My grandmother had a saying:  "Use it up; wear it out / Make do; do without." In the rural farming community she lived in, people bought items that would last because they couldn't just run to the store for a replacement. Instead of a throwaway mindset, they took care of what they had, repaired things, did without, and innovated. Those values - care, repair, and innovation - are central to how I try to live my life.

I shop locally to find beautiful, fun, and functional items for your home - home decor, kitchen to dining table, toys, and more. Finding cool stuff makes my ADHD brain happy, and you'll find quite a range of goodies in my shop. New stuff gets added on an almost daily basis, so please make sure to check back regularly.

Processing, Listing, and Shipping

Every item I list has been cleaned by hand and inspected for damage. Old things have sometimes picked up "character" - minor chips or scratches that don't impact usefulness - these will be noted in the listing description, with a price that reflects the condition. I also check again before shipping to make sure I haven't missed anything.

When I ship, I tend to overpack to make sure items get to my customers in one piece. I also make use of recycled packing materials whenever possible, for the same reasons I created this shop. Why not re-use what is still useful instead of purchasing new?

Who Are My People?

When you start a small business, you're supposed to identify your ideal customer, so I've given this a lot of thought. The people I envision perusing my pages and purchasing items from Buy Better are people who are a lot like me. They don't have a lot of spending money, so they want to make their dollars count. They want to purchase items that are functional and that don't contribute to waste or damage our environment. They love beautiful things, especially when they are both beautiful and functional. They have a quirky side. They love light and pattern and texture and mystery and glimpses into the past. They want to live life better.

My invitation to you

I invite you to take a digital stroll through the beautiful items have available at Buy Better and imagine ways you can use vintage and antique items in your home instead of buying something new. Bring your creativity, because sometimes old pieces can be repurposed, while bringing a touch of color, light, or pattern to your home. Or if you're searching for a gift, find something unusual instead of heading to a big box store. Make opening that gift a welcome surprise!