The other store is great for clothes! W/ a tall, skinny, growing daughter, an inexpensive source for jeans is a must!

That’s too awesome! I’m such a jeans and t-shirt girl that I don’t get much opportunity to do that – but you’ve totally inspired me to find the funkiest, most obviously thrift-store outfits I can

Actually, Panda, it sounds like YOU need to either actually visit a thrift store once in a while; or if this is actually based in personal experience – check out some others. I’m a dedicated thrift store shopper and I’ve never, EVER seen one like that.

@ Jennifer

Great article. I think it’s hilarious, though, that people feel compelled to justify shopping @ thrift stores, when really, the people who owe people an explanation are those who just mindlessly go to the G*p or wherever, just because some advertising exec told them to. This is going to get worse, especially in the States, as the people are told that consumerism is the salvation of the free world.

(ahem, excuse the rant). Great article!

Items are priced very low, all the money raised stays in our town, our clerks are very competent and although there may be some ‘uncultured’ citizens shopping there, I have also seen many women I know shopping there with college degrees, doctors for husbands, very well educated folks who know a bargain when they see one. Yes we even have poor people shopping there and that means they have clothes on their backs as there is no other place within 30 miles that they can shop at a reasonably priced store. The whole town supports this store with donations and some of the donations are incredible!!!

I get many books to read there. I find great craft items there. I find clothes for my hubby, rarely do I find clothes for me but that is okay because I make my own. My son when setting up his apartment found a great recliner for $20 and a side table for $2. what more furniture does a young kid in their first apartment need?

I’ve never been ashamed to shop at thrift stores, perhaps because I grew up poor and it was one of the few places we could shop? I don’t know, but jumbling all thrift stores into the same pot as messy nasty places is sad to see.

One of my favorite tops that I have been wearing for something like 5 years or so now I got at a bag day they had once. It was one of many items in the bag, so cost me about 8 cents! It is wearing like iron and I have been trying to find a pattern just like it so I can recreate it as I know someday it will die. Obviously I don’t go by the fashion rules of tossing your clothes for the latest stuff each year!

So if you are willing to put up with the above, then yes, I suppose you would not be ashamed to shop at thrift shops.
It just seems to me to be too many “cons” verses “pros” just too save a few cents.
I personally don’t feel that all of that is worth my time and trouble, therefore, although I would not be “ashamed” to shop there, I simply just would not do it.
Thanks for allowing me to share my view.