thrift store finds

[aprilconnett]

Got a juicer today for $3.00. Now, I can experiment without it costing a fortune. I got a few other little things, but that is the best find of the day. :)

[Cil]

Cool! Especially since summer is here and all those yum-mmy fresh fruits and veggies are in season.

[Shamrock1121]

Here's some recipes I used back in the 80's when juicing was all the rage. Maybe they will give you some ideas. - Karen

POTASSIUM BROTH (lunch)
Handful of parsley
Handful of spinach
4-5 carrots
2 stalks celery

GARDEN SALAD SPECIAL (lunch)
3 broccoli flowerets
1 garlic clove
4-5 carrots or 2 tomatoes
2 stalks celery
1/2 green pepper

PINK MORNING TONER (breakfast)
1 pink grapefruit, peeled
1 apple, seeded

EVENING REGULATOR (bedtime snack)
2 apples, seeded
1 pear

ENERGY SHAKE (breakfast)
Handful parsley
4-6 carrots

GINGER HOPPER (mid-morning)
1/4-inch ginger root
4-5 carrots
1/2 apple, seeded

WALDORF SALAD (mid-morning)
1 green apple, seeded
1 stalk celery

CLEANSING COCKTAIL (mid-afternoon)
1/4-inch slice ginger root
1 beet
1/2 apple, seeded
4 carrots

ZIPPY SPRING TONIC (mid-afternoon)
Handful dandelion greens
3 pineapple rings
3 radishes

[Funkhouser]

Thrift store finds? Heck, everything I'm wearing right now (minus the underwear) is from Goodwill! ;D

In fact, just about all my clothing comes from either Goodwill from the clearance rack of Wal-Mart. :P

[Naughty_Pines]

I've got a thirty mile drive to a thrift store and thirty mile drive home. My truck gets about 10 mpg if I'm lucky. Last time I filled up it was $5.09 a gallon, so there ain't no "thrift store shopping" for me. :'(

[kerryms]

We have "dig" stores,they pile the clothes in the floor and you dig in. Everyone helps each other out. "Here is some boys jeans,you need them." and we end up sharing stories and where to find bargins. With gas so high any way to save money helps. We also have "Bent and Dent" some cans may have a dent but for the most part we find some really good bargins.Last time I found a 20lb bag of rice for $3.99. I've always shopped this way and now my daughter does.

[TNDadx4]

There's no place that I'd rather find things. Well, OK, garage sales :)

I've gotten a suit for my son for $2.00 at a thrift store. GoodWill, although I'm not a big GoodWill fan, has special discount days like certain color tags are .99, etc.

[rockymtngirl]

Today found Red Cross advanced first aid book for 50 cents and a book called The Green Pharmacy - I paid a little more for that one $2

[rubestr3]

Most of my clothes comes from thrift stores as does alot of my household stuff. You wouldn't know by coming in my home that i don't shop at the mall or Pier One. (our thift stores are nice.) My best thrift store find was a dehydrator for $5 and I have used it for 4 years already. (i love that thing!)

I make and sell jewelry at craft shows. I find some of the most unique beads and findings and the Goodwill.

[ms-woman]

Our big thing here is the Salvation Army, all our underwear comes from there! That sounds gross but you know how people go to Wal-mart and tear open packs of underwear and socks to check sizes? Well Walmart won't sell them like that and they give them to the local S.A. we go there and buy them for 50 cents for a bag that has just been opened and then taped shut! That's our Best Buy! :) My mother-in-law stops by every morning on her way home from work and looks to see what they have, my son is three and I've yet to buy him anything but a nice shirt for Easter. Right before school starts is a great time to check b/c everyone is making room for new school clothes, last year I spent $90 and outfitted 2 girls for a whole school year! Everything was name brand, no stains, nice clothes, you just have to look. I found a beautiful prom dress for $1, I got it for my daughter to play dress up and she wore it for Halloween, as a prom queen! As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I'll put it up she was beautiful!

[GoodDaughter]

I'm really lucky in that there are about 5 really good resale shops in my general area and a couple more that aren't too good so I don't count them, really. I think the ones around here are so good because where I live is a little corner of the 'used to be country' surrounded by affluent areas. I mean a LOT of LARGE affluent areas. Which means a lot of nice stuff.

I try to make the rounds of the shops when I'm out doing my usual routine so I don't make special trips and waste gas.

The other day I needed a nice lightweight summery outfit to wear to church, so I went and found one, Liz Claiborne brand (I really don't care about brand names, but often brand names do mean good quality) a two piece dress/lightweight sweater for $6, like new condition. Also found a Ralph Lauren tea length dress in Indian blanket colors, I bet it had never been worn at all, for $9. Need to find a denim jacket to go with, now. :) *

I also bought a brand new, never used Lodge brand cast iron skillet with lid, this thing is HUGE, probably 16 or 18" across, for $5. *A set of Clairol hot rollers for $2.50, from the 80's but new in the box, even had the plastic around it. *A large salt glaze crock with a wood lid, says 'reis' on the front, 75 cents! :o *Some Italian brand steel food chopper that has a suction cup clamp, with attachements, new in the box, $2. *And FABRIC! :o I recently bought 9 yd. med. weight denim, I think it was like $5, and some Laura Ashley upholstery fabric in a pretty soft yellow early American floral pattern, it's about 10 or 11 yd., and it's the wide upholstery width, I think I paid $5 for it, too. Got some gorgeous dark avocado upholstery fabric that is almost like a fake suede texture, probably about 3 yd, paid $3. Anymore when I go, the area where they keep the fabric and craft stuff is my first stop.

I don't buy stuff that I don't have an immediate use for, because I can't stand having a lot of clutter piled up everywhere. But if I do need something, I can usually find it if I can wait for it to turn up at the resale shops.

Let me edit and say I DO buy fabric when I come across finds like these, because fabric is like money in the bank even if I don't have an immediate need for it. Fabric stashes are a form of addiction...

[MotherCharlotte]

I'm jealous of some of you guys. The only thrift store near me is a Value Village, and although I have found some good things there over the years on the whole I find they're really expensive. Sometimes laughably so. They will sell used jeans for $20 just because it's a designer brand. Some household things, like washcloths and glass cups, would be much cheaper at the dollar store in the same plaza.

Usually I only buy stuff there if they are having a 50% off day or if I have a coupon.

Last week I found a miniature china tea set for my daughter (4 cups and saucers) for $6. And a little tea pot for another $2. Kind of steep, but still cheaper than going to a regular store. I also bought a copy of the book "Root Cellaring" to add to my library--even though the back cover was ripped and they were charging $4, it's still much cheaper than buying it new.

There used to be a Salvation Army store right in front of that Value Village, but when the latter opened it put the S.A. store out of business. Too bad, because I found that their prices were much better.

I bet with all the financial difficulties folks are experiencing out there today thrift stores are doing a good business. I know my Value Village is filled with people every time I'm in there. Probably that's one reason I have a hard time finding good deals--so many other people are in there hunting for the bargains too.

[Cuffo]

You also need to keep in mind that Value Village is a "for profit" and per a person I know that works there they are trying to become "more upscale".

[MotherCharlotte]

More "upscale" thrift store? Ugh. I have noticed in their advertising that they seem to be trying to appeal to people who simply like to own tons of clothes, and are looking for unusual or vintage finds, rather than people who are trying to find something affordable. ::)

[RenieB]

I check out the thrift store every month when we get our checks. Also now hit yard sales and my latest find was a beautiful large 14" cast iron skillet for a whole $2 can't pass them up. We have found some nice Christmas gifts at the Goodwill store. The items were new in their plastic bag, throw blankets. Nice gift for our cold winters.

RenieB

[Pitdog]

Tonight I got Foxfire 1-5 Hardback in excellent condition for 1$ each.

Yesterday I got a brand new pair (tags still on) of insulated waterproof snowpants for 3.50, an unused CD I wanted for 2.00, an almost new Carhart waterproof barn coat for an 11 year old boy I know for 20.00 (off of the name-brand rack) and a pair of vintage S&W K-frame wood target grips that are a little rough (I can recut the checkering and put some tru-oil on them) for 1.95 in the case! I can fix em and turn em for25$ or more.....or keep them.... and I can ebay my soft cover foxfires for more than !$ a piece!

[GoodDaughter]

I found a scope for a handgun for my brother a while back, it was priced $5. I called him on my cell phone to see if he wanted me to get it for him, and I described it (can't recall what brand it was, not Leupold but something else...)anyway, he said heck yeah, get it. When I went to pay for it the lady said 'it's broken, so you can have it for a dollar'. It wasn't broken, she just knew even less than me about them and couldnt' tell it wasn't broken!

The other day I was out doing my shopping and post office route, and went by a couple of resale shops. At one I found one of those platform glider/rocker chairs that were really popular a few years ago, and it has the matching gliding foot stool. It's light colored solid wood with removable denim cushions (they attach with snaps) and I bought it for $25.00 *I've been wanting one for years, and this one is not beat up or broken and the cushions are just barely used looking, not really even 'dirty' and should wash up with some color safe peroxide bleach just fine. Was really happy to find it! ;D

I also found a few of those plastic underbed storage bags with zippers, for $1 each, so I was able to put away the heavy quilts and comforters neatly.

I also got a really beautiful 3 piece lined top/jacket/skirt set that looks like it was either worn only a time or two or not at all, it looks that new. Cream color, sort of tailored, for $9, 'Le Suit' brand (never heard of it). Nice quality suit, though.

I forgot that I also bought a clear shower curtian liner new in the package for .50 cents, and two pillow cushions from Hancock Fabric, still new and sealed in the packages, for $1 each.

I like to buy things for the home like the shower curtain liner and pillow cushions when I find them new in the package, because they are things that will eventually get used and save me a lot of money to boot.

[cubcadet]

I think my best thrift finds were a brand new sealed in the original box Popeil Automatic Pasta maker, paid $20, and a professional quality vacuum sealer, also new in the box, for $15, 2 arrow back chairs, in very good condition, $6 each, and the best, a pair of Timberland leather moccasins with lug soles (anyone ever hear of that?), bought years ago, and am still wearing them. I forgot how much I paid for them. Couldn`t have been more than $3-$4. I`m still getting my money`s worth out of those puppies, and they`re not showing signs of wearing out. I think that finding any of the old cast iron cookware for less than the price of the newer ones is an investment. They are true heirlooms.

[mule1rider]

Krups coffee grinder five bucks we have been looking for a year. Ahhh.

[Dawgus]

Usually every friday after I go to the bank, I hit the Goodwill right behind it, and the Habitat for Humanity store up the road. That place is only open 3 days a week, so I make sure to hit it at least once and scrounge around. Not long ago, we priced an insulated steel entry door at a big box store at $170, found the same one NIB there for $80. This week I picked up a really nice bucksaw for $5 and 6 foot 2x2's for 50 cents each.....I love that place lol.
Almost all my clothes come from Goodwill. I'm a pipefitter, so I'm rough on work clothes. Goodwill jeans are $4 a pair here, I get 3 or 4 at a time when I decide I need new ones. Last time out, I found 5 pairs of carrhart carpenter jeans in my size and scooped 'em all up at 4 bucks a pop. Today I found a box of 40 pint canning jars for $2.

[GoodDaughter]

There's a Habitat store about 20 miles away here, but I have to say I was not impressed with the prices. I went a couple of times looking for windows. I just wanted cheap, aluminum used windows because I want to turn a side porch into a sleeping porch, and don't want to spend a ton of money on windows. The Habitat place wanted 35$ for a 2x3" used aluminum window. That was just about retail for new! Home Depot has them for $39.99. I can't remember what it was I went back to look for the second time, but I just thought their prices were too high for what they were selling.

Flea markets are often a good place to find used lumber here. I didn't buy any, but I saw a guy selling 2"x6"x8's for $2 a while back, nails pulled and everything.

I framed and decked an 8x16' storage shed with used lumber, and put in two used windows and a used door, and used sheet metal for the roof. I did buy a new ridge thing for the roof.

[rockymtngirl]

The local thrift usually prices most stuff pretty high, BUT, yesterday I got a Nesco American Harvest dehydrator for $5! I was so excited - asked the clerk if I could plug in to test first - no problem - what is that thing anyway, he said. So I explain to him - oh, he says, why would you want that? Geez!
Anyway - works great - can't wait to use it

RMG

[tufhelp]

I’d have to agree with you about the Habitat for Humanity stores – The one here in Albuquerque is called the Re-Store and they are VERY proud of their items! The usual problem with this type of enterprise; volunteer help setting the pricing. These well meaning folks have no concept of the values involved in setting the prices. They want to make money for the group, not a bad thing, but they seem to want to make it on one sale rather than spreading it out over many items. The “used” items are often well used, and as in your example priced just below retail new. In their sheltered world they are convinced they are giving good deals on the stuff. Not to mention that all of the items are donated for recycling into other construction projects. Most of the folks I know don’t even bother to go in any more – the stuff is priced into the stratosphere.

[GoodDaughter]

Got a Ronco dehydrator today with all the trays, $2.50 ;D *I saw another one sitting nearby, but didn't buy it. I now have 4 dehydrators! I figure one might crater someday, and at least I will have a backup or two.

Also got an early American/Colonial hanging light fixture, the kind with the pewter-look arms and candle sockets. The country/prim decorator magazines have them advertised for way over $100, and I paid $5 for it.

Yes, the Habitat store here is a 'Re' store. I don't know how they manage to stay open, unless it's a certain group of people it appeals to. For the kind of prices they want, you might as well go to Home Depot and spend a few dollars more and buy new.

[Dawgus]

Thats odd about the other Habitat stores, everything here is priced pretty cheap, they'll even haggle on prices a bit.....hmm, maybe I'm just lucky here and have some management with common sense at that store.
Don't rule out craigslist or freecycle either, I've manged to get quite a bit from both. This past Sunday, I contacted someone from craigslist about a posting for lumber. I got over 30 2x4's, 2x6's, 2x8's, 2x2's (all 6-10 feet), and 5 half sheets of 3/4 plywood for $20, he was cleaning out his storage locker. I saw some propane coleman lanterns in there and asked about them, and he sold me both of 'em for $5. Do i really need 6 lanterns? lol not really, but hard to pass up for that price.

[flatwater]

I used to get fur collars at value village for 2.00 apiece and could even dicker with the boss once in a while for a better price but something happened and the prices shot up to 10 and 15.00 dollars a collar and no more dickering. So they lost me as a costomer.
Flatwater

[MYellowRose]

* Went in the Habitat store not far from where I live earlier in the year when DD and I were looking for window a/c units. *They had one that was old and rusted in spots and they wanted $150 for it! *::) * We finally got two new units at Wal-Mart for just under $100 each, one is 5000 BTU's, the other is 5050 BTU's. *Once they'd been in and working for about a week they were keeping the trailer at a nice comfortable temp. *About the only time we feel the heat is from about 4-7 pm if it's in the mid to high 90's and or humid outside like it was today.
Flatwater what did you do with the fur collars? Just curious as for the life of me I can't figure out what someone would do with them.

[flatwater]

I made capotes out of horse blankets and for an extra touch I would put a fur collar on them. I prefer the whitney horse blankets because they generally don't scratch and are a bigger blanket. Some times I could find a hudson bay blanket and would make a coat out of them.
Flatwater