Bargains – Don’t you like a good one too?
Grenville and I usually make Wednesdays our run-around day with stops at the 2 local thrift stores (the “seniors 10% discounts are nice too). We really enjoy getting things we would not have bought at full price. And, besides it’s great FUN !
Our small area has a couple of thrift stores we visit often.
The Lighthouse Thrift Store (photo) is run by Lighthouse 
Ministries, a Christian based organization which operates a local shelter providing temporary housing for homeless individuals and families.Proceeds from thrift store sales support shelter operations.
The Hospice Thrift Store is a larger place that carries a wider inventory including furniture, electronics, household good, clothing. The store's revenue funds Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, which provides care for those with limited life expectancies.
Both stores sell donated items – used and new – to support worthy local causes and our purchases help. Besides, when you’re out looking, to quote Forrest
Gump, “you never know what you're gonna get.” Today, was no exception. My find was a well-used Disney watch featuring Eeyore on the dial. As with most items, it was sold “as is” for – are you ready – $3. A trip to a local jeweler $5 (installed with tax) later for a new battery, and it was working. My total outlay was now up to $8. But with its stainless steel casing and band this watch is so much better than an inexpensive plastic watch and being pre-owned it has more history too.
Then there were last weekend’s bargains as the Friends group of the local library hosted its Firecracker Book Sale on July 3. See the photo below for what $10 can do!. All the books are in great to “like new” condition. Makes sense not to pay retail and support a local group too.
Most of these books will be sent to out-or-state friends as a sort of pay it forward. 
And, the recipient can feel free to share with another friend after reading (or even before).
Bargains are good things in many ways!
12 comments:
What great "finds" and fun finding them! :) The watch is truly cool.
Shopping in most forms isn't my idea of fun, but it makes a lot of people happy, and if both of you like it, that's especially good.
Seems these days the only time I visit those places is to take stuff. At my age, downsizing seems more appropriate. Lighthouse used to be a fun place to shop with tons of great bargains, but now it is all "cleaned up" and the stuff is so neat and tidy, the fun is gone for me. I don't even look around anymore.
Glad you got a fun watch, tho!
Lois, we have lots of fun on these weekly excursions - they're close by, we know the folks in the stores and the $$ goes to worthy causes. The watch has a well-used look, runs fine, and I'm wearing it, indeed a great find!
I agree AC; we don't like shopping in big places like malls which are places to "look" at things and other people. But thrift stores, flea markets, and similar places are different - they have more "history." Years ago, I was into collecting older film cameras and gathered quite a small collection from thrift store/flea market finds. Later, sold them all. The fun was in finding them and researching their background - learned quite a lot.
Possum, taking stuff to thrift stores is a great way to sort our own "stuff" and indeed downsize. And there's always a danger of getting more "stuff" to replace the "stuff" we've donated or discarded. And no matter how organized a place may seem, there can always be great "finds" someplace, maybe even as simple as a book for yourself or a friend. The Eeyore watch though is mine!
love the book Five People you Meet in Heaven,, It's a treasure. and the others and nice too. Diana-- of course i love Eeyore...
You've blogged about one of my favorite things. Looking for books at yard sales, thrift shops & library sales. On my recent trip to my daughters I came back with 14 books...all in excellent condition !
Diana, I saw the movie of Five People You Meet in Heaven and also read the book. Did you also read Mitch Albom's book, "Tuesdays with Morrie?"
Yes, Ginnie, thrift stores, flea markets and book sales rank among my favorites cause I hunt for books and music CDs and DVD movies. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to come home with all those books and in such great shape at such a bargain! I just bought a few more at the library's ongoing book sale today :-)
I love bargains too and old things....but I have had to embargo myself (??) from any further stops at Goodwill and other likely places as I am maxed out from PA after clearing out my aunt's home last year. I never can pass up a book sale though. I've been keeping busy outside so not roaming around avoiding temptation....
We have very few thrift stores here on the countryside. I think they still loves auktions to much :-)
I do like that watch! Eeyore is one of my favourites :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.
Agreed, Pat that bargains can be too tempting, especially the book sales. But today I just mailed 2 boxes of books bought at last weekend's library book sale and local thrift stores - one box went to someone who will be recovering from an operation (and his wife) and another to a recently retired friend who will be vacationing later this summer. Barginas are to be shared, which means you don't keep them in your house...but I did keep the Eeyore watch to wear!
Auctions are popular here too, Christer, and sometimes they can be an entire day's "entertainment." We went to a alrge one today and though we did not buy anything, I took photos and will do a blog post this weekend.
Your Eeyore watch is so neat! I love it!
I just saw you on Christer's blog and was wondering if you saw "The Blue Ridge Gal's" rain dance and cute movie she had of the rain storm?
It was almost like being there... almost!
:)
Mona
Thanks Mona - I like the Eeyore watch too and seems lots of other folks like it too. I've been wearing it and am glad to have found it at such a deal! I didn't see the Blud Ridge Gal's rain dance, but will try to find it. I have seen your posts on Christer's blog as well and glad you stopped into our place - welcome and feel free to come back. I will visit your blog as well...Beatrice
Post a Comment