Today, I went hunting for stuff. Not new stuff, but second hand stuff.
As part of Buy Nothing New Month one of the objectives is that if you really need stuff, then you go looking for preloved items.
I needed a few things for the soap-making workshop that I am holding for the Melton Sustainable Living Group next weekend, so as part of my pledge, I avoided the major shopping centres and hit the road.
This quaint little op shop is located in Melton South, and is run by the Uniting Church. Quite a bit of furniture and lots of cloths. I picked up a brand new brown belt for my pants for $2. All leather as well.
Then on to Vinnies in Melton to see what they had. I picked up two plastic jugs here for $4.
Next door was the Salvos, which is the biggest op shop in town. I found a chopping board, two plastic bowls, some stainless steel spoons, and a stainless steel avocado cutter. When I first picked up the cutter, I didn’t know what it was, but a nice lady told me that she used to work in a sandwich shop and used it to cut avocado, strawberries, and bananas. Nice, and for only $1.
So here is a photo of all my booty, which only cost me $20 all up. Me thinks I got myself a bargain, and feel good giving this stuff a second life.
I am now on the lookout for a stainless steel 4 litre pot and I am set for the workshop! I will keep looking around, and will hit some garage sales tomorrow.
To date this has been my only purchase all month, other than food, drink and personal hygiene items. Doing well and I am nearly halfway through the month.
How are you going? Have you managed to buy only second hand or borrowed stuff this month?
They’re great buys Gavin! Nice finds! 🙂
Cheers
I love them too, Gavin. I got most of my soap making gear from op shops/trash n treasure at fetes. I even have 4 soap curing racks (coated wire crockery racks) second hand. I’m making a gift for a 6 year old boy out of adult’s pants from an op shop too, I like to spread the op shop love around!
sorry, that was from me, not anonymous!
Nice one Alicia
Nice score! I love op shopping. The challenge to find what you’re after is fantastic when you’re not assured of finding it, like in normal stores. Second hand shopping addict here. Currently wearing jeans and a shirt that were op shop scores too. And well done for going 1/2 way through the month with no other purchases. 🙂
Op shopping is a bit hit and miss, but well worth the effort.
You’ve made an important point here, Gavin. Sometimes we need stuff–in this case very specific stuff. There is a whole other world out there where we can obtain this stuff. Sure, it may take a little more leg work, but it can be an enjoyable experience in itself, finding treasures that people no longer need, who were mindful enough to seek a new home for it.
Hi Paul. I reckon that humanity could stop making stuff today and we would still have enough for the next 20 years. We just need to be creative.
One thing I’d like to add…
We’re in the market for some raised garden beds. We’re going to make them ourselves out of discarded wooden pallets. The process has already proven to be more exciting than going to Bunnings and shelling out a heap of money for flat-packs. The pallets are free; the only cost is a few nails and the soil and mulch to fill them.