So there I was, needing a side table to go with some nifty new chairs I got from Wayfair in my current home renovation project. I ran out to World Market and found cute tables . . . for $200.

I wandered over to Target and found cute tables . . . for $125.

I went to the thrift store and found this ugly but cool pine table for $28. (It was $40 but in a lucky quirk it was ‘buy furniture’ day at the thrift store and it was 30% off.)