Tip of the Day: Thrift on Vacation

So you're in Florida.  You have the ocean before you, the sky is blue, and the food is delicious.  It's a vacation you've dreamed of, and you plan to enjoy it.

Well, here's a tip: don't forget to thrift.  No, seriously.

What better opportunity for a boost in your thrifting world than to try a new location with new shops and new people?  I'm not saying you should ignore the ocean, but don't discount the fun of thrift shops near the beach.  Turn that good vacation into an excellent one and thrift, baby, thrift!

Tip of the Day: New Stuff Hunt

Thrift stores get reject stuff from Target (and other stores).  I've purchased new clothing at the thrift store from the following brands/stores:

Target
Gap
Circo
Carter's
Keds

Sure, some of the things came from people who were crazy enough to get rid of brand-new merchandise, but other items were simply donated by stores.  That's where we come in.

If you're not too specific about what you're looking for, you can shop at half-prices for new things at most thrift stores!  Don't believe me?  Go out and look.  It's the New Stuff Hunt.

Tip of the Day: Tell 'em

That's right.  When someone asks where you got it, tell 'em you thrift shop.  It may feel strange, at first, since clothing brands are set up for us to brag about their location, but you get good at it.  Trust me, wearing a pair of sofft shoes and banana slacks for $10 total feels so much better than doing it for $140.

And people get inspired.  I can't tell you how many people ask for good shopping locations, now.  The shame is gone, and the shopping is ON!

So tell 'em.  They'll thank you for it.

Tip of the Day: Make It

I learned to make those cool little flower bows everyone's been wearing lately.  It's really easy, too.  But I'm not writing about how to make them today--I'm writing about cost.  And it cost me $0 to make this headband (pictured below) for my little girl.  That's right--$0.  I had an old knee high that I hot-glue-gunned together and found some material in my sewing closet.  But you don't even have to have a sewing closet to make this.  You can rip up old jeans, t-shirts, dresses, whatever.

So if you want to try something super chic but cheap, try the rag flower.  The price is definitely right.

Tip of the Day: Never Buy New Halloween Costumes

I mean it.  Don't you do it.  Now, let me tell you why:

I saw a darling little lion costume at Target tonight, the same costume, in fact, that I bought at a second hand store.  Here's the price difference:

Target: $20.00
Second-Hand: $3.50

I saved $16.50 on ONE costume.  And here's the kicker--most kids only wear the same costume once, so when you buy second-hand, you're often buying something that was only used one time.  In other words, the difference is one night of use and $16.50 in your pocket.

So go to the Goodwill, Volunteers of America, Once Upon a Child, or wherever your second hand fancy takes you.