Don’t waste your money on a bargain.

Happier than ever to get something cheap

With the cost-of-living skyrocketing, we have never been happier about a shopping trend than we are about thrifting.

For a couple of years now, our local pawnshop and second-hand store have been the first place we visit whenever we need a household item or odd piece of furniture.

During our thrifting excursions, we have come to realise that not all bargains are worth it, and some thrifts can end up being expensive.

Some of the things we have wasted money on include:

A kettle, a clothes iron, a hair straightener and a toaster.

We have come to the conclusion that anything with a heating element is best bought new.

Bedding, matrasses and shoes are the same. The golden rule is to spend money on what comes between you and the earth. This means that, just like you shouldn’t skimp on buying tires for your car, you shouldn’t try to thrift sheets, shoes and matrasses.

The same does not, however, go for bed bases. Unless you can see or feel that it is unstable, there is no reason why you can’t buy a second-hand base and spend whatever you save on a new matrass.

Be wary of moving (or missing) parts

We wouldn’t suggest you buy a 1000-piece puzzle or a board game at your local pawn shop. Nor would we go for a flatpack of self-assembly furniture or electronics with a lot of lose components.

Wood is good.

If you steer clear of laminated, painted and otherwise covered wood (things that hide inferior quality wood behind paint and stick-on woodgrain) wood can be a great thrift. Just like leather, wood is a “living” material and it can be refinished and made as good as new with a scrap of sandpaper and a bit of furniture oil. You can also tell if the wood is solid by the weight of the item, and by looking underneath and around the back at the joinery and any visible screws and nails.

Basic electronics should be fine.

Most thrift stores will allow you to test basic electronics like computer monitors, TV’s and speakers before you buy it. Chances are that if it works in-store, it will probably be fit for purpose in your home.

Kitchen tools

Plastic cutting boards, steel and plastic utensils and glass or porcelain items are another easy thrift and a great way to save money. These items are perfect second-hand candidates, as what you see is what you get. Mixing bowls cake pans and Pyrex baking dishes are great second-hand treasures!

Art is in the eye of the beholder

Another space where we have found a lot of joy is whenever we have thrifted artworks. We have a bohemian, maximalist design aesthetic which means a Tretchikoff reproduction in an ornate gilt frame is our thrifting holy-grail. For now, we haven’t found it yet, but we have a number of wonderful smaller artworks (old car posters and saccharine animal watercolours) that bring us great joy! If it makes you smile, buy it!

Sometimes, all that glitters IS gold.

One of the lesser mentioned thrifts is old jewellery. Usually, antique stores will have a couple of cases of older jewellery, and this is where you should take your time.

One of our great finds is a perfect silver Art Nouveau ring bought for R30, now valued by an expert at R7 000. We have also found a marquisette broach that perfectly matched one of our grannies  lost, and a number of lovely, fun and retro Bakelite bracelets and earrings.

As long as you thrift thoughtfully, there is no reason to pay full price for most of your household items. Get your mixing bowls and spatulas (and kitchen tables and wall art) from Pawn Stars instead of Yuppiechef and keep your cash for a rainy day.

Looking for some quirky thrift shops?  We found a few.