Apr
6
2011
I found myself at a thrift store about a week ago, one that I haven’t visited in a long time. I really didn’t need anything, but since I was on that side of town, I decided to check it out. In the past, any good must be purchased, but now I apply my new shopping skills before buying anything. Here’s a little bit of what that looks like.
- Browse first, pick up later. I shop without picking up anything. I look for things I like, then once I’m done, I go back and get the things I remember. If it didn’t stick in my head, it’s not worth buying.
- Do I need this? This question doesn’t mean I can’t have it if I don’t need it. What it does mean is looking at the big picture. Why do I want it? How long will I use it? Will I even use it more than once of twice? What item will I get rid of to get this with my one for one model?
- Can I repurpose something I have, borrow or trade for this? Basically I’m asking, “Is there a better way?” Let’s take a tool for example. Do I have something that will do the same job? Could I borrow or rent this item? I look at all other options.
I did something a little different on this shopping trip. I took photos of everything I would have put in the cart or considered buying right away. Here’s the photos.
Things I didn’t buy.
This extremely well build patio coffee table would have come home with me. I don’t need, I would barely have space for it, but it was a screaming deal at $29.99. I still want it just looking at the photo of it. I love the modern style, and the way this was built, it could serve as a storm shelter.
Awesome cap, too tight for my head. Continue reading
no comments | tags: 314, big picture, borrow, browse, buy, buying, cap, charity, clothing, coffee table, day, daytrip, everything, fashion, floral, forever 21, grandma's sofa, hat, knit, love bites, lucky brand, modern, need, need vs. want, or not to buy, outdoor, patio, power tools, propaganda, purchase, purchases, redwood, rent, repurpose, retail, share, spend, steel, storm shelter, sweater, t-shirt, table saw, that is the question, the buckle, the gap, thrift store, to buy, trade, want | posted in downsizing, the challenge, thrift store
Jan
9
2011
Original post: January 1, 2009
About two months ago, I got a really cool pair of shoes from a friend’s teenage daughter. She said she was not wearing them anymore, so I took them home with me. The shoes were awesome, great colors and artwork! As soon as I got home, I put them on and went outside to play with the boys. We got out the sidewalk chalk… well our version of sidewalk chalk… and started the outside art process. I drew the skull that was on my shoe.
I had seen lots of merchandise with artwork like my shoes, but I didn’t really know much about it. Ed Hardy. Stuff that people are paying insane amounts of money for. $109 for a short sleeve t-shirt?!?!?!? Are you kidding me? Continue reading
no comments | tags: abercrombie, abercrombie and fitch, aberration, art, artwork, bedding set, beings, cheaper, christmas, clothes, clothing, clothing line, cool shoes, day 227, ed, ed hardy, expensive, express, expression, financial, financial prostitution, flashback, go shop, hardy, insanity, jeans, laundry theory, like, line, logo, lucky brand, macys, magnitude, mall, marco, marshalls, merchandise, money, old, pants, personal statement, pillowcases, priceless, propaganda, propagandistically, prostitution, quality, returns, self, shirt, shoes, short sleeve, sidewalk chalk, support, sweatshirt, t's, t-shirt, tattoo, teens, the buckle, value, wardrobe, zombie | posted in excessable, flashback, save $, the challenge