Odds and Ends/Stocking Up

[alexandra]

Am I the only one who stocks up on "odds and ends?"  You know... "parts" of things that you can't replace from a set of something -- because it would cost to much or be too much of a bother.  Let me explain!

I pick up glass lids for Corningware, Pyrex, etc. whenever I see them for cheap.  On Wednesday, I was in Amvets and saw one of those larger sized metal racks for Corningware. It was .99 cents -- so I bought it.  I have one at home... but I also have two large dishes.  So now, each will have a rack!

Since I have a lot of Corningware, and more than a few crock pots, lots of cast iron, etc.; lids and racks are always needed.  One of my favorite vintage shops keeps a rack of lids which she gives away for free.  I love that!  And because she always has them around, when she finds a piece that is lid-less, she can complete it.  These things are standard sizes.  The round lid for my crockpot fits a round Pyrex casserole and one of my cast iron skillets.

For large lids or racks, my "rule" is no more than a buck.   For medium, the limit is .79 cents.  For small, .49.  I am, after all, a woman of rules!

If I'm ever out  hunting and I see a lid or rack, I buy it.  If I have an extra now, I know a dish will come along later which will fit in it.  Or a friend will lose one or need one. 

Buying lids separately in stores is sometimes possible.  Not always so with the racks.  So, I just think these are things that thrifting can supply better than any other source.

Anybody else have "stock up" items they are always willing to buy?

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I tend to buy interesting vintage lampshades (and particularly glass globe shades for hurricane or Aladdin lamps) because these are super-hard to come by (this is the part usually broken off the lamp) and very, very expensive to replace. As a result, I was able to match a shadeless Gone With the Wind style vintage lamp to the right original shade in a six month period (The shade was $1 no less!).

If you're willing to wait, there are all sorts of goodies like that. Heck, it's how I've made a number of my Depression glass dish sets.

[Good Buddy]

We don't necessarily buy things to stock up on as parts, but I have saved several parts of things that have ended up whole in the end.
We once bought a blender and the motor ended up being bad. But we still had a great Oster glass pitcher. We later found a blender that had a bad pitcher at a thrift for $2. Now it's complete.
Many years ago I purchased a set of 4 records on learning Italian, "The Living Language Series". The book was missing. A couple years ago, Misses Cookie and I were shopping at a local HFH thrift and I found the book there, sans the records.
Cookie does however also have a very interesting lamp shade she bought that we're looking for a lamp base for.
We do whoever buy things for crafty projects.

Alexandra I'd love to look through all your parts. I bet it'd be fun.

[alexandra]

Good Buddy, you're lucky to have Misses Cookie as your partner in thrift!  For a while, when I'd come home with just a lid, The Big Guy would ask why I needed just a lid.

Then one day, were were in an outlet store for Corningware or Pfaltzgraff -- or something like that.  They sold open stock.  When I showed him that a lid was ten bucks and that I picked a similar one up for .49 cents, he finally understood.  That doesn't mean he doesn't get frustrated when he opens a drawer and cabinet and sees a rack with 8 lids... and the rack is another story. 

My lid rack is an old metal storage rack that used to hold those large mainframe data tapes.  If anyone can get their hands on those -- grab them!  I raided the garbage pile at work when we were cleaning out our machine room.  They make great plate racks.

I also buy tongs whenever I see them.  IMO, a kitchen can never have too many tongs...

Now that I read your post, I'm going to start buying blender jars.  They're pretty much universal and think about all the party and mixing possibilities for the host who doesn't have to wash out the blender jar after each batch of drinks.  Think of all the different kinds of daquiris and margueritas that could be served...

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Other People s Junk]

I also buy tongs whenever I see them.  IMO, a kitchen can never have too many tongs...

  That is so true!

I also look for vegetable knives... They have a nice skinny blade that makes it easy to cut all sorts of fruits and veggies.

[dukek9]

I once worked in a small office where we had a rather mentally challenged young woman come in to volunteer.  One day she brought in the exact same glass carafe that the office coffee maker used and explained that she got it in case the one we had got broken.

The very next week, the boss went to make coffee, and dropped the carafe, smashing it to bits. So yeah, stocking up is a good idea. 

I'm trying to envision those storage racks.  I definitely need some organization in that department and also with the Tupperware lids.  I know Tupperwear sells the lid holders, but since my Tupperwear is all thrifted, buying new just seems wrong!

Dee (if you open a cupboard in my house, be prepared to cathc lids as they fall out)

[Mattie]

I "stock up" on stuff that might end up in an art project, even if the concept doesn't come to me for years. 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Mattie, I was touched by your last comment because of the inherent intent in it. It shows, to me, how much vision you have! and speaks to how much vision we all have. YOu know, seeing something and just knowing on a gut level that it is art or will be art or can be art, that "every form, correctly seen, is beautiful"--I can't remember who said that, but your comment reminded of it. There is so much beauty in the world, isn't there?