The cost of not owning a car

Hey, I'm 44 and everything I own except my mattress set (got cheap $300 double sided pillow top because it was irregular) and my couch, I got everything from yard sales, Craigslist, or friends and family or thrift stores. I bought/got furniture and refinished it, I get decorative things and paint them or make my own art (I draw and paint) and all of my dishes were bought at thrift stores and my main set is my grandma's old Corel set my aunt gave me.

Nothing wrong with looking for things and seeing the potential in them and making things instead of wasting so much money buying new. I just recently bought a ridiculously cool set of side tables for my bedroom for $30 for the set and they're solid wood. I've never looked up the mftr. yet but I'm sure they cost a fortune new. I got matching lamps from my work (a hotel) they were brand new in the package and they were throwing them away because they were remodeling and these were extras from the 'old' decor so I grabbed 2 and bought cheap shades for them and now have lamps for my bedroom tables.

There's a bargain to be had everywhere, you just have to keep an eye out and be patient and things will come to you. I have an entire house furnished and people are always in awe of my decor and all of the cool things I've done with what I've found/bought and made over.

I have an old bean shaped coffee table that is topped with leather that was in bad condition from the 50's that I refinished and painted and it fits fantastic in the corner of my L-shaped sectional and it's curves set off the sharpness of the couch. I found an old set of wood mallard duck head book ends I painted white and I put them back to back on the coffee table and they make a great conversation piece. People always ask where I get all the cool stuff I have and I tell them to look in the clearance section, go to thrift stores, and just paint things, it's really that simple. And super cheap and you eventually have everything you need over the years.

/r/Frugal Thread