Goodwill Gal

It was time!

2010-10-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been on the lookout for a new toaster oven. I think we are all in agreement that my old toaster oven was in need of replacement. I mean, it still worked, but the funk factor and the ability to clean said funk was the overwhelming (funk) factor in deciding to replace. So long toaster oven. You've been a good friend for the last 15 years. (Yes... 15 years!)

I was at Goodwill yesterday and spotted this KRUPS oven/toaster/convection combo and I promptly loaded it into my cart. It was spotless. It looked brand new. It was $12.00. It works perfectly.

Everyone is happy.

So long good friend.

Hello new friend.

Jackets and Coats

2010-09-15T11:29:00.001-07:00

Goodwill has their coats out now and there's a great selection of light jackets, light coats, heavy coats, trenches, denim, leather, wool, exercise, etc. The list goes on and on...

I saw a beautiful dressy swing coat for little girls that was red and black with black flower embroidered on the collar. It was 100% wool and it was $10.00. I almost bought it, but we just aren't very "formal" people and I couldn't imagine my daughter getting much use out of it. I'd have to venture a guess and say that coat was probably $80.00 or more retail.

Anyway...

I love vests in the wintertime. I love how versatile they are. Plus, they are super comfortable to wear while driving... no bulky coat!

I had my eye on a white vest last year, but just couldn't pull the trigger, so when I saw this vest by Kenneth Cole Reaction, I knew I had to have it. It had some makeup around the collar (that easily washed off), but was otherwise in perfect condition! I paid $7.00.

(BTW, it's really hard to photograph anything white... but you get the idea!)

Patience is a virtue!

2010-08-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

One of the unofficial rules of shopping at Goodwill is if you are looking for something in particular, then you need to be patient!

My youngest daughter has been needing a bible carrying case for the longest time and truthfully, I wasn't interested in buying a brand new case at the store. Several months ago, I told her that we'd begin our search for a bible case for her.

Each time we'd enter a Goodwill, she'd remind me to look for her a bible case. After months of looking for a bible case, we finally found one! And oh my... it's so cute!

I paid $5.00 for this bible case and my little girl is thrilled! It's such a great lesson for them (and me too!) that it's okay to wait for things we want and oftentimes, we'll be blessed by just waiting.

The other lesson is... you can find just about anything at Goodwill if you look hard enough!

Back to School Shopping for Jeans

2010-07-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

There really are deals to be had at thrift stores when you are in the market for jeans.

Over the last few weeks, I've been stocking up on jeans, jean shorts and skirts for the girls for school this year.

What I like about shopping thrift stores for jeans is of course the price. Second, the brand names. Sorry people, but you will never find me paying full price for a pair of Gap jean shorts. But, I'll pay $1.50 everyday of the week for these Gap jean shorts! I found this pair of adjustable waist demin shorts by the GAP for Elisan at the Salvation Army. They were priced at $3.00 and were half off!

Of course, not every pair of jeans found at a thrift store are in excellent condition. Many have the knees worn out, faded in the bum or stained. So, you have to be careful in your picks. But, with the vast amount of denim that thrift stores carry, you're sure to find exactly what you are looking for. Seriously.

Here's a run down of my purchases:

2 pairs Old Navy girlfriend blue jeans (adjustable waist) size 7 - $4.00/each (Goodwill)
1 pair Old Navy black skinny jeans (adjustable waist) size 8 - $4.00 (Goodwill)
1 pair MUDD jeans (adjustable waist) size 8 - $1.50 (Salvation Army)
1 pair Old Navy capri roll cuff jeans (adjustable waist) size 8 - $4.00 (Goodwill)
1 pair GAP bermuda length jean shorts (adjustable waist) size 8 - $1.50 (Salvation Army)
1 pair Arizona bermuda length jean shorts (adjustable waist) size 7 - $2.00 (Goodwill)
1 skirt OP brand size 7 - $1.00 (Salvation Army)

$20.50 without tax! Not bad!

Good finds + Good friends = Awesomeness!

2010-07-13T10:59:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who loves to thrift shop probably more than I do. On one of her trips to Goodwill she saw this awesome Athleta tank in the linens section and grabbed it for me.

She called to tell me I had a Goodwill find in the mail and to be on the look out for it! I was so excited when I opened my package and found this awesome tank.

Never a bad idea to keep your thrifting friends in the loop as to what you are looking for! You never know… your friend may have better luck than you!

Deal of the Year!

2010-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to blog about my best deal ever!

Today after my workout, I headed over to my favorite Goodwill. Look what I found for $9.00 dollars. That's right... N-I-N-E dollars!

Here's the price to prove it... although, I didn't realize you can hardly read the tag... but trust me, it was $9.00.

I wondered why it was at Goodwill, figuring something must be wrong with it. So, after double checking the return policy (full refund within 48 hours) I decided to buy it.

I made a quick stop by my local grocery store to buy the k-cup coffee cups that this machine uses and I headed home.

I cleaned it up and everything seemed to work fine. I put the k-cup coffee cup in the holder and hit "brew".

Ummm, something was not right...

After doing some research online, I discovered that the K-cup holder or "funnel" was missing. So, I did some more research and discovered that a Keurig replacement funnel was $40. Argh! My good deal was no longer a good deal.

So, I called up one of my friends who owns a Keurig machine and she said that she owns a "My K-Cup" reusable filter and that is should work for me if I wanted to just use my own ground coffee, etc. (Which is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the k-cup coffee cups if you ask me!)

I made a bee-line to Walmart, purchased the "My K-Cup" reusable filter and what do you know? It works PERFECTLY! I can even use the k-cup coffee cups (if I punch a hole in the side of it - for you Keurig owners - you know what I mean...) To make the deal even sweeter, I used a $5.00 off coupon from Walmart on the purchase.

In total, for my new machine, etc., I paid approximately $25.00. This machine retails for $149.00 on Amazon. Whoohoo!

Total score for me, as I was just looking at these machines last weekend with Randy.

Goodwill Hunting shopping day - Recap!

2010-06-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

I met my friend Heather on Saturday and we headed out for a day of Goodwill shopping.

Heather and I know each other from church and have many mutual friends, but we've never had the opportunity to hang out together. It was fun getting to know her a bit better and realize that we have A LOT in common. Aside from loving a good deal at any type of thrift or resale store, we both are stay at home moms with common values in how we raise our kids. She's also a type A personality which is always a good pairing for this type A personality!

We ended up stopping at two Goodwill stores and the Salvation Army. Heather had never been to the Salvation Army, so it was great to introduce her to the 1/2 price deals of SA.

Heather got some great deals on school uniforms for her daughter who will be starting Kindergarten this year. She also found several really cute outfits for her youngest daughter who is almost two. She also scored some really great clothing items for herself.

I found a variety of items and ended up spending less than $30 the entire day.

Banana Republic tank
2 New Balance sport bras
Nike skort and soccer shirt for soccer practice
5 books
Littlest Pet Shop playhouse
Ron Jon Surf Shop boogie board

It was a fun day and Heather and I agreed that we will need to set up another Goodwill Hunting shopping day soon.

Goodwill Hunting shopping day!

2010-06-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

My friend (IRL) Heather has organized a Goodwill Hunting shopping day!

Here are the details:

Join the ladies for a day of Goodwill Hunting (shopping). We will be hitting as many Goodwills as possible, snatching up as many bargains as we can.

We will meet at the Starbucks at 1431/35 by Pei Wei at 9:30 and depart shortly after that so don't be late!

Come ready to shop!

Book update and other stuff

2010-06-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I never received a response to the email I sent to Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, but in this case, actions speak louder than words!

While in Goodwill yesterday, I noticed the children's book have been re-tagged to $.59 - $.99 each! WHOOHOO! No more price gouging! I was so excited to see this change that we bought three books. I wonder now if I was the only person to complain...

In other news, I recently purchased two really cute items for the girls. The pink Bermuda length shorts are from the GAP. They have adjustable waist and are in excellent condition. I paid $1.99 for them.

The skirt is from The Children's Place and is fully lined and is also in excellent condition. (I took this picture right after I washed it, so the fabric is a little damp and the colors look darker than they really are.) I paid $3.99 for this skirt which is more than I would have normally paid, but because I had my little girl with me and she loved the skirt, I couldn't put it back.

But, here's tip for shopping at Goodwill. The cashiers ring up the items based on the category that the item falls in to. The guy at the register rang the GAP shorts up in the "shorts" category, but failed to place it in "children shorts" category. Adult shorts are $5.99 and children shorts are $1.99. Quite a difference! When he corrected his error, I also questioned him about the price of the skirt. I felt certain the price wasn't $3.99, but rather $1.99, since skirts and shorts are closely related in category, but he insisted it was indeed $3.99. I didn't argue with him about it since my little one really wanted the skirt. However, had I been alone, I would have put it aside.

This is where the magic happens!

2010-05-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

My "desk" set up at home is in my kitchen. This is where the magic happens!

I love having my computer in my kitchen because I can do all I need to do on the computer while I cook, clean up and watch my kids eat breakfast. It's also great because when my girls are playing on the computer, I'm usually in the kitchen and can quickly oversee what they are doing.

I have been in the market for a new stool. My previous stool squeaked every time I sat down or stood up and was quite literally falling apart.

I found this stool at Goodwill and it was priced at $6.99. Sold!

I love that it is a bit higher than my last stool and that it also has a back. Another cool thing about it is that it folds for easy storage! AND, it doesn't squeak every time I sit down!

In other news... I've recently noticed that the prices of children paperback books at one of my favorite Goodwill locations have increased from $1.29 each to $1.99 each! I couldn't believe my eyes! More importantly, I know that my book buying will drastically decrease with those kind of prices. It's really sad because there are a lot of great titles that I would typically buy for my kids, but now that the price has increased, I can't see myself spending that kind of money on used children paperback books.

So, last week, I wrote an email to the Goodwill Industries of Central Texas. Here's what it said:

"Dear Sir or Madame:

I shop at the Round Rock location at least once per week. I especially shop for books, not only for myself, but for my two daughters who are both avid readers. There have been times when I've left Goodwill with in excess of 10 or more books because of the great selection and low price.

However, I've recently noticed that children's paperback books have increased in price substantially. Those books are now priced at $1.99/each. While I understand, paying $1.99 for a book is still a good deal, it seems a bit exorbitant for a used book at Goodwill. I have visited other Goodwill stores in the area and I've purchased books from those stores priced anywhere from $.59 - $1.29/each. In my opinion, those prices seem to be a bit more in line with what one would expect from Goodwill. I'm not quite sure why the Round Rock location would increase the book prices across the board as they have.

I'm under the impression that pricing is set by the store/store manager, not Goodwill Industries corporate, but I wanted to pass along the fact that I can no longer afford to buy books from Goodwill in Round Rock if the prices remain as high as they currently are.

Thanks so much for your time."

I'll let you know if I get a response...

My New Favorite Store

2010-04-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite store! I've talked about the Salvation Army in the past, but I've had really good luck there over the last month. In fact, it's quickly becoming my new favorite place to shop.

Over the last month, I've purchased about 15 pairs of shorts/capris for my family. (The picture below is from the second trip I made last week.)

Each pair of shorts was 1/2 off the ticketed price which was anywhere from $1.99 for kids and $3.99 up to $4.99 for adults. This particular shopping trip to the Salvation Army cost me roughly $17.00. Can you believe it? And the brand are great brands - J Crew, REI, Express, Old Navy and Nike.

I was particularly excited to find the REI cycling shorts with the padded bottom. They are brand new. I plan to turn them around and sell them on Craigslist for profit. I paid $2.50 for them. Good cycling shorts run anywhere from $40 and up.

This Week's Finds

2010-03-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

I had a good week of thrifting!

Oh yes, people, another pair of cargos! I told you I was in love with them! This pair is by Express and they fit so great. I got this pair of cargo shorts for $5.99, which is still a bit high, in my opinion. Goodwill unfortunately, sells all of their shorts for this price (or higher, depending on brand.) I think they would sell many more shorts if they lowered the price by one dollar. You listening Goodwill?

I popped into the Salvation Army for a few minutes yesterday and I found this beauty! And, every yellow tag in the store was an additional 50% off. So, this dress was $2.00. Once I washed it, the wrinkles fell out and it is beautiful. I think it will be a perfect "princess" dress for the "Breakfast With The Princesses" at Disneyworld in a few weeks.

I also found a great pair of Nike shorts at the Salvation Army. They were tagged $2.99 and I got them for 1/2 price as well. I forgot to take a picture of them, but they are black boardshorts and will look great over a swimsuit or with a tank top and flip flops.

And finally, another book! I found "Sophie's World" by Nancy Rue for a $1.00. Nancy Rue is a Christian author who writes young girl series books. I've been buying her books every time I see them and as of now, we have 6 of her books.

That's all for now!

I {heart} Cargo Pants!

2010-03-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love cargo pants. Maybe because they are reminiscent of parachute pants from the 80's? Not sure...but, I can't get enough of cargo pants!

And, because cargo pants were probably popular the last two years, there is a surplus of cargo pants at thrift/resale stores right now. If I'm lying... well, sorry.

In fact, I tried on a very cute pair of cargos by Aeropostale today, but they were white and I'm just not ready to commit to white pants. Cargo or not.

But, I did commit to these! These are GAP cargos and I love them. They are so comfy and the best part? They are already broken in. I bought these at the Salvation Army and it was my lucky day because every green tag in the store was an additional 50% off. Yep! $2.50. Score.

The Good Rules

2010-02-27T10:23:00.001-08:00

If you want to be successful in your thrift store shopping, you gotta know the rules!

Here's the truth... Some thrift stores, Goodwill included, will over-price some items that realistically, should not be. Sometimes it is due to a lack of knowledge or just plan laziness. I recall several years back when "Crocs" were a hot selling item and stores like Walmart and Target jumped on the Croc bandwagon and began making their own version of mock Crocs. I recall seeing a pair of Walmart brand mock Crocs on the shoe rack and Goodwill had them priced at $19.99. Yep. That's right. Goodwill was trying to price gouge. I've seen it time and time again, so beware. Just because it's a thrift store, doesn't mean it's a bargain!

Oh, yes, indeed! Brand does matter. I see a lot of Target (Mossimo), Walmart (Faded Glory) and Kohl's (Sonoma) brands, et. al, at Goodwill and thrift stores. If you love the way Gap jeans fit you, then look for the brand Gap. I've seen brands like Prada, Coach, Ann Taylor, Express, Banana Republic, J. Crew and the list goes on and on. Stick to the brands you know and love.

Simply put... if you can't wash it, hose it down or throw it in the dishwasher, you are probably better off not buying it. Why? Well, for obvious reason, I suppose! I like to wash all clothing items I buy from GW in hot water to kill any lingering cooties from it's previous owner. That's just me!

There is an exception to Rule #3, and that is if the item is a real steal... or, it is something you have been searching for. Case in point... I found a beautiful long black blazer. It was Express brand, fully lined, well made and in excellent condition. But, it was dry clean only. I have always put it in my mind that I would never buy 'dry cleaning only' items at GW, but I put that rule aside for this awesome blazer. The blazer was only $10 bucks! I thought it was a real steal!

Okay, listen up... just because something is priced low, doesn't mean you have to buy it. Goodness knows that I would have a house full of stuff if I bought every item that was a good buy. Last week, I saw a really great bag for $6.00. It was fabulous. But, for the life of me, I couldn't justify the purchase. Sure, I would have found a reason to put it to use, but eventually I would put it away with all of the zillion other bags I have in my closet.

This is a very important rule. Why? Because of cigarette smoke. Nothing infiltrates an item quite like cigarette smoke. Found that book you've always wanted to read and it smells like smoke? Don't buy it! You will regret it. Check out your local library instead!

This rule, of course, only applies if you are a non-smoker. I was selling an item on Craigslist that I bought from another individual on Craigslist who was a smoker. I didn't know it at the time and I came home with an item that reeked of smoke. I turned right around and re-sold it on Craigslist, but mentioned in the ad that is smelled of smoke. The guy who bought it... was a smoker.

You will not find a deal every time you walk into a thrift store. In contrast, you will sometimes find deals around every corner.

Use your imagination! You may find something that is just not quite perfect, but it MAY still work. Paint can be your best friend. I bought a two-tiered wire basket and I really liked it. But, it needed a fresh coat of paint. So, I bought a $3.00 can of black lacquer spray paint and now, it looks as good as new!

I'm really speaking about myself here. It's so easy to get pulled into the Goodwill game...to find the next great deal, etc. I usually only shop at Goodwill once a week. It really can be addictive!

If you've never set foot in a Goodwill store or local thrift shop, then get over yourself! Thrifting is fun and rewarding. Resale shopping is also a great way to support local charities and small businesses. I know there is still a stigma associated with shopping at thrift stores, but there shouldn't be. We are called to be good stewards of our money and these days it doesn't hurt to save as much money as you can, when you can.

Specialty Shoes

2010-02-27T05:59:00.000-08:00

Seems like every soccer season, be it Spring or Fall, I'm in the market for a new size in soccer shoes for at least one of my girls. Luckily, Kyla has been able to wear her sister's hand-me-down soccer shoes for the past couple of seasons, but this year, Kyla's feet have caught up with her big sister's feet.

Since I began shopping at Goodwill, I noticed a huge collection of specialty shoes for kids, like cleats and tap shoes. So, if you are in the market for kids' specialty shoes, check out Goodwill first!

I bought the pink Nike soccer cleats for Kyla this week. They were $5.00. In fact, all of the shoes shown in this picture were $5.00 or less.

Great Shopping Week

2010-02-19T15:30:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about this week's finds!

Since we're going to Disney World in May, I have been looking for lightweight backpacks or fanny packs for the girls to carry. I'll be honest here... I've not been looking THAT hard, but I decided this week, I need to get busy in my search.

Today, I totally scored on this convertible backpack/purse for Elisan.
Remember when I found this exact purse in baby blue in December?

Now, we'll be carrying the same purses at Disney. I love Kipling because it is lightweight and durable. Perfect for a trip. And at $3.99... you cannot beat that price!

I also found this for Kyla. Since she's six, I knew a fanny pack would be more suitable for her. Here's what I found for her today. It's not my favorite, but I know she loves "The Little Mermaid" and since we'll be at Disney, I thought it was very appropriate.

And finally, I found this great workout tank and shorts by Adidas. The guy at the GW didn't know how to price the tank top, since it was not considered a "blouse" so he said, "Will you take $.99 for it?" I said, "Um, YES... and can I go back and get the other three I decided NOT to buy?"

Haha, I was joking... sort've.

Anyway, I got the tank, running shorts and another "Faith Girlz" book for Elisan all for $8.50. Not bad!

Books!

2010-02-13T07:21:00.000-08:00

I love to go book shopping at Goodwill. There is a untold wealth of books at every single Goodwill I have ever been in.

A good rule of thumb for book shopping at Goodwill is to go in with an idea of the types of books you want to find, rather than go to Goodwill on a mission to find a particular book.

Case in point:
I have been looking at "Young Women of Faith" series books for quite some time. A girlfriend mentioned them to me a while back. I've looked on Amazon (for used books) and on eBay, but was still finding the cost to be a bit more than what I wanted to spend at this time. So, I tucked it away in the recesses of my mind for a later date. Then, on Thursday, I found these at one of my favorite Goodwills!

Three books from the "Lily" series by Nancy Rue! Each book was $1.29.

What a great find. I'm excited to have found these. It pays to wait sometimes!

I'm back in action!

2010-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, so February is here and I'm back posting about my cool Goodwill finds!

I bought these super cute Keds "Teagan" style for $3.99. Aren't they adorable? I just threw them in the washing machine and they came out perfect! My youngest daughter loves them!

Piperlime has a similiar style regularly priced at $40.00.

No shopping until February!

2010-01-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hi All!

I'm popping in to say that I haven't forgotten about this blog! I'm also here to say that I'm participating in a 21 day fast and in addition to giving up meat for 21 days, I'm also giving up something I enjoy - which is shopping! Well, non-essential shopping, that is. (If you want to read more about the fast that 100's of churches nationwide are participating in, here's the link.)

I have to admit, giving up meat in my carnivorous household is hard, but giving up shopping... well, I'm here to say, that it has been very hard. See, the thing is... I will often look, but not buy... which fits my pocketbook pretty well. But, while I'm out shopping, I'm wasting time. And, when I'm wasting time, I'm wasting time that could be otherwise spent in prayer or God's word.

So, I'll be back in February. And when I do, I'll be on the lookout for great deals to prepare for our trip to Disneyworld in May!

Love ya!
Erica

Merry Christmas Y'all!

2009-12-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

I am spending time with my family for Christmas! I'll be back next week.

Love, Erica

Christmas Challenge! Day 22

2009-12-22T06:10:00.001-08:00

As most of you know, I try to hit the gym at least 4 times a week. That is, provided it is not the week of a the biggest holiday of the year! Or, the week after... I'm just sayin'...

I buy ALL of my workout tops at GW. Yep, every one of them!

I typically only buy Nike brand. I love Nike brand tops because the material is far superior and it holds it shape and color. I have NEVER paid full price for a Nike brand workout top. Never. I could not pay $25.00 (or more) for a top that I'm going to wear to the gym and sweat in. These tops run around $3.99/each.

I've not been as successful in finding shorts that I love, but if you are looking for a "new" workout top, try GW!

Christmas Challenge! Day 21

2009-12-21T05:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about buying furniture at Goodwill or the Salvation Army?

I had been on the lookout for gently used bedroom furniture for Elisan's room for months. I checked Craigslist everyday for new listings, looking for that perfect set.

I even checked GW frequently, but always came up empty handed. However, the Salvation Army in our area has a fabulous furniture area with entire bedroom and living room sets, including antiques, so I decided to swing in there one day to take a look.

I found this furniture set. It came with an amoire, desk and nightstand. It is Lexington brand and is solid wood. It is in nearly perfect condition. I am proud to say that we paid less than $300.00 for all of it!

Christmas Challenge! Day 20

2009-12-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

I love jackets!

At the first real break in temperatures I begin to start thinking Fall wardrobe. Of course, you can't beat GW for the selection of jackets and the price is usually around $7.00.

Here are just some of the jackets I've purchased from GW.

I absolutely love the red jacket from the GAP. Love. It. I get so many compliments on this jacket. I also love the tan jacket from the GAP as well. It's my go-to jacket when I need to bring along an extra layer of clothes.

I l ike to wear the white Old Navy jacket with funky black graphic tee shirt. The white/black contrast is fun! The black short sleeved cropped jacket is by Papaya. It's really a nice piece of clothing.

And finally, the hot pink vest is great to wear with layered t-shirts or to the gym.

What I love about these jackets is that I didn't spend a fortune and I've had them for years and they still look great!

Christmas Challenge! Day 19

2009-12-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to see the "boyfriend jacket/blazer" make it's way back into fashion. I've always been a fan of the blazer!

Granted, I don't wear my blazer with funky leggings or weird shoes, but I do love wearing it over jeans, a cami and cute patent flats!

I remember waking up early one morning with the boyfriend blazer on my mind. My immediate thought was to check out GW! Of course, not only did I find one, but I found several!

Here's the one I purchased for $7.00. It's NY&Co. brand, fully lined and in excellent condition!

Christmas Challenge! Day 18

2009-12-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Oooo, today I found something I'm excited to share!

We're going to Disney World in the Spring and I've been on the look out for a small, lightweight and durable swingpack purse or back pack purse to take on our trip. Today... I found what I was looking for!

I found this Kipling purse at GW today. It was priced at $3.99! I did my research once I got home and found the style here. It is the Kipling "Candy Top Zip Front Flap Pocket Handbag" regularly priced at $56.00.

As you can see, it is also convertible as a backpack or shoulder bag. Double score!

After our trip, I think I'm going to pass it down to Elisan. She is already in love with it!

Christmas Challenge! Day 17

2009-12-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I love the Salvation Army store? Oh yes, yes I do!

In fact, it is one of my favorite places to shop, but since there is only one store in my 20 mile radius, I don't visit it very often.

What you probably don't know is that the Salvation Army has HALF-PRICE days! Yep! They offer half price on items with certain color tags. They rotate the colors each week.

I got this Abercrombie and Fitch jacket for $6.00. It was priced at $12.00, but it was on half off. I love buying jeans there too because they price their jeans even cheaper than Goodwill. I've bought jeans there as cheap as $3.00/pair.

So, are you convinced that thrift shopping is worth it?

Christmas Challenge! Day 16

2009-12-16T05:01:00.000-08:00

I began shopping at Goodwill about 4 years ago. I usually only shopped GW to look for clothing and toys for the girls.

However, when I began working out and losing weight I began shopping more and more at GW for transitional clothes. When I started working out I was a size 10. I needed clothes that fit me from size 10 to size 2 but didn't want to spend a fortune on clothes.

What I found was amazing! I found jeans that were barely worn. Or jeans that were "broken in" but still had a lot of life left in them. I found jeans in every style, color, brand imaginable. And because of that, I still buy my jeans at GW. Most jeans are priced at $7.99 and up to $9.99 for better brands. I tend to buy GAP jeans mostly because I like how they fit.

All of the pants shown in this picture have been purchased from GW.

In addition to jeans, I buy pants there as well. My favorite brand of pants is Express, Editor cut/style. I clearly would never pay $70 for a pair of Editor pants, but I'll pay $7-$10 for them! I've also found some really neat cargo pants from Abercrombie and Aeropostle that I love! Again, I would never pay the Abercrombie or Aero prices!

Christmas Challenge! Day 15

2009-12-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

When I began this blog I contacted a few of my thrifty friends and told them that whenever they had a cool Goodwill or thrift store score I wanted to know about it. Today, I'm excited to have my friend Amanda guest blog today. Amanda and I have been friends since the third grade! She lives in Austin and has two girls just like me.

Amanda's blog is So Many Joys and she often writes about how to save money and time at home! Thanks Amanda for taking the time to guest blog on Goodwill Gal!

(In a Julie Andrews sing-song)
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE FINDS

Goodwill Gal herself turned me on to thrift shopping back in my early months as a stay-at-home-mom. Oh, the carefree days of having just one (admittedly easy) kiddo. My sweet girl and I would browse for bargains at least weekly -- Goodwill, Salvation Army Thrift Store, and other bargain spots like Tuesday Morning and Big Lots, along with the children's resale shops.

For my thrifting orientation, Ms. W and I met at a Goodwill near my house, and she showed me to ropes, pointing out things to look for, just as she's doing on this blog. I remember she made a point of showing me a few "overpriced" items -- things that really weren't all that great of a deal. It's important to have an idea what things cost to keep perspective. For example, I hosted a church caroling party this weekend and wanted to have a few more holiday coffee mugs for the guests. I stopped at Walgreens by my house to see what they had -- three mugs for $2. Goodwill's (used) mugs were 99 cents each, even those with chips! So, not a good deal. I picked up three at Walgreens. For the party, I also wanted a few more appetizer-sized holiday plates. I have a pretty nice collection since I'll pick up a set of four here and there at after-Christmas sales. I knew that I could get a set of four on clearance prices for about $8. I spotted a cute set of reindeer plates that had at some point been bundled together but had come apart. There were only three in what should have been a set of four (or maybe even originally eight if all the reindeer were included). And the missing plate must have been the one with the sticker price. I carried them to the check-out counter to get a price check, and the cashier said she's say $1.59 for the three. SOLD! They are really cute and complement my mix-match Christmas plate collection nicely.

On this same trip, I made a quick trek through the kids' section as I always do. I have not been as successful (probably due to lack of patience) with clothing finds as Ms. W has. But this day, the "right" item jumped out at me. I am a sucker for smocked dresses. I found a sweet, hand-smocked toddler dress for my one-year-old for $1.59. I told a friend who used to smock dresses for her granddaughters about it, and she said "Some daughter-in-law didn't appreciate that hard work!" The dress will be adorable for Easter.

GOODWILL FOR COLLECTORS
I've never been much for clutter, so I'm not a collector of many items. But when we moved into our house, I did start collecting trivets to decorate the space above my cabinets and found Goodwill to be the place to look for those and other collector items. Soon after I started my collection with a set of three cast iron trivets from Southern Living at Home (about $30 if I remember correctly), I added to it with a few ebay purchases -- a few bucks each but the shipping is what got me there -- making each trivet cost between five and seven dollars total. Imagine my delight when I found this lovely for 99 cents! That's a Goodwill deal!

Thanks Amanda for sharing your awesome deals with us!

Christmas Challenge! Day 14

2009-12-14T10:48:00.001-08:00

I bought the girls Christmas dresses about 2 months ago while I was at GW. The secret to buying Christmas dresses at GW is SHOP EARLY! When you notice the Christmas apparel in mid-October, don't hesitate if you see something you like, because by December the good stuff will be gone!

When I bought these two dresses I had about 6 dresses in my hands. It was hard to decide, but I ultimately decided on these two. My heart was telling me, "Buy all of them!" but my brain was saying, "Are you crazy?"

The short sleeved dress is from Charter Club, a store brand of Macy's. The second dress is from Justice, Just for Girls. GW typically sells their children's dresses for $3.99/each unless it is a more popular brand like Gymboree, Ralph Lauren, etc. Even, then, the dresses are still under $8.00.

Christmas Challenge! Day 13

2009-12-13T16:22:00.001-08:00

I love shopping at GW for holiday wear for the girls. Most Christmas dresses are gently worn and are usually in great condition.

I bought this dress last year for Elisan. It is by Storybrook Heirlooms. It is very well made and I love the faux fur trim.

This year, Kyla is able to wear it. It looks adorable on her! Not only did I get a great deal at GW ($3.99), but I get two wears out of it!

This week, I'm going to focus on clothing! Should be fun!

Christmas Challenge! Day 12

2009-12-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

Not gonna happen today...
I'm exhausted from Christmas shopping merriment...

Christmas Challenge! Day 11

2009-12-11T09:07:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a cute antique planter figurine? I found this oh so cute little lamb several years ago.

One of my childhood treasures is a ceramic pony planter that was sent to my mother while she was in the hospital after she gave birth to me. I still have that pony planter to this day.

What I love about this lamb is it's beautifully painted face. So sweet and innocent. I bought this planter to go in Kyla's room when she was a baby. It's still sitting on her shelf (she's 6!).

I suspect when I redecorate her room after Christmas, I'll have to put the baby lamb away. But I enjoyed it while it kept it's place on her little shelf.

P.S. - I bought this planter back in the early days of my Goodwill shopping so I have no idea what I paid for it. But, I can guess that I paid less than $5.00 for it.

Christmas Challenge! Day 10

2009-12-10T16:02:00.001-08:00

I always make it point to swing by the toy area of Goodwill while I'm there. I've come across some amazing deals on Fisher Price Little People, Loving Family and Littlest Pet Shop sets.

Aside from the large dollhouse, I spent less than $3.00 for each of these playsets. The large dollhouse was $6.00. Great deal if you ask me!

My girls still play with these dollhouses. They will set up a "village" and play for hours with them. Soon, I'll be paying it forward with these playhouses.

Christmas Challenge! Day 9

2009-12-09T05:08:00.001-08:00

Do you love hats? I do! But, I don't like spending a ton of money on them.

In late Summer when stores starting putting their winter wear out, I found a really cute woolen military hat by Fox Racing, but is was $10.00. Okay, that's still cheap because I bought it at Ross Dress for Less, but still a little more than I wanted to pay for it.

So, I wondered what GW had in the line of hats. Okay, before some of y'all freak out about wearing a used hat... it's one of those things that you either 1.) Buy something that is capable of washing; 2.) Buy one that still has the tags on; 3.) Or, take your chances if it still looks new/unused. That's what I did.

The cream knit hat is from the GAP. The red corduroy hat is "Preston & York", a Dillard brand. The tan hat is an unknown brand but has a suede look to it. It's actually micro-fiber. And the gray hat is by Original Penguin. These hats look great on and I paid less than $2.00 for each of them.

Christmas Challenge! Day 8

2009-12-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

One of the comments left on my other blog was by my friend Charlotte when she mentioned giving books a Christmas presents, because it is much better to own than to borrow from the library! I could not agree more!

Last year, in effort to get Elisan to enjoy reading more, I began buying her a book or two at Goodwill when I'd see them. Her homework assignment was usually to read for 20 minutes, but she'd often struggle with the books she checked out from the library at school. The books would either not keep her interest or the books would be a wee bit over her level of comprehension.

Once I got the girl started on reading books she enjoyed, I couldn't hardly keep up with her. She was devouring the books and wanting to go back to GW to get more books. As you can see, we've spent quite a lot of money on books from Goodwill. These are all the books that she's read. We're hanging onto them for when Kyla is ready to read them.
I've seen the price range on books from store to store. One store sells them for as little as $.59/each. I've also seen them as high as $1.29 each. Either way, that's still a great bargain, don't ya think?

The Goodwill stores that I shop have many, many chapter books for kids. It's a great way to buy the whole collection of series books as well. Elisan loves the "Babysitters Little Sister" series of books.

Christmas Challenge! Day 7

2009-12-07T08:24:00.001-08:00

Week one of the Christmas Challenge complete! Whew!

I blogged about this GW purchase back in October 2006 on my blog "Haphazard Happenstances". Wow, I didn't realize I have been shopping GW for that long. I've surprised myself today!

Anyway, I bought this purse at GW for $5.99. (Funny how everything at GW ends in $.99.) I'm almost 100% sure this purse should not have been out on the store "floor", but rather in the auction area of the store.

Each week, GW holds auctions for the more expensive items. I've seen some pretty interesting stuff come through the auction area from collectible items, antiques, jewelry, clothing/purses, electronics and appliances. Every GW I've ever visited has weekend auctions. I've never participated in the auctions, but it looks like a lot of fun. It always draws a crowd!

On another note, I've only shopped the GW's in my 15 mile radius. I'm interested in venturing out after the holidays to check out the GW's in the "wealthier" areas of town. Is anyone up for a GW shopping trip with me?

Christmas Challenge! Day 6

2009-12-06T06:20:00.001-08:00

Keeping up with the fitness/weight lifting...When Randy began his weight lifting program at home, he realized he needed a general utility workout bench. We looked online and realized that they were too expensive and he'd "make do" with what he had - which was some redneck rig that he had fixed up.

I decided to go on the hunt for a utility bench. Let me preface this... It's hard to go into Goodwill looking for something specific. It's not a department store where they have 5 brands and styles of the ONE thing you are looking for.

The hunt for the utility bench was a patient one. But, I travailed finally and found this utility bench for $5.99. Yep, that's right... SIX BUCKS!

Again, no brainer.

Christmas Challenge! Day 5

2009-12-05T18:10:00.001-08:00

Today is my birthday! Whoohoo, 37!

I sure don't feel like I'm THAT old. Wow, time flies.

We've had a very busy day! So, here's a picture from the Christmas Stroll Parade in our hometown.

P.S. - That hat I'm wearing is from GW!

Christmas Challenge! Day 4

2009-12-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

If you are a reader of my other blog "Haphazard Happenstances" you probably know that I love to lift weights. I even got my husband started in lifting weights as well.

In August of last year, we both read and began training via the book "The New Rules of Lifting" and "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". I love this book and I'm still using it for my lifting workouts.

As Randy progressed in his weights, he'd go to Academy and buy another set of weight plates. Let me just say, weight plates... or really just weights in general are stinkin' expensive. Usually you can expect to pay $1.00 for every pound of weight you buy.
So, when I found a 50lb dumbbell at GW for only $10.99 I knew it was a phenomenal deal. Especially since Randy was needing to bump up his weights. If you are into "pretty" then this dumbbell is not for you. But, for Randy (the redneck) it was perfect!

Great deal, no question about it. This was a no-brainer for me.

Christmas Challenge! Day 3

2009-12-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

I love bags! I love, love, love them. I have a bag for everything - gym bag, ballet bag, soccer bag, etc. You get the gist.

So, I'm always scoping out the bag section of GW looking for a great deal.

I found this adorable backpack from Old Navy about two years ago. It was originally intended to be used as the girls' ballet bag and it served us well for one solid year. Then, once the girls decided they no longer wanted to do ballet, I asked Elisan if she wanted to carry it as her backpack this year.

This backpack cost $3.99 at GW (as do most of their backpacks and bags). I love the print on this bag - so girly - without flaunting glitter and glam. It's very roomy too!

Oh and don't be afraid to throw a backpack in the washing machine. And instead of drying it in the dryer, hang it to dry.

Christmas Challenge! Day 2

2009-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not a decor kind of girl. I'm pretty simple and don't like a lot of clutter or knick knacks.

I like it in other people's homes, just not mine. So, because of that, I tend to stay away from home interior items. One... I don't know where to put it or what to do with it; And Two... it's just so darn expensive. Whoa nelly!

So honestly, for the good of my sanity (and marriage, b/c Randy doesn't like clutter either OR spending money on clutter) my home is decorated very simple. Sparse some would say... (Some being my mom!)

About 2 years ago I ran across this wrought iron two-tiered stand at Goodwill and decided I'd go ahead and purchase it. Again, not really knowing what I'd do with it, I figured I'd find a use for it eventually. Well, turns out, I didn't have a use for it for the longest time. I originally thought it would be great on my kitchen counter top, but it was too tall. Then, I thought I'd use it as a serving stand when we had guests, but we don't entertain that much. So, it ended up on the floor by my fireplace with no real purpose in life. That is, until Elisan began piling her books in it and so it has become a two-tiered book stand for Elisan's book (and a magazine or two of mine.)

What did I pay for this? $9.99. Not one of my finer moments in deal making history, but it was still a good price. The original price tag is still on the bottom of the stand. It sold at TJ Maxx for $14.99. Like I said, not the best deal all around...

I guess the saying is true, "You win some, you lose some."

Christmas Challenge! Day 1

2009-12-01T10:52:00.001-08:00

Today marks the beginning of the 25 Days of Blogging Christmas challenge! For grins, I'm going to post 25 things I've purchased from a thrift store (price I paid included).

I bought this purse for $5.99 at Goodwill about 9 month ago. I love it. It's soft leather, gently used and it is HUGE. The brand is Gianni Bini and you can find this line of accessories and shoes at Dillards. (I have two pairs of Gianni Bini boots and I love them! That's how I knew that this purse was a steal!)

I found the same purse (in purple) listed on eBay for $85.00 (regularly priced at $229.00). Um... no thanks! (My purse if missing the nice hanging fob, but that's okay with me. It seems like it would get in the way...)

Until tomorrow...

Christmas Challenge! Are you in?

2009-11-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-11-24T05:26:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-11-22T05:37:00.001-08:00

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?

2009-11-21T09:54:00.001-08:00

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