Arts and Entertainment Editor
Even before Macklemore debuted the song
‘Thrift Shop’, bargain hunting has been all the rage. People often associate
thrifting, as it is commonly called, with clothes. Clothes and shoes bought at
second hand stores can often save people money. However, there are other things
you can buy at thrift shops that you may have never thought about.
Holiday Decorations:
With the changing of seasons and the
upcoming holidays, home décor changes are on the way. There are lots of different
ways to decorate for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whether it is lights for your
porch or the figurines on the mantel, in a thrift shop you can find decorations
for the holidays at a more affordable price. Goodwill has a large selection of
holiday decorations in excellent condition for a fraction of the original
price.
School Supplies:
Every year, people spend tons of money
on school supplies. There is no point in spending all that money when there are
ways to pinch a penny. At many thrift shops you can find school supplies such
as notebooks and binders. In a store, a new binder costs approximately four
dollars. At Dorcas Thrift Shop near the Buffalo Lanes in Cary you can get a
gently used binder, still in great condition, for less than a dollar.
Backpacks:
Along with school supplies like binders
and notebooks, you can find backpacks at Goodwill. Getting name brand backpacks
will cost you around a hundred dollars; you can find a backpack in great
condition for less than five dollars. That’s ninety-five percent less than a
store bought bag.
Luggage:
Beyond backpacks, you can find other
pieces of luggage at thrift and consignment shops. It is certainly worth a
little bit of shopping around to find the best bargain on quality luggage sets.
Luggage, like many things, is a product that many people spend too much money
on. A good set of luggage will cost in the upper hundreds, and that’s just for
the plain and boring smaller set. Why spend all that when you can get a complete
set of good looking luggage for around twenty dollars at your everyday Goodwill.
A lot of the time people avoid going to
thrift shops, consignment shops, and looking on craigslist because it is much
more convenient to pick up things they need at the dependable, local Wal-Mart.
However, if you just take the time to do a bit of shopping, you can find great
steals on items. Now, doesn’t a little bit of hunting pay off?
People are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on cell phones. In order to keep up with the Joneses, it is a must to have the newest and best cell phone. But if you are willing to be just a little bit behind the times, you can get a good working phone for a fraction of the price. If you are in need of a cheap phone, check Amazon.com and eBay as well as consignment shops. Often times you can find unlocked phones in practically new condition for significantly less than the retail price.
If you break or lose your cell phone charger, it becomes incredibly inconvenient to borrow your parents or to save the battery as long as possible before you pick up a new one. Before accepting the doom of allowing your battery to die, and before you beg your parents and friends to let you mooch off their chargers, stop by your local Goodwill. At most Goodwill stores you can find a bucket full of phone chargers donated among old belongings. This will not only save your battery, but it will save your wallet as well.
