Firstly a HUGE thank you to everyone for the "get well" wishes! I am feeling MUCH better today, so there's no doubt that I will be going to work tomorrow. Also a big thank you to everyone who gave me such yummy ideas for virtually no-effort meals! I'll have to incorporate a hardly-any-effort meal for my next menu plan. (I can't think why I didn't think of doing it before!) I know that all of your ideas will be something I'll be referring to quite often in the future.
This post on op-shopping tips has been on my mind for awhile. It was not that long ago that I used to walk into op-shops, not find a single thing and walk out again swearing that I wouldn't go in. My year of not buying brand-new changed that. One of the skills I learned during that year was how to source things second-hand - and op shops plays a HUGE role in this.
Tip 1: Learn how to look at items when they are NOT looking their best.
This is the biggest adjustment for me and one that took time for me to get the hang of. When I'm in a shop that sells brand new, *everything* looks great and tempting. You see items all the time that you just *know* would look great at home or on you.
Now next time you're in a shop like that, imagine that great item you want not displayed tastefully with strategic lighting...instead imagine that same item rolled up and shoved into a corner full of odds and ends. Imagine that item perhaps lightly covered in dust...or standing next to the most unlikely items - eg candleholder next to a stack of dusty tupperware.
Now hold that mental picture... THAT is what you normally get at an opshop. The item is still great - after all, you've seen it look great - but its no longer displayed to look the best it can be. Op shops are full of great items - most are not displayed in the same way as other shops - its up to YOU to make it look great.
Here's an example (and this is where I get to show off my new bed linen).
A few weeks ago, I went to Goulburn for a stint of op-shopping. I went to Smith Family (heard echos from ONC* op-shoppers "oh Smith Family, how I've missed you") and found this queen size patchwork bedspread with matching pillow, slightly dusty, all rolled up on the floor and shoved under some curtains for $14.50. I bought it despite dubious looks from my mum (hehe, remember mum?!). I went home, gave it a quick wash and line-dried and...
Like I said, it only had one pillow (the one closest to the camera). So I found some almost similar fabric off cuts at Salvos that I made into pillow cases. My friend Karen also gave me these little blue cushions when I moved into the house and I had been using for the kid's "couch". I decided to give my kids some other cushions and nabbed the cushions for myself. Added cost of fabric offcuts = $5.
So now for the grand total of $19.50, I have some very nice bed linen. I knew it would be fantastic, only 'cause I could picture it looking fantastic after a wash and some added pillows.
Tip 2: Learn how to clean or repair things
This kinda goes hand-in-hand with the above. If you spot something and you see that it has a stain on it or has a small tear, then make sure before you buy it that you can get the stain off or the repair job would not be so onerous. Again, it takes time to learn how to do this. But the better you get at it, then the more items you will be able to get at the op shops.
Tip 3: Be nice to staff and do NOT haggle.
Actually this tip goes for any kind of shopping. I find that I get better deals and/or service if I am nice to staff... at the very least, it makes for a more pleasant time.
And as for the haggling...well if you think the item is too expensive, then don't buy it. Op shops are there to raise money for their various social programs.
If you truly need it but can not afford it, you may want to talk to the staff about getting a referral to their programs...and you'll find that you will get the item for free.
Tip 4: Learn to look at things in a different way.
This tip would apply to crafters and sewers out there. Just because its a sheet, doesn't mean it has to stay a sheet. A sheet could become a dress. A tray could become a side table. Let your inner reconstructionist go!
Tablecloth I turned into a dress. I felt it was ugly as tablecloth but cute as a casual dressTip 5: You WILL find it.
If you don't find what you're looking for, then don't settle for second best! Walk away and have faith that you will eventually come across that perfect item.
Sometimes, a little tribute (via donation of unwanted but still good items) to the op-shop faeries is all that's needed to improve your op-shop karma.
Tip 6: Always bring your own bag.
Some op shops - like Salvos or Anglicare's Bargain Hunter - have shopping bags you can buy, but most don't.
If you are an op-shopper, what are your top tips?
Edited to add, if you are in ONC*, and you don't know where the op shops are or what they're like, check out: I op therefore I am - ACT Its a great site and I especially love the spreadsheet with locations, opening hours and quick synopsis of each opshop.
*ONC = Our nation's capital
12 comments:
Amen to everything you said. My tip is that I have found most donation occur on the weekends, so I like to shop on Tuesday or Wednesday if I can as they have had a chance to put out all the new stuff. I have also found that if you are buying a large quantity of something (like yarn) they will give you a better price without asking.
My best tip is to go to the same one as often as you can. I frequent my local just about every day on my way back home after dropping off my boys at school.(only a few minutes and I know where things go!) I also get to know the ladies and I have had the dubious pleasure of having the odd thing kindly offered to me first.
Yay for scoring at Op Shops!
I also found that it helps to be an ordinary size when it comes to Op Shopping, or to be small (I'm talking clothes here, which is most of the OpShopping I do).
When I go with a group of friends, those that get the best stuff are inevitably the thinnest and smallest of us.
I'm tall (6 feet tall/180 cms), and really struggle to find trousers and shoes - I take extra long size 10 jeans, and a size 11 shoe :-(
But I manage to get great vintage finds (like the one I talked about here) in shirts and tops, because size isn't so much a problem there.
You're right about imagining the potential of items. I've bought clothes just for the buttons, relegating the rest of the item to scrap fabric. You have to be creative and imagine to potential. But you save so much money!
Thanks for a great post!
But you can't be too ordinary
a size - I'm a size 14-16
(along with half the women in
Australia) and never see many
clothes in those sizes - it's
my very big or very small
friends who seem to find stuff.
And go there as often as possible
- I went to Vinnies twice in
one day recently and found
completly new stock in the
afternoon.
I am rather large, size 20-22 and have found 2 or 3 op shops that are obviously donated to by curvier women. I also giggle that on the "larger sizes" racks are clothes 14-16 etc, sometimes even these 'larger' sizes (normal sizes if you ask me!) are in "maternity" in some op shops. I check out all racks, just in case. ALL my clothes excpet undies and bras are from op shops, including shoes. Again, size 11 is hard to find, but does come up occasionally. Happy hunting everyone - and thanks E for this great post.
Great tips everyone!
Ladyhawthorne - ooh yes! Finding out when they stock is a good one. One op shop near me has different days for different types of items - eg: new furniture stock is usually out on the floor on Monday, clothes on Tuesday.
Irene - yes!! I know that I get better prices at my local op shops because I'm a familiar face. :)
Daharja - it was your post on clothing on a budget that made me remember that this is a topic I've been wanting to talk about! For those who haven't seen Daharja's post - please go read it! Its a great article.
Barbara - yes, that's happened to me too! Gone twice (once by myself and the second time with my mum to get her opinion on something) and new stuff the second time!
Jess - you are one of the op shop queens!! You find such great stuff all the time. You definitely have the eye for hidden treasure. :)
I love the dress made from the tablecloth. Did you use a pattern, and if so what one?
Ditto re the tablecloth dress - I'd love a parrern, or details of where I could get one
thanks :)
Hello Anonymous and Margo! I used a vintage pattern I got from the op shop. I took a picture of the pattern here: http://consumption-rebellion.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-first-sewing-from-pattern-project.html
But its my understanding that its a simple petticoat dress from the 60s...perhaps there's something similar out there online?
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wow., that is so amazing. great stuff.
I bought my graduation dress from an Op-shop, it only cost me $30 and it was gorgeous - NO ONE else had the same as me, and I stood out... Everyone made comments, and often looked disgusted/shocked when I said I got it from a charity shop... If only they knew most of my clothes were from op-shops.. Maybe then they wouldn't be so judgemental...
OP shopping FTW!
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