Top 5 Essential Thrift-finds Found Whilst Shopping at Thrift-stores

I have always been an avid fan of thrift-finds at thrift-stores. I remember when I was a little girl, my mother would wake me up early in the morning, ask me to get dressed, slip into my flimsy pair of sandals, finish the milk and bread roll, while she finishes her coffee too. After that quick breakfast, she grabs the basket with her right hand, and grabs my tiny hand with her left hand and then off to market we go.

It takes one bus ride for about 20-minutes going to the market. And the reason we need to be early was to get the freshest stocks of thrift-clothes that just arrived from every part of various provinces of this part of the country. And then once we have our fill, we sell these clothes to all our neighbors and friends.

Fast forward to millennial years, I got married, gave birth to a daughter, migrated to Canada, and brought with me the love for thrift-finds. I am still so much in awe every time I visit a thrift-store, praying to discover a good deal, or find that item that speaks to my soul.

They say every used item in a thrift-store connects to the previous owner which can be passed on to the new buyer or new-owner-to-be. If that item came from a kind, sweet, and caring previous owner, the item filled with good memories will be passed on the new owner and will bring strings of good luck.

If previous owner is a hateful, vengeful or miserable owner, then it rubs off to the item and will pass on series of bad luck to the new owner. But there are ways to prevent this bad luck that can be done by ushering different kinds of rituals and spells. Will save that for another story.

A true thrift-shopper always have an eye for unique, one-of-a-kind, calling-my-attention feels. Here are my top 5 essential thrift-finds I found from shopping at thrift-stores:

No. 5 - Wooden trinket

For my number five thrift-finds, for fifty cents I bought this wooden trinket which am not sure what is it for. It is too light for a paperweight, the phrase used was too vague, and it looks really old full of scratches and peeled-off paint. But it spoke to me. When I pray to the universe for signs and I get confusing messages or answers, I just look at the wooden trinket, and think whoever came up with this wooden trinket was more confused than me, then I already feel great knowing it is okay, not to be okay.

No. 4 - Leather coat by Danier

For my number four thrift-finds, for $35 Canadian dollars, I got this used Danier black leather coat when I was a newly landed immigrant in Canada. When I wear this, I feel so rich, entitled, and privileged. It just gives you that kind of vibe. I would say the previous owner might be someone confident and really powerful like a politician or an entrepreneur. This Danier black leather coat helped me a lot during job-hunting days. It gave me so much confidence, and power during interviews. It brought me so much luck that I wore it during my Canadian Citizenship Ceremony.

No. 3 - Winter coat by Calvin Klein

For my number three thrift-finds, for $55 Canadian dollars, I bought a Calvin Klein olive green winter coat at Value Village. This Calvin Klein was one size smaller for me when I found it. But I bought it anyway. I just reminded myself to go on diet and exercise. It worked! I was able to use it for a few months. This winter coat made me feel so comfortable and cozy that am always looking forward to winter weather. It also made me feel how fortunate I am to be in one of the coldest places on earth, Canada.

No. 2 - Angel candle holder

For my number two thrift-finds, it is a $1 Canadian dollar candle holder of an angel playing the harp. There are two cherubim on each side listening to her. When I found this item, one of the cherubim’s legs were missing. I don’t know what prompted me to do it, maybe a higher spirit or my guardian angel Gideon who whispered in my ear to buy it. What about the missing legs? I painted it pink, which makes the cherubim look like its wearing pink socks. Problem solved!

No. 1 - Canadian Tuxedo by Jeanstar

It was mid-September, when leaves start to change colors, and weather turns bit colder, that I decided to shop at Talize to check on some Canadian Tuxedo. Voila! I found a Jeanstar brand Canadian Tuxedo. It was calling me, begging me to take her home. I bought it for $7 Canadian dollars. And you know what is the fun part aside that it is only $7 dollars? I found inside its pocket a $10 Canadian paper bill and $2 euro coin. The $10 already spent long time ago but the $2 euro I keep until now for good luck.

There are certainly ups and downs in a life of a thrift-shopper. It is not for everyone. There are few who enjoys the good finds and there are also a few who will admittingly say it is due to budget constraints. I am both. I shop for thrift-finds because it is affordable and I like the element of surprise and mystery that comes with it. It hurts to see my favorite thrift stores closed nowadays. But in time, I believe everything would go back to normal. I have faith in the universe and I trust the process, whichever faith you believe in. This thing we have now, will soon be over. See you soon thrift-stores, I Promise!

B. Alamer