How Far Can Your $20 Go?

It is a well known fact that I have a fondness for thrift stores. What makes other people feel overwhelmed and itchy (aka racks and piles of mismatched used items haphazardly thrown about) makes me feel energized and inspired. I don’t even mind the occasional patron singing to themselves in a remote corner–it’s all part of the experience. So this past Saturday I decided to take advantage of one local thrift store’s 50% off sale (ARC, if you’re curious) and see if I could find any hidden gems.

About an hour later I walked out of the store with $20 worth of items: 6 garments to be exact, including the five shown above. I was thrilled with my finds. Over half of them are made with expensive fibers (like merino wool and silk) and all of them have tons of refashioning potential. I could barely keep under the speed limit as I drove home, anxious to get crafting immediately!

BUT then I passed our local Old Navy and I had a thought: what, I wondered, could I get for the equivalent amount ($20) at that store? So I pulled into the parking lot and ventured inside to find out.

It wasn’t difficult to find many things at the price point I was looking for. For example, as I walked in I noticed a deal on sequined tank tops: buy 2 for $20. Their V-neck cardigans in a rainbow of colors were also right around $20. I spotted some beaded and ruffled cardigans for just over $20. And also a lot of chunky knits on sale between $20 and $35.

In other words, there were definitely some bargains to be had. However, here are a few reasons why my shopping spree was more successful than a comparable one at Old Navy:

1. I was able to purchase SIX items for the price of one or two.
2. The quality of the items I purchased was much higher. How do I know this? Because I read the labels. As I mentioned, many of my thrift store finds were made of things like cashmere, merino and silk. The items from Old Navy, however, were most commonly blends of acrylic, rayon and cotton.
3. My purchases from the thrift store supported a good cause (ARC’s charity) and promoted recycling. A purchase at Old Navy would have accomplished neither.

This is not to say, of course, that shopping at stores like Old Navy or Target (another of my favorites) is bad. I enjoy shopping at those stores as much as the next person. But as we head into the holiday season of buying and giving and entertaining and celebrating, I want my dollars to stretch farther and I want the quality of what I give and wear to be higher. And with a little creative touch, thrift store finds accomplish both!