The Frustrations of Our Long, Cold, Winter Can\’t Hold Out Much Longer: Not When Our Thrifty Diva Cheerily Reminds Us That “Garage Sale Season is Coming…” By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Associate My favorite time of year is just around the corner. Yes, that\’s right, Garage Sale Season! Do you know that that means? It\’s time to start purging your home and preparing for the onslaught of sales around the city.   The snow is on the ground and the chill has set in. What better reason to begin to purge those unwanted items from your home. Think of it,... Read More

Christmas Decorating with the Thrift Talk Diva By Barb Tobias, NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I know, I know. It\’s just November…I mean the Thanksgiving stuff isn\’t out and my holiday meal isn\’t even organized. Yet, here I am planning my Christmas decorations. My rationalization is this … it takes me a month or two to orchestrate the festive bedecking of my home in the spirit of frugal yet chic décor. I enjoy this creative holiday endeavor, and dive into producing grand arrangements with gusto. After all, I am a collector of orphans … the savior of parts … creatively... Read More

Come on … Celebrities Holding Garage Sales? By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert What do Barb Tobias (The “Thrift Talk” Diva), Tori Spelling and Carol Burnett have in common? We all have yard sales! Yes, it is true. Six degrees of separation be damned! I\’m in good stead. I was stunned to learn, after reading numerous reports on People.com, Omg.com, and Thefrisky.com, that real celebrities were raising serious money through holding all types of sales; garage sales, tag sales, yard sales, porch sales, divorce sales, downsizing sales, moving sales…and are now moving... 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

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