GoodWill Tips and Tricks

Did you know that Goodwill has 50% off everything every other Saturday?   Did you know you can sign up for coupons??  Seriously!!!!

Most of my friends tell me things like, "you are just lucky!"  "You always find the good stuff!"  "If only!"  We'll, I am here to tell you - I was once just like all of you and assumed (falsely) it was never meant to be for me. I donated to Goodwill but rarely shopped there, but I have changed my ways!

 I will never forget the first time I entered a second hand store and was accosted by, to be quite blunt, the smell.    It isn't a particularly nice smell - but it isn't awful - it's simply the result of LOTS of things that have existed in LOTS of homes around different candles, perfumes, detergent.   With there being so many the smells clash more than they compliment one another.  So, first point is to brace yourself.  After a few minutes, you don't notice it as much.  Here are my tips!

#1.   50% off sale tips - line usually starts at my Goodwill well before 8am for a 9am opening.  Many of those in line scouted the store before it's closing on Friday and already know right where they are headed.  It is still worth it to show up at 10 or 12 or 4pm.   It is half off!!  But the sought after things go quick.

#2.  Go Often!!!  Every two weeks in time for the 50% off sale won't cut it - you will miss the good things that come in and then SAIL off the shelves.    I go at least once a week.  I like Tuesdays.   That seems to be the day I find the most at my store.

#3.   Try different stores.  I have multiple stores within a few minutes of my house. There is one that I favor because it seems to have more things I like.  They are all different.  If you talk to those in Lin on Saturday morning - the ebay sellers will tell you - well, this one has more furniture - but the purses at this other one are better, and for clothes - this one is my favorite.  You will be amazed at how
different each store is.

#4  Don't just walk in, feel overwhelmed and leave.  As you become familiar with the store, you will get more comfortable "visiting" your favorite spots!  I spent 6 months looking for the perfect entertainment for our front room.  $25 and I am soooo in love.   I scored a $25 rug for our tv area that is AH-maxing!!!  (Neither of those finds were at 50% off Saturday!).  Get a routine and consistently look at those things of interest to you.  I always look through the board games.  My kids LOVE board games and 90% of the ones I look at have all the pieces and have hardly been used, I also love the seasonal area, books, DVD's, and lamps/picture frames/home decor.  One of my most favorite frames EVER came from GoodWill. It is so ornate/medieval (and gorgeous) that my daughter always jokes that it belongs in King Arthur's castle.  I paid $20 and I bet new it cost hundreds.  Look, look, and look again.

#5. Look behind things, look under things, open the box and look inside.  You have 30 days to return things if you don't like them when you get home - sometimes the best stuff is slightly hidden.

#6. Every day a different colored sticker is 50% off. ( this rule rarely seems to work in my favor!). However, it's worth noting.  In my Goodwill the "color" of the day is on a board at the front of the store.  Perhaps you'll get lucky.

#7. Go to www.goodwill.com and sign up for their email newsletter and coupons. I get at least one coupon a month - sometimes more.  Often they are good for multiple uses.  Even on a day when I found a classic book for my kids for $0.75 (seriously, I don't think it had even been read).  With my 10% off coupon reduced the price to $0.68.  I will take it!!!!!

Well, I hope this will get you started.  Let me know if you have specific questions and I will try to answer them.   Happy Shopping!!

Let's start at the very beginning . . .

OK.  So here it must begin.  I have always loved to write.  Poetry, stories, essays (yes, pathetic, I know).  I wrote and illustrated my first children's book at the age of 6.  "Uni the unicorn".   Original, I know.  I am fairly certain it will never be published - so I think I am safe.   As I got older, I began writing what my mom called, "soap operas".  (I had no idea what they were - but with my adult knowledge - she was correct if there ever was a totally innocent soap opera that existed.). Basically, they were stories I created but used my friends names in them.   For years, my latest "novel" was constantly being passed around and read throughout the school day/summer school by all of my friends.  (Summer school, yes, I took it for fun , I know, (sigh), I was a geek!).  I still have them and they are truly a kick in the pants to read! As I got older, I began developing other talents and kept more of my writing to myself and in my journal.  (but I did ALWAYS like writing papers! And poetry).  For me, I have always felt that I could describe my feelings best on paper.  

I have debated for YEARS about starting my own blog.  A place where I can share the somewhat crazy inner workings of my mind, and the thoughts that make me who I am.  So, here goes nothing.  Let the musings begin.  Hope to count you in for the ride.  After all - there is always Moore To Tell.