Market Friday: Bargain hunting - Gumtree and Charity Shops
My feet were sore, hubby was getting highly irritated, as I had him driving from one affordable antique shop to another. Well, I thought they do exist, but of course could not find anything near affordable!
My eyes nearly popped out when I saw the price tag of a beautiful hallstand, as that's what I was wanting to buy, but REALLY, I was not willing to fork out that amount, plus it wasn't that grand by any means!
Gumtree
I had been searching online on Gumtree for weeks already, but the pickings were very slim indeed, nothing took my fancy plus the advertised price was way too high!
I even placed an alert on that site, as on a couple of other online sites, but nothing came up!
It was raining by the time we got home so hubby commented, still quite irritated, that something we really needed, was an umbrella stand.
So I went online with a big sigh, but we do have many unexpected rainstorms here in our subtropical climate!
I typed in Umbrella stand, and lo and behold, a hallstand that was exactly what I was looking for, came up and the price was REALLY low! I immediately called the seller, expecting it to be sold, but he still had it, and lived only a half an hour drive from us.
The husband was sent out immediately and arrived back home with my hallstand!
Sadly, many South Africans who are in the process of emigrating, are only too happy to get rid of some really nice pieces of furniture for next to nothing, so there are bargains to be found all the time!
Had this not been called an umbrella stand, it would have been snapped up in no time; likely by one of those antique stores who would have added a hefty price tag on to it!
Hubby was also happy as the hallstand of course is designed to be an umbrella stand as well.
Another really good second-hand online shopping experience was after we had trundled from one furniture store to another in search of a specific style wooden headboard, and nothing was what I wanted!
The husband agreed to buy wood and make it himself as he could see we were not going to find what I was looking for in any of these furniture stores!
I remembered Gumtree...again...typed in Wooden headboard, and lo and behold, there was the exact style and wood I was looking for. I called the seller who only lived 10 minutes from us and I was a happy gal; so was hubby, as he would have spent hours making this, plus the end product would have cost likely 5 times what we paid; also a family emigrating!
Kloof & Highway SPCA Charity Shops
The premises for this charming SPCA is in the grounds of what used to be a farm; the original farmhouse is still there and now is called Marilyn's Tea Garden, as it has a sprawling garden with tables and chairs under large trees.
Part of the house is a museum, as I've told you about before.
The beautiful stained glass doors at both entrances to the house.
Pretty decor on one of the walls of the many buildings scattered on the premises.
They used to house a toy shop, book store, music store, board games, women and men's clothing, household goods, painting and picture frame store, etc. etc. However, since Covid many of the tiny stores' goods have been taken outside under tarpaulins. My favourite stores of course are household goods, paintings and the book store!
Gorgeous white tableware that cost next to nothing.
I was very lucky on one occasion to pick up these two pieces by the artist Gail Dahl who donates her artwork to the SPCA from time to time. She's used real feathers here in her Guineafowl paintings.
I bought this painting mainly for the frame, but it appears to be an original as one can see the paint marks in places and the indentations of the artist's signature...somebody Bam?..., likely a local unknown artist, but I really liked it and it looks very gracious hanging at the end of our long passage.
So there are bargains to be found all the time; likely a treasured item for someone once upon a time, but now lying discarded in the charity stores or storage rooms in homes everywhere, so why not restore them to their former glory; often just a bit of cleaning up!
I do hope you enjoyed my bargain-hunting #marketfriday expedition, the brainchild of the fabulous @dswigle, a real light here on Hive. This helps us see what exciting stuff you have in your part of the world!
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You have an amazing taste for good thing. I shop for second hand things once in a while. Its quite affordable and not bad at all.
Thank you @joydukeson, my son's girlfriend buys old furniture and restores them beautifully, then re-sells it at a good profit. Of course she keeps some of it for their home!
Old stuff always has much more character not so!
That's actually a good business your son's girlfriend does. I have some pretty good old stuff. Maybe I can refurbish and sell too instead of leaving them to lay around
Warner Beach still has many stores, sadly some of the goods not in great shape however have purchased some bargain over the years as you mentioned.
Lovely to see the umbrella stand, my Gran had one in darker wood they are a handy piece of furniture to lay your hands on.
Nice outing and pleased you found what you were looking for, if not going through stores but letting your fingers do the walking over a keyboard!
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I love going to that SPCA but it is such a pleasure letting the fingers do the walking as you say Joan, and then finding what you're looking for almost on your doorstep :)
Have a great weekend!
I believe the SPCA up there is brilliant my brother and his wife frequent regularly supporting them.
Wonderful weekend to you too....
You have had some nice bargain-hunting. You can get some nice bargains here too because of the number of people who have left and are still leaving the country. I love that umbrella stand, reminds me of one that used to be in my great-grandma's house.
Have a great weekend! 🤗
Your Gumtree can be a real bargain! I imagine it is easier to give away some things rather than try to take them with you. I have lived in many places and even though I do take some household goods, the extra weight can be a prohibitive expense. I am so very sad that so many are emigrating, but, I cannot say I blame them at the moment. Sadly, it takes so much of the good of your country and whisks it away.
I love hall trees (or stands) I have four outside doors and three hall stands that I got in various places in Europe. I was in love with the idea and they are a very common sight there, so they were not expensive at all. I was shocked. I am so excited that you got exactly what you needed at a very nice price. The piece of art that you scored is stunning. I love unusual pieces like that.
I hadn't really thought much into what it all means for South Africa with the large migration (actually it is the ages of the migration that worries me a bit, the productive years) but, this will surely have a big impact on your country, no? That had to have been a hard decision to make, leaving it all behind and starting again, or staying and living under the conditions they have made.
I love your contributions! Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday! I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see so many participating every week. I have learned so much about the different cultures of the world, especially the small things that go unnoticed except by those looking for it. Life is interesting, wherever you are, whatever you are doing.
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!
Go to the market, or anywhere that you pay money for a service.
Take pictures! Be creative!
Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost?
Post the picture(s) Of course, you should tell a little bit about the ones you post
Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post #hive-196308 (this is not required, but appreciated)
Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
Following me and reblogging the post so more see it would be appreciated !! Not a rule, just appreciated, more vision for more views on your posts!
You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post.
As always, please remember!
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Upped and reposted