The Thrift Diving Podcast

I don't know about you...but in this economy, I need a side gig! Have you ever considered selling your refinished furniture on Facebook Marketplace? I've started dipping my toe into selling furniture online, and although it hasn't been very long, I've learned a few important things that you've got to keep in mind before you start selling on Facebook Marketplace! It's a great way to bring in another str...

In this episode, I’m sharing my recent struggles with feeling uninspired and disconnected from the projects that used to spark joy for me. Life has been “lifin’,” and honestly, social media hasn’t helped. 

I’ll talk about how anxiety that social media creates shuts down creativity, why taking a step back from social media might be exactly what you need, and the small changes I’m making to protect my creative spark. Let’s take back o...

I have a confession: I haven't been feeling very creative lately. I've been working on projects behind-the-scenes, but I haven't felt that same creative spark and excitement. I've felt stuck and absorbed in other things, particularly family matters. It made me wonder if you've felt this way at times, too? What can we do to reignite our creativity? Listen in as I share personal stories on why I think we temp...

I talk a lot about power tools, but I often don't mention all the hand tools that are most important for your DIY toolbox! Join me and listener, Elizabeth, who is a former shop teacher, as we talk about all the hand tools that you should put on your list to invest in for your workshop!

Want to share your thoughts on this episode or have a question we didn't answer? Email me serena@ thriftdiving.com or on Instagra...

In this episode,  my friend and I discuss how I got started with Thrift Diving, the evolution of my brand, and the challenges and rewards of running a DIY blog and YouTube channel. From thrift store finds to major brand partnerships, we cover it all. I'm chatting in this episode with Laura Rudder, a loyal Thrift Diving reader turned dear friend. Laura originally interviewed me about personal topics in Episodes #113 and #114, a...

It's hard to believe, but you can get almost anything done if you focus on it for 5 minutes at a time. I've been using this strategy this week to knock out some of my most stressful "MUST DOs" that I have been ignoring. But I'm finding that by setting a time for 5 minutes at a time, and "habit stacking" the chore with something that I am already doing, I've been able to make a ton of progress...

As we approach mid-2024, I've been wrestling with late-night anxieties about unmet goals, unfinished DIY projects, health and family concerns, and more. Today, I share with you why I haven't been posting much, including why things feel like their moving at the pace of molasses! :)

As I share with you my personal thoughts that reads more like a journal entry, I'd love to know if you have (or are!) struggling with some ...

When we spend too much time around something (or someone!) we stop noticing all the things that make them special and unique, and we start taking it for granted. The same can be true for our home, as well. After living in your home for awhile, you stop noticing and appreciating all the things that you originally loved about your space. You start taking it for granted. Let's talk about how we can fall in love with our home agai...

I know that home maintenance sucks, and it would be nice to hire someone else to take care of all of it for you. But most of us can't afford that or don't have the expertise. But there are some things we can do ourselves and we should do right now! Including:

• Cleaning your dryer vent.
• Changing your HVAC filter.
• Checking for leaks and using leak detectors.
• Getting an annual termite inspection.
• Getting an annual ro...

We're  going behind-the-scenes to hear the complete story of that epic bathroom makeover that I just finished in my best girlfriend's bathroom! What makes this an inspiring episode is that my friend and I get vulernable about what it was really like to tackle a DIY project together. She lacked interest and confidence because she was a "DIY newbie," and I lacked confidence because I had never done a project in so...

I love hearing from other women who decided to make the leap and buy a "she shed" to  turn it into a workshop! Reader and fellow DIYer  in the Thrift Diving community, Diane Dains, did that very thing: she bought a huge 16' x 28' shed to use as a workshop, but she decided that she would finish off the interior herself. She even hired an electrician to be her "teacher" to oversee her interior wiring (an...

In this episode, I dive into an exciting new challenge: renovating a friend's bathroom. This project is an exciting new path from my usual DIY projects in my own 1973 home! I partnered with BathWorks for this extensive makeover, facing unexpected challenges like COVID interruptions and the challenge of coordinating such a big project in such a small space!

This project has been stressful, but soooo rewarding--from refinishing t...

I'm sharing my personal journey of giving back with Habitat for Humanity. I reflect on my early desire to volunteer, the challenges of balancing work and family, and the fulfilling experience of joining Habitat. As a crew leader, I contribute to building homes for low-income families and highlight the impactful programs supporting new homeowners. I also share my participation in a fall festival, where I painted and donated a d...

Not everyone is a DIY'er....and not everyone can afford thousands of dollars to rip out their bathroom and start over! So I'm teaming up with a good friend who has wanted to make over her bathroom for YEARS, but she has felt stuck: it's too expensive to gut her bathroom, and she has zero confidence on how to do a makeover like this on her own. So I'm teaming up with her to make over her entire bathroom with pain...

I tend to DIY everything in my life, even my health and workouts in order to lose weight and get mentally stronger. I told you in a recent episode that I am doing the 75 Hard Challenge, which is a mental toughness challenge that requires you to do the following things every single day for 75 days, and if you miss ANY of these daily, then you must start over at Day 1:

• Read 10 pages in a non-fiction self-improvement book
• Two workou...

This is my favorite time of year! I love setting goals for the new year. Last year, though, I didn't set goals, but rather, set "themes" for how I wanted my life to go in 2023:

• Flow
• Connection
• Simplicity

In this episode, I share with you how those goals went for 2023 and what I'll be focusing on for 2024! I want to hear what YOUR goals are, too! Send me an email (serena@thriftdiving.com) or DM me ...

‘Twas the night before thrifting, when all through the house
Not an outfit needed washing, not even a blouse;
The laundry was folded by the dryer with care,
In hopes that tomorrow I’ll buy more things to wear;
My husband was nestled all snug in our bed,
Asleep after accusing that I’m hoarding again;
And my boys in their jammies, asleep in a snap,
“Finally! I’m free!” I whisper and clap,
When out in t...

If you're a DIYer, then you'll want to buy a paint sprayer for your DIY toolbox, but what kind should you buy? There are 3 types, but for DIY projects, there are only two you really should consider: an HVLP paint sprayer and an airless paint sprayer. I'll share with you in this episode for which projects (and!) why you should consider one over the other (or buying both!) Send me an email (serena@thriftdiving.com) or ...

Last month I asked you on YouTube to ask me ANYTHING, and today, I answered them! Got a burning question about DIY or something person? Send me an email (serena@thriftdiving.com) or DM me @ ThriftDiving on Instagram to get your question included in the next "Ask Me Anything"!

• What is your routine to keep you motivated, healthy, and cute? 
• Brutally honest, what are the pros and cons of your job?
• Is it best to spray paint ...