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A Good(will) Eye

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I get a slew of emails & comments everytime I post about my finds at Goodwill.  Some of the comments are in envy.   A few will be outta disgust (mostly at the thought of the Goodwill smell).  But most of them are from people who are shocked outta their socks that such great wares are available at a thrift store.  And they often say that their own local second-hand retailer is not like mine.  It’s just not up to par. 

To those people…I say FALSE.

In my bacon-lovin opinion, all Goodwills, Salvation Armys, Thrift stores, and the like were created equal.  They were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Wares, that among these are Clothing, Furniture and the pursuit of Dishware. (name that document)

Sure – just like people, each thrift store has its strengths & weaknesses.  You wouldn’t hire Lindsay Lohan as a chaufeur, would ya?  But being able to identify the strength of a store is part of being a frequent shopper.  And after you identify the strength – be it low prices, variety of stuff, or quality of items – training your eye to look past the junk to see the cheap treasures gives truly wonderful results…both to your wallet & your home.

So that is what I want to help with – training your eye to be the Sherlock Holmes of Goodwill shopping.  That’s why I am going to share with you some tips on how you can exercise your pretty blinkers to pick out the best of the best.

1.  GO SLOW

You might walk into a Dishware section & see this:

You are so overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that you can’t visualize any one piece & decided to throw your arms up & walk out.  First of all…put your arms back down.  Then take it one shelf at a time, one item at a time.  Remove the piece from the shelf and hold it out in front of you with only the floor as the backdrop.   Now imagine that piece in a Domino-esque dining room or a Pottery Barn tablesetting.  Generally dishware can’t be changed…so you have to be able to change the surroundings to get the desired effect.  95% of the time, the item is too dated or too ugly or too broken, chipped or cracked to be used.  But the other 5% of the time, the item will be just fine…it’s just the surroundings that rub stank all over it.

In the above photo – there was this great drink dispenser for $4:  

Sure – it’s missing a lid…but you could snazzy it up with a swatch of spare fabric and a ribbon…and BAM! you got a very chic lemonade table.

Or how bout this $1.50 (on sale 50% off) cheese cover:

Collect four of them & use as a tablesetting cloche like I did for this Christmas tableau:

Or see this curly-edged itty bitty ice cream cup for a mere 77 cents? 

Doesn’t it look so much better with ice cream?

And can’t you just imagine a winetasting dinner with all different salad plates?  If you layer them all on the same type of  dinner plate – (I’m imagining green glass plates on a crisp white tablecloth) it will look like it was way more than $4 for all four of these grapey wares.  

The point is – I found all of these items on a single wall…piled under cracked plates and next to ugly commemorative memoroblia.  But going slow & pulling out each item to imagine it’s potential is well worth the effort and time.  

2.  ARM YOURSELF WITH IDEAS

Apart from dishware, most Goodwill items can be changed…tweaked…or modified slightly to meet your specific style.  But in order to do so, creative ideas need to be first deposited in your bank of a brain.  You don’t have to be creative.  You just have to remember creative ideas when you see them.  Take for instance this bell dome:

Not exactly something that would make it on Oprah’s Favorite Things list. But then I remembered a post I saw on Design*Sponge…and thought, dude!

Basically this uber-genius Canadian chick took this similar piece:

bethanybefore

and turned it into this:

bethanyafter

Or how bout taking this colorful cow:

and spraypainting it with some high-gloss paint for a very Jonathan Adler-esque ceramic animal:

And speaking of spraypaint – using it on two similar shaped items will make them seem like a set.  For example, you could use highgloss black and make these four mismatching candleholders into a centerpiece that would normally cost mucho dinero:

3.  REMEMBER THE DETAILS

A superb tip for all you thrifters would be to look through your favorite catalogs, magazines and decorating books and make a mental list of details that strike you as totally swoon-worthy.  These little details – like baskets or throws or fabrics – can be bought at a discount and then transformed into a great piece for your home. 

Let’s use me as an example.  I love the Pottery Barn catalogs.  I save them like they are magazines.  And when I look through the pages, I mentally jot down the things that are oh-so-fabulous for when I hit up Goodwill.  Like this red & white color schemed bedroom…

I immediately noticed the stripes.  When I saw these similar patterned pillows at Goodwill,

I remembered it as a fabulous find.

Or when I saw this silver tray on the thrifty shelf,

I knew that you could scrub it shiny and use it on a dresser to gather some perfume & a vase of flowers just like in this Pottery Barn photo:

Or these pieces that showcase topiary art,

is a much cheaper alternative to the Ballard Designs version.

Or what about this weird Goodwill piece that looks like a cd holder from 1996…

Couldn’t it be used as a chic way to hold your mail like on this PB office pic?

Just make sure to brush up on your favorite designs before hitting the store.  It will help your eye look at things in an entirely new light.

4.  BONE STRUCTURE

Looking at the bones of a piece – especially when it comes to wood and furniture – is going to be your best way to have a successful Goodwill experience.  Instead of looking at the color or that hideous lampshade or that ugly hardware…look at the lines.  The bones of a piece are the basic structure.  The underlying details – such as curvature, shape, proportion, or design – all make up the internal structure.  DO NOT LOOK AT THE COLOR.  DO NOT LOOK AT THE PAINTED FLOWERS OR THE 1980’s handles….they can be changed. 

Take for instance this dresser:

Ugly mismatched hardware but good bones. 

Still can’t see it?

Well, meet Holly – who is the queen of painting dressers white & switching out hardware for fabulous makeovers.  Here’s what she does for folks who can’t visualize the finished product: She takes an ugly thrift piece & makes it beautiful.  And then she gives befores & afters.  Like this one:

Before:

After:

See what a little white paint can do?

Yeah…and it doesn’t stop there.  You could see this piece and think it’s way too old-lady for your snazzy updated home.

You could just paint it white, change the knobs & instantly you have a piece that fits into any room in any era.

Or you could consider a special painting effect – like this one curtesy of Martha,

Or how bout the bones on these lamps?  (specifically the yellow one and the brown& white textured one next to it)

The yellow one looks like it would be oh-so-great in a room with a new white drum shade…especially a room that needs a big lamp to add weight to the side table.  And the brown & cream one?  Well, it’s nothing that a little fire-engine high gloss red can’t fix.  Or turqouise.  Oooow – oww.  I am seriously catcalling a lamp right now 🙂

5.  PHOTOG PROPS

Last tip of the day includes a little tidbit for any rookie photographers out there…hello friends.  This one is for you.  Whenever I go into a thrift store I also keep my eyes peeled for anything that I like to use as props for photos.  Be it a  blanket or a basket or a chair.  I like pieces with lots of texture and a very low cost.  And the best part about buying picture props at Goodwill is that they don’t need to be perfect.   Like this chair –

It would be cute straight from the store in a photo with a little girl (like these one from CW Photography):

Or what about props for small products (like a pair of mittens or your specialty soaps that you sell on etsy)…well, Goodwill is the place for you too.  Picking up a ‘broken-in’ item like his aluminum mini basket draws the attention to your product rather than itself while still creating interest (and making your item bigger to boot!). 

Now that you know some tricks on how to make the most of your Goodwill experience – you are thrift-store-armed-and-dangerous. 

So go get some magazines, scour the internet to increase your idea bank, and stock up on white primer spraypaint…you are officially ready to get your eye trained for discount shopping!  And I betcha it’ll treat ya better than a wild jungle cat…okay…okay….enough Tiger Wood’s jokes.  Poor guy. 

Anyway – so now that you saw some of my finest tips on shopping Goodwill…what do you have to say?  Maybe you have a top tip of your own to share?  Or maybe you wanna spill the beans on your finest Goodwill discovery?  Ohh…that’s a good one.  Pretty please share your favorite thrifty-find.  Or maybe it was an okay discovery with unbelievable potential?  Tell me, tell me, tell me.  There is very little that excites me like a thrift store find….well maybe bacon….and maybe when a golfer plays the wrong hole 🙂 But other than that?  Nope. Nuttin.

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Comments

  1. So glad you did this post. You are very right that every Goodwill has something to offer. One quick tip to add: Most Goodwills, Salvation Army’s, etc. have a multi-day return policy in case you have buyer’s remorse (although some will only give you store credit back).

  2. Just had to say- great post! I am definitely one of those that loves the idea of thrift stores but think my local Salvation Army is crappy. I’ll give it another chance 🙂

  3. Great post but I’m going to have to respectfully disagree – not all thrift shops are created equally. The goods that are in the stores depends on the area it’s located in. So one SA near me is in the ghetto (seriously, carry your mace at all times) and thus, lacks quality items most of the time. However, the SA in a more upscale ‘hood near me has much better wares since the people who donate tend to have a bit more cash and thus better castaways.

  4. Thanks Katie! I haven’t been to Goodwill in a while because I wasn’t having much luck. But maybe I have just been rushing through too fast! I will try out your suggestions and let you know what happens!

  5. This is a fantastic post! I love all the ideas, the photos, and…I can hardly wait to get to Goodwill tonight…

    I will confess my best Goodwill find ever. It was actually CASH in the pocket of a very ugly coat. I was a seriously broke college senior and it was a wad of hundred dollar bills from 1982. I burst into tears because I was not sure what to do – take it back or keep it? But then I realized it was a gift from God and no one would be able to track down the former owner of that coat. God can provide in the strangest of ways…

    …I still feel bad that I never bought the coat after trying it on! 😉

  7. Hi Heather S.
    I hear ya. I do. But keep in mind that your ghetto SA might be strong in other areas…let’s say price. It might not have as many quality stuff but it might be better priced due to local competition. The point is…you might have to bear your mace more often to find the combination of price & quality. I have been to hundreds of thrift stores and my favorite Goodwill is actually in a relatively poor area…so I have to tell ya, you might just have bad luck with your ghetto…but I have great luck with mine. And I truly believe that the key to successful Goodwill shopping is very frequent visits with a discerning eye. Oh…and maybe a handgun concealed in your coat 🙂 Legally of course.
    XO – KB

  8. Love your blog. I so identify with your thrift store finds. When people compliment me on an outfit or some piece of home decor I can’t help but tell them that I got it at the Salvo. My husband says I should keep my mouth shut and let them think he makes a ton of money and I’m able to shop and decorate at my leisure, but alas I CANNOT keep my mouth shut. Your blog is great. I think I’m going to be running to the thrift store right now….

  9. Great post, Katie! I too am a die-hard thrift store troller ~ my friends used to think I was nuts until they saw what they could find! 🙂 I can usually find some cute clothes for next to nothing, usually name brand to boot. Noah’s a Baby Gap lil’ man, and I’ve found him tons at GW. (haha, my that’s what my friends & I shortened it to 😉

    My Goodwill here in HI is definitely um, more “ghetto” than my favorite one in IL, but I try to be patient and just yesterday I scored almost brand-new Pottery Barn Kids sheets for my little man’s new big boy bed. Whaaat?! You should’ve heard me gasping, people here rarely have Pottery Barn goods, because well there isn’t one here, and the shipping to the islands can be outrageous. And normally I wouldn’t buy bedding but these were practically brand new. Here’s the kicker ~ there were no price tags, so the cute Hawaiian checkout lady says, eh $1.99 apiece ok? Um, yeah 🙂 Plus I scored 20% off with my military i.d. ~ I’m still floating on air 🙂

  10. I love Goodwill! I found four fabulous chairs at $5.99 a piece a while back (http://www.dreamindomestic.com/2009/11/23/losing-my-sanity-to-four-cheap-chairs/) that I will use in the future for a dining set after painting and changing out the fabric on the cushions. I don’t even own a house yet and am only in college, but I can’t pass up a deal like that!

    These are some awesome tips! I especially love the photography tip since I am just getting into that. Thanks!

  12. love this post! People are always shocked by what I find at thrift stores, but I tell them the same thing that you do…keep and open mind, see the potential in things and don’t get overwhelmed!

    Is it sad that the employees of my local Goodwill know me by name?!

  13. I hit up our local Goodwill all the time, but I’m seriously jealous of yours. Yours looks like the size of a Super Wal-Mart while ours is about the size of the bathrooms at Wal-Mart. Everything is piled haphazardly with no organization at all and many of the items are a bit overpriced. But I continue to visit there and hunt for the bargains. Thanks for the tips on what to look for.

  14. Katie,

    Love your blog! (my best friend introduced me right when you announced your pregnancy, and now I check in daily!)

    I feel like you wrote this blog to me. This weekend I decided I would do a little Goodwill and Salvation Army shopping as I am inspired by all of the great purchases I read about daily. This was my first attempt at GW and SA shopping. Well…NO LUCK. I couldn’t find one thing. I even googled all the locations in the Bay Area to find shops in the “richest” areas. I left disappointed in my ability to pick out something, anything. I even called my BF to tell her that I dont believe any of these good finds that I read about…but then this morning I read your post. And now I am thinking I have got to go back and try again! Thanks so much for your tips! Hopefully Ill find something this time!

  15. Thanks KB! For those that prefer online shopping Goodwill does offer an online auction site as well now. : )

  16. I just linked your excellent article. I am new to the thrifty world but oh my god. I have found everything at the thrift store. I live in Snotty bay area and just yesterday I scored Villeroy and Boch salad plates. 11 plates for $3.49 each. Plates which normally cost $20-30 each.

  17. D – sadly I must admit that I am in that boat with ya. One of the employees at my Goodwill knows my name and knows my week of pregnancy. She even will allow me to return clothing items because she knows that I don’t like to strip down to my spanx in the dressing room 🙂

    XO – KB

  18. I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now, but I never write. Shame on me! First, congrats on baby Bower!! I have two litlle boys, and they are a blast! Second, I work from home so thank you for providing some sanity to my day!! Third, to my point….sorry. Can you negotiate a price at goodwill?! I never have, and didn’t know. I have been eyeing a desk for my little one, but the price seems crazy in the goodwill world and beyond. It needs work- more than a paint job! Just thought I would ask. Thanks!!!

  19. Hi Sam –
    ABSOLUTELY. Ask for a manager and see if there is a day that the goodwill gives a discount on furniture purchases. In most cases, there is a day or a time period that the managers announce the discount. But if there is no discount…you can absolutely ask for one. They won’t always say yes but if you negotiate correctly – there is a good chance that you will receive anywhere from 5-25% off.

    Good luck!

    XO – kaybee

  20. Love this post! I don’t necessarily struggle in seeing how something will look in another space or how it can be improved with a little paint, etc. My problem is not being sure what items I should buy and what I shouldn’t. I try to be a minimalist and only buy things that have function, but I also like decorating. However, I don’t want to fill my home with lots of odds and ends or store a lot of decorative items I’m just going to forget about. Have any suggestions for my problem? Or am I on my own here?

  21. My boyfriend and I bought end tables at Salvation Army. We paid about twelve dollars for two of them – they even had glass shelves inside. Or so we thought. Here’s where it gets wonderful. When we peeked inside the tables, we saw the wrapped glass and assumed they were shelves…We got home, unwrapped the “shelves” and discovered that they were limited edition Frank Loyd Wright stained glass. Worth bunches.
    That was our best find, but much of our stuff comes from Salvation Army. Plus, as a teacher, I am constantly looking through the book section for my classroom library.

  22. Great, I’m now going to be dreaming about that tall dresser for days. It makes me want to drive to GA from Missouri just to buy it.
    I bought a hideous dresser for $1 at a garage sale and painted it white. It is one the the most beautiful pieces of furniture in my house now, and definitely the best bargain I’ve ever found. Great post!!

  24. Sam,

    I don’t know about negotiating a price, but our Goodwill where I live in Nashville has everything half off on the first Saturday of the month. I bought our TV stand for $15…down from $30. woohoo!

  25. KB this is a really inspiring post. My mom loves shopping at WG and SA and I was with her when I found my favorite thrift find: a Hugo Boss women’s jersey black dress. I put this dress on and it fit me like a glove! It’s a bit sexy with an open back but looks great with a cardigan. I think it was less than $30. You never know what you’re going to find…

  26. Well Kate, That is a problem for all of us…regardless of our personal styles. I am not a minimalist but I find that I will focus on purchasing only things that I can work into my ‘project room’…aka the space that I am currently working on. Right now I am trying to gather things to decorate a guest room…so I only purchase items that will be placed in that room, replacing something for that room, or gifted to someone I love. Dishware is an exception…I can’t help but buy it. Maybe focusing on a specific room or rooms at a time will help you….jot down what you would need before you go then stick to your list. It can be vague like “guest dresser decor” or “dining room art” but if it’s not on the list prior to shopping, well, we can cry together 🙂

    XO – katie

  28. GREAT post! I love it! i love thrifty finds and turning them into FAB pieces. Now if i could just find someone who can help me paint some of the pieces i find, my house would have a great facelift 🙂

  29. Hello there!
    Firs off I absolutely love your blog. You remind me a lot of myself. I love that you post about goodwill. We have a haven in our goodwill here. It gets all of the Target stuff that was on clearance for too long or that they just had too much of! I work at Starbucks and our whole store goes gaga over it! I like that you can also look past all of the ugly little odd things and picture it brand spanken new like me!! Thanks for sharing all your wisdom.
    Your fellow photographer and goodwill sprucer upper!

  30. This post is fabulous! I’m one of those people that thinks I’ll never be able to find anything in Goodwill (or a thrift store) because I don’t have an “eye” for it. But thanks to your tips I might just go in there with confidence!

  31. Katie – I love this post…and ironically, just left goodwill. Love stopping there on my lunch hour. I have a few tips – first, check and see if there’s any outlets near you. We have a goodwill outlet where everything is 50% off all the time. Now, they don’t usually have furniture, but I have gotten frames, lamps, fabric and tons of ceramic animals (to paint white) there. Second thing is really the size of the place. We have a couple tiny gw’s where like a previous poster – they throw things anywhere. Another good will is HUGE with a whole back room full of furniture. You really have to get to know the stores. Although, none of the cashiers know me by name…yet! Great post, tho.

  32. It’s funny you posted this today. I had just decided that I was going to venture out to Goodwill and try to decorate my house with mostly thrifted stuff. I was just thinking this morning that I’m just going to keep spray paint in stock. This post is very helpful to me. And they’re opening up a brand new one by me – Thanks!

  33. Pretty sure I bought one of those red and white pillows at Pier 1 before Christmas. It was on clearance there for less than $2.

  34. Definitely one of my favorite posts of yours! Minus the baby posts b/c those are all just so gosh darn cute

  35. AMEN!! Thanks for a great post. I now have oodles of spry paint in our garage thanks to my discovery of our local GW. I have turned an UGLY pink shell planter into a beautiful white accent that rivals something from Z Gallerie and scored a white scalloped edge plate like the one you write on for special occasions. It’s like a little surprise party each time!

  36. Wonderful post — I’m going to send it to my mom . . . because every time I go thrifting, she makes this face. With her nose scrunched up and says something like, “ew, don’t touch anything!” BUT THRIFTING IS THE BEST as you’ve outlined here. It just takes some looking beyond the surface (like with house hunting, really!) . . . so, again, great post!

  37. I volunteer at a similar kind of thrift shop, and I’m always surprised at what people find. There really are some amazing things.

  39. Katie, I love your posts. I think we might be friends in real life. I love thrift stores just as much as you (and esp a good garage sale), though my house isn’t near as cute as yours.’ If you’re even in KY, please let me know! I’ll hire you out to decorate my home in thriftstore wares 😀

    Thanks for the daily inspiration/laughs!

  40. goodwill does have some finds, but in my experience, the smaller thrift stores have smaller price tags! while putting together a wall collage of rubber ducks for our (still work-in-progress) master bathroom, we found 4 frames at the local ASPCA thrift store for an average of 30 cents each, while at goodwill the cheapest 4″x6″-ish frame we saw was more than $2!!!

    where-ever you shop, i totally applaud you and all others who buy re-used or take the DIY approach! hooray!

  42. I cracked up when I saw the pic of the 2 very brightly coloured bulls waiting to be spray painted white…the horse standing next to them halfway in the frame looks even more shocked…by what I don’t know…but…that horse is definitely shocked!

  43. Holy Cow Ms. Carter –
    That is hilarious!
    Maybe the horse is shocked because both of them are bulls – aka Males – with highheels, flowers, dresses and hearts painted on them. That horse is so sheltered, he probably has never seen a cross-dressing bull before 🙂
    Thanks for the laugh!
    XO – KB

  44. What a great post! I’m a huge fan of thrift stores, and still learned a lot from your great examples! I agree that you have to go slow – its really the best way to see inspiration in anything!

    My favorite thrift stores are actually Habitat for Humanity Restores – the ones around here are huge. I almost always find something I want!

  46. Katie – I love shopping at Goodwill, and have found many solid things that I have plied to my will with spray paint! This is a great post for those that can’t visualize. I also want to mention that pregnancy agrees with you, you are looking lovely in that last photo!

  47. OK, I’ll try it again. You’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head as far as my Goodwill not being as good as your Goodwill. I am THAT person. I have seen that exact shelf of dishware and whizzed by. There’s no way I would have given those lamps a second look. And I would have run screaming from those dressers. Yet when I saw the afters I would have said “Oh my Goodwill never has anything like that.”

    So, thanks to your post I’ve resigned myself to looking a little closer next time, and taking a healthy dose of imagination with me as well.

  48. Great tips! My favorite Goodwill find thus far has been a dark brown leather ottoman. It is identical to the ones at Pottery Barn for $600. It was in the window marked “sold” for several days but I stalked it and got it for $30 when the original owner did not pick it up. 🙂

  49. I love a good second hand store buy. Another good place is craigslist and ebay… I buy my kids’ clothes on ebay in bulk… I end up with new or barely used name brand clothes for less than I’d spend for walmart lower quality crud. And whenever I’m looking for a piece of furniture I start at the Salvation Army, rescue mission, and Goodwill!

  50. okay, picturing you with your lovely camera in goodwill just cracks me up…

    good tips! I actually do the same thing when cruising the isles.

  51. Great advice! I love taking icky things from Good Will and transforming them into something 100% better. Holly is a great example of that ~ her white pieces are to-die-for! My favorite thing to re-style is frames. I just wrote a post that included an old frame that used to be brown and is now painted white…and filled with something Brooke from {ohbrooke.com} sent me. Check it out! 🙂

  52. P.S. You should definitely check out Brooke site (previously mentioned, and linked on my blog) if you haven’t already. She is also preggers, and her mom recently made a crib bumper that is un-freaking-believable!

  53. I do think that there are some Goodwills that are better than others, but at the same time the best deal I ever found was at the Goodwill I tend to like the least. A pair of Tiffany champagne flutes. seventy nine cents each. Mint condition. I seriously almost cried.

  54. I love love love this post. love it. I really do get overwhelmed at the massive shelves full o stuff and the tip to go item by item is really helpful. I’ll do that next time. Thanks 🙂

  55. The Mr. and I made a big donation and decided to look around for fun. Lucky for us, we live in a town with a big art school. We found what can only be someone’s old art project for school… a simple painting of some peaches. It was the perfect size and color contrast for our light green kitchen. All for $3.50 – woohoo!

  56. I agree about looking often. I go at least once a week and find the neatest stuff. $50 1960s reproduction of a victorian couch dropped off by a sweet old guy who was its original owner. His couch looks lovely in my house. $3.50 chandelier that I spray painted to match one in my house. $5 vintage beaded purse, $7 vintage globe… the list goes on and on. I would say at least 1/2 of my stuff now comes from thrift stores.

  60. First of all, I LOVE your blog! I’ve been following for awhile, but have never commented. I’m addicted to thrift store shopping. Check out my greatest find here: http://ourdailyobsessions.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaway-results-price-my-spot.html It’s the shabby chic gorg mirror I found for only $15 buckaroos. I thought they were playing a joke on me! But yes, I’m a major fan of thrift store shopping. Love it! Oh, and I don’t think you’re weird. You’re hilarious! Good luck with the little one coming soon!

  61. Excellent post indeed.
    I live in St. Louis, and I really have been disappointed in Goodwill these past few months. There are three Goodwills here that I hit up to look through housewares and furniture, and I always find myself gasping at the prices. $200 for a 1970s plaid couch with rips and tears, $15 for a floor lamp that would probably cost $18 at a Target, etc.
    I love reading about all these blogs where people go in to Goodwill and score killer deals, but I just don’t have that experience.
    NOW, my luck with one-of-a-kind, non-chain thrift stores and yard sales is ENTIRELY different. 🙂 Oh how I long for garage sale season again!!

  62. I used to turn my nose up at Goodwill and thift shops until my mother in law took me to one. Not only does it have great finds as you pointed out, but it also carries all the seasonal leftovers/stock from Target including brand new book shelves and mirrors. I love going there. My husband and I are addicted. It doesn’t smell where we go.

  64. I think another thing you have to remember is that you won’t always score and that it takes more than one time of going to find good deals. The inventory is constantly moving so just because you went once and didn’t have luck keep going. I promise the one awesome score will keep you hooked. My most recent finds are a mail holder (cerca 1980s, nothing a little paint can’t fix), a little green creamer (for my love of all things kitchen and green), and a white stoneware almost in perfect condition Pfaltzgraff crock. I <3 goodwill!

  65. I hit up Goodwill this weekend as well! Unfortunately, I have to agree that mine is not as wonderfully stocked as yours, I walked outta there with a wine rack for $4!

  66. Katie, I just have one word to say: AWESOME!! This is one of my favorite posts from you yet!! I actually went into my local Goodwill store this past Saturday in hopes of scoring a deal, and I walked out with a $5 vintage hanging light fixture – sure, the wires may look like shoestrings right now and it is a hideous green color, but we can definitely fix that with a litle elbow grease!! Thanks for the inspiration girl 🙂

  67. Great post!! I’m huge thrift store fan and loved your tips. I actually have a really hard time going into “real furniture” stores and paying ridiculous prices for stuff I could grab used and make my own. Plus, I love bragging to my friends and family about all my bargain finds!

  69. Well my mom would think your her long lost daughter because she is a thrift store fanatic too…Goodwill, Salvation Army, ARC. It’s amazing what deals and cool items my mom finds…and I luckily snag. Growing up she would draaag me to Goodwills across town. I’m happy to say after 30 years I’m finally catching onto my mom’s thrift store passion thanks to great blogs like yours plus my limited decorating budget. I’ve noticed a great new trend…Goodwills and Salvation Army’s are finally popping up in the burbs.

  70. Excellent post! My local op shops/thrift stores are about a 1/16th the size of that Goodwill. They are stocked floor to ceiling with heaps of stuff and I always find it a little bit overwhelming and a lot disappointing. Your post has encouraged me to revisit my locals with fresh eyes.

  71. Our target stores give clearance and salvage items to our local goodwills, so we have scored many a good deal that way. I just bought a shabby chic brand round side table for $25 at our goodwill and it is still on sale at target for $95.I find lots of cute little white ceramic bowls and things to put jewelry and art supplies in and even a wire hanging light fixture that looks just like one that was featured in readymade magazine all for $9. Many a sweet deal to be had at those thrift stores.

  75. Awesome post. I tell my friends that I like to go “Goodwill hunting”. I must admit I’ve never made my way over to the housewares but when preggers with my son I found the perfect dresser for his nursery. It was a good solid piece that just needed some updated hardware and a good polishing.

  78. Firstly, love your blog. I only hope someday mine will be as good! Haha!

    Secondly, great post on thrifting. My MIL first introduced me to the art and I love it! My best thrift purchase was a Coach purse of $25.

    Happy New Year!

  79. My favorite Goodwill find is a pewter ashtray (keep reading, I don’t smoke!) engraved with the buffalo image from the buffalo nickel (see http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=5694). I went to University of Colorado and our mascot is the buffalo, which is why I love it. The ashtray now sits on top of my I-bought-it-off-Craigslist-and-painted-it-black-dresser as a jewelry catch-all. Mr. Buffalo ashtray cost only $4.

  80. This is slightly off topic, but it is in response to a woman who tried on a coat and found a wad of money in it. I probably would have kept the money, too. It would have been impossible for the Goodwill people to find the owner of the coat. What really upset me to the point where I even made boyfriend listen to me debate this comment I am making was that the buyer did not buy the coat. If you buy the coat, you can keep the money inside. If you try it on, take the money, and don’t buy it, that is stealing. From Goodwill. Which is a store that is trying to help people that truly cannot help themselves. If it had been a purse, gloves, or a belt shoved in the pocket would you have put that in your purse and taken it home? No. So if you are going to keep the wad of money, the least that could be done was buy the ugly coat. You could turn around it give it to someone less fortunate. I LOVE to shop at thrift stores, and it is a wonderful way to help those in need. I never negotiate when I shop at a thrift store because my money is going to those that need it.

  83. Okay I am a single Mom of two on a very tight budget. I agree you can find awesome accessories. Please keep this in mind. I have to read to keep myself sane. YOu can find amazing deals on paperback books and hardcovers. Kids need a book for school. Look at your goodwill. Amazingly I have raised a wonder daughter who thinks she is aprincess, but will also donate her whole summer for mission work. Thankfully we have learned this.. .. hit the clothes racks at Goodwill. My daughter finds Hollister, American Eagel, Ann Taylor, and many many more. I also found an awesome very versatile black jacket. Please sit down. ..this may shock you. The jacket still had the Talbots price tag on it. . . . for $96.00!!!!!!! I paid $6.00 for it.!
    If you dig you can find many items with the price tag still on them. I also found a blouse from Dillards witha $38.00 price tag on it, and it was the color of the week at Good will, so I purchased the blouse for $2.50!!! Don’t limit yourself to the accessories dig a little in the clothes you will be amazed at what you find.

  84. Great post! I’m a total Goodwill/Value Village addict! Right before Christmas I scored a new with tag ornate wooden tray from Horchow for $2.99 (about $125 in savings!), and today I came home with a pair of Miss Sixty skinny jeans for $.99 and Anlo trouser jeans for $9.99. Those jeans both retail for over $150! Yeah thrift (and for all the Purel and laundry detergent that follows). Your blog rocks!

  85. Hi! I loved this post! I found your blog after your father-in-law posted a link on FB. He is a proud Dad and Grandpa to be and we hear and see pictures of you guys during his trips to Eleuthera. (We now live in Freeport.) Wish there were some Goodwills here for me to search through! I included our family site so you could put a face with the name.

  86. Hi Alicia!
    SO Funny! I see pictures of you guys on their fridge every time we go to visit! Your hubbies name is Brad, right? It’s so weird that I remember that…it’s probably because it’s my big brother’s name. And your kids??! Oh my goodness – they are adorable. Anyhoo…I can’t wait to check out your blog…
    XO – KB

  88. Hi Katie,

    First of all great blog! I stumbled upon it last night and have enjoyed reading lots of your posts. This article really caught my eye because like some of the others who have written I have shopped my local Goodwill many times and have never found much of anything. I was about to give up but after reading your tips I decided to give it another shot today. I am sooooo glad I did. I’m going to brag a little and tell you that I scored a big apothecary jar for only $3! I saw these earlier today and much smaller versions were $15-$20 at Michaels so I felt like I hit the jackpot when I spotted it. I think the lady at the checkout thought I was nuts because I was sooo excited about it. Oh well! It looks fantastic in my freshly painted bathroom. Now just trying to decide what to put in in first.

    Keep up the fantastic blog. I’ll be checking in daily now.

  89. My mom gave me a gorgeous serving tray that belonged to my grandma. A couple of weeks ago I was at our [yes I’m in there so much I consder it “mine” :)] thrift store and I found a smaller version of this tray! It had a slightly different pattern which makes me think that they were part of a set at one point. At $.75 how could I pass that up? So now I have a reunited set!
    Making mental notes of your wishlist is an excellent recommendation. However, if you’re like me, and you have a gazillion decorating/do-it-yourself magazines with a bagillion dog-eared pages you could start a scrapbook of your faves. Something small enough to bring with you on your thrifty adventures.

  90. I know this is a pretty old post, but I had to chime in. I love love LOVE thrift store shopping. If only I could turn it into a career! (maybe someday) My best find was just a few weeks ago & kind of odd to most people…I found a Medela Pump in Style that is pristine! All the extra parts are missing (which is fine because I have all of them from the pump I rented for my first babies)(I have twins), but it works perfectly & I know I’ll use it when we have another child. These suckers cost $250+ brand new (I paid about $9)! & if I change my mind & don’t get pregnant again, I can always sell it. It’s much harder to get out with 16 month old twins, but the volunteers at our Habitat ReStore are getting pretty familiar with my guys.

  91. whoa Rachel…nice find. You could totally use the profit of that thing to start a little online resale business!
    Happy Thrifting!
    xo – kb

  92. Thanks for linking back to this, I am a new blog follower. I have recently discovered the joy of thrifting, and I have to say… I’m now an addict. We are on the Dave Ramsey debt plan, which I despise, so I had to figure out a way to decorate on the cheap. Thrift store + spray paint= my new way of life.

    We went to a local thrift store this weekend and I got a cheese dome with wooden base for $1 (hello, cheese dome, you will become a cloche very soon…) and three awesome old books for only 10 cents each! You can’t beat that with a stick, man.

    All that rambling to say: I love your blog. You are awesome.

  94. Oh my goodness, you are a hoot, and I love your blog! You are so fun. I have been shopping goodwill and thrift since HS (now 44) and everyone is amazed at the finds. Just takes patience! Thanks for the great site! Can’t wait to read more!

  95. Ok, here is my question…how do you sanitize fabrics and such you buy at a second hand place? I love Goodwill, but I steer clean of anything “fabric” things because I don’t know how to wash them. I see a blanket and think of a little boy peeing the bed 10 years ago and don’t know if its still contaminated! Or a tablecloth I think I could cut up and use the material for other things, but what if it had milk spilled on it by a 5 year old in 1963 and smells funny when I get it home? Should I just not be crazy and throw stuff in the washer and call it good? The pillows you showed here, how would you clean them? Or what about furniture, like an upholstered chair? What if a puppy had a potty accident on it, and under the fabric is peepee soaked foamy stuff?

  96. Melani – this is a totally legit concern. And here’s what you do…if it is something that is washable, WASH IT! Check the tag to make sure that it is in fact washable and that it won’t shrink (like 100% cotton). If it is washable AND you can use hot water – double wash it with super hot water (clothing and tablecloths, etc. can be boiled on the stove top in a giant pot if need be). Basically the thing you want to do with this step is sanitize. You may not be able to remove dried in stains but you know it won’t have icky bacteria. If you pull it out of the washer and it still smells a bit funky after your double wash, DON’T DRY IT! You can use a bit of regular white vinegar in your washer or baking soda if the items still smell and wash them again. As for pillows, check the tag to see if they are washing machine safe. If they fit in your particular washer, you can use the washer to sanitize and remove smells. Upholstered furniture is a different story. If you are planning on keeping the existing upholstery, then you can use a steam cleaner and some fabric febreeze. My sister did that with her oversized armchair and it looks and smells brand new. If you think that there was a puppy accident, more than likely the fabric will need to be steam cleaned and if the smell continues, you might want to consider replacing the foam and batting…which is very easy to do.
    Hope this helps! Happy thrifting!
    xo – kb

  97. Saw you on Nate then found your blog. Love, love, love it and staying up way too late looking at all your fun projects. This a really great explanation of how to shop at Goodwill. Stopping in A LOT is sooo the key to Goodwill shopping. Sometimes there’s great stuff and sometimes it’s a bust. But that’s what makes it so fun, you never know what you’ll find.

  99. I am repainting some Goodwill furniture I found on half price day. On the 3rd Wednesday of each month everything in the store in half off the cheap price. I go early and in some cases when I have time I go the day or so before and see what they have. I live in the DFW Texas area so I’m not sure they all have this special day each month. I found a large dresser, smaller dresser and an end table for less than $100 and decided to use the smaller dresser as a bedside table with my high bed. I had seen this done in Martha Stewart Living. I wanted another dresser the same height and size so I went to Craigs List. Over a couple of months I not only found the exact same smaller dresser (originally purchased at Haverty’s I was told by one of the sellers) to match but I also found a tall dresser than I converted to a Media Cabinet by replacing the top drawer with a piece of wood inside. The tall dresser I call a high boy had some broken trim and with the smaller dresser I found on Craig’s for $35 I got a hutch that I didn’t need but had a great big piece of the same trim. The fact that all these pieces are from exactly the same set is the amazing part. I have about $150 invested in all six of the pieces. For $35 I found a headboard that coordinates well with the set and I’m painting it and adding an upholstered section to match a chair I redid in my community college class. I found that UGLY fabric covered chair at a thrift store as well. I’m addicted, can you tell?

  100. This is exactly how I think about thrift shopping! It’s so exciting when you find a “treasure!” I actually got a desk chair like the one in that PB office pic at Goodwill for $11!

  103. Great post! Goodwill is one of my favorite places! On Wednesdays and Sundays all clothing with a certain color tag is 99 cents. And everything else with that color tag is half off. Over half of my wardrobe costed 99 cents! I also have over 50 pair of shoes- most costed around $2.50! These are all name brand things! Also, if you like to sew, buying an ex-lg dress for 99 cents is a cheaper way to get fabric for small projects!

  104. One of my hobbies is visiting about 5 Goodwills in my area pretty much on a weekly basis…. I have repainted and upcycled so much furniture in the past year it is crazy! Goodwill is a WONDERFUL place to find awesome furniture pieces! Don’t even get me started on the awesome housewares finds as well… You just never know what you are going to come across. I too scan the high end store catalogs to see what is trending/hot/classic and go from there. I am building up a portfolio of finished projects. =) LOVE to save and reuse furniture!!! In fact it is cold right now here in Chicago, so my kitchen will become my paint studio today! I have a nice heavy round wood table that needs painting. It will pair nicely with the two ice cream parlor styled chairs I redid… =) Happy hunting everyone!!!

  105. This is great info! I shop at Good will often but not with your trained eye… but I did recently score a Franciscan ware jar for $6 that is worth at least $50. I just happened to be familiar with the brand. You just never know!

  106. Just found this post, and loved the encouragement you gave to readers to think outside the box! I’m an avid thrift shopper, and one note I have to make is that sometimes it pays to drive a little further into a nice neighborhood with a relatively-high socio-economic status- while you can find lots of fun things at any thrift store you go to, you can often find brand-name items or valuable vintage pieces at these neighborhoods’ thrift stores for a steal! I often go to these ones looking for clothes, and have found a Dolce and Gabana skirt, and two pairs of Salvatore Ferragamo flats, each on different visits!

  107. The power of Pinterest made me find this long ago article. I just had to say that it wasn’t a CD holder from 1996, but actually older. When I was a kid we had them to store our LP records, but I can totally see someone in the 90s using it for the same thing. Great tip to reuse it for letters.

  108. Great ideas! And here’s another from a Value Village devotee in Canada — that would be me! — or Boutique VVs, as we call it :). Frames! You might not like what’s inside them when you see them, but I have saved a fortune buying cheap pix at VVs and repurposing them for pictures I want to hang. My greatest find ever? A full length blonde beaver fur coat, for $20! The staff member pricing it obviously thought it was faux fur. I won’t promote the fur market by buying new (as if I could afford to anyway), but I’m okay with recycling the already existing ones. It is drop dead stunning!

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