Do you like to shop at thrift stores?
By Yuki
@yukimori (10143)
United States
September 28, 2015 12:45pm CST
I have a love/hate relationship with most of the thrift stores in my area. I love them because they tend to have great stuff for really reasonable prices, and hate them because having great stuff at really reasonable prices leads to me wanting to clutter up my apartment with more stuff I don't need.
Okay, it's a me problem. But I'm getting a lot better about it since reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. I'm down to visiting only one store regularly, and that's only because a friend of mine volunteers there. Walking out without buying anything usually isn't an issue. If I do find something I absolutely have to have, I tell myself that I have to make room for it by donating a box full of things I don't want or need the next time I go there. 
This week, I caved and bought a paper shredder there. It was something I needed because the one I had died, although I didn't really want it because it's so big. I got it anyway because the big bin of papers to be shredded was overflowing and driving me crazy, and they dropped the price on it from $25 to $10. And now that I've gotten the chance to try it out, I really like it. It's a crosscut model that can handle credit cards, and it has an automatic feed feature. I can put up to 100 sheets in, close the lid, and let it do its thing while I do something else. I don't even have to remove paperclips or staples from documents before putting them in. It's quiet, too!
Oh, and I feel like I basically stole it. The original retail price on that model was $300. 
What's the best deal you've gotten at a thrift store?
This week, I caved and bought a paper shredder there. It was something I needed because the one I had died, although I didn't really want it because it's so big. I got it anyway because the big bin of papers to be shredded was overflowing and driving me crazy, and they dropped the price on it from $25 to $10. And now that I've gotten the chance to try it out, I really like it. It's a crosscut model that can handle credit cards, and it has an automatic feed feature. I can put up to 100 sheets in, close the lid, and let it do its thing while I do something else. I don't even have to remove paperclips or staples from documents before putting them in. It's quiet, too!
Oh, and I feel like I basically stole it. The original retail price on that model was $300.
What's the best deal you've gotten at a thrift store?23 people like this
24 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
29 Sep 15
The nearest equivalent in England would probably be the £1 shops, which are quite abundant these days. The majority of the items sold there are quite basic and naturally rather poor quality, but there are also some worthwhile items available.
I do tend to visit these places on a regular basis, calling in for a walk around each time I am passing by. The majority of times I will end up walking around and then leaving without buying, but quite often something worthwhile is on offer.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
28 Sep 15
mercy! ya did find yerself quite the steal! i mean deal! i rarely go into those places here 's they're too proud 'f their 'lost treasures'. the hubs brings in 'nough oddities. like his recent 'find' 'f chubby pizza guy salt 'n pepper shakers. ya know, coz they only cost a quarter fer the pair? sigh... confess to've gone through a period 'f profound dumpster divin' though, 't the local dump. got some gorgeous antiques (well, 'fter they were cleaned up 'n refinished anyhow). they put a stop to such, preferrin' it to jest spend decades rottin' instead. i've a beautiful dressin' table 'long with other 'schtuff'. mamaw used to say we were the only folks she knew that came home with more'n they hauled off.
2 people like this
@much2say (54804)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Oct 15
Oh gosh, I am a thrift store addict!! Our house is really cluttered - but not with thrift shop items (that's another issue). I love buying books and clothes! Call me cheap, but I love going throught 99cent rack at one particular store - and if it happens to be the tag color of that week, I get an extra 40% off of that. So, a 99cent rack item can cost 59cents - and I LOVE that!! Now if only I can get a bigger closet at a thrift shop! 
1 person likes this
@OKennedy (1130)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Thrift shops are both good and bad for the reasons you gave. I can't think of the best deal I have ever gotten at one. Another great thing about them is that you find things that might not be as popular today. Great antiques to find if you are into re-purposing or reselling things Some people just like to do it just for fun which is great too.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 15
It's been quite sometime since I bought something from the thrift store. They do have great deals for many items, though.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
28 Sep 15
i think we all like thrift stores it makes me really happy to go to a thrift store you can really get some great buys also you can get other stuff for very little thrift stores are my gem
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
29 Sep 15
For me, charity shops are the new second-hand bookshops, and are therefore irresistible! There's a street in Leicester (my nearest city) that has two book-only charity shops nearly opposite each other. It is therefore impossible to visit one without visiting the other!
1 person likes this
@sallypup (59747)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Sep 15
I love going to a thrift store when we are on vacation. I meet local people there and also help a local charity. Usually I can find something unique to that locale to bring home from the shop. I have a blue glass pasta jar that I carted home from a Canadian island. Love it on my counter plus I feel a bit of that island ambience when I look at it.
1 person likes this
@happytails (299)
•
29 Sep 15
I love thrift shops! You can find the best deals, the coolest stuff and things you absolutely don't need, have room for or even know why you got it in the first place!
The thing is I don't even think it's what I buy or get, it's just the fun of looking! Some of the stuff you wonder where it came from! Other things make you sad because you wonder why they gave it up. And some of the things make you laugh!
At least when you walk out you walk out with more than just stuff, at least that's how I see it!
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
14 Nov 15
I do not really like to buy things, so the cheap things in thrift shops will not make me buy more unnecessary things.
I do like to buy batteries, and cleaning detergents from thrift shops.
These are the items that I always have to use, and will rather save than to buy from the supermarket.
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
28 Sep 15
Honestly I cant remember the last time I shopped at a thrift store.
I love them, but I think the last thing I had got were some second hand tops for myself..just a couple.
I have sort of lost the thrill of looking anymore.
I am glad you can make good use of them, you can find some awesome deals that is for sure.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
29 Sep 15
its amazing what kinda treasures you can find the prices are great
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
13 Oct 15
I usually buy beads that I take apart and use in my art, or clothes. I love to shop before we go someplace warm and sandy looking for dressy clothes that are comfortably and beachy for dressing for dinners. I'm not one who buys things...occasionally furniture if something catches my eye.
