First and foremost, think of the humble thrift store or market as an oasis of calm away from the hustling bustling hoards. Enjoy some downtime browsing what they have to offer. Perhaps that day you may find nothing that piques your interest. Perhaps you may walk away with the perfect outfit to the next social event on your calendar, a rowing machine, or even an author you are keen to give a try (leisurely hours wellspent and extended by a good read for the bedside table!).
Practice patience.
If you are not in a hurry to purchase something be it a picnic basket, a watch, a pair of sexy wedges or a book on Japanese cuisine, just wait and in the meantime, do a little treasure hunting (just for fun if for nothing else!). Some things in life really can wait. There is no need to rush head first into a purchase that can be put on hold a little longer. You will know when you have waited long enough and an online purchase delivered to your door is no longer unavoidable. But until then, relax. The joy of finding just what you’ve always wanted (and we know when we lock our peepers with it!) can be one of the best mood boosters around. Retail therapy at its finest and best!
Time to get local.
Don’t hold back. Talk to people. Find out where your city’s best kept secrets are hidden. Alternatively, when travelling through smaller towns and dorpies, get in with the locals. Find out if they have a market on the weekends. Find out if they have charity shops or retirement villages with monthly sales. You’d be surprised the hike in price when living in larger cities. There still exist some places where nope, it ain’t ‘vintage’; it’s just plain ol’ second hand! You may even think it worth the extra petrol every couple of months or so just to travel back to these sedate and simple getaways, if not for the soul but for shopping purposes alone!
Roll with those ‘r’s and reuse, recycle, repurpose.
Don’t be dismayed if you don’t find exactly what it is you came in looking for… With Google and Pinterest at the readied fingertips there are so many creative ways to reuse and repurpose materials found in thrift stores from Christmas wreaths made from denim strips to old shabby drawers given a second lease on life as book shelving or a place to hang jewellery in the bedroom. No time like the present for some creative problem solving and DIY!
So give those account cards the snip if you’re starting to feel the pinch! They may be more baggage in your life than they are worth… Instead, embrace all you can accomplish when you have a good look around and think outside the box. That said, happy hunting!
Date Published: 24 March 2016
