Don't be afraid to give thrift stores a chance!

**coup** · 01-18-2009, 12:00 PM

My confession: I hadn't stepped one foot in a thrift store for two years until last week. I live in MI and was in the mood for a garage sale. Well, since we won't be having any of those for a few months, I visited the Salvation Army Store on my lunch hour.

And did I find a treasure chest just waiting to be explored! I couldn't believe the reasonable prices on the clothes. The man checking out ahead of me bought dress pants for $2 each - they still had the tags on them!

I found a "Sweating to the Oldies" tape for 50 cents. Since exercise is one of my 2009 goals, I snapped this up. I think my kiddos will enjoy doing this with me! And I needed something easy to start with.

So, just a word to any others out there who are like me and drive by the thrift stores every week: stop! I plan to go back and investigate further when I have more time.

Thank you to all of you who post your great thrift store finds here! It inspired me to give thrift stores another chance. And I need to visit the other one in town too!

**homesteadmamma** · 01-18-2009, 12:05 PM

I agree. Even if you don't find anything, it's fun to visit one. I love thrift stores.

**rainbowgc** · 01-18-2009, 12:19 PM

I do love thrift stores too! Hard to find clothes in my size but otherwise have found some great deals!

**thefrug** · 01-18-2009, 12:23 PM

ah HAH! we've got you now coup!! you can't escape! LOL LOL

my hubby was telling one of his friends about how we love going to the Goodwill all the time, and the guy tells my hubby that only poor people are ALLOWED to go there! LMAO!! I couldn't believe it when he said it! I laughed so hard I couldn't talk.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 01-18-2009, 12:33 PM

I love thrift stores. I can't imagine not shopping at them. I love flea markets too!!

**Early Bird** · 01-18-2009, 06:37 PM

If you love thrifting, you should read this blog: http://Likemerchantships.blogspot.com

I find it inspirational how she uses thrifted finds in such a classy way.

I like http://thethriftychicks.blogspot.com too, but they haven't been posting as long as Meredith has.

**joyb** · 01-18-2009, 10:04 PM

I like thrift stores. I also have been known to enjoy some good yard sales.

When my kids were small, they wanted one of those Simon Says games. I think they went for about $20. I was at a yard sale and found one for $.50 because one of the lights no longer worked. I took it home and DH "fixed" it by tightening the loose bulb. It worked perfectly. My kids got hours of enjoyment out of their $20 toy that only cost $.50.

**Wendy99** · 01-18-2009, 10:15 PM

I love thrift stores ... some of my more recent finds are a bread maker (mint condition, found the manual and recipes online), clothes (for everyone in the family), books, wooden shelves, pampered chef products, tupperware products, hand weights, picture frames, backpacks, table hockey game, vhs tapes, computer games ... the list goes on ...

**JanieD** · 01-19-2009, 11:07 AM

After hearing about the deals to be found, I've wanted to go thrifting for weeks now! Didn't find much the last time I went several months ago, but thought I'd have better luck this time! Finally got by on Friday & found some great deals: Levis (like new condition), set of punch glasses, a cd, 8x10 framed picture, cow creamer & campbells soup mug! My total was $5!!!! DH was so impressed by my deals, he took me back on Saturday. He got a long sleeve tee & I got 2 hardback books, a tinket box w/rabbit, a decorative saucer & a duck planter! We spent $4.25! I'm totally hooked & can't wait to go back in 2 weeks.

**englishcottage1** · 01-19-2009, 02:44 PM

I've have been going to the thrift store for years now, some days are better than others in end results, but I think the hunt is half the fun. I always find clothes and shoes that still have tags on them and like me, when I donate, the things are in really good condition and that's how a lot of other people donate. I find just after Christmas and the onset of the change of seasons to be the best times (people get gifts they don't like and people go through their clothes in spring and fall).

On one downside lately, the thrift store has been really crowded lately and they have raised the prices now on a lot of items. I guess since a lot more people are shopping there, they figure people will pay that. It hasn't been increased a whole lot, but being a person who has known their prices for a while, I can see the increase while "new" people don't.

Also watch for half price sales, in the place I go to they have different sales at different times, shoes is one tuesday a month, family clothing day is wednesday's, etc. I don't do all of my shopping at thrift stores, but sometimes I am amazed at what people donate. I think of it more as a hobby, LOL.

**coup** · 01-22-2009, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by thefrug

ah HAH! we've got you now coup!! you can't escape! LOL LOL

Too funny! Now I need to bring my DH over to the dark side!

Anyway, thanks for all of the supportive posts! I'm not sure why I didn't try this sooner as I do enjoy rummage/yard sales. And I (duh!) donate our stuff to the Salvation Army!

Happy Thrifting to All!

**tbs727** · 01-22-2009, 01:00 PM

I went thrifting yesterday and got a tennis racket, snow boots and red tin for 4.75. I actually just wrote about this on my blog this morning (including pictures, of course!) www.songbirdtiff.blogspot.com.

I love bargains!