Love that Goodwill!

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:30 pm

Let's see, a beautiful, white ankle length frilly night gown, a brand new pair of black, "No Excuses" boot cut jeans, a leather vest (lined - $6.00).
A silk, Bogari wind breaker, pair of short-shorts, and I was only going to just look around!

Shop on ladies!

Virginia

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:51 pm

^ She forgot to mention that we also added to our growing collection of Teddy Bears . . . a smokey-gray colored teddy from Teddy Precious, sits about 18" high, for the low price of $2.00.

Hmmmm . . . seems to me that soon teddy bears will be competing for space, but they're in for some tough competion going up against clothes, shoes, purses, and powerlifting trophies!

Well, we do have our priorities!

((Hugs))

- SL

Merinda · Post by **Merinda** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:53 pm

Hi Virginia & Silver lady,

CDing can be a costly excersise but it doesn't nessesarily have to be that way , we have a chain of large secondhand clothing stores known as "Savers" , everthing is catagorized into rows of particular items , size and color. If you want something its easy to locate amongst the vast size of the store , many women will fill a shopping trolley before checking out.
They also run tours to these stores , its not unusual for a busload of bargain hunters from the other side of town pull up out front.
You can pick up a nice skirt for $5 or a dress for $10 , sometimes a brand new item that has been tossed from a clothing store clean out.

The other aspect worth mentioning is that you dont feel embarassed at the checkout , women buy for their family and men buy for their family. $\:D/$

SharonRose · Post by **SharonRose** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:56 pm

I love shopping at consignment stores, although I have not shopped there recently.

The low prices are good all the time, but especially if you tend to make a few "fashion mistakes" now and then, or if you just want to try something different which may or may not work for you.

Kyra · Post by **Kyra** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:47 pm

I so looooooooove a good bargain! We have a "Savers" here in Colorado too. (Not sure if its the same chain, though -- I doubt it) They're great for picking up a few resale type items.

Glad you ladies had a nice time.

Hugs,
Kyra

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:00 am

Hi Virginia, SL, girls,

Yes, I shop at Goodwill all the time and a few others. And pretty much for the reasons stated by others. I like that I can take chances on things and see what works and what does not. I like being able to try older fashions that are not for sale at retail stores. And of course the prices make it all "guilt free".

Love always,
Elizabeth

Post by **DonnaT** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:00 pm

I've made a vow to myself not to buy anything, regardless of price, until I've lost a good bit of weight. Need the incentive

Diannna · Post by **Diannna** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:33 pm

I just love our "Good Will", "Thrift store", and "Second Chance" stores. I have about 6 of them I frequent. Some are better ten others, but you never know what you'll find. I usually go in looking to find an item or two but sometimes come out with nothing at all. Once in a while I get into one of those spending spree's and just come out with seems everything. It's rewarding to know I spent maybe $80.00 to get about$300.00 or $400.00 worth of clothes and other things. I love it when I get home, I just can' wait to try everything on. Unfortunately, usually half of the clothes get donated back to the store. I really have way to many clothes. I really try to get rid of the ones I don't fit into or are just not right for me, but it's hard. Time is coming soon I have to ligten the load sort to speak.

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:11 pm

The sad thing about Goodwill, is when you find something that is totally adorable, blouse, skirt, nightie, and it is much too small, like a 4 - 6. Makes you envy the girls with the petite figures.

One of the managers told me that some of their better stuff comes from estate settlements where the family does not want to mess with the stuff and just calls Goodwill to come and "take it away," so they can just sell the house!

SL's "Committment Dress" that she wore in Vegas is absolutely beautiful. I would imagine that that dress cost $2500 - $3000 new and we got it for I think, $50. She also got a Vera Wang gown which we looked up on the net and it was about $2500 and I think she paid $10 for it.

I was brousing the "women"s bin" and found a new "PRADA" clutch purse. Now I don't know if it is real or fake but for $2.00 and if it is real probably $300 - $500.

So shop on ladies!

Virginia

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:13 pm

You're right, the wedding dress was $50, but the Vera Wang formal gown was just $4 because I found it on the regular dress rack (and not the 'designer label' rack). There are photos of both those dresses in my Photo Gallery, should anyone be interested in viewing them.

Shopping at Goodwill and Salvation Army stores is like a treasure hunt, you never know what you'll find and buy (if anything at all), but it's always a good time!

((Hugs))

- SL

Merinda · Post by **Merinda** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:29 pm

Virginia wrote:The sad thing about Goodwill, is when you find something that is totally adorable, blouse, skirt, nightie, and it is much too small, like a 4 - 6. Makes you envy the girls with the petite figures.

Another disappointment is purchasing a dress in your correct size and finding that when you arrive home and try it on its too small , even though the manafacturers label reads correctly.

We dont have "Goodwill" in Australia (as far as I know).
The main secondhand clothing shops are:

Salvo's family store (Salvation Army)
Vinnies (St Vincent De Paul)
Red Cross
Savers
We also have many private charity shops

They are all known as opportunity shops or "OP-SHOPS" as we call them

Angela · Post by **Angela** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:22 am

I've had some great bargains from the UK equivalent type of shop, the best being an absolutely lovely "Planet" skirt suit I got for £20. Plus there's no problem trying before buying. I know another CDr who buys everything but her underwear from charity shops and she always looks fab when dressed.

Post by **KimberlyS** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:17 am

I love second hand type shops. I do not always find something. For me it is out and about femme time that I do not get very often. Plus the challenge of the quest is fun. To comb through the rack in search of a treasure.

DeeDee · Post by **DeeDee** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:33 am

Compared to stores up North, our Goodwill stores leave something to be desired as far as selection. Guess people purge their wardrobes before moving south and don't have lots of nice things to donate. Oh, an occassional bridal gown or formal, but mostly casual clothing and Bealls Outlet is much better for those.....just a dollar or two more for jeans, tops and shorts. I do agree with Virginia and SL though, a great source for inexpensive Teddy Bears....although I buy them as doggie toys (young dog loves them) and they last quite awhile

Hugs
DeeDee

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:11 pm

I hope I can get over this, but second-hand stores can easily overwhelm me with all the negative input I get. Bad materials, awful colors, and poor design are all apparent on rack after rack. I really have worked on this, trying to steel myself for all the schlock I'm going to have to wade through to find a gem. And I have found some gems at Goodwill and its ilk.

Conversely, I'm very comfortable at Nordstrom, where every other dress costs the equivalent of a second mortgage.

There are some consignment shops, though, that do not have this effect on me. The owners take more care about what they're going to have on their racks, and it's not so hard to deal with.

I know I'm being a primadonna, but I can't deny the effort it takes.