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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Who Needs Freeport?

When Grenville and I were on our fall road trip to Maine, we couldn’t miss a trip to Freeport, outlet capital of New England.

signs collageAll we spent was time, cause we didn’t see anything we thought was a real bargain . . .WHY?

Cause we’ve found better deals closer to home and there’s not even an outlet store within driving distance. In fact, the closest mall and “big box” stores are a 90-minute drive.

What we DO have are thrift stores – 3 of them less than 5 miles from our home. One day a week, a couple offer 10% discounts to seniors. HEY, that’s us!

Anyway, WHO needs Freeport when there’s bargains on brand names like these close to home?

thrift store collageIn the past few weeks, I’ve bought a Patagonia jacket, Eddie Bauer down vest, Land End scarf, Rockport shoes, gloves (thinsulate insulation) and almost TAG Heuer watch (more on this deal later).

These are brands I would never buy at the retail prices charged, even at the outlet stores.

Guess what I paid for ALL this stuff?  C’mon venture a number.

thirft store finds0211Are you ready? Hope you’re sitting down for this amount.

(The watch is a knockoff; the “made in China” label is hidden inside the back case. It looks authentic and with a new battery it’s been running fine, just like the Eeyore character watch bought last summer at a thrift store.)

Less than $20, including 5% state sales tax.

The side trip to Freeport was interesting, but we like shopping at home, where the bargains are much better and cost less!

Besides, everything has already been broken in, especially the shoes.

15 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Wow, what great shoppers you are! :)) Great finds!

Connie said...

We have several thrift stores near to us too. It is surprising the great deals on major name brands we can find on items there. :)

Anonymous said...

I do like those shoes! They look so comfortable.

We have no outlet stores nearby either and very few thrift stores. But the stores that are here are usually not that expensive.

Have a great day now!
Christer.

MadSnapper said...

wow what a deal.... i am with you and love thrift stores, but i don't think i have ever found name brands like this. maybe FL does not do name brands ha ha

martymom said...

I just forget about the thrift stores. I must remember to start shopping at them. The savings are great. . . just need to remember to go. Thanks, LYF Martymom

Anvilcloud said...

There's no doubt that you're good at this. I can't say that thrift shopping is anything but tortuous for me. But I guess almost all types of shopping are.

Out on the prairie said...

Nice finds, more junk at the ones near me, I am in a not so densly populated area. I enjoy looking.

Hilke Breder said...

Hi Beatrice, thanks for visiting my blog. I enjoyed scrolling through your lively posts, fun to read and interesting info! I too will be back.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Lois, it's great fun to go shopping for bargains when you are not spending a lot of $ and it's going for good causes. One thrift store profits Hospice, another the Food Bank and the third, a christian shelter.

Daisy, as a friend told us shopping retail is no challenge, whereas in a thrift store you never know what you will find!

Christer, the shoes are so comfortable and I've been wearing them every day! Too bad, you don't have thrift stores cause they are such fun!

Sandra, odd but I would have thought there would be a lot name brands in FL thrift stores as many folks from the east coast are snow birds there.

Marty, yes and remember that Tues and Wed are bargain days for Lighthouse and Hospice :-)

AC, anyone can get good with LOTS of practice and we do that on a regular basis. Some of our finds end up as gifts to friends and relatives too which is a very good thing as we're not cluttering up our home. The fun is more in the finding than the keeping everything. You might not find it so tortuous, but then that depends on your definition of the term.

Thanks Steve, the jacket, vest and shoes are great for outdoor walking and the scarf and gloves have been well used too. And we have some unk places aroudn this area too, usually called flea markets.

Welcome Hilke and thanks for the comment and looking around our blog. Please do come back. As you can see, our subject matter is virtually limitless!

Unknown said...

We shop thrift stores up here also. My whole winter hiking outfit, insulated bib pants a lite and heavy insulated jacket probably cost less than $ 10. Boom & Gary of The Vermilon River, Canada.

Christine said...

I love all kinds of second-hand and thrift stores. You can find all kinds of great stuff and at good prices.
Beatrice, your comment on my blog about the red stem; so sorry you couldn't see it as I shot straight down on top of the stem with my macro lens. It really was a pretty red stem though.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi Gary and welcome to our blog. As far as we are concerned for most things, thrift stores are the way to go. We get some great reads at 25 cents paperbacks/$1 hardcovers - more in a future post. Come back anytime and I will do the same!

Hi Mama-Bug, another thrift store afficionado - great! I will check out the red stem again, maybe just wasn't looking right :-(

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Gary, forgot to add that Boomer is a good looking travel pal.

Anonymous said...

You are good at finding bargains!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Yes, Linda and it is such fun because as a friend said, shopping retail is NO challenge.