The Thrift Diving Podcast

Several years ago I decided to go back to school for a Carpentry program at my local community college. I learned so many things but these 20 things about construction, building trades, and more were the most surprising bits of information learned!  Which one did you find most surprising? Also, please take a moment to leave a review for The Thrift Diving podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!  ...

Don't believe furniture paint brands that claim you can always skip sanding and priming before painting. I think that's a gimmick to get more people to think their product is the easiest to use for painting furniture. In truth, there are times when you CAN skip sanding and priming, and there are time when you MUST sand and prime first. In this episode, we will talk about when you can jum...

We tell ourselves that if we just had the time to declutter a room, we would get it done this weekend....right?? The problem isn't time, though. The problem is that we don't want to face the unpleasant emotions surrounding the decluttering: self-doubt, boredom, confusion, and frustration. We just don't know where to start, either! Well, committing to 60 minutes per day, it is possib...

Not every project is as easy as DIYers make them appear to be! Sometimes they're quite scary because you're afraid you'll ruin it....you're afraid you don't know what to do... you're afraid that you'll not know where to start...And all of these fears can prevent you from taking a step forward to complete your DIY projects! In this video, I'll share with you...

It's been 2 years since I bought my 16' x 26' "she shed" for my backyard that I use for office space and a creative workshop! What are the things I regret now that I've been using the shed for 2 years? What are the things I absolutely would do again in a heartbeat? Let's talk about it!  Email me serena@thriftdiving.com ! WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE PROJECTS MEN...

It's been a few weeks since I uploaded a new episode, but there is good reason!  In today's episode, I share with you where I have been and what I have been working on behind the scenes! What have you been up to?! Send me an email and share your own updates! Email me serena@thriftdiving.com ! PROJECTS MENTIONED How to Refinish Your Shower with Paint Half Bathroom Makeover with Stencils!...

Bathroom remodeling can cost a whopping $11,000 or more. But who has that kind of money to spend?? In this episode, I'm sharing some inexpensive tips for transforming your bathroom on a budget! Email me serena@thriftdiving.com ! PROJECTS MENTIONED How to Refinish Your Shower with Paint Half Bathroom Makeover with Stencils! 5 Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover Tips Create Your Own Floral Wall A...

We all procrastinate on projects, whether they're DIY projects or other types of projects that we've never tried before. But you don't realize this: if you can work through that angst of starting a new project you've never done before, the next time you tackle that same project, you'll be so much faster, neater, and cleaner!  You will learn so much that you will apply the...

My family and I just returned from Ghana, Africa after a 3-week vacation to visit family. I left America with a mindset of showing my kids how much "better" their home in America was; I wanted them to see others "struggling" and how much "privilege" they had living in America. But I got it all wrong. "Home" is so much more than just how it looks. The lesson...

As much time as I have spent at The Home Depot (and Lowe's, for that matter), I have learned a few things along the way. In this episode, I'm sharing with you some of the things I discovered along the way! Got a DIY question? Email me with your question and get it featured on The Thrift Diving Podcast! BLOG POST 5 Truths Learned at The HomeDepot MENTIONED How to Install Garage Door Scree...

Not every piece of furniture needs to be completely stripped and stained, or painted. Sometimes, it's only superficial scratches that need to be removed or disguised. In this episode, I'll walk you through how to  easily properly restore the furniture to hide the scratches. Got a DIY question? Email me with your question and get it featured on The Thrift Diving Podcast! MENTIONED BLOG PO...

I sat down to chat with master gardener Stephen Dubik to talk about how to tackle pesky weeds, invasive plants, and successful fruit and vegetable gardening!  Stephen Dubik is a Professor and the Program Coordinator of the Environmental Horticulture and Sustainable Agribusiness Program (HORT) at Montgomery College since 1988. Mr. Dubik also works part-time for the University of Maryland Extension...

This month I have been working on building a floating deck for my "she shed" using a foundation system called Tuff Block. I've been feeling some fears and challenges, along with important lessons learned.  Episodes Mentioned: 7 Reasons You're Struggling to Get Started on Your DIY Projects - #109 How to Start Finishing Projects w/Guest Charles Gilkey - #2 Resources Tuff Block Si...

It's not easy to get started on a new DIY project. I've been struggling to finish a recent DIY project that I started. I share with you why it's been difficult to start (and to finish!) this project, and how I am planning to move forward! Episodes Mentioned: 7 Reasons You're Struggling to Get Started on Your DIY Projects - #109 How to Start Finishing Projects w/Guest Charles Gi...

You don't have to be overweight to have the metabolic disorder known as "pre-diabetes." The truth is that, because of my genetics, my body doesn't process carbs very well, which over time, can lead to sickness and diabetes. I've decided to take my health into my own hands and wear a continuous glucose monitor. And what I tested and found out during this week of wearing one...

In Part 2 of 2 of getting to know me, I share with you how I lost my job--the job I was doing prior to becoming a full-time blogger and YouTuber, including sharing with my my 2 biggest fears, what's on my bucket list, and more! As much as we all love to talk about ourselves, I never thought I would actually do an entire episode about the real   Serena behind Thrift Diving. My friend, Laura Ru...

In Part 1 of 2, as much as we all love to talk about ourselves, I never thought I would actually do an entire episode about the real   Serena behind Thrift Diving. My friend, Laura Rudder, a fellow Thrift Diving reader and listener, asked to interview me to dig a little deeper into who is the real face behind Thrift Diving. She wanted to know more about who I was, where I come from, what I studied...

What you do to your body today determines what your body will allow you to do tomorrow. Without good health, you can't do your favorite DIY projects or hobbies ....you can't chase your kids or grandkids.... and you may not even be able to properly care for home or yourself without assistance. That is NOT the type of life you want. In order to continue to live your best creative and indep...

Earth Day was this past weekend, and it got me thinking about thrift store shopping and how buying used can help with cutting environmental costs that come with buying "new." But before you hit the thrift stores to find furniture and such, what are some things you should know before going? Here are my 10 tips! **NOTE: The free 50-page book I referenced in the podcast is no longer availab...

Just when the interior of my she-shed is "done" and ready to be turned into pretty office space with a workshop area, it's become invaded by clover mites! These little red bugs aren't harmful to humans, but are a major nuisance. They're super tiny and can barely be distinguished between flecks of normal dust and actual clover mites (they're part of the spider family)....

When I ask readers, "What's your biggest DIY challenge?" one of the biggest challenges mentioned is GETTING STARTED.  This is a challenge for me, too, even after all these years of experience. There are so many reasons why that happens, but I think it boils down to these 7 reasons. Let's figure out solutions to these problems with procrastinations so that we can be productive a...

There's a saying: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." While that definitely puts fear in us to plan, a lack of planning doesn't necessary lead to complete failure .  Rather, it makes us frustrated, can cost extra money, and waste time. However, your project may still turn out spectacular! :) The problem is that all that extra work makes DIY projects take so long and can su...

How does a non-profit like Habitat for Humanity do such incredible work to provide affordable housing to families? Through its volunteers, donations, and the money raise through its awesome ReStore thrift shops sales, of course! This week I sat down with Jeff Dee, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Metro (the local affiliate here in Maryland, DC, and Virginia) to talk about how Habitat for...

This week was physically and mentally exhausting. I was on set most of the week in Baltimore, Maryland for a photoshoot for Great Stuff, a brand that makes spray foam insulation. I was hired as an actor to be on set for video and photography, as a "pro" who was comfortable using the spray foam, only to completely mess up my one of my shots on the first day. In this episode, I'm shar...

If you find old metal furniture at the thrift store (or you might have some in your garage!), you might be wondering if you can paint over metal furniture with rust. The answer is YES , but you have to follow a few important steps first! In today's episode, I'll share with you how I found these two cool vintage metal cabinets at an online auction and am in the process of removing rust an...