Christmas Challenge! Are you in?

I've got a challenge for you! The question is... are you in, or are you out?

Starting Tuesday, December 1st, I will begin posting each day until December 25th. I thought it would be fun to showcase an item that I have purchased from a thrift store and the story... if there is a story... behind it!

I began the "25 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge" back in 2007 on my Haphazard Happenstances blog and it's been a lot of fun for me. Some days... a true challenge... but interesting nonetheless! Can't wait!

So, join in the fun!

Ew... Shoes?

One of the reasons I began this blog is to not only gab endlessly about my great thrift store finds, but to also show the world, that yes, you can find great brands at a fraction of the cost.

Like most women, I love shoes. However, I don't like to spend over $30.00 for a pair of shoes. Seriously. I think the last time I spend over $30 for a pair of shoes was over a year ago.

When I hit Goodwill, I don't usually go there looking for shoes. Shoes are probably the lowest on the Goodwill resale food chain because let's face it... shoes can be gross. Not only that, but people can be really hard on their shoes.

But, every once in a while, I'll spot a deal that I can't walk away from. I love these boots. When I saw them, I just knew I had to have them. The suede is ultra soft and still has that yummy leather smell. (See rule #6 to the right!) These boots are a size larger than I normally wear, but when I tried them on, they felt great. I figured a little extra room for plush socks would be just about right! I paid $9.99 for these boots. Of course, I could not find an exact match to these boots online, but on the Banana Republic website, their boots retail for around $160.00 - $200.00.
Another great find for me were these super cute Coach Soho flats. These are the most comfortable flats I've had the pleasure to place my foot in. The leather is buttery soft and as you can imagine, the quality in this shoe is outstanding. I bought these shoes several months ago and I wear them all the time. I could not find this shoe online, but at Coach.com, their flats begin at $138.00. I paid only $6.99! Another great deal!

Why Goodwill Gal?

I woke up Saturday morning with a vision... I need a blog where I can showcase my Goodwill finds in a "safe and loving" environment. Because the truth of the matter is this... not everyone can wrap their head around shopping at Goodwill for anything.

But, really... Goodwill is simply a re-selling, re-homing, re-purposing store of items that people no longer have a need for. And, Goodwill "puts people to work" and who doesn't like that?

So stay tuned for Goodwill Gal to get off the ground the in the next week or so. I'm excited!

Who is Goodwill Gal?

My name is Erica and thank you for stopping by.

Who is Goodwill Gal? Well, I'm a wife to a wonderful God-fearing man of integrity and the mom to two beautiful little girls.

Oh, and did I mention that my husband is the most spend thrift person in the world? Hey, I'm not husband bashing here... it's true! He is a saver, not a spender. And to our benefit, we are living 100% debt free, including owning our home outright. Each purchase we make is purposeful and planned.

Enter Goodwill Gal... See, I'm not as good as my husband is. I mean, I'm female and I like to shop. And the cheaper the better. It just makes sense in my household.

About three years ago, I decided it was high time to lose weight and get fit. I was 34 years old, 25 pounds overweight and I was fed up. As the pounds began to melt off of me, I quickly realized I needed transition clothes. I didn't want to buy a new wardrobe in varied sizes each month, so I decided I'd check out Goodwill for shorts and pants in my new size(s). I was amazed when I found brand name clothing in excellent condition. And for cheap! So, began my Goodwill shopping.

I have found countless deals at Goodwill and other thrift stores like The Salvation Army. And not just for me. I've found deals for my entire family, from sporting goods, toys, furniture, books and of course, clothing.

When I tell people I shop at Goodwill, I get the inevitable "really?" or "ew..." and of course, the "weirded out" expression, but often times, I'll hear, "Me too!" or "I want to join you the next time you go!"

Why wouldn't you want to save money? Why wouldn't you want to be a good steward of the money that God gives you? I know I do. Plus, it keeps my husband happy and everyone knows... if hubby ain't happy... oh, wait... wrong saying.

Enjoy my blog and happy hunting!
Erica