Get Out of the Kitchen: Goodwill.

Friends, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.  You know when you’re walking around a store, and they come on the intercom and say, “Attention, Goodwill shoppers”?  They’re talking about LeeLee and me.  Well, at least sometimes, in part.

Often, after we drive through the donation station at our local Goodwill, we pop into the store itself and take a look around.  And even on the days when we don’t bring any products home, we’re suitably entertained, that’s for sure!  First of all, it’s amazing what some people will donate (and, obviously, what other people – including ourselves – will buy).  It’s also quite a study in trend bubbles that have burst – think the George Foreman grill, bread machines, quesadilla makers, and more.  (For the record: We are the proud owners of all three of those products.  And we use them!)

But perusing the Goodwill merchandise isn’t just a sociological study for us.  No, I can safely say that we’ve picked up pint glasses, dishware, picture frames, an Army jacket (for me), and even a Jos. A. Bank suit (with the tags still on) at the store!  And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.  What’s more, our purchases are made at a fraction of the original cost of the items.  (LeeLee’s suit, for instance, ran us a grand total of $35.)

Now, don’t get me wrong; we buy a lot of our items new, and some items (shoes, etc.) I can’t wrap my mind around buying at Goodwill, though I know they’re perfectly fine.  But Goodwill is a great place to go to fill in the gaps, and/or look for unbelievable deals!  The trick is to go in with an open mind – they may have 50 glassware sets, they may have none – and a willingness to check back frequently.  LeeLee and I find ourselves in our local Goodwill about once a month, and we almost always stumble upon a good deal.

And if you don’t get what you’re looking for the first, second, or third time, that’s OK – the browsing is a treasure hunt all on its own!

:)