There’s no denying you can find some incredible deals at thrift stores across the U.S. (and Canada!). Checking Goodwill or other thrift stores before you need anything brand-new is usually a good idea, and there’s a good chance you’ll find what you’re looking for.
If you go in and look around at the clothing racks, we’re sure you’ll find something that strikes your fancy. After all, you can find designer clothes at some thrift stores and score a great deal!
So tell us: How often do you buy clothes for yourself at thrift stores? After you vote, please leave a comment and tell us about your favorite thrift store find. We’re looking forward to reading those stories.
And before you go, make sure you read this article and watch the video about all the RV gear you can find at thrift stores. You can get a great bargain on big RV brands!
Actually, only once. Had a traveling computer job. Was last minute informed that the country we were going to required us to wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Having neither in work clothes, off to Goodwill. Bought one set for each day, left all of it in that country on departure.
Rarely for myself. However, when our kids were young, that was where we got most of their clothes. A local church even did a “freecycle” event once or twice a year where the stuff was free. Saved a huge amount of money with growing kids!
An added benefit was that the kids could shop for themselves and learn about quality, fashion/fads, etc. without it costing a lot.
I have never bought clothes from a thrift store. I have only been to a thrift store twice in my life. That distinct smell is to overwhelming for me.
Got nose plugs?..Ya know for swimming in a city pool?
Probably going to get yelled at for that one….(;+)……
Whenever I need something. Recently it was a $3 rolling carry-on worth $250 when I looked it up, from a golf tournament and appeared never used.
I get 80% of my clothes. Easy when you know quality when you see it. I skip the smelly ones.
We used to browse Goodwill every so often. I could rarely find anything that fit, and if I did it was basically worn out. At one time they used to inspect the clothing and only keep the clothes in fair to good condition. Not so anymore.
Yes, but when I lived in Seattle the clothes that were too raggedy got sent to the other countries not as rich as we are. I feel it’s a better option than going into a landfill.
Or used as shop rags…
With the exception of bloomers, and the occasional souvenir t shirt, EVERYTHING that I wear comes from Thrift stores, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales… Before I go to Lowe’s, I check out Habitat Restore for building material. I bought a Navajo rug for $7.50 st an estate sale from the 1950’s made by Helen Frank that still had the tag from the Fred Harvey Company. After doing a bit of research on the rug I found out that it is worth over $700. Not only did I score big on that rug, I helped out an elderly woman that was moving to a assisted living facility. The money I spend goes to a good cause, and helps out someone else. You can find anything, if you take time to look!
Right-ON!!
We winter in Arizona and at times go to the local Goodwill and look for shorts and shirts. But the past few years Goodwill has raised prices so high that they are close to new prices, so we stopped going.
Not only that, they are getting too picky with what they accept . I’ve had them turn away swell stuff..
Then I go on down to the senior center or the Vets store…I’ve changed, the local Senior Center get’s first shot.
Obtaining your threads at a thrift store is asking for trouble…mainly a staff infection or some other bark and scratch disease. Not many women make their own clothes anymore…a lost art indeed.
Geez, wilikers!..We just wash them before wearing. I enjoy getting a surprise wearing a shirt from college I never ever visited, much less attended..
😅 That reminds me of many years ago when I found a very nice and very new-looking sweater at a local thrift store. It didn’t have a label on it indicating what it was made from, so I threw it in a cold, gentle wash. Well, it came out a small child’s size, so I donated it back to them.🤣 Have a good night, David. 😀 –Diane
I used to but now that I’m married I’m not allowed.
We love thrift stores! We’ve gotten designer clothes there for a few bucks lots of times. As a retired pastor, I have recommended to many families going through financial problems to shop there, especially those with children. Only you will know where you bought your clothes unless you tell them.
I pushed NEVER…You didn’t give the option of my late wife doing it..After a while I was able to convince Joyce that Value Village was better than Nordstrom’s..
She always liked to surprise me with T-Shirts and Sweatshirts at a bargain price.
She got to shop and and I got shirts from places I had never visited. This enabled swell conversations at campgrounds.
Angels View thrift store in Palm Springs is great! Even though Palm Springs is associated as upper end living, the selection of clothes, kitchen, and electronic goods is terrific!
We’ll be there in January, lol.
When my oldest son was a teenager, he turned against big corporations (Disney, Levi, Nike…funny his first job in Portland was in the Nike warehouse, etc.) and he started buying all of his clothes at Goodwill and Salvation Army. His favorite thing was work shirts. You never knew what his name was going to be…Jim, Kevin, Larry, he never seemed to find a John (his name).
My husband has lost 72 lbs and I have lost 132 lbs since retiring 10 years ago. We always buy from thrift stores. Rule is when something gets too big we donate it back!
Wow! Congratulations to you and your husband for your major accomplishment(s)!👍👍 I’m sure that will give you more, and healthier, years to enjoy your RVing. Keep it up! And have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, RV Travel! Seldom, because I only did it once, about 40 years ago. A running friend frequently bought and donated clothes at several thrift stores in Knoxville, Tennessee where we were in graduate school. I acquired several items from 3 or 4 different stores. I did sometimes brag to classmates or professors about how cheaply I had acquired that day’s attire. Have a great week and safe travels!