I Never Go to the Thrift Store Without Looking at This Underrated Section

"On most weekends you can find me at estate sales and thrift stores, looking for those holy-grail items that make my thrift trip go from fun excursion to total steal. I've spent countless hours looking for mid-century light fixtures and gorgeous crewel artwork, and sifting through original oil paintings and vintage fabric squares. But sometimes the best thrift finds are smaller, and not the kind of thing that would get me a spot on Antiques Road Show."

"That's why, when I'm done searching for the bigger treasures, I head to an often-overlooked section of the thrift store that I call the "paper bins." Typically tucked away in corners or jammed into basement shelves, I've found excellent, cheap treasures in these bins that are great not just for my own use, but also as gifts for others. Now no thrift trip is complete without me looking through the bins."

"Whether or not the name is official, I call these the "paper bins." That's because they are typically filled with blank notecards, greeting cards, and wrapping paper - all at a fraction of the price of what it would cost to buy these things new (and with more character, too!). I often find items hailing from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, and I think these paper items have waymore charm than any cards or wrapping paper currently for sale in big-box stores."

Estate sales and thrift stores yield a mix of large mid-century treasures and smaller paper finds. An often-overlooked thrift-store section contains blank notecards, greeting cards, and wrapping paper sold at a fraction of retail cost. Vintage paper goods from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s frequently display distinctive charm and character absent from modern big-box options. These items make gift presentation more interesting and can turn wrapping into an additional thoughtful detail. Thrifted paper supplies can serve personal use or become inexpensive, characterful additions when giving gifts.

Read at Apartment Therapy