Random Linkage: The Thrift Store Mission

I had a mission for myself last weekend, I had to find 2 pairs of black jeans and three pullover shirts (no ironing) for the winter and I wanted to find these within 3 thrift stores or less. I had no set amount I wanted to pay but hoped to get them all under $40 - $8 a piece. These clothes had to be of good quality and like new appearance.

I headed out a small locally owned thrift store, carting along my donations for tax credit. This store is most favorable for books and children's clothes. I did get some black heavy duty sandals from this store about 3 years ago and the occasional shirt but I didn't have high hopes.  After 10 minutes I found nothing and  I left so as not to distract myself from my mission and spend more money than needed.

The second store was a national chain, I wanted to check out this store as it had recently opened in the last year and was in a more upper-class neighborhood. It was here I found the three shirts I needed, all is excellant condition and from stores where they would easily cost atleast 50-60 dollars. I did get distracted at this store as they had a brand new plush blue robe that was so inviting, and it fit, I had to have it since mine was getting holes in and going thread bare. Total for purchases $24.

The final store was a regional chain that has had some good finds as well, it is farther away and I always get lost trying to find it. Within 5 minutes of entering the store I had found the two pairs of black jeans and was ready to go home having spent a total of $11 for them.

$35 (plus gas) later I had my black jeans, 3 pullover shirts and a very comfy robe! Of course I didn't get out of there that easy, I also bought a few christmas gifts.

Have you ever made a mission to find something at a discount? How long did it take and how did it go?

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I would also like to welcome all the new readers via newsfeeds and email who have heard about this site from Ben Popken's featured google reader list- I hope to provide some food for thought and entertain.

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Sometime frugality can pop out you in the strangest of places - Frugality found in the Band of Brothers Movie

I am seriously in love with the site "There I fixed it", I love the crazy ingenuity people think of to fix their cars, the washer, the door or this "frankenstien shower curtain". Sometimes I do want to say, spend some flipping money to fix it right but you gotta love the creativity.

Recently a friend I used to work with bought some lotto tickets and was all happy to tell me that she won $100 on a $5 and a $10 ticket and was going to put it in the bank. I didn't want to burst her bubble by asking how much money she has lost to the lottery this year. I just told her I was happy that she put it in the bank. About that same time boingboing linked to "If Lottery told the truth" and I had to send it to her... I don't think she understood or didn't care. No comment to me on it atleast.

I thought the two following posts were interesting as people look at the future and determine in the here and now what they think they will need as they move into the unknown future.

On the Pfadvice blog a guest poster wrote about "Why I Don't Save Money"
To this day it still bothers me why she didn't take some of that money and make her dreams come true. Had she been so frugal all those years that no matter how much she had in the bank, she didn't feel like she had enough to spend a little on herself?

But over at Mary's Debt Proof Living site she gets ideas on handling the "Worse Case Scenario"
There's a lot of talk these days that the U.S. may be heading into a season of hyperinflation. As one who always needs a back-up plan, I think about this possibility quite a bit. And I make mental plans for what I will do if this or that happens.

I guess it is a matter of finding a happy medium between living an enjoyable life and yet preparing for the future. In my opinion moderation may be boring but it gets you where you need.