Steve Clark

Whether you call it thrift-store chic, or an eclectic style, the thrill of the hunt—and eventual capture—of can’t-beat-the-price, one-of-a-kind, DIY-makeover, second-hand gems is hard to beat. You might decorate with flea market finds to compensate for a small budget, or perhaps you love vintage style, or maybe you simply enjoy transforming what someone else considered trash into your own treasure. Likely, it's a combination of all three. But whatever the reason, when it’s done well, the end result is the same: a bedroom that looks wonderfully quirky and delightfully full of the owner’s personality. But even a bargain is no real savings if it isn’t useful, isn’t safe, or isn’t you. So here are tips to help you successfully shop for secondhand treasures. Establish a Budget Sure, you’re looking for rock-bottom prices and the best place to find them is at garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still...

I ’m a huge fan of thrifting but there’s something I’ve never thought about until today. A couple of years ago we had a thrift store with my parents, so I kind of know the answer already, but I wanted to dig a little deeper into this question. Do thrift stores wash clothes before selling them?  Most thrift stores don’t wash the clothes before selling them. It is the donors’ responsibility to clean them before donating. However, thrift stores usually sort through the merchandise before displaying it and throw out anything that’s stained, has a bad odor, or damaged. Clothes in the thrift store usually look clean, but they may have touched things you would never imagine. But of course, some stores are cleaner than others. In any case, the best practice is to always wash your thrift finds before wearing them. Do Thrift Stores Clean Clothes? Even though they ask donors to clean the stuff they bring in, there’s no real way to make sure that the donations...

There is great value to be found in thrift shops. I am a big fan of second-hand shopping, not only because it saves a lot of money, but also because it gives a new lease on life to older, unwanted items. This keeps resources in the ground and waste out of it, and that's something we should all be striving to do more of. I do the same thing, divulging my latest finds with glee to friends and family. Often they're surprised and doubtful, finding it hard to believe that such great stuff can be found at low prices, but inevitably tell me about their own visits to the thrift shop later on. Usually they're thrilled by what they find, too. The point of this is that second-hand stores are a treasure trove and should not be overlooked when you're in the market for something.  So, without further ado, here are 10 of the best second-hand items I've found in the past year (except for one, which remains my all-time greatest find from several years ago). 1. Bed ...

Shopping at thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL  consignment shops, rummage sales, and other online used-goods directories is not just for the hipsters and environmentalists. It is a viable solution for anyone wanting to go eco-friendly in small ways. Before discussing the green benefits of thrift shopping, here’s how it can help you in several other ways: It Saves You Money.  Thrift clothes are far more affordable than brand-new items of comparable quality. Smarter Buys.  You tend to spend more time looking over every item instead of buying one outright. Unique Finds.  It is highly unlikely that anyone else is walking around wearing the same clothes, shoes, or accessories like yours. Creative Potential.  You will be inspired to try new combinations, or even do DIY reconstructions. Aside from low prices and unique vintage finds, many people are attracted to thrift shopping to intentionally help save the environment. How Does Thrift Shopp...