Do You Shop at Thrift Stores?

Yes. I buy books and sometimes some clothing. I also try to get things we aren't going to use often, like snow pants for my GD. She will only use them a couple of times per year (it doesn't snow here) and then grow out of them so no point spending a lot of money. As far as a reasonable amount, it depends on the item and how "used" it is.

As my kids get older, not anymore.

I've found not all thrift stores are created equal. And like everything else, brands, prices, and condition will vary from store to store. You just have to look for one that suits you.

Oh, you mean, do I shop at "Sal's Boutique"? (That's our code word for the Salvation Army thrift stores). Yes.

I shop for myself, and only for better quality clothing. I look for Talbot, Jones New York, Liz Claiborne. I shop by label first, and never buy the brands that are in K Mart or Target. Some of my nicest clothing comes from Sal's. I got a Talbot sweater that was in Talbot's for nearly $200 for less than $4. What's reasonable depends on the original price of the item. I google it in the store, and if it's available at the mall for $15 and it's at Sal's or Goodwill for $5.99, I pass it up. But if it's White House Black Market or Ann Taylor, and it's $90 or $150, at the thrift store for less than $10, and if it fits and I like it and it's in good condition, I would buy that. I also try to find the thrift stores that are in more expensive towns or sections of cities - maybe it's just my imagination but I think those stores have better clothing selections.

Last year we were browsing Sal's for a nightstand for my son. We happened to see a large desk and my son instantly recognized it. He's an audio engineer and he knew it was a sound technician's desk and had seen them in studios. I didn't know anything about it of course, and didn't understand the configuration until he explained, and then I googled it. The nameplate of the manufacturer was on the used desk and that exact desk was still available on line for nearly $4,000! Sal's was selling it for $60. We bought it on the spot, my son came back the next day with a borrowed truck, and he is one happy young man.

I used to in my 20's in the early 90's for budget reasons and to score funky vintage stuff, but then I took a long break from thrift shopping, then when I had kids and started donating toys toys toys, I'd cruise the aisles for their clothes and walk out with all we needed for virtually no money. Now I get everything I can at thrift stores to spare the environment from manufacturing new stuff (skateboard, scooters, bikes, kids clothes) and to save tons of $. I admit, I still get my own clothes mainly new or from ebay because I like to have very few, high end things. But for the kids-the more thrift the better! They just outgrow them! Plus the thrift stores near us are for charitable causes. The reasonable amount to spend is DIRT CHEAP.

I mostly shop at thrift stores. If I don't find what I'm looking for there then I only buy it new if it's on major clearance. I also belong to a couple local Facebook groups that sell items online and will randomly shop local thrift stores with my other SAHM's for fun just to get out.

I don't think anyone can answer "what's a reasonable amount to spend on a used item." I have seen crazy high prices on some things that are low priced new and I've gotten amazing deals on others things. For example, I noticed a new purse with it's tags still on it in my colors. It had a name I didn't recognize but looked "nicer" than a normal purse so while I was in the store I googled it...found it new online for $256...so I bought it for $8. I didn't care it was a name brand, just happy that it was the colors I liked.

My kids are 13 and 16 and most of the clothes I buy them still have the tags on although they don't care if they are used or not as long as they are in good shape. I'm glad they aren't all caught up in name brands. I have found new shoes, PartyLite candles (VERY expensive new), board games to try out (I make sure all the pieces are there), new insulated lunch bags for the kids...a MILLION books, sewing kit items, purses, luggage, furniture, bedding, rugs, basically everything. I haven't bought underwear though for some reason. lol Oh and I've found nice night gowns for just a few dollars, most still with tags, so I can surprise hubby often and it doesn't cost much. =0)

Rarely but I do shop there sometimes. I look for costume items when needed and like to look at the plates/bowls etc. I've found some nice, simple plates and bowls, plain white that have mixed well with what I've already owned. As to the price, it just depends what its worth to me at the time. If it's something I know I won't be able to really find elsewhere, I'll pay more.

I love thrift shops. I buy furniture there and then update it to fit my decor. Most recently I got a cute computer table and some new chairs for my dinning set. For price, it really depends on what it is and how badly I need it. If something is real wood vs. press board it will be worth more, ect. and I also look at how much work it would take to make it look really nice again.

Not really. If I happen upon a garage sale or charity sale I have picked up a few children's toys and games.

I shop regularly at thrift stores for quality brand name clothing and housewares. If we need something I look for it in a thrift store before I would even consider buying it new. When I make a thrift shop purchase I normally wouldn't pay more than 25% of what the item is worth new, and I usually pay much less than that. Everybody wins shopping at the thrift store. Most thrift stores support charities, I save money and I help the environment by saving things from the landfill and not creating a need to manufacture more items.

I shop thrift stores more than I do anywhere else.
I have bought furniture, books, small appliances, linens, clothing, shoes, jewelry, dishes at thrift stores.
Reasonable price varies according to the item in question.

Yes, everyone but one person I know shops for great sales at thrift stores.

Soap works. Vinegar or bleach added into a wash load also sanitizes that load if you don't think soap works. Drying clothes in a dryer helps to sanitize clothes...

No matter what sort of clothing it is, undies, bras, slips, dresses, pants, or more, they are clean as when purchased when they've been laundered correctly.

I don't think I'm going to get cooties from putting on something that touched another person's body.

I have a friend who is a germaphobe. She almost never even buys anything in the stores because they might have been tried on by someone else. She orders most everything online and has it delivered to her home, for her whole family.

I never buy anything at a second hand shop and wear it without washing or dry cleaning it. That would be gross.

For pricing. Rich people who like designer clothes don't often shop at thrift stores, they do sometimes make donations. My mother in law went to the Salvation Army thrift store one day and found a whole load of Harve Bernard clothing. Suits, blouses, skirts, and more. There was also a whole rack of Clark shoes. Someone must have passed away and their family had emptied out their closet. She bought everything that fit her. The tops were $1-$1.50 each. The Clark shoes were $2.00 a pair, right along with everything other pair of shoes in the store.

My mother in law spent over a hundred dollars in that store that day and walked away with sacks and sacks and sacks of designer clothing that she loved and wore the rest of her life.

If those items had been overpriced for "where" they were then they wouldn't have sold.

For the most part, everyone who shops at thrift stores need to buy things that are a great deal. Not find half priced things.

I go to a few thrift stores in my town. A couple, that I don't frequent, price their things way too high. I mean, I can go to Walmart and buy the same exact tee shirt, same brand and size and everything, for $3.50 and those thrift stores will have it priced for $5. Ummmm, who's the idiot pricing your items?

People want things for pennies on the dollar they cost. So keep the prices down and people will buy them. One of the stores that I do go to almost weekly has a ton of things priced a dollar.

On Monday it is Senior Citizen Day, they get 30% off their total bill.

Tuesday it's Half off the yellow sticker items. These are the items that are expensive items like new items that still have the tags on them and they paid $90 for a dress...higher cost items. They mark them up but expect them to go out the door at half the price marked. They don't often sell these items though. I've seen them repriced for that half price many times so when they are actually purchased they got half of the half price they originally marked that item. Then sometimes they still don't sell and they mark them a dollar and they get bought.

Wednesday is sack sale day. Anything you can stuff into a plastic Walmart sack is $5 or less, depending on how much stuff they need to get rid of. It's been all the way down to $2 sometimes. Like when the seasons are changing and the racks are full of long sleeve sweaters and heavy items. They need to get the donations out that are for warmer weather so they just need stuff gone.

Thursday is 20% off day. Anything that does not have a yellow tag is on sale. I can get so many things for 80 cents on those days. That's where a lot of the kids play clothes come from.

Then on Friday it's something else. I can't remember because I don't often get in there on Friday. But Friday is most people's pay day so they want them to come in and pay as much for items as they will.

So keep your prices down.

Yes, I love good thrift stores. I get good quality kid's clothes and kid's shoes there. I think $7 or less is a great price....depending on the item. I look for brand name, high quality things that still look pretty new. I am not a big fan of junky thrift stores where you have to spend a lot of time looking to find something good. I just don't have that much time. In my 20's we did almost all our shopping at thrift and consignment stores...that is where much of our furniture is from and where I used to buy most of my clothes. We got all our kitchen stuff at a thrift store back then. Anything really. We were poor grad students then and paying 50 cents for something was in the budget!

Just came back from shopping at one this morning!
I haven't been in years - so was surprised at all the good finds. I got a brand name hoodie for one of my kids for $2.99 that would normally retail at over $60.00. Barely looks worn.
Some of the more expensive clothing was going for $10.00 to $29.00 for a jacket.
Books were $1.00 each. Toys were all under $5.00. They had Fisher Price sets (little people, etc.) for about $5.00.

No. I know there can be good deals, but there are good deals at the stores, too.

I was at Goodwill recently (a friend hosts an annual "Thrift store Bash" and you have to dress head to toe from a thrift store--the uglier the better) and noticed that all tops were $4.99. The day before I got a new top for myself (long-sleeve t-shirt) at the GAP Factory Store for $3 (It was $14.99, marked to $9.99 and all clearance was 70% off). Why would I buy a used shirt for $4.99 when I can get a brand new one for $3?

yes.
depends on what items i need.
depends on what the item is and how used it is.
khairete
S.

Not on a regular basis, but yes, I don't mind shopping in a thrift store.

I get my daughter's jeans there. She wears a uniform to school and wears basketball shorts when she is not in uniform. As well, she has done her share of growing so she wears the jeans for an hour on Sunday, or one day out of the school year on jean day.

Otherwise:

Countertop appliances
vases
glass coffee table (does a consignment shop count)
tools
picture frames

Yes and I love them. A good portion of my dress clothes come from consignment shops and thrift stores. I've also picked up kitchen ware really cheap. Most of my mugs and glasses came from savers. I also picked up a pair of kamik winter boots for my granddaughter last year for $6 (retail $50). If you are looking for mugs, flower vases, a seasonal decorations you can get them dirt cheap. Of course you don't have a selection to choose from and what you need may require several trips because selections change constantly.

Absolutely.

One thing I do is I know my local sales for items, so that I know that I can get Children's Place shirts for $3 on sale but new, therefore the thrift store shirts are not worth $4 to me. I did pay $5 each for some work shirts that I know retail for $40.

Our local thrift stores also have half off days. Wish I knew one was coming up to get half off winter gear this week! I just went shopping this weekend. Oh well. I still got DD snowpants for $6, which considering that many local places were selling for $30+ IF they were in stock, wasn't bad. And she tends to wear them 2 years.

I will also buy things like coffee mugs and picture frames. I tend not to buy toys unless they are Little Tykes or something that held up really well, but I will shop used sales for books or movies or music. I freecycle for a lot of things as well.

Reasonable price varies by area. My mom's area's cost of living is less, so things are cheaper there. I'll pay more for an item of a good brand, like a London Fog coat over a Circo coat. I will also go to a local children's consignment sale to support a local preschool. Their prices are a little higher, but their quality is also a little better.

The trick is also to know your size if fitting rooms are not available. I won't buy pants if I know I need to hem them or get the waist fitted since then I might as well just go to the mall. UNLESS they are a really expensive brand and worth the effort.

right after college, i got a job. great job but i had no money at all. so with my first salary i went to a thrift store. bought some essentials. i replaced everything within months. since then, i have not shopped for anything at thrift stores. i find great sales on everything we need/want.