Do you ever shop at thrift stores?

[Papa Deuce]

We do. I really enjoy it. My favorite thing is to find games and toys that I grew up with, that they no longer make, to share with my daughters. Last week I found a sealed Kenner Spirograph! ... $5!!!!

And, we do buy some clothes for our daughters there. You can find stuff that looks like it was never worn for $2! What a bargain!

I also like the fact that the one we go to supports the families of incarcerated people.

 

[TheGoofster]

Are you kidding me? I have a book collection of well over 500 books, and can you guess where most of them have come from?
Whenever we travel, I am always on the lookout for both Goodwill and Salvation Army.

 

[fabumouse]

What a great thread!

Yes, of course I shop at thrift stores, of various sorts and have for all of my life.

My favorite coat in college cost me $10 and I wore it for four years.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Yep, I'm a fan--except that most of them don't have dressing rooms so I often buy things that look good on the hanger but really don't fit right. But they're so cheap, it's worth it!

 

[lovmy2girls]

Yes! There is a goodwill store right across the street from my daughters school, so I check it out at least once a week before I pick them up.

The bargains I find in there just amaze me sometimes! Kate Spade purse, Name brand cloths with tags still on them.

I almost feel like I'm stealing

 

[JVL1018]

I can't do it, can;t do garage sales either.
I go to the library only because I read so much I would be broke if I had to buy all the books I read. I have managed to get over my ick factor with that, I go to the library at least twice a week. Love it!

I just get all skeeved thinking about using other people's stuff. I did buy my daughter a dress off of ebay once. It was boutique and so pretty, but it still took me a while to get used to the idea that she was wearing someone else's hand me downs. I'll take them from friends, but strangers, I don't like to do.

I have no problem with hotel rooms and restaurants though. I also have a used car. LOL

I am not rolling in the dough, I buy my kids clothes at The Gap and TCP and Old Navy and Target, so it's not like I have expensive tastes or have snobbery issues. It's just a *thing* I have.

 

[kimmikayb]

best place in the world to get jeans for boys who seem to put holes in them daily!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I tried to check the top 2 choices - yes for me and my family and some things for resale.

I LOVE a thrift store. I have been trying to pare down my stuff lately though so I try to donate MORE than I buy! So far it is working though I did just buy a nice wool coat at Goodwill for $10 for me the other day....

 

[minkydog]

I love hand-me-downs! It never bothered me when I was a kid to get a big box of stuff from cousin Debbie--it was all new to me. Now that I'm an adult, I go to the thrift store and I'm training my daughter(and her friends) how to do it. We wash it all when we get it home, of course.

I've found all kinds of things there: stuff for Halloween costumes, videos, pots & pans for the camper, complete sets of Disney sheets. Although I think the worst was the time my daughter broke her kneecap and they wanted her on crutches--insurance wouldn't pay for them(at $49 ) so we stopped by the thrift store for a look-see. Found some crutches for $2.49

 

[Papa Deuce]

Although I think the worst was the time my daughter broke her kneecap and they wanted her on crutches--insurance wouldn't pay for them(at $49 ) so we stopped by the thrift store for a look-see. Found some crutches for $2.49

My mom needed one of those 4 footed walkers..... $4! I have no idea what that would cost new, but I am sure way more than $4!.

 

[Cindy B]

My local Goodwill tends to be high priced. However, the Village Thrift (excellent if you have them near you) is excellently priced. The Village is in an almost iffy part of town-I only go during the day. You do need to know your Spanish at Village-most of the signs, cashiers and attendants speak only Spanish. I'm one of the few non Spanish people there, so they try with me..and I appreciate that. I understand the Spanish enough to read it, but I can't speak it well.

Anyway, Village has better prices than the Goodwill. The Goodwill is in a better area and offers a college student discount.

I can never find anything at Goodwill for me, but I found a great denim jacket for my daughter for $2 last month. I found a nice navy suit jacket and two blue button down shirts and one tan pair of khakis for a total of $12 over the summer for my son.

I've found some resale things at the Goodwill/Village as well. I haven't found anything good lately, but I have resold in the past. (mostly clothes). I will probably resell the navy jacket/blue button down shirts --they were Ralph Lauren. I bought a suit for my son (funeral suit) at Goodwill, and I resold it for more than I bought it for around Easter time.

 

[N.Bailey]

I'm not a snob, but our Goodwill is totally junky, so I don't shop at that particular thrift shop. We do have a great 2nd hand shop that carries all vintage things. It's great for building a costume, or putting together something for a themed event. My daughter and I tend to grab a handbag or 2 every once awhile too.

In Lancaster, there is a great 2nd hand shop that carries TONS and TONS of business clothing (all woman's clothing I believe, but I really never looked to see if they have a men's section. LOL). It's nothing to get a suit made in Italy for $20 bucks that looks like it was wore 1 time. I love it!!

 

[susan1]

hi
we have several brands of charity shops over here, cancer research, salvation army, mind for mental disorders, y.m.c.a. and oxfam! wander round al the shops once or twice weekly and buy some real bargains. if i want something specific always look round the charity shops in our town and the town nearby. usually find what i want. i do think e-bay has made a difference though. notso much selection and things are pricier than they were., e-bay is good business i guess!

 

[shortbun]

A couple of weeks ago, my husband found a new Nordic Trak for $12.24! Yep, we shop at thrift stores.

 

[aprilgail2]

I can't do it, can;t do garage sales either.
I go to the library only because I read so much I would be broke if I had to buy all the books I read. I have managed to get over my ick factor with that, I go to the library at least twice a week. Love it!

I just get all skeeved thinking about using other people's stuff. I did buy my daughter a dress off of ebay once. It was boutique and so pretty, but it still took me a while to get used to the idea that she was wearing someone else's hand me downs. I'll take them from friends, but strangers, I don't like to do.

. I also have a used car. LOL

I am not rolling in the dough, I buy my kids clothes at The Gap and TCP and Old Navy and Target, so it's not like I have expensive tastes or have snobbery issues. It's just a *thing* I have.

I agree!!! I can't wear other peoples used clothes and I really can't put them on my daughter.....only thing different is that I will not buy a used car either, that has to be new!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I LOVE shopping on the secondary market--it's the thrill of the hunt! I'm forever scouting resale shops, particularly for clothes for my 4 kids. We have a nice Salvation Army where I've gotten stuff for the whole family, and one thrift store has a "hold" on all incoming cub scout things, for DH, because his pack donates them toneedy boys.

Some thrift stores ARE scummy,they can really vary.

 

[CEDmom]

I can't do it, can;t do garage sales either.
I go to the library only because I read so much I would be broke if I had to buy all the books I read. I have managed to get over my ick factor with that, I go to the library at least twice a week. Love it!

I just get all skeeved thinking about using other people's stuff. I did buy my daughter a dress off of ebay once. It was boutique and so pretty, but it still took me a while to get used to the idea that she was wearing someone else's hand me downs. I'll take them from friends, but strangers, I don't like to do.

I have no problem with hotel rooms and restaurants though. I also have a used car. LOL

I am not rolling in the dough, I buy my kids clothes at The Gap and TCP and Old Navy and Target, so it's not like I have expensive tastes or have snobbery issues. It's just a *thing* I have.

You're not alone, I can't do it either. I have taken stuff from friends and pass DD's stuff onto others. I'm fine with that. It's the stranger issue that gets me. I know stuff can be washed, dry cleaned etc. but somehow that's just not enough.

It also doesn't help that I've gone in some Good Will stores to donate and the smell alone almost knock me over. It was a combination of musty and old. Also, it didn't help that things were crammed together.

We do have a few consignment shops in more upscale areas around us and the stuff in their window looks nice and the store itself looks nice but I still haven't ventured inside.

I'll wait for a great sale to save $.

 

[maddiemouse]

I shop in thrift stores ALL the time, the only thing I won't buy there is underwear. When I was younger, it was out of neccesity, now that I'm a little more comfortable financially, I do it because it's fun. Like a previous poster said, since you can't try stuff on there, I often end up with stuff that doesn't fit or look right, so I just re-donate it, I'm like a re-cycler for second hand clothes. And don't get me started on BOOKS,if I bought new all the time I would be broke. I don't much care about brand names or designer stuff, I'd much rather spend my money on vacations and other fun stuff to do. And, oh, I drive a used car too, I like other people to break stuff in for me

 

[aprilgail2]

I just go to the library and take books out to read, I wouldn't waste money buying them even from a thrift shop....I only had a few books I took out then couldn't read when I got home...the person reading them prior to me must have smoked and they stunk so bad of smoke I returned them the next day.

 

[Disney Doll]

I ahve on occasion, but more for stuff for a Halloween costume or something rather than for stuff for myself. I have to say though, I know a couple of people who shop at consignment shops and they get beautiful things for a fraction of the cost. They tend to go to shops in more well-to-do areas, and they are getting sometimes brand new or barely worn designer labels for practically nothing.

My co-worker whose husband is in construction always buys his work clothes at thrift stores. He gets decent stuff cheap so when it gets ruined he doesn't care about getting rid of it. We will probably buy our "throw away" clothes for the half marathon at a thrift store, because then you don't mind taking it off and leaving it.