Thrift store shopping.....I literally dream about thrift stores. I grew up in the Midwest and was raised to be extremely thrifty. I started shopping at resale stores in high school and still have some of the items I purchased then in my wardrobe. You can not beat the quality of fine vintage clothing and the craftsmanship and fabric tend to far outweigh what you can purchase new at much higher prices. There are also new items to be found, many with price tags still attached.

My vintage clothes get a lot of attention. I concentrate mostly 40's through early 70's. It feels like a treasure hunt to find my favorite designers hidden amongst the racks of clothing. Any great finds that are not my size are placed on Ebay for others to enjoy. This also tends to more than cover any purchases I have made for myself or my family.

I also rely almost exclusively on thrift stores to dress my children. We have a few local stores that receive new clearance items from retailers such as Target, Old Navy, Gap and Urban Outfitter. Even if the tags have been removed a quick look at the button on jeans, for example, will reveal the manufacturer. They end up with stylish and current clothing at prices such as $1.99 for new jeans and .99 for a shirt.

Whether you are looking to stay in step with current trends or willing to make your own statement, you can find amazing deals to help stretch your budget. Happy hunting.

A few recent finds:

American Girl dress for girls .50

Vintage 40's Hawaiian sarong dress, new condition, $3.50

A&F jacket with tags $ 5.00

Leather Frye boots $2.50

50's lace circle skirt $4.00

50's angora sweater $1.00

lucite purse .50