#when I mentioned wanting to thrift a vase today when out shopping

[alaspoon]

after 3 years of having a bundle of dried lavender sitting in my room, I finally put it in a vase and displayed it 😭

it was literally still in it’s tissue paper and just in a huge jar that I use to collect tiny rocks for *3 years* where I looked at it every day and never had the idea to go to the basement and take an unused vase from there to steal,,,,

[samynnad102687]

Marauderstober

Slytherin Skittles- Ouija Board

1597 words

Regulus was exhausted from working from open to close at the bookshop. He was supposed to get off four hours ago but Jess, who was supposed to train the new hire, decided that they didn’t want to show up, so he had to close the shop since nobody else could come in and he couldn’t leave the new hire, Jordan, by themselves.

He was dragging his feet when he walked into the house, but he noticed that something was off. Someone had let themselves in Regulus’ house without asking him or even letting him know they were planning on coming over. When he walked farther into the house, not caring if he got killed by an axe murderer at this point, he came face to face with a grinning Barty. Well, this should be interesting.

“I gave you a key for emergencies,” Regulus said as he pinched the bridge of his nose and noticed that Pandora, Evan and Dorcas were also sitting in his living room.

“This is an emergency,” Barty said but his face said it was anything but. Regulus arched up an eyebrow and waited. “I found something at a thrift shop that I want to try with you, well, with everybody actually.”

“Do I even want to know?”

“It will be fun,” Pandora chimed in and that didn’t not help ease his anxiety one bit.

“What is it?” He asked exasperatedly.

“A Ouija board,” Barty said with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Excuse me?” Regulus asked indignantly. “I know I did not hear you correctly.”

“I found a Ouiji board at the thrift shop when I was shopping with Evan and since it is October and spooky season, it’s the perfect time to try it out.” He was practically bouncing on his heels.

“Why did you have to bring it into my house? You have your own.”

“Yours is more likely to be haunted than mine is.” Barty shrugged.

“So…”

This was the last thing that Regulus wanted to do on his Monday evening, especially since he had to work extra long today. All he wanted to do was to come home and curl up on the couch with some ice cream and enjoy a nice quiet evening in, since James was working late and then helping Sirius with something. Regulus didn’t bother asking what he needed help with. Plausible deniability and all.

“Oh, come on, Reg… Please.” Barty begged as he put his hands together and practically fell to the floor. “Just once. I swear. If we can’t get anything then I won’t bring it up again.”

Regulus took a moment to look at Barty and then at everybody else. He could see they all wanted to do this and he was the only one holding out. He really didn’t want to know what spirits lingered in Grimmauld Place and he really didn’t want to accidentally call his mother to them with this thing. He wasn’t even sure if he believed in it.

“What do you do exactly?” Regulus gave in slightly, he needed more information.

“Everyone puts a finger on the triangle thingy…”

“Planchett,” Pandora supplied.

“Yeah, that and we ask questions to the spirit that may be hanging around and see if they have anything they needed to say and never got the chance to because they died before they could,” Barty explained and Regulus glared at him for a few more minutes.

As much as didn’t want to have his mother come and haunt him even more, it would be interesting to see if there were any other spirits floating around. Regulus knew there was but he didn’t know who they were or what they wanted.

“Fine, but if these spirits end up disturbing my peace anymore then I’m coming after your ass with an axe,” Regulus said matter-of-factly and he would do it too as soon as he figured out how he could get away with it.

“Yeah, okay. That’s fine.” Barty shrugged, “Where should we set it up?”

“How about the drawing room? There always seems to be shit happening in there,” Evan mentioned casually.

Regulus was going to deny it, but right then a vase fell onto the floor before they even crossed the threshold to the room. Fucking spirits. Regulus didn’t know why he still lived in this house. It’s not like he had any particularly happy memories growing up here.

“Fine,” Regulus grumbled.

Regulus finally took off his boots and set his bag, that he still had slung over his shoulder, down and followed the other four into the drawing room and watched as Barty put the Ouija board on the coffee table and everyone else took a seat on the floor around it. This is going to be a disaster.

Regulus sat down in between Pandora and Dorcas with Evan and Barty on the other side of the round table. They put the board in the middle and were all about to put a finger on the planchette when Barty suddenly jumped up and turned off the lights.

“It’s spookier that way,” Barty shrugged and returned to his spot on the floor. Regulus just shook his head but didn’t say anything.

“What should we ask first?” Pandora asked excitedly.

“Ooh, I know,” Dorcas said and put her finger back on the planchette and waited for everybody else to do the same.

When everyone had a finger on the planchette, Regulus sighed heavily. He was definitely not ready to find out who was haunting his house. He preferred to be blissfully unaware even though Sirius keeps swearing that the place is haunted and doesn’t like to spend a lot of time here, which is why he and Remus got a flat in downtown London and would only occasionally stop by unannounced.

“Are there any spirits in this room?” Dorcas asked, focusing on the board as it started to move slowly toward the yes.

“Who are you?” Evan asked eagerly.

Regulus knew his friends liked the spooky season, especially the closer it got to Halloween but he had never seen them this eager to talk to a spirit. The planchette started moving again and spelt out O-R-I-O-N. Great, his father was haunting him too. Regulus knew Orion had died in the house but he didn’t know how. He was off at school when it happened and he never did get the full story.

“How did you die?” Pandora asked curiously.

P-O-I-S-O-N.

Not surprising. Orion had a lot of enemies when Regulus and Sirius were growing up. There were always secret meetings that they were not privy to going on behind closed doors and last minute business trips to different countries where Orion would be gone for a week at a time.

“Do you know who poisoned you?” Barty asked this time.

Yes.

“Who?” Regulus heard himself ask before he thought about it.

W-A-L-B-U-R-G-A.

So much for a loving marriage. Not that Regulus really believed they loved each other. Lord knows they didn’t love their children. If they did, they had a funny way of showing it. Before anybody could ask the next question the planchette started to spell out something else quickly.

D-I-D N-O-T.

Oh, shit. Did his mother’s spirit just join to fight with his father?

“Who said did not?” Dorcas asked, a little stunned.

W-A-L-B-U-R-G-A.

Well, okay then. Guess this is happening now. As if Regulus didn’t have to hear them fight enough as a child. Now he has to deal with it with their spirits. Fuck his life.

Y-O-U P-O-I-S-O-N-E-D M-E F-O-R M-O-N-T-H-S.

They were barely touching the planchette anymore. It was moving too fast and they could barely keep up with what was being spelt.

“How were you poisoned?” Regulus asked, now more curious than before.

W-H-I-S-K-E-Y.

The next word came before anybody could ask a question.

L-I-E-S.

“Walburga, how did you die?” Pandora asked quickly.

K-N-I-F-E.

“Did you see who did it?” Evan asked. The planchette moved to the no before spelling another word.

I-N T-H-E B-A-C-K.

Okay, so his father was poisoned by his mother and his mother was stabbed in the back. Made sense. Regulus knew they didn’t die a natural death. They were still relatively young, all things considered.

Y-O-U D-E-S-E-R-V-E-D T-H-A-T.

Suddenly another vase went flying across the room and smashed against the wall, the lights started to flicker and the books started to fall off the bookshelf. Nope. Fuck this shit. Regulus was done. He really doesn’t need his parents haunting him anymore. Regulus grabbed the planchette and moved it to Goodbye.

“How the fuck do you end this thing?” Regulus asked angrily.

“You have to thank them and tell them goodbye,” Pandora supplied easily. Of course she would know.

“We thank you for your time and bid you goodbye,” Regulus all but shouted to be heard over the items crashing around the room and glared at Barty who threw his hands up in surrender.

Regulus stood up quickly and went to grab his phone out of his bag before turning back to Barty.

“Sleep with one eye open,” He threatened before hitting send on his phone.

“Hey, love. What’s up?” James asked cheerfully. Regulus could hear Sirius laughing in the background.

“Tell Sirius that we are staying at his flat tonight.” Regulus said firmly without giving him any room to question.

“Okay. Do you want me to come pick you up or are you gonna drive over?” James asked easily.

“Come pick me up. I’m at home.”

“On my way.” James said before hanging up, and Regulus went to pack a bag for them.

@clementinewoolf @cazzythefrogking @thebibutterflyao3 @lavenderhaze @literally-the-prettiest-star @emjayeingray @belowthestarrs @seiworf @maladaptivewriting @multiimoments

[hadestownmodern]

Thrift Shop Birthday

It’s Reeve Carney’s birthday so this came out of me today instead of my actual adult work, whoops -Danielle ------ On the first birthday Eurydice spends with Orpheus, she wakes up with a nervous energy. She hasn’t known him long, but feels the strange complexity of their relationship called for some kind of celebration on her end. It isn’t simple; what do you get the person who’d confessed his love to you the night you’d met-who’d convinced you to stay?

              She’d settled on an idea-one little inkling. He’d mentioned a jacket she wears-oversized, warm, comforting. She’d told him she’d thrifted it and he’d nearly jumped with excitement, asking question after question about her favorite places to go and what it’d been like. This man, with his completely eclectic style, had only been once or twice. Eurydice vowed to change that.

              They’d started out their morning at a smaller shop settled awkwardly between a bank and a chiropractor with walls of little trinkets, coffee cups and vases and statuettes with seemingly no purpose at all. He’d taken his time, looking through each of them with quizzical interest.

“Who do you think was the last person that had this?” He’d asked her, holding up a figurine of a porcelain duck wearing a sailor’s hat. Eurydice laughs, taking the figure from his hand to examine it further. It’s sturdily made, with some sort of etching on the bottom to claim its ownership-Dottie written in expansive cursive.

“This woman definitely collected these; had a big shelf of them,”

“Oh!” He lights up at the notion, “She spent hours looking for them. ”

“She was very rich-she definitely paid someone to make them because she couldn’t find any more.”

“And her family used to try and make them, too, but those didn’t end up like this one-those were Play-Doh, but the good thing about her is that those were her favorite. I think she has this whole collection of Play-Doh ducks somewhere because she wouldn’t give them away.”

She hands the duck back to him and he turns it over, tracing the etching on the bottom with a warm smile before putting it back on the shelf. They continue this game, a back-and-forth storytelling of ordinary people living their ordinary lives. Somehow, still, the stories are laced with a fantastical mystery, a beautiful what if that lies within the effortless pace of his narration.

              Eurydice stops them to buy two pretzels, to slow their pace as they walk from block to block. The weather’s turned quickly into its first signs of winter; grey sky, bitter air, crowds thinning in a way that only a city native’s eye can take notice of. She laughs to herself as he dangles his hand in the space between them, fingers flexing and retracting, nervously brushing against hers.

              “You can hold my hand, Orpheus.” He fits her hand in his and she can feel the hesitation, as if he’s afraid she’s going to change her mind. She does-taking her hand away for only a moment. She loops her arm around his instead, presses against his side.

 They walk for a while, filling the space between them with snippets of conversation. Orpheus and Eurydice lingered on the line of polite, we just started dating conversation and talking like they’d known each other for years, volleying between stories of movies they’d seen and how they felt about the world as a whole, then back to which colors were the most aesthetically pleasing. The pauses within are filled with Eurydice against his side, pointing out places with rude storeowners or cats on their windowsills. Then, she stops at a narrow door, brings him up a flight of old wooden stairs to an ornate looking door with a bell that rings when she opens it.

The room is a sprawling mass of clothing racks, of hats and scarves hung on the walls. She turns to him, hands him a simply made greeting card with twenty dollars stuck inside. Orpheus attempts to give it back, shaking his head. She pulls an identical bill from her own pocket and shoves his back toward him.

              “This is all part of the birthday, Orpheus. This is the best thrift store you’ll find, my favorite place in the whole city. You’re lucky, I don’t usually want people to know about this place. But you seem like you’ll keep my secret.” She holds his hand, squeezes it once before stepping back from him.

“Buy me an outfit, and I’ll buy one for you. It can be anything you want, but it has to stay within the twenty dollar limit.”

              “Okay,” He’d laughed at her chaotic spirit, pocketing the $20 bill.

              “Orpheus? The only catch is that when we’re done, we have to wear these out to dinner later. Choose wisely.”

              He nods, taking his job very seriously as they part ways at the entrance. Moving through the women’s section he can barely find anything, peeking over the racks to search for the top of her head bopping along, wandering between aisles with a calculated grin. He wonders what her angle is as he holds a few choices out in his hands. This section doesn’t seem to suit her, with its prom dresses and old work blouses. He breezes into the men’s section, hoping to find a hint of inspiration.

              “Hey, no peeking!” He hears her voice from two aisles over, where Eurydice hides her choices behind a rack of coats.

“Not peeking, just…looking for you!” He stammers through his words, flipping through the rack of tacky Hawaiian shirts with a smirk.

              Eurydice holds a finger in the air, looks at him through teasingly narrowed eyes before turning her back to him, thumbing through a rack of clothes he can not see. His hands catch on strange fabric-thick, imposing-and he takes a moment to hold the garment in question up to the sky before grinning and draping it over his arm. Different, unique. He can’t wait to see the look on her face when she’s presented with it.

              They go back to his apartment immediately afterward, their garments wrapped up in the canvas bags they’d brought to the store. They sit on the floor with their legs crossed,

              “Orpheus…what the fuck is this?” The garment is heavy on her lap and she’s laughing as she holds it up, watches it unfurl. She shakes her head, holding the firefighter’s jacket against her body. It dwarfs her small frame, hits slightly past her knees.  

              “I only had three dollars left afterward” He shrugs. “You can put whatever you want on to go with it, I just felt like this was the best idea.”

              “Oh no,” She drapes the jacket over her shoulders. “This is perfect.”

              “Open yours,” She urges, pushing the bag toward him. He picks it up from the bottom, weighing it in his hands. It seems far heavier than hers had, even with the weight of the jacket. He pulls a pair of pants out first-jeans, seeming normal until he unfurls them. There are small patches of scrap fabric handily sewn in random places, tiny enough to draw notice only when looking close enough. The back pockets are also covered, but in a more blatant fashion. The cross-hatched fabric that had been chosen is slightly bold, creating a style all their own. He nods appreciatively as Eurydice shifts in her seat, brimming with anticipation.

              There is an old band tee next, a graphic of a cowboy hat and text reading Thift Shop Cowboys. They’d toured, according to the three dates on the back of the shirt, all in Nebraska. Then, a button from the same band-it was a combo deal, we got lucky. There is a flannel, green and yellow and impossibly warm, fabric that feels invitingly soft between his fingers. A complete outfit; Eurydice grins in triumph when he points this out, shrugging.

              “I had money leftover too, but you’ll have to wait to see how I spent it. Come on, get dressed, I’m starving!”

              They’re quite the pair as they walk hand in hand down the street, Orpheus in his charmingly off-beat alternative outfit and Eurydice in her big jacket. Before they can enter the little diner she’d chosen Eurydice pulls an old, worn looking camera from the middle of her bag.

              “Hold on,” She instructs, pulling him to the edge of the sidewalk closest to the building. “Take a picture with me.”

              She fiddles with the old camera-another thrift shop treasure she’d fussed over until it worked just good enough to take a picture after jiggling the buttons a few times. The photo prints out instantly, and Eurydice waves it around as it develops, looking at it only briefly before laughing. They both sport confused faces, quirked eyebrows and half-opened mouths as they figure out how to work the vintage machine. They take one more, this one a different moment frozen in time. Shoulder to shoulder, their cheeks are pressed close together, Eruydice’s eyes closed as Orpheus has his eyes turned toward her. Both pictures make a return to her backpack, treasured.

              The diner is full of eclectic decoration-old postcards, framed photos with seemingly no purpose…as if a thrift shop had come to life in the place. They sit on the same side of a big corner booth by the window, watch the foot traffic go by as they order milkshakes and fries. They keep the food between them, taking sips from each other’s drinks and dipping their fries in. Eurydice can’t help but keep herself close to him, feet tucked under her knees, head on his shoulder. Occasionally his head falls onto hers, stays there as he keeps his arm around her, reminds himself of the hefty fireman’s jacket with a laugh.

              She only removes herself from his side to rifle through her backpack, taking out one of the photographs and a pin. Her tongue darts gently, quickly between her lips in concentration before she becomes animated once more, looking around before sticking their photograph to the wall.

              “Eurydice!” He squeaks. She shakes her head while admiring her handiwork.

              “Nobody will even notice, Orpheus. And then when we come back? This is our booth.”

              They walk home in contented silence, full of comfort food and bliss, shielding each other from the biting cold as their pace quickens. The warmth of his apartment is a welcome thing, Eurydice hanging the fireman’s jacket on the coat hook and making her way briskly to the kitchen counter, where she pulls a small bundle from the front pocket.

              “Ok, last thing.” She instructs him to sit on the couch. “Hold out your hands.” He feels the small weight drop and looks up at her in question, wondering what the newspaper-wrapped bundle could be. Eurydice watches with a tightness in her chest, an inner voice wondering if this is something stupid-silly. As his eyes widen, his grin reaches from ear to ear, her doubts are instantly quelled.

              “No way.” He laughs as he holds the gift in his hands, looking up at her in disbelief. “This is incredible.”          

              “I thought he might need a new home.”

              “Eurydice,” He rises from the couch, wraps her in a tight hug and kisses her gently. “Wait.”

              He bounds over to the small shelf holding his record player, with the most narrow little shelf at the top. He puts the gift on the little lip, just above the record player, a near-perfect display.

              “There’s something missing.” He gestures to her backpack, a silent request, and then delves in. When his handiwork is finished they stand in front of it together, Orpheus kissing the top of Eurydice’s head. Each time he chooses a record for years to come, Orpheus feels his heart warm at the photograph of their confused faces and the porcelain duck with a sailor’s hat.

[sittingoverheredreaming]

This is an ENTIRELY self-indulgent fic I’ve written in between cases at work today, but it’s been awhile since I got a fic out on Michiru’s birthday, so, here’s 1500 words of Rei & Michiru BroTP

_________

Michiru had not said it was her birthday, but Rei knew. And Rei knew that Michiru knew she knew, of course Rei knew, so surely, this was a test. The invitation had been casual— “When should we next have tea together? How does the sixth sound?”— and there the challenge was set. What did you get a woman that had everything, without being so tacky as to ask her what she’d like, or mention her birthday at all?

Rei knew what Michiru thought of the Inners as a whole. That she’d still ask Rei to prove herself more than that was frustrating, but that did not mean Rei would not pass with flying colors. She was Rei Hino after all. She was unstoppable, and nothing so simple as a birthday could change that.

And yet. As she browsed through the third boutique she’d visited that morning, she felt the tiniest sliver of doubt. She was running out of time, and had nothing. It wasn’t that she procrastinated, only that she had been sure the right idea would strike her if she gave it time. She was down to just a few hours now, and it had yet to come.

“Can I help you?” a sales woman with her hair up in a tight bun asked.

Yes, Rei wanted to shout, yes, help me! But instead she said, “I’m looking for a gift.”

“Ah.” The woman gave a knowing nod. “For a lady friend?”

“A friend who is a lady, yes.” It was a shop for women’s accessories, did they really get enough clueless people to need to ask... Rei’s face warmed. “A friend only. Still a lady, but a friend.”

The saleswoman kept nodding. “And you are seeking an expensive gift for this... friend.”

“Well, she’s got a lot of money,” Rei said, her defenses rising. “I can’t just give her some knick knack and a comic book and call it a day.” That had been exactly what she had gotten Usagi for her last birthday. Usagi was simple. She liked things as freely as she liked people. As did Michiru, Rei supposed, just on the opposite side of the spectrum. 

“I see. And your budget is...?”

“Ideally, as cheap as possible, but still something nice. Do you have any sales?”

The saleswoman pressed her lips together. “I thought that might be the case. I can show you a few items, but if she’s worth so much to you, perhaps consider...”

Rei huffed and left. Maybe this was the wrong angle— Michiru could buy herself anything from these shops with no markdowns or clearance. But Michiru could buy herself anything anywhere. Rei peered into another shop window. “Show her you care!” a sign demanded in elegant font next to a glimmering gemstone bracelet. Rei sighed.  Would that she could pick out something so gaudy and generic, and have it matter simply because she cared. She thought again of Usagi, of any of the others. Even Mina, demanding as she was, could be pleased without much deliberation. 

She wandered the streets, meandering towards lower price tags and less nosy shopkeepers as her time ticked down. One shop tried to sell her on a handbag that cost more than a month’s rent, another on a perfume Rei knew Michiru would say smelt cheap. She looked at jewelry and scarves, books and candles, stopped short of entering a pet shop that sold exotic fish. Somehow, that felt like both the best and worst idea.

Finally, with barely an hour left, Rei found herself at the door of a thrift shop. She almost didn’t enter— Michiru would surely chide her for a secondhand gift— but then she turned the handle. If Michiru was going to set Rei a challenge, she had to be prepared for Rei to solve it the Rei way.

The old man at the counter inclined his head at the sound of bell above the door, but did not look up from his crossword. As it should be, in Rei’s opinion. The shop smelled of dust and full of cluttered floor to ceiling shelves positioned haphazardly around furniture for sale. Michiru would be utterly out of place, which made it precisely the right store to find a gift. She could buy herself anything, certainly, but something she wouldn’t buy herself, that was the winning idea. Michiru would never deign to rummage through other people’s cast offs— perhaps her worst flaw, in Rei’s eyes— so she would never find what treasures she could get a great deal on. When Rei found the perfect gift— and she would find it— she would simply buy overpriced wrapping, and Michiru would be none the wiser.

She’d nearly settled on an ornate vase, on the justification Haruka bought Michiru far too many flowers, so she should have something nice to keep them in, and besides, it had a fantastic price, when something else caught her eye. It was less striking than the vase, or anything else she’d considered. It would be a gamble as a gift, and Rei was not sure she wanted to take that chance.

A cacophony erupted through the shop as every clock marked the hour in its own dissonant chime. Rei had to make her decision, and she needed to make it quick.

*****

Michiru eyed the clock as the kettle began to whistle. It was quite unlike Rei to be late. Their tea time was hardly a momentous occasion, but it was one Michiru had come to enjoy, as she’d assumed Rei had. Perhaps, though, it had become a burden to her. Perhaps Michiru was nothing more than an obligation to check off her list between school work and shrine duties, something that must be taken care of before real fun could be had. Michiru should not have been surprised, Rei would not be the first nor the last to be less than genuine in her intentions. The only sting in the matter was that Rei had not seemed the type, but, as Michiru well knew, most everyone was the type, when it came down to it.

She took the kettle off the burner, but did not pour the water into the teapot she’d prepared. It was fatalistic, perhaps, but it was always best to prepare oneself. As her mother had often said, if others are cruel, it is their weakness, but if you respond to their cruelty, it is yours. Little as Michiru liked to agree with her mother, the philosophy had served her well.

The clock had ticked nearly twenty minutes past their arrange time when Rei burst through the door. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair just slightly displaced by the wind. A delicately decorated gift bag was nestled into the crook of her arm. “I’m late,” she said without apology. “But I made it.”

“Indeed you did.” Michiru leaned against the counter to keep from crossing her arms. “And what is that?” She indicated the gift bag.

Rei frowned. “It’s your birthday present.��

“My…” Michiru thought for a moment, and then allowed herself a small laugh. “It is my birthday, isn’t it? I’d quite forgotten.” She had asked Haruka to forgo the fanfare this year, but it seemed without it, she couldn’t mark the day. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Of course I did!” Rei huffed. “Even if you weren’t testing me, I wouldn’t let your birthday just pass by.”

Michiru raised an eyebrow, but did not comment. Testing Rei did sound like something she might do, even if in this circumstance she hadn’t been. The results of such a test, intentional or not, might prove interesting. “What then, did you get me?”

Rei shoved the bag at her unceremoniously. Michiru set it gently on the counter, pulling back the tissue paper to reveal a two person tea set, the tea pot and cups emblazoned with a pattern of simple crows. They were slightly faded with age, and dust had settled in the crease of the handles. Still, Michiru could not help but smile. 

“It’s not entirely your style,” Rei said. “But I thought you might like to have a set just for my visits.”

“And here I’d thought you might be tiring of me.”

Rei snorted. “Oh please, this is the only peace I get some weeks.”

Michiru looked at the cups. They were garish, and cheaply made, but she found she quite like them. She could have this day wiped from memory, and it would take only a look to know where they had come from. “It’s lucky, then, that I haven’t poured our tea yet. Should I give these a quick wash?”

“If you want to,” Rei said. Her voice had the slightest edge, one Michiru had come to recognize meant she was trying to be casual about something that held importance. 

“I would like to very much.” She turned towards the sink, but paused. “Thank you, Rei.”

“It’s nothing. Happy birthday.” Rei cracked a smile, and Michiru smiled back, feeling a warmth spread inside her that had nothing to do with tea.

[abeetomoney]

26 Ways to Save More of Your Paycheck Each Month

I’m often asked how to save money, and my response is always ‘live more frugally.’I’m surprised how many people, especially millennials, don’t know what this means. It’s not that they can’t try or won’t try to live more economically – it’s just that they don’t know how. So I’ve written this article to share my tips and tricks on how to live a more frugal live.To start, I must add that living frugally doesn’t mean I’m cheap, or tight with money, or don’t want to spend. It simply means I’m economical – always searching the best price.To be certain, living a frugal life isn’t for everyone. It’s not easy, it requires constant action and it quite frequently involves not doing what you want to do. (My biggest lament is giving up my gel nail polish pedicures. A gel polish in my state is around $26. Gels last approximately two weeks, so multiply times two, then multiply that times twelve – that adds up to $624 annually (not including tips)! That could pay for a plane ticket to Spain, or, more practically, my car insurance for the year.)

Living frugally is essentially saving today so that I can afford what I want tomorrow

. It’s about saving for retirement, for my next vacation, or (worst-case) that air conditioning replacement in my car.As I said before, frugal living takes commitment. Commitment to always turn that light off before you leave the room. Remembering to not turn the water on full when rinsing dishes. Maintaining grocery lists staples per store so you always get the lowest price for each item. In short – it can be hard work!However, it’s work that is rewarding financially and therefore, is worth the effort.So how do you live frugally? How do you save more money day-to-day?I’ve compiled the following extensive list of ways I save money every day.Please note, this list is not for the faint of heart. My lifestyle is very low-maintenance compared to a lot of people and, as such, my frugal life may not be suitable for every individual. However, even if you pick only one item from the list below to start saving, it will put you one step closer to a frugal life.Always remember, saving one penny at a time adds up in the long run!

1.) Use a credit card that offers cash back. With 1% cash back on purchases, this can quickly add up. And some cards, like Chase Unlimited, offer up to 5% cash back on select stores or items throughout the calendar year. All you have to do is activate within the app and start saving!

2.) Turn off your water heater during the day. This one never occurred to me until a landlord said if I could remember to turn the water heater off in the morning before leaving for work, then turn it on when I returned home, it could save up to $10 a week! She was right, too – I immediately saw a decrease in my electric bill and I’ve been using the trick ever since.

3.) Turn those lights off! Again, a basic idea, but it’s true. Don’t leave every light on in the house. Flip the switch – save a few bucks.

4.) Don’t run the water! Yes, I’m sure you heard that a lot growing up, I know I did! My parents were always reminding us to not turn the water on full blast, to turn it off when soaping up hands or dishes. This was redundant when I was a child, but as an adult, it saves me a lot of money. Don’t flush money, literally, down the toilet.

5.) Compare grocery costs and keep a list. It may surprise you to compare costs in one grocery vs. another – and perhaps not a good surprise! For instance, our local grocer costs up to .30 more for basic vegetables and fruits than WalMart. This may not seem like a lot, but a simple thing like creating a grocery list by store will help you remember where to buy which item at the lowest cost. You’ll be surprised how much you can save! I save up to $75 a month shopping at our local Aldi vs. WalMart.

6.) Buy a used car and pay cash. Okay, a lot of people have to have the latest auto, I get it. I’m not one of those people, and I’m okay with it! I bought (and always have) my car used from a neighbor, gave him cash, and now I have no monthly auto debt. As a side note, the auto insurance is WAY less for older cars, too – so it’s a double bonus!

7.) Shop around for better car insurance. You may be surprised how much less you can purchase your auto insurance just by shopping around online. I was!

8.) Buy used. This, obviously, doesn’t apply to everything, but if possible, buy it used. For instance, a few years ago I needed a new washing machine. Instead of running up my credit card, I looked at local flea markets and yard sales and found one for only $50! I bought that machine three years ago and it’s still running strong! Remember, new isn’t always better.

9.) Shop outlets for clothes. Okay, I love to clothes shop. Love, love, love! I really enjoy the name brand and designer clothes, which can really put a dent in my savings. However, a few years ago, a friend turned me onto outlets and I haven’t looked back! Fortunately, I’m within a thirty minute drive of two outlet malls, and the savings have been fantastic. I found two Banana Republic blazers for $10 each – they were on clearance and 60% off the lowest marked price! I found a $199.99 Ann Taylor dress marked down to $29.99, again, a mark down on already reduced clearance prices. The savings on clothes alone have been fantastic, and as I work in a office that requires me to wear suits on a daily basis, this has been a great find.

10.) Look at local thrift stores. I’ve saved a lot of money by thrift store shopping. Of course, there are a lot of things I wouldn’t recommend buying at a thrift store, but there are so many great ways to save on some things. For instance, when I adopted my dog a few years ago, I needed a crate for him to sleep in. The most inexpensive one online or in-store ran $40+. I walked into our local Molly Mutt Thrift Store and found a crate for only $10 (just had to give it a thorough cleaning and disinfecting when I got home). And they were having a wooden nickel sale (show the wooden nickel and get the daily discount) which gave me 50% off the item. I got it for only $5! Thrift stores are also a good place for dinner ware, coffee mugs, kids games (just wash them first!) and furniture.

11.) DIY furniture and knick-knacks. Unless you’re buying an antique, furniture and decorative items have very little, if any, resale value. Why not look to Pinterest for some DIY ideas on how to paint that old coffee table you found for $5 at a local yard sale? Or perhaps repaint a vase you found for $.50 at a farmer’s market? The DIY tutorials online are endless, and there are SO many unique and fun ways to make your own home decor! Not to mention the bragging rights when friends come over.

12.) Merchant Coupons. Not every store has or offers coupons, but before you shop, do a quick browse on their website or do a Google search to see if they have any discounts. Macy’s, JC Penney’s, Ulta, Michaels Arts & Crafts and Kohls, just to name a few, almost always have a coupon code or barcode to have the cashier apply at check out. You’ll be surprised how much you save with this trick.

13.) Take advantage of happy hour. For those of you who enjoy dining out, you know how quickly those restaurant tabs add up. So plan your dining, if you can, around happy hour. You’ll find a drastically reduced food and beverage menu. I’ve found that this can almost halve my final tab – just remember to leave a tip for the waiter!

14.) Groupon it. While I do not use Groupon excessively, I did recently stumble across a local business offer for $12 beginner horse back riding lessons for children. As their initial lessons start around $50, this was phenomenal! I think they are a great resource, especially for local restaurant discounts and events. Worth looking into!

15.) Free admission days. Want to go to a museum but don’t want to spend the $12 admission cost? A lot of museums offer free admission day – our local art museum is the last Saturday of every month. Just remember to put it on your calendar so you don’t forget the date!

16.) Workout outside. Have a gym membership but rarely use it? Try finding a local park that offers a fitness trail as an alternative. We have a local park that offers outdoor elliptical, weight training and walking trails – and while enjoying the fresh air!

17.) Buy it used. Okay, I know I’m saying this a lot, but it’s my go-to frugal advice for people trying to save money. If you don’t have to have it new, buy it used. Bicycles, surf boards, pool tables, trampolines… the list goes on. There are so many things that are bought that end up as dust collectors or garage space consumers. Save yourself some money and buy it from someone who needs the extra space in their home. Your pocket book will thank you.

18.) Save your pocket change. This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people discard, drop or just leave their coins anywhere in their home. Start a coin jar and see how full you can get it. (This is also a great money saving tactic to teach kids how to save!)

19.) Switch to a low-cost cell phone provider. The large providers too often bundle packages to make it seem you’re saving when in reality you’re not. Shop around and see if you can find an lower price option. I use Cricket Wireless and I’m amazed how much less their prices are than Verizon or AT&T.

20.) Shop after a holiday. This handy trick has saved me a LOT of money over the years. Wait until after a major holiday to snag wrapping paper, gift bags, bake ware, etc… Michaels Arts and Crafts often marks their Christmas items down to 70% off. Add that to a 20% off your total purchase coupon and the savings are amazing! Next year you’ll be stocked and ready to wrap gifts, bring cookies to the office party or decorate your home all at a discounted price.

21.) Open multiple savings accounts. Have one account where you pay your bills from and another savings account where you move any money left over at the end of the month. This will help keep your money separate and you can see how much you’re saving vs. how much you’re spending each month. I just did this recently and it really works as a great visual to let me see exactly how much I’m saving.

22.) Eliminate cable or paid TV services. This one is really hard for a lot of people. For me, it’s extremely easy because I just don’t have the time to watch a lot of television. Another option is to utilize your Amazon Prime membership and live stream movies and tv shows there. A lot of libraries offer free DVD rentals as well. While many people no longer have DVD’s, for those of us who do (yes, that would include me), it’s a great way to watch movies for free.

23.) Make coffee at home. A simple thing like a cup of coffee every morning can really take a hit on your savings, even at McDonald’s where coffee is a $1. Assume a cup of coffee every week day, multiply times four and then again times twelve – that adds up to $260. That could pay a few months’ water bill!

24.) Pack a lunch. Instead of always buying a restaurant or fast food meal during your lunch break, bring your lunch instead. As a single mom, this is a huge money saver. I pack my own lunch for work as well as the boys’ school and daycare meals and we save a phenomenal amount as opposed to eating out.

25.) Check if your employer offers any employee benefits. Some employers offer 401k match, childcare reimbursement, healthcare coverage, college tuition payment and more! My employer, for instance, offers up to $240 a month in childcare costs. They put it right into my paycheck each pay period! So if your employer offers benefits, make sure you check again and see if there are any offers you can take advantage of.

26.) Find free weekend events. This one is actually really easy to do. If you have kids, check out http://www.macaronikid.com for a local calendar of events – usually free! The library and bookstores frequently offer free children’s book readings. Weather permitting, find a local park for the kids to play on Saturday. For the adults, discover a unique hiking trail, walk the greenway, see if there are any live music concerts with free admission in your town, go to the library and borrow a book or movie, and check a local events calendar online to see what free weekend events your community offers. I’m always amazed by the variety of free events and entertainment that are offered in my community, and you might be too!

[curvyandcontent]

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

I am a self confessed Op- Shop-a-holic. (“Thrift Shopping”to those from the United States & UK) I am completely addicted to buying pre-loved and am completely addicted to the styles and trends of yesteryear, choosing an eclectic style of decor from different era’s. Excited knowing that the likelihood of my decor choice being mass produced and on display amoungst my neighbours homes is zero. The inquisitive questions and compliments I receive from visitors really does make me feel good( Happy Like a Child playing -good feeling-) especially when given the opportunity to tell them the story of where and how the item came to be a part of my home and in return the show of  genuine interest shown on their faces about my story.

Decorating my home with pre-loved  Furnishings and Decor allows me to achieve the look and style I want and sometimes for up to a 10th of the price it would of cost a shopper purchasing retail.

Yes it’s true that sometimes it may take me longer to find the perfect cupboard or cushion covers and yes I may then have to get my hands dirty and repaint the cupboard to the exact colour I want, but the challenge of rummaging through op shops, venturing out to Flea Markets & garage sales and scrolling through Face Book Buy & Swap Groups is half the fun and flipping an old cupboard with a coat of paint (with the help of my sons) or decorating an Old Lamp Shade following a tutorial from Pinterest is the other half.

Shabby Chic is one of my all time favourite styling looks and I knew It was the must have look  for my bedroom.  My kids removed all my furniture, that was my entire 4 piece country mahogany timber suite (left over from my marriage which ended 10 years ago, so it was very much passed it’s used by date in more ways than one) and I made 3 new Retail Purchases – A new Bed -New Pillows – New Sheets. Below are the list of  pre-loved items I purchased for my bedroom transformation, which are also my 10 op-shop/thrift shop purchase suggestions for your very own Shabby Chic Sanctuary. 

10 OP-SHOP SHABBY CHIC SANCTUARY SUGGESTIONS

1. A pair of antique lamps and lampshades.  Op shops have all their electrical’s tested prior to sale. I repainted and distressed the lamps. The lampshades were perfect as is. The pair cost me $25 as the store was having a half price sale.

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

The perfect Op-Shop Find. I purchased a pair of these lamps and lampshades for $25 the pair. It was 1/2 price day. I was in the right place at the right time. All I did was repaint the dark brown lamps to make them shabby chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

One of my first OP-Shop finds to start my bedroom transformation into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary

  2. FURNITURE- antique furniture lasts the distance. My 2 bed side chest of drawers were originally a dressing table purchased for $60 I cut out the middle, added the embellishments to the front which I bought off eBay for under $20, painted and distressed. My dressing table cost $50 and received a new coat of paint and some fine distressing to match in with my Bedside Tables.

  3. DOILIES, you can never have to many. The finer details and layers you add to your decorating is what’s so beautifully unique about shabby chic. You can even go as far as using the larger table cloths as bedspreads or embellish a few cushion with smaller ones if you are craft minded. Pinterest has so many decor ideas for doilies from wall art to making fairy lights and all of these could be beautifully incorporated into your Shabby Chic Sanctuary.

4. A MIRROR, I was fortunate to pick this one up for $30 my dad accidentally dropped it when we were painting. We laughed no broken glass so the cracks of the edging stayed. A white cane mirror would work just as lovely. Wooden mirrors work as well you could easily add your own embellishments of lace, burlap and flowers.

5. MANCHESTER– some people cringe at the thought of buying a quilt cover or pillow cases from the op shops but remember even when staying at the Hilton someone else has slept in those sheets and you can buy some beautiful pillow cases for as little as 50c. Not to mention you can purchase some absolutely exquisite cushion covers for between $1 & $5 such as the lace brocade feature cushion displayed in these photos. Purchased with the insert for $3 ( I actually felt guilty only paying $3 for this once very expensive designer cushion). Curtains can also be a very effective room enhancers with this beautiful curtain, it’s pretty cut-out lace feature in perfect condition for $8. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post dedicated to “Thrift Shop Bed Styling”

6. ARTWORK- I love artwork on walls, it adds so much character to a space. For me it is a decor piece that really transform a house into a home. In a small Charity Shop in the middle of no where I came across these 3 “R Hendricks” framed pieces from his Bathtub Collection. At the time I had no idea of the artist or value of his works. The cost for all 3 pieces was $60. To me that’s  a lot of money however I fell in love with them and bought them immediately ( this very moment on eBay the cost to purchase R. Hendricks 3 Piece framed bathtub collection starts at $99 US) I really did outdo myself with this profitable purchase and they are the perfect Backdrop for my Shabby Chic Bedroom. I have been fortunate through my op shop travels to have purchased 2 more R. Hendricks Framed Pieces for even cheaper. These framed artworks with the addition of some cheaper floral pieces that I bought online for $5 each have given a nice balanced to the grey with a hint of magenta walls with the combination of colour and sepia enhancing the eclectic style that forms the basis of shabby chic.

7. VASES & FLOWERS – To be honest the amount of vases I own is more than I will ever need but it is truly impossibly for me to enter a charity shop without purchasing a vase if it is antique and priced under $3. Vases are the perfect decor item for anyone designing a Shabby Chic Finished Room. Remembering that with the quality of spray paints available today even if it is not your preferred coloured you can change it. In regards to choosing the flowers there are literally thousands of inexpensive yet brilliant looking flowers available to purchase through eBay. Check out my ” I BUY SILK FLOWERS FOR LESS THAN $5 with FREE POSTAGE. They also make terrific gifts for Teachers, Secret Santa, Work Collegues and House Warmings.

8. CANDLES & CANDLE STICK HOLDERS-  Candles obviously serve 2 purposes not only can you buy some that smell amazing, you can also buy some that look amazing. Adding a wonderful scent to your Shabby Chic Sanctuary for me is an absolute must and watching the burning flicker of the flame at night whilst relaxing in bed is such a comforting feeling. When it comes to Candle Holders I create my own using material sourced for thrift shops- From old lamps, wine glasses to china plates at a fraction of the cost if I were to buy new in a store. Check out my tutorials on how to make your own thrifty Candle  Holders- “DIY ROSE PETAL CANDLE HOLDERS & TURN YOUR CHEESE & WINE DISPLAY INTO CANDLE HOLDERS. I will soon be adding another tutorial on how to make  these beautiful wooden/china plate candle holders photographed below so keep an eye out for the post here or on my Pinterest Page ( JUDITH SUDULIC )

9. CRYSTAL & CUT GLASS- It amazes me how inexpensive diamond cut glass and overlooked crystal pieces cost at thrift shops in Australia. I am unsure the cost overseas however here perfect pieces are as little as $2 and there is so much to choose from. I keep my jewellery in them, my hair clips in them, so many things and they look very pretty. Remembering that you can also enhance the glass with paint, lace & handmade flowers. I have a tutorial ” DIY SHABBY CHIC DRESSER SET’ you may wished to look at or for more ideas on how to use these inexpensive cut glass pieces there is also my post “Bathroom Decor on a Budget”

Doilies come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny to runners that cover your entire dressing table and can be picked up for a couple of dollars depending on which Op Shop you visit

HANDCRAFTED CRYSTAL CUT GLASS SHABBY CHIC DRESSING TABLE SET

cute handmade vase

painted glass then sanded

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

10. TRINKETS – Trinkets are a personal touch of collected items that are unique to your style, maybe they are an assortment of gifts you have received or purchases from overseas travels or crafts you have made for yourself. The lattice heart on my wall is craft project I completed myself. The Trinket boxes are purchases from thrift shops that I fell in love with. The Bird Cage Jewellery Stand was a gift from my children and the crystal pieces and fairy were my mothers before she passed away. Not a necessity however when thrifting for your Shabby Chic Sanctuary there will be items that speak to you and you will have the perfect place for them to sit. Maybe some old photo frames, Ornaments, Vintage Hats, Ginger Jars.

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

Your Shabby Chic Sanctuary is your Special Space & I hope my 10 OP/Thrift Shop Purchase Suggestions allow you to achieve Your Perfect Bedroom on a Budget as I was.

I would love to see your Shabby Chic Sanctuary’s. I would also like to share them with my Pinterest Followers. If you would be interested in sharing please either leave your comments below or contact me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

10 OP/THRIFT SHOP ITEMS can transform your Bedroom into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

[curvyandcontent]

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

I am a self confessed Op- Shop-a-holic. (“Thrift Shopping”to those from the United States & UK) I am completely addicted to buying pre-loved and am completely addicted to the styles and trends of yesteryear, choosing an eclectic style of decor from different era’s. Excited knowing that the likelihood of my decor choice being mass produced and on display amoungst my neighbours homes is zero. The inquisitive questions and compliments I receive from visitors really does make me feel good( Happy Like a Child playing -good feeling-) especially when given the opportunity to tell them the story of where and how the item came to be a part of my home and in return the show of  genuine interest shown on their faces about my story.

Decorating my home with pre-loved  Furnishings and Decor allows me to achieve the look and style I want and sometimes for up to a 10th of the price it would of cost a shopper purchasing retail.

Yes it’s true that sometimes it may take me longer to find the perfect cupboard or cushion covers and yes I may then have to get my hands dirty and repaint the cupboard to the exact colour I want, but the challenge of rummaging through op shops, venturing out to Flea Markets & garage sales and scrolling through Face Book Buy & Swap Groups is half the fun and flipping an old cupboard with a coat of paint (with the help of my sons) or decorating an Old Lamp Shade following a tutorial from Pinterest is the other half.

Shabby Chic is one of my all time favourite styling looks and I knew It was the must have look  for my bedroom.  My kids removed all my furniture, that was my entire 4 piece country mahogany timber suite (left over from my marriage which ended 10 years ago, so it was very much passed it’s used by date in more ways than one) and I made 3 new Retail Purchases – A new Bed -New Pillows – New Sheets. Below are the list of  pre-loved items I purchased for my bedroom transformation, which are also my 10 op-shop/thrift shop purchase suggestions for your very own Shabby Chic Sanctuary. 

10 OP-SHOP SHABBY CHIC SANCTUARY SUGGESTIONS

1. A pair of antique lamps and lampshades.  Op shops have all their electrical’s tested prior to sale. I repainted and distressed the lamps. The lampshades were perfect as is. The pair cost me $25 as the store was having a half price sale.

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

The perfect Op-Shop Find. I purchased a pair of these lamps and lampshades for $25 the pair. It was 1/2 price day. I was in the right place at the right time. All I did was repaint the dark brown lamps to make them shabby chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

One of my first OP-Shop finds to start my bedroom transformation into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary

  2. FURNITURE- antique furniture lasts the distance. My 2 bed side chest of drawers were originally a dressing table purchased for $60 I cut out the middle, added the embellishments to the front which I bought off eBay for under $20, painted and distressed. My dressing table cost $50 and received a new coat of paint and some fine distressing to match in with my Bedside Tables.

  3. DOILIES, you can never have to many. The finer details and layers you add to your decorating is what’s so beautifully unique about shabby chic. You can even go as far as using the larger table cloths as bedspreads or embellish a few cushion with smaller ones if you are craft minded. Pinterest has so many decor ideas for doilies from wall art to making fairy lights and all of these could be beautifully incorporated into your Shabby Chic Sanctuary.

4. A MIRROR, I was fortunate to pick this one up for $30 my dad accidentally dropped it when we were painting. We laughed no broken glass so the cracks of the edging stayed. A white cane mirror would work just as lovely. Wooden mirrors work as well you could easily add your own embellishments of lace, burlap and flowers.

5. MANCHESTER– some people cringe at the thought of buying a quilt cover or pillow cases from the op shops but remember even when staying at the Hilton someone else has slept in those sheets and you can buy some beautiful pillow cases for as little as 50c. Not to mention you can purchase some absolutely exquisite cushion covers for between $1 & $5 such as the lace brocade feature cushion displayed in these photos. Purchased with the insert for $3 ( I actually felt guilty only paying $3 for this once very expensive designer cushion). Curtains can also be a very effective room enhancers with this beautiful curtain, it’s pretty cut-out lace feature in perfect condition for $8. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post dedicated to “Thrift Shop Bed Styling”

6. ARTWORK- I love artwork on walls, it adds so much character to a space. For me it is a decor piece that really transform a house into a home. In a small Charity Shop in the middle of no where I came across these 3 “R Hendricks” framed pieces from his Bathtub Collection. At the time I had no idea of the artist or value of his works. The cost for all 3 pieces was $60. To me that’s  a lot of money however I fell in love with them and bought them immediately ( this very moment on eBay the cost to purchase R. Hendricks 3 Piece framed bathtub collection starts at $99 US) I really did outdo myself with this profitable purchase and they are the perfect Backdrop for my Shabby Chic Bedroom. I have been fortunate through my op shop travels to have purchased 2 more R. Hendricks Framed Pieces for even cheaper. These framed artworks with the addition of some cheaper floral pieces that I bought online for $5 each have given a nice balanced to the grey with a hint of magenta walls with the combination of colour and sepia enhancing the eclectic style that forms the basis of shabby chic.

7. VASES & FLOWERS – To be honest the amount of vases I own is more than I will ever need but it is truly impossibly for me to enter a charity shop without purchasing a vase if it is antique and priced under $3. Vases are the perfect decor item for anyone designing a Shabby Chic Finished Room. Remembering that with the quality of spray paints available today even if it is not your preferred coloured you can change it. In regards to choosing the flowers there are literally thousands of inexpensive yet brilliant looking flowers available to purchase through eBay. Check out my ” I BUY SILK FLOWERS FOR LESS THAN $5 with FREE POSTAGE. They also make terrific gifts for Teachers, Secret Santa, Work Collegues and House Warmings.

8. CANDLES & CANDLE STICK HOLDERS-  Candles obviously serve 2 purposes not only can you buy some that smell amazing, you can also buy some that look amazing. Adding a wonderful scent to your Shabby Chic Sanctuary for me is an absolute must and watching the burning flicker of the flame at night whilst relaxing in bed is such a comforting feeling. When it comes to Candle Holders I create my own using material sourced for thrift shops- From old lamps, wine glasses to china plates at a fraction of the cost if I were to buy new in a store. Check out my tutorials on how to make your own thrifty Candle  Holders- “DIY ROSE PETAL CANDLE HOLDERS & TURN YOUR CHEESE & WINE DISPLAY INTO CANDLE HOLDERS. I will soon be adding another tutorial on how to make  these beautiful wooden/china plate candle holders photographed below so keep an eye out for the post here or on my Pinterest Page ( JUDITH SUDULIC )

9. CRYSTAL & CUT GLASS- It amazes me how inexpensive diamond cut glass and overlooked crystal pieces cost at thrift shops in Australia. I am unsure the cost overseas however here perfect pieces are as little as $2 and there is so much to choose from. I keep my jewellery in them, my hair clips in them, so many things and they look very pretty. Remembering that you can also enhance the glass with paint, lace & handmade flowers. I have a tutorial ” DIY SHABBY CHIC DRESSER SET’ you may wished to look at or for more ideas on how to use these inexpensive cut glass pieces there is also my post “Bathroom Decor on a Budget”

painted glass then sanded

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Doilies come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny to runners that cover your entire dressing table and can be picked up for a couple of dollars depending on which Op Shop you visit

cute handmade vase

HANDCRAFTED CRYSTAL CUT GLASS SHABBY CHIC DRESSING TABLE SET

10. TRINKETS – Trinkets are a personal touch of collected items that are unique to your style, maybe they are an assortment of gifts you have received or purchases from overseas travels or crafts you have made for yourself. The lattice heart on my wall is craft project I completed myself. The Trinket boxes are purchases from thrift shops that I fell in love with. The Bird Cage Jewellery Stand was a gift from my children and the crystal pieces and fairy were my mothers before she passed away. Not a necessity however when thrifting for your Shabby Chic Sanctuary there will be items that speak to you and you will have the perfect place for them to sit. Maybe some old photo frames, Ornaments, Vintage Hats, Ginger Jars.

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

Your Shabby Chic Sanctuary is your Special Space & I hope my 10 OP/Thrift Shop Purchase Suggestions allow you to achieve Your Perfect Bedroom on a Budget as I was.

I would love to see your Shabby Chic Sanctuary’s. I would also like to share them with my Pinterest Followers. If you would be interested in sharing please either leave your comments below or contact me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

10 OP/THRIFT SHOP ITEMS can transform your Bedroom into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.