Do you shop at places like Goodwill instead of $ stores?

Question

I find myself spending less money. There are so many dust collectors and yardsale items that it makes me think before purchasing anything.

Answer 1

Sometimes I think I live at the thrift stores. I buy high-dollar name-brand stuff for just a few dollars. I have raised 5 boys, and they didn't even know their clothes came from thrift stores for many years. They always had the kool labels, and the stuff I buy looks like new. It absolutely kills me to pay department store prices when I know the mark-up is so high. Then there's all the household stuff for pennies on the dollar. I used to have a bumper sticker that said: this car stops at all yard sales!

Answer 2

I can't go into our Goodwill store, because the place is so dusty it sets off my asthma. But I do shop at Salvation Army and all our other thrift shops when I can get there.

I never pay more than a dollar for a purse; and i've got some really nice purses. I pay about $3 or $4 for a blouse, and not more than $6 for a skirt or dress or pair of slacks or jeans. I buy household goods, such as glasses, coffee mugs, bowls, placemats, rugs, towels, sheets, knick-knacks, yarn, knitting needles. Well, the list is almost endless. I won't buy shoes or any undergarments or night clothes. other than that, if it is unstained and in good shape, I buy it, take it home and wash it and use it.

I also have just about any pyrex baking dish you can imagine that I picked up in various shops. They are a good place to find butcher knives, paring knives, odd pots and pans. I bought an iron skillet for $4. I haven't bought a new baking pan in ages because i can get them like new in the thrift shops for next to nothing.

Answer 3

I came to the realization that even when I had a closet full of clothes, I only used the same four or five shirts and pants.

I've donated the remainder of my closet to goodwill, and now will replace the item that has worn out with a similar item. I purchase these items from a store. If there is an item I'm looking for that does not serve a specific purpose or I won't wear often, I look at the goodwill first. Ebay is also another source for good used items.

Answer 4

I go with a group of girls, we have a great time shopping, trying on the clothes and making a cheap outfit for the weekend.
Not only does it take an evening we have fun and shop for cute items that are so resonable prices.

I then give the items I recieve as gifts from the store to goodwill so that they can be used by others.

I love to shop for the books there are some great books.

Answer 5

Absolutely. But only for certain items, due to my meager budget (which started me shopping at 2nd hand stores years ago) and the necessity of not wasting my money on items that shouldn't be resold or should be bought new for best value.
First and most common are clothing. I have been shopping at large second hand stores long enough to know which ones have the best quality/variety for my size in dress, pants, tops. I don't buy clothing that I truly can't use or wash easily or just because it's only 99 cents.
I do find good bargains in these places and the desk I'm at now is beautiful wooden office furniture with a hydraulic chair with armrests. Both cost $80.00 because it was at the end of the storewide weekend sale and I came in before closing and they negotiated with me.
I have no patience for going to yard sales, because I live in a rural area nor do I hold yard sales, because the city has to give a permit. Instead, when I want to thin out my no-longer needed-or wanted household items, I take it to my favorite Thrift Store and instead of a straight donation, I barter for a swap. But generally, I'm not there to get as much as I swapped: I want to give them the best of my trades so they can make money and it pays in small ways. I also like to bring my own plastic bags when I'm checking out my purchases, just to save them theirs, as sometimes I have noticed they have clean used plastic bags only, so that helps. Last, finding a shopping cart in a Goodwill or Salvation Army is impossible and so I try to also bring along my metal, folding shopping cart with wheels that fits in the back seat of my car. Very useful.

Answer 6

Honestly...no! I am the world's largest bargain shopper, primarily since my daughter, who is four, keeps growing. Since she was born, I buy most of her clothes on the clearance or sale racks. I end up getting these new clothes for the same price as consignment or Goodwill shops. Another thing I find helpful is I buy things at the end of the season. Typically a store starts changing into another season while you are in the midst of the current season. Great deals there. I also buy one or two sizes larger than she is in on the staples like jeans for next year. I would rather have the newer clothes then give them down the line to my nieces and friends. Just a thought.

Answer 7

The majority of my clothes I get the most compliments on came from GoodWill or Salvation Army and I only spent pennies to purchase them. They have many of the styles I like that you just can't find in a retail store anymore. I also donate to these places when I clean my closet out every season. I recently bought a brand new pair of jeans at a store...on sale for $30...and for the life of me, I can't figure out why I did it. They're no better than what I could have gotten at GW or SA so retail is out for me now. I'd rather spend less and bring home more!

Answer 8

I usually shop at goodwill for clothes for my kids to play in, and I also like to shop but end up not using what I buy and like every 3 months I'll go threw mine and my kids closets and find tuns of clothes that we don't use or don't need and I donate them, a lot of my clothes still have the tags on them. I could take them back to the store but why I already used the money I would rather help someone with a lil less. GOOD ?

Answer 9

YOu know Goodwill is a great place to start a new Kitchen out.. I find some great things at Goodwill... I also swing by the apartments I use to live at at the end of the month. It seem people that are moving out toss so much good furniture and alll sorts of things out in the trash. I've helped friends furnish their apartments. Lamps, couches, fish tank, Shoe racks, beach chairs.... Its kind of fun making the run thru each month....

Answer 10

All of my furniture is second hand. Either from relatives or pieces I've found at Goodwill and estate sales. The quality just can't be matched with the things they sell in stores today. I get compliments all the time on my furniture.

PS. I only take upholstered furniture from people I know.