On the beaten path

I, on the other hand, loved the idea of antiques – their connection to history, the craftsmanship that went into making a piece of furniture you rarely see today. I loved the idea of poking through someone’s garage or attic, looking for lost treasures, cool things, old things.

I bought a cigar box filled with old pencils and pens one time – many of them fountain pens. I wish I had them today. Who knows, there might have been a Mont Blanc among them.

I found a piggy bank when I was probably 11 or 12 – it was in the shape of a purse adorned with rosebuds and had “Pin Money” written in gold letters on it. I think I probably paid 50 cents for it.
Out of nostalgia I looked on Ebay recently to see if “pin money purse bank” brought up any hits. There they were, just as I remembered. Only these weren’t 50 cents. Turns out, they’re by a company called Lefton, and none of these banks sold for less than $25.

My love of garage sales, yard sales and thrift stores has never left me, even now, three decades after the purse-bank purchase. I chomp at the bit, waiting for garage-sale season to hit the North Country, with some eager folks braving unstable and unpredictable weather in April and May. Bless their hearts, because after a long winter, it’s a breath of fresh air to head out on a Saturday morning armed with the classifieds and a purse full of small bills and change.

Now, none of my finds would be suitable for on-air visits with the Keno Brothers of “Antiques Roadshow,” but they’ve served me well, whether it’s been something for the house or something to take to camp.

Lately, however, my fondness for used stuff has shifted from household goods – although I can rarely pass up a good kitchen tool or Pyrex bowl – to clothing. I’ve found incredible bargains of hardly used clothes – especially for kids – on my rounds. And who can blame parents for buying used clothes for kids. They wear something, blink, and they’ve already grown out of it.

Always a fan of thrift stores, I’ve also discovered their goldmine potential for quality, high-end merchandise at bargain prices. I call stores like the Salvation Army Thrift Store and the Our Lady of Victory Thrift Store “indoor garage sales.”

I used to hide the fact that I shopped at these places. But after walking out of the OLV store the other day with a barely used LL Bean jacket for my daughter, for which I paid $3 or $4, I say why hide it when you can flaunt it?

I found a pair of Reebok boots for my toddler at a Salvation Army store in Buffalo over Thanksgiving. I paid $2 for them. I doubt they were ever on a toddler’s feet.

And today, it’s the ultimate green idea, an in-vogue way to recycle. Plus, it’s a donation for the organization. I spent $14 at OLV the other day, for which I came away with the above-mentioned Bean jacket, a pair of Lee Rider jeans, a Christopher and Banks shirt, a New York & Company shirt, three children’s videos and a pair of Pottery Barn valences for my daughter’s bedroom.

The people who pay full price for these items are still going to pay full price the next time they pick up a catalog or go to the mall. Meanwhile, people like me, who recycle and bargain hunt, are going to re-purpose these items and save money and the planet at the same time.

If you can’t bring yourself to go into places like Sal’s Boutique or OLV unless you’re dropping things off (your loss, my gain), I’d suggest trying consignment stores like the Fashion Exchange for clothing for men and women (she now carries maternity wear, too) or Little Folks Trading Post for kids.

There are many other shops around the North Country offering good, high-end merchandise on consignment, which means you’re paying less and recycling more. Good for you, good for the environment.

And the next time you think you have too much junk in your home, consider putting a sign up this summer and selling it in your yard. I’ll be looking for you, and I won’t need my parents’ permission.