There comes a time in every woman’s life when the magic word shopping does not always have to mean dresses, shoes, bags, cosmetics and fashion accessories.  And at 34, I’ve reached that point in my life where I find the urge to once in awhile visit antique shops both offline and online.

The fascination and curiosity all started with a British tv show on antique auctions [BBC’s Antiques Roadshow].  It was the boyfriend watching it actually and it just so happened that I was there right beside him having an afternoon siesta.  From one antique auction program to another, I just could not help but wonder when I would be investing on my first antique item.

There’s this antique shop downtown which only opens for a few hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Well, it’s not huge but it’s a welcoming sight for old collectible item fanatics.  It’s only two blocks away from our apartment making it easier for me to visit.

With desirable pieces from porcelain to paintings, furniture and even toys and a tiny coffee shop inside, me and my friends get together there once a month to catch up over a cup of coffee each and window shop on the latest stuff the store has to offer.

For individuals who have no time to personally drop by antique boutiques, shopping and bidding online has been and always is a good option.  If you have no idea where to begin, simply Google it and you’ll easily stumble upon phrases such as check our online antique auctions, etc.  Better yet, ask for website recommendations from your friends, read blogs authored by antique experts, read online reviews or check out YouTube for a few tips for beginners that you might find handy.