Also, "buyer beware" if you buy clothing at some "for profit" thrift stores.  Many of these supermarket-sized stores DO NOT have fitting rooms, so it would be impossible to try on clothing before purchasing.  The operators of these thrift stores do that to reduce shoplifting.  Bring a tape measure if you buy clothes at any thrift shop without fitting rooms.

My kids almost exclusively wear jeans from Goodwill.  At $3.50 a pair, I buy them 2 or 3 pairs of cute jeans per week and they always look good among their peers.  We live in an upper middle class neighborhood and have another thrift store in the town that caters to the college kids who sell their brand name clothes to the store.  I go in behind them and my two teenagers are "mac"ed out for a fraction of the Mall prices.  Vive la Goodwill!

I've gotten some great stuff at thrifts, including a couple of flannel shirts I wear a LOT, and some sweats that practically went to threads because I loved them so much. The store really does depend on the area, though. The big Goodwill in Seattle ended up being not much of a deal, except on things that really shouldn't have been sold. Thrifts in smaller towns have been a better deal for me. Haven't been to any in Indy yet, but probably will this year for some things. Always thoroughly check what you're buying (missing pages and unidentifiable things in books for example, and clothes that maybe weren't washed before being put on the rack or which have well-hidden ripped seams, etc.). And -- this should go without saying -- know what the usual price is in the stores! I had a friend who bought something in a thrift for more than twice what it cost in a regular retail store -- because she didn't know what it *should* cost.

I haven't bought retail for years, except for some bras and all panties.   I loved finding Victoria Secret new panties in their packaging for $1 -- YES, one dollar, each.  I bought some for gifts for a friend.   And then there were the 100% silk dresses and a silk two-piece suit for $10.00, all new and from a local high-end women's shop.  The clerk told me they were each "well over $100".  I bought these 8 years ago and wore the suit to my godson's wedding last year, getting compliments galore on it.  One of these dresses went to a friend for her birthday.  Her job requires her to dress up, too.  The local Goodwill gets new shoes from a shoe store in town so I'm able to get leather shoes (can't wear anything else) for $2 a pair.  A local hospital runs a thrift shop.  Back in the mid-'70's, when I was working as a legal secretary (interpret:  dressing up for work), I bought a navy blue double-breasted, fine wool blazer with handpicked stitching on the lapels for $4.00.  I still have it and wear it.  It's a classic!  Remember, doctor's wives donate to the hospital thrift stores so you're bound to find some really, really expensive clothes and interior decorating items.  I keep a list in my purse of things I need/want.  Shopping this way allows me to splurge on a cappachino from Super American now and then, stretching my SSDI further.  Life's grand!  :-)

Anyone know good thrift stores in the Galveston/Texas City area?

An old fella shuttled me to work in a car dealer courtesy van while my car was in for service.  Just him and me he told me stories about the pawn business he owned for dozens of years.  interesting stuff, really!  Amazed, he told me that individuals pawning their things were expert at hiding significant flaws about their treasured, can't do without, but...Items.  So much so, he dumped the biz, he says.  "Couldn't trust a soul, honest truth I tell ya."  Thousands lost on bent gun barrels, patched together big screen TV's, doctored jewerly, stolen stoles, shiny, flawless completely worn out power tools and more.  I know, I know dozens of years though.  He said the average pawn peddeler changed significantly in the late 80's.  He said their stories were unbelieveably believeable and the effort spent cleaning and shining increased because it was really worth it to make items look like new.  "By the time I sold out, when someone came in wanting cash for a tool not needed because of layoff, I would ask to call their former employer, off they go."  Bottom line he said, if you can't afford to lose the money you spend in a pawn shop you should wait and buy it new from a retailer.  Honest Jenie

Pawn shops are required, I think by law, to record the serial numbers of anything that is brought in, so law enforcement could compare them with items stolen from burglaries or other thefts.  Most legitimate pawn shops do exactly that, and there have been many cases where items stolen in burglaries have been recovered at these pawn shops, typically second or third hand, before the owner gets them back.  A typical scenario would be, a house gets broken into, and a flat-screen TV is stolen.  The serial number of the TV is recorded by both police and the resident's insurance company.  (Most insurance companies want you to write down the serial numbers and provide photos of valuables, which, if a burglary should occur, would be kept offsite, such as a bank's safety deposit box.)  The burglar sells the TV at a corner bar to someone for a few bucks or some illicit substances.    The "someone" then needs cash, and sells the TV to the pawn shop.  The pawn shop owner reports the serial number of the TV to the police, which compare the serial number with burglaries and insurance company records.  The burglary victim gets his TV back, if the insurance company didn't already pay for its replacement.  (Some burglary victims do not have homeowners or renters insurance.)  

i guess it depends on where you live.. i always find bargains in any state iv'e lived in (ohio and n.c.) but you have to look some place s aren't in phone book you come across them while out and about.. my new town has a habitat for humanity store where you can get real bargains every day furniture for $10 ...open the truck bed!!this is a colege town too and my apt. complex has people throwing out awesome stuff after each move out and it's near new!!!we also have a freecycle site on the internet goto it maybe  your town has one!that stuff is free too..you just pick it up!!look around people!!

I have shopped at thrift shops where ever I lived. NJ and MD have great thrift shops.

I now live in CHarlotte, NC.  I go to several Goodwill stores here.  Some have much better merchandise than others.  I find that if I shop around, I can basically find most things that I need.  I go on Tuesdays and get the 25% senior discount. It is a great pass time for me.

My local Salvation Army continues to be the best place to find good deals, especially around Christmas and the New Year as folks are "out with the old" to make way for the "new".  I recently picked up a super sturdy tall shelving unit for $30, which for $10 worth of materials I was able to 'make over' to suit my decor.  A similar shelving unit at IKEA would have cost me around $300 dollars.