One man’s junk is another man’s treasure
Posted at 7:02 am on September 14, 2009 by Catherine
This post begins a new series in frugal living. If you have some frugal ideas, we’d love to have you join in!
I’m a pretty frugal person, always looking for a way to provide for my family effeciently and effectively. Nothing makes me happier than to strike a good deal. I’ve also got two boys who grow like weeds, so every time I turn around its time to buy a whole new wardrobe for them, or find that their toys and books are no longer meeting their developmental needs. Since I first became a parent, however, I can probably count on my fingers the number of times this need to shop has sent me to a “New Items” store. Most times, I hit the resales.
You have to be choosey though, when it comes to resales. Sometimes one mans junk is another man’s treasure…but sometimes its just junk. I’ve found that one-time events are typically well organized with quality products, such as church-organized resales, or the amazing Children’s Resale that is held each year at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
One of my favorite permanent locations for resale shopping is Twice Is Nice in Carol Stream. There are two things I love about Twice Is Nice. The first is obvious – a chance to sort through used products to find the things my family needs at a low price. But the second is possibly even better – dropping off trunk loads of our old stuff! I can’t tell you how often I show up with a few bags full. Our lightly used but no longer needed items find a new home, our house gets decluttered, and we get a nice tax deduction to boot. Between buying used, and giving back our own used stuff, this is recycling at its best.
Another thing I love about Twice Is Nice is what happens to the proceeds from my cast-offs, or the money I spend on new-to-us items. The shop is run by a local church, and donates all proceeds to the Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream, which is a fantastic organization that provides tangible benefit to the community.
I’m never happier than when I’ve found a good deal, so please let me know what great bargins you’ve found. Send me your ideas, or write a guest post and share your frugal strategies with the other DuPage Mamas. And in the meantime, consider buying the things your family needs used. It will help the environment, your budget, and if you’re like me, your mood.
Leave a Reply