thrift and dollar stores

@lowloy (316)
United States
April 25, 2011 9:46am CST
Since the bad economy and the rising prices it seems on everything have you visited thrift and/or dollar stores more? My family has been going to these stores for quite awhile now. We realy don't see much differences in products. we even purchased a new vehicle to save on gas and maintence of the vehicle. Our old vehicle got about 16mpg average the new one about 38mpg average, a big difference. How are you trying to save during these bad times? Are you a big couponing person? I heard that the rich use grocery coupons and stay richer, while a poor family does not and they get poorer. What do you think?
9 responses
• United States
25 Apr 11
Saving take great effort and skillful budgeting. It is easier for a rich person to do because their expenses do not exceed their income. It is much harder for the poor person to do because their expenses always exceed their income.
@lowloy (316)
• United States
27 Apr 11
To BoresEasily: That is a very good statement and true. priorities do need to be kept and met besides having logic. I am a poor person and am satisfied with what I make and how I live. If wondering I live below the poverty line with all my bills paid, rare for being in poverty.
• Canada
25 Apr 11
I agree that it takes effort and skillful budgeting. But people are poor because of poor financial decisions because they don't know how to budget, income is only a part of it. It's much more to do with how you use that income than what your starting income is. People with high paying jobs are further in debt than lower paying jobs because their financial decisions are that much more costly. You don't see many low income families with 200K+ in debt.
@dreamy1 (3811)
• United States
25 Apr 11
I love Dollar Tree it's my favorite store. I've been shopping in thrift stores for years. I save money buy not buying a lot of unnecessary things. I used to like to shop but that was years ago when I had a much better paying job. Now I really have to watch my spending these past few years because I don't make as much money as I did before.
@lowloy (316)
• United States
27 Apr 11
Do you think these types of stores help a countries economy?
@kquiming (2997)
• Philippines
25 Apr 11
i love those stores. i love the feeling of being able to save. of course i don't like sacrificing the quality of the products that i purchase , but there are products out there that work just as fine... generally speaking, there are items in those stores that can be trusted....
@lowloy (316)
• United States
27 Apr 11
I think today's quality product on any brand is questionable, in many cases it depends on the caringness of the assembler as well. I agree to what you are saying in your post very well worded.
@petersum (4522)
• United States
25 Apr 11
There used to be some stores like that - well the Euro equivalent. But now they have all gone. The rents were too high. The authorities are also stopping people selling stuff in the street. So there's nothing cheap anymore! It's damn hard to run any business today. You are lucky to own a car, much less a new one!
@lowloy (316)
• United States
27 Apr 11
That is a big down side to these types of stores, but I do not know the owners situation in the price charged for the rented space; if it is fair or not. these types of stores shopuld not be taken advantaged of by rent and insurance since they are doing good for the pooer side of the community, but I guess that is only a dream.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
26 Apr 11
we do have a lot of thrift stores here in our city and a lot of people visit them often. I do check out the store too and if ever i need anything for our room or apartment i would shop first at the thrift store and look for bargains. I love the feeling of having a good find and spending less for something of quality.
• Canada
25 Apr 11
I've been meaning to hit up the salvation army and other thrift stores but haven't gotten around to it yet. I do agree that those with money are better at keeping it and are better at making smart financial decisions. Couponing is a great tool to save money. In the United States you can buy pretty much anything for free when it's on sale because of coupon stacking and double couponing at stores. Poorer families could definitely save a lot of money by couponing and shopping more thrifily, but that's only part of it.
@lowloy (316)
• United States
27 Apr 11
I used a coupon once on an item that in turn it gave me money back.The store paid me to take the item in a sense.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
26 Apr 11
There are a number of Dollar Stores in the city that I am living in. Oh yes, they are very popular. I go to those stores quite often too. They carry many different items, very useful items, tools, stationary, kithenwares. I am very impressed with those stores, in fact.
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
26 Apr 11
I do go to the dollar stores and thrift stores. Heck I usually wait to go to the thrift store until family day when everything is half off. My husband actually bought a car a few months ago that is a lot better on gas the the two cars we have now. He drives it to work, it isn't new or anything but it gets like 36 mpg and it gets him back and forth to work, so it helps out alot. With the continous rise of gas, and our crumbling economy I have been trying to find coupons for things that we need. I watch the show on tlc about coupon people, and how they safe a bunch of money, and it makes me wonder how much money I could save if I simply searched for coupons that I needed. I could never do it on the scale in which those people do, but every little bit of saving helps. It does amaze me though that it is set up for the rich to get richer, and the poor to get poorer, and it is really those who fall in the middle who work but are still struggling to pay their bills are the ones who truly get screwed. I think that saving a little bit here and there can't hurt. We have even been shopping a grocery store we never use to shop at because of the fuel perks. Hopefully things get better soon for everyone.
• United States
26 Apr 11
One thing i've done alot more of lately is bartering. It sounds like ancient times but truly it has worked. Trade something you need or want for something you have that you can part with or that you have in excess. I've even traded an old bike for some gas. Its all about networking open your mouth and talk about your desires, you never know who can fulfill them. Also ive been selling services, cleaning cooking, anything to make an extra buck. Think of what you like to do and what your good at. Chances are those things are useful now you just have to find the people who need it. Go and get some mulah.