The youngest sibling gets the oldest sibling’s clothes. Good Will, Disabled American Veterans, church rummage sales, neighborhood garage sales, church-operated and family-owned thrift stores. Where another person’s junk will now become your treasure.
I would venture to guess that most people have no problem donating items to a thrift store type establishment, but some would never step foot in one as a customer. Grew up in a family who patronized major department stores, and I continued the trend but was never a spend thrift. As a matter of fact, learned to be quite frugal and clipped those manufactured coupons and would continue to do so even if in the upper echelon of society.
Never considered entering a thrift store until Jonathan was ready to attend day care when I returned to the work force. What a concept! What savings! My husband came from a well-to-do family who I’m sure never set foot in a thrift store. Carl soon realized where to find the bargains. My parents were so impressed with a particular find that it became a newly found hobby, especially on SCD (that’s senior citizen’s day for you young squirts). On one of their visits my parents purchased a ladies’ Neiman Marcus watch and a man’s Bill Blass watch for $.95 each and they only needed batteries. Twenty years later my mom is still wearing hers. Unfortunately, when Jonathan could speak his mind, he balked at wearing somebody else’s clothes. He would rather have an $80 shirt from Hot Topic or PacSun.
The thrift store meandering still continues today. My parents found a gold mine in San Diego County and wish I had known about it when living there for a few years. Now on our jaunts we go in before heading back home and always seem to leave with several bags full of major labeled clothes from Gap to Old Navy to Calvin Klein to Sag Harbor costing under $10.00. (You’d be lucky to buy a shirt at The Gap for that price.)
Every time I enter a thrift store, I’m reminded of the angst getting Jonathan to wear a thrift store purchase. If he ever has a family, it won’t surprise me to find Jonathan stepping foot in a thrift store and finding it not so humiliating after all.
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2 comments:
Our Value Village in town is a favorite of young moms. The way children go through clothes, it's just smart to shop there. Lots of treasures to be found among the things others have cast aside. Our church has its own clothes closet where people can come and shop for very minimal cost. It seems that if the clothes are given away, it would be like accepting charity and many don't like feeling that way. Thanks for your post! Loved the memories it brought back. One of my very young friends has even made a New Year's resolution to only support thrift stores this whole year - just to take a stand against this massive consumerism. Good for her!
Let me know when you go.
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