Today, I’m sharing tips on finding thrift store teak bowls. I’ve always loved thrift stores, yard sales, and auctions. Unfortunately, I had to set that passion aside over the years because of my career and other demands on my time. I have gradually returned, and decided to share my thrifty finds with you.
When I was raising my daughter as a single mother, I had to figure how to budget and stick to it. This included decorating my home, purchasing clothing, food, vacations and everything else that came along. The solutions to these demands were growing my own food, second hand stores, clearance racks, and yard sales. I truly believe that someone else’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Browsing thrift shops was a way for me to relieve stress too. A little retail therapy goes a long way. And, I didn’t have to pay a fortune for my therapy. I visited one of the local thrift stores recently, and found these 4 teak bowls. They appeared to be hand carved, because their shapes were irregular. They just appealed to me, and called out my name. The price was $.99 per bowl. They may have been priced so low because of their imperfection, but to me that uniqueness is what makes them valuable.
As a single parent, buying things and figuring out how to use them later was not an option for me. Everything purchased had to be a price within my budget and have a purpose. That thought process is still in my DNA, even though I have reached a stage in my life where I can afford pretty much what I want. For some reason, I have no desire to change that thinking. It keeps me from overspending, and helps me stay on track with my finances.
As I admired the teak bowls, I thought about how I would use them. Ice cream with the grandchildren came to mind immediately. Sold! I could also use them for salads, spaghetti, chili, cereal, and the list goes on.
When I flipped the bowls over to check the price, I found this label on the bottom. Teak is native to India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is also used to make boats, furniture, carvings and other small wood projects.
Knowing the origin of the teak bowls increased the value for me. It made me want to preserve the uniqueness and irregularity of the bowls. So, they became more of a bargain from a thrift shop. One of the things about thrifting is being able to see the beauty in an item that another person no longer sees. The fact that I found a set selling on Etsy for $62.00 helps too.
If you’re a thrifty shopper, I hope that you will appreciate my hand carved teak bowls too. If you’re not, I encourage you to check out a few shops, flea markets or auctions. You may also like: Auction Tips for Beginners.
Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to head to the flea market. I love finding bargains or negotiating a good deal. Flea markets are popular on the week-ends in most cities or towns. There are indoor markets that are open during the week as well. Check your local listing for hours.
