Thrift Store Treasures

I'm a big advocate of shopping garage sales, thrift stores, consignment stores, and or any second-hand store.  I've found some great stuff there, and I'll even admit that I bought the girls' Easter dresses at our local ARC Store for $1 each.

(What I love about our ARC Store is the random 50% off days they have.  On certain days, certain colored tags are an additional 50% off.  50% off in a thrift store??  Yep!  That's how I got the Easter dresses for $1!)

However, when bargain shopping, how do you know what to buy and what not to buy?

Here's my little tips:

AVOID: 

Baby/toddler books - More than likely these have been mouthed, chewed on, spit up on, and covered in slobber.  My only exception would be some padded books or board books.  If I can wipe those down with Clorox wipes, then I'll pick some up.

Stuffed animals and hats - There's something a little icky about purchasing used stuffed animals in a thrift store.  Even the most adorable hats and animals can be a haven for germs and lice.  Sometimes you luck out and can find a hat that's washable and then I'll give it a good soaking in the washer with some bleach.

Cutlery - Unless I'm using it for a craft or I can guarantee that it's stainless steel, I won't buy it because I don't want the chance of having myself or my kid ingesting rust.


LOOK FOR:

Craft materials - Lightly used crayons, pencils, paints, coloring books, pads of paper are just as useful gently used as they are new (and a fraction of the cost)

Baby, kid, and adult clothing - I can't say enough about buying clothing at second-hand stores.  Kid's clothing is a bonus because they are often in great condition since they grow out of their clothes so fast.  Before wearing, I always give them a good soak in the washer with detergent and OxyClean.

Plates, bowls, and mugs - The past Christmas I made cocoa cups for the moms at my MOPS table.  I bought plain white coffee mugs at various thrift stores, ran them through the dishwasher, and then hand-painted them with Christmas designs.  I'll pick up some plates or casserole dishes as well and use them when taking a meal to a friend - along with a note saying no need to return the plate.  Bonus because they get a meal AND a serving dish too!

Board games, puzzles, some toys - Right around the holidays are a great time to shop because parents are clearing out their kids' stuff to make room for new.  I found some great puzzles for Nani at .50 or .75 a box.  I found a brand new 80s Trivial Pursuit still sealed for $2.  However, be sure to find out the store's policy about returning items if the pieces are missing.  And any toy that can be washed or wiped down is always a good deal!

Fabric - If you're a sewer, sometimes you can find nice fabric for pennies - compared to JoAnn or other fabric stores.

So, that's just a few of my tips!  Do any of you have any tips for shopping second-hand?