These 5 Items Are Great Thrift Store Buys
Out with the new, in with the old—thrift shops are more popular than ever. These stores aren’t just for hipsters and bargain hunters anymore; they’re great places to stock up on affordable, quality items that you never even knew you needed.
From dress pants that you only need for one job interview, to that classic Jimi Hendrix record that you’ve been searching for since you were in high school, there’s no telling what you’ll be able to find. Here are just a few things you might want to invest in during your next visit to your local thrift store…
Board Games
Get the kids off the iPad games and introduce them to the classics, like Monopoly and Scrabble. Buying these board games brand new can be more costly than you think – they go for around $30 on Amazon or eBay – but a thrift store version of Guess Who? is usually about half the cost.
This is a solid investment in nostalgia and family fun. It’s a great way to spend quality time with the family on game night, and even pick up a few discontinued, rare sets.
Kitchen Gadgets
It happens to the best of us; you say you want to try a juice cleanse, but keep putting it off because you don’t own a juicer (hint: that’s not the only reason). Well, here’s your chance. Many thrift stores are filled with fully functional and often rare kitchen items, such as mortars and pestles, or food scales to measure portions.
Many of these items you’ll only need for a handful of recipes, and it’s hard to justify spending hundreds on a kitchen tool you’ll only use once or twice. But thrift store finds are a fraction of the cost, and generally work just as well as any new kitchen utensil from a department store.
Clothes
If you’re somebody who doesn’t like to stick to the same style for long, clothes shopping can get expensive. Thrift stores are the best place to find quality clothing items to keep up with the trends and avoid spending a fortune. It’s easy to walk out of a thrift store with three bags of items, only spending about the cost of that one dress you saw in the window at your favorite luxury clothing store.
Designer Handbags And Wallets
Buying a designer purse from a thrift store gives you the best of both worlds – spending less on a quality, brand-name bag that will last for ages, without having to resort to a knock-off. While the handbags at a thrift store likely won’t be the season’s hottest bag that you’ll find on the arm of a supermodel, you’ll find classic, beautiful shapes that never go out of style, and fit with any outfit.
Books And Records
If you still prefer an old-fashioned book to your Kindle, skip Barnes & Noble and head to your local thrift shop, which will probably have classic titles for just a few bucks each. You may even pick up a rare find from your childhood that you didn’t realize was still around.
Additionally, the thrift shop likely has vinyl records and classic memorabilia that you’ll want to invest in. You don’t know how much it might be worth in a few years, and in the meantime it’ll certainly bring you some new memories.