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A Plentiful Life

Decorating Tips•Money Saving Tips•Simple Table Settings

Budget Picnic with Thrifted Decor and Dishware

August 8, 2021
vintage plates

As soon as I saw these vintage Portugal plates I knew I had to throw a budget picnic! I was able to purchase six for $20 at my local Salvation Army thrift store. As with all my thrifting adventures, once I had a plan it all fell into place.

vintage ceramic jug

When I was in the store and decided I needed more beautiful picnics in my life on our new turf, I started to think of what I might need. We have simple dishes and maybe six glasses. I store a few pieces of decor for set ups or special occasions. I don’t really have anything for outdoor dining. In the moment I decided to go for an Italian, or I guess in this case Portugese, style picnic. I quickly looked up some inspiration photos, which I think is always a great idea, this can help you see the pieces you already own and what you want to find at the thrift store.

vintage portuguese plates

To make it simple I created two lists, one of items I already owned and pieces I would like to thrift. This kept me on track with my purchases. Plus I wanted to keep within a $30 budget. I know I will use these items again but didn’t want to overspend.

BUDGET PICNIC LISTS

Items I already owned:

  • Straw Hat
  • Charcuterie Boards
  • Napkins
  • Oversized Pillows

Items I wanted to thrift from my local Salvation Army thrift store:

  • Vintage Plates
  • A Ceramic Water Jug
  • Small Glasses
  • A Nice Textured Blanket
  • A Bread Basket
  • Bread Basket
  • Vintage Plates
  • Picnic

Guess what? With a plan I knew exactly what I wanted to thrift and found every item on my list at my local Salvation Army thrift store! The best part about thrifting is the items I purchase are unique and I cannot wait to share them with friends and family, until then we had a little family picnic in the yard.

family picnic
  • picnic
  • picnic

Affordable Decor Budget Decor budget picnic Dinner Al Fresco On a Budget Salvation Army Thrift Store Thrift Finds thrift love Thrift Store Finds thrifted picnic Thrifting

Previous Father’s Day Ideas from the Salvation Army Thrift Store
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Tijana Popovc

A frugalista who hunts for great deals, try's her best to budget and navigates life as honestly as she can. I love thrift shopping, do it yourself projects, exploring the trails by our house, all the flowers, and spending time with the love of my life Mark.
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🌈✨️🧁
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The cookie cutter adds a level of fun to the food and a bit of themed decor to the table. Butterflies were easy to add throughout our house. Plants ended up outside on our front stoop afterward. 

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The kids have taken over the bath! I wanted to fin The kids have taken over the bath! I wanted to find a nice storage solution for my bath essentials that didn't take up a lot of room. To find what I needed, I headed to the kitchen section of my local Salvation Army thrift store. You might not think the kitchen area is where you'd find bath supplies, but I was looking for something different.

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Photo: taken in our yard by Evie Lou with Poppy Ann directing in the background.
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