Do you shop in charity shops?

I found three cake pans at Value Village, the second hand store chain here in Canada, and I did get a blouse and a couple of skirts, but most of the stuff did not suit me at all. There are some good things there, like books, and some household items that are fairly new, but clothes -- well, I do not like getting anything that is outdated. Even two years behind is too long for me. Also the items, for instance it is not that good if you see a scanner for $10, and find that you cannot use it because you no longer have Windows 95 or 3.11 isn't it?

I love thrift stores. They aren't for just buying weird stuff. I bought a trouble light with a long cord for $5. I love growing plants and have gotten some unusual pots for them from thrift stores. There is a lot of good stuff there. I bought a Minolta SR-101 for $6. Don't be afraid. A former girlfriend of mine, use to buy clothes from Salvation Army, and would say she bought the outfit at Sally's. Don't be afraid, they don't bite. Look around you might be suprised. I have also gotten some nice furniture from thrift stores. Watch "Design On A Dime" on HGTV (Home and Garden Televsion), they design rooms with a budget of $1,000. You would be suprised at some of the nice stuff they get at thrift stores. I have never sold stuff on E-Bay but I love shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, you name it.

I do shop at the Salvation Army on occasion, but not as often as I should. It's easier to find boys shirts and shorts for my tomboy daughter. And when my older daughter needed sports shorts (boys) we found them there cheap. And skates that I knew they would grow out of quickly were better bought second hand. When done with these clothes, all my clothes, I donate them right back to a charity who picks up at our house. It's different than the one I bought from but then both charities benefit that way.

I do shop at charity/thrift stores. I shop for clothing for myself, my fiance, but mostly for my kids. They go through clothes so fast, it's hard to keep up. I get really upset with the people who are using these shops to turn a profit for themselves. Any profit they make should go right back to charity!

I sometimes like to wander into a store like that, and see if I can find something different that strikes my fancy. It's fun to look around the stores though, because you never know what you will find.