Flea market lover Julia shares thrift shopping tips and her best score, an Artek table for 50 euros: “I never pick up anything just to resell it at a profit.”

I search flea markets for... something I didn’t even realize I wanted. That’s the real magic of flea markets: you might stumble upon something that speaks to you and feels like it was made just for you.

Sometimes I also pick up... finds for friends. For example, my mother’s favorite color is orange, so I always check any orange clothes and items at flea markets.

I never pick... anything just to resell it at a profit. I feel the finds I don’t keep for myself are treasures waiting for the next flea market explorer.

I have a knack... for spotting the best self-service flea market stalls. If a single gem turns up, it’s worth exploring the entire stall thoroughly, because the seller might share my taste.

My flea market superpower is... that I never grab a shopping basket straight away. I only pick one up after I’ve found something. Among truly dedicated flea market enthusiasts, there’s a playful superstition that you won’t find treasures if you take a basket the moment you arrive.

My best find is... an Artek table with a blue top that cost me 50 euros. I bought it based on photos, and my partner picked it up from an old summer place in the forest one autumn evening. I owe my partner a big thank-you for all the flexibility and carrying my finds around.

I always scour flea markets... whenever I’m abroad. Visiting these markets takes you to places you might not otherwise see, and you learn a great deal about local culture. For example, in Bali the concept of a flea market wasn’t recognized at all, whereas in Berlin you can explore dazzling flea market streets with a DJ playing in the background.

I hope I’ll find... a genuine, large icon that fits our home’s style and color scheme.

In the spring, I found this lovely bowl in San Francisco for 12 euros. I didn’t buy much else because the city’s flea markets seemed to focus on vintage clothing that was very expensive. Photo: Julia Jäkkö

I started collecting glass fruit a few years ago. They only cost a few euros back then. Now I’ve stopped collecting them, unless, of course, I find one that’s absolutely irresistible! Photo: Julia Jäkkö

One time, I saw my neighbor carrying a Singer sewing table up to the attic. They said it was too precious to get rid of but not useful for them. When we moved from the building a few years later, I asked again about the table, and they finally agreed to sell it for 80 euros. Now it’s dear to me, too. Photo: Julia Jäkkö

When remote work became more common, I set up a home office. The Artek table was only 50 euros, and the bright yellow pencil drawer cost just a couple of euros. Photo: Julia Jäkkö

This pear-shaped sugar bowl is my latest flea market discovery, which I found for only one euro at a charming barn market. Photo: Julia Jäkkö

When we got our small rental cottage, we decided not to buy anything new for it unless it was absolutely necessary, and we’ve kept that promise for 15 years. The shelf is made of driftwood found on the beach, and the wardrobe door is a Marimekko curtain I found at a flea market for 10 euros. Photo: Julia Jäkkö

I’m intrigued by fruit motifs in paintings, glass, wood, bowls, and on plates. I found this apple-shaped plate at a recycling center for €2.50. Photo: Julia Jäkkö