I was never much of a thrift store person. I could blame it on the smell, but the real issue was one of commitment. I’d flirt from time to time. Play coy. Meander around the aisles and maybe purchase an item or two for a one-time school production.
Truth be told, when it came to thrift stores I gave more than I took. It was easier to drop off a hefty bag filled with gently-used clothes than spend hours scouring the racks for a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans in my size.
That all changed this week with my first visit to the Salvation Army Family Store on Clybourn in Chicago. I wouldn’t say I had an epiphany; more like an eye-opening experience.
If a picture speaks a thousand words, then my $14.78 debit card swipe …
… speaks a solid $60.48 in estimated savings.
The Oneida “Restaurant Classics” plates can go for up to $11.00 a piece; I grabbed them for $1.59 each.
Savings: $37+
The 14 pieces of Oneida flatware I scavenged at great risk to life and limb and digits …
… were only $.29-a-piece. Estimated savings: $18+
The $7.99 Home Goods pitcher was marked down to $2.49. Savings: $5.50.
… the Napa crate was a mere 99 cents and the wire basket $1.87…
I spent just under $15.00 at the Salvation Army store. The total estimated retail value of my merchandise was about $75.00. Total savings for me: $60+
Not too bad.
The down side: I’m writing this post as I sit outside the Salvation Army store – with rain drumming on the hood of my car — waiting for the doors to open. I’m determined to find more of that flatware ….
I may need an intervention.
I’m sharing the savings with …
Thrift stores aren’t just for old grammy pieces 🙂 Nice haul! -Jill
Yes, we’re changing the world one addict..er, enthusiast at a time! I’ve found many a piece to redo or repaint at thrift stores for MUCH less than retail.
Oh my. That Salvation Army? Quite possibly the best thrift store ever! I am embarrassed to admit this but I actually used to dream about that place after I moved to San Diego. (I know. That’s really embarrassing. I can’t believe I just wrote that out loud.) I’m actually planning a post on thrifting in the near future. I might have to do that really soon 🙂
I’m loving your blog, BTW…
Great finds and it appears you’ve been bit by the thrifting bug!
Hahaha, I hope you haven’t been there all winter. 😉
Great finds, I can only imagine the treasures at your disposal.
I know what you mean about the smell. Every city, every store… stinky! Good luck on your hunt for the flatware.
Great finds! The Oneida flatware is a fab score and whiteware goes with everything.
I understand the thoughts you posted about thrift shopping. Ours has lots of smelly clothes and yuuky mismatched plastic containers.
But, if I could find the GOOD STUFF like you did….I would be there in a flash! Great job!
I forgot to say that I really want the white pitcher.
I truly discovered the great thrift store deals when I needed to stage my house for selling last winter. The realtor said it needed to be “more mountainy.” I couldn’t afford to go out and buy all-new “mountainy.” I’ve been hooked ever since.
Now, if you really want an addicting store, you need to come to Portland. We’ve got at least two Goodwills that I think of as boutique Goodwill. Somehow, they cull all the good stuff and funnel it to these two places. Upscale in the downtown location, hipster-cool in a hipster-cool part of town (Hawthorne). Got me to see thrift in a whole new way!
My mom and I are thrift store a-holics. We like to call ourselves pickeristas! Go trove those aisles!