City Overflow
This weekend we inherited a wonderful old wood and velvet armchair from someone in our building who no longer had room for it. He is also giving us a small buffet. This happens when people end up living in smaller spaces, apartments, condos and townhouses.
The alleys are full of discarded furniture and the thrift shops abound with tables, chairs and couches that are no longer required or wanted.
The days around moving day are often the best for finding treasures.
The thing about the city is that people here are mostly working, and replacing a piece of furniture is just a part of the expenses they have figured out. So much is passed on, and if you are open to be the recipient you can be showered with this good luck.
One man's waste.... well you know the rest.
Craft Fairs
We live in a lovely condo near a great big Heritage Hall that hosts weddings, receptions, dances, parties and such. This time of the year every weekend it is booked for craft fair. For a $2 entry I can see the most wonderful art work.
I rarely buy, or I buy a small item to support the artists, but, oh, the magic I see for the money. Hand knit items, hand made jams, and lovely jewellry and pottery. Because there is an entry fee the tables are more art-work than craft and that suits me fine.
Today's craft fair is a Farmer's Market craft fair and so it will have such wonderful offerings as locally made goat cheese, jams, jellies, chocolates, preserves and much more. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours in the afternoon.
Hidden Treasures
One thing I love to do on a Saturday is check out a few of our city's thrift shops. Where I live there are three good ones within a few blocks of my home. Here are my guidelines for thrift shopping:
1. Go often. Just drop in for a moment or two on your walks and have a quick look-see. You never know what new stuff has just come in.
2. Only buy clothing that you love. There is so much available and if it doesn't quite fit or isn't perfect, just put it back. You will probably just end up giving it back to the thrift shop.
3. Find a thrift shop that gets leftover security items from the airlines. In one of my local shops there are baskets full of knives, clippers, manicure scissors and such. Sort through this batch and you will find some beautiful pieces from German steel for as little as 50 cents. Just disinfect them and you have a lovely gift.
4. Ask if and when the store has a bag sale. Last year I really stocked up when the YWCA had a bag sale (all you can fit into a bag). I scored some major items for less than $10 and helped the store reduce their inventory.
5. Learn the names of the staff (often volunteers) and my personal rule is don't haggle if the store is charity based. I mean these folks are just trying to get some money for the charity. If an item is priced way above what it is worth it will get pointed out to them and they will lower it eventually. But I think these volunteers already have their hands full without me trying to dicker them down. But this is my own personal guideline, feel free to bargain if it what you want to do.
6. Pick up used cleaning products. Now I don't want someone's leftover lipstick, but cans of cleaner, etc. that are half full go for pennies and are just left at the thrift shop because someone has moved or they are closing an estate and they have no use for these products. But they are as good as new (check expiry dates) in most cases.
7. When you have a few minutes extra go to a far corner of the store and dig down a few layers. You never know what gems lie under a pile of stuff.
I also love thrift shops in small towns, don't get me wrong, and I find completely different kinds of bargains there. But city living is such that people would rather throw out stuff than pack it, store it or carry it. At the turn of the month there is always a slew of new stuff. Be selective, stay calm and watch for the signs and you can have a great Saturday of treasure hunting.
Coffee Fiesta
Yesterday from 2 to 4 Starbucks had its coffee party. Now I don't often go to Starbucks but yesterday you could have your choice of tall any kind of drink for free. Not only that, but the staff were giving away all kinds of yummy treats. I even got a little package of Christmas blend coffee for later.
Sometimes it is so much fun to live in an area with an active street life, where people laugh and talk about the free coffee they are receiving. There is often a sense of party on the streets of Vancouver. The patios are full of light beer drinkers and the cafes are full of cappucino lovers and I really enjoy watching the streets come alive with the business of everyday routines.
