Shop For Home Furniture and Decorating Items at Flea Markets, Garage Sales and Thrift Stores

           The Best Budget Decorator Shopping

Shopping at Farmer's Markets, Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Garage Sales, Consignment Shops or Thrift Stores and Art and Craft Fairs is more fun and a bigger adventure than mall or retail shopping.

You can stretch your imagination, relax, bargain, find pieces and parts for decorating accessory or art projects. You can furnish your whole house with wonderful objects and stretch your dollars!


"It may be second hand, but it's not second rate."
When you know what your decorating style is and have an idea of what you are looking for or need you will have the best results.

Maximize your dollars, your time and buy the right stuff.

Think about what you need or want for your home? Furniture pieces, accessories, plant pots, dishes, or odds and ends to make home accessories?

Make a list. Include measurements. If you are looking for wall accessory pieces, measure the space you have to hang your newfound art object. If it's furniture, shelves or rugs, make sure you have the space measurements and requirements with you. Take a tape measure with you.

Get Ready to Shop!

Dress appropriately. Wear a hat for sunny days and cold days. Wear comfortable shoes or boots. It is usually dusty, sometimes weedy or muddy and you will do lots of walking.

If you start early dress in layers so you can shed jackets or sweaters as the day warms up.

Organize your bag. Take a big lightweight canvas bag preferably with shoulder straps. Put a few plastic shopping bags in it, have a pad and pen, water bottle and hand wipes or cleaners.

Many sellers don't have bags. You'll be glad you have your own. The large canvas bag is great to put small purchases in so you don't have to run back to the car to unload. This is especially good for flea markets or neighborhood yard sales.

The hand cleaner is always welcome after rummaging through bins of old items or handing dusty objects.

Start early and arrive late. You will find the best choices early�. The best buys are at closing�. Sellers want to get rid of their merchandise late in the day. They don't want to pack it back up, put it back in the house or garage or have to wait for the donation truck.

Have cash. Many sellers don't take checks and most won't take an ATM or credit cards. Only take how much money you can spend. It's part of the budget thing.

If you don't find anything the day you go out - don't buy just because you're in the mood.

Wouldn't it be great to have more cash stashed for next time?

You might find an armoire or other piece of furniture and have just enough cash!

Garage Sales, Yard Sales and Estate Sales

Where do you shop? All over town. Mid to high income neighborhoods are often the best. Older neighborhoods where the homeowners are aging area great for estate sales.

Estate sales have everything in the house for sale. Some of the best do-dads for craft projects can be found here. Good furniture at great prices are some of the best estate sale finds. (Many of the sellers at flea markets and antique stores buy at estate sales then mark up the prices).

Craig's list is the best place to check for sales in your area. Craigslist.org. The classified section of your Friday and Saturday paper lists sales too Then follow the signs to other sales in the area.

How To Shop Here