If it's old ornaments and retro kitsch from the 1950's you're interested in; if ancient glass…read moretablets depicting Popeye eating spinach and circa 1929 SLR cameras hanging over a somewhat politically incorrect but utterly charming depiction of a foreign native made out of petrified wood are your thing, then Recycling Works in Annandale is the place for you. Slotted on what can only be described as the Parramatta Road guitar shop district, aptly named because of all the, you guessed it, guitar shops, is the massive warehouse full of "junk". Furniture, bric-a-brac, retro advertising material, all saved and all presented in fantastic condition to collectors and common-folk alike. Anyone who thinks what's old is new again will find a bargain here. Anyone whose mantelpiece appears a little bare will do well to catch a bus up the main street, walk on in and peruse the multitudes of selected garbage, cleaned up and reinvigorated. They're always having some kind of sale and the owner is more than happy to help you look, provided you know what it is you're looking for. There's a sign out the front that says "Free Water." I think I saw the water device and unless they were serendipitously out of cups in this particular circumstance, I suggest if you foresee needing water mid shop, bring a container for holding the H2O.

Recycling Works is a menagerie of used and unwanted items, forgotten memories and old treasures,…read moreakin to my favourite yet unattainable room of treasures, Harry Potter's 'The Room of Hidden Things'. This shop, wedged in amongst the guitar and bass shops that make up this strip of Parramatta Rd, is filled with a combination of junk and sweet finds, from ladders and prams to vintage dressers and wardrobes, retro lounges, birdcages, bags, jewellery and anything else you could imagine finding in your great grandparents attic (including the items only those with vivid imaginations thought of). Prices vary from surprisingly affordable to frightfully expensive and it's your mission to not only find your way around (navigation can be an issue here) but to find your way towards a bargain - this may involve a little bartering. Whilst the man that works here didn't understand/appreciate my Harry Potter related jokes, his eccentricities add charm to the jungle of furniture that is Recycling Works and he is always willing to help you out.

You never know what you will find at Vinnies. Traditionally it was called the Saint Vincent de Paul…read moreOpportunity Shops but now with the change of name and the shops popping up all over the place people are quite familiar with the set up. It really depends on what suburb you are in with what you will find. The Mosman Vinnies is quite expensive but then again I do love their pre loved English grocery and silver. Some of the stock would be found in Antique shops. All the goods are donated and the proceeds go to the Catholic Church and the outreach to the Community. The staff are mostly volunteers. The poor fellow on the counter yesterday was probably in his mid 80s and got a little flustered with the cash register. The younger man came from out the back to help him. It was a lovely thing to see. He showed great respect to the older volunteer. My heart warms at this time of Christmas when I see people kind to one another. We all can learn to be patient in a place like this. I believe the shops exist to help others. Vinnies are all over the place but this one is always a pleasure to walk into.

I love little shops like this, they are so much fun to explore. They are a combination of Antique…read moreshop, Junk shop (and I don't say "junk" with a negative connotation, I love junk shops) and museum. I often wonder how shops like this survive, but I am glad they sometimes do, when you walk around a place like this with jammed with so much treasure and trash that you can barely move, it is like entering another world (they don't even have a shop sign), I really find it fascinating. I never know what I will find, never anything I need but always something I want which I had never thought about before. They sell old cutlery and crockery, old books, vinyl, cameras which are probably 100 years old, teapots, old clothes a great place for costumers. Some of the old toys are fascinating too. If you are a fan of Antiques Roadshow this shop will be your dream come true.

This is a very weird and wonderful business. One day, not…read morelong ago, I was driving down Cleveland Street and much to my surprise, in one of the terraces was a big window with curtains drawn all around it. Displayed in this house/shop was one vintage bedside table and a cute set of drawers. There was a mobile phone number to call if you were interested in the few items. Intrigued, I parked and called the number. A lady answered and showed me into her home. The floor was scattered with works in progress. Little chairs, dressers, old mirrors. Upstairs her partner is a carpenter and builder. It's a strange little set up but what a great marketing tool. There's a lot of traffic on that busy street and it certainly piqued my interest enough to purchase a repainted 1920's bedside table. It's really cute and she has done a great job in retaining it's original beauty. The other day I was passing again and they have a retro bathroom sink and a kitchen sink in their window. I can only assume that he works on sites and hunts treasures that she then gathers and refurbishes. Brilliant! *Speak to Nikki

This is my favorite place to shop vintage- The Mitchell road Antique and Design Centre in…read moreAlexandria is huge! They have a few thousand square metres of vendors specializing in ecclectic vintage many of whom have retro, vintage and designer fashion and accessories. It also helps that they're open 7days a week and have lots of knowledgeable and friendly staff. 10am-5pm at 17 Bourke Road, Alexandria 2015 02 9698 0907

I had a fun time browsing the antiques here. Most things struck me as more vintage (like 40s-50s)…read morethan actual antiques, but the space is large, and I always like to browse. Had I not been about 9950 from home, there was a well-priced chair with upholstered seat that I really liked and might have bought, but alas, there was no practical way to get it back to the US (plus I didn't need it anyway). If I'm back in Sydney, I'll try to find the time to come back.

The idea of picking up a bargain at a second-hand store probably vanished in the 90s which is why…read morePuf 'N' Stuff Clearance store is such an excellent place. You can genuinely get a bargain here. Well, a bargain by vintage clothing store standards, ie. If you think paying $60 for a second-hand dress is a bargain. My rule is that it's always a bargain if you love it. For me Puf 'N' Stuff Clearance store is all about the accessories. Handbags, sunglasses and jewellery this is wear you can really pick up some amazing finds for bargain prices. But the best part of Puf n Stuff is the shoes! There's a great range and most of the shoes are in excellent condition. I know some people have a real problem with second-hand shoes, which is good as that leaves more for me.

You'll have to be prepared for a bit of a dig at Puf 'n' Stuff, but there are certainly vintage…read moreinspired gems to be found here aplenty. It's technically a pop-up store, but it has been there for many months now so I'd say it will keep up its residence for a while longer. They sell second hand clothes and items that have been created from vintage fabrics - my favourite item is the mini skirts they make in every colour imaginable for just $45, a cheap item that looks oh-so Mad Men when worn around the office with a simple blouse. They also have a range of knee length and longer flowy skirt in mostly floral fabrics, as well as a huge number of ripped denim hotpants, and lovingly worn leather ankle boots. I usually leave here with a satisfying purchase, even on ad hoc shopping trips.

Best designer shop in Sydney. You honestly could be in any major design savvy city in the world,…read moreand this beautiful shop would still be hard to beat. I've had the most wonderful customer service, and the gifts through to the art and furniuture is first class, and really quite unique. They're always doing something different, so you can pop in regularly and still be suprised.

I can't find my camera. I left it somewhere and I don't know where. Calling around to the places…read moreI visited, I contacted the store manager at Becker Minty, Woollahra. He was the most helpful man and even though he didn't see it in the shop he was going to contact the worker who was there the day before and call me back (all of this not even knowing if I left it in his store or not). I eventually found my camera and contacted the store manager thanking him for his efforts. The store itself is situated in the courtyard where patrons of Bills are dining. A sister store to there location in Potts Point, this store is much more compact, but has a great variety of beautiful items. I've purchased a couple of gifts here and there unique selection of items and beautiful gift wrapping make it such a great place to get one of a kind item gifts. The last time I was there I was looking at a selection of beautiful designed silk scarves. The store manager pulled out a number of designs for me to see and we had some fun trying different styles and colours. There is always such a great vibe about this store and the staff is helpful without being pushy or salesman-like. If you are on the look out for a sophisticated and unique gift for someone or just want to find something to pamper yourself, Becker Minty is a great place to look.

Basement Books is a dangerous place on many levels…read more Danger number one: It's in Central. It is right in Central. Central is a place you meet people, so you might say, meet you in central at 4pm and then you get there at 3.30pm and you have to wait. So what do you do? You go to Basement Books and peruse their countless books with bright yellow stickers advertising their low and affordable price. Danger number two: Because these books that you're perusing are cheap, you can justify the price even if you're not sure whether you even need the book. 'Oh, a history of Physics' I've always been interested in Physics, and it's only $9.95 I should probably buy this and learn about Physics. Danger number three: Their range is gigantic! I almost said 'ginormous', but that's not a word. What I meant was Hugantic! There are literally thousands upon thousands of books and they're always receiving new stock. They have art sections, computer sections, history, film, personal growth, science fiction, literature, even books like the dictionary, which, had I purchased a copy last I was in, would have saved me the embarrassment of using a non-word like 'ginormous'. So beware of Basement Books. You have been warned. The bookshop is in a great location, the titles are cheap and the range extraordinary. I have a pile of books in my room almost as tall as I am that I have yet to read, opportune purchases that came at me as I strolled amidst the aisles killing time. A book on deadly diseases for $4.95, I'm not going to find that bargain again. Buy! Buy! Buy!

In this day and age of Kindle and Kobo and Nook, a solid read (and I mean one that you can…read moreliterally hold and turn pages beneath your fingers) comes pretty cheap. You really do need to head in to see what they've got because I find their online catalogue lacking and sometimes the staff don't even know what they're stocking. The outside disguises how big this place really is, as it has sections for anything from classic fiction to travel books and bios. It has a pretty decent selection of art supplies as well (I'm no art student, but it does cater for scrapbooking hobbies or the amateur artist if you're after it). Right in the back corner they have a little children's section which I found perfect for my six year old sister who's going through her first reading phase. I bought her a collection of these tiny Winnie the Pooh classics, and a special anniversary edition of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and Friends stories which averaged around $4 and $12 respectively. They have tons of different hard cover books (some of which are pop up!) which were surprisingly cheap, but more importantly, were invaluable in keeping kids (of all ages) entertained for hours.