I’m trying to pay down credit cards, and as part of that, I’m not using them. Unfortunately, that doesn’t keep me from needing new clothes–it seems like half my wardrobe for the winter has fallen apart. So, in an effort to be cheap, um…financially responsible, I headed to the local Salvation Army Thrift Store this morning. I’d planned on searching for a sweater or two to supplement my minimum wardrobe, but instead, I made an awesome score–Wednesday’s are 50% off days (which I’d forgotten). For less than the cost of one new sweater in the mall, I got:
[ul]
[li]Old Navy dark fleece jacket $4 to replace my threadbare house sweater (ya’ know, the one I wear around the house when the thermostat is set to 65 degrees or my office is set to 75 and I’m still freezing)[/li][li]Sag Harbor long sleeved blouse $2.50 (I can layer this on top of a t-shirt for added warmth) [/li][li]Sonoma long sleeve T-shirt $2.50 (another good piece for layering)[/li][li]Talbots 3/4 sleeve cardigan (55% silk) with pearl buttons $3 (lightweight, but beautiful) [/li][li]Tiara International sweater with a front zipper $3 (heavy sweater and not obnoxious) [/li][li]Requirements pull over sweater with a cowl neckline $3 (nice medium weight sweater) [/li][li]Jones New York long sleeve T-shirt $2.50 (nice for layering) [/li][li]Preswick and Moore sweater with zip front $3 (another heavy sweater)[/li][li]Liz Claiborne sweater with zip front $3 (yet ANOTHER heavy sweater!)[/li][li]Jacqueline Smith 70% wool button front jacket $4[/li][li]Croft and Barrow mock turtleneck $2.50[/li][/ul]
Doing a Google search tells me that a similar sweater at Talbots can go upwards of $100+. :eek: And I know that some of the other brands I bought can be pretty pricey, so I’m feeling *really *good about the good deals I got (on some good clothes!).
These will get me through this winter and probably several more winters. And I paid cash.
Anyone else score anything great with the after the holiday sales (or 50% off thrift store sales)?
Not quite on point but I unraveled an Ann Taylor 100% cashmere sweater I got at a Goodwill for $7. It was size xs and a blinding hot pink; After unraveling it, I overdyed it with food color+ vinegar+ heat and now its three large skeins of yarn in a very dark plum.
It was a bit of work (the actual unraveling is crazy fun though) but the $7 sweater yielded about $120 worth of yarn. Some people do this as a side business, but me, I just like to crochet with the finest.
On the same trip I got a pretty heathered green v-neck sweater for $5. It was unlabeled but my dry cleaner said it was also cashmere. That one I wear to work.
We used to lurk at the Sallie store in Alexandria, VA 20 years ago. It’s in an affluent neighborhood where people get rid of their expensive shit because it’s dusty. I got a set of Limoge china for $20. Could hardly believe some of the furniture I used to see there; top quality leather without a mark on it, dirt cheap.
Goodwill is my go to, and if I’m up to the drive, I shop at the by-the-pound store where almost everything is sold by weight. I’m never really sure how much anything costs, but I usually get a bag of stuff and pay about $20. This includes books, any cool household items and other weird stuff I find.
Best score in the odds and ends category - a Beswick china horse, no damage, for 25c, worth about $25
Last trip - two new woven wool 3 x 5 carpets for $3. not sure what the scoop is on these - they are still attached by the warp? weft? threads and faded on the good side, but bright on the other side.
Also bought a London Fog faux sheepskin coat - $5 This is my nice enough to wear to work coat.
Joe Fresh down jacket - almost didn’t buy it because I thought it was too small, then slipped it on and it fit. Great dog walking coat and super lightweight so I probably paid only $1 or $2 for it.
Silk scarves. I love the long thin 70s style scarves and scoop them up when I see them, and since they weigh almost nothing, cost the same.
I wish I could find more quality vintage clothing, but I’m a bit too big these days, though I did find a beautifully tailored suit a few years back.
I didn’t need any clothes, but I purged my closets. I realized a bunch of people will be really happy to find some barely-worn women’s plus-sized clothing for themselves in the new year. Just as happy as I am to have the closet space!
I did need a XXL men’s polo in black a few weeks ago, in short notice. Wal Mart had none, Old Navy had none. I could not think of anywhere within a 20 mile radius to get one. I ended up getting an AMAZING one - plenty roomy, plenty long AND the perfect fabric (I needed it to work in, so I didn’t want to be hot) - for $3 at Goodwill. So stoked
I also went to this second-hand toy sale and found half of a toy for which I had the other half. I bought the half for $7 and sold all the pieces together on eBay for $40. Zoom!
Hooray for thrift stores. We went to Monterey a few weeks ago, and trawled the thrift stores there and in Pacific Grove. We got a toaster oven that looks new for $20 and a vacuum cleaner for $30 for our daughter who is moving back from Germany. Plus thrift stores feed my jigsaw puzzle habit for $1 - $3 a pop.
My wife discovered that Palm Springs has some great thrift stores, if you are ever down that way. High quality stuff for almost nothing.
MilliCal has been working at the local Salvation Army store for a few months, and just before Christmas they had a party where she and a guest could pick out clothes, free of charge. She found several greatr dresses, including one she plans to use for her Prom. I found a Brooks Brothers shirt in m y size, a pair of jeans, a tie, and a belt in my size. I also found a copy of the complete audiobook of The Fellowship of the Ring, thus completing my bought-on-the-cheap edition of Lord of the Rings (although I had to pay for that one.)
I found a cashmere sweater, from Scotland, so heavy it’s almost too hot to wear, for $4. My down jacket is Eddie Bauer. I have three full length down coats from the thrift store, one is Company Store. Tons of yarn for $1 a skein. A $200 dollhouse kit for $20. I always seem to miss bag sale day. Everything that fits in a grocery sack for $1.
About a month ago I was at Goodwill and in a cardboard box was a jumble of brand new Nikes in varying colors and designs for $3.00 per pair. They only had three pairs in my size, and they’re mine now. I checked what they cost online; one pair retailed for $69.95, the other two for about $100. That was a pretty good score.
I also have a like-new Le Sac shoulder bag I bought for $5.00, I didn’t know they were A Thing until someone said “ooh, a Le Sac.” Umm OK. It’s my dress-up go out bag now.
I find a lot of used books in thrift stores, sometimes recently-published. Paperbacks about a quarter each, hardbacks about a buck. And I have a thing for hand-painted flowery china which is usually dirt cheap. I have quite a collection but don’t know if any are worth much.
I work in a thrift store, and my recent shopping wasn’t quite as spectacular, but still nice. In about the last week, I’ve bought four pairs of jeans, a sweater (for me), and two brand-new dress shirts (for DH), for $34 of the $45 in store credit I’ve recently been given ($25 for cashier of the month, $20 for Christmas).
On a side note, allow me to express gratitude on behalf of thrift stores everywhere for clean, good-condition donations in sellable condition. As for some of the stuff I’ve sorted, with rips and tears, dried-on food (or worse, such as the underwear with dried blood!), mildew, etc., that just costs us to weed out and dispose of, I’m trying to be grateful for good intent.
Yeah, I read about people with scanners they use to check the value of books and the like, and near brawls whenever a new bin of stuff was brought out.
Trust me, this is NOT fiction. I have personally witnessed the scanner thing, and the resellers badgering employees or trying to get into the back to get dibs on “new” stuff.
A few years ago, I was in a Salvation Army store (I was in an acting class and I needed a specific piece of clothing for the role, and I found it!) and there was a group of teenaged boys who were looking through the vintage Hawaiian shirts to find things to wear to their prom. They were enjoying the experience.
I didn’t score at the store, I scored at my mom’s house (that just sounds so wrong).
My mom is a hoarder and seems to be actually ready to make some changes. I spent 3 hours today helping her to clear out coats. Yes, just coats.
She kept about 10 coats for herself. My stepfather kept 3.
I filled to nearly overflowing the entire back of my Ford Focus wagon (this is with the back seat folded down) and gave it to the veteran’s shelter.
I scored a down filled Ralph Lauren winter coat, an Eddie Bauer windbreaker, and a totally generic but really soft and warm zip-up bathrobe.
My mom had asked me to donate the stuff to Savers but if I gave it to either of the stores in Worcester, there is the potential that she’d buy them back. I am so glad I remembered the Veteran’s shelter. My mom feels better having them all out of the house and knowing she helped out veterans (especially since she is one herself) makes her feel even better, which is definitely something she needs. I think that added positive feeling about the whole situation helped to prepare us for our clothing clean out on Saturday.
I did stop by Petco today to take advantage of the $1 per gallon sale. I bought a 10 gallon tank for my betta Rincewind. He seems a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
I have an AMVETS, goodwill and city mission store withing a small radius. Hardcover books $.79 paperback 3/dollar. I buy all sorts I’d never otherwise read. Even just to skim through a few chapters or discover authors I’d never heard of.
I restore antiques as part of my buisness. I find kitchy brass candlesticks for less than a buck, spend about 10 minutes polishing them on a buffer and sell them for $5-15 each. Not often, but about a dozen in the last 2 years.
That’s where I get a lot of books, too (also garage sales in summer). Thanks to this thread, it has finally occurred to me that I can take the books I don’t want any longer back to the thrift stores.
I usually wash my stuff before I donate it - it’s good to know that that’s appreciated.
I think our best find so far was a very expensive, nearly new baseball glove for about a dollar. From a thrift store in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, no less. I do love finding a practically new, name brand piece of clothing for next to nothing in a thrift store, though, especially since women’s clothing is tremendously overpriced in retail stores.
