Where to store your scores!

When I started going to thrift stores I would just pick up a few random things..a nice pair of J. Crew pants, or some random Polo shirts for the husband...with that didn't come with the issue of storage.But if you have the inclination to buy a lot of stuff from thrift stores you really should think about where you are going to put it. Especially if you are like me and plan on reselling the stuff you buy, no sense in ruining a future profit... But before you go and cram all of your stuff into these various items or use these ideas always make sure that if it is clothing you are storing please wash them first... So here are the 3 things I recommend if you are going to be a thrift store junkie.


1.Vacuum bags: Space Saver or the off brand kind. These things are great. You stuff them full of crap, suck their air out and then shove them under your bed, in the bottom of a closet or stack them on top of one another in the attic, if you have one. I will caution you to make sure that you are organized in the way that you pack these bags. Put "like" items together and label the bag with a piece of paper that says what is inside (I wouldn't write on the bad because then you will have this type of thing going on and no one really wants to try and read that.

2. Rubbermaid Bins: These bins are also a great idea if you have a house with an attic or deep closets. They are water resistant, squirrel proof and are relatively easy to move. In order to find the best bins at the best price I recommend buying them after Christmas at places like Wal-Mart or Target (it really doesn't matter if they are red or green). Because after Christmas you will find that these bins go on sale, and not just on sale...they get marked down substaintially. Also another good time to shop is at the end of the summer when the "College Stuff" goes on sale. This is where you can have a larger color base to choose from..however beware the polka dot. Due to the fact that college geared items are getting more and more child looking, the storage bins are also becoming more "rockstar" looking if you catch my drift. But indeed the storage bin is a great alternative to shoved, crammed or otherwise "hidden" thrift store scores. It keeps them dry, organized and free from squirrels.


Sterilite Plastic Drawer Sets: I know...genius. Now please do not give 
me all of the credit for coming up with this amazing idea, I certainly did not come up with this one, however I am a huge fan of them for many reasons. The reason these bad boys are so popular and fantastic is because like their second cousin...by marriage (the rubbermaid bins) they are also durable; for the most part, more waterproof than paper, and can be stacked, duck taped together and thrown in the back of any car moving anything from a college campus. That is where I learned my appreciation for them. I am also completely aware that we are adults...however if you are one of those people who cannot for the life of you decide on a an actual piece of furniture...made of wood then these are PERFECT for you. Let me stop myself here...if you are worried about the comments from your circle of friends saying things like "Oh my she has plastic drawers at her house??!" "What are we in college??" I too have a solution to that! Change your circle of friends. See simple. But these Nay Sayers are nothing more than fuel for my ever evolving love of the random. Plastic is better than wood for 3 reasons: 1. It is plastic, you can wipe it with a Clorox Wipe. 2. It is plastic which AUTO-matically makes it lighter to move and 3. If the top craps out on you, or a drawer breaks go to Wal-Mart or Target and get another one. And also because you can change it up whenever you want with paper. See the image. You can bedazzle these guys with scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper, ribbon..really whatever you can get to stick. And unlike your WoodFurnitureOnlyFriends you have the ability to constantly update your look whenever you want. You're welcome.


Here is what I think to be the most important thing to remember when being a thrifty person, I need for you to recall the movie...Pay It Forward. No, I am not saying go out into the world and do amazing things for perfect strangers; however if you have never done anything for a perfect stranger I do encourage it, doing things for others puts humanity back in the world and humility back into your soul; both are very important. Anyway, in order to not appear on the season finale of Hoarders do not continue to buy if you have never given. Go through your stuff, see what you do not wear anymore and before you return to the store, take a bag with you, give your things to someone else, after all that is what thrift stores are all about. This keeps your house organized, your spouse off your back, your soul good (or better for some of you) and keeps the doors of that thrift store open for you and that someone else. 


Thrifty knowledge for today: Those old nasty t-shirts that were worn to cut grass, paint, worn to your freshman year rush blowout... that you would think couldn't possibly be used for anything....Goodwill accepts those too! They decide whether or not something has the potential to be sold and if they think it cannot then an associate uses a template and cuts these shirts into strips and squares...creating the GoodWipes. These are sold at the registers at participating stores in bags of 10 or so. They are $1 and are a good bargain. They literally have found a use for everything. 


"Remember to keep your chin up, someone, somewhere has it a lot worse than you."