Custom Search

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Thrift Store Tip: Or How to Find Ray-Bans for $0.75

Yes, a true story. A short post today because, once again, I have accumulated 100+ papers to grade. Anyway, you can read the post on oysters by Frugal Son (posted last night) if you want something with some substance.

For a quick break from my arduous task, I went to Habitat, not my favorite thrift store in terms of what I find, but my favorite thrift store in terms of what they do with their money. I am willing to spend a bit more there because the money goes right into the community--and, believe me, my community, with its old and new money, medium size middle class, and large poor population living in Walker Evans-esque shacks, could use it.

Like most thrift stores, Habitat is patrolled regularly by dealers, who know a lot more than I do about pretty much everything. So I mostly get necessities that no one wants, like linens to be taken to college, and slightly high-browish popular novels.

I also look through the baskets, the tie basket, the scarf basket, etc. You never know what will be in there at $0.75. I have found a few Hermes ties that way.

Today, I looked, in a desultory way, in the basket of sunglasses. There, among the scratched and askew Dollar Store models, was a pair of genuine Ray-Bans! In great condition. An iconic gift for my little girl, who will be having her 18th birthday in a week, and has been craving Ray-Bans.

Happy birthday, Dear Daughter.

Any little thrifting tips you'd like to share? What little treasures have you found of late? do share.

5 comments:

Chance said...

Lucky daughter and such a good eye you have. Happy birthday Frugal Daughter, 18 looks like it is going to be special...

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Awwww......Happy Birthday to the kiddo. Where does the time go Frugal Scholor??
Your son is going to Alabama??? Oh YAY!!!
It is such a fantastic school. Lot's of partying (of course that's at any college, no?) but they have very strict academic standards. Of course I know that you already know that!!
Tell you what, I personally know Jack Hawkins the Chancellor. If you'd like, we can e-mail each other and talk a little. I'm almost as excited as you that there will be one more Alumni from Alabama!!
Hit me up on my blog and we'll figure out a way to get each other's e-mail address without publishing it for everyone to see!!

Steady On
Reggie Girl

SLF said...

@Midlife: I go to LSU but my sister (the Divine Ms. Em as she is known in the realm of the internet) seems to be leaning towards U. of Alabama.

--Frugal Son

Meredith said...

Love this story!

Oh, I miss the days before Ebay when thrift stores weren't filled with eagle-eyed dealers.

It's a lot harder to spot the Raybans in a basket now, but I still love the hunt.

Frugal Scholar said...

@Chance--You always find something nice to say...

@Reggie--I can't believe you know the Chancellor! We went to a reception in his house, but he wasn't there. Very fancy!

@Meredith--When I started going to thrift stores, the old-timers lamented the good old days when everything was a quarter. In spite of the dealers (and they were around years ago as well--and I even did vintage clothes for a while), I still find more than enough. Love your blog, by the way. Thanks for coming by.