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Top tips for op shop trips

August 24, 2016 · 9 Comments

Top tips for op shop trips

It’s National Op Shop Week!

Not that I need a special week to go op shopping, but it is a good week for me to share with you my top tips for op shop trips.

I have always loved to op shop.

Even when I was a teenager, I would ferret through the local thrift shop to find funky things to wear. It’s in the blood though as my Dad is a lover of bargains and many childhood car trips involved making detours to random garage sales and second-hand shops! My mum volunteers at op shops so she is a great supporter of them as well.

 

Why would you shop at an op shop?

Why wouldn’t you? As well as being a frugal way to shop, you are helping charities and helping the environment.

It makes sense to buy something second-hand and reuse it, reimagine it or upcycle it to something new. Op shopping keeps stuff out of landfill and reduces pollution. It’s also a great way to be unique and show your personality.

But of course buying things second-hand isn’t always as easy as shopping at department stores, so here are some of my top tips.

 

♥ Keep visiting. New things come in all the time so keep checking back to see what’s new. Apparently mid-week is a good time for the weekend donations to show up in store!

 

♥ Give things a good wash. They are second-hand after all and you just don’t know where they have come from. You might even like to use a drop or two of tea tree oil to kill any bugs (particularly shoes!!) And yes, some op shops have that weird op shop smell that you probably want to get rid of!

 

♥ On holidays or across town? I always try to schedule a little time for some op shopping in a new location. I just search for them on Google or you can look them up at Op Shop or on one of my favourite blogs, I Love to Op Shop. Obviously op shops need a cheaper rent, so you will find them in some odd out of the way places sometimes.

 

♥ Have a good look. The bargains won’t jump out at you! Spend some time looking through the racks. Look in different sections too. I once saw a pair of Sass and Bide women’s jeans for $10 in the men’s section. If only they were in my size! I’ve also seen a lot of women’s clothes mistakenly placed in the kid’s section.

My best bargain so far. A Chassuer French Oven for $15 instead of $250!

♥ Make friends with the staff. They might even put aside things for you or let you know of anything new that comes in.

 

♥ Think outside the box! Many things you find in the op shop can have alternative uses. A funky teapot can become a pot plant, an old cabinet can become a toy kitchen, a tea cup can become a candle holder, you can restring beads or cut things up for craft.

 

♥ Take your phone. This will come in handy if you want to check the going price for antique or retro items to make sure you don’t pay too much. I also use my phone to take photos and send texts to my kids asking if they want me to grab the amazing thing I have found for them!

 

♥ Add some elbow grease. Many pieces donated at the op shop are terrific quality for tiny prices. They may just need a good clean or polish, a new coat of paint or clothing may need some adjustments to make them perfect for your use.

 

You never know what treasures you will find – that’s half the fun!

 

♥ Never buy another new men’s business shirt. Seriously, one of the most consistent and best things we have found at op shops is men’s business shirts. My son has to wear them for work and we always find the most incredible quality and fabulous brands in perfect condition for under $10. This comes in handy when he tends to get things stained! It’s so cheap to replace them.

 

♥ Don’t buy stuff just because it’s a bargain. If you have no use for it or it’s not getting you excited, leave it on the shelf. You don’t want to end up with clutter!  Don’t forget though you can always donate back to the op shop, pass on to friends and family or on-sell if something is not getting used or not quite right. Disclaimer: If it’s a really, really amazing bargain, see my next tip.

 

♥ Know your stuff. Having worked in a kitchen store, I can spot a quality piece of cookware. My kids are better at designer clothes and shoe brands. I just can’t leave a $100 Baccarat frypan selling for $6 behind! Items like this that I won’t use myself but are amazing quality are going away in the cupboard for my kids when they move out of home. Yep, I am bringing back the old-fashioned glory box!!

 

♥ Don’t hesitate. If you do see something you love, that’s just calling your name….grab it on the day. I have been disappointed many a time when I have a think about something and go back and it’s been snapped up.

 

You can get quality designer clothes and shoes at a fraction of retail prices.

 

♥ Check everything. Sometimes the staff will miss chips and cracks or stains on clothing. Give everything a good check before you buy.

 

♥ Kids’ stuff is awesome. Kids grow out of things so quickly – whether it’s toys or clothes, they seem to be onto the next thing quicker than you can blink. I have always found kids’ denim from the op shop to be a winner – it’s hard-wearing and you can always find something. Books, DVDs and toys are usually priced very cheaply so it’s a really frugal way to keep the kids entertained. And kids are not fussy about newness either!

 

♥ Pick up party supplies. Seriously the best place ever for parties! Grab plates, glasses, cutlery, serving platters, candles, tablecloths, linen, decorations and more for similar prices you would pay for disposable products. If you don’t need it all after the party, donate back or store away for future parties.  Get crafty and cut things up for decorations – old books can make paper mobiles and old sheets can become bunting. I decorated the table for my mum’s birthday party with doilies and old silver platters with candles. It looked so good.

 

An all blue op shop day. 

 

♥ Sometimes suburbs count. If you are looking for designer gear, sometimes you will have more luck in the more expensive or affluent suburbs. However the price may reflect this too!

 

♥ Colour coded. A lot of op shops will have clothes displayed by colours so if you need a new top, you can quickly find the colour you need.

 

♥ Find your favourites. Op shops can be so different in terms of products and pricing. Some are outrageously priced and others are much more sensible. Keep looking till you find your favourite.

 

♥ Haggle. I have never thought of doing this, but if you are buying a higher priced item (like the amazing tea trolley below) you might want to ask what their best price is. Thanks for the tip Susan!

 

susan

My friend Susan found this 1920’s tea trolley at her local op shop. How stunning!

 

♥ Follow your local on social media. Seriously! Many op shops are now on Facebook and Instagram so follow along and stay in the loop for specials. Quite often there will be awesome sales like 50% off all books or fill a bag for $5.

 

♥ Make it fun. Take your friends or your kids! My teenagers are a bit picky about what they wear but they see the value in those designer labels at a fraction of the price and have scored themselves some really great things.

 

♥ Take a bag. I always carry a fold up recycled bag with me anyway but some shops don’t give out bags so you might need one (depending on how many goodies you find!)

 

Just some of my op shop books. I rarely pay more than $5 for a book and most are around $2.

 

♥ Books, books and more books.  If you are a reader, you won’t find a cheaper place to buy books. I buy fiction books and then pass on to friends and family. But the best deal is the non-fiction books that I keep as reference books. I have amassed quite a little library of self-help, motivational, new age and health books.

 

♥ Consider the op shop for gifts. Now you do have to choose your audience here, but personally I love an op shop gift and quite often I will find cute things I know a friend will love. You can also make things like vintage tea cup candles. Vintage sounds so much more chic than op shop bargain! We do a ten dollar Christmas and the op shop is the best place to find a great gift on a budget!

 

♥ Manifest. You knew I would sneak a bit of woo in didn’t you?? Yep, manifesting totally works. Hold in your mind what you are after and leave the rest up to the universe. It might not happen straight away, but it usually happens. I manifested myself a pair of brand new black leather boots for just $15 and that amazing Dutch Oven. Woohoo!

 

♥ Give back. Never dump stuff you don’t want anymore. Take it to the op shop so someone else can benefit. Make sure it’s clean and in good condition or it will cost the charity time and money to dispose of it. Never leave your donation outside the shop – always pop it into the shop or in the donation bin.

 

I love the thrill of an op shop bargain.

I don’t think that feeling ever wanes! My latest finds from the op shops get posted on my new Instagram account @goldcoastopshopper, so check me out over there. You can see a full directory of Gold Coast Op Shops here.

I would love to hear about your amazing op shop finds and your tips. Let me know in the comments or upload some photos to my social media for us to check out.

 

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: books, budget, clothes, ecofriendly, environmentally friendly, frugal, op shop, op shopping, recycle, reuse, thrift store, thrifty, toys, upcycle

Why I’m Breaking Up With GREEN BAGS

April 12, 2016 · 25 Comments

 

Why I’m Breaking up with Green Bags.

Green bags came into being around 2002 and were immediately hailed as the solution to all those plastic bags we had been using.

According to Clean Up Australia, Aussies use over 4 billion plastic bags every year!! Not just available in supermarkets, many businesses now offer some form of green bag to their customers.

I jumped onto the bandwagon when they first came out and thought they were great until I started wondering what they were actually made of!

While I like the idea of having a reusable alternative to using plastic bags, I am no longer a fan of the ‘green bag’ as an alternative. They are made from polypropylene, a byproduct of oil refining, usually imported from China. And… they are ugly!

Unfortunately these bags are not compostable or biodegradable and we end up with millions of them, most ending up in landfill. They can be recycled (apparently Coles has a recycling program) but many people are not aware or do not bother.

I also found that the stitching comes loose after a while, they tear easily, the plastic insert cracks and they become useless as as shopping bag.

 

“A CSIRO research scientist, Dr Mike O’Shea, says the green bag’s only environmental credential is that it is not the single-use high-density polyethylene plastic bag still given out in most shops and supermarkets.” source

 

So what do I use instead?

For food shopping, I like to use fabric bags.  They are so much more durable, easy to wash and last forever. I like to source them from op shops as they are much cheaper and I like to reuse something already in circulation.  I realise non-organic cotton production is not very environmentally friendly but I think the years of use of a cotton bag, combined with it’s ability to decompose make it a winner over green bags.

I wash them regularly in hot water with a dash of eucyalyptus oil to keep them clean and fresh.

For one off purchases, I carry a lightweight fold up bag in my handbag.

 

 

You can also get some really cute cotton, jute and hemp bags online if you can’t find any at the op shops.

It’s a bit of a challenge now to see if I can avoid plastic bags and I like to say to shop assistants, no thanks, I have my own bag, I like to be a greenie! I think it gets people thinking in a subtle, non-judgy way.

Obviously if you already have ‘green’ bags, use them until they can be used no more and then recycle them properly.

 

What do you think? Do you love your green bags or do you use something else??

 

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: eco bags, eco-friendly, eco-friendly bags, environmentally friendly, green, green bags, plastic bags, plastic free July

10 Easy Ways to be an Eco-Warrior

April 7, 2015 · 11 Comments

10 Easy Ways to be an Eco-Warrior

 

I know, I know. Adding in eco-warrior to all the other things you already do seems so hard! 

We know we need to do good things for the planet but actually implementing them and living green can be so overwhelming! A bit like healthy eating.

Well, I would give you the same advice as I do about healthy eating……..baby steps.

Just start doing one or two things here and there when you can. Today, I’m not going to tell you to buy chickens, compost and start a vege garden (even though those things are amazing). I have some really easy ideas for you that don’t require that much effort, just a little bit of thought.

I also like to think that by implementing these small things into our daily lives, our kids will learn by example and go on to be eco-warriors themselves. Of course, being eco-friendly usually means you also save money. It’s a win/win really!

 

Here are 10 easy ways to be an eco-warrior.

 

♥ Stop buying books, newspapers and magazines.

Okay, the one exception I make is for good cookbooks, non-fiction books or kids’ books that you will use over and over again and lend to friends. Even the, I try to source from the op shop!

However, one-off fiction, magazines or newspapers are things you don’t have to buy. You can either go digital, invest in an e-book reader or you can hire them for free from your local library.

 

♥ Turn off stand-by appliances.

Go around the house at night and turn off at the wall all those appliances that use stand-by power. Things like microwaves, tvs, dvd players, aircons, computers, modems and phone chargers. You would be surprised at how much energy these appliances use and cost you over a year!

 

♥ Buy more local stuff.

Next time you shop, challenge yourself to buy as locally as you can. Swap overseas brands to Australian ones. All those food miles cost our environment.

 

♥ Make the op shop your first stop.

If you need something, check to see if the op-shop has it first. You would be surprised at some of the good things you can find at an op-shop. There is usually a huge array of homewares, toys, furniture and clothes to choose from.

Why buy new drinking glasses when you can pick up nice ones from the op shop for 20c?! Further to this idea, you could swap things amongst your friends or check out garage sales. If you are new to op shopping, check out my top op shop tips.

 

♥ Full loads.

Whether it’s the dishwasher, the washing machine or the dryer, make sure you have a full load before you turn it on.

 

♥ Carpool.

Heading out to meet friends or taking the kids to sport? See if you can organize lifts and get as many people in the car as you can!

 

♥ Use an eco-bag for gifts.

As well as looking funky, giving gifts in reusable eco-bags encourages more people to use them. Of course there is no waste either.  I love the LOQI ones – super cool and so lightweight.

 

♥ Buy in bulk.

Buying in bulk reduces the need for lots of packaging. Join a co-op or buy online and fill up your recycled glass jars! We have recently bought laundry and dishwashing liquid in bulk and I would recommend this to everyone. Check out the 20 litre tubs of Abode cleaning products.

 

♥ Switch shower heads. 

Get yourself a water-saving shower head – they aren’t expensive or hard to install. They can be easily found at your local hardware store. You will not notice the difference but you will notice the savings!

 

♥ Make notebooks.

Cut up all the used paper from your home office or kids’ school work into squares. Staple it in one corner. You have just made your own notebook for shopping lists and phone messages.

 

So there you go. Easy huh? Can you give any of these a try? Do you already do some of these?

What other small steps can you add to this list?

 

You might also like to read:

My life without plastic wrap

How to store fruit and vegetables without plastic

Goodbye Plastic, Hello Glass!

Smart Swaps for Single Use Plastics

 

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: eco friendly, eco-warrior, environment, environmentally friendly, recycle, reuse, save the planet

How to host an eco-friendly kids’ party!

March 9, 2013 · 45 Comments

how-to-host-an-eco-friendly-kids-party

How to host an eco-friendly kids’ party!

Today I am bringing you my top tips for a very green kids’ party. Keep in mind that even the little things we do can all make a difference.

 

♥ Plan ahead. Many environmentally friendly products are sadly not widely available, so you may need to hunt around or order online.

♥ Make a list and consider what you will need. From here you can work out how you can make the party greener. Borrow from friends, consider using things you already own or things that can be re-used, composted, recycled or upcycled in anyway.

♥ Invitations can be made at home with recycled paper or cards or you can use some eco-friendly invitations.

♥ Skip the paper invites and email the guests or create a Facebook event!

♥ You need to be very careful with balloons. If you want to have them, please dispose of them properly as they pose a choking risk to animals (even the biodegradable latex ones).

♥  Tell your guests that your party is eco-friendly and ask them to join in the fun. You could ask them to wrap the gift in recycled paper, make the gift a preloved book or toy or have a no-plastic gift policy. One year my son invited so many kids to the park and we really didn’t want over 20 toys (and the packaging!) to add to our home. Luckily he felt the same way and was more than happy to say ‘no gifts, donation if you prefer’ on the invites. He felt very proud donating over $250 to NAPCAN, one of our favourite charities.

♥ Set up boxes or bins, clearly labelled for recycling for easy clean up.

♥ Make paper chains. Use old wrapping paper, cards, brown paper or homemade artworks. Masking tape is best as its recyclable.

♥ Get creative with party decorations. Use things like candles, flowers, leaves, gumnuts, pebbles, shells, seeds and pods! Popcorn garlands and hanging biccies are fun too.

♥  Instead of using disposable plastic tablecloths and banners, invest in a gorgeous fabric party decorations that can be reused over and over again at every celebration! Check out these hundreds of ideas at Etsy – you can even find people who will make customised products for you.

♥ Check the local op-shop for colourful platters, plates and cups. It’s not hard to wash them up and you can store them in a box to be used again and again.

♥ If you want to use disposable party-ware, check out this range  that is all natural and compostable. You could even use washed banana leaves as plates – what fun for a jungle themed party!

 

food-covers

 

♥ Food covers are better options than using cling wrap (gosh we used to go through a lot of that stuff for parties!)

♥ Try and cater most of the party yourself. Buying individual portions of food uses lots of packaging and it’s usually more expensive.

♥ Face-paint can be really toxic. My daughter always breaks out in a terrible rash if she gets her face painted! Choose a natural face paint like No Nasties Nevada.

♥ Instead of plastic party bags, use paper bags, fabric bags, noodle boxes, paper doilies, pot plants or even paper cups! Check out my healthier party bag ideas here.

 

For your next birthday party, spare a thought for the environment and see if you can make even one small change. Trust me, it makes you feel good to know you are doing you’re little bit!

Do you have any more ideas?

 

 

Filed In: FAMILY, HOME / Tagged: decorating, eco party, eco-friendly, entertaining, environmentally friendly, green party, kid's party, kids, party

Have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

December 8, 2012 · 41 Comments

Have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

“Australians are expected to spend about $10 billion on food over the Christmas period, but a staggering 35 per cent will be wasted and end up as landfill.” ABC News.

“A recent Australian survey by McCrindle Research has shown that 78.5% of Australians have received a present that they didn’t want. 13.7% of people will throw away these unwanted presents – meaning they go unused from manufacturer to landfill.” Clean Up Australia.

I know ‘statistics’ are a grey area, but I certainly believe there is a lot of waste happening at Christmas time. When you think that most people buy at least a couple of presents, multiplied by everyone in Australia, it’s not too hard to figure out, that is a whole lot of paper, cards and packaging right there!

This whole over-consumption thing started bothering me a few years ago. We are by no means perfect, but by thinking ahead and opting for the most environmentally friendly options, we are doing our little bit.

Here are some ways to have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips! 

 

♥ Christmas Cards

I have taken to sending mostly email greetings on Christmas Eve every year.  I usually jazz it up a bit and include some photos of the kids and the dog in their Christmas gear so it’s a bit more special! You can even Elf Yourself and give the rellies a bit of a laugh.

If you still want to send cards, purchase some eco-friendly Christmas cards, like these from Australian company, Earth Greetings.

Make sure all your cards go in the recycling bin after Christmas or donate to your local childcare, kindy or school for crafts.  Alternatively, you could keep them and upcycle them into various craft projects next year.

 

♥ Parcels

Save postage bags and packing material throughout the year to reuse at Christmas time. Read more here.

 

♥ Christmas Wrapping

There are so many alternatives to paper for wrapping gifts, from fabric and kids’ artwork to reusable bags. Check out a few here.

 

♥ Food Wastage

Plan your Christmas menus ahead and try not to overcater – there is only so much you can fit in your tummy! Make sure you get the leftovers back in the fridge quickly and have a plan for them. If you won’t eat them within three days, then freeze or giveaway. Find out where in your area will take leftover food. Compost what you can as well.

 

♥ Ditch the disposables

I know disposable crockery and cutlery is really handy and saves so much work. But, they really have an impact on the planet, particularly if they are not bio-degradable. If you are having lots of people over, grab some extra crockery and cutlery from the op shop. You can always donate it back later or pop it away in a box for next time you entertain.

If you want to go disposable, investigate some green options like these biodegradable. compostable palm leaf ones.  I think they look so much more stylish than plastic plates too!

 

♥ Christmas gifts

We have adopted a Ten Dollar Christmas which is very fun and eco-friendly as most gifts are from the op shop!

You could consider consumable gifts like home-made treats or experience type gifts.

Charity gifts are fabulous for the person who has everything and they really make a difference to those in need.

If you are giving battery operated presents, consider also adding a battery charger and rechargeable batteries. When upgrading electrical items for Christmas gifts, make sure you recycle the old electronics. Find out where you can recycle near you, here. Electronic waste is fast becoming a huge problem in this country.

A gift card is always a good gift and it’s not wasted as the recipient can buy exactly what they want or need. To make it a bit more thoughtful, whack it in a home-made snow globe!! My favourite idea this year from The Creative Mama.

Diy Snow Globe Gift Gard

♥ Christmas decorations

I don’t get the idea of buying an entire set of new decorations every year! I just use the same ones I have had for over ten years. Buy quality ones that will last and take care of them. I love this idea of using egg cartons to store them – we also use shoe boxes padded with recycled tissue paper.

Have you ever thought of buying pre-loved Christmas decorations? Try op shops and local buy swap and sell sites.

You can also make your own Christmas decorations. Kelli from Be a Fun Mum has some fabulous ideas here.

When the Natural New Age Dad and I were first together, we didn’t have a tree. So I hung some cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and walnuts from some branches with lots of tartan ribbon. Simple, but still festive! Take a look at Red Tart Art to see how to do the orange slices.

You can also source fair-trade and recycled Christmas decorations if you aren’t gifted in the crafty department.

 

♥ Christmas tree

Although I am not a fan of plastic, a good quality tree will last you for  years! If you have a fresh tree, you could compost it or use it for bark chips on the garden when Christmas is over.

You could also get creative and make your own Christmas Tree with recycled materials!

 

Wooden Christmas Tree

♥ Advent Calendars

Make your own with toilet rolls like this idea from Totally Green Crafts or make a wooden or fabric one that you can re-use every year. Check out my bumper list of Natural and Eco Advent Calendar Ideas.

 

I could go on forever – there are so many great eco-friendly ways to have a very green Christmas! It just takes a little creative thinking.

Tell me, what are you best eco-friendly tips for Christmas?

Hope you have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

 

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: Christmas, DIY, eco friendly, environmentally friendly, green Christmas, handmade, recycle, reuse, sustainable christmas, upcyle

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