You can get some great bargains shopping second hand, but if you want to find the real treasures you’ll have to know when to go. The day of the week and even the time of day can effect when the good stuff gets put out and how much you will pay for it. Days and times may vary for individual stores, but here are some general guidelines you can follow. Be sure to get to know the employees at your favorite stores, so you can get even more insider information. They may even hold certain items for you until you … Continue reading →

You can score some major deals by shopping at a thrift store. How about a brand new, large, crockpot in the box for $10 or girls designer dresses for only $2 each? These are a couple of my recent bargains. Of course, some finds are better than others. We have been burned in the past with things such as appliances that don’t work or jewelry that broke the minute we got it home. The past is the past, however, and now we are a lot smarter. We know exactly how to check thrift store items before we buy them, exactly … Continue reading →

If you haven’t heard of this thrift store within a thrift store, I would suggest that you do some research and check one out. Here is information about Goodwill Bargain Bin Stores, what to look for and how to shop them. Do it right, and you can save a ton! Last weekend, my family and I spent a couple of hours shopping at thrift stores. The first one that we visited was a Goodwill Bargain Bin Stores. These stores are very different from the regular Goodwill thrift stores. What I Scored Although prices were raised slightly from my last visit, … Continue reading →

On Sunday, I had a double blessing. It was both Mother’s Day and my birthday. My wonderful husband made reservations at a nicer restaurant for all of us, and I was pretty excited. After church, we had a little time before our seating, so we stopped by a local yard sale that was held over from the day before. As you can imagine, the sale was pretty abandoned and picked over, but my father, who was with us, found a few treasures. There was a large stock pot that I admired. Something that large would allow me to do a … Continue reading →

If you get the bug to redecorate, or just to add a bit of life and color in the form of artwork, try heading to the thrift store. Don’t worry, I’m not going to send you off to get framed paint by numbers artwork (unless you want a little kitsch in your kitchen). Instead, why not take a look at some common thrift store finds and use them in creative ways to make one of a kind statements that will have your guest think that you spent a fortune on your design. Frame It! All sorts of interesting things can … Continue reading →

By now you have figured out that shopping at thrift stores can really save you money. or maybe you have tried shopping the thrift stores and have been disappointed with selection or prices. Either way, take a look at some advanced thrift store tips that will help you net the real bargains, such as a brand new Barbie bike for $5 or 5 pairs of name brand jeans for $3. Know when to shop Because thrift stores have a changing inventory, it is important to know when to shop. If you want the best selection, shop during the week, preferably … Continue reading →

Thrift stores can be a mixed bag, and just as with retail stores, some of them are better than others. Andrea’s recent blog about dusty thrift stores and shopping the Goodwill online instead peaked my interest (I get that same jaw rashy thing from dust). Her advice and adaption for getting bargains despite her dust allergy is great. But, I wanted to offer some advice of my own. I personally don’t believe that thrift stores have to be dusty. In fact, I spotted more dust when I ate out at a local Olive Garden (I don’t think anyone ever touched … Continue reading →