Thrift Stores…

Here in Tucson, we have about three dozen retail stores selling used goods. In Midtown, along Speedway Boulevard between Craycroft Road and Swan Road, you will find a concentration of them, with Goodwill, the Speedway Outlet, 1st Rate 2nd Hand, and Play It Again Sports all near each other. Whenever I need something, I try these thrift shops first, not only because things tend to cost much less there, but because I care about the environment and try to reuse and recycle things that others have discarded, rather than buy items made from raw, non-renewable natural resources.

Another advantage of used clothing stores is that you can usually find a wide range of fashions from many periods, including classic looks that never go out of style, whereas in stores selling new clothing, the colors and cuts are usually limited to the current trends, some of which I find horrendously unattractive.

Some of my recent resale shop purchases include:

1. A like-new 12” tall stuffed teddy bear for $2; it would have cost at least $10 new.
2. A like-new pair of gorgeous Tommy Hilfiger heels for $20; they would have cost over $100 new.
3. An Ann Taylor soft leather handbag in perfect condition for $20; it went for about $150 new.
4. A Panasonic VCR with remote control for $10; I don’t think they even sell these in appliance departments anymore.
5. A bag with a dozen miscellaneous butter knives in it for $2. I was running low on butter knives, and it doesn’t bother me if they don’t match (in fact, I kind of like the eclectic look), so they have proved very helpful.
6. A three-ring binder for 50 cents; these can anywhere from $3 to $15 in office supply stores.

A Few Tips:

• I keep a list of things I’d like to buy in my wallet, and when I go to a thrift store, I check to see if any of them are for sale.
• I can sometimes find really nice gifts (for people whom I don’t think will mind receiving something that isn’t new). For example, if someone I know collects something, there are often unique little trinkets to add to their collection.
• I also look out for things that could be raffled off by groups I belong to, to help them raise funds. Every year the Tucson Audubon Society (a group that protects birds and their habitats) holds a silent auction at their annual holiday party. I have donated unusual bird art prints and antiques that I’ve bought at thrift stores, at a bargain, just for that purpose.
• Very often, while browsing, I’ll notice something I that didn’t come in for but that I really like. It might be a carved wooden duck decoy, or a colorful throw pillow, or an unusual kitchen utensil. And the prices are so low! However, I try not to do too much impulse buying, because I’m trying to keep my possessions and house clutter to a somewhat manageable level.
• Some people feel that these stores are dirty. While they may occasionally smell a bit like – well – used stuff, most of the time I don’t notice an unpleasant odor at all. Still, it’s always a good idea to wash used clothing before you wear it, just to make sure it’s clean.

When you shop at Goodwill in particular, you support a non-profit organization that helps people with disadvantages or disabilities to find work and better their lives. When you shop at nearly any thrift store, you are supporting a local business and thus the local economy.

So, if you haven’t “shopped used”, give it a try!