Thrift Store Treasures: How Saving 90% on My Belongings Puts More Cash in My Pocket

As the chief editor at WELLNESSINVESTIGATOR, Kristen Mae has extensive knowledge beyond just one or two things related to this field. living frugally Each day, she dedicates herself to crafting material that assists readers such as yourself in discovering ways to cut costs. However, her enthusiasm for merging thriftiness with ingenuity extends further than just her professional duties; nearly all of her possessions exemplify this approach. thrifted —from attire to home furnishings to kitchen utensils.

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Her commitment to finding a good bargain has helped her save significantly over the years Between browsing through stores such as Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, and Style Encore — along with occasionally finding top-notch items discarded on the curb — Mae calculates that she has managed to save approximately $40,000.

The WELLNESSINVESTIGATOR managed to catch up with Mae (not difficult since she was just a Slack message away) to inquire about how she began thrifting and to seek recommendations for others looking to save money similarly.

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How She Got Started

For Mae, thrift shopping started at an early age. She grew up, as she puts it, in what she refers to as shaky financial situation She started "examining price tags as soon as she learned to read" and ventured into thrift store shopping during her teenage years.

“Now I have this brain block inside me that won’t let me buy something new if I know I can thrift it for half the price or even less,” she said. She sees making purchases as opportunity costs: Sure, she could spend an extra $150 on a new nightstand which is probably made out of medium-density fiberboard, but she could find a solid wood piece on Marketplace for only $50.

That’s $150 that won’t be going into my retirement accounts," she stated. "I prefer to have that money invested instead. It’s far more crucial for me to do so. manage to exit the workforce prematurely Then it is easier to have a brand-new nightstand.

Adaptability and Creativity Are Key Traits of Shopping Secondhand

Part of the reason Mae has been so successful as a thrifter is because she’s willing to be flexible and expansive in her thinking. Aside from electronics — which she mostly buys refurbished through sites like Reebelo or eBay — nearly all of her belongings are thrifted. That even includes her kitchen table, which she found on the side of the road. Though it had seen better days and was painted an unappealing green, Mae stripped it and refinished it — a project that paid off quite literally, if you think about the money she saved by not having to buy a new kitchen table.

“Only my couch and bed are new,” she said. “I did get really lucky because the woman I bought the house from was moving into an assisted living facility and left most of the furniture. Some of it I sold and replaced with pieces that fit my style better, but I kept a lot of it, like a really cool vintage record player.”

Advice for Future Thrifters

After hearing Mae’s story, you might be inspired to save big through thrifting. She offers some practical advice for finding high-quality items.

“For furniture, go for solid wood. Look for signs of quality craftsmanship like dovetail jointing,” she said. “Solid wood is sturdy and lasts for a really long time, and it’s easy to refinish or paint if you want to switch up your style.”

Mae suggests opting for leather bags due to their durability and long-lasting nature. However, her primary advice is for budding thrifty shoppers to follow their instincts and choose items they truly enjoy. Whether it’s through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, local yard sales, or secondhand shops, there are numerous spots where one can find exactly what appeals to them.

That said, Mae does draw the line at certain items. “I tend to avoid ‘soft’ goods that can’t be washed, which is why my couch and mattress are both new,” she explained.

Thrifting Pays Off — Literally

Apart from saving tens of thousands of dollars over the years, Mae highlights another significant advantage of thrifting: the potential for reselling items at a higher value.

"An additional awesome aspect of buying second-hand furniture is that often, you can resell it at nearly the purchase price, eliminating the stress of holding onto items you're overjust because they were expensive," she explained.

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By combining practicality with personal style, Mae has turned thrifting into a lifestyle that not only saves money but also gets her a step closer to her biggest financial goal — early retirement. With a little patience and a lot of creativity, you might be surprised at how much you can save, too.

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This article originally appeared on WELLNESSINVESTIGATOR : 90% of My Belongings Were Bought Secondhand: This Is How Much I'veSaved

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