March Tag Sale, Thrift Store and Bargain Thread

I got this table and chairs for $55 at yesterday's estate auction. My two boys in the Navy have found a house to rent together and need something for their breakfast room. This is perfect. 

(The lazy susan piece on it is not attached. I doubt they will use that piece as it makes it look more old-fashioned.) 

Saturday I went to my usual auction place. Nothing I truly wanted except for this one cute amber colored glass owl which was a pitcher with a handle which stood about 10" tall. Something about it caught my eye. Well it was near a bunch of other stuff no one was bidding on and next thing you know there was a bunch of misc stuff including the owl. I think I paid like $1 for it all. The auctioneer even mentioned he thought the owl alone would go for $5 which was exactly how much I would have gone up to on it.

No one was apparently in the mood for most of the stuff and seeing I have plenty of storage room in my garage, I was picking up all kinds of lots of stuff for $1 that no one would bid on (come tag sale reason I will be ready). For instance I got 7 pads that would be great on a desk which are an inch thick (they are in like a pretty holder... can't figure out how to explain) anyway, got the pads and 6 small mirrors for that $1. Can easily sell them for $1 each for the pads. Pez dispensers were 3 for $1. Needed a couple wonder women for co-workers who collect her.

Box of kitchen utensils and knives, even if I sell for 25 cents each will make a killing seeing I paid $1.
Two boxes of books for $2. Not the best shape once I looked at them. I have a bad impulse problem that when no one is bidding and I can get it for $1 I do it. I will still make money off them.

The best was this metal storage cabinet w doors that had a mirror on the front but inside of it were two lawn sprinklers in boxes and a tall brass lamp. I paid $3 for all of it. I thought the cabinet would be good for my sons fishing crap. When I checked the sprinklers one was brand new, heavy metal, not plastic. Had a receipt taped to it and it sold for like $30.

So thankful my SO can borrow his brothers truck so when I start buying the big things for next to nothing I can get the stuff home.

Kinda nice when it's too cold out, no one wants to go out especially to an auction! My gain for sure!

Wow! You all have found great stuff so far.

I haven't spent much time in thrift stores this month yet.

I've been having such fun shopping at Goodwill for my "new to me"  clothes that fit me and for my upcoming trip to Europe this spring. This last time I went on a Wednesday and that day is senior 20% off day. No way on God's green earth do I consider myself a senior, but apparently they do-if you are over 55 you get the discount. I'm 56 so I'll take it. 

This is what I found:  Genuine sheepskin boots in brown that fit me perfectly for $12.00. This was such a perfect find for me-I wear these as "house shoes"-German thing you wear them only indoors, because I am freezing most of the time during the winter, plus the fall and early spring. My previous pair was LLBean and they had just developed a hole in the toe plus the "fleece" inside the sole was completely gone. I practically jumped for joy. I sprayed them inside with Lysol, and I bought an UGG treatment kit years ago that I used to refresh and protect them before I started wearing them. 

A giraffe print shirt in short sleeves in cotton-the label is gone but it fit's perfectly and feels like a Talbot's shirt from the quality. I think I paid $6.00

A gorgeous black silk elbow sleeve button up silk cardigan by Ann Taylor (not Loft) for $8.00 Fits like a dream. 

Vera Wang jeans that look brand new and are boot cut-my favorite style that look best on me-I paid $12.00 for these. These fit perfectly too even length wise. 

A Talbot's long sleeved mostly cotton, I think some rayon zip up cardigan sweater in teal green (people say when I wear that color it matches my eyes) for $2.00! The clerk was really nice and gave it to me at a huge discount because we couldn't get the zipper to go up past 1 inch from the bottom. When I got home DH fixed it. It's very soft for a cotton sweater and will be perfect for the trip. 

I'm having such fun shopping for clothes this way and I'm determined not to shop retail anymore unless I have too. I don't see the point. I'm blessed to have a great Goodwill near me that has wonderful stock with quality clothing. I also think being a smaller size now really opens up the options for finding more clothes choices in used clothing so I'm lucky about that and happy. 

I don't know how long you had them or if you purchased them new, but their warranty is great if you think they wore out in an unreasonable amount of time.

    I did buy them new and I can maybe find the receipt. I think 2 years is too short of time for them to wear out, what about you? I don't want to send them back if it's a normal time to wear them out. How long are they supposed to last? I can always call their customer service and find out. I used to buy all of my clothes from LLBean because I like classic clothes and they have great quality which is hard to find these days, plus reasonable prices considering their quality. 

But you've brought up a good point I didn't think of. Thank you-so glad I didn't toss them in the garbage yet. 

This is a common US thing too, at least I thought so. I'm only commenting because it surprises me it might not be.

For winter I have two pairs of shearling boots (booties) in different colors. One is indoors only. The second is also for lounging. They can make trips into garage, and outside to mailbox, patio.

Congrats on your thrift find!

I went to a local thrift shop yesterday and found fiestaware...a dinner plate in a coral color for $1, a purple coffee mug for .50 and a teal coffee mug for .50! I've started buying pieces here and there but this was the best deal by far! I also found a new Lolita wine glass for .50. (They retail for about $25-) I have a nice collection of these glasses.

     Didn't realize that it was a common US think. I knew slippers were. Thanks for the congrats on the thrift find. It was great because I'm saving up for my trip and really couldn't afford the $ for a new pair. Also while that store has quality clothes here and there, for some reason quality shoes are scarce. Most are man made product and not leather. 

     MY DH goes around the house bare foot even in winter which I do not get at all-but he is always running hot. He grew up in Maryland. My German mother was in for a huge culture shock when she first came to the USA (when I was a year old) and we came to my American grandmother's house in Georgia (my Dad is American). My aunt was a teen running around the house barefoot and she has told me she thought, "Oh my God, what kind of place is this?" The Wall in Germany went up shortly after that and my father (who spoke fluent German thanks to the US Army) was called back very quickly so back we went. His job was spying on the East Germans through head phones. BTW my Mom was very young at the time, only 21. 

birukitty that's great family history -thanks for sharing!