Thrift shopping

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I could make thrift shopping and flea marketing a hobby. While I'm not big on buying anything unless it has a purpose, I do love looking at things and occasionally finding a few gems.

When I first moved to Norway I was convinced these places didn't exist. It turns out my husband was just the wrong person to ask. Many thrift shops go by the name of gjenbrukt and often people advertise for their own personal garage sales as well as school fundraising in the form of a flea market. There are also Fretex stores scattered about for people to purchase used items from. The word antique in Norwegian is antikk, very similar to its English cousin's word antique.

One thing I love collecting is foreign coins. I've been collecting them since I was a little girl. So of course this is one thing I try to look out for when I am at a flea market. I was pleasantly surprised the day I went to a flea market for a school fundraiser this year. I brought my daughter with me and she wanted a toy cash register. I bought it for her and when we came home and she hit the "cash" button she shouted, "Mamma! MONEY!" There was a mixture of play money and real Icelandic money and a euro.


Mainly I just buy things for Pia when I'm thrifting. I've found a nicely used dress for her earlier this summer for about 10 kroner or $1.50 USD. 

 

Another thing I found earlier this month at a Red Cross thrift store in Denmark was this little green mirror. I only paid 35 Danish kroner for it, which is about 45 Norwegian kroner or a little over $5. I thought it would be a nice addition to my daughter's playroom so she can look at herself as she's playing dress up.


These are a few of my summer finds at thrift stores. It is quite possible to enjoy thrifting and antiquing in Skien, as well as other cities. As you can tell, like every other parent out there, I mostly buy things for the kid. It's only when something really catches my eye that I splash out pocket change at a thrift store.


This post has been inspired from another blog I have recently read called Invaluable. 

Comments

roof panels said…
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post on thrift shopping in Norway. It's fascinating how you navigated the second-hand scene, discovering gems like the Red Cross thrift store in Denmark and school fundraiser flea markets. Your story about your daughter's toy cash register revealing real Icelandic money was both amusing and heartwarming. It's a testament to the unexpected treasures one can find while thrifting. Your experiences highlight the charm and practicality of second-hand shopping, especially in a new country. Thank you for sharing your journey; it's both informative and delightful!
May 21, 2025 at 1:53 AM
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