Thrift Stores|Pad Patter 11.10

[bestcee]

Are you a fan? Do you only like certain ones?

We went to Deseret Industries Thrift Store yesterday (Wednesday) looking for chairs for our table. Goodwill is walking distance, but has been more expensive, and hasn't had anything. We found some chairs that will work, but the bonus was a brand new pair of slacks for DH, and a cool school desk for Matthew!

I miss having a Savers nearby. And yes, I'm a little picky about the order of my thrift stores

 

[Cath_]

oh how i loved going, when i was able to get myself toooo

 

[bcgal00]

I love browsing thru thrift shops and one of my faves is a store in Lynden that has a lot of estate sale stuff and vintage stuff. In Bellingham there is a used clothing and household store that gets some interesting thing in. I bought a polka dotted cushion cover there recently and love it even more, knowing I only paid $2 for it.

 

[Lindzee]

I love thrift shops. Half the stuff in my house is from a second hand store, someone's cast off or a garage sale. New stuff just has no personality.

I don't usually buy used clothes, I'm usually packing up stuff from us every season and donating to the church - lots of slightly worn winter coats this year.

We did get a lot of used baby stuff for my daughter in law this week and that was actually mostly clothes from a friend at work.

 

[bellbird]

Are you a fan? Do you only like certain ones?

We went to Deseret Industries Thrift Store yesterday (Wednesday) looking for chairs for our table. Goodwill is walking distance, but has been more expensive, and hasn't had anything. We found some chairs that will work, but the bonus was a brand new pair of slacks for DH, and a cool school desk for Matthew!

I miss having a Savers nearby. And yes, I'm a little picky about the order of my thrift stores

OMG i was going to post this exact topic today!

I usually find some decent stuff - it's a bit addictive. I went looking for a "white or brightly coloured (but not black) blazer style jacket" for DS to wear for about 5 mins during a song from Mary Poppins for a school performance at the back of the stage. I looked at a few stores last week and ended up finding a jade green one for $5 today! (hence i was gonna post this!) It was still new and had the extra hook and eye things in a bag hanging fro the tag (it's a small ladies one but DS doesnt need to know it's a little baggy but the cropped sleeve design actually means it fits him pretty good and i cut the main tag out so none the wiser about brands!)

 

[IntenseMagic]

I absolutely love thrift stores! Planning a trip to our Goodwill in the next few days. I've found some real treasures!

 

[JillW]

I enjoy thrift stores too - don't usually look @ clothing, but love the other treasures! We have purchased lots of toys for the grandkiddos from thrift stores over the past few years.

 

[michelepixels]

I do love resale stores. I don't always think of them though. In most areas of life I'm a very patient person. But not for shopping. So I tend to want to just go get what I need. Resale stores require taking time to look through everything for the treasures. I should do that more often.

 

[QuiltyMom]

Love love love them! Love to buy things and to give things. I have a van-load of goodies to give to Salvation Army today. There are Salvation Army & Goodwill stores aplenty in our area, as well as independent ones and consignment stores. I've been doing a lot of consigning myself these days just to pick up some spending money.

 

[tkradtke]

We have an amazingly beautiful thrift store a couple blocks from us. My son and I go there a lot. Most of my antique cameras came from there, but we've also gotten antique wooden skis, fondue sets, an antique tin toy from Russia, a guitar, an amp... the list goes on and on.

We don't get clothes at our thrift store, but my daughter is a HUGE fan of the secondhand clothing site, ThredUp (FYI - that is her affiliate link that gets you $10 off of your first order). We started shopping there over the summer when we were trying to build her wardrobe quickly and inexpensively (she wears a school uniform and didn't have many non-school clothes). I also thought it would be a good exercise for her to learn about outfitting herself on a budget when she's out on her own someday (instead of racking up credit card debt). It has been amazing! Not everything is a keeper, but their return policy is really good! We almost always have a 10% off coupon to use and once you order a certain amount, you get free shipping for something like 60 days. Returns are free and you get the full amount back if you choose store credit. Every so often, she places a decently big order that qualifies for the free shipping. We send back what we don't want and shop on the credits over the free shipping period. She's been able to get some really good pieces for a fraction of the new price (some of the items still had tags). She's decided that she likes a few really expensive brands like Free People, Lululemon and Madewell and consistently picks up those items for about $25 or under. We have sold to them as well. That was a little disappointing as we barely got anything... BUT, we did get something and the process was really easy (albeit very slow).

 

[Juliestcyr]

I am easily overwhelmed by places with too much selection. Even Winners (Canadian TJ Maxx equivalent) and sometimes traditional department stores. But for home stuff, we have two Habitat for Humanity ReStores in our city. They are really awesome. There are pieces that are stripped from other houses (vintage, but in good condition) leftover bits from home renos, and also unsold, but brand new, merchandise from Home Depot, Rona and Lowes. A lot of furnishings as well.

We also have a chain of kids consignment boutiques called Boomerang in the city. They are *supposedly* very picky about what they take, and mostly I find that to be true. It's frustrating when they reject something of mine because of a spot the size of a pinhead, but then I come across stuff on the racks that looks worn out, or has a wonky zipper. But, you can find a lot of brands that aren't necessarily available in our mall. Now that my oldest is 11, I've found her Lululemon and J.Crew clothes - stuff I would be very hesitant to buy a kid at full price. Sadly (unlike her mom) she is not into clothes. It's so weird to be telling her, "No, trust me. This is amazing. I'm making you wear it to school on Monday."

 

[Tree City]

I haven't heard of Deseret or Savers. There is a Goodwill nearby, and ITA about the prices. They wanted $80 for a bag of (dirty) LEGO and little trinket toys. $80! At Goodwill! For dirty toys! I about had a heart attack. But then there are the times you get some good deals, like a Hess float truck with helicopter for $4 (marked at $8 but green tags were half off the day we went)! It was in the box--dusty, but obviously not-played-with but just a display piece. Anyway, DS was ecstatic at that find. But their book prices aren't bad and neighborhood libraries will donate extra books to Goodwill... so it's a smorgasbord for me!
Anyway, I wish there were another option nearby, if only for my shopping adventures. We donate to Goodwill as well as shop there. It's a small way that I can show my kids that we can support others as well as to help my kids learn to recognize when to get rid of something they no longer find useful (but those items still have use).

 

[Lindzee]

I haven't heard of Deseret or Savers. There is a Goodwill nearby, and ITA about the prices. They wanted $80 for a bag of (dirty) LEGO and little trinket toys. $80! At Goodwill! For dirty toys! I about had a heart attack.

I should start my own "slightly used store".

I'm not sure if non-Canadians can appreciate how large a hockey bag is, but I saved one full of Lego since the kids were small. Now with the price of new and even what I see the price of dirty... Thank goodness. Enough to build a city with buildings, people, vehicles and some other assorted imaginary strange stuff. I know its not the latest doodads from Lego - but definitely enough to keep creative minds busy. And its definitely clean. Yuck to dirty.

We also saved classic books for re-use, although now with electronic readers I'm not sure these will be so appreciated, but I also have actual metal Tonka trucks. Original transformers, and GI Joe from 25 yrs ago, and still in good shape. I'm thinking if the grand kids don't appreciate - ebay may be my friend....

Collector of old = distributor of old. That's optimal recycling - yes?

 

[keepscrappin]

I used to shop at Deseret Industries and Savers all the time for toys and furniture pieces to refurbish. I got really good with spray paint for a while there. lol Now that my kids are older, I don't buy many toys and I don't need any more furniture. The last few years I've been donating lots - mostly toys, books, clothing and even furniture that didn't sell on KSL classifieds.

The only thing I've bought recently at a thrift store was a bunch of neckties that I laundered, pressed and sent to my missionary son. He has to wear church clothes everyday, so I figured a little variety with the ties would be a nice change for him and his companions.

Also, I didn't get all the spring purging done and really need to go through everyone's closets and make another DI run. Hubby has lots of coats he doesn't wear. Megan has a bedroom and playroom full of toys she doesn't play with, and I've got tons of clothes that don't fit. I'm sure there's many less fortunate people who could use these items this time of year. I guess purging is one more thing I need to add to my ever growing to-do list... lol

 

[bestcee]

I'm not sure if non-Canadians can appreciate how large a hockey bag is, but I saved one full of Lego since the kids were small.

I do! They get super stinky during hockey season.
But I'll line up for your Legos!!! That is awesome!

But their book prices aren't bad and neighborhood libraries will donate extra books to Goodwill

Have you seen the goodwills that sell books on Amazon now? Usually under used there's always a few!

 

[Lindzee]

I haven't seen this in Canada yet. - On the lookout though..

 

[scrapsandsass]

I don't know if it is just the area we live in or what, but our thrift stores (like Goodwill or Value Village) are usually just gross or overpriced. We crack up about it because we constantly give stuff to Kennedy's school (once a year) or ARC of Washington every month or so (which goes to Value Village) and then when we've gone in, we saw how much they charge for it and think we should just ebay it. But we are waaaaay too lazy, and donating it is for a good cause.

I've been disappointed because I usually only go to find things I need for art projects or DIY things (like old dolls [for their heads], funky books, or random other things), and I can never find anything that I actually look for. It is the same thing with antique stores. They are ridiculously overpriced here. Like insane.

There is a new store near us that is called Rust, and I'm dying over its amazingness. They re-purpose old stuff for home decor, and it is all wonderful. And their prices aren't too horrible (as compared to the "antique" stores). I have to stay out of that store, or I will be in trouble.

 

[jesskab]

There's a St. Vincent de Paul on my block & a Savers around the corner from my work. My mother loves them! She takes the kids sometimes & they find their treasures. I'm not a fan. I just don't like digging through stuff. But, when I go with my mom, I always find something to buy. That's where I got my cat's Strawberry Shortcake costume that she refuses to wear. I always get books for the kids too.

 

[Iowan]

My niece shops at thrift stores all the time to find props for her children's high school plays since she is the property manager. A few weeks ago she was shopping and wandered into the clothing portion of Goodwill with her daughter and found a stunning prom dress. It only cost $1.75. I'm sold!

 

[gonewiththewind]

I absolutely love thrift shopping!

Here are some recent finds:

A brand new Paperchase Recipe book (almost $20 online) that I gave to Olivia for her apartment. I paid $2 for it.

Those containers with silver lids I gave to Olivia for her bathroom for cotton pads and Q-Tips. The crystal one with the silver edging was made in Italy. It's on my vanity with cotton pads and Q-Tips in it. The silver bead strands are for Christmas decorations that I'll be doing this year. The other crystal piece I'm using a candle holder at the present. I paid less than $10 for all of this.

A close up of the crystal dish I kept. It's so lovely!

I got this green dish and it's part of my fall decorations right now. It was $1.99.