No one has money to spare these days, but just because you’ve tightened up the budget doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to your love of vintage. With a little persistence and a little know-how, you can still pay 1950s prices for 1950s goods.

Goodwill is your friend. Goodwill and Salvation Army are great sources of vintage clothing, decor and household items. Become intimately familiar with your local thrift store. Learn which days they have sales, find out what days are best for certain items, and visit as often as you can. If you visit around Halloween, remember that vintage clothing is often lumped in with the Halloween costumes, so scour those racks of vampire capes and you may find yourself a diamond in the rough. With a little persistence and a lot of patience, there are definitely good deals to be found.

Don’t assume that something is expensive just because it is at the antique store. Antique stores, particularly those with multiple dealers, often have hidden treasures at good prices. It is easy to assume that just because something is at an antique store it has a big price tag attached, but that’s not always the case. Many of the multidealer antique stores will rent a space to anyone who can fill it and pay the monthly rental price, but that doesn’t mean they are antiques experts who have a good grasp on the real value of an item. I’ve purchased many items at antique stores for amazing prices just because the seller didn’t realize the value of her wares. Again, persistence and patience are key.

Be tolerant of a few flaws. A pristine lucite purse can cost upwards of $75, and many are priced in the hundreds of dollars. The same purse with a flaw – be it a small crack, a missing hinge, or other cosmetic damage – typically costs just a fraction of that. If you are willing to enjoy something that is slightly flawed, you can find yourself a bargain.

Learn to Sew. The price of a piece of clothing should reflect its condition, and often it is easy to find beautiful pieces marked down because of a weak hem or missing buttons. An easy few stitches can turn an unloved piece of clothing into something beautiful and wearable.

Scour Craigslist for a good deal. For the most part, the Collectibles and Furniture sections on Craigslist are filled with people hoping to make huge bucks on trash they cleaned out of their attic, but every so often someone really needs to get rid of an item and is willing to sell it for a reasonable price. Nearly two years ago we purchased a beautiful working Victrola in pristine shape for a mere $75.00 because the owners just didn’t have room for it. We were the first (of many!) to call, and we picked it up the same day.  Frequent Craigslist browsing can net you good deals.

Don’t be afraid to wheel and deal. Antique store dealers, Craigslist posters, and even your local thrift store may be willing to negotiate on their prices. I had spent weeks admiring an incredible coat at Goodwill that was priced at $99.00. After the coat sat unsold for a month, my husband approached the manager and offered her $50.00. The manager said she noticed the coat was older inventory and I went home with the coat for $50.00.  The last time I wore the coat to an antique show, one seller begged me to never, ever sell it because it was such an incredible specimen. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Let people know what you like. Get friendly with the antique store owners, the Goodwill managers, and anyone you meet in the used goods market and let them know what kinds of things you are looking for, and be vocal about your budget. They may steer you in the right direction when you come in looking for your bargain-priced treasure.

Persistence and patience combined with a cheapskate heart can pay off!

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