Here is a number that should make you think twice before you click “buy now” on holiday decor. Flameless candles are everywhere this time of year, and on Amazon a set of three runs about $36. Thrifter Liz, who shares affordable home decor on her YouTube channel, found a set at her local Value Village priced just over $7.

She was out on a thrifting trip to a store she does not visit every week, and she says that when she does go, she usually gets lucky. That day she did. The candle shelf alone turned up a pair of pretty candlestick holders and several sets of flameless candles, and the price tags told the whole story.

Liz shops for a family of five and believes you do not have to spend a lot to create a beautiful home. She walked the aisles, dug under the stacks, and then sat down with her haul to explain what she bought, what she left behind, and how she keeps the total so low.

The Candle Deal That Started It All

The flameless candles were the star of the trip. Liz points out that they are expensive when bought brand new, and even on Amazon a set of three costs $36. The thrift store set was marked just over $7, and she calls that a fantastic deal, especially with the holidays coming up.

There is one trade-off, and she is upfront about it. The thrifted candles do not come with a remote, so she has to switch them on by hand. For the kind of savings she is talking about, she says she is perfectly fine with that. Her advice is simple: before you order a set online, check the thrift store first.

The candlestick holders were a bargain too. They were priced at $5.99 a pair, and Liz says they felt high-end to her, a mix of vintage and modern that she is always hunting for.

Other Finds From the Same Trip

The candles were not the only thing worth a second look. In the floral section, Liz spotted a dried floral arrangement she believes came from HomeSense or Marshalls, where she says pieces like it go for $15 or $16. Here it was $6.99. She says she has had good luck in the floral section at this particular Value Village, and she always moves things around because the good stuff is usually hidden underneath.

A few more prices from her walk through the store:

• A dainty flowered dish for $5.99, which she imagined holding cotton rounds in a bathroom.
• A blue and white napkin holder for $7.99.
• A William Sonoma bar guide for $4.99, in just the right shade of green for the glass cabinet she has been filling with green pieces.
• A solid marble trinket box for $5.49, which she says looks like something from a high-end home store.
• A 15 foot warm white photo clip string light for $4.99, which she says was originally $9.97 at Nordstrom Rack. She bought it for her daughter’s room so she can swap in pictures with the seasons.

She also stopped at the silver section, where she admired a pewter tray with a beautifully edged rim. Liz says trays like that can cost $300 or $500 at higher-end stores, and she often finds similarly shaped ones at the thrift store that only need a little elbow grease.

The Big Score Was a Pillow

Liz says the best thing she thrifted that day was a super large Ralph Lauren pillow in blue with light brown, priced at $10.49. It is down-filled, which she loves to find, and the cover is removable so it can go straight into the wash. She plans to use it in the bedroom, which is part of a slow refresh that has included fresh paint, repainted cabinets and new floors.

The clothing racks paid off as well. She picked up a quarter zip sweater for her daughter at $8.49, a flannel shirt for herself at $10.79, and a pair of Zara wide-leg jeans for $6.49 that she says are in perfect condition with no stains. Her daughter is becoming a pre-teen and likes things oversized, so a baggy fit is part of the look.

She also grabbed a Disney World mug that says “Not So Scary,” a nod to the Halloween party the park runs each fall. She says it will give her a little reminder of the magic every time she pours a drink.

How the 20% Coupon Works

The extra savings come from a trick Liz gets asked about all the time. She had a 20% off coupon on her purchase, and kids’ clothing was also 40% off that day, so the savings stacked on top of the already low tags.

Her method for getting coupons is easy to copy:

1. Sign up for the newsletter of every local thrift store. She says she gets coupons by email and by text.
2. Donate. When she drops off a bag, the store hands her a coupon, so she always brings something along.
3. Use the coupon on the day, and check which categories are marked down. Kids’ clothes were 40% off on this trip.

If everything else fails, Liz says, she makes sure to bring something to donate so she walks out with that 20% off.

Rules That Keep the Budget in Check

What makes Liz’s trips work is that she says no. She found a beautiful basket but could not think of a use for it, so she put it back for someone else. She also left behind a pair of gorgeous blue bowls because there were only two, and she is trying to thrift sets of three because they are more practical for a family of five and look nicer on a shelf.

She admits a part of her wishes she had bought them, since bowls would be handy for setting up breadcrumbs and eggs when she makes cutlets. But she is trying to thrift with intention and stick to the rules she has set for herself.

Her washing routine is worth borrowing, too. Anything from the thrift store that can go in the machine gets run on the sanitize cycle, and she pours vinegar in the spot where the fabric softener goes.

Takeaways for Your Next Trip

If you are shopping for the holidays, here is what Liz’s trip teaches. Check the thrift store for the items that cost a fortune new, like flameless candles. Dig below the front of the shelves, since the best pieces get buried. Sign up for coupons before you go, and bring a donation. And decide what you need before you walk in, so a good price does not talk you into something that will end up in a closet.

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