Thrift Stores – Fun and Fabulous!

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.