Monsieur Autio

Though I have mentioned thrifting and antique shopping before, I cannot stress how much it is a part of my teaching practice. The thrill of thrifting is one of my favorite things—and my all-time favorite teacher “hack.” The idea of thrifting extends beyond physical thrift stores to Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist (mostly the Free section), and the side of the road!

When you walk into my classroom, you’ll find a myriad of thrifted and found treasures including: a mid-century modern teak desk ($100 off Marketplace), a 70s reproduction tulip chair ($40 off Marketplace), a teak dining chair (free from the side of the road), an electric fireplace (from a thrift store), area rugs (free to $10 off Marketplace), old table lamps ($3–$10 each), hanging plants in vintage pots (free on the side of the road and propagated pathos from home), board games, books, and many other oddities found via thrifting. My typical teaching spot is in a thrifted chair, coffee in hand in the front of the classroom. I aim to build a classroom that feels comfortable and like home, and I believe I have achieved just that through curating my treasures and replicating the interior design of my own home.

Before bodybuilding, thrifting was my main hobby—I would go almost daily. I still spend a copious amount of time on Marketplace and thrift in physical stores whenever I can.

Here are four reasons why I love thrifting:

1. Thrifting is Economical

The whole reason one thrifts is typically to save money. A long-arm stapler that is $60 new is $10; a set of 6 watercolor pucks—$35 new—was purchased for $4; a set of 6 acrylic sign holders ($20–$25 new) was bought for $12; the board game Prime Climb ($35+ new) was found for $10. Children’s books are typically $0.25–$2 each (and there are often French ones if you look), whereas new books can reach upwards of $30 depending on the title. Then there’s the free stuff—I recently picked up a pack of origami paper and a little shelf for kids to put their outdoor shoes on, both for free!

Though the condition is used, a quick wipe often makes things good as new—or it doesn’t matter, since children will be using and consuming the items anyway. In my situation, we get but a couple hundred dollars a year for consumable supplies (which I know is already more than others!), but through thrifting I can stretch those dollars and even end up getting some high-quality items for much less.

2. Thrifting is a Great Way to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

To contribute to the cycle of reuse, I ensure that I give back to the thrift supply chain both from home and at work. At the beginning and end of each year, when I’m cleaning out my classroom, I take note of what students have used or loved (e.g., Garfield books are an all-time hit that I am always searching for while thrifting—and will even put in the collage bin if the books are absolutely destroyed!). Items that have sat on shelves for more than two years or gone unused are thrifted.

Even before taking boxes of items to the thrift store, the first step is typically offering items to other teachers. At my school, we take a picture of our “to-go” items and send it to the staff—first to pick it up gets it. There’s also an unofficial table in the staffroom for small things, where I often pick up teacher resources and old books. If the items don’t get taken, then it’s time to donate.

Some larger items I personally bought (i.e., not school property!) I may re-list on Marketplace for approximately the price I paid—or with a small increase depending on how good of a deal I got in the first place—and allow the cycle to continue. Typically, the money I “make” by reselling goes right back to buying more things for school and home!

3. Thrifting is a Source of Inspiration and Creativity

Often we go into other teachers’ classrooms, see ideas online or at a workshop, and want to try them out for ourselves. For instance, I liked the idea of a flip calendar that I often see online. Instead of buying one, I printed off the same thing on cardstock (that I likely bought from a thrift store…), used binder rings from the office, and bought a $2 utensil holder that has now become my day calendar. What would have been $15+ on Amazon or Teachers Pay Teachers is now a custom calendar that was more fun to make and find than to simply purchase.

This year I also bought a BINGO ball spinning cage, took out my class organization numbers (1–28), and used it for random call-outs or choices. This was a walk-by inspiration while doing a quick lunch-hour thrift near school that was an instant hit for students!

When thrifting with friends like Ms. VanDeventer, I am also inspired by her gifts in Special Ed to find board games and items that can work in my French Immersion context. She knows her board games and I often will then be on the hunt for the same or similar ones henceforth.

The financial creativity is fun too—you end up playing little games with yourself about what you’re willing to spend. Some days, $2 is too much for something, while $10 feels like a total steal for the same item!

4. Thrifting is Fun!

When I first started teaching, I would stop at least one thrift store on the way home. It was my way of decompressing. Most days I didn’t find anything, but it allowed me to unwind and shift my focus. It’s retail therapy with a much lower price tag—and environmental impact.

Thrifting is something I enjoy doing with my mom, my partner, and my friends. It’s fun to celebrate others’ treasures (which are often different than your own), and to have them sometimes find things you didn’t notice! The thrill of finding those just-right things—or those oddities that make up your quirky classroom (like a rubber duck-shaped plant pot I just adore)—brings me joy, and ultimately brings students joy as well.

Thrifting while travelling is also a lot of fun! On a recent trip to Atlantic Canada, Mr. Tong and I found a few books in French, some playing cards, and some clothing and home items. Even when we went to Hawaii years ago I bought donated Hawaiian shirts that new were $100+ for a fraction of the price! Thrifting while travelling also gets you off the tourist trail for a little while and adds to the adventure of a trip.

Conclusion

Thrifting is a life lesson in having a spirit of openness—you don’t know what’s there when you walk in. By being open to browsing, you may find things you never knew you wanted, needed, or imagined you could get for so cheap. For instance, I recently bought a set of small juggling rings that became an instant hit in PE as a progression from the large hoops for “get your team across the floor.” Ms. VanDeventer has found 5 Osmo kits for as little as $1!

Thrifting is an activity I love and enjoy sharing with my students, family, and friends. They have fun with my treasures, and in a way, we can do more with less! I save money, I do a very small part to reduce overconsumption, I get to be creative with the treasures I find, and I get to have fun while doing it.

Happy hunting!

Where do you see yourself in my story? Comment below!

Are you a thrifter? What do you look for? 

What’s a treasure in your teaching that you either found or acquired? 

Autios! À la prochaine!