Puzzles on a Budget: Thrift Store Finds That Surprised Me.

UPDATE 1/28: Please excuse the abrupt audio switch at the start, as I had to replace the original opening due to a copyright claim!
Come along and thrift with me for some jigsaw puzzles during my recent trip to the thrift store. Then we'll head back home to check out my haul.
Want to share your thrift store puzzle finds? Join my puzzling community on Discord (Join link in video description/Let me know if any issues): • Join My Puzzle Discord...
Mailbox:
The Puzzled Mandy
PO Box 587
Lake Harmony, PA 18624
00:00 Thrift With Me
13:32 The Haul

[@piaz2023]

I found several unopened puzzles at the thrift store this week. I think folks are donating their unwanted Christmas gifts 🤣

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Poor unwanted puzzles, it's funny and sad at the same time 😂If that is the case, at least they'll be in better hand with someone who'll appreciate them.

[@Laura.jigsaw_journey]

Sweet puzzle finds Mandy. I love how your daughter keeps you straight about your real estate, keeping your feet on the ground. Lol!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

She was also keeping me in check with the number of sets I wanted to buy 😂 She tends to knock some sense into me, a good person to have around when you know you can lose yourself every once and awhile.

[@Laura.jigsaw_journey]

Kids are hilarious, mine are draining my bank account with their snack consumption😂😂@@thepuzzledmandy

[@SueN1965]

It's like winning the lottery when finding brand new puzzles in a thrift store😊

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I couldn't believe it! I know I didn't find anything new the last time I was there, so this was a real treat 🤩 Hoping I can score again next time.

[@judithmoore7892]

Maybe it’s a good idea to go thrifting after Christmas, when people are getting rid of unwanted Christmas presents.

[@puzzlesbypam2442]

Wow I want your thrift store. I would have came home with so many more - and no I don’t have room either. That 3000 piece was a find for sure!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh goodness, not having enough room is always a problem, but then again, that doesn't always stop us 😂 I honestly could've walked away with a lot more, but I also had my girl keeping me in check LOL

[@elizabethjones4424]

Great score on that Kodak bookstore puzzle! I would've picked that one up too, especially for 50 cents!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

A super bargain! I'm hoping I get that lucky again the next time I head out there. I'll make sure to also have extra quarters on hand too 😂

[@lindajot]

I agree that thrift shopping is so worth it, and fun!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm seriously loving it! I need to get busy and look up more shops.

[@tracylaird3132]

I would have chosen the Good Old Days too! I love the beautiful tree and the red sleigh 🧩🧩

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It seems like it'll be quite challenging with all the snow, but it really is such a serene image 🤩.

[@vigeish]

i loveeeeee thrifting for puzzles! i agree that its more fun since its always a surprise!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It almost feels like an adventure, you don't know what you're going to find! I seriously need to find other shops in my area.

[@lisa-r4w]

I love finding puzzles at thrift stores! ❤ 🎉 Enjoy your puzzles Mandy! Happy Puzzling! 😊

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you 🤗 I'm already looking forward to my next thrift store trip! Hopefully I can get some more crazy deals 🤩

[@hannahm782]

i’ve done one roseart colorluxe, and liked it well enough to purchase a second one. i have a kodak roseart and a kodak crazy-art, but i haven’t tried those yet. i would absolutely attempt a 3000 piece puzzle for that image. that seems very doable. i had to laugh when your daughter tried to tell you it wasn’t your house in the puzzle. your house is almost every puzzle, of course, lol

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I have one Colorluxe set that I still need to try in my collection, glad to hear you liked it. I've worked on cheaper Roseart sets and they weren't that great, but I'm looking forward to trying out these other sets. And you're right, this 3k image doesn't look like it'll be insanely hard to complete. My girl likes to shatter my dreams sometimes 🤣 She knows my mind likes to run wild LOL.

[@ProjectPuzzles]

I can't wait to go on my next thrift store puzzle shopping spree!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It's too much fun! I can't wait to go back too 😎

[@Lyntintin1]

Wow what finds!!! That thrift store has amazing prices! I love shopping at thrift stores for puzzles. The majority of puzzles usually have all their pieces. MB puzzles thru the years would be cool to see, but those old scenery ones would make me nuts!!! I have done SpinMaster puzzles and they are a decent quality. I think you'll like it.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Those prices are really going to get me trouble one day LOL, I just might end up leaving with way too many sets! Good to hear about SpinMasters. I'm really looking forward to trying them out soon.

[@Addicted2Puzzles]

Amazing finds, Mandy! You make me want to break out an old MB puzzle! 🎉 Have fun, especially with that amazing Kodak puzzle! It's gorgeous! 😍

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I can't wait to get into all of them. I'm really looking forward to the Kodak, but at the same time not because I haven't even started my 2k set yet LOL.

[@puzzlepiece9509]

Well you certainly struck the jackpot with that brand new 3000 piece jigsaw. We call them charity shops in the UK. The image for that jigsaw reminded me very much of a 1000 piece Ravensburger called The Book Palace. Very similar image. Look it up so that you can see what I mean. I hope you have room to do a puzzle that size. 🏡 Look forward to your next video.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

What the heck?!?! I just looked up that Ravensburger image and they are nearly identical! That's crazy 🤔I'm pretty sure the Ravensburger may be the original, this Kodak image is a little strange looking. I'm looking forward to working on a 3k, but I still need to get around to my first 2k puzzle 😅 I still don't even know where I can work on it. It's much bigger than my puzzle table 😔

[@hannahm782]

@@thepuzzledmandy a couple of us on your discord are planning to start a 2000 piece puzzle in early february, you should join us! even if it’s a different one. i’m feeling ambitious. i’ve only completed one 1500 piece puzzle and nothing bigger, yet i’m hoping to finish a 1500 and two 2000 piece puzzles this year 😬 edit- the one we are planning to do together is called happy vibes. it’s an aimee stewart buffalo games

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@hannahm782 Oh that sounds awesome. I really should've started my 2k already, but time flew by me. I'll be working on a Disney set, but I just may start mine in early February as well so that we can all suffer together 🤣🤣

[@susanhoughton1104]

The puzzles were 40% off at Hobby Lobby today, January 25. So I picked up a CEACO Mickey and Minnie in Mexico (1000); Masterpieces Audubon (300); and KI Mount Cook from the Rhi James Collection (300). They were short on 500s.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Ugh those Hobby Lobby sales are dangerous 🤣 I hoping to head there soon as it’s been awhile. Hopefully before the sale ends 😁 you picked up some awesome sets!

[@sav-]

Wow I'm going to start checking thrift stores! Thanks for this video!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

You are so welcome! Hope you grab some amazing deals 🤗

[@justinkhchen]

I'm excited for the MB puzzle comparison-I've done one from 1994, and the piece cut is pretty fun (the pieces themselves is a little thin for my preference).

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm looking forward to that comparison as well. I really need to get a new MB set very soon, I'm super curious about this. So far with these sets from the thrift store, I find them to be a little thin for my liking as well. But I find the hold quite surprising.

[@kimoman7439]

I can't believe those puzzles are 50 cents!! Where I live. The cheapest puzzles are $4.99 for the same kind that you are looking at.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I was super shocked when I first visited this thrift store. My eyes nearly popped out lol. I'm just hoping they don't raise the price anytime soon 😂 can't find a better deal than that.

[@user-gt2fy8iu1o]

Great thrifting video. You hit the jackpot. I use library bring one, take one puzzle program. I try to get there once a week. Trading all my cat puzzles for Charles Wysocki scenes. Got two fairly new Wysocki puzzles. Pieces were all there. What fun!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I wish my library did something like that. I live in a rural area, so not many people and not much goes on around here. Charles Wysocki is one of my favorite artists!

[@susanmorris3822]

I'll be keeping an eye out for when you start that 3,000 pc. beauty. I am like you when it comes to photo versus art work. Take care and keep on puzzling, your puzzle pal, Susanl

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm looking forward to trying out 3k, but I still need to get myself around to finally working on my first 2k set 😅. I'm super nervous about it! I'm also still trying to figure out where I'm going to work on it since they are much bigger than my puzzle table.

[@henrylawler3099]

I Simply Love Going to Thrift Stores, I Just Go for Music & Puzzles!!!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

They are definitely the best places to check out if you're trying not to spend too much. Just the thought of going gets you all excited because you don't know if you'll get lucky with some amazing sets 🤩

[@eagercrafter_9014]

I wish our thrift stores priced like that...they keep going up. Saw a 1k Dowdle today for $6 and I was like No thank you. I love those little Alan Giana puzzles, they are so pretty.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It had been awhile since my last visit to this shop, so I was honestly expecting that the prices might have increased. I just hope it always stays that way. Everything there is insanely cheap, I love it. I'm really crossing my fingers that I'll score a Dowdle or another pricier brand there in the future. That'll be a major steal!

[@JulioWY]

I just leave thrifted puzzles in my cold garage with the lid off for a week or so. The negatives temps here in Wyoming will kill any germs. Good enough for me. I got married in 87’ 😮 like the puzzle😂

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I don't know why I never thought about cleaning my thrifted puzzles. I guess the excitement of cheap puzzles doesn't let me think straight LOL.

[@erniesulovic4734]

The scenic houses and lighthouse look really pretty. Absolutely love the staircase in the Kodak jigsaw.....do u a deal Mandy.....you can keep the room and i'll take the staircase 😂 The wooden cabin reminds me of the kind of weekender i want to get, later on. Coffee and doughnuts on the house (free) to guests and available, 8am-midday, Mon-Fri. 😂 The Good Old Days puzzle you got, to me, has The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe vibe 😀 Some of those jogsaws, for 50c....seriously, what a deal 😁

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh I don't know Ernie! I really like those stairs and how am I supposed to get to my other books. I'll think about it 😂 You know I'll be coming over multiple times for free coffee and doughnuts, that's pure bliss 🤩

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@thepuzzledmandy I have been thinking really really really hard Mrs mandy re those stairs and i came up with a solution for you. You know how bunk beds have ladders to get one up to the top bunk......well, similar with you. You can use a straight up ladder LOL Anytime with coffee and doughnuts....... 🙂

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@erniesulovic4734 🤣🤣🤣🤣I guess that'll have to do, but you'll have to make up for that with extra coffee and doughnuts.

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@thepuzzledmandy Done deal. My wife makes a wonderful baklava too if you like 😀

[@ruditrevino7361]

I wish you had gotten that mystery puzzle. I love those. You read a short story do the puzzle try to figure out who did it.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Interesting, sounds like my favorite game Clue. As I was rewatching and editing that footage, I was mad at myself for not picking up a few others LOL. But at the time, I had to think about what space I had left on my puzzle shelves.

[@stacyssassystyles]

I just grabbed one of those springbok mysteries from my thrift- but for 3$! hahaha Fab finds!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I swear, I could've walked out of that store with at least double than what I did 🤣🤣🤣I'm currently working on reorganizing my puzzle room/shelves and with the extra space I'm going to have, I already want to fill them up lolol.

[@stacyssassystyles]

@@thepuzzledmandy I love getting more space and filling it muhahahaha

[@Marlene7388]

Nice puzzle haul especially those prices!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I almost want to head back to the store and pick up all the other sets I was contemplating 🤣super cheap!

[@Marlene7388]

@@thepuzzledmandy for 50 cents each you can't go wrong!

[@Puzzlerfromsweden]

👍🏻🧩😊

[@thepuzzledmandy]

🤗🧩😁

[@fififirestone3787]

50 cents? Puzzles are $6 at my local Goodwills and I still think that's pretty good.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I was surprised at the price too, I hit the jackpot😂 I still to check out my closest goodwill and see what kind of selection they have.

[@erniesulovic4734]

PS. cant edit on ipad so need to make new post. I received last week the spiral grey puzzle you did and am waiting for a similar type yet zodiac jigsaw to arrive (i.e. spiral type).....and just the opposite of the grey one.....full of colour etc 😀

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh boy, you mean the Ravensburger Krypt puzzle 😱 Someone just sent me the gradient version, and I'm looking forward to that one way more than the grey set LOL

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@thepuzzledmandy Gradient version? Aint heard of that one and yes, the Krypt one is the one i got and arrived yesterday (like 3-4 weeks early) the spiral Horoscope one....looks stunning 🙂 Might pass the Krypt one to ppl who annoy us LOL

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@erniesulovic4734 Yes, my grey krypt will for sure be given to someone else LOL

[@GMinDFW]

The name on that 1987 MB set is probably hidden under the Walmart price sticker. I love hitting thrift stores, but haven't seen anything really good for a few weeks.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm gonna try to peel back that price sticker as best as I can. Knowing my luck, I'll probably end up peeling the box itself too 🤣 We shall see! I really need to look up other thrift stores in my area. This one is about a 20 minute drive, so hopefully the others aren't much farther out. But I got to find out if I'm missing out on any other great deals 🧩

[@lindajot]

I'll be interested in your opinion on the Kodak one. I've seen a few around. I so would have grabbed the 3000 pc one too! Sweet image, and 50 cents? Nice!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm really curious about that one too, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm still not quite sure what brand to base the quality considering there's more than one listed, but we'll see! I'm also still not sure where I can work on it when the time comes. It's much bigger than my puzzle table.

[@lindajot]

I've only done one 3000, and it took up our whole dining table for a long bit 😬

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@lindajot Yikes, I don't think my family will be happy if I end up taking up the whole dining room table. That'll probably end up being my only other option though.

[@lindajot]

@@thepuzzledmandy I laid two poster boards over it when we ate. Not the most convenient, but it's just me and hubby, and he's quite patient (hee hee)

[@50sRockChick]

That 3000 piece was a bargain. I got a new 1000 piece for £3 and was chuffed to bits with that. At least you can be fairly sure all the bits are there.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I seriously couldn't believe it, such a fantastic find! I really hope I get that lucky again the next time I head back there. Also got to make sure I pack some extra quarters in case I don't want to control myself 🤣

[@kimoman7439]

I cringed though when you thought about getting the CEACO puzzles as I have bought three different ones and the quality is very poor.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Yes, Ceaco is very poor quality, and it's silly because most of my collection is actually Ceaco 🤣That was the brand that started it all for me. But since venturing out to different brands, I started to see how bad the brand really was, and that there was so much more out there.

[@kathylynn1375]

Just got to watch this,, Mandy I so love your excitement!!! and I soooo agree with you that a good thrift find is soooo much more fun than buying new!! A new 3000 piece for 50Cents,, better than Christmas morning....The thrill of finding a new one is the BEST!!! And I love that you also are budget minded... I picked up a "looks like new" Charles Wysocki 1000 piece today for $2.00 with and image I absolutely love Trick or Treat Hotel Our best thrift so far was 4 Dowdle mini wooden puzzles, three were new... for $2.00 each!!!!!!! You must stay only a few nights each in all your houses!!!! Glad to see your daughter along with you!! What fun!! looking forward to the organization video...... maybe you can store some in one of your other houses!!!!!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh Kathy, I seriously need to find more thrift shops in my area. It's like a little thrill that shoots through you, so exciting! Wow, I know the exact puzzle your talking about. That Trick or Treat Hotel is one of my favorite images! You got that at a steal, I've seen it for much more on eBay. And you're absolutely right. I have so many houses, of course I can store a number of sets at each one. Then I can always have some puzzle time whenever I stay over! This organization is taking me much longer than I expected. Every time I think I'm done, I order something that'll maximize some space throughout the house, which ends up giving me more shelf space in my puzzle room...I don't know if that's a good idea 🤣

[@kathylynn1375]

@@thepuzzledmandy Mandy as I try to find somewhere to put away my most recent puzzle haul of only 5 puzzles I think of your next video...questions while you organize.... why do we keep collecting?? Is the collecting as much fun as the doing?? Do we keep them all, donate, swap, sell??...how big is your to do pile......I like mine all in one area.. I did add wall shelving to the spare bedroom which is already full............. I have a storage cabinet where I keep paper products etc... I am ready to get rid of all that to store more puzzles -----who needs toilet paper anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

​@@kathylynn1375 Those are some great questions, Thank you! Gives me some things to talk about during the video. I know that one is going to be a lot of work as I already have so many clips from different days. Aside from reorganizing my puzzles, I need to organize all my footage LOL. And who cares about paper products anyways🤣🤣

[@ThirzaTumTum]

🧩🎉🧩🎉🧩🎉🧩yesss!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

🤩🧩cheap puzzles galore!

[@niak361]

I have been subscribing for over a year and never do pu puzzle with people of color. I feel excluded. 😢

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Sorry, I'm not really sure I understand what you mean. I don't actually puzzle with anyone.

[@marguritegilliland4743]

Roseart puzzles are aweful

[@thepuzzledmandy]

So far I've tried a few of the cheaper Roseart sets, and they for sure weren't great. I've yet to try the sets I paid more for, so I'm sure that'll be an interesting experience.