Lookie What I Found at the Thrift Store

I love a bargain, but I am pretty lazy about bargain shopping.  I am not a much of a coupon shopper because there really aren't that many coupons for things that I use.  I don't live close enough to a CVS to make it worth my time.  I don't go to yard sales because I don't want to get up that early.  I do however enjoy thrift stores, and I consider myself somewhat of an expert.

My usual thrift store route starts in a larger town with the GoodWill.  I consider Good Will a rookie's thrift store because many of the items are overpriced and can be bought new for slightly more.  Sometimes I will get lucky.  I got a Little Tykes play kitchen for $8 when the Crafter was two.  The next stop is at the Habitat for Humanity Store in my neighboring town.  I found a corner cabinet once for $75.  It now holds our TV in the living room.  I'm still looking for the elusive perfect couch, so I had to stop. 

My last stop is the PTA Thrift Shop.  It is the best thrift store ever.  Almost all of our clothing (except for socks and underwear of course) comes from this shop.  I could spend many a paragraph recounting finds like the Eddie Baur jeans for 75 cents, the set of 10 Avent bottles for $2, or the full set of A Beka readers for $3. 

But this is my greatest thrift store triumph.  I am confident that this will never be topped.  This is what I got for $10.

 Undampened Spirits by Jack Terry

I just thought it was a nice picture for the living room.  The frame was nice and the price was right.  Out of curiosity, I looked up the artist on the internet.  Imagine my surprise when I found out that the canvas print was worth $495 without the frame!  I am still in shock.  I was figuring that the picture was worth around $150 considering the quality of the framing.  I would have never guessed that it was worth so much.