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Let’s Get Thrifty and Find the Nifty: It’s Super Easy!

A plethora of vintage fun finds all found at a thrift store: colorful souvenir plates, conch shells, baskets, a plaster Madonna and child , Golden Nature books and a floral platter.

This week I was on a GIANT search for merch! So, in my weekly rounds, I like to start with the thrift stores first! I don’t know why I am always surprised to find excellent merchandise at my local charity shops because I always seem to find amazing things every time I go! The challenge is… in the SEA of STUFF, how to find that one GEM? It’s quite funny how after taking one loop around the store my husband always comments, “Well, I don’t see anything good.” Then he looks down at my full cart and says, “Oh my gosh…how in the world did you find ALL that?” LOL! Well, it’s actually super easy! So let’s get THRIFTY and find the NIFTY!

A view of a thrift store overflowing with furniture, dishes, glassware and decor.

getting thrifty

The key factor when going shopping at any thrift store is to go in with an open mind. I think sometimes my husband psychs himself out before he even gets in the front door. If you go in thinking all they have is used junk, then you have already blown it.

A view of the inside of a thrift store with shelfs of glassware, serving trays and colorful household items.

You need to look past the dirt and the occasional missing part. You have to remember that the items are old, used, and often times neglected. When you find an item, ask yourself… can I save it and is it worth saving? And I confess, that the BEST part of the job, is rescuing forgotten pieces of mid-century history. I found a porcelain lid to a trinket box with a porcelain bouquet on top but the trinket box was missing. I LOVED it so much that I bought it and put it on top of a tiny McCoy bowl which I also purchased at the thrift shop. It was a perfect fit!

A close-up view of a glass decanter and a glass fruit bowl sitting on a thrift store shelf.

Be persistent

It’s SUPER important to know when the new merchandise will be put out on the floor. As a rule, my thrift store is continually bringing out new items. Oftentimes I find the best pieces right when they wheel out the newly priced merchandise. Thankfully my store lets you shop right off the cart!

A hand holding a small woven basket ready to purchase from a thrift store.

It also helps to talk to the employees. If I’m looking for something specific like a Golden Nature Guide book, I just ask the wonderful lady who manages the book section. She puts my name on her list so that when a book eventually comes in, she holds it for me. How fabulous is that?!

Thrift store shelves overflowing with woven baskets in yellows, blues, oranges and browns.

The challenge of a successful trip to the thrift store is not to get discouraged by the massive amounts of inventory. Often there are literally piles on top of piles of dishes, pots, baskets, and ceramics! It can be more than a little overwhelming. How do you find the needle in the haystack? Perseverance is key! You have to BELIEVE that there is a worthy treasure in there somewhere!

bringing home the nifty

Colorful plates

A display of colorful vintage plates overlapping like souvenir city plates and friut plates.

I always wanted to start a vintage souvenir plate collection… now I’m on my way!

Gorgeous Shells

A collection of five beautiful peachy colored conch shells.

I don’t have to go to the beach to find beautiful conch shells. I always have great luck finding them at the charity shop.

vintage books

A collection of colorful Golden Nature Guide books such as "Birds, Trees, Fishes and Insects".

Who can resist the old Golden Nature Guide books? I have happy childhood memories of enjoying this fabulous series.

delicate and dainty

A close up view of a porcelain floral trinket box top with beautiful porcelain red, yellow, and pink roses.

woven baskets

Many woven golden colored baskets of all shapes and sizes displayed on a table.

unique finds

A vintage Madonna and Child holy water font made in italy. It is a beautiful plaster cast wall plaque with pastel and tinted yellow, blue and green.
A vintage plaster holy water font made in Italy of the Madonna and Child.
A vintage plaster holy water font made in Italy of the madonna and Child.

This Italian-made beauty is a painted plaster holy water font… I’m obsessed. It’s one of my favorite thrifted pieces.

treasures await!

I just LOVE my weekly trips to my local thrift stores! It’s beyond rewarding to rescue fascinating vintage finds! And, let us not forget the BEST part…shopping at a charity shop is good for you and good for others. What a lovely way to recycle and give back all at the same time. So, let’s go search for hidden treasures! Let’s get thrifty and find the nifty! And, most importantly let’s get HOMEY!

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