Works-For-Me Wednesday: Thrift Stores

Here I go talking thrifty again (thrifty slowcooker recipes last week), but I did tell you that thriftiness is the new black!

I just love thrift stores. In fact, I limit how often I go because I would end up spending too much money! Maybe you are already a fan and take advantage of their great deals - good for you! But if you are somebody like I was just a few years ago, you don't really see the need as you find plenty of deals on the Target clearance rack and at the mall sales.

Well, some of my thrift store finds convinced me to change my ways. Things like: name brand clothing with the price tag still on, nicer brands of gently used clothing than I would ever buy brand new, super cheap prices, the thrill of the hunt, unopened Lego sets, beautiful teapots and teacups, cookbooks, an aluminum ladder, and much much more!

Mostly, I buy my son's clothes in thrift stores. If you have boys, you know how fast they wear out pants and jeans - they are brutal! I learned my lesson one day when I put a brand new pair of pants on my son and he fell on the sidewalk that day and tore a huge hole in one knee - bye-bye $20. My son now wears pants from the thrift stores - then I don't mind when he ruins them. And instead of discount store brands (which I still buy occasionally) he gets to wear Izod, Van Heusen, Polo, Gap, etc. I don't have to pay more than $3 for a pair of pants. And the lowest price I paid during a half-off sale was 18 cents for one pair!!

I also find lots of shirts and athletic clothes for my son. He likes to go with me so he can check for Lego and K'nex sets, science kits, board games, and books. If you have girls - you can find some modest clothing, and you can still afford to buy all kinds of things to use for dress-up.

Check out the thrift stores in your area. Good Will stores are always good, though each one is different and seems to have better selections of different categories at some. There are also many local thrift stores - my favorite is called Ecothrift. It's huge and offers half-off on certain items daily. Once you get used to shopping in them, you may find yourself in the middle of one questioning whether or not this shirt is really worth $4 ('cause you have paid as low as $1). It's quite amusing...

I do not have time to run around my house taking pics of all my great thrift store finds, but here are a few examples that were already stored in my computer:

Ralph Lauren Sweater........and........Rose Teapot

Pajamas........and........Bowl, Vase, Cake Stand, Leaf Candles

Teapot, Cups, Crate........and........K'Nex Roller Coaster

Have I tempted you to try out thrift stores? If you are already a thrift store shopper, what are your favorite finds?

Thrift store shopping works for me! Stop by Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works-For-Me-Wednesday tips!