$88 top for $2.98!

I love thrift store shopping and finding awesome deals, but what I love most is finding NEW items at thrift stores.  For example, this super cute top I found this past weekend at Value Thrift Store in Tulsa, OK. 

It is from White House Black Market.  I love that store but never buy anything because it's just a little too expensive.  This top was ticketed at $88 and had been marked down twice, once to $49.99, then to $29.99.  Well, lucky for me, it had also been marked down twice at the thrift store.  It started out at $9.98, then it was marked down to $4.98, but I purchased it for only $2.98!   WOW!

Now, it is not typical to find new items at thrift stores, but it is possible.  You just have to dig sometimes.  The Value Thrift Store in Tulsa is large, it took me about an hour and a half to look around.  What I love about this thrift store, besides it's size, is that they mark their items down.  I think once a week they go through and mark down everything before placing new items on the floor.  This not only helps the customer get even better deals, but they are able to have a good turnover on their inventory.  I really wish more thrift stores did this, because I think it keeps the customers returning more frequently because we know there will always be a change of inventory. 

I wish I could say I find good deals like this every time I shop in a thrift store, but unfortunately, I don't.  There are lots of times I walk out empty handed.  This probably happens to you also, but don't be discouraged, next time you might find a whole cart load of items! 

Happy New Year and Happy Hunting!

Thrift Store Finds- June 17

I love it when you find unexpected treasures at thrift stores.  I went to a couple today looking for a treasure chest (I have a feeling it's going to take a miracle to find one) for a baby shower I am hosting.  I ended up finding this gem out of the blue.  Best part- it was only $5!  They are usually at least $15-$30 at flea markets/antique stores and even more than that if they are decorated. 

I already have two old windows but I'm always looking for more.  This one has (ugly) paint on it, but I was able to scrap some of it off with my nail in the store so I knew it would come off easy.  My plan is to take the paint off and either use it to hold pictures like the other two windows I have or maybe hang it outside on my back porch.  I've been itching to fix up my back porch but I've got to be able to find the right pieces at the right price. :)

 

Then I found this cute little pitcher.  I've looked at these for years and for whatever reason never talked myself into buying one.  I see them at flea markets and antique stores all the time for around $10-$15.  I even saw one at this same thrift store before for like $2 and didn't buy it.  But I'm kind of glad I waited because this one was only 75 cents!  Yay! 

I like going to thrift stores during the week because they are usually not as busy as on the weekend plus it's a great time for new merchandise to be out.  Also, thrift stores often do sales during the summer months.  I think a lot of thrift stores get more donations because people often have yard sales during the summer and donate what doesn't sale, or they spring clean and make donations.  Plus, if the kids are out of school for the summer I know some parents take that as an opprounity to have help cleaning out the house!  

I've seen several sales the past few weeks like buy one get one free on books; National Geographic magazines 10 for $1; records 10 for $1; buy one get one free on clear glass; 50% off TVs and furniture.  Be on the lookout for sales like this.  Also, be sure to 'like' or 'follow' any thrift stores in your area so you can see any sales or discounts they have going before you head out.

Also, heads up that Hobby Lobby has rows and rows of merchandise for 66% and 80% off!  There were some really neat items, that I didn't need, for just a few dollars.  Lots of glass items, canvas pictures, metal signs, mirrors, all sorts of little decorations.  Take your time because there were items spread throughout the store.  

Well, I'm off to work on my window.  Happy hunting! :)

Branson Finds

Hey Y'all!  I had such a great time shopping with my mom today that I had to come home and blog about it.  I haven't blogged about clothes lately because I've been trying to save my money for our upcoming vacation, but today my mom and I took a day trip up to Branson, MO and I found some good deals.

I always check out any coupons before I head up to Branson because they have an outlet mall (Tanger Outlet) and there are always coupons to use.  If you join the Tanger email list, they will send you coupons all the time and keep you up-to-date with sales and events.  I recently received an email with 2 coupons- one was for 20% off a single item, and the other was for 20% off your entire purchase!  Now, of course it was select stores and there were restrictions, but they came in handy for me.

I used the 20% off my entire purchase at Harry and David- if you haven't been to one, I highly recommend it!  They have yummy gourmet treats (truffles, popcorn, jellys, jams, dips, candy, chips...I could go on and on) and can be a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.  I don't think I've ever had anything from there that I didn't like.  I didn't spend much but I saved $2.58 using my coupon.  I would tell you what I got but it's a present so I can't. :)

I then used my 20% off one item at a kitchen store to purchase a potato cutter that my husband and I have been wanting since we keep making so many perfect french fries. :)  I saved $4 on it- awesome!

I tried to use the coupon again at the Gap Outlet to get my husband a shirt but a restriction Gap had was that it couldn't be used on clearance items- oh well.  The shirt was only $7.99 a deal anyways if you ask me.

I have said before that I always shop the clearance sections first, and I'm getting to the point that I almost don't even look at the other sections of the store.  Doing this helped me to find a couple cute clearance items at Belk, TJ Maxx, and New York and Company Outlet.

I think my best (and favorite) find of the day was the very last place we stopped in- a thrift store on the way out of town.  I ended up finding 2 pairs of Lucky Brand jeans- like new- honest-to-goodness don't look or feel like they've been worn for only $4 each!  I have a hard time finding jeans the right length because I'm so short and these were the perfect length and fit like a glove!  It was meant to be! :)

Actually, I got them just a bit cheaper than that because as I was checking out I had $11 worth of stuff (my mom was getting some capris) and the girl was nice enough to let me do the '$10 grab bag.'  What this thrift store does is amazing, you can fill a bag with clothes and it's $10.  Done deal.  No questions.  As much as you can fit in a bag apparently.  I had seen the signs but didn't know the program worked for everything.  So, that was awesome and saved me $1.  I kind of wished I would have looked around a little harder. :)  Now, did I need two pairs of jeans...not really, but at $4, I couldn't help myself!  Plus, you can always use a good pair of jeans, right?

Another awesome deal I found was, well it was actually last night, was this cute dress at, of all places, Dollar General.  It was originally $15 but was on sale for $10!  It is super cute (the colors don't show up right- it is a gorgeous mix of teal and purple- two of my favorites) and I had been thinking I wanted a cute Maxi dress to wear on our vacation.  This is perfect and the price was even better! They had a cute black and white one too, but it was a different brand and didn't fit right.

I'm so excited about my finds today.  I couldn't wait to share.  Now that I have a few new pieces I can hopefully wait until our vacation to buy anything else.  We'll see how that goes. :)

Oh, and here's a bonus for you.  There was a 20 foot tall Optimus Prime Transformer at the Ripley's Believe It or Not.  A nice man that worked there told us that they had to pour something like 2 feet of concrete into the ground below it just to hold it up.  It's also bolted to the building.  Also, it's made entirely of car parts!  It's only been there for about 2 weeks so I'm sure this summer it will be a must see for anyone in Branson.  

Here's hoping y'all find your own amazing items and even more amazing prices.

Thrift Store Back to School Sale

A local thrift store, The Samaritan Shop (one of my favs) has been advertising their 'Back to School Sale' with proceeds going towards school supplies and other needs for local students. Since I'm an educator and understand what it is like for a student to come to school on the first day with nothing, I decided I better go check it out. Also, of course, I was in it for the great deals. The store advertised lower prices on clothing and then mentioned 'new' merchandise.
Now, the area of Arkansas I live in is often known as 'Wal-Mart Country.' The Wal-Mart home offices are located here. So, we have a ton of venders in our area and these venders often sell their items at 'sample sales' they have at their own facilities. But lots of times they donate their items. Well, the 'new' items the thrift store advertised were beauty/bath items that were donated by local venders (I am assuming).
So, to state it simply, aside from some great clothing finds, I got a boat load of NEW bath items for nearly nothing.

Here is my loot. Let me explain my great finds and deals.

So, to start off on the left-
Remington brand flat iron for $10- retail $37.99. I saved $27.99.
Remington hot rollers- I paid $12- retail $20.99. I saved $8.99.
There were a lot of shampoos/conditioners/conditioning treatments/hair gels/etc. I got two different sets of shampoo/conditioners from the brand L'Oreal (which I never buy because it is a little too much to pay). At the thrift store they were only $2.00 x 4= $8.00. Retail- $23.88 (at least). I saved $15.88.
I also bought 3 bottles of deep conditioning treatments (one overnight, one for colored hair, and one for deep conditioning). I paid $7.00. Retail- $23.22. I saved $16.22.
L'Oreal mousse (one of those things I always want to buy but never seem to) I paid $1.00- retail $3.47- I saved $2.47.
Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray- I paid $3.00- Retail $8 (at least). I saved $5.
L'Oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse Total Eye Correction System (anti-wrinkle/dark circle/anti-bag/puffiness cream)- $2.50- Retail $18. I saved $15.50.
I also got Zest soap (20 pack) for $5.00. Toothbrush (2 packs) for 50 cents. Toothpaste (2 pack) $2.00. Loofahs $1.00 each. 625 count Q-Tips for $1.00.

I know it's a lot to take it...it might seem like a waste but it is all non-perishable items that can be stored. I know I don't need 2 bottles of shampoo and 2 bottles of conditioner right now, but I will need them and it will save me from needing to buy them in the next few months.
If you ever stumble upon items like this for such a great deal, grab them up! Especially bathroom items. These seem to be the things that you all-of-a-sudden run out of and can't really go without. Food deals are often perishable or about to expire and need to be used quickly, so tread lightly and smartly with items like that.
I'm excited to try out my new items (like the deep conditioners and under-eye cream). If you live in the Northwest Arkansas area, I highly recommend you stopping by this sale.
As always, happy hunting :)