Don’t be a Spendthrift—Spend Thriftily!

“He who does not economize will have to agonize,” said Confucius. I’d say it more like, “A person who doesn’t spend wisely will be sad when they don’t have any money left.” I’ve talked about sales and how to save money on a regular basis, but what about shopping at places where the prices are always low?

I’m talking about thrift stores—and I’m a huge fan. I usually head to one when there’s a themed party and I need to find something quickly that’s inexpensive. However, there are times when I just wander in to browse—and I usually come out with something quite awesome (on my own awesome scale, of course). A thrift store sells donated goods—from clothing to small appliances, they’ve got it all. They aren’t always super organized, so be sure you have some time on your hands to look around thoroughly. As another heads up, some of the stuff you find might be a little bit retro or vintage, but that’s in these days anyway.

There are also stores called consignment stores. These places actually pay people for their gently used items and are more organized. Prices are usually higher than at thrift stores, but it may be easier to find what you’re looking for and, therefore, worth the extra cash for you. It all depends on your personal preference.

Last week I needed to find a tie for a themed party. I headed over to the closest Goodwill to do some searching. There were so many ties, and they were all priced at $1.99 and $2.99, so I bought a few to be sure I had a nice assortment to choose from. Success!

Of course, while I was there I also came across an amazing blouse for $4.99 (it has neon colors and shoulder pads— I fell in love with it at first sight), a sweater that was originally $40 for just $3.99 (brand new with the original tags still intact) and a hand-painted bracelet for $1.99. All together, I spent around $25—a great deal for everything that I went home with. A picture is worth a thousand words, but I think this one’s worth more:

I wasn’t kidding about the neon colors, was I?  In addition to saving money, it’s a great feeling to know I helped out a good cause by shopping at a charity-based thrift store, and that I’m helping our environment by buying recycled items.

Now, have you looked up the definition of “spendthrift” in this post’s title yet? It’ll make sense once you do—promise.