I had a little misunderstanding at the Goodwill yesterday. As I walked in with the girls, I heard the lady over the loudspeaker, "anything pink or yellow–fifty percent off." My first thought was this isn’t very fair to the men I saw browsing the clothing section, but we headed off to look for some good pink and yellow items.
At checkout I had a pink hooded fleece for Emma, a preppy, pink-cabled tennis sweater for Mary, and a pink and brown knitted "grandmother" throw for me. In the past, I’ve turned up my nose at these blankets, but lately, in the right color combinations, I’m really digging them. Plus, they are really, really warm. Our grandmothers knew.
So when my bill came to eight dollars, instead of the expected four, I questioned the girl behind the register. Oops, pink and yellow tagged items were fifty percent off. I guess I missed that part of the loudspeaker announcement as I was loading my children into the shopping cart and stuffing mini-candy bars into their hands to bribe them to sit still while I rummaged through sheets, fabric, kitchen miscellany and wool sweaters.
But, it’s always funny to me how when I am in "thrifting" mode, my price cap on spending really changes. I mean, here I am with a good throw blanket for my living room, a baby Gap sweater and brand new fleece for my daughters, and I’m questioning whether I really want to spend a whole EIGHT DOLLARS on the stuff. But if I were standing in line at the Gap with these items in hand and the bill came to a meager eight dollars I’d be skipping out of the joint at the pure joy of my deals.
If only I could apply my goodwill spending mindset to more of my shopping habits. I’m working on it…
cute story! (and cute goodies, too!)
and aren’t you glad that the announcement wasn’t for some unattractive color?
Great story 🙂 I never really shopped thrift stores until I started blogging and seeing all the wonderful thrift finds other bloggers had scored. Now I find my shopping mindset has changed. I never thought I’d see the day when I said I really don’t want to shop at the mall. Why pay those prices? Crazy…
I think it all has to do with the mindset when you enter the door. GAP = $20 or more. Thrift store = $2.00 or less. Funny how our minds work that way. Good finds!
I so relate! I am thrilled if I can find something on the sale rack at places like the Gap because I feel like I am getting a deal. When thrifting, however, a deal is something for $1!
You did score some great items – love the tennis sweater!
me too! great finds tho!
I always feel that way at Saver’s; when green tags are 99 cents, I want them to include also anything with green IN it. I get so fixated on the color itself, I get confused.
But what a lovely, adventursome confusion!
Hahaha! Like minded female here! I spied a vintage wool coat in the animal shelter shop today for 5. It’s exactly the style I’ve coveted for months ready for winter, I even wanted one just like it last year, but I didn’t buy it because I added another 10 to have it professionally dry cleaned and I wanted it for LESS! A brand new coat in the similar style, not so nice colour, with cheap plastic buttons, and bought my loads of seasonal fashion- following people would cost me around 100. What is wrong with me!?! Safe to say I will be hot footing it down there tomorrow morning to SNAP IT UP. Did I mention vintage + buttons in the same sentence and NOT buy it!Still loving the waving scan!
you so said it. I hadn’t thought of it this way, but you’re absolutely right.
That is so funny! that might be a pregnancy brain thing. It’s like Goodwill was so overloaded with pink stuff that they just HAD to put it on sale. HAHAHA! That’s cute. It should be more like “All the shruken wool sweaters-50% off!” or “all over stretched t-shirts and mismatched socks-75% off”. Can you tell I’m at the thrift store every week?
I told the arts&crafts teacher at the High Museum that my goal at the thrift store is 8 items for 9 dollars. “That’s a tough goal” she said. I said “Oh no, not if you’re shopping the right days!” This teacher had complimented me for dressing my children practically for arts&crafts and not in froo-froo dry clean only clothing (like some moms do there).
Ok that’s a post all by itself. Thanks for the laugh Molly!
I had to laugh out loud at that one–so something I would do. And I so agree with the thrifting price expectations. But, lately my thriftiness has been spilling over into my regular shopping. I’m beginning to think a shirt at Marshall’s for $20 isn’t so great of a deal after all and a $38 shirt at the mall is just insane!! It is good because I am thinking over my purchases a bit more but not so good when I find what I consider a “good deal” and have to have it–whether I need it or not. How can you pass up such a great deal?!
Well I love thrift store shopping. I think alot of people might turn their nose up at it, but I find stuff nearly new at great prices, especially for The Chunky Peanut. He’s in to 18 month-24 month and hes not quite a year old yet. I really dig your site.. cute kids too.. I will be back.. here’s my blog for ya.. babybull40.blogspot.com
tee hee:) how sweet!
AH!SO, SO true!I am appalled at the money I plop on a sweater or shirt (not that it is even half as much as some) and then I get frustrated with how much organic or local food can cost. I have to tell myself-stop-it is important to spend money on the right things. It is hard to do!