Thrift Stores: Shopping Savvy

Thrift Stores: Shopping Savvy

If you’re looking for a way to save some money in these tough economic times, think no further than you local thrift stores. They have many of the same items available as retail stores at a fraction of the cost, and you can even find things in those stores that you can’t find elsewhere. And it’s not just people who need to save that are shopping there, it’s people who choose to save as well. Think about it, if you have money and you want to keep it, what better way then by continuing to keep being thrifty? It’s all about the intelligent consumer, someone who knows what he wants and is aware of how to get to that goal.

So now that you’re in a mood to go shopping, what are your options? Well, there are always places like the Salvation Army, Buffalo Exchange, and Goodwill, and then there are local community places as well that serve a similar purpose. Do a little bit of research, and then be sure to phone the stores as well to find out if there are any special sales going on that would interest you.

I can pretty much guarantee that if you go hunting, you’ll find something valuable, whether it’s furniture, sports equipment, some type of seasons clothing, books, videos, DVD’s, CD’s, home appliances. You name it, there’s a thrift store that sells it, and it’s probably labeled for your browsing ease. You’ll be amazed to find that you can pick up many of the necessities that you’d have to really dig into your pockets to get elsewhere.

And your first trip to a thrift store will be a happy time for sure, as you realized just the amount of money you can save – potentially even hundreds of dollars – as you find designer clothing and high quality electronics and speakers even, interspersed throughout the stores. Don’t be afraid to look close; that’s where you’ll find the best deals.

And you can also consider the benefits of donating to a thrift store. There is the potential for you to get a deduction next time tax season comes around if you have receipts showing that you gave to a charitable cause the like the Salvation Army. Ask a store manager for details.

Many thrift stores are established players in the local communities as well; they often set up programs to give jobs to people who are suffering in hard times, training them in the basic retail-type experience and stocking, and everyone wins in the end. So you’ll quickly realize that everything about shopping at your local thrift stores is a positive, from reusing materials that might otherwise end up in the garbage, to helping out the local job situation, to finding just the right things that you want to by at a fraction of the cost.