Dust Free Thrift Store Shopping

Considering how good deals are at thrift stores, you would think I would shop there, but alas, my dust allergy keeps me away. I do manage to go in anyway a few times a year as I can’t help but purchase books there anyway, it is definitely worth to pain. But when I do, I have to deal with a rash that forms across my jaw (where I touch my face alot) and I also have do suffer through a couple of days of coughing and sneezing. This is why I tend to avoid the thrift store and shop at … Continue reading

How to Shop Smart

Sometimes it isn’t all about the coupons and sales but where in the store that you shop. Did you know that you can often find two of the exact same things (or at least similar things) in a store such as Target or Walmart and yet pay two different prices, depending on the section in which you find the item? Doing a little creative thinking can often save you some money. Similar use items When shopping for something first think about whether or not it might have other uses. Is it a specialty item? Are there other items that might … Continue reading

How to Shop at the Goodwill Outlet Store 2

You can really get amazing bargains at a Goodwill Outlet store. Regular Goodwill stores can be a bit expensive for used (or new) items. But the Goodwill Outlet store is an exception. Imagine getting new designer clothing for 75 cents, household goods for 10 cents or large ride on toys for a dollar. Previously, I started listing some tips for finding and shopping at a Goodwill Outlet store. Now let’s continue. When shopping at a Goodwill Outlet store, make sure to allow for plenty of time to go through the bins. It can take quite a bit of sorting to … Continue reading

How to Shop at the Goodwill Outlet Store

This past week, I got some great deals, including two name brand designer shorts with tags still on for 75 cents, a new fleece-lined ski jacket for a dollar, and a set of Spider Man sheets for a dollar. How did I do it? I shopped at a Goodwill Outlet store and applied some money saving tips. There aren’t very many Goodwill Outlet stores around, but there should be enough to find one within your area, as long as you are willing to do a little driving. For me, the closest Goodwill Outlet store is in Lancaster County, which is … Continue reading

What You Can Find at the Goodwill In January

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, January is a great time for bargain hunting at the Goodwill. We decided to check them out last night, and here is what we found. There were a lot of new books, so I was able to pick up four interesting ones that were on my list. There were several others available, as well as music CDs and a couple of video games. There were some new toys, although not as many as I would have expected there to be in January. I picked up a National Geographic science kit that was still sealed … Continue reading

Frugal Living Month in Review: June 2008

What a happy month is June, filled with the renewal of spring and the promise of summer. In the last month, we have shared so many ideas for frugal living and saving money. This past month has seen some pretty big increases in food, gas and other items (look for an upcoming post about strawberries increasing more than 100 percent). Now more than ever, it is important to save money where we can. This is why I decided to do a month in review. June 2nd Frugal Living Review: May 26th Through June 1st Garage sale shopping has got to … Continue reading

Tax Write Offs and Charitable Donations

Right around this time of year, I start adding up all of our charitable deductions. Donations to Goodwill and other non-profit thrift stores are a big part of that. One year, when we did a major clean out, we totaled almost $5,000 in charitable donations of clothing and household goods! If you haven’t been taking write-offs for your charitable donations, make sure that you get started this year. You really can save quite a bit on your taxes, as long as you remember a few tips. What Are Your Charitable Donations Worth? When you donate goods to a charity, you … Continue reading