I have gotten comments from various people, that new furniture was out of the budget. Then I have heard from others that what they have seen in thrift stores is nothing but flea infested crap. This is one case where the truth is middle ground.
First off, not all thrift stores are the same. Within a 6 mile radius of our home is at least 6 different thrift stores. Each is run by a different non profit group like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and etc. All of them sell furniture. Some more than others. There is no guarantee as to what they will have available on any given day. The furniture maybe worn, but clean.
It was about three years ago, we were looking for a coffee table. When we moved. Our old coffee table was just to big for the place we just moved too. Since we our savings was drained from the move we could not afford a new coffee table. So one Saturday morning we started cursing the local thrift stores.
Like when I go shopping anywhere, I have a set plan and objectives. Price, specific item and quality should be three things that set in every shoppers mind before heading out the door.
The Number One Rule – Stay focused on what I am looking to buy. This applies to shopping for anything. Advertisers and marketing people know if they can get you emotionally distracted you will buy almost anything. That is why you must keep in mind be going shopping is know what you need. Look at only those things. There is a wide variety of things you can find in a thrift store it is easy to get side track.
Number Two – If you need a coffee table, or a dining room table or chairs, only spend time looking at the ones that look and feel solid. What I mean by solid is sturdy. They maybe used, but they should not fall apart in 6 months to a year.
Number Three - Know how you are going to take it home. Some thrift stores have a truck that does pick up and deliveries. For some thrift stores a big selling point is buy that piece of furniture in the morning and have it delivered that afternoon. However, realize it may cost you $15 or more for that delivery.
Here is one good argument for every family to have a pick up truck or a good friend that owns one. The need to transport large items from point A to point B does come up quite often.
Back to the coffee table. It was the second thrift store we stopped at where we found this maple all hardware coffee table. It did not move when we pushed on it. Except for some paint in a couple of places it was like new. To our surprise it was only $5. We were thinking about $10. Since it was small enough it fit in our mini van.
