Containers and buckets. They have their uses.

When I go thrifting, I'm not always looking for things to resell. In fact, many things are just for me. Clothes and books are easy pickings. You'd be surprised how many designer dress shirts I've been able to pick up at the old Value Village.

Another thing that I keep my eye out for is small containers. Little buckets are perfect for candygrams! What's a candygram, you may ask? A bunch of candy, loaded into a container and decorated, complete with witty piece of prose, expressing your love. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

The one pictured is all about the smores, you know, chocolate and marshmallow. But you can add any kind of candy. Usually you try to use the candy name in your note. "You're the biggest Smartie pants I know" with a box of Smarties or "You're out of this world" with a Mars bar.

Those little buckets that are used for plants are perfect. Look for one with a handle!

You can also be more creative and shove your candy into something else, like an old Nintendo or a coffee mug. Actually, vintage mugs are perfect for Christmas candygrams. Just keep your eye out for a Santa mug and throw some candy canes in there.

Vintage Sewing Table? Pass. . . No Profit Here.

I was doing my thrift store rounds the other day and I came across another of those vintage sewing machine tables. You know, the kind with the old sewing machine that pops up from underneath? I didn't have a camera on me but it looked pretty similar to one of these:

Now, I'm no sewing furniture expert, but I recognized the Singer brand. These old sewing tables are pretty cool looking and you see plenty of them around. When looking at a piece like this, I would consider the following:

1. Does the sewing machine work? Answer almost always, NO.

2. Can I fit it in my car? Answer, NO.

3. Does it have any value? Answer, that depends.

Most likely the value is around $100 if it looks good. Apparently if you can find a pre-1930s version it could be worth significantly more. I also found a few Japanese brands on ebay for several thousand dollars, but these seem to be the exception to the rule.

So, unless you have an eye for antiques and know what to look for, pass these up. Hard to lug around, hard to store, ambiguous value. . . not the best item for turning into a profit. Although, they would make an interesting art or construction project, if you have one of those handy thumbs.

Thrift Store Sales: Don't Go There!

As if things at your local thrift store aren't cheap enough, there's something incredibly exciting to look forward to:

Thrift Store Sales!


That's right. Every store has sales and thrift stores are no exception. These aren't your basic price reductions like 10% off for students and seniors. Sure. Those exist too. But I'm talking about the big ones. Value Village has them. The Salvation Army has them. 50% off! 75% off! All clothing, toys, housewares etc..

It's advertised in advance. The cashier tells everyone who checks out: "Don't forget about our big sale next week!" 


Sales are great for everyone. The customer gets used stuff for cheap. The store moves some inventory. It's win win, right?

Don't get sucked into thrift store sales!


I've mentioned how you need to do your research. And you're competing with hundreds of other people to find things worth reselling. Now multiply the hundred of people by 10. Thousands of people are at these sales. I've been to the 50% off sale at Value Village. It's elbow to elbow! Every man for himself.


You aren't going to find anything! It will be picked over, torn apart and, most importantly, purchased already. 


So after all that research, you're out to find some gold at the thrift store. Now, instead of going on your terms, you're going to try to save 50 cents and go at the same time as everyone else! 


Come on! Use some self control! Thrift store sales are for suckers. You won't find anything. Stay home and watch TV. 


Before you give up all hope, there is a plus side.


 Here's how you can profit from thrift store sales:


Go the day before. 

That's it. It's simple. Check the store the day before and you'll have a better chance of finding your hot item. Common sense works in your favour here. Since everyone else is going to wait for the sale, you will be competing with less.

I've seen this in action so many times. As I stroll through the store the day before a big sale, I look extra hard for great items. Other shoppers are there, it's true, but not too many.

Make sure you look in obscure places, because those people that didn't know about the sale realize their mistake and want to come back the next day. But they already may have found something good that they don't want to part with. So they hide it. To save a few pennies, they're willing to take that risk that their item will be there tomorrow. I've found things inside other things. Women's clothes in the men's section. Stuff shoved behind books, under toys, on the top shelves.

The secret to thrift store sales is to avoid them, but not ignore them. Time your shopping to happen before the sale days and the odds go up significantly in your favour.