Thrift Store Shopping
Other than items such as food and specific clothing or other items that I have a good reason for not buying used, thrift store shopping (as well as yard sale shopping) replaces many of the items I need or want to buy that are available (or not available) new. It’s thrilling to me to plan a day of yard sale-ing and thrift store shopping. It gives me something to look forward to that doesn’t cause me grief. I enjoy bargain hunting even if I don’t buy anything. And sometimes I can go to several yard sales and not by a single thing. The fun of going is good enough and I usually do find some really neat stuff that I had been wanting and waiting for. Moderation & Planning Even going to yard sales and thrift stores can use up a lot of money and fill your home with too much stuff if you over-do it. I plan my trips well and go into it with a certain mindset. You can go into debt by taking advantage of too many sales, clearances, and bargains. First of all, I always map out the route for yard sales and stores to save time and fuel. It may seem like I am using a lot of gas driving “all over” our small town hunting for bargains, but I realized once that I can go to 15 or more different places without exceeding 30 miles altogether. Another way I moderate my shopping is by being very, very picky. If I don’t love it or need it, and I have to think too much about it, I don’t buy it or I carry it around a while to think about it until I come to a conclusion. I’m not a very impulsive person, so when shopping with people who are, they might get a little impatient with me, but I also have a slow-paced life and no consumer debt or a house full of junk. ☺ Sometimes if I find an article of clothing for my daughter at a thrift store, but I’m not sure if I should buy it, I set a condition to be met first. For instance, once I found a cute skirt for my daughter. But I don’t usually put her in skirts and I knew she didn’t have a shirt at home that matched. So I told myself that I would buy the skirt if I found a shirt to match over in the “shirt aisle”. I put the skirt in my cart and ended up finding a shirt to match. She wore the outfit a month or two later and, along with a beautiful scarf I found at a yard sale (which I tied in her hair like a headband), she had a cute outfit for a few bucks. I get so pleased and even (shhh, don’t tell) sort of giddy over my bargains that it adds an element of savor and fulfillment to our simple lives. To keep it simple and enjoyable, I don’t go shopping every weekend or every opportunity I can. I go through cycles of not going for several months and then I start thinking about it again and may “poke” my mom to go with me. It’s something we enjoy doing together. I always have a few items on my mind that I stay on the look out for. I have found that almost without fail, I find what I need by the time I need it if I just wait and watch. I never get over the feeling derived from knowing that I’m not constantly buying stuff, and at retail or measly “sale” prices, no less. The less I buy, the better I feel. Some things I watch for are clothes for my daughter and myself, terrific books (Mainly for my daughter. We homeschool and just love to read), household items, etc. I know some people aren’t comfortable with buying used items, but for most items, it’s not as bad as it may seem. I don’t fault a person for not wanting to buy a used mattress or sofa or something like that, but so many other necessities and modest extras can be obtained from other people selling them for pennies on the dollar. The fantastic thing about yard sale and thrift store shopping is that I can turn around and have a yard sale of my own and sale stuff for close to the same price I bought it for, sometimes more! And that’s after I got my own use out of it. It also makes it easier to donate, and I’ve given many useful items away. Yard sale and thrift store shopping with some planning and scrutiny (remembering to focus on needs over frivolous extras) can help you to simplify and enjoy life more. Go to Money Management Tips from Thrift Store Shopping |
