Tag Archives: thrift store

What is Deseret Industries?

Deseret Industries is the thrift store that is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s a non-profit organization that was started in 1938 as a way for members of the Church to recycle their unwanted goods and for those goods to find homes where they would be most needed. Today, there are almost fifty stores scattered across the western United States. The mission of Deseret Industries is three-fold. First, the stores provide jobs to those who need training in a vocation or who might find it difficult to find job placement elsewhere, due to … Continue reading →

Goodwill Offers and Finds

Do you shop at the Goodwill? Here are some of the finds that were available Saturday at my local Goodwill. Thrift stores can be an adventure to shop. There is always something interesting to find. This past Saturday was no exception. It had been a while since we went shopping at the Goodwill. Usually we only go when we have a good amount of items to donate ourselves. The last time went visited was back in December, when we had a ton of items to offer. A lot of other people had the same idea, getting those donations in by … Continue reading →

The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 1

When you are shopping for something new, consider buying it used instead. Many items can be purchased “like new” for a fraction of the cost. Since I am a parent of three young children, I have a lot of experience with buying toys, both new and used. And for toys, used is the best bet 90 percent of the time. Kids quickly grow out of their toys or become disenchanted with them. Then parents get rid of the old toys and buy a bunch of new toys. Made of plastic, most toys are easy to clean and disinfect. Here are … Continue reading →

Holiday Thrift Store Deals

The holidays are a great time to check out your local thrift stores. Here are some reasons why you’ll find some great treasures this time of year, and how you can take advantage of the deals. If you have never shopped in a thrift store before, take the opportunity to do so now. That is because the month of December is an especially great time to go treasure hunting. Why? Well, for a number of reasons. You will find a large array of merchandise as people are rushing to get their donations dropped off so they can claim the items … Continue reading →

Removing Price Labels

Believe it or not, stubborn price labels can cost you money. Removing them is easy, if you know how. There are two ways that price labels can cost people money. One way is that many people throw out items, believe it or not, if they incorrectly remove a stubborn price label and damage an object. The other way that stubborn labels can cost money is when they prevent you from purchasing a bargain piece just because you know that you’ll never get that label off easily. Two places that difficult labels tend to pop up are also the two places … Continue reading →

A Frugal Secret: Bakery Thrift Stores

Finding out where your closest bakery thrift store is located is definitely worth the trouble. Here is why. What is a bakery thrift store? Don’t worry, it isn’t a place where used second-hand bread is sold! Instead it is a great place, where you can purchase high quality, fresh bread and bakery products that are generally 50 percent or more off of the prices for the same products that are sold in the stores. What is sold at a bakery thrift store? Basically, you can find any fresh baked goods that you would normally find at your regular grocery store. … Continue reading →

Thrift Store Bargain Worth $250,000!

Here is a definite case where being frugal and shopping at a thrift store can really pay off! Bargain hunter Michael Sparks picked up a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence in a Nashville, Tennessee thrift shop. The document turned out to be an official copy, originally commissioned by John Quincy Adams himself, back in 1820. Experts are putting a value of about $250,000 on the document. Sparks himself didn’t realize the value of what he had found until almost a year later, while he was doing some research online. This copy of the Declaration of Independence will be … Continue reading →

Thrift Store Find: Archbishop’s Stolen Cross for $6

Chalk this one up to the Hall of Frugal Fame of thrift store shopping! A savvy thrift store shopper in Mobile, Alabama went home with a real bargain. The shopper spotted a $6 find and took it home, not realizing that it was an archbishop’s stolen pectoral cross. The pectoral cross is a large cross that is worn on a cord, around the neck of the bishop or archbishop during mass. The cross, as well as other religious items, were stolen from Roman Catholic Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb’s unlocked parked car. According to the Associate Press news service, “Lipscomb’s gold … Continue reading →

Recycling Yarn: Unraveling a Thrift Store Find Can Save You Big Bucks

Knitting and crocheting are wonderful hobbies. Not only are they fun and creative, but they usually give you practical finished products. Knitting, especially, has seen a huge surge in popularity, along with a huge surge in the price of real wool for knitting. How much would you pay for two pounds of soft knitting wool? How about $3 or less? The local thrift store is a great secret for finding inexpensive and good quality wool yarn. Many people donate the wool sweaters they got for the holidays and have hardly worn. With just a little time spent unravelling a good … Continue reading →

Creative Uses for Thrift Store Finds

Shopping the thrift stores is a great way to find plenty of bargains for the things you need, such as baby clothes, toys and household items, but did you know that there is a treasure trove of things that can be used in creative ways to save even more? Sometimes thrift store finds that cost as little as a dime can be used as a substitute or an improvement for something you may normally buy new. We’ve all heard of shabby chic, but there is nothing shabby about the following ideas. Scarves are plentiful at my local thrift stores. I … Continue reading →