As God is my witness, I've said it before and I'll say it again. You can't beat good old church rummage sales.
Did you just see that lightning strike?
But seriously, every single time I see a sale on Craigslist and it's at a church I am there.
Why? Well, I'll tell you.
Pam's Top 3 Reasons To Shop Church Rummage Sales
- OLD ladies price the stuff
Church rummage sales are normally run by the little old ladies of the church who also price the items. And they have NO IDEA what stuff is worth.
McCoy vase for 25 cents. Box of pristine vintage Vera napkins $1. Box of stained and mismatched Tupperware for $49.99.
It makes no sense, but who am I to judge if they aren't researching values on Ebay.
- OLD people donate the stuff
The older people in the congregation look at this as a way to help out the church and get rid of their old stuff all in one fail swoop. They'll donate stuff they have had for years. YEARS!!!
Pyrex. Typewriters. China. Old cameras.
You name it, they just want to get rid of it and you want to own it.
- OLD fashioned charity
You thought this was all going to be about me, me, me, right? Wrong!
A lot of the time the money raised goes to funding mission trips or something for the youth group, so you can feel good about giving them your money.
Better than the neighborhood yard sale where the homeowner is saving up their yard sale profits to buy a new beer cooler.
Normally when I go to a super-duper, ridiculously priced, Grandma Jenkins must have been drunk when she priced this shit type of sale, I'll throw a little extra in as a donation to the church when I check out.
I don't want to be a jerk and just skip out of there and then when I get up to Heaven God will be sitting there with a big old notebook of all the times I screwed the churches over.
Nope, not going to chance it.
Oh, almost forgot. All the stuff in the first photo (vintage leather Samsonite suitcase, metal two-drawer filing drawer, round wooden cheese box and the mini-wine barrel planter) was $7.
Yet another vintage picnic basket that I really don't need, but can't stop buying was $2 and the pink Pyrex was a buck.
The badminton racket, galvanized tub and not-so-vintage Cracker Jack tin set me back $4.
All found at church rummage sales.
I rest my vintage loving Samsonite case!
Have you been to any good church rummage sales recently?
Other thrifting articles you may like:
How To Clean And Restore Thrift Store Finds
taryterre
LOVE LOVE LOVE this column. I was going to do the same topic on my Thrifting Threads and Things Blog because last weekend I went to my very first church rummage sale. And it was an awesome experience for all the reasons you mentioned plus the fact they carried everything to the car for me. LOVE it. Definitely a go to thrifting experience like you said.
lorraine
Plus the older ladies are sweet and pillars of the church. The money always goes for a good cause.
Ann C
Our church always prices things really low and then on the last day it's everything you can get in a paper grocery sack (remember those?) For a dollar. We pretty much clean out. I donate a lot when I'm in a purging mood. But my husband says it's just so I can justify all I buy. Guilty.
Patty Soriano
I've been volunteering at our church rummage sale for quite a few years, but not many of us are certified little old ladies. 🙂 Since I love these sales as a buyer, it's also fun for me as a helper. And as a helper.... I get first dibs ! That's a GREAT motivator to volunteer! True, we get some pretty raunchy things. That stuff goes in the trash. If it's a little better, but not sell-able, it goes in the FREE box which is set outside on the curb every day. Some of the volunteers also work or have booths at our local antiques mall, so we're all pretty knowledgeable about the valuable items. Still, our prices are pretty good and below retail. We love giving our customers "a find." When we get something we don't know much about, Google to the rescue. It helps to decide if we want to sell it outright, or put it with the items for our silent auction, which usually fetches better prices. The clothing is super cheap, and we sell a lot of it. Yes, some of it is pretty outdated, and we wonder who might want it. But it's good for costumes, or the awesome buttons that are on it. All in all, it's for a good cause, and the workers have a good time together bonding over saggy bras and fur coats in texas. 🙂 Definitely support your local churches.... we need you!!
kay
sound like you work at the church I work at.kay
Judy Clark
You found some great things and so cheap. LOL We don't have a lot of church sales here in Oklahoma. Don't know why but we don't. There are some at the holidays with lots of hand made crocheted things????
Judy
Sandy McClay
I agree...I live out west and there is very few good rummage sales here....I have that very same picnic basket, it was my folks!
I love going back to the town I was born in in Wisconsin...that has some wonderful church rummage sales.
Tammy Hart
You gave me a good chuckle! That being said, I'm right there with you on the church rummage sales. If it happens to be way out in the country off some narrow little road you never knew existed....hold me back. Gold! Gold I tell ya! Some of my best finds have been found at church. I once scored several Christmas stockings from the 40's for 10 cents each....10 cents. I donated to the kitchen on my way out where they were serving noodle soup and pie. Love it! You picked up some great items!
Audrey
What are you going to do with the Samsonite suitcase??? I've got one exactly like it and it's just sitting in the closet.
Pam
Sadly, nothing really exciting. I use the vintage suitcases to store crafting supplies in. This one was a little musty smelling so I have cat litter setting in it right now to absorb the odor. I've seen people make little end tables out of them or saw them in half (not sure I could handle that) and mount them on the wall as shelves. But no, mine will just hold some old fabric 🙂
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse
Church rummage sales are the best. I missed one this past weekend and now I'm really regretting it. You found some great vintage goodies. I love the picnic basket.
Beth
I just went to a Fire Fighters Community Rummage Sale after an estate sale and next time I'm skipping the estate sale. I got some of the coolest old stuff for really nothing. The estate sale I found some neat things but really overpriced. Thanks for all the tips, there!
Brenda Kula-Pruitt
I haven't been to one in years! And look what all I'm missing.
Brenda
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
You found some fun goodies! I love shopping them, too!
Jan
I love the church sales also. One time I found (2) small pedestal crystal dishes. When I got them home and washed them, my suspicion was confirmed...they were Waterford crystal!! Price? $3 each! Same sale always had a 10 cent table (who does that?)...found (4) sterling silver knives! I think we can all agree it's all about the thrill of the hunt!!
Pam
You can't beat Waterford for $3!!! Wonder if someone gave that to one of the ladies as a gift years ago and she never realized what they were. Oh well, she was probably happy to get rid of it and you were happy to get it, so it all worked out!
shelley
actually they are pretty smart...if it's priced to high it will NOT sell...and they don't want to tote it back home...and I do like church rummage sales too....tomorrow sis and I are hitting as we call them "dead granny shops".......now before anyone gets all offended, I live in a 55+ community....Sun City West, AZ...and we are all going to pass on...it's just a fact....these shops are run by some churches and some pet helping group...and their prices are great too....they want to sell it...then ONLY thing I object to is granny or grampy's underpants....REALLY....come on toss those suckers...I collect vintage linens...dish towels, table cloths and doilies...and usually I come away with something...and antique malls over price some...
Pam
Yeah, not sure why they have to sell bras and underwear??? I've even seen used pantyhose before. Blah! Good luck at the dead granny shops 🙂
Suzanne Allie
Hi Pam! Amen! YES!! Church sales are THE BEST sales out there! Pass none up. I love those dime and quarter price tags. Everything you say is right; little old ladies pricing and the older congregation getting rid of stuff. All the more for us!!! Enjoy!
Pam
You don't see many yard sales with things priced less than a dollar nowadays, but those women at the church are still sticking to their nickle and dime pricing 🙂
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage
Pam,
LOL on the pricing!!! You got some great treasures. Love a good Church rummage sale!
Have a great rest of your week.
Kris
Pam
Thank you! Enjoy your week also, Kris!