Patiently Waiting

For once in my life I waited.  I had an itch to go out and buy a new pedestal table and chairs, but I refused to scratch it.  Well, I was virtually scratching it and trying to find one cheap.  You have no idea how happy I was when my Blackberry went off and Reginia over at The NOT So Modern Family forwarded me a Craigslist link to a FREE table.  That's right...FREE.  Well, by the time I gave her to go ahead, someone else had already claimed it.

No big deal.  I just kept looking.  Reginia kept looking.  Then we get the e-mail that the 1st bidder never came and picked up the table.  So, I snatched it up.  Thankfully she lived about 3.5 minutes from my lovely mom and dad, so my dad picked it up from me and will be bringing it up on January 22nd.  

Here are the Craigslist pictures of the table right now:

After researching and writing this blog, Rusty and I have decided to paint the pedestal and chairs white and strip and stain the table top a dark walnut stain like this:

I am not sure if this table will even work out for me.  There are no chairs.  It is 48".  I might not even be able to open my pantry door if this table is in there.  But do I care?  NO!  Because if it doesn't work, I will just pass it along to someone else or sell it to parlay into my dream table.  

There is no one like my friend over at The NOT So Modern Family.  I spoke with her today, and she is writing a blog all about her strategies on finding these hidden treasures.  After I post this, I think I will send her over my wish list and see what she can find me!

What secrets do you have when trying to find deals?  What is the best FREE thing you ever ended up scoring?