What do you do for a living? Urgent reply needed

[tsmanager]

Hello,
I am just curious as to what each of you avid thrifters do for a living?
I'm not meaning this is a mean way. I'm asking to prove a point. The point being that there are many reasons why people shop in thrift stores and there are many income levels that shop in thrift stores.
I know this myself because I know alot of the regular's that come into my store.And most are not low income. I've seen rocket scientists to real estate agents to teachers.
So I just need a little more wide spread info from you all so I can prove my point, that you don't have to be poor to shop in a thrift store.
Mary
TS Manager in Sterling, VA Soon to be in Ashburn VA next year.

[alexandra]

Computer support person.  Sorta geek.  But not considered so here!

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Yoga teacher. The creative but poor type. However, married to an engineer who's the creative but can-make-money type. Still, not enough money for me to indulge my shopping jones at Neiman's everyday. Hence, thrifting. Plus I am the creative kind, after all.

Namaste,

SeSo   

[MrsGoodwill]

I am a SAHM and a Foster Mom. My husband is an insurance broker. We're not poor and we're not rich. Before I became a mama, I did a bit of this and a bit of that. I have a BA in English.

I know myself well enought to know that even if we were VERY rich, I would still be thrifting. It's part of who I am and I enjoy it!

I used to work at a private bank and our clients were the SUPER rich. The thing I noticed about *almost* all of them is that they stayed rich by not spending more than they had to! They were careful with their money. These people loved a deal just like anybody else! In fact, I could never tell just by looking at them that they were rich. They were just "normal".

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I'm a professional writer in an internet marketing firm.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

How are you, Mrs. Goodwill?  Fellow English Major here, undergrad BA.


It's a funny thing about money.  Oft times, it isn't about what one wears, it's about how they wear things and how they speak and present themselves and, most importantly, how they treat others (ie.; the "little people").  Some of the "oldest" money I've ever met has been the most subdued in dress and the more gentle in manner. Some of the most cultured and kind people I've known have come from little money but have had superb upbringings. Some have both, some have neither. And new money can be ostentatious and mean (remember the 80s?)

I had a client once, (when I was a social worker) who had fled Vietnam and lived in Paris for several years, lost her family, etc. When I met her, she was broke, but offered me her bracelet when I admired it...one of her few possesions. And she carried herself so beautifully even in her immense loss and poverty. Now, to me, that's a great role model.

She gave me her bracelet. I still have it.  It was jsut a sovenir bracelet of Paris, but it was just about all she had. I was very touched! That's being rich to me.

Or to quote Edith Wharton (and I LOVE Edith Wharton)--actually, to paraphrase Edith Wharton:  "Undine saw that the Countess looked like a wreck, but now she understood that the Countess was a wreck of a castle"  Get it? I love that quote!

Ciao, Bella!
SeSo

[superiorgirl]

I run a public transit authority. In an urban area that would be high paying job, but I am in a exceptionally rural area. Hubby runs a dedicated trucking service. We are definitely middle class. I shop at thrifts because it's fun looking for treasures and I am sick to death of Wally World and cheap, poisonous made in China cr@p. It's a choice, not a necessity.

[Magpie18]

Currently payroll administrator & hopefully soon to be CPA 

Formerly -- background in retail -- I was good at it but the pay was always poor 

too much of an accountant to say saving money doesn't matter but I think with me it is more the thrill of the hunt -- maybe I watch too much Antiques Roadshow LOL

[genuineimitation]

currently SAHM, formerly computer artist (ruined my hands years ago - forced out of my line of work). we live on one income and i can't imagine NOT thrifting. thank goodness my family appreciates recycling!

[Zed Simon]

I'm a master control operator for a group of cable networks. I'm doing decently OK moneywise, especially considering the cost of living where I am.

Like a few others here, I thrift as an alternative to buying new...I get better things cheaper, and some things you can't get new anymore. Thrift stores connect me to my past and provide me a second chance at missed opportunities. I'm a geek. I love old electronic gear. I couldn't afford a LaserDisc player when they were selling for $1000 new, so I got one last year...for $25. Maybe I'll upgrade to Blu-Ray once I see a player in a thrift store for that price. It pays to wait sometimes!

[eddieb]

I like to say i'm an aspiring philanthropist

I work for a marketing and advertising company in Hollywood. I've been dubbed the Company Fireman for putting out so many (metaphoric) fires around the office...I am also a musician; I perform with an Downtempo/Electronic Band; I DJ as well as dabble in remixing and electronic music production as well...

My Dream "career" is tri-fold:

Professional DJ / Bowler / Potter

[adapt]

mmm... i don't have a job. i did until i was laid off a week ago. i worked in the dreaded retail.

[ILuvDon]

I am the Volunteer and Education Coordinator for our small local zoo.  It is a fun job, and very rewarding at times, but does not pay that great.  I could make more $ teaching at a public school... with my degree in Secondary English Education.  However, I love my job, the animals, and my coworkers. 

I would say that we (my husband and I) are middle class.  Once we have children, I envision us being very financially strapped at times.  Luckily, we are a thrifty couple.  We joke all the time about our future children hating us for outfitting them in thrifted clothing.  We'll see... 

[ChrisMiss]

I too thrift because I enjoy it.  I used to work in office setting now I'm working with husband who is a head hunter.  We travel around in our RV enjoying the different views of this great country.  I get a kick out of seeing all the different local stuff that's dontated at the various thrift stores I go to around the country. 

[Mattie]

I'm a secretary at a social services agency.  I started thrifting when I worked in retail and I will continue to thrift even after I become a gazillionaire.