Dear Friend,
Can I tell you a secret? I used to be afraid of the thrift store. I used to think they were a little icky, a smelly building that certainly must be full of yellow armpit stained shirts and tacky tchotchkes.
But then came 2018 and my heart check on waste and cheap fashion. My mom is always finding treasures at the thrift store and curiosity finally got the best of me. I was ready for her to teach me her ways.
Just a few trips in and I’m a believer! I’m sure there are places out there that fit my naive description above, but I really think they must be the exception, not the rule. Anyway, I wish I could have you over for coffee so I could proudly share my latest finds, but maybe a little virtual sharing will do in the meantime? Check out what I found:
In my very new experience of thrift store shopping, the way clothing is handled makes or breaks a shopping trip. My mom and I visited one store that is amazing in its organization! I practically found an entire spring wardrobe for just a few dollars a piece! J.Crew, Gap, even a Merona sweater with tags.
Years ago, I bought a set of dishes at Target. We’ve slowly lost pieces due to chips and falls and I was at a point where I was debating whether to buy more of the same or invest in something different. Lo and behold, I found my exact dishes at Goodwill. Seven dinner plates, six salad plates and a handful of bowls for just $2 a piece! In one swoop, my dishes were replenished for half the price. My best find to date.
Books! I could browse the books all day long. Most books are only $1, but my favorite is when you discover at the register that some are half off.
I try to keep focused, but some things are just too great to pass up! I loved these sweet vintage candle-holders and can’t wait to use them this Christmas.
Are you a seasoned thrifter? Tell me your best tips and tricks. Have you recently been to Goodwill? I’d love to hear all about your finds!
xo,
Ashley
A QUICK REVIEW OF THREDUP’S GOODY BOX PROGRAM
Okay, so maybe thrift stores aren’t your thing or the idea of browsing with little kids in tow gives you hives. (No judgement here!) Another option is ThredUp, a virtual consignment store with amazing secondhand deals. I recently tried out their new Goody Box program and while it wasn’t a perfect fit (too many pieces suitable for fall when I was looking for spring/summer), I really enjoyed trying out brands I’ve never worn before. This box had everything from Zara to J.Crew to Madewell to Old Navy. The price points ranged from $6 (for a Merona skirt) to upwards of $50 (for a Marc Jacobs skirt). I ended up keeping three out of the fifteen pieces and just shipped the rest back. A fun alternative to boxes like StitchFix. Use my referral link HERE to get $10 off your first order!
I won't stop repeating – your blog is just stunning!
Thank you so much for sharing <3 You are doing an amazing job.
Keep it up, beautiful! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
-Daria
https://dariaed.com/time-for-a-break/
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/daria-edu-19010657
Thanks, Daria!
I don't prefer Goodwill stores, i have found their prices higher then any other second hand store. We like smaller stores that are usually run by volunteers and support charities. It can sometimes take longer to get what you want but it is always an adventure!
Ooh, great tip, thank you! I'll have to do a little research and see what else we have locally.
LOVE shopping for books at my local Goodwill (I spy The Light Between Oceans in your stack- that one is SO good. I cried and cried and cried!) My tip for shopping thrift stores is go often. Which is hard with kids, but is a good tip since their inventory changes so often!
Oh that's so true about the changing inventory! I'm averaging about once a month, but I should see if I can plan an afternoon in between to pop in without kids.
Ever since we moved I haven't been thrifting much, because it's overwhelming to try and find a bunch of new places you can count on in a new city. I need to get back to it! We have quite a few used furniture thrifts here, and I've gotten quite a few furniture pieces there, but clothing places have still eluded me. I need to keep looking, though, so thanks for the motivation!
I have a wishlist with furniture pieces, but haven't had much luck yet! Do you have better luck at one type of thrift store vs. another? Like Goodwill vs. a small local one?
Logan and I looooove finding clothes at thrift stores! Some of our fave things are from there, like a pair of jeans for Logan for $4 and a dress for me for $6. Normally we just spend a few dollars each time but this last time we spent $25 and got SO much: 3 shirts, 4 pants, 2 shorts, 1 coat, and 1 jacket. (Almost all of that was kid stuff, but still!) I've managed to get so many school uniforms at a fraction of the price. I'm not sure how the schedule works, but a lot of times Goodwill has certain sections half off, and one time we really racked up because of that. The book section is definitely my weakness, ha!
The prices really are amazing! It takes a little digging, but I love the search.