Fabulous Frugal Finds — Priceless Painting for $1

by Katy on August 20, 2011 · 5 comments

Although I am enamored of having a less-cluttered house, (note that I didn’t say uncluttered) I am not above stopping at garage and estate sales on my way home from running errands. After all, many practical items can be found for pennies on the dollar this way. For example, our propane barbecue has been dissolving into rust powder over the past few years to the point where it cooks very unevenly, plus there’s a huge whoosh of fire accompanied by a distinct smell of burnt hair whenever I start it up.

Yeah, I’ve been keeping an eye out for a new used one.

So when I spied a bight yellow “Estate Sale” sign on my way home from dropping my son at work yesterday, it would have been irresponsible of me to pass it by. And guess what? They had a new looking gas barbecue gleaming on the front lawn. It was marked at $60, to which I offered $30. This offer was declined, and I drove home not giving it too much thought. However, my husband felt this was a deal too good to pass up, so I drove back, offered $5o, paid $55 and was standing around the living room when my eyes roved over to a seascape painting on the wall.

“I kind of like that painting.”

Said The Non-Consumer Advocate.

“Really? Because you can have it for a dollar.”

Yup, a single dollar. A hundred pennies for a lovely signed 1953 painting. So there’s no surprise that I brought that puppy home, and that the colors look perfect in my spare bedroom.

I may sell it at a later date, but I’m going to keep it for now. After all, $1 for a dreamy seascape painting is a pretty Fabulous Frugal Find!

Below are the rest of the somewhat sporadic Fabulous Frugal Find series. If you have a find to share, please e-mail a photo and your story to nonconsumer@comcast.net.

Glamour Edition

High End Designer Furniture

Hand Knotted Oriental Rug

Fancy Velvet Dresses

Pot Belly Stove

Free Girl’s Sleeping Bag

Patio Set

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Rebecca D August 20, 2011 at 1:37 pm

That looks like a painting of the Carmel Cypress Tree. I collect California desert paintings from the 50’s. I get them at thrift stores or garage/estate/rummage sales.

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Katy August 20, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Thanks! I now know how to refer to it!

Katy

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Linda H. August 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm

The price on the painting made up for the higher grill price! Laughed out loud at the description of your old grill.

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Celeste August 22, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Love the painting! I drove my husband crazy at Cracker Barrel once by talking nonstop about how much I wanted a painting that was hanging near our table, not that I was brave enough to ask if they would sell it to me.

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Bethany ~ Sustainable Food For Thought August 31, 2011 at 7:37 am

That really is a lovely piece of art! Fabulous find.

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