A recurring theme you’ll probably notice in my posts is Gma—she had a huge impact on my life. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been going to thrift shops and antique stores with her (and sometimes with my great aunt Renee and my great grandma Rose, too). We lovingly call it junking.
There’s just something special about sifting through random odds and ends, never knowing what little surprises you’ll stumble on. Nothing makes Gma giddy quite like being elbow-deep in a bin of junk.
During the school year, our weekends were often filled with little day trips, and summers meant longer road trips with plenty of stops at yard sales, thrift shops, and antique stores.
We always started our trips with a cooler full of snacks and made picnic stops along the way—whether at churches, rest stops, parks, or wherever looked inviting. Sometimes we’d leave without a clear plan or destination, which was surprisingly spontaneous for Gma. If you know her, you’d expect a perfectly thought-out plan for everything since she’s very Type A. But when it came to thrifting and fun trips with me, she let loose and embraced the flow.
I can still feel the texture of that atlas in my hands (I hope that ages me), and I remember Gma lovingly—maybe with more than a hint of sarcasm—keeping track of all the wrong turns we made thanks to my questionable navigation skills.
When I was a teenager, we took a road trip to see Andy Griffith’s hometown and Elvis’s birthplace and adult home—of course, with plenty of thrifting stops along the way. After being lost for two hours, we finally stopped at a Walmart to buy a TOM TOM. After that, you couldn’t tell us shit or hold back our adventures. We were always down for an impromptu stop—especially if it looked like a quirky, hole-in-the-wall kind of place or just a neat town in general.
Sure, thrifting is sustainable (which is awesome), but let’s be honest: what hooked us wasn’t the environmental impact—it was the time spent together and the thrill of a good haul. Over time, we learned to be more choosy about what we brought home.
My love for thrifting has stayed with me into adulthood and has even helped me build deeper connections—with friends and with my daughter. One of the best parts is sharing that passion with my little hooman and watching her get just as excited digging through bins as I did growing up. Right now, she’s obsessed with unicorns and mermaids—and, surprisingly, thrift stores have an abundance of those themed items.
There’s also something really special about spending a Saturday morning with my close friends—coffee, seltzer, and water in hand (we’re hydrated girlies what can I say)—as we wander through thrift stores. We do all love to shop, but It’s definitely more than just shopping; it’s our version of quality time. Whether we score a major haul (which happens more often than not) or leave empty-handed, it’s always time well spent, just because we’re together.
I get that thrifting isn’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay. But if you think you might like it even a little, I encourage you to stick with it. The more you go, the more you’ll find that every trip brings something new and special. Plus, if you do it often enough, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Tips for thrifting: Over time, I’ve learned how to spot the best finds without getting overwhelmed.
· Be intentional and practical. Know what you’re looking for so you don’t end up with clutter.
· Listen to your gut. If an item speaks to you or sparks joy(Marie Kondo reference lol), get it!
· Only buy what serves a purpose. Ask yourself if you’ll actually use or wear it.
· Stick to a budget. Pull out cash and only spend what you have—no cards, no going overboard!
· Do a quick scan first. Check out the whole store before diving in to spot the best areas for your interests. (I usually hone in on the home goods first then the clothes.)
· Always snag a cart or basket.
· If you kinda want something, just grab it because chances are, if you leave it, someone else will snatch it up or it’ll be gone when you come back.
Some of my fav local thrift stores (I say fav but lets be honest I rarely find a thrift store that I don’t love)
Strange Times Vintage | Columbia, SC
Palmetto Thrift Store Chapin | Chapin, SC
Palmetto Thrift Store Irmo | Irmo, SC
St. Francis Community Thrift Shop | Chapin, SC
His House (River Drive) | Columbia, SC
His House (Lexington) | Lexington, SC (There are two)
Sunshine Thrift Store | Columbia, SC
2nd Tour Thrift Store | Columbia, SC
And some of my fav local ish antique stores
Thrifty Treasures | Irmo, SC
Refind | Columbia, SC
Old Mill Antique Mall | Columbia, SC
Time and Time again Antique Mall | Inman, SC
Palmetto Peddlers Antiques Mall | Florence, SC
Sleepy Poet Antique Mall | Charlotte, NC
HAPPY THRIFTING EVERYONE 🙂
Blk Lava Lamp 
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