A friend and I went to Cambridge yesterday and visited some
thrift stores while there.
I haven’t done this activity for quite a few months now, and
was surprised (and mildly horrified) at how much prices had increased.
Selling secondhand donated goods helps raise money for charities,
but also helps those who can’t afford to buy things new. Unfortunately, or so it seems to me, the
emphasis has now shifted to the raising money part of the equation and I feel
sorry for those who are struggling to make ends meet.
My friend and I both managed to find a couple of little
things to bring home. I liked the small white
and blue china lady, and am always on the lookout for beads to add to my
collection.
I find many wine glasses today are too big, and these glasses
are perfect for holding the regulation one-serve 100ml serving of wine – they are
elderly glasses and have quite a different feel to them compared to today’s glass.
I especially loved this Beatrix Potter collectable. It is a little shop that was operated by
Ginger and Pickles (a cat and dog respectively) in one of the Potter books.
We have rain showers here today and are expecting
thunderstorms tomorrow. It’s a good day
for puttering around inside and finding homes for my new little treasures.
Have a great day 😊
Margaret.
I agree with you Margaret - the prices in so-called charity shops have skyrocketed, so it must be difficult for those truly in need to even buy there. I have found a way around that - I now put things directly on the free local site that's part of Facebook. Yes the charity misses out but I hope it helps where it's needed most.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea Virginia :)
DeleteI love the wine glass. They look as though they'd definitely improve the enjoyment of any wine!!
ReplyDeleteCertainly stop you drinking too much!
DeleteI don't like it when you have a big glass and they fill it, we do use bigger glasses here, but only have a small amount in. We have started using our best things as daughter won't want them, so it does not matter if anything gets broken.
ReplyDeleteIt always seem a shame to have beautiful things and not use them, so I hope you get to enjoy them :)
DeleteHere thrift stores have become the playground of the upper middle class seeming to want to prove their virtue. One goes there to see a BMW parked next to a Lexus, and while no one should eschew secondhand goods, it seems that people who really need these places are deprived of much of it, especially if their bus is running late. Miriam and I go there - she for sheets etc which she uses to remake into kerchiefs and other items for her ETSY shop, and I to check out the books. Usually, I come away empty-handed, but once in a while I find a gem.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your title, I was thinking of "That does not sound like a good combination". But then it all made sense. We go to thrift stores occasionally and have found that some are still reasonable, while others are way too proud of the items they are trying to sell.
ReplyDeleteWe also enjoy thrifting. I don't buy new clothes anymore, when there are so many fit things to wear that are second hand. Your lil' house is adorable!
ReplyDeleteWe have rain predicted today here in North Carolina, and it is always a great excuse to get some organizing done. Enjoy your weekend!
Those glasses are mint. F buys all her wine glasses at charity shops too - partly because barely a month goes by when she doesn't break one. Long ago she decided to always set her table with a complete set of mismatched everything - plates cutlery, glassware - and simply replace whatever got broken with whatever was available. Result: thems that want big plates or glasses get 'em, and thems that want bowls or small plates, or a spoon instead of a fork, or a tumbler instead of a stem glass, get what they desire as well. And F gets to have a 'working' collection of all the random plates and things that she took a fancy to in charity shops.
ReplyDeleteI love your philosophy F :)
DeleteWe had rain all afternoon yesterday...not durecwhen it stopped. And cold today...
ReplyDeleteI would love to.have a day to.go to.thrift shops...or even just to look at thrift stores. It looks like your visit was successful.
One day things will return to a bit more normal life Rose, and then you will go thrifting again :) xx
DeleteWe had rain and a thunderstorm yesterday but it was well needed and today we have blue skies with fine weather again. the 2nd hand shops here are pretty average except for the vintage one I discovered.
ReplyDeleteThe wine glasses are very pretty ( although smallish :) I like the little BP shop. That's a treasure. Browsing thrift stores is fun and one never knows just what will appeal. I haven't noticed that the prices have risen over here but it may happen any day. GM
ReplyDeleteI don't particularly like 'thrifting', but have recently started working in a local Op Shop, and am loving it!! Great finds there Margaret, especially the gorgeous glasses
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Pretty wine glasses! I don't need anything else but I do enjoy visiting thrift shops:)
ReplyDelete