I frequent thrift shops, but for clothing and purses. Bigger cities is where you find the great deals like yours. Here in the rural Midwest, you have to go to garage sales for that and it takes plenty of sales to find an amazing item and that’s too much time and gas money for me at this point.
With thrift stores and a lot of kids to clothe, the thrill is still there when you find Silver jeans for $19! All my purses come from thrift store or handed down from my generous and “shopping is my therapy” mom.
I used to go garage saling all the time with the kiddos were little. Could outfit them for a year with $20. Kids grow so fast I would find brand new outfits with the store tags still on for 25 or 50 cents. Once found designer clothes for $1. Doesn’t make any sense to pay full price for kid stuff.
Furnished my first place with garage sale furniture. Antiques, mostly. Figured if they’d lasted a hundred years, they’d last for a while longer. Still have most of it. Typing at a $15 solid wood desk. Beside me is a $65 wardrobe that holds my sewing stuff (mostly free).
I don’t believe in paying more for a purse than what cash will ever be in it. I’ll buy a new purse at the church sale about once every 5-10 years. This last one was $2.50. Found it online for $250! Big whoop. Don’t see what’s so exciting about a purse to charge that much.
I get great deals on clothes, purses, and shoes at thrift stores. Some never-worn, high-end shoes I have have $3 on the bottom. My husband hates that I shop thrift shops because I don’t have to, but I guess it’s partly the thrill of the hunt. Also, we grew up very poor, so it irks me to spend a ton of money on something if I don’t have to.
When I lived in St. Pete, FL, they had shops with excellent items. Sadly, I believe it’s because older people living there had passed away and the children just got rid of everything.
I’m a crafter, and bought three full file boxes full of cross-stitch magazines for $5. About $500 worth of mags, I guess.