Comments on: 11 Tips for Choosing Great Second-Hand Clothes

By: minny

minny — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:56:58 +0000

Here in the UK we call them ‘charity shops’ and they can support local charities such as hospices, or charities such as ‘Save the Children’ – dozens of them.

I buy clothes, books, household and fabric when I can find it. I am waiting to hear from a local charity shop as I have applied for a job as a volunteer, just two half days a week.

We also have car boot (trunk) sales which are our version or your garage sales. They are the place to get great bargains. I got a brand new – unused – crock pot for £5, about $8. I have used it a lot.

I wonder what will happen now the hard times are on us, will people stop giving so much away? Time will tell.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:21:55 +0000

Thrift stores are a lifesaver. Last year, I purchased a nice jacket for my son from a department store, and of course he lost it at school. I was so mad! This year I went to the thrift store and found two name brand jackets for him, one for $6 and one for $7 and he (and I) are pleased as punch.

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:46:17 +0000

I frequent seasonal consignment sales for my children. Some clothing I find with tags still attached. Thrift stores are a great place to buy trendy clothing. Certain styles come and go in one season so it’s great to not spend a lot on something like that. Thanks for all your tips!

By: Monroe on a Budget » Saving Advice: Tips on choosing great second-hand clothes

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:27:42 +0000

[...] Saving Advice has this post 11 tips for choosing great second-hand clothes. [...]

By: Amber Jones

Amber Jones — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:04:12 +0000

Thank you for sharing these tips. I like to go second hand shopping occasionally. Especially for clothes that my boys are going to wear out/stain within a week anyways…

By: Daizy

Daizy — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:30:56 +0000

I love thrift stores! But I didn’t like it when I was a kid. The thrift store smell made me sneeze and I wasn’t in to clothes so I was just bored.

Now I love them. It has to be the right thrift store. Salvation Army was my favorite but they closed, now I go to the Goodwill which is a little more expensive. It is a large store so I give myself at least 3 hours every 3 months to go through the entire store. The clothes have to be name brand with no stains or tears. Name brand clothes are made much better than Walmart clothes. When I get tired of my wardrobe I just re-donate to a different thrift store and go shopping again. It kind of feels frivilous but for $50 I can get a whole new wardrobe.

Also, I have seen so much silver and china in thrift stores that if I ever get married, I won’t be putting it on my registry. I can get it cheap, plus, I can tell most people never use it!

By: scfr

scfr — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:31:32 +0000

These are great points.

I thrift store shop occasionally, but I sometimes find I spend a whole lot of time and don’t find anything I like. I’ve developed a preference for consignment stores for clothes.

Consignment stores might be a bit more expensive than traditional thrift stores, but I have found that if I locate a consignment store in my area that carries alot of clothes in styles I like, I can find several pieces in one visit, thus saving time & gasoline.

One thing I have never bought second hand is shoes, because I am concerned about sanitation. Does anyone know a good way to get second hand shoes sanitized?