopping online.  These are things that can be implemented easily and they all really add up over time, freeing up some cash flow.

*Use Swagbucks

Swagbucks is an easy way to earn extra cash.  There are a few different ways to rack up Swagbucks, which can then be redeemed for gift cards to stores like Amazon, WalMart, and Target.  You can shop from their site, earning Swagbucks per dollar you spend at participating sites, search, participate in surveys and polls, play games, and watch videos.  Go check it out.  Click here to sign up or have a look around.  

*Use Ebates

Here again, this is an easy way to earn extra cash back on purchases. Ebates is a site where you get cash back for shopping at your favorite websites.  If you shop online a lot this would really benefit you. Most sites offer 3-6% cash back, but always check and see which sites are offering a higher percentage. That changes all the time, but you can really score some great deals.  Right now, Aeropostale is offering 20% cash back! T Mobile and Verizon are both offering between $37.50 and $95 cash back. Need to book a room for vacation?  Check Ebates to see how much cash back travel sites are offering. 

I never shop online without going through Ebates.  And I have received a few cash back checks.  You really should go check it out!

*Utilize the Target Red Card

I have a thing for Target.  The closest one to me is an hour away. I go every chance I get, and I take advantage of the coupons they offer as well the great prices and the 5% off you get just for using your Target Red Card. But since it is hard to get to the actual store, this makes the Red Card even sweeter.  

The Red Card is not a credit card. It is a debit card that you use only at Target and Target.com.  Each time you use it, you automatically get 5% off your entire purchase. Also, you get free shipping from Target.com and an extra 30 days for returns. 

So how do you make it really earn you extra cash? Open a tracking ticket through Ebates. (Right now through Ebates you get 2.5% cash back.)  Open a tracking ticket through Swagbucks. (Earn 2 Swagbucks per dollar.)  Then shop away.  Get your 5% off by using your Red Card plus free shipping.  You've saved close to  10% on your purchase!  

By the way, Target.com is having an awesome home sale right now!  Save up to 30% on home items and get a $10 gift card when you spend $50 on home goods. (Use promo code SAVE10).

A couple more things:
~Shop on sites like Overstock.com or Amazon to find great deals!  Both offer great incentives to shop their sites, like low shipping or free shipping or coupon codes. 

~Sign up for websites' emails.  I know that when you sign up on a lot of sites that you can get inundated by emails, but they often send out special coupon codes or percentages off that you can take advantage of.  I have a separate email account just for this.  That way I can better keep track of my personal emails and they don't get bogged down with all of the website emails. 

I hope this helped a little!  Do you have any more tips that you can add?  Leave a comment!


*Disclosure: Links to Swagbucks and Ebates are through referral program.