Cybermen, Clothes & Handbags

Wednesday was my shopping day, and I haven't been to a Life Line in a while.  Well, okay I have, but I didn't buy anything.  So, I've been frugal.  Anyway, this week, I found myself a nice denim skirt which was almost brand new and a Dr Who mug from 2006 with Cybermen on it!  The mug only cost me $2.00 and was an original from the ABC shop.  I love it.  Then, I came across a lovely little handbag which was a designer bag with a detachable handle.  It was designed on the Gold Coast and is just lovely.

Well, they were my scores this week.  What have you found around your area and charity stores that are worth sharing with us?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Two Scores in One Day

I haven't been to Life Line in almost a month; and that's been a good break for me.  Anyway, today was my first day back into the swing of things.  I had spent the last week cleaning up my living room and kitchen table; and now they look great.
Today, I had to do my shopping.  So, I didn't see much harm in looking in on my usual hang-out just to see what had come in over the New Year.  And some great stuff had been donated.  
The first thing I saw was a purple handbag; and it was beautiful and soft!  I've been looking for something like this for a while now, but just can't find one which is lovely and soft.  And the inside is all sectioned out with velcroe and is a lilac colour.  Then, on the sides there's buttons so I can open up the bag a little or close it up; depending on how much I have inside it.  Very cool for $10.
The next bag I saw was a green cotton bag with long shoulder handles with little bells and beads hanging off it.  As soon as I saw it, I loved it.  It's got a double bit of cardboard in the bottom and a button on the top to close it up, but it's also got plenty of room for everything I need.  I thought I could use it for volunteer work to store a book, my knitting and a sketch book and some pencils.  A very nice piece for $8.00.  
So, have you found anything lately in a charity store, marketplace or a thrift store which has caught your eye and budget?  If so, share it with us as a comment below.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.   

Back From a Well-Earned Break!

Hey there!  It's been a little over a month and I'm back from my break; and yes, I've been scoring very well at the charity stores and other sources too.  Christmas has been great to me as well!

For Christmas I received a wonderful little bag from my Aunty Helen who saw it and thought I'd love it.  Inside it, she also put a cute little make-up mirror.  How lovely is that?
A few weeks before that, I found the most gorgeously interesting bag.  It's one shaped like a radio.  The knobs turn and everything; and it looks like a 1950's radio.  Very cute!  I've tested it out already and have found that the only thing that bothers me about it is that the knobs can get in the way and make a loud clacking noise when they bump against things which scare the life out of me; making me thing they might break.  So, I have to be careful of them when I'm using the bag.  Otherwise, it's cute as a button!

Then, on my holiday down at Brunswick heads, I just couldn't resist buying something.  I purchased for myself a lovely little black bag with a long strap for evening.  It doesn't look it, but it worked really well with my NYE dress; both of which I bought at Target Country.  I also scored for myself a cool Christmas shirt as well for next year. 
I also wandered around Brunswick Heads taking in the vibe of the place and enjoying myself totally.  It was fun and I took plenty of photos.  I also bought a few souvenirs too.  One of those was a money box in the shape of an old Kombi Van.  It's blue and has been kept by my bed for any small change I find in my pockets at the end of the day.  I love it.  It cost me $14.95 at the newsagents and came with its own box; which I kept it in until I got home by bus.
There's this great little place at Brunswick Heads called 'Whatever' where they stock all these imported goodies.  From clothes, books, handbags, notebooks handbags, wallets and coin purses and shoes, saris and anything else you'd like to furnish your house, it's there.  Well, I bought a couple of tops and a notebook or two and four coin purses as well.  It's a cool little shop I always buy stuff from when I'm in town.

And I have been scoring great deals while here at home too; and I've only been home 2 days.  Yesterday, I had been given a Smart Phone by my brother - as he upgraded to a better one and didn't want to throw out his old one - and so I was figuring out the bits and pieces on this one; and having fun with it.  While I was, the battery almost died on me.  So, I plugged it into the computer and the internet up and died on me.... bummer!  So, I was off to Target to buy an adapter to plug this puppy into the wall.  It only cost me $15.75; and the best thing is that I can work my iPod off it too!  
While I was a Centro Mall, I saw the Rockaway still hadn't closed down its old store; so I took a wander in there too.  And I scored 3 disco vinyls - all from radio stations - and a Mozart Idomeneo 3 vinyl set all for $18!  Very cool!  So, I spent an hour or so cleaning the dirt and old nicotine stains off the vinyls and then wishing I could play them; but unable to because the turntable wasn't working.  Now I'm home, I'm going to have an afternoon of new vinyls being played that I have never heard the music of... not a bad idea. 

So, what great scores have you come across during the Christmas/NYE period?  Great ones?  Or have you missed out altogether?  Do share.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!        

Break-Time!

Yep, it's that time of the year again!  Christmas has come around and it's time to leave the charity stores alone due to the Christmas crowds.  I am going to pick up this blog just after NYE and let you guys in on what I've been doing, what I've found, what I bought and where and how much I spent on each saved item in 2013!

So, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  Be safe, go safe and enjoy your time with your family.  And remember, happy bargain hunting!

Found What I Wasn't Looking For

I was in Life Line today when I got talking to another customer there.  She was lovely and we began chatting about overseas travel.  Our conversation changed and moved over various subject as we walked around and I spotted a few things where there were only single glasses from entire sets on the shelves.  I told her that my Mum had set of the single glass that was sitting on the shelves; and she smiled saying her Mum does too and it's such a pity they don't make glass with gold around the rim or pretty patterns or pictures on them anymore; and it's all found in charity stores like this one.

Well, I got into looking at the books and the lady found she had no money and had to go to the bank. So we said our farewells and I continued to browse the store where I found two books.  The first one was 'At Home With The Templetons' by Monica McInerney and which looked brand new only read a few times.  This book was published only two years ago.  Then I came across this gorgeous little book called 'The Naughty Book for Girls' by Candice Hill

and I thought it would be an interesting read about what kind of girl - naughty or not - I am.  These two books came to around $9.00.  As I was about to pay for them, I turned around the looked up at the bags hanging from the ceiling and found a bag that looked amazing!  It's a backpack

that I thought would do well down the coast or as a carry-all into the city.  So, I asked to look at it; and found it was perfect for what I wanted; at just the right price too!  So, what have you found over the last week or so that's well worth the hunt?  Let us all know and leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting! 

 

Retro Feel

I love the retro handbags of all kinds.  And so, when I walked into Life Line Logan Central, and I found the handbag area full of bags from the 1980's I was totally into it; looking and feeling them to my heart's content!  
Then I found this one!  Isn't it lovely?  I just love the stitching and the handles - which I will get fixed as they've aged badly.  And to give an old handbag a new life, that's often all it needs... new handles.  However, not everyone wants to get those fixed up and would much rather throw out an old favourite than go to the expense of getting it fixed.  For me, wonderful retro handbags are just as good - if not better - as modern handbags.  They have their own stories to tell and - even though they're rough around the edges and a little worn - I'd rather use them again for a few more years then toss them out.  And this wonderful one is no exception.  And just look at the way the handles are attached... I just love it!

Along with the handbag, I found this cute little coin purse.  There were others, but it seemed to just jump out at me as I walked past and it was only about $1.00 or so.  And so, with the handbag setting me back $10.00, I got two great deals for the day.


I did get to use the retro handbag on Saturday afternoon.  It's got a ton of room in it.  I was able to find a little pouch for my mobile phone (so it's a little more modern than I gave it credit for) and there's and external pocket on the other side of the design.  Then, on the inside, there's a zipper pocket and an open pocket next to the phone pouch... plenty of room for all the essentials.  But the bag itself is so roomy!  I could fit in my iPod, glasses, 2 small books and purse and still has room for something small.  And even with it unzipped, nobody would have been able to get into it with it over my shoulder... so it has withstood the test.  Now, just to get those straps fixed up and it'll be able to stand more wear and tear while I'm out and about.   

Three Great Things

I haven't been buying anything of luxury lately from a charity store.  But I have been looking; that was until today.  I went out today to do my shopping and found myself a lovely skirt for Summer and thought to try that on; thinking it wouldn't fit.  But it did!  And it looked great too!  Then, I found a great bag too.  It's a style I've been looking for and at a good price too.  And then, I saw a coin purse with my Aunty Helen's name on it.  It's made of leather and with her name on one side, I thought it looked lovely.  Then, when I turned it over, it had pretty flowers on the other side.  It was very rustic and I thought to buy that too and give her the purse for Christmas.  All up, I spend a little over $20; but the items I bought were just lovely.  What have you bought lately from a charity store that's been worth your while?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Bought at Logan Central Today

Great Finds

It's my first shopping day back in Logan and I went to the Logan Central Life Line and found myself a lovely little GlowMesh clutch bag.  It's just gorgeous.  And the best thing about this one is that it's made here in Australia - in New South Wales.  I'm thrilled I found it.

I also found a little red purse as well.  It doesn't look like it's been used and is very new-looking and yet it was only $1.00.  Anyway, the clutch bag was $10.00 and so, I walked out of there with a great bargain today.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

Brighton Bargains

I've been staying at my brother's house since last Saturday; and so I've been sussing out the local St Vincent De Paul's charity store over the last few days.  
A few days ago, I took Jay - the family dog - for a good long walk to the place and when we got there, I tied her up outside it and went inside.  I found a nice teapot and cups set.  But I didn't want to be juggling the dog and the set and end up dropping it.  So, when I was there on that day, with Jay, I only bought a pair of knitting needles for .50c.
Today, I was there again - this time - without Jay and I found the teapot set was still there!  So, I snaffled it for myself for $8.00.  It's a nice set; made in Korea, and I've had to soak it in hot water and detergent to get the sticky tape and price tags off.  That's how long it's been sitting in this particular Vinnies store.  This place has it's ups and downs... but I do like how clean it is.  The people are very organised too.  Well, until next time, happy bargain hunting!

Rummage

Have you ever had a good rummage around your collections?  And I mean a really good rummage... not just a poke and thought, yeah, that'll do.  Well, yesterday, I did to have a bit of clean out of any ring boxes I wasn't using.  And you know, I found I had a lot of lovely jewellery that I was given by my Mum.  So, I polished it up and have begun wearing a bit of it.

Then, I opened on of the drawers and found my Glo-Mesh purses.  I forget they're there all sitting in the dark waiting to be used in lovely condition.  So, I pulled them out today and looked at them; loving the feel of them as my fingers ran over them.  And I'm wondering if it would be okay to use one of them as my regular purse.  This thought kind of scared me as I haven't found any Glo-Mesh around lately and it would be good to have just one to replace my old purse - as it's wearing out - and these ones of my collection are my best.
As I took photos of them for my records, I realised it wasn't possible to use them.  Not yet.  They are just too lovely and I don't want to wreck one or lose it because somebody else got greedy and stole it off me (now that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?).  

Besides, they are just lovely little things to have and enjoy, aren't they?  So, have you got anything like my little purses that you can't bare to use or part with?  Leave a comment and let us know about it.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.