Thrift Shopping Made Easy!

I never used to like to thrift shop. I don't really know why, I guess I just figured that I had enough junk of my own. But thrift shopping has quickly taken over as my number one favorite kind of shopping. It used to be antique shopping, with craft store shopping tied with book shopping for second. I absolutely hate to grocery shop, and if I go to the mall, I stay in the book store while my husband goes everywhere else.

There are a few steps that will help you to become a better thrift store shopper. First, you must get used to the smell. All thrift stores tend to smell the same, and it is an acquired smell. I used to hate it. Now I nearly swoon when I open the door.

Second, you must first scan everything quickly, and then go back slowly and look at everything of interest to you. This is because you can never be sure what's available. I know that I will want to spend the majority of my time looking at the books, but I always first look at the clothes. I'm not too terribly interested in size, I scan labels looking for quality stuff that I know will last.

Thirdly, you must put up with screaming bratty kids. It isn't legal to hit them, so you actually have no other choice. Not that I would hit a kid, but I have been tempted. For some reason screaming bratty kids are a staple in the thrift stores I frequent.

Finally, be prepared to stand in line for a while. Customer service is not especially high on the list at most thrift stores. Sometimes the help looks very tired, which might have something to do with the third item.

Now, once you get your fabulous thrift store finds home, you are on your own as to what to do with them. I have a room filled with the wonderful book finds I've gotten in the past year. If I started now, I will be a very old lady by the time I finish them all, but, I HAVE THEM!

I would never have discovered the wonderful world of the thrift store if my husband hadn't lost his job. I do not know what we would have done for affordable fun if we hadn't discovered thrift shopping.

Don't tell my husband, but today I found a perfect Land's End cashmere sweater for $3.99. This will be his birthday present. He will love it. I wasn't shopping for a cashmere sweater, I was merely reading the labels.

More on thrift shopping later...