Was just thinking about this yesterday....how 'low' will you go?

**PrairieRose** · 10-18-2006, 09:42 AM

Ok I mentioned in another thread that I bribed Gripey into going thrifting with me yesterday. Well not exactly going 'thrifting' per se. He went INTO one thrift store with me. He hated it. He really doesn't want to know what I buy from thrift stores....he thinks it's yucky. So, where my dirty little secret is concerned we have a 'don't ask, don't tell' agreement. If he sees me in something 'new' (I've lost some weight, having to buy a whole new, year round wardrobe here) he just says "like your shirt" and I say "thanks!". He doesn't want to know that I paid $1 for it. He'd feel better about it if I paid $19.95 for it on a rack in Walmart. I think it's kinda funny. I mean he will go to auctions and buy stuff all day long but there's just something that makes him shiver about thrifting and garage sale clothes. He even said 'what about consigment stores?' yesterday instead of thrift stores. I said ok, we can look but what's the difference? It's still used clothing..... . He said you're right.
So my question is what things will you absolutely NOT do for frugality sake?
I won't buy or wear under garments, socks or shoes from thrift stores. I don't usually buy bedding but wouldn't pass up a great quilt or bedspread. Otherwise.....I'm pretty easy to please I reckon.
How "low" will you go?

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-18-2006, 09:48 AM

Well I will buy anything at the thrift store except: underwear, bras, or socks.

I love quilts so if i find one in good condition I will buy it, but I always wash my stuff before I use or wear it.

**nuisance26** · 10-18-2006, 09:52 AM

~Wow, I'd buy used undies if I could find 'em. A hot water wash and they're as good as new. I've bought used diapers and mommy pads on Ebay. I've bought used sheets, too. If it can be washed in hot water it's ok by me. One thing I won't buy is lingerie. I can't disassociate it from somebody elses's sexcapades. Skeeves me out. But pretty much anything else that can stand hot water I have no problem with.~

**PrairieRose** · 10-18-2006, 09:52 AM

Oh yeah, me too Tracy, sometimes more than once if it looked like it could use a 'brightening up'. I'm pretty handy in the laundry room

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-18-2006, 09:57 AM

I love thrift store and flea market finds, I bought a quilt bedspread and matching pillow case for my daughters room at a flea market last weekend for $4! was in excellent condition, I love flea market finds, I always find cheaper than the thrift shops but I shop at the thrift shops because I know the money goes to a worthy cause.

**nuisance26** · 10-18-2006, 10:01 AM

~Just thought of some more. Half of my silverware and serving dishes and utensils are pre-owned. My kids clothes and shoes are pre-owned. I just bought a pair of merrell shoes, pre-owned, off of Ebay. Half of my jewelry is pre-owned. My furniture is pre-owned. My car and one of my carseats are pre-owned. I think I just realized that 98% of what I have was pre-owned. Cool. Oh, I thought of something else I wouldn't buy, a used mattress. No Thank You.~

**Sari** · 10-18-2006, 10:10 AM

All of my mattresses so far have been hand-me-downs from family, but I wouldn't use one from someone I didn't know. I would not buy used shoes (though I will take hand-me-downs from family) because the idea of a strange person's feet in them grosses me out.

**northernmom2boys** · 10-18-2006, 10:40 AM

Underwear are my limit,only new and bras
Mattresses only if we know the person,wont buy from strangers
Anything else Im up for,I will wash well though when brought home

**Emerald_Mommy** · 10-18-2006, 10:48 AM

I wouldn't buy underwear or lingerie but I have bought shoes and I probably will again. I bought a pair of boots last year that must have been brand new. They're some of my favorite footwear now.

I don't buy blankets, sheets, or tablecloths but that's just because I absolutely don't need any.

**DorothyBeverly** · 10-18-2006, 11:05 AM

The only thing I won't buy used is bras and underwear...yeck! I have bought several pairs of used shoes..just spray the inside with lots of Lysol and they are good to go. My mattress is used (we got it from my Grama), but I would buy another at a used Furniture store as long as it was clean and in good condition.

**Early Bird** · 10-18-2006, 11:07 AM

I figure that since we're drinking the water that the dinosaurs drank, there's nothing unsanitary about buying any used clothes.

Here's where I've drawn the line:
* anything I can't clean/disinfect.

So, I've even bought used bras. And washed them in HOT water. With bleach.

(Are you shocked?)

But anything un-cleanable is out.

**suzysaver** · 10-18-2006, 11:14 AM

Undies and socks I seem to have an issue with. I would probably buy a pair of shoes, but I haven't yet. My husband is really funny about that stuff too. Resently I found a ucla sweatshirt really nice and almost new. I washed it up really good and put it on and walked into the living room. All he could say was give it to me!!! I let him put it on before he asked me were I got it. I told him and he didn't take it off, woo-hoo...success. He has this weird idea that this is all dead people things. He says, please don't buy any silverware or cups and plates..."I don't want to eat off someone elses plate". I find this really funny because this is exactly what you do when you go out to eat. I buy most all of my work clothes and have recently noticed most of my sweatshirts and sweat pants are all from the thrift store. I would consider just about anything...except for the undies and socks.

**wanderinggrandma** · 10-18-2006, 11:29 AM

Funny story to share--when my nephew was in school and single he "obtained" a futon bed. Used it even after his GF moved in. Also a student. A couple years down the road, after both out of school, they replace the futon with a new bed. He then tells DW that he found the futon in the dumpster behind his apt!!!

Of course she turned green and wanted to shoot him!

I draw the line at dumpster-diving a futon!

**Missy** · 10-18-2006, 12:28 PM

Just about anything in a dumpster. Why? Maggots. The idea that one would be with in the same container with something that touches me gives me the wllies. can't do it.

I worked for goodwill for a few years. Underpants shoes gross me out, but otherwise everything else is pretty much ok.

**Neeley** · 10-18-2006, 12:58 PM

I will only buy new underwear, bras, panties. Cannot bring myself to wear used on these. At one time I would not do used kitchen items, but I got over that one and almost all of kitchen stuff is 2nd hand. All of my blankets are as well.