Category: Shopping Tips

Have you stepped foot into a thrift store recently?

If you’re not well versed in the secondhand world, you’d be surprised at the incredible things that you can score in a thrift shop. In fact, if you’re a fan of anything vintage, the odds are that many of your favorite vintage pieces were found in a thrift store.

While the benefits of secondhand shopping are plenty, only 18 percent of Americans report actually shopping at thrift stores. For the sake of the planet and your wallet, we’re here to better those numbers!

If you’re serious about saving money and reducing your carbon footprint, you’re going to want to read this. To help start your thrifting journey, we’re outlining the nine most useful items that anyone can locate at a thrift store.

From antique dishes and solid wood furniture to children’s clothing and a wide collection of books, there’s certainly something for everyone at today’s thrift stores.

Let’s get started!

1. Solid Wood Furniture

If you’ve been on the search for quality wooden furniture, you know just how difficult it is to find these days.

As it turns out, even high-end stores are finding creative solutions to produce more affordable options. In efforts of making “wood” furniture cheaper to produce and afford, many will use an alternate material that mocks the look and feel of wood. While this does make it significantly more affordable, it also results in an inferior and short-term product.

This is why shopping for solid wood furniture at secondhand stores is such a great option. This allows you to find wood products that were manufactured long before alternate materials were so widely utilized.

2. Antique Dishes

Do you remember those beautiful antique dishes that your grandparents used to serve Thanksgiving dinner in? The ones with the golden rims and the soft, delicate flowers that detailed each center?

If you try finding those in your favorite interiors store, the odds are that you’re going to be disappointed. Fortunately, we can always count on thrift stores to offer gifts from the past such as these. While it may be difficult to find a matching set, you can mix and match collections to create a more unique set for yourself.

Our advice?

While you may use these dishes at dinner parties, be sure to treat them well and hold onto them long-term. Who knows how much these dishes may be worth in the years to come!

3. Books

For all the book lovers out there, it just might be time to stop buying your books from the big-box stores. Not only is this an important environmental initiative, but it’s also going to save you a ton of money.

For anyone that frequents thrift stores often, you know firsthand that the book section is one of the best. You can look forward to finding anything from classics and collectibles to the latest in fiction and biography.

You’ll be surprised just how quickly the latest releases end up on the secondhand shelves.

4. Children’s Clothing and Toys

Even parent knows just how quickly babies turn into toddlers and toddlers into children.

In terms of their clothing and their toys, it can sometimes feel impossible to keep up. While one jumpsuit may fit perfectly one week, the next week just might be a different story. Similarly, while a certain toy is the chosen favorite one week, they’re onto the next best thing the following week.

When we consider the everchanging life of a baby, it’s easy to add up just how expensive these different stages are for parents. In choosing to purchase children’s clothing and toys secondhand, you’re able to save money for the more important things in your children’s life.

5. Maternity Clothing

Calling all soon-to-be-parents -this one is for you!

For any mothers out there, you know firsthand just how much your entire body changes throughout your pregnancy. From your feet and your belly to your breasts and your hips, these changes continue to take place from beginning to end.

If you were to commit to buying all of your maternity clothes brand-spanking’ new, it’s easy to see the dangerous result this might have on your bank account. After all, when you’re preparing for the arrival of a brand new baby, it’s more about saving money than spending money.

Choosing to buy maternity clothing secondhand is always a great idea. Remember, these clothes are typically worn for a very limited amount of time as sizing is always changing throughout one’s pregnancy.

This allows you to have almost new clothing at a significantly discounted rate!

6. Tools

As our parents love to remind us, things just aren’t made the way they used to be. When we consider the truth to this statement, we can understand why buying tools secondhand is the superior choice.

Let’s face it, buying new, unused tools is incredibly expensive. Shopping for tools secondhand gives us the opportunity to find significantly more inexpensive tools that are also built to last.

When we compare the craftsmanship of old-school tools to the craftmanship of present-day tools, the differentials are obvious. This is obvious even when looking at the low-end materials that are used to create modern-day tools.

7. Electronics

Keeping up with the latest electronics and gadgets can feel exhausting at times.

If we truly committed to always have the newest and the best electronic items, it’s safe to say that our bank accounts would be hurting. Fortunately, thrift stores are home to many incredible and current electronics.

Whether you’re looking for a top-notch sound system or the best foot massager on the market, you’d be surprised what you can find in the aisles of your favorite secondhand shop.

8. Christmas Decorations

Compared to the many holidays celebrated throughout the year, Christmas is the holiday in which the highest percent of Americans will decorate their homes.

In fact, 76 percent of Americans stated that they decorate their homes with a Christmas tree each year. When we consider just how much money is spent on this type of decor, it’s simple to see how this adds up. December is also a notoriously expensive time of year due to the gift-giving practices that are a part of the holiday.

If you’re looking to do yourself a financial favor this season, why not buy your holiday decor secondhand? This may be anything from wreaths and tree ornaments to lights and the tree itself.

Come November, the majority of thrift stores will have a healthy display of holiday decorations available.

9. Picture Frames

Do you have a print laying around that’s been begging to be framed?

If you’ve been on the hunt for a suitable picture frame, you know firsthand that they don’t always come cheap. Who knew that a simple piece of glass and frame could be so costly?

Fortunately, thrift stores typically have an incredible supply of picture frames. Whether you’re looking for something vintage or something a little more clean and contemporary, you’re likely to find it on the shelves of your favorite thrift store.

Saving Your Wallet One Thrift Store at a Time

While there’s no denying that some items in life are best to purchase new, this isn’t always the case.

In fact, choosing to buy certain items at a thrift store is a wise move for both your wallet and the planet. Here, you are saving money while also embracing the reuse-reduce-recycle movement.

Are you looking for more tips on frugal living? If so, be sure to keep browsing our blog for similar articles!

Believe it or not, it’s no need to spend a fortune on shampoos and fancy treatments to have beautiful hair. From coupons and online deals to multipurpose formulas, there are lots of great ways to save money on hair care. Plus, you can always go for DIY hair styling.

According to a recent survey, most American women spend about $80 a month on hair care products. That’s over $55,000 in a lifetime!

If you also go to a salon to get your hair done, the costs add up. Not to mention impulse purchases like that cool hair mask you’ve bought for the packaging alone!

A little planning goes a long way toward saving money. Here are some simple tips to find the best deals on hair styling products:

Stock Up on the Basics

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need dozens of products to keep your shiny and strong. A quality shampoo can truly work wonders for your tresses.

Depending on your needs and budget, invest in a premium shampoo and moisturizing deep conditioner.

Make your own hair masks and nourishing treatments using olive oil, argan oil, rosewater, and other natural ingredients.

Buy in Bulk

Once you find a hair product you love, buy the largest bottle. In general, hair styling products tend to be cheaper when purchased in bulk.

Most brands also offer discounts to those who buy two or more bottles at once. You could even get the second one for half the price! Also, look for special deals like “Buy one, get one free.”

Prioritize Quality

Whether you’re shopping for a new conditioner, hair mask, or mousse for curly hair, prioritize quality. It’s better to buy a premium organic or natural hair product rather 10 cheap products packed with chemicals.

Poor quality shampoos and treatments can ruin both your hair and scalp. For instance, they may trigger an allergic reaction that will cost hundreds to treat.

Things are even worse for those who are prone to dandruff, scalp psoriasis, or dermatitis. Certain chemicals in hair styling products can worsen their symptoms and trigger flare-ups.

Shop Around

The easiest way to save money on hair care products is to shop around.

Prices vary from one store to another, and from one brand to the next. The more you research your options, the higher your chances to find a good deal.

Let’s say you have a favorite hair mask. Check its price on the manufacturer’s website as well as on eBay, Amazon, and online beauty stores. Use a price comparison site to save time and money.

The same goes for brick-and-mortar stores. Visit several shops and check the prices before buying your go-to hair mask.

Be a Loyal Customer

Most hair care brands feature loyalty programs that allow customers to earn points for every purchase. Later, they can turn those points into money. Ulta and Birchbox are a good example.

On top of that, you could get discounts just by joining their email list. Companies reward their subscribers with secret deals and special offers that are not available in stores.

Save Big on Hair Styling Products

As you see, saving money on hair styling products isn’t rocket science. All it takes is a little planning. Think about what you need, prioritize quality, and shop around instead of making impulse purchases.

For further savings, look beyond brand names. Many drugstore products contain the same ingredients and work just as well as their more expensive counterparts.

Don’t forget to take advantage of annual and seasonal sales! Almost every brand has at least one major sale each year.

Do you have any tips to share? What’s the best deal you ever got on beauty products? Share your story below!

Did your doctor just tell you that you’re pregnant with twins? If so, you might be freaking out a little bit right now.

The news shouldn’t come as a total shock seeing as how the twin birth rate has hit a record high in recent years with more than 130,000 twin births taking place every year. But still, it can be a little bit unnerving when you learn you have twins on the way.

One of the things parents worry about when they find out they’re having twins is all of the twin essentials they’ll need to buy. They aren’t sure how they’re going to be able to afford to buy everything they’ll need to take care of twins.

But you can do it–if you commit to buying in bulk! Here are 8 items you need to buy in bulk to save money when you have twins.

1. Baby Formula and Bottles

Are you planning on breastfeeding both of your babies? If so, there are a lot of different benefits that come along with it.

But it can be tough for a mother to breastfeed one baby, let alone two. So rather than going that route, you might be thinking about using baby formula instead.

If that’s the case, you should start stockpiling baby formula towards the end of your pregnancy and continue stockpiling it once your babies are born. You’re going to have two new mouths to feed, and they’re going to want to eat early and often when they’re first born.

The good news is that there are many baby formula manufacturers that will provide coupons for parents with more than one baby. But you should still prepare to spend a pretty penny on formula and save up accordingly so that you don’t ever run out.

You’ll also want to invest in extra bottles when you have twins so that you don’t ever find yourself in a situation where you don’t have one.

2. Diapers (Lots and LOTS of Diapers!)

When a baby is first born, he or she will usually go through about 10 to 12 diapers each and every day. That number will go down gradually as the baby gets older, but it means that he or she will use more than 300 diapers during its first month.

For twins, that number gets doubled and it equals up to, well, a lot of diapers!

Parents who are expecting twins should ask friends and family members to shower them with as many diapers as possible in the months leading up to the birth of their children. They are definitely going to need them!

And once the babies arrive and they start having to buy them on their own, parents should buy diapers in bulk. You’re going to use them anyway, so why only buy a few at a time?

3. Bassinets

As you prepare yourself for the idea of taking care of twins, one of the things that might really worry you is the thought of purchasing two separate bassinets for your babies. That sounds very inconvenient to parents who are going to be tasked with trying to get two babies to calm down and rest.

Fortunately, you can make the job slightly easier by opting for a twin bassinet that will fit both your babies at once. It’ll allow you to put your babies down together so that they can sleep throughout the day and (hopefully!) the night.

4. Car Seats

Yes, you’re even going to have to think about buying car seats in bulk!

Your best bet is to keep your eyes peeled throughout your pregnancy for baby stores that are selling two or more car seats at a discounted rate. It could help you save a significant amount of money on the cost of car seats, especially if you’re going to buy two sets of them for multiple vehicles.

5. Clothes

Forget about splurging on name-brand baby clothes when you’re having twins.

While you want your babies to look cute when they’re in their outfits, you also need to come to terms with the fact that you’re going to be buying twice as many clothes as you normally would for twins. That means buying clothes up in bulk when you can find a great deal, even if you’re not necessarily buying the brand you might like the best.

You can spend a little extra on clothes for holidays and other special events. But generally speaking, you shouldn’t break the bank trying to fill your twins’ dressers up with designer duds.

6. Burp Cloths

Burping your baby after they eat is important. It prevents your baby from getting too gassy as a result of the air that he or she takes in while eating.

The challenge with burping a baby, though, is that you can run through quite a few burp cloths every day. And with twins, it’s going to start to seem like you just can’t keep burp cloths clean for more than a few hours.

It’s best to buy them up in bulk and then keep them moving through the laundry cycle so you’re never without them.

7. Pacifiers

It might not seem like you’ll need many pacifiers for your babies, even though you have twins.

But once your babies are old enough to start using them, you’re going to find out how tough it can be to keep them clean and usable. They’re going to be constantly falling on the floor and getting all dirty.

By purchasing pacifiers in bulk, you can make sure you always have a handful of them on hand at any given moment.

8. Books

Technically, you could get away with buying the same amount of books for two babies as you would for one. But as your twins grow, they’re going to start to want to have their own things, and it’s going to be up to you to facilitate this.

Books are a great place to start with this process. You can buy up a bunch of books for both your babies and then split them up once they get a little older.

Start Stocking Up on Twin Essentials Now

There are so many twin essentials that you’ll need for your babies. But try not to get too overwhelmed by it!

It might take you some time to get used to caring for two babies, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough. It’ll become second nature, and you’ll come to appreciate all the hard work that goes into raising two babies at once.

Do you want to learn more ways to save money while taking care of twins? Check out our blog to see how to save on shoes, pick out a budget-friendly stroller, and more.

Trying to find furniture that you can squeeze into your small apartment is definitely frustrating. But just because you have a tiny living space doesn’t mean that you have to cut back on furniture.

More people are choosing to make the most out of their space with multi-functional furniture.

Why not use furniture that serves multiple purposes and helps you conserve space in your room? We’re giving you a list of some of the most helpful multi-functional furniture that you should consider purchasing for your small room or apartment.

1. Workstation and Bed Combo

You have a bed, but maybe you don’t have enough room for a full-sized desk. With a loft bed, you won’t have that problem.

Loft beds are raised above the ground, leaving more than enough room for a desk. Although you’ll have to climb up a ladder to get to your bed, you’ll soon find out that being able to have a place to work and sleep all-in-one is totally worth it.

2. Moveable Kitchen Island

You probably never thought that you could add an island to your kitchen without making it cramped and spending a lot of money. The truth is, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make trendy home improvements.

A kitchen trolley can be the perfect fix if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add extra table room and storage to your kitchen. The best part is that when you’re all done having your morning breakfast on the island, you can simply wheel it out of your way.

3. Ironing Board with a Mirror

Let’s face it, who has enough room for both an ironing board and a mirror? If you don’t want two pieces of large furniture in your room, then having a mirror on the back of your ironing board could be your solution.

Iron your clothes on the board, then flip it up to reveal a mirror. Now you can see what a great job you did ironing your new dress.

4. Corner Sofa Bed

Don’t make your guest bring their sleeping bag the next time they stay over. Instead, let them have a relaxing night’s sleep on your corner bed sofa. Sit and enjoy a movie or take a comfortable nap on your sofa.

Top Sofas offer a variety of sofas perfect for small apartment living. To find your next corner sofa bed, visit the site.

5. Armrest Trays

You enjoy having your daily cup of Joe, but you don’t have enough room for an end table or a coffee table to rest your mug on. If you’re into minimalism, you’ll probably be impressed by armrest trays.

Armrest trays are pretty self-explanatory. They hug your chair’s armrest and form a flat surface that you can use to place your drink on. Some even come with a phone holder for maximum convenience.

6. Adjustable Chair

When you’re living on a budget, buying new chairs for your growing child is not ideal. Luckily, with a height adjustable chair, you’ll only ever need one chair for your child.

Use an adjustable chair with your toddler until they reach adulthood. Quickly adjust the chair from a highchair to a regular seat to accommodate whoever is sitting down.

7. Nesting Tables

If you’re looking for convenient space-saving furniture, nesting tables are a great choice. A set of nesting tables consist of smaller tables that fit underneath a larger one.

When you’re having guests over in the morning, simply take out the smaller tables so every guest has a table to hold their coffee. As soon as breakfast is over, put the smaller tables back under larger ones so you can save space.

8. Ottoman Storage

Everyone loves an ottoman – you can sit on it, put your feet up, and you can even use it as an end table. But what if you could use it as a storage unit too?

Ottomans that double as a crate are becoming a popular piece of multi-purpose furniture. Fit blankets, toys, electronics, and more all inside of your ottoman.

The next time you have friends over, they’ll never know that you stuffed all of your clutter inside of the classy ottoman that they’re resting their feet on.

9. 2-in-1 Toilet

Small apartment living usually means a bathroom with very tight space, making it difficult to fit an entire sink and toilet in the same room. Go minimalist with a toilet that doubles as a sink.

A 2-in-1 toilet comes with a sink on top of the tank. When you flush the toilet, the sink activates. Not only does it save space, but it can also save you water.

If you already have an existing toilet, you’ll just need to buy a sink topper to fit on top of your tank. You can even try building your own toilet topper as well.

10. Bed Desk

Whether you work from home or want to have a cozy breakfast in bed, a desk for your bed can make your day much more comfortable. Plus, it even comes with wheels. When you’re ready to turn in for the night, you can effortlessly push the desk away.

11. Hidden Litter Box

Litterboxes take up a lot of room in your apartment that you can’t afford to spare. A litterbox disguised as a table can keep your cat happy while adding a stylish look to your room.

The bottom half of the table is designed to look like a cabinet. However, unlike a typical cabinet, it has a hole leading to a litterbox that your cat can easily step in and out of. The top half looks like a typical nightstand that you can place a decorative lamp or a vase on.

12. Shoe Storage Bench

If you love collecting shoes, you probably don’t have enough room in your closet. With a shoe storage bench, you can store your shoes out in the open without making your space look cluttered.

Plus, it’s super convenient to use the bench as a seat while you put your shoes on.

13. Bed with Storage Underneath the Mattress

We’ve all heard of trundle beds that have drawers under the bed. But have you ever seen a bed with storage underneath the mattress?

All you have to do is lift up the mattress to access a hidden storage space. Better yet, the storage area is big enough to fit extra blankets, sheets and more.

14. Extendable Coffee Table

Typical coffee tables are too short to comfortably use your laptop on. However, multi-functional coffee tables can quickly swap between holding your drinks and holding your work.

When you’re ready to work, lift up the top of your coffee table to extend it to a comfortable height. Some of these tables even reveal a space underneath the lifted top for extra storage.

15. Stackable Chairs

Dining room chairs can definitely get in your way if you’re living in a small apartment.

In order to avoid tripping over bulky chairs, try buying stackable chairs instead. Unstack the chairs when you need them, and store them away when dinner’s over.

Save Money and Space with Multi-Functional Furniture

Full-sized, regular furniture is overrated. Making your room more spacious with less-expensive, multi-functional furniture is the new trend. Impress your guests by adding clever pieces of multitasking furniture into your living space.

If you’re looking for more ways you can live on a budget, take a look at our thrifty lifestyle blog.

You know that lack of rest makes you one grumpy and slow person. It affects your health, your memory, and your looks in an unspeakable manner. Fatigue is also a major cause of the more than 100,000 auto accidents and 6,400 fatalities in the U.S. every year.

One in every three adults in the U.S. is short on sleep.

If you aren’t sleeping well, it’s probably time to swap out your mattress. Experts recommend changing your mattress every 7-10 years. And you should do it more often if you aren’t getting the rest you need.

There are hundreds of choices. How do you find the one that is perfect for you? And the bigger question, how do you find an affordable mattress that you’ll love?

Solving Your Sleep Problem

Resting well can be difficult if you aren’t comfortable. Unlike baby and toddler sleep disruption, adults often suffer from distraction, discomfort, or worry preventing a good night’s rest.

A new mattress isn’t going to make your stress go away or turn off your screens for better sleep, but you are going to be a whole lot more comfortable! You can spend anything from $99 to more than $1000 on a new mattress. So what goes into the price difference?

Pick a Mattress Type

The amount of use you’ll get out of your mattress depends on the quality and type of it. The type of mattress you choose makes a difference.

Innerspring

An innerspring mattress contains steel wire coiled springs to support and distribute your weight evenly across the mattress. A high-quality innerspring mattress can last 10 years or more, especially if regularly turned over end to end or side to side to distribute wear.

Hint: Despite what the salesperson says, the NUMBER of coils does not noticeably affect wear, but more coils can be more comfortable than fewer. The WIRE GAUGE (thicker is better) is a better predictor of mattress lifespan.

Memory Foam

Foam mattresses might last a decade to 15 years. It depends on their material quality and care. Watch out for the heat retention qualities of memory foam, as many people find them too warm.

Hint: Don’t pay extra for special materials. Viscoelastic foam has been around since the 1960s. It is long-lasting and proven to prevent bed sores.

Latex

Choosing an organic mattress? The lifespan of a latex mattress varies. Although hypoallergenic synthetic latex is available, all natural latex is a popular choice. Many mattresses have a 20 to 25-year life.

Hint: Double-check the warranty. Some mattresses might have little to no replacement value if they wear out prematurely.

Waterbed

These aren’t the groovy, sloshing bags of the 1970’s. Waterbed mattresses come in two types: the traditional type of vinyl waterbed mattresses contained in a waterproof liner in a frame, or the soft-side mattress encased in a foam box and sealed like a conventional mattress. They can last 5 years to 10 years with proper care.

Hint: No longer the popular choice, waterbed mattresses may have a steep priced when you find them.

Hybrid and Pillowtop

A hybrid mattress is a combo of foam and innerspring mattresses. The most common configuration is a layer of foam, coiled spring supports, then another layer of foam. These are often the most affordable mattress type.

A pillowtop is additional padding between you and your mattress. The extra cushion layer can shorten your mattress’ lifespan, as you cannot flip the mattress to even out wear on the coils. The lifespan of the padding can also be shorter than that of the mattress and leave you with uneven lumps and dips.

Hint: A hybrid or pillowtop mattress might need replacement after just 6 years. The durability depends on the quality of the base foam and the coils.

Hard or Soft Option

One factory’s “extra firm” might be a mere “medium” to a different mattress company. There are no standardized measurements of firmness. Find the mattress that suits your sleep habits best based by trying it out.

Hint: Mattresses labeled softer might not be more comfortable, and harder ones might not be long-lasting.

Save on Sizes

Hint: You don’t have to buy a new box spring every time.

If you purchase the same size mattress as your current one, you shouldn’t need to change the foundation. Sure, the fabrics covering the box spring and the mattress won’t match, but who sees them? Use the money you saved to buy a mattress cover and a dust ruffle if it bothers you.

If you downsize your mattress, you gain a few square feet of floor space in your bedroom and reduce your costs. A California King is the same size as two standard twin beds together. Downsize to a queen and gain room for a dresser or two.

Hint: Queen size beds are the “standard size” of the market. They are often the “floor model” or “sale item.” The price difference between a Queen and King is often 50% or more.

Finding An Affordable Mattress Just Takes Research

Do your homework. A common trick of the mattress industry is to make comparison shopping difficult. The same manufacturer might make just three mattress types but label 30 or more distinct models to ship to different stores.

Consider trying out mattresses for 15 minutes or more. If you can’t spend the time in a store doing that, get your mattress from a place with a generous return policy so that you can try it out and send it back if it isn’t comfortable.

Know what you want in a mattress and negotiate for that, not a certain brand name. The same strategies you use for grocery shopping will work to your advantage. Always keep your budget in mind.

Summing It All Up

Finding an affordable mattress that you love is a challenging project but will be a worthwhile investment in a good night’s sleep. Saving money on a quality mattress is a good investment. Leave a question or comment in the box below!