Thrift Store Scores.
When I was growing up, my mom always had designer purses despite her meager salary. She didn’t spend a lot to get them, she just had a simple trick. When it was time to go shopping, she drove to affluent areas and frequented their thrift stores.
I was in the market for new jeans and I must admit that as a recovering brand-slave, I wanted a nice pair of jeans. I remembered my mom’s old trick and figured what the hey, might as well go check out the Goodwill in Menlo Park.
Without a doubt, this was the nicest thrift shop I’d been to in my adult life. The racks were neat and there was even a separate section for designer names. Everything was in mint condition and a bunch of things still had the tags on them.
The prices were much more expensive than other thrift shops, but it was still a steal. I snagged a pair of brand new Lucky Brand jeans with the tags still on. As far as I can tell, they’d retail for $80 and I got them for $18. The J Brand jeans didn’t have tags but they’re in great condition. In stores they retail for a whopping $160. And I paid thirteen bucks.
I’m thrilled with my thrift shop scores. There wasn’t even sales tax charged, so for $32 I walked out with nearly $300 worth of merchandise. Name brands for 10% of the original retail value? My mom is obviously on to something here.
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Congratulations on the score! I absolutely love finding things at Goodwill; I’m shocked at what I sometimes can get there. I used to collect vintage Russel Wright dinnerware, and found a cool serving bowl in the window, being used as a fly catcher. The woman working at the store was shocked I wanted to dump out the fly water and pay the marked $1.29 for it.
Okay, I just had to google Russel Wright. Goodness, that stuff is beautiful. I especially like the pitchers.
Wow, I totally do the same thing. I never thought about doing it until I noticed one of my roommates freshman year – who dubbed herself the Queen of Poverty despite the fact that we were at a prestigious university – dressed more stylishly than I did. After I got married, I realized that I actually prefer shopping at thrift stores – better style (by my tastes), lower price. I actually blogged about a thrift store spree I went on recently. I reeeally needed an upgrade.
Your mom knew how to shop. The thrift store I got to is very well stocked but I haven’t tried seeking out thrift stores in affluent neighborhoods.