Thrifting Habit Turns Her Into a Collector of “Orphans” By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I am the queen of the unwanted; a collector of “orphans.”  Over the years I’ve embraced the flawed, snatched up rejects others passed over, delighted in the blemished and greedily coveted the imperfect and scarred. Like metal to magnets, yard sales, consignment shops and thrift stores still lure me into their murky depths to find wonderfully tarnished bits and pieces that I meticulously turn into treasure.  Spotting décor that is unique or unusual has become my specialty … my signature... Read More

Fifteen Reasons to Fall in Love with Thrift… Cheap Doesn’t Need to be Chintzy By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I’ve been gleefully shopping thrift for over 30 years.  But, I’ve been wearing thrift since I grew from toddler to teen … from the proverbial hand-me-downs to the secondhand gown my mother bought me when I was voted Homecoming Queen.  Needless to say, having to live on the cheap for so long, I abhorred anything thrifty during my formative years. After I was married and on the rebound from my frugal years, I only bought new; determined not to live a life filled... Read More

Thrifty Christmas Decorating By Barb Tobias, NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I am a collector of orphans…the savior of parts.  I love to put together all the unloved pieces that people throw away and make masterpieces.  And, no season brings more opportunity than the holiday season. I begin my decorating by pulling out all my Christmas finds and begin sorting, purging and grouping “orphaned” items that will be used to fashion holiday displays. This year I made a splendid centerpiece from odds and ends collected throughout the year from various thrift venues…garage sales, flea markets... Read More

Holding a Diva Garage Sale – Part III By Barb Tobias, NABBW’s Thrifting Expert There is always a lot to do right before I open up for business the morning of my sale, and if I have failed to plan effectively … I’m stuck. I can’t simply leave to run for the store or the bank or to put out signs.  So, all last-minute preparations are carried out the day before the sale. The Day Before the Sale Getting a minimum of $100 in small bills for change is first on my agenda. At the least, I make sure I have fifty $1, six $5 and two $10. I’ve learned that people will often hand you... Read More

I began thrifting because it was fun and, quite frankly, I loved to shop. Okay, I still do. But, initially there was a deeper motivation for my need to haunt the secondhand shops that peppered my town … I was broke. I loved the fact that I could buy fabulous things for pennies on a dollar.  It didn’t take long for me to get hooked on the thrill of furnishing my homes or fashioning chic wardrobes found in thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, consignment shops and auctions.  I became a veteran power shopper, quickly falling in like with each venue I tested and every tarnished treasure... Read More

How to Create a Hot Marketing Campaign One Week before the Sale I have run sales in many states, some personal and some for clients. Every locale has different requirements for holding sales and posting signs. The first course on the docket should be to check in with the local authorities. Determine whether there are any garage sale ordinances or sign restrictions. (Some cities require a permit and stickers on all yard sale signs.) S everal years ago, while holding a yard sale in Atlanta, I learned a hard lesson. As soon as the sale opened, people began arriving in droves. I was selling... Read More

…An excerpt from Tossed & Found Be Prepared Selling used goods from a driveway, a yard or the interior of a home has been referred to as a garage sale, yard sale or tag sale. People hold these homespun events to raise money and rid their homes of all the unwanted things that have collected over the years. Although these sales are a lot of work, they are a great way to purge a home and turn unwanted things into big profits. The following schedule outlines how tasks can be chunked-down into manageable parts, rendering a gargantuan job … doable, turning even the wildest project into... Read More

My lust for tarnished treasures, coupled with the sheer thrill of the hunt, became an obsession that held me tight within its steely grip. I was fascinated with Bargain America and succumbed to its relentless, beckoning finger, its promise of secondhand booty … and a better life. Over time, and despite the occasional rip-off or bargain blooper, my homes became living testimonies to the fabulous riches I uncovered. The enterprising thrift venues and motley garages that hawked their sordid wares enthralled me, capturing my attention and every spare moment. The many resourceful, veteran thrifters... Read More