Thrift Find: Play/Train Table

[windinthemaples]

Thrift Find: Big Wooden Play Table
Found At: Salvation Army Mundelein, Illinois
Price Paid: $25.00
Why I'm So Excited:
This was expensive, in the world of thrift stores, but I refused to leave it behind. With its simple, sturdy top and giant wheeled storage bins beneath, this is the most perfect play and train table imaginable for our new basement play spaces. Graeme and I visited the store, saw it, and started making plans for how to get it into the car. It was exactly two inches too long for the hatchback to close. Graeme said, "Push more, Mommy!" from his supervisory position in his car seat, but really, I was not feeling positive about our chances. I did not give up, though, so I borrowed a screwdriver from someone and spent a lot of time with my hazard lights on outside the store taking it apart, piece by bitter piece. ;)

And it worked!!

(Better yet, I found all the screws in and amongst my floorboards and was able to reassemble the thing with only the help of one toddler child.)

So I'm feeling like a pretty accomplished thrifter. This, added to the odd Thomas the Train cars I've found lumped in with cheap McDonalds toys at yard sales and Goodwills, plus the set of wooden train tracks and buildings I found at a Tuesday Morning for cheap, and I have the fancy-shmanciest little train table--which can double as any other kind of table for games and toys and crafts--for easily under $40. Take that, retail prices! :D

What frugal finds have made you feel like the queen of your own thrifty domain? :)