Top Five Thrifty Finds of 2008

I came across an interesting new collaborative blog yesterday - The Thrifty Chicks - where there was a post for the top five thrifty finds of 2008.  That got me thinking about what my top five would be.

Clothes-wise there are two finds that have proved to be very useful.

This little bolero-style cardi which I got for 20p at a car boot sale during the summer.  I wasn't sure it would be my sort of thing but it has proved incredibly useful and is a great extra layer over long tops.  I think it was from the same seller that I got a rather nice wrap top and a black longer length cardi from the summer before, they were both 20p too.  I hope I come across her next season as well.

For the rather more expensive price of £4.00 was this cardigan-coat that I picked up in a charity shop in Bristol during the summer.  This had a good bit of wear in the autumn and would be useful to wear about the hosue if the weather gets much colder.  Although it was more than I would usually pay in a charity shop I did see almost identical cardi-coats featured in this autumn's Evans catalogue - and they were £55.00 

In the houseware category I think the best find this year were these two Pyrex bowls which have seen LOTS of use.  I know they came from the 'Coffee and Jumble' but I can't quite remember what I paid for them - probably 50p each.

Although not strictly all from thrifted yarns found this year, my knitted patchwork blanket has proved absolutely invaluable already this winter.  It is always folded over the arm of the sofa, just waiting for one or other of use to feel a bit chilly and to wrap ourselves in it. 

Financially, the best find of the year had to be the Ikea / Cath Kidston Rosali double duvet cover and pillowcases I found at the 'Coffee and Jumble'.  I paid £2.00 for the set and re-sold it on ebay for a very healthy profit.  Of course, now I wish I'd kept hold of it as it was just so pretty.

What have been your best thrifty finds this year?

The virtual hat (this time my Mum, via the telephone) has chosen number 3 as the winner of the freebie kntting book.  Number 3 was The Shopping Sherpa.  TSS, come on down, and let me have your address and I'll get the book in the post to you.

Comments

[Sharon J]

I think the cardi coat was well worth £4. It looks lovely :)

[mo @ get stuff done]

hello there - love the thriftiness going on here . randomly I think I received yoru cup cake tea cosy as a gift last year! I got a chair for £2 - and made a loose cover with box pleats for it. I have only just worked out how to post photos. and I still need to get my camera to start talking to me computer again. but will hopefully make a picture of it happen soon!

[asti]

Great finds. Love all the clothes and the lobster pyrex bowl. Charity shops are so great,luckily we have about 10 in town, ranging from scuzzy to more upmarket, depending on what you are looking for!

[Ms Shopping Golightly]

Ms Shopping Golightly here from The Thrifty Chicks. Since you last saw Gently Used top five post, Cool Thread and myself posted our top finds in 08. We also created a slide show of 90 items as a 2009 Gift Guide.

Curious to know if you'd be interested in listing the other on the blogrolls.

Best,
Ms Shopping Golightly

[white o'morn cottage]

I am knitting a blanket like that right now and I have some of that fabulous ck paisley fabric. Both sourced on our freecycle site www.jumbletown.ie
Love 'em both.