Every year the town I grew up in (a suburb of Munich) organizes a flea market that people can donate things to that they don’t need any more, such as books, toys, clothes, kitchen items, etc. The flea market takes place every June and has for the past 30 years. It has become a huge event that even people from other suburbs come here for, you can eat and drink there, and make awesome (and awful) finds. An auction is held for the particularly nice items.
The proceeds from the flea market are used for various things in the community, such as new books for the library, etc. I personally think because this way, the entire community can profit from the sale of things that would otherwise just collect dust in the basements of this town.
I am not usually a person to shop at flea markets, but whenever I am in town I try to go, especially for the book market because it is a great opportunity to snag up new reading material. And awesome old books (which I bought at this same flea market a few years ago) which I have no plans of reading but just like looking at. It’s a really nice way of supporting the community and even though I don’t live here anymore, I did for several years and do think it’s a pretty great place. Being that I was in town this weekend, I just couldn’t miss it. I spent a few hours there on Saturday with my best friend and made some great finds.
A set of matching wooden tray and coasters. I love their vintage look and think they will fit into my living room perfectly. I actually did not realize this was a set till I got home, I just thought they matched well. Score!
A vase and three pitchers. I am not planning to use these as pitchers (though I am planning on using the vase) but I think they will make for really nice decoration in my living room. Love their old-fashioned charm. I paid a total of €8 for the set of tray & coasters, the vase, and three pitchers.
Facsimiles of four 1884 calendars & an envelope by Kate Greenaway. I think these will look awesome framed. €2.
Like the calendar, a facsimile of a children’s book from the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. €2. They had an entire collection of these for sale and it makes me wish I had known about it earlier. The book market is held on both Friday and Saturday and one of the volunteers there told me the nicest pieces were already gone on Friday. I am very happy with the two pieces I got and hope the others also found loving homes rather than having been bought by people who are planning to sell these at a profit (because they are likely worth more than what they were sold for).
Ten new books for me to read. €12.
One of the books is a really nice reproduction of the original edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. His autobiography was one of the topics I had to cover for my final exams of my degree so this was a sentimental purchase because it reminded me of my last year of university. I really enjoy reading his words of wisdom – and humor, though.
I also bought a stepper. I figured it might be a neat way of working out while watching TV in the evening. This stepper looks like it was barely used, just a little dusty. It’s in great condition, it even still has a working battery. I don’t have much workout equipment but this is fairly small and can easily be stowed away in a corner of my living room. It only cost me €3 so if I don’t end up using it for long, it’s not that big a loss.
I am pretty happy with my finds, I made some really great bargains. Now I just have to wait for my parents to take everything to my apartment in a few weeks as there is no way I can take everything with me on the train.
Do you like shopping at flea markets? What has been your favorite find?
