ExclusiveTreasured family heirlooms and newly acquired antiques connect us to our past

Epoch Insights with Tiffany. My name is Tiffany Brannan. So many stories, movies, and plays begin with a single item. In films, the concept of one thing which drives the whole plot is called a MacGuffin. And people now use that term very loosely. Yet it's very meaningful in many stories, and there's a good reason for it. An item can have a lot of significance to it, especially if it's attached to memories. There's an article in the latest issue of The Epoch Times called The Gift of Family Heirlooms. It talks about how something as simple as a bed, or as small as a hat, can have deep meaning because it belonged to someone you love. The author begins by talking about a bedroom set which has been in his family for several generations. To some people, it might just look like an old bed, nightstand, and dresser. But he knows that it's a cherished heirloom which belonged to his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Each of these men grew up in a room surrounded by these things. Going back to the expression, if walls could talk, if those pieces of furniture could talk, they would tell many stories about the youth, boyhood, and manhood of these gentlemen. That heritage has been passed down to the author, who now plans to share it with his children and generations beyond. He also talks about a few fur hats which belonged to his other grandfather. They too have great memories because they remind him of exciting stories which his grandfather told. He was a man of great adventure and purpose, a strong character. And those characteristics come back to the author as he cherishes and looks on those items which were handed down to him from his beloved ancestor. He says that heirlooms, antiques, and family treasures used to be so important. It wasn't uncommon for families to have furniture and clothing, other goods which were passed down from father to son or mother to daughter for many generations. A cherished wedding ring or a gown, a piece of jewelry, something that was cherished, even an old family recipe. As they were cherished, they come to be called traditions, which is reflected in the greater culture. Yet it seems that today we've forgotten a lot of these heirlooms and treasures in place of something which is easy and convenient. Wanting things to be bigger and better, we also want them to be newer, faster, and shinier. It seems that things of the past can't compete with the latest model. In terms of technology, people will have a computer or a phone from five years ago and call it a dinosaur. It seems like an ancient relic because technology developed so quickly. In a world like that, something from your grandparents much seem like it's been dug from pharaoh's tomb. Yet we're doing ourselves out of one of the great pleasures and honors of life when we don't pay tribute to the past through treasuring heirlooms. As this article points out, a lot of things being made today couldn't ever become heirlooms because they're too flimsy. They were built to break, so there's little chance that they'll survive even throughout our own lifespans, let alone for our children and grandchildren. However, if you don't have family heirlooms, that doesn't mean that you can't start new ones. To buy something new, you don't have to have a factory fresh new item. As this points out, you can acquire old tried and true objects through thrift stores and antique stores. If you adopt something like that into your house and into your family, your beloved children and loved ones, your descendants, can cherish it after you've gone because you can help instill that sense of love in them. There's an article in the home section called Mastering the Art of Thrift Store Shopping, and it talks about tips and strategies to make the most out of savings. With inflation, it seems like everything is getting more expensive. Yet some thrift stores are still an excellent way to get something for less, and more often than not, the goods you find are of a higher quality than things which you would buy new for a much higher cost. Some of these tips are very practical, including having a game plan. If you approach a thrift store with a plan, a list of what you truly need, with a strict budget, you're less likely to make impulsive buys which aren't as good of a deal and for things you don't need. Shop on discount days. Many thrift stores offer special discounts and sales, as well as loyalty programs. There also sometimes are discounts for students, military, and seniors, as well as clearance sections year-round. Take your time. A lot of times you have to look very carefully when you're looking through antiques or thrift stores or vintage shops to find something which is truly worthwhile. Not every antique is inexpensive. Many vintage clothing items are very expensive. It's really quite varied, in fact. On the one hand, a high-quality, well-preserved vintage dress could be hundreds of dollars. On the other, sometimes you can get ones in good quality for five dollars if there's a big group. You can buy things in bulk a lot of times, or perhaps the seller acquired a lot of things for free from an estate sale or someone left them in a will or consignment. In that case, you can get some really good deals. Pay with cash. A lot of times, if you pay with cash, there'll be a discount. You don't have to pay a credit card fee, or maybe you don't have to pay tax. Search for quality. It's important to look very carefully to get things which are still in good condition, gently used, or which can be refurbished, if you can have that understanding. Like, most people who wear vintage clothing are good seamstresses, so, or they know a good tailor, because a lot of times they need to be altered or mended, but it can be worth it, because usually vintage clothes are of a much higher quality fabric than what you buy today. In and out of seeded some items. If you buy winter coats in the summer or swimsuits in the winter, they're often highly discounted, and thus you can get something for a much better price than you would in season. Unique and vintage. It describes that there's a great thrill of thrifting to discover one-of-a-kind or vintage items that really stand out, and these treasures can add a lot of flair to your wardrobe. I always have a retro style, and people will ask me frequently, is that vintage? I don't actually have that much vintage clothing. I have a few special items. I have more vintage hats, and that's a really good thing to do, because you can get clothes at Macy's or either a lot of retro stores that have a more old-fashioned style, but with hats, you're most likely to find either a fascinator, which became very popular with the royal wedding. It's a very frilly hat on a headband, or maybe a cloche hat, or a tam. There are a few distinct styles, but if you watch old movies or look at old magazines, you'll see that there were some very unique styles of hats, which aren't being reproduced, or there are only a few stores, and they're very expensive. But you can often find a good deal on an adorable vintage hat in a style that you probably couldn't find in a replication. Follow on social media. You can follow many thrift stores on social media or sign up to their email newsletters to find out when they have exclusive deals or special sales, so you won't miss out on the best shopping opportunities. Another good idea is to donate to Make Room. Before visiting a thrift store, donate things you don't need, and many thrift stores will give you a discount on new merchandise if you donate some of your own things to them, as well as resell for profit. If you have an entrepreneurial bend, thrift shopping could be a good side business. You can buy things and then sell them for profit on eBay or Etsy, especially if you do have the ability to spot a good buy, something that's valuable, and maybe the sellers don't really know what it is, it's just part of a group. And if you are good at sewing, you could refurbish it in some way and then it would be much more valuable. It's always a fun thing to do and it can be a great way to, when you're renovating your house or if you're a theatrical producer like I am, you can find costumes and set pieces for good prices or just find unique, interesting things that you wouldn't find. It's also a great way to go gift shopping. By doing that, you can find something that's truly unique and beautiful to be an heirloom for your family, a treasured gift for a friend, a special memento of a time or a place when you visited a different location, and just a special memory, something to be cherished. Perhaps something that was cherished by another family and now you can take that memory and cherish it yourself. Thank you for spending this time with me. I hope you enjoyed this conversation about heirlooms, mementos, and the value of beautiful things from the past. If you enjoyed this video, I hope you'll like it and leave a comment letting me know what you think and giving me suggestions for future topics. And then subscribe to our channel so you won't miss any future videos and share it with your friends. Thank you for watching!