I love thrift shops, so
much so, that they have become my main place for buying clothes. I
became an official “Thrift Shop Shopper” shortly after my son was
born; I just could not understand or justify spending $20-$30 on a
baby's outfit only to have it destroyed by getting pooped or puked
on. I wasn't keen on spending huge prices on a new wardrobe for
myself either as I was no longer able to fit into my pre-pregnancy
clothes.
After years of thrift
shopping, my favorite has to be the Goodwill Stores in America. The
ones around Boston are as big as department stores, clean, very well
organized, and their clothing items are sorted by size and color.
The surprise for most first timers is the remarkable quality of the
clothes, many items being brand names and some even with the original
sales tag still on them.
I make my yearly
pilgrimage to the Goodwill Store on Providence Highway in Norwood,
Massachusetts, with a list of my clothing NEEDS for the coming year
and a budget of approximately $200. I give myself a few hours to
browse the racks, select items that match my list of requirements,
and then try on each item. Fear not, there is a Dunkin Donuts next
door should you require a jolt of coffee to get you through this
adventure!
The fitting rooms are
large enough to accommodate my mountain of clothes on wheels and
provide me with the comfort and privacy to try on each outfit. My
only rule in the dressing room is IF I DON'T LOVE HOW IT LOOKS AND
FEELS ON ME, I DO NOT BUY IT! This rule easily reduces my mountain
of clothes to a more reasonable amount. In spite of my shopping
binge, the most I have ever spent on one of these trips is $240 which
included winter coats.
If you're still trying
to understand the method to my madness, I can mix and match each of
these pieces to create an entire outfit for ANY occasion for less
than $20!!! How's that for frugal?!