I really like going for thrift and furniture consignment stores looking for original retro furniture, really do!
For me, this is exactly like a scavenger hunt… but it of course has ‘dark sides’.
Frequently persons complain regarding them ‘obsession’ to the nearby second hand stores and also them being unable to say No to low-priced deals, 100 % useless for them.
The end result of this ‘habit’ is usually a storage room packed with useless (or unsuitable for them homes) retro furniture that they later on decide to sell or get rid of one way or another.
There are a few interesting points about them ‘impulse’ thrift purchases:
1. All the money spent over 1 year on not-so-indispensable objects might have been invested in some thing far more useful or necessary.
2. All of this buying require them to redesign their houses all the time to find a spot for everything they got. Really feel for them!
Then I thought to myself: “You have a passion for furniture consignment stores and thrift stores as much as they do. Why then don’t you share your recommended solutions to this impulse-buying habit?”
How I stopped wasting money and began saving for those things I truly desire: a teak sideboard.
At the first place, every time I stop to some thrift store or consignment store, I allow myself a budget: 50 euro. Is your choice how much money you intend to spend every single time, I on average choose fifty euro and it truly does work. I learned that the more permissive you’re with yourself, the more difficult it might be to stick to the magical 4 rules below.
The magical 4 guidelines to save cash while you are thrifting.
1. I go in the end.
This is especially true for flea markets. Going – say – one hour approximately before the closing time, you may have far more possibilities to get what you need at the price you desire it. This is specially true for the massive furniture that the seller might not want to bring back. I call it the ‘Critical Seller Hour’.
On the last hour or so, many sellers have to accomplish the largest amount of sales as is possible which means that they are even more ready to accept negotiations and reductions than they’re at the beginning of the day; it’s natural…other wise they would not have a lucrative day!
2. I avoid using the car.
Yes, I know that this may come such as a shock for most of you. If you go by public transportation or on your motorcycle, or even just if you share the car with others that would like to thrift with you, you simply won’t have plenty of space to carry crappy stuff and you will be obligated to choose!
Ok… maybe you are wondering…and let’s suppose I find that wonderful retro furniture I’ve been trying to find a long time, then I can’t buy it! No doubt you can, you could leave a deposit and come back later with your car
3. I have a ‘thinking walk’ before buying.
If I notice something I love, I go to get a walk before I ask for the price…Going around and having time to think it over is comparable to counting till 10 just before saying something
Whilst I am having my ‘thinking walk’, I always ask myself:
a. Do I really want it? b. Where would I place it at home?
Having a walk around also can help to understand the frequent value for that kind of retro object and be sure that the one you have seen isn’t over-priced; it happens often!
4. I never say OK I BUY IT.
If you’re absolutely positive that you really would like that object, that you have the appropriate place for it and that it does not cost too much compared to others in the market: go for it but don’t buy it.