Magazine Rack

As a re-user I love white elephant gifts - what a great way to reuse a horribly ugly, useless or lifeless item. This re-user also thinks there is nothing quite like turning a white elephant gift into something usable - especially when there is very little work involved. The magazine rack wasn't the highlight of the gift - but rather the circa 1990 Seventeen magazines stored inside. The magazines will be dropped off at my local gym tomorrow (which should be entertaining) and the rack got a new coat of paint and is now revitalized (and not ugly.)

Before
And After!

Never Buy New - Paper Towel Holders

At any second hand store you will find the most amazing collection of paper towel holders. Made of metal, plastic, wood, in every shape, color and decorative theme possible. I have been trying to imagine why there are so many used paper towel holders - I guess you only find one in your typical kitchen, and they don't really wear out. So, when they end up at stores they stay. The selection at my local second hand store includes the metal-stand-up kind, the attached-to-the-wall-wood kind and the shouldn't-be-owned-by-anyone-but-a-eighty-year-old-woman kind. So, if you are in need of a paper towel holder you will can get your fill.

I, myself am not a huge fan of paper towels (note the whole reduce, reuse, recycle theme) but I decided that I shouldn't critic items such as paper towels until I have children - I can imagine they may take on a saint-like status when food starts flying through the air.

Never Buy New - storage racks/orginzers

Never Buy New will be a reoccurring segment of this blog where I feature items I see almost every time I visit second-hand stores. Then, if you need something you can check and see if it is likely found at your second-hand stores before you buy it new!

A second hand store I visit often, Goodwill, always has many types and sizes of the white plastic covered metal racks which can be used in a variety of practical ways in kitchens, closets and other areas to organize and create space. They are sturdy, but also flexible.



My favorites are the cabinet shelves used to create more shelving for dishes or food in kitchen cabinets or pantries. When I bought these racks they where still in the original packaging. Price at second-hand store: $.99 - $1.99. Price new: $3.99 - 5.99.


Hooks and baskets. Price at second-hand store: $1.99. Price new: $7.99 - $8.99



















And finally, a iron and ironing board rack. I squeezed this one into a small place by bending the flexible metal. The metal bends without breaking - this way if I ever find a different or place for my ironing board I will be able to reuse the rack again. Price at second-hand store: $1.99. Price new: $7.99.