I SPLURGED!....BUT OMG THE SCORE!

 

Yesterday was the monthly sale at my favorite thrift shop.  I was spending the day with my mom and dad, so I asked if they would mind if we did a quick run through one of the 5 storefronts that make up the thrift shop.  Mom and Dad were more than eager.  

Within the first 5 feet into the shop we hit a WALL of people, but my mom and I started spotting "treasures" right away.  I knew how to navigate this sale as I have done it twice in the past.  Mom was trying to casually browse around while I made a bee-line for the sewing/crafting area.  The technique is grab first...decide second, lol!  If you wait even 5 minutes to decide if something fits your needs, there is a really good chance it will have already flown off the shelf.  The store had only been open for 30 minutes and the line reached the back wall and people's carts were overflowing.  

I had only grabbed a shopping basket and quickly realized my mistake.  

At the back of the store, in the overlap of the crafting and storage sections I spotted a portion of a small black "cubbie" organizer.  I had to wait for the man in front of me to finish gathering his items before I could grab madly for the cabinet.  Oh, PLEASE, don't let him want that little chest.  Fortunately he had focused on an old electrician's tool box.  Phew...that was close!

With both hands I reached out for the little cabinet.  Visions of the State Farm commercial flashed through my head.  "Hello, beautiful!".  I picked it up and was AMAZED at the weight and construction!  It was marked $14.50 but I am sure sold for MUCH more in a regular store.  Even better, there was a second cabinet behind it!  Unfortunately that cabinet was marked at $9.50 because it was missing a drawer pull.  No matter, I was sure I could find one somewhere.  I quickly handed one cabinet to my dad and I carried the other as we stepped into line.  After moving only a few feet my dad said, "There's another up there!".  I grabbed the intact cabinet off of the shelf and slid the damaged cabinet into it's place.  SCORE. 

My dad and I continued inching forward while my mom "browsed" around the aisles we had zoomed right on by.  

 

Within just a few minutes my mom was weaving her way back to us, something shiny silver cradled in her arms.  "Look!  Isn't this nice?"  OMG, it was a shiny chrome kitchen scale!!!!!  I had been wanting a new kitchen scale to replace my crappy plastic one for AGES, but had been unwilling to spend the $50 it would cost to make one mine.  The cost of this one....drum roll please...$12.50....and it WORKS!

We had only moved past one more aisle when I spotted the side of another black cubbie.  Could it be?  I handed Dad my second one and pulled the third one off the shelf.  I was back in line debating with myself whether I had enough cash on me to even buy three cabinets when the lady next to me chimed in.  "Today's the big sale.  Remember?  Everything is half price!"  OMG, how could I have forgotten???  I was just so overwhelmed with the fabulous items I had found at such wonderful prices that I totally forgot the reason for the crowds!  

At check out the woman asked me if I needed any more of the little cabinets.  She had just put out a few and had more in the back.  Wow, they may have been a close out item donated by a larger retail store!  For a moment my heart skipped a beat and I almost said yes.  But, as I wasn't sure exactly where I was going to use them...picking up any more would have been greedy!  Happily I paid my money and wove my way out of the store. (Of course I am STILL questioning the wisdom of leaving cabinets behind!)

So, my "quick run through the thrift shop" led to my biggest thrifting score to date.  Fifty-six dollars worth of treasures (that I KNOW sold for at least double that amount retail!) for a mere $28 dollars.  While the cubbies aren't perfect, they are incredibly heavy and beautifully made...and the imperfections are nothing that a little soap and water and permanent black marker won't fix.  And my scale, well it is just perfect the way it is.  Heavy, well crafted, accurate and shiny, shiny, SHINY, lol.  Of course, I have to cut the tag off....but then again maybe I will leave it on for a while as a reminder of my greatest score yet!

And, talking about GREAT....some exciting news is soon to be shared!  Stay tuned....