Elissa's Rules for Taking Home Trash and Treasure

The big, blue, out-of-control noodle wrapped around Micah Jade and her trailer, and her tiny face peered out with a thousand peculiar questions that she couldn't articulate. While she pondered, I cycled myself, MJ, the trailer, and my "new" ab roller home. I use it every week, along with the other "trash" I have acquired from the sides of roads all over Australia--a huge frying pan, a couple of organizational wire basket drawers, a high boy chest of drawers, a 1200 dollar bar-b-Que grill, lumber, pots for plants, shelving, two 250-dollar kids' bikes, wooden chairs, plastic chairs, a coffee table, a children's table and chairs, and that is just the stuff I didn't buy. I'll admit it! I like to sift through other people's junk in the hope of finding useful treasures and saving money. I stop on the side of the road on heavy trash days; I like garage sales; I love op-shops (thrift stores for my "yank" readers). I am thrifty and cheap, and probably more, and over the years, I have developed some rules for "shopping". I am writing them for shopping in an op-shop, but they apply to acquisitions from trash piles too.

1. If you don't have a specific plan for it, don't bring it home. Yep, I learned this one the hard way, and Greg will attest. if you get this one wrong, you will end up with a hoarder's nest full of junk. Fortunately, the move to Oz has cleansed me of the mistaken acquisitions from my younger years that were residing in our study and garage in Austin.

2. Don't buy / bring home stuff that is broken, unless you have the expertise, a time scheduled to fix it, and the materials you need. This goes for housewares and clothing that requires mending or altering. (Don't worry, honey, I will finish MJ's bed this week. . .)

3. For clothing, don't pay more than half of what you would if it were on a super sale. After all, you are buying used clothing, and a good brand of pants from an op shop are still used pants.

4. Think of clothing in a per-use manner. That is, if I buy Max Azria jeans for 8 dollars (and I did), and wear them 25 times this year, they cost 32 cents per use. If I buy a funky dress, and it costs 8 dollars, and I wear it twice this year, it was much more expensive at four dollars per use.

6. Ask yourself, "Would I buy this if it were new?" (and I had the money it would cost). If you are unsure, don't get it. You don't like it enough, and you won't wear it.

5. determine what your magic price is. Mine is 4 dollars in the USA, and 6 in oz. If it is over this price, it is subject to a more stringent thinking process. That is, it has to be more useful, and more close to new, more unique, etc., than something that is cheaper.

6. Only buy clothing in very good condition, unless its "worn-ness" contributes to the uniqueness of the piece.

7. Buy for yourself in your current size. Not everyone will appreciate your thrifty gifty, so save yourself the trouble of having your gift discarded and your money wasted, unless you are 1000% sure that your friend will use your gift and appreciate your thoughtfulness. Also, if you buy clothing for yourself that is too small with the hope of one day fitting into it, not only will you have wasted your money, but you will also feel discouraged about your body every time you look at your beautiful purchase. Yes, this too is from experience.

My friend Amanda introduced me to thrift shopping when I was 16, and I have been hooked ever since. I love the idea that something that has already lived a lifetime with another owner can be renewed and redeemed in my closet. I like wearing vintage clothing from another era when thinking about style and clothing was different. I like quirky, uniqueness decorating my home, because it means that my home is not something out of a catalogue, but something that reflects my style and my family and the way we live and think. I love that recycled clothing is also good for the environment as it keeps treasures out of land fills. I am proud to make my family's money stretch farther because that is just good stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. I hope this post helps give fledgling and floundering cheapies the tools and the courage to shop on the side of the road, to sift through piles, and to have fun doing it.

Thank you so much to my husband Greg, who has saved money and purchased a wonderful (new) computer for me, so that I can get back into my writing, even if it about silly things like bringing home rubbish.