I've been buying a lot of clothes at the thrift shop lately.

[bamademo]

I volunteer at a park on a mountain here in Huntsville, Al to clear trails. I've not had the appropriate gear to hike and keep warm during the cold wet winter months and since I'll probably be laid off March 31 I haven't wanted to pay a lot of money for clothes (plus I'm overweight and losing). I've gone to a couple of thrift stores and I've scored some incredible shit. Yesterday, I found a Columbia waterproof jacket with a hood and deep pockets that hold a cell phone, camera, hairbrush and a wallet in zip pockets and brand new Timberland boots in exactly my size. The boots were $8.98 and the jacket was $5.99. The week before, I bought some brand new designer knit shirts (3) for $2.98 each.

I used to buy designer all the time. I bought on sale but I bought from department stores. But during the Bush years, I became progressively poorer.
Maybe my income will creep back up again if I don't get laid off at March 31.

[uppityperson]

1. Glad you are finding deals. I used to buy a lot of clothes at thrift shops but have stopped.

I can't afford thrift shop clothes except for absolute necessities (like your winter clothing). I have not been fashionable for yrs, and now am even less. No new thrift store clothes even. Mending my socks more also too.

[awoke_in_2003]

34. It may be blasphemy...

(well, it is with my wife) but don't use bleach in your whites- it helps make the cotton more brittle over time. Might lessen the amount of repairs you have to do.

[Obamanaut]

35. And you don't need a specialty product to remove "ring around the

collar. Any cheap shampoo will do the trick just as well.

[bamademo]

38. I only bleach my whites when I spill red wine on them...

If's it frequent, then I know I'm drinking too much.

[awoke_in_2003]

39. red wine

is good for the heart

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I bought 90% of the clothes my kids wore while they were growing up at thrift shops

And just last weekend I got a really nice skirt for $3 at a new thrift shop.

[GentryDixon]

3. The Mormon Church operates

a thrift store called Deseret Industries. I would think if there is a Mormon population where you live there would be one of these stores. Their clothes are sold for next to nothing. I understand the reluctance of some to "support" the Church by buying from them, but they do a great deal of charity work around the globe.

Just a thought.

[lumpy]

17. I have shopped Deseret. They make sure the clothes are in

clean, good condition and mend any defects.

[Fireweed247]

24. I like church thrift shops

I find the Goodwill and Salvation Army to be getting kinda expensive(for a thrift shop) and they have way too many rules. Just try to find something without a price and ask to buy it...they freak "I'm not authorized to price brick a brack" and they take it away or " we have to send this back to the main store for pricing" when ALL of the shirts are the exact same price!? Church thrift shops seem to be in it just to help people. They give everything away for 25 cents. So I give all my stuff to the church thrift stores knowing they will pass it on to someone in need basically for free.

[pansypoo53219]

4. i get great sweaters at 'my' thrift shop.

and ebayables. i can't do 'real' shopping anymore. just thrift and estate. i am a rabid recycler. tho i knit my best sweaters. it's amazing what nice stuff can be found.

[Warpy]

5. Thrift shop deals kept me going for years when I was poor

although I made few designer scores. NM is a very poor state and designers don't sell a whole lot here.

Now I'm a donor. I feel it's my job to keep them going, to provide things for people who are now as poor as I once was.

I miss the fun of rummaging through the racks, though. I hate shopping, so I just order enough stuff online to keep me from getting arrested for indecent exposure.

I'm now getting poorer again, thanks to conservative economics and the end game that is going to make us all desperate to varying degrees over the next few years.

Maybe I'll be back there whether or not I want to go.

[gauguin57]

6. I just bought two nice shirts at Goodwill ... one a nice, warm sweater to get me through the chill

You can also get paperbacks of the classics REALLY cheap at thrift stores.

[Muttocracy]

7. for me, one sign of the economic downturn starting ~2000 was less good stuff at Goodwill

When the economy was booming, people were dumping good clothes, replacing their furniture and household goods, etc. I got amazing stuff at charity sales and Goodwill. That started to dry up all the sudden, and I expect it will soon.

[eilen]

21. With all the foreclosures

donations might go up as people don't have space to put their stuff anymore.

[Muttocracy]

29. good point - people downsizing. yard sales might also yield good stuff. nt

[my2sense]

8. Me too

I bought a designer dress a few days ago at a consignment shop for $16.00. I've started shopping thrift and consignment stores as well - some good deals out there.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. I'm lucky

I have so much, and I've taken to de-accumulating lately, getting rid of stuff that's not really necessary. I want a more streamlined life.

I made friends with one of the maintenance people who works around here. Colombian, a very hard-working woman with an extended family mostly dependent on her. All ages in her family.

So I go through a closet and I stack up all the things that otherwise would have gone to Goodwill and I give them to her directly for her family members. If they can't use them, or don't especially like some items, they pass them to friends.

It works for me. This is my idea of trickle-down, with no middle man.

[riderinthestorm]

11. I recently moved in July and unloaded a LOT of stuff at Goodwill.

Truckloads of stuff that we'd stored/saved/used at our old place that just wasn't gonna work at the new place. Now I find myself drifting back to Goodwill (and other thrift stores) to get the stuff that works in the NEW place.

My kids have ALWAYS known I get a lot of their clothing from thrift stores and garage sales etc. After going with me for years now they willingly, eagerly, go to Platos Closet and other resale shops if I give them $100 to buy fall school clothes. They know they can buy 10 "brand name" items for that $100 at a resale shop vs. 1 "new" item at the actual shop. Some of this stuff still has tags on it. My kids are small sizes (a size 0 and a size 4) which means they score the stuff that parents bought for their kids and it's just too damn small. Instead of being smart and returning it, the kids just didn't. And then it ends up at the resale shop.

Brand new. And $2 or less.

I can't tell you the last time I shopped at a retail store. Between Craigslist, thrift stores and Ebay - never again. You can find brand new items for a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

Score.

[htuttle]

10. Scored my winter jacket at at St Vincent de Paul thrift store a few blocks from me

They had a leather coat sale this Fall and I bought a decent insulated leather jacket for around $30. I've been shopping at second hand stores for ages. I think the only new clothing I've bought in about 10 years are underwear and socks...

I check there for kitchenware regularly, too. I got a half dozen yellow compartmented school lunch trays last year for $1.25 each. I make a lot of Indian food, so they come in handy (online, Indian thalis are about $10-$12 each)

I don't want to encourage anyone else to frequent a thrift/second hand store since I don't want any more competition! But frankly, only a snob would avoid checking one of them out if it was nearby.

[undeterred]

30. Yesterday I was at the dog park

and someone asked a lady where she got the coat- she said St. Vinnies, and it was only $14! The person was asking about her DOG's coat so we all had a laugh. Apparently they do not have dog coats at St. Vinnies but some pretty good human ones. I go to the goodwill store at East Towne myself, but so far I've just gotten pants and sweaters. They don't have kitchen stuff though, so I will probably be making a visit to Willy St. soon!

[Catshrink]

12. My mother taught me how to shop...

and I hit the Goodwill on alternate Saturdays. Those are 50% off days so I can pick up jeans for $4/pair, slacks for $3.50, and shirts for $2-3 depending on whether they are long or short sleeved. Better quality might be $5. A pair of Naturalizer shoes for $2.50 and a pair of kick ass, purple, girlie girl cowboy boots for my niece for $10 -- never worn.

I've been losing weight and these are my transition clothes. I cringe when I go to a department store and see the prices. After going to Goodwill, even Ross, TJMaxx, and Marshall's seem expensive.

I also buy other stuff -- for Obama's inauguration I needed champagne flutes -- 75 cents each. I bought some flatware and dishes for our workroom, maybe $5 for all of it.

It's freaking amazing!

I am my mother's daughter. Yes indeed.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. I prefer thrift shop clothes

You can still find garments made in the USA there.

[Catshrink]

20. Exactly...

[Fireweed247]

25. yes, and better quality

fabrics were much thicker only a few years ago.

[littlebit]

14. That's awesome

My gf found a new pair of Nine West heels at a Salvation Army store a few weeks ago. She only paid $10 for them. We love shopping at thrift stores. It's like going on a treasure hunt every time we go.

[bamademo]

15. I forgot to add that I found clothes with this label International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union

I'd forgotten about that.

[MarianJack]

16. I Live in Augusta, Maine.

Close to us in a town called Winthrop, and there is a thrift shop there that is ONE OF THE ONLY places I've been able to find in Maine where I can get pants my size. Good ones, too!

BTW, Good luck to you. I was out of work from 3/12/08 until 1/2/09. It really sucked. We were able to get by, but I never want to go through that again. I hope that you don't have to go through it AT ALL!


PEACE!

[Maine-ah]

28. Hey, Marian!

haven't seen you in a long time here.

we have a new thrift shop I keep meaning to stop by at. Maybe I'll do that this week.

[MarianJack]

32. Hay, back.

I've been away periodically. I might have to do so again. Victim of the bush economy, you know.

However, things are looking up for the family. Also, a new chapter in American History started a few days ago!

PEACE!

[Gormy Cuss]

31. If you ever go down to Ptld, the Goodwill is a pretty nice store.

Salvation Army isn't bad either.

[MarianJack]

33. Thanx, Gormy Cuss,...

...but how do you know about the thrift stores in Portland from CA? Are you a Mainer who moved? My wife and I are Philadelphians who moved here in 02.

PEACE!

[Gormy Cuss]

36. Ayuh.

Still have family in Southern ME (and Augusta too!)

[MarianJack]

37. WICKED Nice News!

[janx]

18. It's hip to go "thrifting."

My daughter and her best friend do it all the time, as I do. There are some things I won't buy used--regular shoes, underwear, jeans, etc., but I have found some great clothes at Thriftown. I'm not exactly a fashion freak anyway, but man, I've found some beautiful sweaters, shirts, and dresses at Thriftown. People have complimented me on these clothes. In many cases, the clothes have designer labels.

People who are in dire financial straits aren't the only ones who buy from thrift stores! My friend Beth is my no means poor, but she shops at Thriftown from time to time. Fiscal conservatism, baby!

Times are tough here now, but when they get better I'll still check out Thriftown. The fashion trends at department stores get boring; who wants to look like everyone else? It's much more fun to put stuff together.

I'm glad you scored some good quality clothing. Columbia gear will last. Good job!

[Jersey Ginny]

19. Got a great pair of snow boots for my son last week

Only 8.50 and they'll last through next winter!

[eilen]

22. the money stays in the community too. nt

[madrchsod]

23. i buy all my clothes at the local thrift shops

i won a free pair of new blue jeans 3 years ago....that`s the last new clothing "purchase" i`ve made

[Fireweed247]

26. A great way to recycle

There is already so much STUFF in America, we don't need to buy more crap from China, just pass around the stuff we already have to the people who need it.

I also like ebay. You can go to ebay and find clothing lots for really cheap, great deals on winter gear etc. and you know you are helping out other Americans who are just trying to make a little extra income to get by. Today I bought some book lots from a mom who is raising money for her kid's college fund.

[earth mom]

27. I love to thrift shop and I just cleared out a bunch of clothes to donate.

But I have to say that I haven't found much the past few times I've gone thrifting. I've also been looking for household stuff on Craigslist lately and the pickings are slim.

I think people are hanging on to their good stuff right now because they can't afford to replace it.