Growing up I thought Goodwill and Thrift stores were embarrassing to shop at, now I love them! Thanks mom for showing me the way. I call the stuff "vintage" not used.

I shop at Goodwill for many things, but always inspect the quality and look for damage first. Remember everything is pre-owned. If the clothes have a funny smell, you make the call: can you wash it out, or is it stuck in there forever? If a pot is bent, or a plate chipped, don't buy it. Mattress? Why not? As long as it's not stained and still has some bounce. Half my clothes are hand-me-downs and thrift purchases

I got into shopping a thrift stores when I was in college w/o much $$. You have to develop a technique as to how things are placed, and visit frequently. I also shop at a thrift store that supports local hospital projects. Amazing how much high end clothing, and so much is new, is available. I picked up a suit for job interviews there.
And Tori R, I never saw jeans over $12.00 and I also live in a high $$ area.
And yes, I do wash everything before wearing. The suit, I had a fast dry cleaning.
Sometimes I just pick up "fun and quirky" clothes that I would never buy in a dept store.

My local store is small and does not really have much to choose from; therefore, I am more a Goodwill contributor than a Goodwill shopper. Which reminds me, I have a few boxes that I need to drop off. Now is good time to donate winter clothes the kids have outgrown...or refused to wear.

I used to shop at Thrift Stores all the time in college, when I used to go to clubs and needed lots of funky clothes and had virtually no money.

We have a Goodwill only a few blocks from our house, and the prices really vary. We drop things off there all the time, as my kids are always outgrowing clothes or style change and my older ones get rid of stuff they can't sell at the consignment shop. I buy clothes to make Halloween costumes there a lot. It never occurred to me to buy jeans there. The estrogen supplements I have to take (otherwise I don't have orgasms properly) have put weight on me,(about 8 to 10 lbs) that I DO plan to lose (if I can, estrogen weight is hard to lose) so buying some "just-until-I-lose-the -weight-jeans" would be a good idea. I have no idea what sizes they have, but I know ours is really active and the stuff is different every day. Sometimes you have to wait in a line of cars to drop off your donations.

I know my oldest daughter, who lives with her Boyfriend shops there all the time. They're broke, just like everyone else.

I go thrifting with my husband's grandmother at least twice a week. The GW store we frequent gets some great stuff... at least half my wardrobe is from there honestly. Name brand stuff too... Old Navy, Levi, I even got an almost new pair of Puma sneakers and a REAL Coach purse (which I had verified... only spent $25 on a purse originally ten times that price)! I'll admit, there are some thrift stores I wouldn't be caught dead in, but most of them nowadays are nice, clean, and well organized.

They're also a great place to shop for kid stuff. They outgrow clothes and shoes so damn fast, and they don't care if the toy is from a box or just from a shelf, it's new to them. I'd rather not have to spend an arm and a leg for something that's only going to be used a couple of months.

I shop at thrift stores when I get the chance. Sometimes you can find really good deals, although I'm picky and don't always end up buying anything.

Kitchen items, accessories and a few house hold goods, but rarely clothing. I will look for a purse there, because you can find some cute ones, even if it's a knock off, it's cute enough that I wont care, not that I'm the type to care anyway.

Not only shop there, but I used to work at one. It's where I learned that the depths of human indignity know no bounds (meaning people actually shoplift at a thrift store - or try to say that a real leather jacket [never worn] we tagged for $75 was a cheapie $5.99 'jacket' because they ripped the tags off).

I never had problems of going to thrift stores (I preferred to go to them than get hand-me-downs from everyone - at least I got to pick out what I wanted at the thrift store). I get clothes, furniture, bags, kitchen, household, jewelry, hats ... I mean, I found incredible stuff. A Myott china SET in which I'd pay the same for a single cup and saucer? A lavender suede Liz Claiborne purse for $3.99? A pair of speakers that have lasted longer than newly bought ones? Odds and sods for steampunk gear and Neo-Victorian decor? Yeah. Just have sharp eyes and don't be afraid to move stuff around.

The only things I don't buy there are undergarments and socks. Oh, I also got lots of slips there, too (FYI - lingerie is usually hung up with the pajamas and robes). Any well-organized and clean thrift store gets my business.

An observation - the thrift stores in my area have had increased business since the economy took a nosedive, and people who would have never gone thrifting starting to the past couple of years. It's not as bad as they thought.

It does take a bit of time, but you can find some great gems in goodwill shops! Especially for vintage items that are actually vintage, rather than those that are being sold in commercial stores for 100x the price!

I can't stand the smell of secondhand stores. Plus I have a germ phobia and to me the whole store just feels dirty .... but that's just me.

I don't shop at Goodwill specifically, but I do shop second hand frequently... for just about everything besides socks and underwear!

The Goodwill can be a bit expensive. We have a place here called the D.A.V. ( the proceeds go to the Disabled American Veterans) and they are a lot cheaper. I like thrift stores in general and love the worn out look of jeans that have been washed a million times. I can relate about the weight being an issue. I lost all of my baby weight shortly after having my son, because I breast fed. I was so happy that I went out and bought a bunch of new clothes. It was a treat for myself and a gift from my man to shop at Lane Bryant instead of Walmart. It was a huge chunk of our budget just to get a few outfits. Then I had to stop breastfeeding and I gained 20 pounds. SO all those nice clothes don't fit anymore. 22 is a hard size to find in thrift stores. I refused to pay full price to buy more jeans, and wore maternity clothes for awhile. I finally broke down and bought two pairs of jeans. I tried on size 22 in the store and they fit but seemed a bit tight on my stomach and afraid I was just going to gain more weight, I bought 24. Now I regret that because the 24 hang off of my thighs and butt and I am losing weight, so they are getting bigger. So now I have jeans that are too small and jeans that are too big. We are really broke and I don't work, so I am stuck wearing the huge jeans. I actually bought a girdle so I could were my smaller jeans when I go out to a club cause I want to show off my ass. I have actually thought about going to a tailor to get the bigger size fixed.

Oh! When Vera Bradley bags first started getting popular 7 or 8 years ago, I lusted after them so bad. I have a bit of an obsession for handbags, and I could not afford one. I found not one but TWO Vera Bradley bags in a second hand store in Maine where I lived at the time for $10 bucks a piece. They were in great condition. One had a matching make up bag inside and the other a matching wallet. The great thing about those bags is that they can be washed, so I didn't have to worry about germs.

I mostly shop at thrift stores for games, books, and CD's. For CD's, I usually buy things from artists that I'm interested in, but not enough to want to pay full price for a CD I may not like.

I browse with my friends. They usually end up buying something but I don't.

My girlfriend and I will usually go to the Salvation Army with Grammy. We usually don't pay more than a few buck for brand name clothes.

I shop at thrift stores pretty frequently...especiall y considering that I'm losing weight and don't want to spend a lot on clothes.

Goodwill is great for all those things you need and they take all those extra things you don't need as well, its like an exchange place...:0

I absolutely love stores like Goodwill (though, tbh, my favourite is the Salvation Army down the street, everything is so nicely colour-coded!) I will buy pretty much anything there sans underwear. Shoes tend to be a no-go because I have such big feet for a woman and a lot of GW shoes are pretty manky. I have to limit myself when I go to places like that as I have an obsession with ugly sweaters and nowhere to put them all!

I love GoodWill it's an awesome store.

I have always stretched my money, women are notorious for wearing clothes a few times and then getting rid of them. I clean up on yard sales and Goodwills. I buy jeans, shirts, dresses, skirts and antiques. NEVER intimate apparel, cookware, children's safety items or blankets. Some things you just have to get new.