What do you do, hot shot?

[Big Daddy Audio]

We all need things every now and then, but what do you do if you can't score what you need in a thrift store (I'm talking about hard good-type stuff, not abstracts or things like vacations or food).

I've been looking for some PA speakers for a wedding I'm going to do in March, but the best I can do right now is used gear in a store or Craigslist.  Do these count as thrifting?  If I'm able to save money, isn't it thrifting, despite the fact that the purchase doesn't occur in a thrift store?

Am I losing my mind asking such an obtuse question?

See you next time
Bye for now.

[Jay2TheRescue]

We all need things every now and then, but what do you do if you can't score what you need in a thrift store (I'm talking about hard good-type stuff, not abstracts or things like vacations or food).

I've been looking for some PA speakers for a wedding I'm going to do in March, but the best I can do right now is used gear in a store or Craigslist.  Do these count as thrifting?  If I'm able to save money, isn't it thrifting, despite the fact that the purchase doesn't occur in a thrift store?

Am I losing my mind asking such an obtuse question?

See you next time
Bye for now.

I think Craigslist and Yard sales are variants of thrifting, but there is no benifit to local charities.
-Jay

[SecondhandSophisticate]

We all need things every now and then, but what do you do if you can't score what you need in a thrift store (I'm talking about hard good-type stuff, not abstracts or things like vacations or food).

I've been looking for some PA speakers for a wedding I'm going to do in March, but the best I can do right now is used gear in a store or Craigslist.  Do these count as thrifting?  If I'm able to save money, isn't it thrifting, despite the fact that the purchase doesn't occur in a thrift store?

Am I losing my mind asking such an obtuse question?

See you next time
Bye for now.

I think Craigslist and Yard sales are variants of thrifting, but there is no benifit to local charities.
-Jay

I agree with Jay. Secondhand is secondhand. You are keeping the landfills empty, probably getting better quality than buying new, and most likely saving yourself and family $$, not to mention providing an individual with $$, as opposed to a big-box store. It's always worth it to investigate your options--all your options--before you spend your hard-earned cash.

Ciao,
SeSo

PS: I'm watching "Bah-gin Hunt"

[valleythriftshopper]

I think Craigslist and Yard sales are variants of thrifting, but there is no benifit to local charities.
-Jay

Actually I see quite a few yard sales that are charity benefits, not to mention church sales (although I doubt you would find a PA system at a church sale).  In the fall there are always numerous "Relay for Life" (I think it is an American Cancer society benefit) fundraiser yard sales, some of them quite good.  Also goodwill & other thifts do online auctions where they have good stuff & Ebay has charity auctions where 100% of the proceeds go to charity.  there are many ways to get bargains & support charities.

[Big Daddy Audio]

ACTUALLY...

A church sale might be a good place for a PA system, if they were to upgrade.  Unfortunately, the PA system that they would have in a church would be more suitable to being permanently installed, not mobile (unless of course, they were getting rid of a band's gear or something).

I'll suffer the slings and arrows for this, but seeing a charitable organization get money is only a by-product of my thrifting.  It's not why I thrift.  It's nice to know that it happens, but it's not my primary motivator.  I'm just cheap.

See you next time,
bye for now   

[superiorgirl]

The expression is recycle, reduce, reuse. I think that shopping garage sales, flea markets and the like all qualify. You are buying and using things that may otherwise be tossed into a landfill. I agree....I don't shop thrifts just to benefit charity. That is a perk, but it's not the reason I love to thrift shop. Given the exact same item, at the same price, in the same condition in a for charity shop and a not for charity shop, then I would choose the charity shop, but really, when would that ever happen??? Oh, and let's not forget antique shops!!! They count too!!!

[valleythriftshopper]

I'll suffer the slings and arrows for this, but seeing a charitable organization get money is only a by-product of my thrifting.  It's not why I thrift.  It's nice to know that it happens, but it's not my primary motivator.  I'm just cheap.

Well, at least you can probably take a tax deduction for any equipment you have to purchase if you use it professionally.

[Big Daddy Audio]

That'd be nice, except I don't charge - I just love to do it, and so that's why I do it.  There might be some tax advantage to donated services, but these events aren't for  charitable organizations, they're just my friends.

See you next time
bye for now.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

ACTUALLY...

snip-

I'll suffer the slings and arrows for this, but seeing a charitable organization get money is only a by-product of my thrifting.  It's not why I thrift.  It's nice to know that it happens, but it's not my primary motivator.  I'm just cheap.

See you next time,
bye for now   

I think that as good a reason as any...


Thrift ON!

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Well, it's not thrifting in a literal sense, but it IS being thrifty, which is always smart.

You know, I went thrifting on the weekend, then hit an antique mall, a used CD and video store, followed by Half-Price Books... and had a moment of enlightenment: I seem to almost never buy something fully new. In fact, I think I PREFER it, for most things.

Maybe I'm just addicted to the serendipity of it all.

[Other People s Junk]

I'll suffer the slings and arrows for this, but seeing a charitable organization get money is only a by-product of my thrifting.  It's not why I thrift.  It's nice to know that it happens, but it's not my primary motivator.  I'm just cheap.

I agree!    That is why all second hand stores, yard sales, estate sales, antique stores, etc, are all fair game, if I find what I want at a great deal.  Still, the overall picture is charitable in nature- you're giving your money directly to real people, who probably do need it, and you're helping the environment by reusing items.