$100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge -- David Hockney!
There's a Goodwill right up the street from my favorite grocery store, (Hellooo, Winco Foods!) so I often pair my trips. Because, seriously . . . why not reward yourself for ticking a boring task from your to-do list?!
First step was to donate a grocery bag of books from our Little Free Library. There's someone in my neighborhood who must work/have worked at a certain niche publisher and stuffs all area libraries with her unsold books. No one ever takes them, so I pull them out every month or two to donate. This allows room for books that people actually want.
My goal with this trip was to source things for resale. A project whose goal is to amass as much money as possible for a Oregon Food Bank donation. Ideally spending as little as possible, to earn as much as possible. (Think $5 to $75, not $10 to $30.) I know this goal would be easier to achieve from the Goodwll pay-by-the-pound bins, but that store is not conveniently located next to my grocery store!
Where was I?
Let's get thrifting!
This midcentury desk caught my eye, but was priced at $60 and the top surface was a plastic laminate. Definitely groovy and I could likely sell it for more than sixty bucks, but too much of an initial investment.
I was also tempted by these vintage London-theme placemat boards, but they were priced at $1.99 apiece and I didn't want to spend $16 to make $45. I grabbed the oversize one for personal use, although I paid out of pocket to avoid mixing up the funds.
Here are recent "sold" eBay listings:
I left the smaller ones for someone else.
What did I buy? This David Hockney vintage reproduction lithograph for only $9.99.
You may know David Hockney from "A Bigger Splash," his most famous painting, which I've had the privilege to see in person at The Tate Museum in London. Although that was in 1988, so it's been a few years. It's bigger than you think.
I came home and immediately listed it on Facebook Marketplace for $200, which is just a stab in the dark. I figured I can later lower the price, but I might as well start with a higher number.
My only response so far is from my mother, who messaged me about the baby picture of my father from 1937. Such a cutie pie!
What didn't I buy?
A pair of hospital issued denture cases, priced at 99¢ apiece.
I also didn't buy this Starbucks-inspired bear bottle. Remember when those were the "it" craze back in November? Consumerism at its worst!
So far I've thrifted:
- The Love Sac cushion covers for $4.99. Currently on eBay for $45 apiece.
- The $9.99 David Hockney framed reproduction lithograph, currently listed on Facebook Marketplace for $200.
I've spent $14.98 and made $0.00. I'll keep this post updated with any price changes or sales.
The thing about reselling is that you rarely sell your finds immediately, and if you did it's because you priced them too low! So patience is key. Deep breath in, deep breath out . . . .
I love Japanese Irisis! Good call on the print.
Will you reinvest the funds throughout the year? For example, if you make $100 off the print, will you use your earnings to buy more things to resell?
All profits are going to the Oregon Food Bank, not reinvested into more things to sell. Othwerwise there's no spot point.
Ok. Well, then I’m happy you didn’t get the desk, because the challenge would have ended quickly!
I think the question was whether you will use the profits to try to earn even more money for donation down the road. Like taking Love Sac profits and using them to source even more items for resale.
I think your approach is great and I can't wait to see the total you earn.
I love the print, it will be fun to see how much you are able to sell it for.
Yes. Maybe since this exercise is starting at the end of the year, I thought it might be like the found change challenge and we’d find out how much the $100 grew in a year.
That would be a fun challenge, maybe I'll do that next.
Thanks for the inspiration. For the first time, I have started to list things on eBay. Your sweater sales a long with another commenter's empty liquor bottle sale convinced me to try it. I am not out looking for re-sale items. I am just trying to move some items I already own, but would like to declutter. Turns out I had an old book that has sold for as much as $550 but now there's one listed on Etsy for $90. I put it up for auction on eBay (not realizing there was a $5 fee for setting a reserve) anyway it is my trial run. My reserve bid of $50 has already been met, and the auction ends Sunday so I can't wait to see what happens. It's kinda fun and exciting
Me, I'd have bought all of those London place mats. I'm fond of them and their ilk, and I use them not only as place mats, but for houseplant coasters and other things. I commend your restraint in buying only the XL one and keeping the purchase out of the Food Bank fund.
My latest big secondhand find was a pair of knee-high Hunter boots in good condition for $35. Just in time, too, because we got 24" of snow in the Salt City yesterday, and my current Muck Boots are only 12" tall!
That's a good deal for Hunter boots! We rarely get snow, so my Columbia Sportswear snow boots should last the rest of my life.
Beautiful print! You Portlanders sure do give away a lot of nice stuff to Goodwill. I don't find such things, but I don't go very often, either. Also, I don't really look to resell, because I didn't have much luck with it in the past. I'm willing to try again, though. Your sharper focus has taught me a lot.
Yes, we have amazing Goodwills, but they're still 99.9% stuff I'd never want to buy.
Katy, I am very interested to see how your gift card investment goes. 30+ years ago I sold a painting and a Christmas ornament for $37. I kept investing that money in craft supplies and booth rentals. I kept up with it for at least 20 years. I still have a nice sum from that initial investment. A few years ago, I gave $1000 each to my 2 kids and a friend. I also financed many girl trips with friends from that fund. I am down to one craft show now and haven't kept up with that money for a while but it was amazing to see how it grew.
I love this, that's fantastic!
Ending 2025 on a bad note. DH fell on ice yesterday and broke his right hip. He starts out 2026 with a total hip replacement on New Year's Day. They had to cut his jeans (brand new, btw) off of him. Looks like Edward Scissorhands got ahold of them. Not salvagable at all.
My paycheck 1/9 will be less than 1/4 of what I normally bring home courtesy of the holidays. At least he's in the hospital. Meanwhile, I'll be living on beans, rice and toast. Keeping all expenses to an all-time minimum until.the 23rd. Won't spend much after that either.
Happy New Year!
Melissa, I'm sorry to hear about your husband's broken hip and loss of brand new jeans. Sending good vibes for his surgery and recovery.
I'm so sorry your year ended with a thud. I hope the surgery and recovery go well.
I'm sorry about the rice, beans, and toast diet. Maybe some friends, neighbors, and/or family members will bring you some meals. I would if you lived near me.
Well, my SIL (DH's brother's widow) did bring me a ham and cheese sandwich to the hospital. Most of the family is 2 counties away. DH and I go to different churches now (he left to go to a different one). I talked with pastors from both churches and they're going to get together and come up with a plan to join forces and care for us.
I'm glad. I'm sure you will welcome whatever help they offer and I hope it eases your burdens.
Oh no! I'm so sorry that you and your husband are going through this. Sending a big virtual hug your way.
Oh no! So serious for you both.
I hope that family or neighbors can help you.
My thoughts are with you both.
I am so sorry about your husband's terrible fall. I wish him well during his surgery and for his recovery. I hope your pastors are able to come up with ways to help you during this time. You need to take care of yourself and have nutritious food. I wish I could help you. All the best to you.