No one can deny that times are tight right now, and what better place is there to alleviate the financial stress than your local thrift store? Everyone understands that the economy is in shambles right now, but everyone still needs to buy basic necessities, so rather than suffer through overpriced typical businesses, check out your second-hand and thrift options.
Some people believe that there is a stigma attached to shopping at thrift stores, that the people who purchase things there are somehow less than people who shop at mainstream department stores - but if you look, it's often the same items that are on sale! And people who are thrifty are indeed the smart ones when proud people are continuing to be gouged at retailers.
Three major national thrift stores are Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange, and the Salvation Army, but there are thousands of smaller places all across the country that and selling the same types of items as well. You can research on the internet or look at a yellow pages to find places nearby, and you can contact the stores individually to find out if they have any special sales on particular days, which are great ways to save even more money.
So what do you typically find at these places? Clothing is a major part of them generally, but you can also find things like furniture, music equipment, kitchen supplies, books, sports equipment, and all sorts of entertainment devices. Because of the thrifty nature of the stores, they are most often used and second hand, but there are plenty of instances where you can find brand new items for close to nothing!
After your initial trip to a thrift store, you'll wonder why you haven't been shopping at places like that you're entire life. Items are sold for pennies on the dollar, and in a single trip you can potentially save hundreds by searching the right items out. There are all sorts of designer clothes available, as well as vintage stuff, all good as new and ready for you to show off to your friends.
Also, if you donate to a place like the Salvation Army, you can claim that on your taxes and potentially get money off of what you owe. If you decide to donate, be sure to ask the staff there what the correct procedure is for making sure everything is legally correct.
Often, thrift stores act as local help centers as well, where needy people can get jobs while they are getting back on their feet.
So no matter what way you look at it, the benefits of thrift stores are amazing. From saving money, to finding unique items, to helping your local community, to getting a tax deductible if you donate, any local thrift store can positively effect the quality of your life.
I'm a thrift enthusiast with a passion for writing about thrift clothing stores. Visit savers.com to learn more.
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