You know you're cheap when...

[teller80]

you think Salvation Army prices are high.

Seriously though, there have been times when I'm like, "they want how much for that?!" Especially furniture. I wonder if social service agencies give people vouchers for Goodwill & Salvation Army.

I've also stood there looking at something and wondered what on earth it was. One mans junk really is another mans treasure.

 

[pjlla]

you think Salvation Army prices are high.

Seriously though, there have been times when I'm like, "they want how much for that?!" Especially furniture. I wonder if social service agencies give people vouchers for Goodwill & Salvation Army.

I've also stood there looking at something and wondered what on earth it was. One mans junk really is another mans treasure.

Oh my GOSH! I think this all the time!! I scroll through the racks of t-shirts and blouses and think "They want $6 for a used t-shirt from Walmart?" I don't mind spending $6 for a good name barely-worn top from Talbots or Gap or Ann Taylor.... but seriously... Walmart or Target shirts? They were probably clearanced at $3 or less.... no way I'm paying the thrift store $6!

The prices at my local Salvation Army are generally better than the prices at Goodwill. SA prices used to be GREAT until they moved to a new "fancier" location and got neater.... then the prices doubled. But they still beat GW most of the time.

Savers is great because it is huge and usually well organized, but prices can be too high for my liking and they want to sell many dishes and cookware in "sets" (even if they don't really match) and I often don't want all of it. Yard sale pricing... that is where I'm at!!.................P

 

[McKelly]

you think Salvation Army prices are high.

Seriously though, there have been times when I'm like, "they want how much for that?!" Especially furniture. I wonder if social service agencies give people vouchers for Goodwill & Salvation Army.

I've also stood there looking at something and wondered what on earth it was. One mans junk really is another mans treasure.

Social Service agencies do give vouchers to people. I wanted to donate to a women's shelter and they told me to give it to Salvation Army because they give vouchers to people to shop there. They would only accept money. I think it's a storage problem.

 

[QVCshopper]

Yes. I mostly stopped bothering with Goodwill, etc. because I can do better on new clearance clothes or on used clothes on the yard sale FB sites. Far far better. Last summer, Gap Kids had 40% off clearance, and shirts and pants were all between $2-3. The most expensive item was a $4 sweater dress. Got my tall girl a whole new wardrobe for around $50 total!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I am the same way. I will shop at one local store that has 50% days but still many of the prices are too high and the quality too low. I am a clearance, coupon and sale shopper usually. I can find prices about the same or even lower than thrift stores for brand new stuff. For furniture though yard sales and craigslist are a good way to go.

 

[scrhsa]

Me too. I stopped looking for clothes because 1) I live in a very poor area and half the clothes at Goodwill are worse than the ones I'm giving away and 2) the prices are stupid and 3) I can find great sales at Pennys or Bealls for better quality. I do go and look for holiday decorations, books, bags etc. My sister lives in the Baton Rouge area and she has some GREAT ones with great prices. She has completely filled out a Disney vacation wardrobe. Great Disney T-shirts. And all for at least $2 cheaper per item than my rural store!

 

[DizMe]

Our Salvation Army has an 'elite' store. The prices are far too high for most of the items. They do have some really nice vintage items and I shop there for Dapper Day (great vintage hats, gloves, coats etc), but regular clothes are not a bargain for the most part. I did buy some jeans there for my daughter when Miss Me was a hot brand--they still cost $60 but they were like new. The furniture is always way overpriced, though, and the clothes/shoes ridiculous. I saw some water glasses that are pressed glass in the fine housewares and they were asking $8 per glass. I smiled because I have the same goblets and I got them at the Dollar Tree.

We have some good thrift stores in town but you have to get lucky for really good deals, get things that are past the date on the tag, on sale, etc.

Oh yes--and I am usually looking for sweaters made from fine wool for $3 or less. I don't care if they have holes because I reuse the yarn. I do a lot of knitting and it's about the only way I can afford cashmere!

 

[akl432]

Yes. I mostly stopped bothering with Goodwill, etc. because I can do better on new clearance clothes or on used clothes on the yard sale FB sites.

Can you share how to find yard sale FB sites? Thanks!

 

[loves to dive]

I've never been able to find clothes at our local branches, again you want what for that? I tried a couple of times while losing weight since I didn't want to buy new and then have to buy new again when I lost more. I looked at furniture at our local Habitat Restore when my son got divorced and discovered it was less for him to actually buy new at somewhere like Walmart and they delivered and set up.

 

[teller80]

I've never been able to find clothes at our local branches, again you want what for that? I tried a couple of times while losing weight since I didn't want to buy new and then have to buy new again when I lost more. I looked at furniture at our local Habitat Restore when my son got divorced and discovered it was less for him to actually buy new at somewhere like Walmart and they delivered and set up.

Yes! The Habitat Restore was even more expensive, I had the same opinion as you (I could buy new for less).

 

[North of Mouse]

Yes! The Habitat Restore was even more expensive, I had the same opinion as you (I could buy new for less).

The Habitat Restore in our area is also outrageously expensive - what do they think they are anyway????

I walked in once, then out, never to return!!

We actually have some nice Goodwills though - have lots of nice stores in this area, and people buy from them (some that really can't afford them too) and then donate after a few wearings in one season - 'my' kind of deals!!

 

[powellrj]

Can you share how to find yard sale FB sites? Thanks!

Do a search on your Facebook page and they should come up. I have never found anything because the ones in my area only seem to have baby clothes.

 

[tvguy]

I needed a VHS VCR and didn't want to spent $130 for a VHS-DVD Burner combo, Goodwill have fully functioning VHS VCRs for $7, so I found their prices very much a bargain.

 

[QVCshopper]

Can you share how to find yard sale FB sites? Thanks!

Search your town, county, or area on Facebook. I sell and buy regularly on two pages--one is for kids items only and the other is for anything but very local. I can buy very high-end items for a fraction of the cost new, like Lilly P dresses and Land of Nod storage, plus I've sold over $500 of our outdated items in the past year.

Less clutter is a godsend, plus since I buy so much used and cheap, I sometimes end up making money. For example, last week I sold a cozy coupe car I got for free that someone was throwing out for $8 and I sold a set of books I bought for $1 (that my son then read) for $5.

 

[DizMe]

After I complained above, I found that SA was having a winter-wear sale (75% off) and I got 6 cashmere/lamb's wool sweaters plus a big plushy bathrobe for $6.25. Guess I spoke to soon, lol

 

[Minnesota!]

Goodwill is insanely overpriced. We shop at a store called Arc's when we need something used.

 

[endy]

We were at Value Village last week, same as Goodwill and SA. They wanted 4.99 for a used paperback. We were like what. I picked up books at the Sally Anne for .99 cents.
Holy sheet I would rather buy new than pay 5 dollars for a used one. Actually I look for books at garage sales and stock up when I find some for under $1.

Anyway we all commented on how high the prices are and didn't find anything to buy.

 

[QueenIsabella]

It can really vary from place to place, as to what SA has and how good the deals are. It was funny, when I lived in upstate NY, the SA in Schenectady was pretty disgusting. But then the one in Glenville (suburbia), less than 10 miles away, was quite nice. Another one in a fancier town was way overpriced. I found many, many good deals and shopped the Glenville store regularly. They would also have half-price sales regularly.

In NH, the SA was decent. Among other things, I found Vera Bradley, NWT, there. They also had a deal where anyone could come, work for 2 hours, and get 5 free clothing items. While I didn't do this personally, that could be an amazing deal for someone looking for winter coats for their kids, or even just to spruce up their own wardrobe.

Now that we're in NC, the SA store has surprisingly little clothing (at least the store I've been to). They have a fair amount of furniture, and a decent book section.

I'm disappointed to hear that Habitat Restore is pricey. Our house needs plenty of updating, I was hoping we could find some good deals there.

 

[hsmamato2]

Oh yes--and I am usually looking for sweaters made from fine wool for $3 or less. I don't care if they have holes because I reuse the yarn. I do a lot of knitting and it's about the only way I can afford cashmere!

I love this idea..I've been thinking of doing this for the yarn too! As far as prices go.... Goodwill is usually pretty bad with pricing, esp. one local one- I think the manager there has lost his mind sometimes. That said,I still go and shop the sales etc. There are plenty of times I won't buy something used if it's too pricey at Goodwill or savers

 

[MaleficentRN]

I've thought this about SA and Goodwill for years. My local Goodwill gets closeouts from Target and literally marks them UP! It was 90% off the original price at Target and now it's 50% off at Goodwill?? There is a thrift shop for veterans I go to that is a little better.