Loving the Goodwill store
 

I went to the goodwill store to look for jeans.

First, on the money part, I bought 5 pairs of jeans for $3.75 each! Plus, 2 tops and a nice pair of shorts. It was a "spend $25 and get $5 back" day, so all of that cost me $20.74!! :carrot:

Second, I started at a size 18 jeans (even though I vowed I would never buy pants bigger than a 14, but that was many moons ago). I am now comfy in a 16 (all acquired at Goodwill).

For some reason, when I started gaining weight, I literally skipped right over size 16. I didn't wear jeans that often, and just ballooned from 14 right up to 18. So I had this stack of 16s I never got to wear (I hate trying on clothes, I buy the size and cross my fingers, but at $4 a pop, I don't feel too bad about that).

So during my weight loss, I have taken great pleasure in working my way down my stack of jeans, I had them stacked in order of tightness. It was a nice reinforcement.

Today I bought 14s and 12s to start a new stack. One pair of 14s fit, but I will hold off a little longer. A pair of 12s also fit BUT they are hip huggers with ALL kinds of belly stuff oozing out all over the place :o

So again, I have my little stack of jeans started, I will work my way down the stack. It is a really nice NSV that I invested $20 in. I also found a pair of 10s for $1 a few weeks ago. Sometimes I try them on to check how much stuff is squirting out :o But even those come up my thighs now.

And, I can buy shirts without any Xs in them now! :carrot:

I love Goodwill too, but here the jeans are $6.00 pair unless they are having a sale. We don't see spend $25 get $5 back either. So unfair!!!!

The problem I have with Goodwill and now Salvation Army is that I have 20 pairs of jeans in my current size (4). I just can't stay away from these stores.

Our jeans are usually $7.49 but a certain color is half price, so I try to stick to the color of the week. I am such a cheapskate, looking for bargains at the thrift stores!

My mom is a thrift store junkie and she finds the best stuff PLUS she gets the senior discount!

I just think it is great during this weight loss phase, no point in spending big $$ for clothes that hopefully, won't fit for very long.

I always loved goodwill when I was losing weight, and spending so little made it hurt less when I had to part with the clothes that were too big. I just donated them right back!

Our jeans are $3.79 and the color of the week is half off. I have found AMAZING things at Goodwill. Honestly, I joked with them every time I visited, that I was renting their clothes.

I brought back a bag or two of things that were too large, and used the 10% off coupon to buy things that fit. I found such amazing things that I still visit, occasionally. Some of the designer suits have been fantastic bargains!!

I love Goodwill and Salvation Army that is where I bought my clothes when I was losing. I still stop in occaisionly out of force of habit. When someone asks me where I get my clothes I respond Goodies or Sallies. I think some of them are trying to locate these stores.

Another thrift store lover here. Yep, started shopping those places while losing weight and now I am hooked!

I'm jealous! The only stuff I've seen in our Goodwill is dated stuff or things that are in impossibly small sizes. My sister is teensy (size 4 or so) and she finds a lot of stuff that is in good shape, but is kind of "young" (embroidered jeans, etc) and dated. I should probably look closer, because it sounds like you guys are finding good stuff!

The secret is to go often as things turn over very quickly

I was raised shopping at Goodwill and other secondhand stores and I am always getting asked where I find my pants/shirts/jewelery/shoes. The trick is to mix vintage and new clothing in popular styles like layering. I do this and it helps hide my worst feature, my big tummy.

I <3 Goodwill. Everyone should shop there, I can buy a cartfull for $20-$40!

I also love the goodwill store....My oldest daughter is not too thrilled (13) but my youngest one loves it too (10).....we can get lots of clothes at a much smaller price and more of them. I am looking forward to getting smaller sizes and watching myself giving them back because they are too big....thanks for the inspiration ladies :)

Dang, you guys have such cheap jeans! Our jeans at Value Village are like $15-$20! I need to go over to the states and look. It burns my a** to pay $15-$20 for used jeans, but I suppose it's still cheaper than buying them at a regular store. I was in there a couple weeks ago, and managed to get a decent pair of 18's. Usually I have no luck, because I'm a little picky.

We have the Salvation Army and the Catholic Ladies Rummage Room. Both great places to shop. Jeans range from $2-$5. Tops from .50-$2 or $3.

The trick to finding great stuff is go early and often. For jeans I also always check the men's section, since some of the little old ladies that work these places here, often mix ladies jeans in the mens, just because they say wrangler of levi's or they're khaki with lots of pockets.

And don't forget all the items at Goodwill or Salvation Army are not used. Stores donate "old" stock , brand new stuff. Also people donate things they have received as gifts and didn't like or they have bought something they meant to return and just never got around to it. You can tell by the label if it has been washed. I have made some really great buys at these used clothing stores. One of my favorites was a brand new wool blazer that I paid $4.00 for. I recently got a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt capris, brand new, but missing a belt.

Originally Posted by bargoo:
And don't forget all the items at Goodwill or Salvation Army are not used. Stores donate "old" stock , brand new stuff. Also people donate things they have received as gifts and didn't like or they have bought something they meant to return and just never got around to it. You can tell by the label if it has been washed. I have made some really great buys at these used clothing stores. One of my favorites was a brand new wool blazer that I paid $4.00 for. I recently got a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt capris, brand new, but missing a belt.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that, one of the pairs of jeans still had the tags on!

I also saw dozens of the same shirt for sale, obviously donated as an overstock item. Last trip, I found a brand new bra in my new size. It is sadly, the fanciest bra I own.

I don't think there's a Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store around here :S :(

Originally Posted by :
By Onederchic
I don't think there's a Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store around here :S

There are some Salvation Army and Goodwill in Albany...
You should google the directions and take one day and go to all of them...
There is one Salvation Army at Central Avenue that I know of...
You should try it Michelle... so worth the trip

Thanks belezura, I will definitely tell my bf (he is the driver here :o) :hug:

Originally Posted by :
By Onederchic
Thanks belezura, I will definitely tell my bf (he is the driver here )

He even might find something nice to him :D
Let me know if it works out :)

I will :D Thanks again :hug:

I never have any luck at Goodwill, but then again, I have to buy talls which are seldomly found there easily. I don't like to "rummage" through things either, so I am my own worst enemy.

My Mom and I meet twice a year at the Central Ave. Sal's Boutique. It's half way between us and makes a fun day. I absolutely love the Rescue Mission in Troy though. So worth the trip - better prices ($4.99 for most stuff), half price or 2/$3 tags on Sunday and other random sales, and brand new stuff from the Champion factory. I stop in every time I visit my parents and always plan one direction on Sunday to hit the sale. There's also a great little coffee shop around the back of the plaza. Makes the perfect half way stop for me.

Originally Posted by belezura:
There are some Salvation Army and Goodwill in Albany...
You should google the directions and take one day and go to all of them...
There is one Salvation Army at Central Avenue that I know of...
You should try it Michelle... so worth the trip

Well, I mentioned to my bf last week what belezura said about the SA in Albany and he replied with "I don't go to Albany." So that was the end of that conversation.

Onederchic: *headdesk* That's all I gotta say. ;) :hug:

I also love the thrift store... in my last visit I found a brand new, hand made gorgeous afghan that I got for $8 and a designer purse (by my favorite designer!!) that was $75 in stores the previous seasons buried under a bunch of crappy purses.... for $5. :o

The only thing I don't like about thrift store shopping is that I have yet to find one with fitting rooms, and because of that I rarely will buy pants or bottoms as I have a weird shape and am more bottom/tummy heavy which makes it hard to find pants for me that don't make me muffin top or look crazy. :( C'mon Goodwill!!! Get some dressing rooms!!!!

tons of thrift stores her in the bay area...my neices are into vintage clothes...they come up here and buy lots and lots of clothes at the thrift stores then sell them in socal as vintage for 4 times as much

I live in Chicago, and they have wondrous thrift stores like Unique and Village Thrift...

BEST PLACES EVER!! I can get jeans anywhere from $1.50-$5.00

You guys are saying "Oh, I got mine for $6" I think that's expensive!! :lol:

Amanda -

:hug::hug:

I totally cleaned up at the Salvation Army last weekend--$3 jeans from Gap and Old Navy. I also got some new pj pants as mine area all ratty and a pretty new sweater. Oh, and new black dress shoes (leather) for DS for his Orchestra concerts--he plays the Bass. Total=$25.50!

Oh and I forgot to add that they have really nice dressing rooms and the whole store, while not huge, is very well organized and clean. OnederChic, do you have any friends that live close by to head to some local thrift stores? That would be a super fun outing! DD22 and I love to go, although most of my girlfriends don't enjoy the digging.

Oh man... the digging is the best part!!! :D

Amanda--I agree! I love the hunt, whether it's a thrift store or garage sale, count me in!

ive gotta drop some things at salvation army today, maybe ill see if the black jeans are still there

I LOVE Goodwilling. I just moved to a smaller town, and the store here is less expensive (about $4 for a pair of jeans), but most of them are outdated, and the stock changes sooooo slowly. The city I just moved from had 4 Goodwills, and although stuff is a little more expensive ($6 for jeans), there is always alot of nice new stuff, and you will find new things everyday. I buy a ton of stuff in the next size down for incentive, lol. So much cheaper than buying it all new though! The Salvation Army and St Vinnie's seem to be cheaper, but have less quality stuff, so I don't stop in there as much. I love thrifting all around though, and losing weight is an easy excuse to go shopping!

DD and I dropped off 5 garbage bags at the Salvation Army yesterday morning and then promptly went shopping there. I got 1 new pair of jeans (Express), 2 pairs of capris, a pair of cords, a denim skirt (Old Navy), an Eddie Bauer blouse (wrinkle resistant!), a sweater and a really cute polo. Total? $33! Love it! The pants & skirts are $3 each. I also bought a pair of Express jeans for DS for $8. The mens' clothing seems to be more expensive there. I passed on a cute hot pink winter jacket for $15. DD thought I should buy it because she says that I'm going to look ridiculous in my winter coat this year, but I think I need a coat in a more neutral color. I am 46 for gosh sakes! I'm not 16!

I also went to Kohls, where I bought some khakis(3) for work along with some long sleeve crew necks for layering(I'm always freezing now!), a cute $4 t-shirt and a simple knit summer dress $16. Total? $111. Not loving it so much, but I need some key pieces to fill out my wardrobe. I've gone from a 16-18W to an 8-10. So I'm starting from scratch.

you guys show try go to the goodwills in the better areas
i love the thrift stores in beverly hills and west hollywood areas because you get designer clothes that are pretty much brand new

Since losing weight I am a total clothes horse!!! I ave always shopped thrift stores, I live really ruaral so a BIG day for me is when I get to go to our closest big town {VEGAS} they have 4 SAVERS {Value Village} which I like best.{like a super market everything sized and color cordinated a little more expensive but colored tag days and $1 tag days, and they give you 20% coupoun if you bring bag of clothes in.Of course they have a million Salvation Army {my adult son calls them SALLYS} and Goodwills ect. But its a lot of miles and I get lost in the stores HOURS!!!! MY husband calls them my disposable clothes!!! Problem is I never part with any of them I LOVE THEM ALL! I find such Great things !!! I have great workout clothes also. The only thing I buy new are underwear, work clothes{uniform} and shoes{unless I can find something cute}