Comments on: Calling All Spendthrifts — Keep it Up!

By: Kristin @ klingtocash

Kristin @ klingtocash — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:09:21 +0000

I was talking to someone about The Compact the other night. She was concerned that with all the people buying used clothing, would there be anything good left for the people who really needed those services. I was wondering if that is something you ever think about and how you feel about it. I thought it was a very interesting point but my jury is still out on it.

By: Tracy Balazy

Tracy Balazy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:30:32 +0000

I’d rather be on the $2.50 side with all of you! I’ve been a thrift-store shopper for years, but only in the past couple of years have I turned my attentions fully to clothing at garage sales. And I’ve been finding great stuff! For even cheaper than the thrift stores! A couple weeks ago, I bought a beautiful blue sundress in new condition from The Limited for $1 at a garage sale, and yesterday, I bought two pairs of chunky black shoes for $3 each. I only recently changed my way of thinking regarding used shoes, and now that I look for them, I’ve found some that look hardly worn – which I can understand, from back in my own days of buying shoes because they were on sale and then never really wearing them. I’m glad that now I get to be the beneficiary of someone else’s frivolous spending!!

By: Marj

Marj — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:28:39 +0000

I am a thrifter. My parents were and my children are. What you do with 2.5o jeans that your kids outgrow, as some said, is donate them to Goodwill. OR, make blue jean patch quilts for your grand children—maybe sneak one in for yourself. lolol

By: Rosanne

Rosanne — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:52:47 +0000

your child saw the logic…can’t beat that
that sort of smarts will bode well for the future

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:13:07 +0000

Great column! My kids, who are now in their 20s, grew up on thrift stores. They wore almost entirely thrift store clothing until the snobbery of high school kicked in. Once they started working, they could pay for their clothes themselves, so buying new if they wanted to, while nuts to me, was their choice. Yes, we had several lectures on the topic of why one would choose to spend 50 bucks on a Gap shirt instead of checking out Goodwill! I found that this foolhardiness was especially rampant with my daughter and her girlfriends. My son cared a lot less about new vs gently used. I tried to instill in them that people need to do much more than consume, and am still hopeful that the message will kick in some day ; )

I have been a thrifter for about 30 years now, and it’s been interesting to ride the waves of consumerism. I am lucky to live near local mom and pop thrift stores plus good old Goodwill and Savers. Ten years ago when the economy was “good”, I picked up the most amazing things especially at Savers–wonderful old china, vases, top of the line pots and pans and top quality clothing with the tags still on, seemingly thrown away by crazy people. At that point, excess was the norm and I felt like the beneficiary of all this waste: I could get the same designer goods plus antique china etc for a couple bucks. Such bliss!

But fast forward to 2009, well it really started a couple years back, and I find a lot less quality stuff to be found on the thrift store shelves. Way more consumers are now thrifting, which is overall for the better, and I’m glad people have woken up, even though I miss the wonderful finds. I still find plenty of candles, books, linens, baskets, picture frames, and material though, and one time recently a brand new pair of Doc Martens for 6 bucks.

So yeah, I guess we do need to thank those wasteful and spendthrift consumers for our treasures, and also those of us who donate stuff to Goodwill et al, because amazingly, I have talked to people who throw their stuff away rather than donate it, as it’s “too much trouble”! If I told them I buy from Goodwill AND donate stuff back, they’d no doubt think I was the crazy one.

By: terilyn

terilyn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:00:44 +0000

Tell your son that if someone had refused to pay $35, fewer people would need to pay $2.50. If consumers absolutely refused to buy overpriced items, then prices would drop, and everyone would pay much more reasonable prices. If all jeans cost $15, then I doubt that many of use that only spend a couple of bucks would have to do that. Some things are ridiculous in price. If people simply refused to buy them, then prices would drop.

By: marianne

marianne — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:37:39 +0000

my dilemma is similar. today at a yard sale i saw the most gorgeous louis vuitton handbag. it looked real but she was selling it for $3. just to make sure i did a check online (after i snatched it up of course) and turns out it is a fake. but a very very pretty one (never been used either!). even though i was following the compact, am i wrong for buying a fake designer purse? as my mother said, “you can’t even get a designer knockoff in rome for $3!”

By: Kristie-ND

Kristie-ND — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:34:49 +0000

No, you are not the only one I always donate the clothes my kids have outgrown, and many of them are clothes that were bought there in the first place.

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:15:17 +0000

That’s how I feel about used books. I don’t mind spending $4 on shipping if I pay $2 for the book.

Well, don’t mind much. I have to remind myself I’m getting an almost-new book for $6 rather than spending twice as much on shipping than on the book.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:29:15 +0000

Umm…
When your kid outgrows those $2.50 jeans, what do you do with them?
Am I the only one that’s ever donated back to Goodwill something that I bought there in the first place?