If your image of a thrift store is a run-down, dirty, seedy little joint that no "respectable" personage would find themselves in - think again! Savvy shoppers, homemakers, artists, crafters, eBay'ers, antiques hunters, parents, home owners, home stagers, interior decorators, college students…everyone and anyone can benefit from making thrifting a part of their shopping routine.
Thrift stores vary greatly in size and types of items they sell. Depending on what you are looking for, one may suit you better over another. A good starting point would be to look in your phone book or do an online yellow pages search for your local area "thrift stores" and go for a visit to several.
The best known thrift stores are the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores. These organizations collect donations of household goods, clothing, electronics, appliances, furniture, toys, etc., and resell the items in their stores. The proceeds from store sales benefit their various charity programs. So, you not only save money when you shop there, you also help someone in need. What's better than that?
There are also for-profit, smaller, "mom and pop" thrift stores and consignment shops around as well, and these sometimes specialize in certain types of goods – such as children's clothing and toys, or finer women's fashion.
What are some fabulous thrift store finds? Here are a few:
Furniture – Often, solid wood, quality crafted furniture can be found for a steal. If you are handy with some sandpaper and stain or paint, you can make it good as new and give it your personal touch. Or, maybe you just need some cheap shelves for your basement storage room, or a small desk for a student laptop, or you want a unique piece to use as a TV stand.
Art Work – Yes! Paintings and prints for home décor. You may find a fabulous piece of art work for your wall or you may just love the frame it comes in, to repurpose for your own art. Again, a little paint or stain can turn an eye sore in a thing of beauty.
Fashion – Especially high-end labels, business suits, formal wear, and expensive fabrics such as wool, silks, leather, etc. Often, the larger stores even have a section for "better" or "boutique" clothing items, to make it easier to find the high end stuff. Find everything from retro chic to the latest trends, just in! Out of style formal wear can be altered by a skilled seamstress, for a modern, sophisticated look. Get a "semi-couture" gown for less than an off-the-rack special at the department store. Plus, old cotton t-shirts and flannel shirts are great for cutting up into dusting rags, or polishing rags for your car.
Craft Supplies – Excellent source for lots of fabrics and other crafting materials. Heavy weave, thick curtains make excellent fabric for re-upholstering that old chair. Buy old blue jeans and make fun purses or throw pillows. Of course, the variety of fabric to be found is a quilters dream! But don't forget, you can also find a variety of glassware, mirrors, lamps and lamp shades, tassles, baskets, beads (on fashion jewlery), sequined fabric…shop with your creative eye open.
Home Décor – Blankets, throw pillows, curtains, vases, planter pots, fancy bowls, lamps and lanterns, crystal, silver platters and silver sets, throw rugs, etc., can be found in great condition – just a little cleaning up and they are good as new.
Kitchen Stuff – Cooking gadgets, small appliances, canisters, china and stoneware, and glassware are some great finds for your kitchen. Of course, steer clear of any rusted or scratched metal pans or metal utensils.
Electronics – Just want an extra TV for the kids' playroom? Or need an actual VHS player for your older movies? You might even find a good MP3 player, used cell phone, stereo and/or speakers, an older PC, used video games and game consoles. Some cool "retro" electronics can be found as well, such as 8-track players, reel-to-reel players, antique radio cabinets. Look around for an inexpensive gem.
Children's and Teens Clothing – They grow like weeds, don't they?! Get so much more for so much less, especially when they are going to grow out of it in 6 months to a year. Excellent for staples like blue jeans, t-shirts, dresses, slacks, dress shirts, blouses, sweaters, sweat shirts, and coats. A great speciality thrift store for teenagers is Plato's Closet. There is one in Maryland in Towson. They specialize in the trendy fashion clothing your picky teens want.
Maternity Clothing – Nine months is a long time, but it's not forever. A woman can spend a fortune just trying to have enough basics to wear during her pregnancy, and at a time when saving money for the new baby is usually a high priority, saving money on good, used maternity clothing makes sense.
Stuff for Pets – Older throw pillows, huge floor pillows, and old blankets make great pet bedding. Old stuffed animals can be pet toys (if yours is not a "shredder"). A toddler mattress can work as a bed for a large dog. Old towels are handy for cleaning up pet messes. Don't use your good ones!
New Items – Yes, new-with-tags items can be found at the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, as local retailers will sometimes donate goods they couldn't sell and take the charitable tax deduction instead. These are hit or miss deals, and change constantly. Usually, there is a "New Goods" section.
Toys, Books, Movies, Music – Some stores have sections for these items, and you can find some good stuff when you search through the very eclectic selection.
How to Thrift Store Shop:
1. Go often. Find the stores you like the best, and go often (I like to stop in once a week). This doesn't mean you need to buy something every time you are there, but these stores restock frequently, and it is literally never the same selection twice. Find out what days of the week they usually put out the newest items, to get the first dibs on the best stuff.
2. Keep a running list of the types of things you want to find, to help you stay focused. It can be overwhelming to walk into a large thrift store with so many items and such low prices. It is easy to kill a few hours in there, and walk out with way too much stuff and a headache! (I know this from personal experience).
3. Inspect the item carefully. Thrift store sales are as-is, and it is the purchasers responsibility to determine if the item is good for their purposes.
4. Remember to donate your goods! As long as you are making the trip to the thrift store, such as Goodwill or Salvation Army, take along a bag or a box of stuff to donate. Do this at least a couple times a year, and get your tax-deductible receipt. Now, not only are you saving money on what you buy, but you are getting your home decluttered and getting a tax deduction. It's an all around win-win situation.
5. Have fun! Get your shopping fix without blowing your budget, and enjoy your treasure hunting experience.
October 5, 2009
June 9, 2009
Save Money by Making Your Own Soda!
SODA-CLUB: AN INTRODUCTION
Sleek and stylish, the home soda maker is a countertop appliance about the size of a coffeemaker that transforms water into fresh, fizzy seltzer/sparkling water at the push of a button. Soda makers operate without batteries, electricity or plumbing, so they are simple to use in a kitchen and great for bringing along on a boat, RV or to a second home. Making seltzer and soda takes just seconds and requires no clean-up.
A reusable, one-liter carbonating bottle (provided by Soda-Club) is filled with water and screwed into the machine fitting. A CO2 carbonator, housed inside the soda maker, adds carbonation at the touch of a button – as much or as little as the consumer prefers. After carbonating the water, the soda drinker simply adds a capful from one of over 25 sodamix flavors to make his or her favorite, great-tasting soda.
Despite recently arriving in the US market, Soda-Club is the global leader of in-home carbonation. Over the past decade, Soda-Club’s home soda makers and soda-making accessories have been sold into over 10 million households in 18 countries around the world. In fact, it is estimated that over 800 million liters of water are carbonated with Soda-Club’s system worldwide each year.
BENEFITS OF FRESHLY MADE SODA AND SELTZER
With a home soda maker, a household will save in many ways - save trips to the store, save lugging and storage, save the environment, save sugar and sodium…and save money!
With Soda-Club, soda stays fizzy, thanks to a special hermetic seal in the carbonating bottle caps. That means no more flat, wasted soda. A home soda maker and concentrated sodamix flavors means no more lugging and storing soda. Each bottle of sodamix is about the size of a can of soda but contains enough syrup to make 12 one-liter bottles (about 36 cans) of soda. So, Soda-Club is great for families and for anyone with tight space, including RVers, boaters, college students and urban dwellers.
Soda-Club seltzer/sparkling water has several advantages over store-bought. First, the carbonation can be customized. Secondly, seltzer/sparkling water made with a Soda-Club machine contains no sodium, unlike many store-bought brands. A Soda-Club household will save as much as 50% over store-bought seltzer/sparkling water.
Soda-Club sodas are a sensible alternative to store-bought sodas. Soda-Club’s regular sodamix flavors have 2/3 less sugar, calories, carbs and sodium than regular store-bought soda. Diet flavors are of course sugar-free, contain less sodium than store-bought diet flavors and contain no aspartame – all diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener.
And finally, soda and seltzer households will save money with Soda-Club. Seltzer starts at just 17 cents per liter; soda starts at just 42 cents per liter. Soda-Club even offers an Energy Drink sodamix that consumers can make for about 25 cents per serving (compared to $1.99 per serving in the store.) Soda-Club is an even greater value when you consider that you’ll stop pouring money down the drain with flat, wasted bottles of store-bought soda. And no more lost deposit fees for customers in bottle bill states. Plus, you’ll help the environment by cutting down on all those cases of store-bought cans and bottles.
The above text copied from SodaClub site, for your information.
Shop SodaClub by clicking on banner below!
Sleek and stylish, the home soda maker is a countertop appliance about the size of a coffeemaker that transforms water into fresh, fizzy seltzer/sparkling water at the push of a button. Soda makers operate without batteries, electricity or plumbing, so they are simple to use in a kitchen and great for bringing along on a boat, RV or to a second home. Making seltzer and soda takes just seconds and requires no clean-up.
A reusable, one-liter carbonating bottle (provided by Soda-Club) is filled with water and screwed into the machine fitting. A CO2 carbonator, housed inside the soda maker, adds carbonation at the touch of a button – as much or as little as the consumer prefers. After carbonating the water, the soda drinker simply adds a capful from one of over 25 sodamix flavors to make his or her favorite, great-tasting soda.
Despite recently arriving in the US market, Soda-Club is the global leader of in-home carbonation. Over the past decade, Soda-Club’s home soda makers and soda-making accessories have been sold into over 10 million households in 18 countries around the world. In fact, it is estimated that over 800 million liters of water are carbonated with Soda-Club’s system worldwide each year.
BENEFITS OF FRESHLY MADE SODA AND SELTZER
With a home soda maker, a household will save in many ways - save trips to the store, save lugging and storage, save the environment, save sugar and sodium…and save money!
With Soda-Club, soda stays fizzy, thanks to a special hermetic seal in the carbonating bottle caps. That means no more flat, wasted soda. A home soda maker and concentrated sodamix flavors means no more lugging and storing soda. Each bottle of sodamix is about the size of a can of soda but contains enough syrup to make 12 one-liter bottles (about 36 cans) of soda. So, Soda-Club is great for families and for anyone with tight space, including RVers, boaters, college students and urban dwellers.
Soda-Club seltzer/sparkling water has several advantages over store-bought. First, the carbonation can be customized. Secondly, seltzer/sparkling water made with a Soda-Club machine contains no sodium, unlike many store-bought brands. A Soda-Club household will save as much as 50% over store-bought seltzer/sparkling water.
Soda-Club sodas are a sensible alternative to store-bought sodas. Soda-Club’s regular sodamix flavors have 2/3 less sugar, calories, carbs and sodium than regular store-bought soda. Diet flavors are of course sugar-free, contain less sodium than store-bought diet flavors and contain no aspartame – all diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener.
And finally, soda and seltzer households will save money with Soda-Club. Seltzer starts at just 17 cents per liter; soda starts at just 42 cents per liter. Soda-Club even offers an Energy Drink sodamix that consumers can make for about 25 cents per serving (compared to $1.99 per serving in the store.) Soda-Club is an even greater value when you consider that you’ll stop pouring money down the drain with flat, wasted bottles of store-bought soda. And no more lost deposit fees for customers in bottle bill states. Plus, you’ll help the environment by cutting down on all those cases of store-bought cans and bottles.
The above text copied from SodaClub site, for your information.
Shop SodaClub by clicking on banner below!
May 28, 2009
What to Do with Doggie Doo?
I learned something today! Always a good day when that happens. While green cleaning, and listening to one of my favorite Podcasts from Itunes, "The Dog Trainer's Quick and Dirty Tips", Episode 008, I was suprised to learn about the environmental impact of our poochies poo!
Now, I had actually considered the fact that picking up dog poo with plastic bags and then throwing it in the trash probably wasn't the greenest way to do it. I mean, I could just imagine my dog's poop being forever "preserved" in a landfill somewhere and it gave me the creeps. So...I was thrilled when I found these biodegradable doggie bags at a pet store. They were pricey, considering their job, but I figured I needed to make this change.
Then "The Dog Trainer" explained how to decide what to do with the poo. In summary, she says that if your trash goes to a traditional landfill, it will be buried in an anaerobic environment and will not break down, likely, in our lifetime. Therefore, if I plan to throw the poo in the trash, and this is where it goes, there is no point in using those expensive "biodegradeable" bags that simply won't break down in a landfill, because virtually nothing does. And, of course, using regular plastic bags doesn't help things either. Why am I going to use a petroleum-based product for a task as remedial as handling doggie doo? Also, should the landfill fail to be air tight/water tight, the bacteria from the feces could escape into our ground water. Yuck! So, what are greener and safer options?
According to The Dog Trainer, if you have a backyard, you may be able to incorporate it into your composte and use on non-food plants in your yard. However, you have to check with local ordinances to see if this is even allowed. The simplest, best way (and I could kick myself for not thinking of it) is to do the same thing with the dog poo as we'd do with our own - FLUSH IT down the toilet. Use common sense, and not too much at once and not the petrified (hardened) stuff. You can use trash paper or a scooper to pick it up and toss it in the bowl. The toilet water goes to a waste treatment plant meant for handling this kind of waste, without harming the environment or the health of the community.
Now, I had actually considered the fact that picking up dog poo with plastic bags and then throwing it in the trash probably wasn't the greenest way to do it. I mean, I could just imagine my dog's poop being forever "preserved" in a landfill somewhere and it gave me the creeps. So...I was thrilled when I found these biodegradable doggie bags at a pet store. They were pricey, considering their job, but I figured I needed to make this change.
Then "The Dog Trainer" explained how to decide what to do with the poo. In summary, she says that if your trash goes to a traditional landfill, it will be buried in an anaerobic environment and will not break down, likely, in our lifetime. Therefore, if I plan to throw the poo in the trash, and this is where it goes, there is no point in using those expensive "biodegradeable" bags that simply won't break down in a landfill, because virtually nothing does. And, of course, using regular plastic bags doesn't help things either. Why am I going to use a petroleum-based product for a task as remedial as handling doggie doo? Also, should the landfill fail to be air tight/water tight, the bacteria from the feces could escape into our ground water. Yuck! So, what are greener and safer options?
According to The Dog Trainer, if you have a backyard, you may be able to incorporate it into your composte and use on non-food plants in your yard. However, you have to check with local ordinances to see if this is even allowed. The simplest, best way (and I could kick myself for not thinking of it) is to do the same thing with the dog poo as we'd do with our own - FLUSH IT down the toilet. Use common sense, and not too much at once and not the petrified (hardened) stuff. You can use trash paper or a scooper to pick it up and toss it in the bowl. The toilet water goes to a waste treatment plant meant for handling this kind of waste, without harming the environment or the health of the community.
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