Guest post from Liz
There are some things I will spend good money on, and then there are other things I refuse to pay any more than $50 for.
In my opinion, shoes are important. They can make an outfit pop and you have to walk in them all day, so they have to be comfortable and durable. For those reasons, I will pay a good $50-$100 on shoes. T-shirts, on the other hand, I will refuse to pay $60 for a t-shirt just because of the trendy name brand. You can always find a new treasure at thrift stores.
Below are four things you should always (at least in my opinion) buy at thrift stores:
1. Jean shorts
Every year there are new trends that come out, but the cut-off jean shorts look seems to never get old. The way I see it,why pay anywhere from $35 to $50 on a pair of shorts that looks like you hacked them yourself?
I would much rather buy a pair of $7 jeans and actually do the hacking myself! This way you can cut them as short or as long as you want since not everyone has the same length legs!
2. T-Shirts
People are really into the “vintage” look now a day. What better place to get “vintage” then a thrift shop. Paying $30 for a “vintage” looking or inspired tee is not a smart move.
3. Costumes
Spending a load of money for something you will wear for only 1 or 2 days is unnecessary. Thrift shops often have brand new costumes for sale in October. Their new costumes are generally cheaper than costumes you’d find at national chain stores.
Aside from having new costumes for less, you can also put together a costume with items you find at a thrift store. For instance, finding pieces for a hippie or flapper costume.
4. Children’s Clothing
Children grow so fast — and I don’t like spending good money on clothes that might only be worn a few times before they are too small.
If you do go to the thrift store and find that the clothes are too worn out, there are stores such as Once Upon a Child that buy gently used children’s clothing, shoes, and toys.
What do you always shop the thrift stores for?
Everything. First stop, Thrift store(s), then Ross, maybe Walmart, “high end” is Kohl’s. Very few people will know or care if the clothes you are wearing came from a fancy shop or thrift. I too, get quality shoes in timeless styles. Oh, and shop the men’s section, better quality, I always get my winter jackets there.
I would add maternity clothes to this as well!
We have a Savers thrift store here. I can find my favorite name brand jeans almost every time. I won’t pay more than $7 for jeans anymore. Proceeds go to help ms and big brothers/sisters programs. I find fun jewelry that I either use as is or pull it apart and remake it. We have a kid to kid consignment store to that is great for the grandkids. If I need a vase or things to make wreaths with, I always go to savers
I like to find the summer camping clothes, that way i don’t have to worry about ruining their “good” clothes that can be left for school.
I also like going to see what “treasures” we can find for whatever we might need around the house.
Art and Craft supplies! I love to paint, craft and sew. It is amazing what deals you can find at thrift stores. I recently purchased a wonderful studio easel for seven dollars. The same one is over a hundred bucks at the big box craft stores. Canvases can be bought for pennies on the dollar. Fabric. Old books and papers for collage. Silk flowers and wreaths. The workers at the local thrift stores know me and often I get a “heads up” when they get something they know l’m looking for. I shop mostly at charity based stores that I know will help people in my community. That’s also where my donations go.
Some of my favorite things I buy second hand are jewelry, home decor and crystal. I am EXTREMELY picky and have even found things brand new with tags and in a box.
I am a goodwill fanatic! But I must admit children’s place has amazing deals when you watch carefully and use the honey app. My son has a uniform for school and I recently bought a winter coat, a pair of shoes, two sweaters, three pair of pants, two packs of unders, three shirts, socks and a pair of jams for under $95.
Oh, and in my area once upon a child is a trap. I would rather donate clothes to those in need or giving our items to families in the community instead of getting pennies for gently used clothes. I strongly encourage moms to create a clothes circle where each member rotates and upcycles whatever is usable and give a gift card to the mom with the eldest child.
I have a thrift store that I go to that has a 20% off sale every week. I only go there on that day. I have bought my son most of his clothing from there over the past few years. I have saved so much money. I look for things for myself, but I have yet to find anything I like. Maybe if I learn to sew? I buy most of my own clothing on clearance and stores like Ross. It saves me even more. I also buy lots of books and toys. I went last year during a 50% off sale and scored a bread machine for $4. It just happened to work very well. It’s amazing what people get rid of when it’s brand new. I need to start checking for buttons though and making sure everything works before I buy it. I love looking through the comments for other ideas.
I like to buy children’s books at thrift stores.They are usually $0.75 or $0.99 each, which is a great deal. My kids love using their spending money on books. I also love finding special occasion dresses for my 2 girls at thrift shops. I have found American Girl dresses and other name brand items there. I also like to find wall decor, dishes and glasses at second hand stores. No one will ever know that you didn’t pay full price for any of those items.
isn’t it funny how much things vary by region? we just moved back to PA from VA. I lived here as a child but i was married and had children in VA and that’s where my husband is from.
in VA, i almost never shopped thrift, the ones that had good items were just too long of a drive. i would hit the clearance racks with coupons at Kohls, Target, etc for my kids things and i almost never bought new things for myself. we also had 2 big j crew outlet stores and an old navy outlet, and i would hit their clearance. sometimes i would shop at once upon a child, although it was a little pricey at the one near us. now that we’ve moved, there are a dozen great consignment stops and right down the street is an amazing goodwill outlet that i’ve been able to purchase many nice things for myself and my children, although not as much for my husband as he needs uncommon big and tall sizes. it has everything thrown crazily in bins with no sorting and is sold by the pound, something i’ve never seen before. so i’m trying to stock up on next seasons clothes while i can because when we move again, we could be in a skint thrift area again! : )
I get silverware. You can usually get a whole bundle for a couple of bucks. I just buy a simple style, and I’m not fussy since I’m usually replacing spoons that have been taken outside for digging or gotten caught in the garbage disposal!
My favorite thrift store find is dishes for ministry meals. I seek out nice casserole dishes or platters for $1-2 (almost as cheap as disposables) and then write ‘No need to return’ on the bottom. It makes it easier on the family when not having to worry about who to return them too and you don’t have to worry about them bending, breaking or getting holes in them during cooking and transport like disposables sometimes can.
I will add to that: kitchen items and linens, primarily those that are handmade. I have an old quilt from a local estate sale that I treasure, and just bought some crochet dishcloths. Also, Christmas decorations.
I try to buy all my tea towels at thrift stores. I can usually find beautiful pure linen towels for $2, and some are hand embroidered, or brand new. I think when folks are clearing out estates they just toss kitchen towels in the Value Village box. I also can find tablecloths and sometimes great lengths of fabric for sewing projects.
I also disagree about buying used kids clothing. I have two boys and the used clothing selections at our local Kid to Kid is slim pickings. What is there is usually faded and the same price as what you can buy new at Target. I do, however, try to hit our local consignment sales. Those clothes are usually much better quality than at the used kids store. One sale in particular is very picky about the items they consign. They limit the number of items per seller so people are encouraged to only sell their best items. I also try to find things at garage sales, but there’s such a limited amount of clothes for boys that what they have they wear out. I’m finding that now that I have a girl, I’m able to find tons of bargains and the hand-me-downs are in good shape too!
I also buy ahead and take advantage of clearance racks. Right now I’m scouring the clearance racks for next year. I took advantage of the MLK sale at The Children’s Place and got my son jeans in a size they only carry on-line for about half retail price…20% off the sale price, free shipping, and 5% off with my Place Card. And, I can return them to the store if they don’t fit. He’s grown into the next size virtually overnight. I was able to get long sleeved shirts for next winter for less than $5 each. I hang dry them so they don’t shrink or fade and that way both my sons get good use out of them.
eBay is another good resource if you’re familiar with how a certain brand fits, a great resource for new/slightly used shoes, costumes, and winter coats. I also try to hit outlet malls when we’re traveling. We don’t live close to any, but our out-of-state family members have them nearby so I try to make a trip and build the wardrobe in the next size or choose outfits for our annual Christmas pictures.
I’ve never shopped at a thrift store, but my husband and I both work for kohls, so with our employee discount days, plus we’re able to use coupons on top of that, even on clearance, we rarely pay more than a couple of dollars for any of our kids items and his clothing.
There are three or four semi-annual consignment sales in our area in the spring and fall. If you volunteer or consign clothes, you are able to shop before the public, so the pickings are pretty good. At another of the sales, for every three hour shift you work, you earn a $10 gift certificate toward the next sale, so just be working a few shifts, we easily walk out with a ton of clothing for very cheap!
I’m also fortunate that my sister’s 2 children and my 2 children are close in age and gender, so I’ll buy clothes for her kids, then when they’re done I pack them away and save them for mine. When mine have outgrown them (depending on shape they’re in) I’ll either sell them at the consignment sales or we have a couple of friends with kids a size smaller than mine that I give them to for play clothes.
(sorry.. didnt meant for that to be a reply :-/)
Kohls is the best! I can’t stop shopping there! I keep coming away with rewards, coupons and Kohls cash!
Stacey that’s true sometimes there isn’t much to pick from. I’m not sure where you live, but where I live there are stores called Recycled Rugrats and One Upon a Child. These stores buy your gently used clothes and sell them. Not only can you make some extra money selling your child’s clothes, but you can also save tons shopping there. They are particular on what they sell it has to be very gently used! So maybe this would be a better option for you to save on your children’s clothing. Check in your area for similar stores.
I buy almost all my kids clothes at thrift stores and nice neighborhood community garage sales – all are very good brands for only a dollar or two (sometimes less than a dollar!) – I wouldn’t even buy a $5 tshirt at walmart – too expensive IMO 😉 If the clothing survives and is a nice brand I will often take it to a consignment or resale shop – I’ll generally get the $1 – $2 back I put into it and I can either take cash (to use at the thrift shops again) or use it for credit at the store =)
I buy most of my kids clothes (3 yod dd and son expected in a few weeks) used- 90 percent from once upon a child during their $1sale. I agree that sometimes I can buy new on clearance for the same as used though!
I think if you are a careful shopper (shop clearance sales, buy ahead and use coupons) you can get great deals on new clothing and costumes. It takes less time, too (shopping consignment stores and garage sales can take more time since you may not find what you need after several trips). Another great thing for kids clothing is linking up with another family who has kids between your kids sizes and just exchanging clothing back and forth (for free). If you donate items or purchase items from charity stores, please consider local charities (if you have them) before considering Goodwill. The Goodwill CEO makes 6 times more money than a Salvation Army CEO (or a local non profit organization’s director) – you can verify this on charity navigator website.
Penny T. — I agree completely!!! I have found some amazing deals on brand new clothing, far less what our local Goodwill sells things for. There are many parents who just do not have the time to run into consignment shops/thrift shops, etc several times a week to find good deals. Our Goodwill is filled with cheaper brands of clothing that do not hold up well at all….and they still want $5+ for most things. I shop the sales and clearance racks and find amazing things for everyone….with far less effort!
Right on! I am so glad you are making others aware of this important fact. Local, or Salvation Army, donatetc to them as well 🙂
I love thrift shopping! I go every single week, and many times I go more than once a week.
I’m a huge vintage Pyrex collector, so I’m always scooping up pieces for my collection. I also look at their yarns because I’ve gotten awesome deals on 100% wools and handspun that retail for $20+!
I have a whole section on my blog dedicated to my “Thrifty Finds”. It’s my favorite 🙂
Just be careful though, not everything at the thrift store is a good price! I’ve seen many occasions where the thrift store price tag is HIGHER than the clearance price (tag still on!) that Target was selling it for. Also, used jeans are $7 and up at Value Village, but I’ve gotten brand new jeans for $5 on clearance at Target.
Mens dress shirts! Our consignment stores are always chock full of shirts in completely new condition, and even quite a few in my husband’s size (large tall). I’ve never spent more than $5 on his dress shirts, and since I often shop their clearence week, usually it’s more like $2-$3 a shirt. He loves it, because he hates shopping and spending much money on his clothing. I love it because we get high-quality brands on a Wal-Mart clothing budget 😀
If only I could find him used jeans, but alas, with a size 33×36, that just doesn’t ever happen.
My favorite pairs of maternity pants (and a sweater) cost $3 each at one of our local thrift stores! One pair of pants and the sweater are Motherhood and the jeans are Gap. Such a steal!
Great post! I love thrift shopping, especially at Goodwill where I know my money is putting people to work. My favorite items are clothes, shoes, housewares, and lately all the new merchandise form Target. Check out my new website http://www.GotItAtGoodwill.com which also has a link to last year’s 52 Weeks of Goodwill series.
I saw that one other person mentioned it, but I’ve gotten some GREAT deals at thredUP.com. I have also found that with kids’ clothes, if I know what I want, I can find it on ebay. Through both ebay and thredUP, I’ve gotten brands like Gymboree and Hanna Andersson, new with tags, for less than some of the much lower quality items I’ve seen at thrift stores. Not to dis the thrift stores, because you can sometimes find great things, but often the quality of children’s clothing is lacking, especially once you get into the elementary years.
As far as kids resale store deals, I have found so many famous name brand clothes at a place called Once Upon A Child. They only accept good quality clothing, toys, equipment, etc. In great condition. I even find many pieces unused with original tags attached for just a few dollars! They do regular markdowns, recycle, and also have a punch-card system for even more savings.
I’ve found some cute things for myself and my 7 yr old son on Vinted. Com and thread up.
I love to buy some nice comfortable”broken in” t-shirts! I love big ol t-shirts! It’s funny because my stepdaughter heard a song about shopping at a thrift shop.Although inappropriate for her to have listened to, but interesting. The song is being noted as being against high brand name pricing. It’s called Thrift Shop. Anyway, the kids poked fun that it’s my song. I guess my frugal efforts are paying off!
I find great deals on classic novels at my local Salvation Army. Also clothes for 5 of my children, my husband and myself. The Salvation Army has everything except furniture for half price on Wed. I also look at thrift stores for kitchen things such as plates, bowls, salt and paper shakers. Also, they sometimes have nice wicker baskets to use for storing and organizing clutter!
My daughter is 7 and I buy the gorgeous holiday dresses at consignment/thrift stores.
A $50 dress would be between $2-8, so even if she only wears once, I’m ok with that.
I also let her wear them as her play dressup clothes, and have various sizes so the friends can wear too.
They play princess and these dresses are well made, not the skimpy princess dresses at the big box stores.
We buy the dressy shoes/sandals there, also very little use. Sunday church shoes.
We buy her jeans there, get brand names like Justice to keep little girls happy for $6.
You can’t get new jeans at Old Navy for that.
The Facebook Online Yard Sales are another way. I got 19 shirts for $20, the more you buy, the better deal someone’s going to give you. Got Christmas presents on this also.
I got a free desk from one, which allowed that savings to purchase other items for the household.
I shop thrift stores for linens such as shower curtains, towels and regular curtains. I also look for fabric. Any of the above can be made into something else such as a beautiful basket weave shower curtain that hangs on my downstairs entry to block heat in, just put up a small extension rod between the walls and hang up with shower hooks, which I also got for 1.99. I have line white long drapes in my dining room(3 pieces) that cost 13.00. 🙂
I buy our dishes and other kitchen items at Goodwill. The kids help in the kitchen, and they break a lot of dishes! And somehow our silverware mysteriously disappears! I just got 11 matching Pfaltzgraff plates for 50 cents each, and those are hard to break!
I poke around thrift stores to “decompress” after a stressful week. If I bring something home, then something leaves. I find jeans, sweaters, coats, and hoodies. I find
objects I’ve turned into gifts for others. I’ve also found DVDs and many books.
My rules are: no “some day” project materials…that means ….clutter!
Clothes have to be something that I fall in love with, not just something seriviceable or
I’ll end up “re-donating” very soon.
I fabreeze purses or totes.
I buy sheets and pillow cases, wash in hot water and disinfectant a couple of times
and I have high end sheets on my bed. (OK, they don’t always match but they feel great.)
Right now I have a Tommy Hilfinger bottom fitted sheet and Ralph Lauren top…..
for $4.50.
I do the same; to “decompress”after a long week. I usually love to shop and thrift stores make it affordable although I have to be careful not to overdo it. I like that you have a filter and don’t just bring home anything that looks like a good deal. I like to get bowls, coffee cups, interesting containers such as little boxes, pretty fabric, curtains (I use for guest rooms at my job) as well as fluffy towels and cashmere sweaters. I am super picky now so I don’t bring home toooo much junk. I do not get things that are worn out. I look for good brands and well made garments. I buy all of my wrapping paper and gift bags at thrift stores and also like to comb the greeting card section. I have a dream of making a quilt by cutting into squares the embroidered designs from old cotton shirts from the 80’s. I also buy ALL of my outdoor apparel at thift stores. I have several Pantagonia items I really like and have worn for a few years.I also stay on the lookout for silk. Enough.
I buy some toys (we found a train table at a fraction of retail price) some home decor, drinking glasses, some clothing items like jean skirts, books and videos at thrift stores.
We’ve never bought clothes new for our son. Our mother in law spoils us and pays for them as well as every box of diapers he ever needed. I can’t even tell you how much stuff like that costs!
However, the clothes she buys are from the church consignment sale so she can buy clothes for him for $50 and them last for a year or longer. Then, she has us sell what he outgrows and keep the money. She’s amazing!
I always buy holiday decor at our local Thrift Store on 1/2 off days. I really don’t need or want much, but enjoy the hunt for something unique . Same with baskets, and I use them for storage and organizing. I just sterilize them good before I use them.
Didn’t mean to do this twice. Feel free to remove.
It’s nowadays, btw, I always shop for things to sell on eBay.
And CARS!
I can honestly say that my husband and I have never purchased new clothes for our son from a retailer. Our church has a sale every spring and fall, so that’s when I stock up. I can buy all the clothes he needs for 6 months to a year (sometimes longer if they have a few sizes bigger) for $50 or less and I feel like that’s a great deal.
Plus, my mother in law spoils us. She pays for all of his clothes and paid for every box of diapers (voluntarily), so I can’t even tell you what the majority of baby items cost. Then, as if she isn’t amazing enough already, she has us sell his clothes that he’s outgrown in the consignment sale and to make some extra cash. It’s an extra $200 easy and we didn’t do a thing to earn it. My mother in law is amazing!
One thing I have to say about the shoes is that I would never buy used (unless for a special event -wedding) and I wouldn’t pay $50-$100 for a pair either. Don’t get me wrong, quality shoes are very important, but I can combine sales with clearance to get steals. I just bought a $100 pair of reeboxs for $20 and they’re totally stylish. They will last me years!
Things that I won’t buy new are all of the above, plus books, lamps, furniture, and picture frames. You can buy picture frames for practically nothing at the thrift store, and since my husbands works in a furniture company, he get’s scrap wood for free all the time -meaning he can make me picture frames of any size for free. Furniture can be redone or built for a fraction of the price of new. All it takes is a little know how and will!
I like to get these at Garage sales or thrift stores: Books, tools, home decor if it’s up to date, picture frames, furniture, snow boots, gloves, canning jars, Halloween costumes, great condition toys, outdoor toys, and barely used items of many kinds if you are lucky! Ok anything that is in great condition EXCEPT underclothing and some dishes/silverware!
I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t spend big bucks on shoes. Oh, well, I’m okay with being different that way. My favorite pair of shoes are clogs that I got at a consignment store for $2 or $3. I wear them almost daily, and have more than gotten my money’s worth out of them. The other 2 pairs I wear most often also cost less than $4 each. I think I’ve bought 1 pair of shoes new (for myself) in the past decade. I don’t have the same success with the rest of my family (DS has wide feet, DD has narrow), except the 6yo. Still, we spend less than $200 a year for the 5 of us for shoes.
I realize this won’t work for every one. I’m not on my feet all day, and I don’t have to be dressed up for a job. I’m not a fashionista and couldn’t care less about what’s in style. So, buying used shoes works for me.
The only reason I don’t think you shouldn’t buy shoes used is because they can have a really bad influence on your health. Your stance and your feet for example. Shoes should be broken in by your feet, not someone elses. When you put used shoes on a child that have already been broken in, that can hurt their backs and their feet. If you can find a new pair of shoes at the thrift store though -more power to you.
Shoes for speical events that you don’t wear often are okay though. Once isn’t going to hurt.
I searched online for research about wearing used shoes, and really didn’t find anything from professionals one way or the other. What I found was lots of people’s opinions, and some used shoe drives organized by podiatrists (interesting). I have 15yo children who have worn used shoes throughout their childhood, and I have worn them for years, and none of us have had any adverse results.
I believe it’s effects show up more in older age. For example, my grandma was one of ten, and she often had to wear hand me downs. Now that she’s significantly older, she can barely wear shoes at all due to the issues her feet. When she went to the Dr. about the pains, the first thing he wanted to know was if she wore used shoes or not.
Some people may get lucky, but I personally feel like it’s just one of those things that I don’t want to risk. Not to mention, feet are pretty gross in general, between all the germs and fungus’ that people have I don’t want my kids to share something like that with people I don’t even know -or at all.
My mom loves shoes and always bought from expensive stores, high quality and comfortable. She now has so many foot issues, deformed feet and toes, she can barely walk. I don’t think this had anything to do with her shoes, just luck of the draw as to what diseases or problems you get.
Today I bought my son Soccer Cleats for only $4 at the Goodwill. I went to BIG 5 and the cheapest pair they had there new was $16. So I saved a lot! I think sports equipment and shoes at the thrift stores are great buys! (Especially if your child isn’t quite sure they love the sport yet). The pair of cleats we got today looked practically new!
I love thrift shopping and garage sales! I buy almost everything at one or the other. Although, in my area Goodwill’s prices have sky rocketed!! There are quite a few thrift shops in my area that I love!
*I buy my kid’s clothes at garage sales instead of thrift shops, because they tend to be about .50 to $1 a piece. The thrift shops in my area seem to know that more people are thrift shopping, which leads to much higher prices. Garage sales realize that they must sell it in 2 or 3 days or give it away.
*I buy furniture at garage sales. It is so much cheaper than a thrift shop. Most people will negotiate with you and will knock the price down.
*I recently purchased almost all of my storage stuff at Thrift Town in Ft. Worth and saved a bundle. I bought a shelving unit for 4.99 and had just looked at Big Lots and they had almost the same thing for 30! Target had it for 70, so score! I also just picked up some really cute big fabric storage boxes for 99 cents at another store in my area.
*Goodwill and Thrift Town in my area sanitize all of their throw pillows. This is MUCH cheaper than buying them new.
Happy shopping!
I agree. Special event shoes are different. There’s no point in investing in something when you’re not sure if it’s going to be a long time thing.
I am expecting a baby and have found good deals on Craigslist. We bought over 60 outfits and a supply of baby socks for $20 which is a huge bargain – even compared to Goodwill! Now we are stocked and we only bought one outfit at a regular store.
We also got a great deal on a Pack n Play on Craigslist as well. It is easy to browse at home and then you can research the items to make sure you are saving money. Most people are also open to bargaining their price as well. For me it was easier than a garage sale since I could just pick it out at home and arrange a time to go get it.
I love to go right to the book section at thrift stores- we homeschool, so I am always on the look-out for some classic treasures (which are usually waiting to be found). I have also found some of my baby book favorites (“Goodnight Moon”, “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”, etc.) that I sometimes purchase for shower gifts (if they are in good enough condition). http://www.paperbackswap.com is another great way to get free books by exchanging your old ones.
Anything I can! Books especially, unless a favorite author, then I buy new and resell only to buy it again when I see the book for less then $1. Jeans. Fleece tops. Most clothing, including my husband’s work clothes (they’ll get dirty anyway). Yarn for my 12 year old to knit with. Music from CD swap or Amazon if I must have the cd. Bikes. Linens and fabrics that I can make into clothing for my daughter who is a living history re-enactor. Bought all my daughters barbies, bratz, magic ponies and polly pockets at garage sales when she was small. Though I have been avoiding garage sales lately as they seem to be a waste of time in my area. Estate sales can be better, if I don’t find anything, at least I got a tour of a house in a different neighborhood. Recent finds at estate sales have been garden tools, fabric, pottery, wood used to make trim for our new windows and a painting by my great-aunt who was a local artist. I have a rescued pony, goats and an former racehorse (saved from the horse meat market) do they count too? I prefer to give an older unwanted pet a home then encourage the breeding of more animals.
I have always had a really hard time wearing clothes that someone else has worn. Recently my sister-in-law took me to a store called the Crossroads and I fell in love. I LOVE designer jeans, you know those $300 dollar ones at Nordstrom. Well this store had all my favorite designers for $20 or less. I quickly got over my fear of used clothes. I will still only buy jeans used and don’t think I will ever be able to touch used shoes but I feel like I’m at least on the right path to being able to put a dent in my clothing budget.
I love finding good deals for clothes for my kids. Why shop retail, when I can usually save much more buying from a garage sale or a resale website. When I can’t find something specific at a garage sale, I love going to ww.w.thredup.com or http://www.mykidessentials.com to shop online at good prices. Especially if you pair it with a coupon code, it can make the prices worthwhile! I think at My Kid Essentials you can save 15% with Tryusblog15 or at thredup – save10tu
Small appliances. I’ve found a quesadilla maker for $6 (retail $20-$35), a Deni Electric Ice cream maker (with the insert that you freeze.) in original box for $15 (retail $40-$70) , a Foodsaver for $8 (retail $50), and — my favorite — A white Kitchen Aid Classic stand mixer with the attachments for $80 (retail $220). I use my smart phone to verify the parts and you can find the missing manuals online. I also make sure to plug it in to make sure it heats or moves or whatever.
We’re very blessed to have a Goodwill store near us that has great quality kids’ clothes at rock-bottom prices. All the kids’ clothes are $1.09 apiece, and many times they are name-brand. Just last week I was able to score several Justice hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants for my daughter. They looked new and were a size larger than she is wearing so they will be perfect for next year. I would never be able to afford to dress her in Justice clothes if it wasn’t for our Goodwill! I check it once or twice a week when I’m already out running errands. They also have a great selection of kids’ books for 50 cents, so forget those costly trips to Barnes and Noble. I agree about paying for good shoes, though. I will never scrimp on shoes.
I’ve bought several pair of jeans at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. I’ve paid from $4 to $6.99 per pair. In my area, there are 3 Goodwill stores. The first Saturday of the month, the Goodwill stores of Central Indiana have 50% off everything in the store (except for food products). I do look at the “Color of the Week” – these items only cost 99 cents on Sundays. The last time I was there, I bought a short-sleeved sweater for 99 cents and a nice-looking pair of Lee jeans for $6.99.
I visit thrift stores for: Vintage costume jewelry pins, books, games, placemats, curtains, home decor, Christmas ornaments, clothing for the whole family
However, I have found that most of the thrift stores near me charge a lot more for used kids clothes than I prefer to pay… same with clothes for me. Most of my kids’ clothes come from:
*Swaps/exchanges/hand-me-downs- about 20% of their clothes
*Church sales / garage sales – about 40% of their clothes
*New bought on clearance- about 10% of their clothes (including shoes, socks, underwear)
*Gifts from others- about 10% of their clothes (sometimes includes shoes/boots)
*Thrift or consignment store- about 20% of their clothes
Of course, my kids are ages 6 (girl, getting pickier), 2.5 (boy) and newborn girl… so at their young ages it’s easier to find used items at low prices.
I don’t usually buy shoes at thrift stores either, but then there are exceptions: fancy shoes for kids for weddings/funerals/school events. They are usually worn only few times. I might buy a fun and fancy pair of summer shoes for myself just to wear couple of times.
We often buy furniture, pictures/paintings and home decor at thrift stores. I love to buy pretty and unique dishes. Books! Kids’ clothing…I rarely buy anything new full price, I wait for sales because sometimes the prices get very cheap there as well. I sometimes buy magazines, toys and even bedding (I have found unopened packages of sheets, good blankets for kids etc.)
I love to score on Christmas decor at thrift stores…sometimes finding vintage items. I love decorating for the holidays!
So you can see I use thrift stores a lot!
I have never heard of online yard sales! How do they work and how do you find them?
Here they are listed by county, for example we just type in Raleigh County Yard Sale page, or other counties near and it will pull them up. They are awesome for finding good deals all winter long.
People just post pictures and a price of what they have to sale. You let them know if you are interested, plan a public meeting place (such as Walmart parking lot) look at the item and pay them. Super easy way to get rid of stuff too.
I like to shop for books and baking dishes at thrift shops.
Freezer cooking can sometimes tie up my 9X13s so I picked up a few extra for 2 and $3.
Also- fabric! Anytime I need to make something and don’t have what I need on hand, I will check the .99 rack at the Goodwill to see if I can find an old curtain or sheet first.
Toys are also a good thing to look for since so much ‘stuff’ ends up at the bottom of the toy box and stays new. 🙂
I mentioned this on the Facebook thread, but I would add books (especially kids books) to the list! Shopping at local used book stores can yield HUGE savings on books that your children will either a) read once or twice b) read over and over again until they fall apart or 3) outgrow the level of reading quickly. I’ve started shopping at “bag sales” to get around 30 kids books for $5. GREAT deal! And, I can pull out a couple at a time so that my kids always have a “new” book!
I haven’t bought a new purse in years. Always thrift. Just last week I found the most snuggly, soft, warm, over size sweater just for those really cold evenings watching tv or reading. Just in time for this Alberta Clipper coming through tonight. So pleased and for only 5 dollars. The other thing I purchase most from thrift stores has been the artwork on my walls and I’ll find jeans/pants that I’ll turn into capris or I may find what looks like a funky pair of pants ( would never be caught dead in but fit amazing) with a bit of tweeking turn into fantastic work pants. With the work I do a pair of pants can get ruined very quickly.
I am not a thrift shop or garage sale shopper. I take my girls clothes to a consignment shop and they usually sell them for more then I payed for them. I shop at the end of the season, which I know everyone can not do, I have already got their school supplies for next year. Some kids clothes can get the washed out look after a few washes so I look for quality clothes at a great price. We also frequent the library. I save the most money by making things, like our laundry and dish washer soap, hand foam soap, detangler, hairbows. I guess everyone has different ways that they save money for example I never take anything to the cleaners but also have never been to a garage sale.
I agree! I have never bought anything from a thrift store – especially after watching Hoarders tv show and they donate items – after seeing where the could of potentially come from it gives me the heebeegeebees! I know it’s not rational! I’ve also never been to a garage sale!
I agree especially with #4 — Don’t pay full-price for children’s clothing. Consignment shops (and seasonal consignment sales) are a great place to buy (and resell!) brand-name (i.e. quality) children’s clothing. And I typically consign clothes as my children outgrow them and use those profits to offset my clothing purchases. I’ve even “broken even” (or almost!) several times. 😉
I’m not very patient with digging through piles of stuff, so I prefer consignment sales and shops over the big-name thrift stores. Consignment sales tend to be well-organized, in my experience, and I can find what’s on my lists — and save time, too!
I also shop clearance sales at The Children’s Place, Gymboree, and Carter’s to “fill in gaps” or to get birthday presents for my children (and their cousins). I recently found t-shirts for $2 and $3 for presents.
I posted these and other ideas and how our family saves on clothing on my blog:
http://b1g1bargainsblessingsbananas.blogspot.com/2013/01/saving-on-clothes.html
Making lists so I shop with purpose has also helped me save. A brand-name t-shirt for $2 is only a bargain if it’s a need…
I definitely agree about buying younger kid’s clothing used. They just go through it way too fast. Also, certain toys are great used. Lincoln logs, legos, etc. They are easy to sanitize and don’t show “wear” like many other toys. I have gotten huge containers of them at garage sales for $1! Also, if you look them up on Ebay, they are quite expensive! So one day when my kids are done with them, they will make some decent money.
I buy most of my clothes, my children’s clothes, kids dishes, photo frames, some home decor, craft supplies, costumes, books, toys, and stuffed animals at the thrift store.
Kids toys are always great second hand, as long as they aren’t cracked. Also, I have found craft supplies, vases and baskets at our thrift store greatly reduced!
I agree with all! I have done all in the past and will continue to do so! Great post! Especially with Halloween costumes. Although my oldest son got a new one because I couldn’t find anything to fit him. But we look on Craigslist and thrift stores before we ever buy new.
Definitely agree with these! Especially the Jeans bit. Have found probably every pair of jeans or jean shorts that I wear in consignment, and still get admiration for them. I love to tell people when they ask “where did you get that?” that I got it in consignment. 🙂
Agreed! It’s always fun to tell people about bargain prices — and how they can get them, too. 😉
Oh how I wish I could find jeans at consignment/thrift stores that actually fit me. Wait…make that I wish I could find jeans ANYWHERE that actually fit. I often wonder who clothing manufacturers use as their model body these days, but it’s certainly nobody who’s built like me. A current women’s size 2 is about the same size as a 6 or 8 was several years ago – so someone who really needs a size 2 can’t find anything to fit. And junior sizes run smaller, but only if I want the waist of my jeans to be so low that it’s scandalous. I’ve actually even resorted to shopping in the girls department, but once you’ve “earned” your birthing hips :), girls pants no longer fit either. Without exaggeration, I probably try on 50-75 pairs of pants before finding one that fits. UGH!
Whew…thanks for letting me vent a little. I feel better already! 🙂
I completely understand where you are coming from, Aubrey. I often have to use a belt with the pants I find, or wear longer t-shirts with those pants that are indecently low. I have tiny hips that don’t match my larger waist, and this can make life very difficult when finding pants. The only solution that I can find is to wear jeans that are made to sit at the waist, those with a longer zipper. But then those can be hard to find because everyone now wears their jeans at the hip(or lower). A great find is when I can find jeans that are the right size for my hips, and then have a stretchy band in the waist, so they are not too uncomfortable there.
I understand also. Some size 2s swallow me whole, but Jones New York, Ann Taylor, Anne Klein and sometimes Talbots and Anne Klein still have “true” 2s. Can’t afford them new, but our consignment store has a remarkably good selection for living in a small town. Right now I am wearing Ralph Lauren jeans, size 2, that are just a tiny bit big, not enough to matter – yep, consignment store find. I wish you well in finding clothes that fit. I also can’t stand the really low cut jeans or the ones that look like the pockets are falling off your behind. I got a new $250 Anne Klein coat by putting it on a wishlist for a certain price, when it was back in stock. It was a couple of years ago, so I honestly don’t remember how it worked now, but it was either Amazon or Overstock.com that allowed me to put in to get an email when the coat I wanted was back in stock at the sale price. The emails would generally come in around 4:00am. Several times, I missed out when they sold out quickly, but I finally got a coat for $55, only $5 past my “hoped for” price — it took a few months of waiting, but I love it!
Yes! It’s so hard to find a decent pair of jeans when you’re on the smaller side! I can’t shop at Target because the only pants small enough are in the children’s department, but they are too short and have no “mommy curves”. I’ve been telling my husband for years that clothing manufacturer s have changed their sizing charts! My favorite pair of jeans are about 8 years old, fit perfect, and I can’t find another pair with the same fit.
I have exactly the same problem. Levis now has several different styles. 7 for all mankind has good deals on ebay and I like their fit. They are very expensive jeans, but if you are patient, you can get them for ten to twenty dollars. Denizen is at target and is actually a levi brand. Chaps brand at kohls are higher waist and small sizes! I am excited because I noticed they are making pants in a mid rise more now. Still not easy to find though!
I agree! Except I don’t mind buying costume new because we go to several Halloween events and after the holiday the kids can use them for role play or drees up games. If they don’t get ripped up we can donate the costumes to local charities to go to kids whose parents can’t afford a costume.
We always buy drinking glasses fro Thrift shops. We are rough and tumble with ours, so they’re always breaking. A dollar for a set of four glasses gets us far. We also buy books used (if we can’t find it at the library!) There’s always popular titles a year after the book is released or so, so you can still stay in the loop.
And sheets for sewing fabric. A couple bucks for a few yards is never a bad deal!
We use mason jars for drinking glasses now and have not had them break as easily as any other drinking glasses we tried.
Perfect! I do the same on all 4 accounts. There have been a few occasions where my kids needed something and I couldn’t find it at a thrift store. In those cases, I buy new, good quality, and larger sizes. Target has some fairly nice jeans for kids, with an adjustable waistband. Unless your child is super short you can easily buy two sizes larger than you need.
Oh and to answer the question…I buy my jeans at the thrift store. I buy name brand jeans worth $100, for $2 or less. And maternity clothes. Never buy new!
I am having a baby boy next week and I have bought a total of one outfit at a retail store on clearance. But I have so many clothes for the little guy, I already had to go through the stash and give some to a friend who didn’t have anything for her little guy.
-Most of my pile came from friends who were done having kids and didn’t want to mess with selling clothes. i am involved in mothers groups and church which helped me meet these awesome moms.
– Wait for the consignment shops to have dollar days. I shop Children’s Orchard locally and they have deals about every two months where certain items are $1. I rarely buy things there maked their cosignment price, which I think is pricey.
– Look for church sales or fundraising garage sales, easier to hit up these than to run around to small garage sales.
– Cosignment events like Just Between Friends or Kid’s Closet. They have 1/2 price days the last day- the first several days I think are still somewhat pricey.
– Facebook groups. Most cities have groups of moms that sell to each other on facebook, if you can’t find one- start one.
– I always buy up to a year in advance. Yes, that is risky not knowing the size- but I would rather spend $1 on something out of season than have to spend $15 because I need to have it.
I forgot after reading someone else’s post- I did buy a bunch of stuff at Gymboree for my boy- 50% off clearance with a 20% coupon- most of the stuff I bought was about 95% off. Even the check out lady was shocked:)
I, too, have been buying in advance (most recently up to three years in advance) because we’ll be moving overseas where second-hand sales and clearance prices are non-existent. I’m solving the problem of “fit” by planning “layered looks” with cardigans over t-shirts, etc. And, as a rule, I won’t buy pants unless they have adjustable (elastic) waists.
We recently needed something I hadn’t bought in advance — but when I looked at the $14 price tag, I decided we could wait. 😉 Thankfully, I found what we needed at Carter’s current clearance sale — for $5.
I completely agree about the adjustable elastic waists. The waists make kids’ clothes so much easier to pass from one sibling to another.
Another great consignment sale is Rhea Lana’s. I’ve bought and sold at our local one for the past 3 sales and I LOVE it. I always do the majority of my shopping on the next-to-last day, when everything goes half off. I’ve gotten nearly new full outfits for $3…
I guess I’m picky, but I’ve been very unhappy with the thrift stores’ selection near us. The prices aren’t that much better than consignment stores and clearance racks and they look dingy and dated.
I do much better shopping carefully and selling what I have at consignment sales (where I turn a good profit) then I can at a thrift store any day.
I do buy household goods and books at thrift stores though – they’re the best prices hands down.
I think most of us who buy used children’s clothes are NOT shopping at thrift stores. I checked out a few when my first son was born, and was appalled at the quality compared with the prices. I get my children’s clothing almost exclusively at garage sales.
Granted, for those of us who live in a state with four seasons, garage sale time is only about four months out of the year, but I take a few Saturdays a summer and hit the garage sales HARD. Use yardsaletreasuremap.com and visit garage sales in the nicest parts of town. Even at store clearance racks, I can’t justify paying $2 for a cheap shirt when I can get barely used Gymboree or BabyGap clothing for $1 a piece at a yard sale. In my experience, the nicer the area, often the lower the garage sale prices. Not always true, but more often than not, they just want to get rid of things, not make money. One gem of a sale had almost exclusively Gymboree boys and girls clothes, and was selling it for $5 a bag! Garage sales are especially good for dressier clothing that may have only been worn a handful of times. My son wears a lot of button down Gap and Ralph Lauren shirts, even to the park, because you can’t beat .50-$1 a shirt!
I go to thrift stores among other places and probably walk out with an item less than 10% of the time. When I score I score big so it is worth it to me and the thrift stores I check out are on route to other errands- so no extra gas!
Oh, no, I disagree! I just scored some like new 3 pairs of Old Navy and Children’s Place Jeans for $8 today at a thrift store. They were having a 75% off sale on certain items. I couldn’t believe it when the girl rang up my items. This thrift store is clean but pretty bare bones but there are some great deals to be had.
When my children were young we always made our costumes from items purchased at the thrift store. My best tips are: Think outside the box. With a few seams a brown tablecloth can be a perfect Obi-Wan Kenobi robe when matched up with a khaki jacket, pants and a belt. Uniform sections of the thrift store are a great place to pick up key pieces and formal wear sections are perfect places to find Princess dresses!
We kept a large suitcase in our attic with key pieces for costumes like robes, hats, bright colored or patterened jackets, shirts, and accessories like eye patches, glasses, bandanas, surgical face masks, a stethoscope they gave my son when he was in the hospital, and so forth. This suitcase saved us on many school dress up days and on a couple of Halloweens when we hadn’t had time to put a costume together.
Coffee mugs, we have tile floors and toddlers. We always are breaking some. So thrift it’s 89 cents and new is between $4-$10 a piece.
You can also usually find decent coffee mugs at the dollar store. My four-year-old gave them to her daddy and her grandma as gifts this Christmas. 🙂
You can find some really nice ones at that Dollar Store but be careful and try to buy “Made in America” if possible. Sadly, those made in other countries may have toxic materials including lead that can leach when a hot beverage is present. I think the Thrift store wins on this one.
I always have a list of items that I am keeping an eye out for at thrift stores but never clothing. The residual scented soaps and fabric softeners make me itch and I have never been able to remove them well enough. We have been in need of riding toys for our grandchildren when they visit and this week I bought 4 in good shape for $18 total. I was very pleased with that as 2 of them are Fisher Price.
I am always a little concerned about buying used toddler toys due to the large number of recalls that occur with children’s products. I always check with the manufacturer before buying used to be sure it hasn’t been recalled. I wouldn’t want to give my daughter something potentially dangerous. Her grandparents were so excited that they had found us a stroller and carseat for her at a yard sale for $35. Upon checking with the manufacturer, I discovered that they had been recalled and that the carseat was over 7 years old (they do not recommend using them after 5 years since the materials can break down over time and keep the seat from protecting the infant). I was able to get the recall fix kit from the manufacturer for the stroller, so I always recommend calling to be sure the product is safe.
Car seat expiration dates can vary a bit (for example, steel frame seats and boosters last longer than infant seats), but pointing out that car seats DO expire is a very, very good thing. All seats should have a date on them, and if they don’t, it’s a sign they’re very old. Seats that have been in an accident can also be ineffective, even if there’s no visible damage, so this is an item to buy new.
Totally agree on the carseat! We are expecting our 1st in just a few weeks and when we were first registering, I had a hard time convincing my MIL that we MUST have a brand new carseat. That was one I wasn’t willing to compromise on. She didn’t completely understand that they expire and that it’s very unsafe to use a seat that’s been in an accident.
In our state, it’s illegal to sell car seats at thrift shops. Unfortinately they can still sell them at garage sales. I would never but one used. Strollers I definitely would though. You can get them for one fourth the price!
Shopping consignment is great if you can find something that is your taste and size. I have not found that to be true for me most of the time. My forays have turned up little, but for young women ( I am over fifty) and teens there seems to be more. I have found going in early in the season just as in your department store is best for finding good things. I agree shoes are too important to buy used most of the time. Retailers offer so many sales and the discounted store like TJ Max supply most of my needs.
I totally agree about getting new shoes! I would have to add that I feel the same way about beds, especially since you keep them for such a long time. As far as thrift store shopping, my recent purchases including several ties for my brother for his new job. At $2 a pop I was able to get him a handful and they looked brand new!!!!
Beds are a must and I would not buy used shoes for myself unless they looked brand new and never for kids. Kids feet have to mold their own shoes and it is bad for them if there is an imprint from a previous child’s feet and this is an area that I almost always buy high quality leather for them. You can get them discounted on 6pm.com, endless.com or zulily all the time and to me I would rather save on most anything else to make sure they wear good shoes.
I have to disagree on children’s clothing. Typically combining clearance and a coupon I can pick up Gymboree pieces for cheaper than the clothes at Once Upon a Child. I hand them down and can usually still sell the, when I am done with them.
I think cars are always something you should buy used, in cash. Haven’t done this yet but we are working towards it.
DVDs are another thing, since so many people use Netflix, etc, I have found DVDs for a dollar each, great for ten hour summer road trips to see family or to surprise the girls with.
Once Upon a Child is ridiculous in terms of prices (at least the ones I have been to). Goodwill, Salvation Army and garage sales, on the other hand, are much, much cheaper than buying retail, even with all the coupons. Just wanted to let you know that in case you were only buying retail because of your experience at Once Upon a Child. You may want to check those other places first next time 🙂
I totally agree about the kids clothes. Some of them are ok at the thrift stores, but we can often go to Kohl’s, with a coupon, and go through their clearance racks with a fine tooth comb. I have found some amazing deals there and they are brand new, and can be brought to Once Upon a Child when you’re done. I often buy the year before and just buy bigger sizes for next year.
I think prices really depend on your region. In our previous home (western NY), Once Upon a Child and thrift store prices were very similar (3-4 dollars for shirts, 4-6 for bottoms), so I chose Once Upon a Child because it was higher quality. However, I could often find brand new clothes at Target or Kohls for the same price after combining sales and coupons.
In our new home, halfway across the country, both the consignment stores and the thrift stores are even more expensive, while prices for new clothes at nationwide stores are the same. I’m fairly certain I’ll have to watch sales and coupons to buy new clothes while living here (and get back into garage sale-ing).
Agreed, I will shop the clearance racks a year ahead unless it is something very specific (like my daughter only fits in baby gap jeans, we do not have an outlet and the style she prefers are generally $30 online), so I will occasionally check once upon a child for these, they are always $7 there. It is easier than driving to several garage sales when I probably won’t find those exact jeans in the right size, so worth the $7 and my time and gas to pick up a pair or 2. Anything else or basics we always wait for out of season sales or gymboree outlet/gymbucks, kohls coupons (although there quality is awful on most things) etc. I think as your kids get older than 3 it is so hard to find decent second hand items for them since kids wear them longer and are harder on them. For a dollar or 2 more I would rather buy new.
I mentioned on a previous post that in my experience secondhand stores of all types vary widely by location. I think it’s worth taking a few days to investigate and make notes on all the secondhand options in your area, especially if you’re new in town or it’s been several years since you’ve tried any. If it turns out none of them are acceptable, then you can buy new with a clear conscience.
Good point, Kate!
I agree with Kate. When we had a Once Upon a Child in our area, I bought a few things there, but soon discovered that I could buy brand new clearance items at a major department store for the same price or less. I try to go to Goodwill on 1/2 price days. In our area, they will do this on MLK day this Monday. It might be worth checking your local Goodwill.
I completely agree, Jessica. I just got home a few minutes ago from our Gymboree Outlet. I got shirts for my son and daughter for 3 dollars each…except they were really only 1.50 each, because I had GymBucks. So I spent 100, and but only had to pay 50. Still, even without having earned the GymBucks, those shirts were only 2.99 each!
Yes, you can find good deals on department store clearance racks and places like Gymboree. Sometimes only a dollar more than a used baby/child clothing item at a thrift store!
They say that your car loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot, but I have to say that buying a new car is worth it if you intend to keep your car for a long time. Not to mention the sheer headache used cars have. I’ve never been happy with any used car I’ve owned. However, our Toyota has over 200k miles and is 16 years old. It’s been well worth the sticker price. Knowing that you’ve always been the only owner and religiously taking care of the car are the two better options than buying used.
I’ve had exactly the opposite! We bought most of our cars used. We check them very thoroughly. My Toyota 4 runner had 150,000 miles when we bought it. I lo ed that car and it went forever! I now have a 2000 camry I got last year and I expect to get many more years from it. It’s only cost us anew battery, tires and 110 in parts!
Castiron pans. Always buy at thrift stores!! Dirt cheap and cleans up with salt and water. Reseason, boom! Good as new.
Oh, good suggestion!
Coats for my kids or myself. These days coats come in and go out of style so fast that normally you can great used coats at a fraction of the price!
Old pots and pans to take on camping trips. That way if you lose one or it gets too soiled from campfire cooking, just throw it out!
Grapevine wreaths. These are plentiful at my local thrift store. Even if they have decorations already on them, you just pull them off and start new! Why pay upwards of 10.00 or more for a new one, when a used one looks just as nice when you are finished decorating it!
Also, I wanted to add, why pay top dollar for furniture? Especially if you are looking for an odd piece! I shop our local furniture consignments store weekly just to see what has came in. Sometimes you can find that perfect piece you never knew existed!
I buy jeans, used, at Goodwill, on 99 cents jeans days. They have them at that price frequently. I have found many pair that look new, and some that still have tags on them.
It’s like Christmas for me when I find clothes I love with the tags still on them!
I buy all of our kids clothes on the online yard sales on Facebook. Its great because I can see exactly what I’m buying and often get a bulk price from buyers. Typically I now buy for each child from the same seller. You form a relationship and you know the clothes are of good quality every time.
How do you find those in your area?
I have never heard of online sales on FB . How do you find them?
When you are in FB, go to the Search for friends at top
Key in: Online Yard Sale and it pulls up many.
I’m in Georgia, so I put “Georgia Online Yard Sale”
Pulls up towns like Woodstock, Canton, Cumming, Dawsonville, Jasper.
When it pulls up one in your area, click and request to join the group.
I have joined 10 groups for areas around here, and check them weekly for deals. I would say 90% of my Christmas shopping was exclusively on this.
I buy ahead for sizes. Daughter in 7-8 so I’m buying 10-12 and is the sleeves are long, we roll them up an inch until she grows into them.
You can post your items on here free also, and I made $200 in two weeks from items I was clearing out of the house and garage. People selling cars, clothes, toys, everything you can imagine.
You definitely need to check out, and if there isn’t one in your area, maybe you could start one. Word of mouth spreads fast.
Search for your county or city name or for Buy/Sell/Trade and the county or city name.
we have those in our area as well, but we have a few dedicated solely to childrens items, baby items, clothes, furniture, etc that are listed under “mamaswap”
Books! Either borrow them from the library or purchase them second-hand. MUCH cheaper than paying list price at a bookstore.
Oh yes! As a teenager I spent lots of money at the big chains, but I reevaluated in college. Now I get most of my books from the library and am much more careful about which books I actually want my own copies of. I look for them at yard sales, thrift stores, and used book stores. (I generally avoid used copies online because the shipping often costs more than the book.) I don’t buy many ebooks either because I can get used copies so much cheaper. After college I went through my bookshelves systematically and sold a lot of my books to the used bookstores (it’s surprising how many I was hanging onto despite never planning to reread), and the resulting credit lasted me a long time.
There are also some great used bookstores out there that are more likely to have what you’re looking for then say, Goodwill, but sell at half list price or less.
I can get clothes for $2 at the thrift store. I rarely ever go and spend retail unless someone has given us a gift card.
I buy a lot of my daughter’s clothes at thrift shops, and actually my husband and I buy quite a few of our clothes there too.Thrift stores are also good places to buy furniture, we’ve bought shelves there before.