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Trophy Feb 02, 2019 at 11:35 AM
  #1
This, my friends, is a subject that is very close to my heart.

I started thrift shopping around 5 years ago. Before that, my personal style was practically non-existent. I didn't know any good clothing bands (for quality's sake and not necessarily recognition from others). I would basically wear things until they fell apart. Most of the time the articles were expensive and would break down very quickly. Fashion, to me, had limited importance in general.

This is when I discovered thrift store shopping. At that moment, it's almost as if the clouds parted and the sun shined through upon my life. I began getting some extraordinary brands for next to nothing. This is the real deal! We're talking some serious stuff here... Armani shirts, Gap Star jeans, Banana Republic sweaters, Versace glasses and shirts, Gap jeans, J. Crew button downs, Fossil and Armani Exchange watches, Ariat leather belts, sterling silver jewelry, Nike and Jordan brand sneakers, North Face and Eddie Bauer parkas, Express everything, etc. The list goes on and on. Most of the time these items still have the tags on when I buy them.

This hobby combines retail therapy (which can be dangerous anywhere else) and treasure hunting. The kicker? After all of this fun, you get to keep the loot and add this treasure to your wardrobe! For $20-$50, I can usually get 3-5 shirts, a couple pairs of jeans, a couple of accessories, a sweater or two, some button downs, and maybe a pair of shoes. One time I found a $100 bill in a small pocket in a pair of thrifted Gap jeans. It was an incredible feeling. What a score!

Honestly, and I'm aware this may be my addictive personality fueling this hobby, but it's fun and I look good darn it! The only things that I wear that aren't bought at thrift stores are my socks and underwear.

Does anyone else enjoy doing this? I love to hear where others thrift shop and what scores they've had. If you haven't checked this out, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Happy hunting!

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 02:26 PM
  #2
Yeah, I love thrifting too. I go to Savers a lot. I buy a lot of North Face Hoodies for $5. name brand T shirts like American Eagle, and Hollister. I buy Levi’s with tags still on them for $10. I also go to this nicer thrift shop near me and they have a lot of really nice stuff. I’ve bought Ann Taylor jeans with the $80 price tags on them for $7, and an $80 Vera Bradley purse with the tags still on it for $15. I saw a Ralph Lauren dress one time with the $240 price tag still on it for $14, but I don’t wear dresses so I didn’t buy it.

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 02:37 PM
  #3
Totally love thrifting. Also, Out here in Phoenix, the Walmarts have excellent women’s clothing deals on clearance racks on an ongoing basis. Brand new tops for $3 or $5. That beats Savers. The thrift shops out here don’t usually have designer clothes but I don’t care about name items tho that does indicate good quality. Have fun!

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Mountaindewed View Post
Yeah, I love thrifting too. I go to Savers a lot. I buy a lot of North Face Hoodies for $5. name brand T shirts like American Eagle, and Hollister. I buy Levi’s with tags still on them for $10. I also go to this nicer thrift shop near me and they have a lot of really nice stuff. I’ve bought Ann Taylor jeans with the $80 price tags on them for $7, and an $80 Vera Bradley purse with the tags still on it for $15. I saw a Ralph Lauren dress one time with the $240 price tag still on it for $14, but I don’t wear dresses so I didn’t buy it.
That's so awesome! It looks like you have the thrift bug too. Thank you so much for sharing this. I love hear thrifting success stories. I actually just went out after I posted this and I scored a good new pair of jeans.

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 02:58 PM
  #5
I hope this might make you smile BonsaiGuy.

I routinely buy quality clothing in thrift shops. But also, I travel between climate zones and often misjudge temperature differences in winter and summer. I was in some mountains when the hourly bus service got cancelled meaning a 2 hour wait. It was a freezing cold, windy evening. I went into a thrift store that was about to close, picked up a boys hooded down parka for a few dollars, paid and put it on in the shop.

When I got the parka home, I saw that the tag inside was "BRAVE SOUL". I still love that parka!

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 04:44 PM
  #6
One of my favorite thrift stories is..
Last year, I found myself in a precarious predicament with two of my sons with winter coats. I had washed them and bagged them the previous year and put them away to start the winter season. During the after Christmas sales is when I would typically try to catch some markdowns. Anyways.
Apparently they were not completely dry. And were very ruined and unsalvageable. It was getting cold. And never mind prices, I couldn't even find something for them. I was on a tighter budget as we were weeks away from a trip out West to my dad's wedding. I went to one, found some that were just ok nothing major name brandwise but the place was only accepting cash or a certain card logo that I didn't have. I put on hold but instead of returning I thought about trying savers. Obermeyer and Columbia were what I came home with. Apparently Obermeyer is a big name ski brand. Columbia is stating the obvious. The Obermeyer was missing a hood that would naturally come off as it is. The Columbia has someone else's last name and an ever slight tear. I think I paid less than $20 that day.
I have an LLBean wool coat and Michael Kors leather from consignment.
I have no qualms backfilling wardrobes with thrift. None whatsoever.
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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 05:39 PM
  #7
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Originally Posted by saidso View Post
I hope this might make you smile BonsaiGuy.

I routinely buy quality clothing in thrift shops. But also, I travel between climate zones and often misjudge temperature differences in winter and summer. I was in some mountains when the hourly bus service got cancelled meaning a 2 hour wait. It was a freezing cold, windy evening. I went into a thrift store that was about to close, picked up a boys hooded down parka for a few dollars, paid and put it on in the shop.

When I got the parka home, I saw that the tag inside was "BRAVE SOUL". I still love that parka!
I do love this! In fact, many times I will wear something out of the store. This may be bizarre to some people, but I do it because the item that I just purchased is more stylish than what I came into the store wearing

Thanks for sharing your story!

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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 06:24 PM
  #8
I swear by Goodwill. I can come home with bags and spend maybe $40. I'm not a name-brand person. I just enjoy wearing clothes that fit me and fit my mood. I'm a plaid person, so I love walking away with new plaid. It's definitely retail therapy for me. I always buy clothes with the 50% tag with some extremely rare exceptions, and I always walk away feeling like I got a terrific deal. I had a thing where whenever I'm over at my grandparents I'd give my grandma a look and she'll say "Wanna go to Goodwill?" We were always Goodwill buddies, 9 out of 10 times if I come over we go to Goodwill. I introduced her to the Goodwill that was so big it had it's own "library". She got sucked in right away and found so many books, mostly books for my grandpa cuz he reads about 2 books a week.
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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 07:10 PM
  #9
I LOVE thrift stores.I would much rather buy clothes that have already been washed and worn than brand new ones because I know they shouldn't shrink anymore.I have found way too many good deals to think of any specific ones right now though.

I DO definitely wash everything I buy though,usually at least 2-4 times before wearing.that's because I worked at Goodwill at one time and after some of the things I saw no way would I put something on and wear it out of the store.Many ppl think clothing is washed and it's not.
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Default Feb 02, 2019 at 08:34 PM
  #10
I get decent scores at thrift stores. Recent purchases have been various gym clothes for max of $4/piece, penguin originals shoes for $4, a working Sega Genesis and 7 carts including two controllers and the cables ("Sonic and knuckles," "micro machines" and vectorman 2) for $30, a 40 watt X4 Lloyd's am/fm/dual-cassette receiver for $10, and a pair of sbl70's for $12. I plan to sell the audio equipment when I can bring myself to do it. I have a buyer.
A friend grabbed an RCA turntable/am/fm receiver with matching speakers for $10.
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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 12:08 AM
  #11
I love thrift stores, too, but don't go as much as I used to. I particularly like to hit the book sections. I recently got two books at The Salvation Army from the #1 Detective Agency Series. I also like to look at the clothes and have gotten some nice Alfred Dunner tops at different times. (That's my style fashion, since I'm an older lady.) They are expensive if you buy them new--such as $50 for a top.
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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 06:58 AM
  #12
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Originally Posted by SorryShaped View Post
I get decent scores at thrift stores. Recent purchases have been various gym clothes for max of $4/piece, penguin originals shoes for $4, a working Sega Genesis and 7 carts including two controllers and the cables ("Sonic and knuckles," "micro machines" and vectorman 2) for $30, a 40 watt X4 Lloyd's am/fm/dual-cassette receiver for $10, and a pair of sbl70's for $12. I plan to sell the audio equipment when I can bring myself to do it. I have a buyer.
A friend grabbed an RCA turntable/am/fm receiver with matching speakers for $10.

Score after score my friend! I was literally going "oh man!" after each one and my wife was like "what's going on!?" I let her read the post and she had the same reaction!

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Travelinglady View Post
I love thrift stores, too, but don't go as much as I used to. I particularly like to hit the book sections. I recently got two books at The Salvation Army from the #1 Detective Agency Series. I also like to look at the clothes and have gotten some nice Alfred Dunner tops at different times. (That's my style fashion, since I'm an older lady.) They are expensive if you buy them new--such as $50 for a top.
Thank you for sharing! That sounds like a great deal! Way to go I'll have to check out the book sections from now on. My wife and I love to read and I bet you can find some really rare ones!

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Betty_Banana View Post
I LOVE thrift stores.I would much rather buy clothes that have already been washed and worn than brand new ones because I know they shouldn't shrink anymore.I have found way too many good deals to think of any specific ones right now though.

I DO definitely wash everything I buy though,usually at least 2-4 times before wearing.that's because I worked at Goodwill at one time and after some of the things I saw no way would I put something on and wear it out of the store.Many ppl think clothing is washed and it's not.
What a great point! A bit off topic I guess but can I just say clothes shrinking can really put a damper on my day. I got an extra fine merino sweater (for .75 cents of course) and it somehow ended up in the washer and was subsequently dried. When it came out it was the perfect size for my cat

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 08:26 AM
  #15
My favourite thrifty buy was a $400 Le Crueset roaster I got new in the box for $5. Obviously the pricer had no clue what it was.

In my mother's last days she was delusional and always in a state of dementia. Dad used to take her for her weekly treat to the big local thrift store which she loved - likely because the older items evoked memories for her. She would buy stuff and forget about it when she got home and dad would donate it back. There were multiple occasions she kept re-buying the same thing over and over again.

I have a friend with her own 're-liked retro and vintage' shop and she does quite well and manages to still give a lot to charity by paying herself only a minimal living wage.

I do try to stay away from the big chains myself though, like Value Village which is even on the stock exchange earning billions in profit for share holders giving very little for charity.

I encourage you then to check the charitable status Vs for profit status of the bigger chains before you donate or purchase. Perhaps instead deal directly with the little mom and pop operations which turn over a portion of their gains to local charitable organisations. You would be surprised about the Salvation Army too.

Surprises you might find are organisations which make money for charities only on the weight of recycled fabric.

I myself donate to the local Cummunity Living which provides people with cognitive disabilities jobs and will in turn resale on a sliding scale or even give away furniture and kitchen stuff in addition to clothing to those actually in need.
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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 09:22 AM
  #16
I enjoy thrifting, though I don’t go nearly as much as I used to. Last time I went I found a pair of 7 For All Man Kind jeans. Not a purchase I would make in a regular store. The tags were still on and they are my favorite pair of jeans.
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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 10:20 AM
  #17
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Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66 View Post
My favourite thrifty buy was a $400 Le Crueset roaster I got new in the box for $5. Obviously the pricer had no clue what it was.

In my mother's last days she was delusional and always in a state of dementia. Dad used to take her for her weekly treat to the big local thrift store which she loved - likely because the older items evoked memories for her. She would buy stuff and forget about it when she got home and dad would donate it back. There were multiple occasions she kept re-buying the same thing over and over again.

I have a friend with her own 're-liked retro and vintage' shop and she does quite well and manages to still give a lot to charity by paying herself only a minimal living wage.

I do try to stay away from the big chains myself though, like Value Village which is even on the stock exchange earning billions in profit for share holders giving very little for charity.

I encourage you then to check the charitable status Vs for profit status of the bigger chains before you donate or purchase. Perhaps instead deal directly with the little mom and pop operations which turn over a portion of their gains to local charitable organisations. You would be surprised about the Salvation Army too.

Surprises you might find are organisations which make money for charities only on the weight of recycled fabric.

I myself donate to the local Cummunity Living which provides people with cognitive disabilities jobs and will in turn resale on a sliding scale or even give away furniture and kitchen stuff in addition to clothing to those actually in need.
I am so happy to hear from you, @WishfulThinker66.

I agree with you that it's important to look at the structure of the organizations and their charitable status before committing to shopping with them. The main three where I like to shop is the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the Volunteers of America. I support all three of these organizations because of their commitments to the homeless population in my city as well as their focus nationwide. They also sponsor drug rehabs, metal health clinics, and services including assistance for the less privileged in my area. I am incredibly grateful for this and I even have a few friends who have gone through a rehab program through one of these organizations and believe that it saved their life. There is also an organization that has the sole purpose of providing jobs to those who otherwise wouldn't be able to or would have a very hard time finding work (felons or those who we're convicted of retail theft for example).

Overall, I think shopping at these stores is a hug win for everyone involved!

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 10:21 AM
  #18
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I enjoy thrifting, though I don’t go nearly as much as I used to. Last time I went I found a pair of 7 For All Man Kind jeans. Not a purchase I would make in a regular store. The tags were still on and they are my favorite pair of jeans.
Fantastic! That is A SERIOUS score, my friend.

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 05:22 PM
  #19
I like going to thrift stores too. I like buying vintage vinyl records there. One of the last times I went there I bought a giant stack of vintage vinyl for about 3 dollars.

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Default Feb 03, 2019 at 06:10 PM
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I do like thrift stores. It's generally what I can afford and I always feel good finding a good score. Also thrifts stores around here honestly have really good styles and unique things. I go home, wash it, I'm good to go.
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