My love affair of thrifting began as a sophomore in college. I had an induction ceremony to attend but nothing to wear and an empty wallet. I hit up a local thrift store in Philly and an hour later I walked out with a $5 ensemble. After that moment, I realized thrift stores weren't just for a pair of jeans, but for any occasion, from casual to cocktail.Here are a few of my favorite looks (all of the pieces are $2 or less):Look2 I'd wear this grocery shopping or to the airport. Laid back, simple and versatile. I can dress it up with pumps or slip on flats for a day of errands.Blazer: Ann Taylor Top: Banana Republic Jeans: Citizens of Humanity Scarf: unknownLook4 I work in a creative field so I'm not obligated to wear stuffy business suits or blah outfits, but I would feel comfortable wearing this. A classy, work appropriate skirt paired with the polka dot top makes it a fun look.Top: Zara Skirt: Brooks Brothers

Look1

Work, date, social gathering, there isn't anywhere I wouldn't wear this. I'm a true girly girl (lace, ruffles, ribbons, bows, you name it) but I wanted to break up the cutesy-ness of the flirty dress by adding a leather jacket.

Jacket: Old Navy Dress: unknown

Click more for a show-stopping cocktail dress!

[caption id="attachment_348" align="alignleft" width="155" caption="dress leggings up with a flirty top"][/caption][caption id="attachment_349" align="alignright" width="142" caption="i'm a sucker for a belted blazer "][/caption]Stella McCartney for H&M blazer: 50¢ Newport News top (Don't laugh, it's adorable): $2 Nine West boots: $2 Don't know who the belt is by: $1I love this look. Spiffy enough for an interview but relaxed enough for date night. And the pieces are all from thrift stores. Ok, well the leggings are Forever 21. Cute, right?I'm sure some people are still a bit skeptical about the "second-hand" goodies that...

DSC02199So last week I let you in on my new thrifting obsession, the Goodwill Outlet. I've gone to Goodwill before where the clothes are sorted and individually price, but never to an outlet where the clothes are in bins and priced by pound. Let me tell you, this is a budget babe's heaven. I'll be forever loyal to the Housing Works warehouse sale, but I liked the variety of Goodwill. Here's the lowdown:Setting: The outlet is housed in a spacious, well lit room with big blue bins. Unlike the deep, wooden bins of Housing Works, these were plastic (no splinters!) and not too deep (so you don't have to practically topple into the bin if you want to get to the bottom). And they're organized extremely well. All of the jeans, shoes, dresses, jackets, etc are in their respective spots, which is great if you're looking for something specific. And while you're sifting through items, your nose isn't tortured with that funky, musty smell that usually plagues some thrift stores. The outlet's open six days a week so you can shop at your convenience, instead of being forced into a crowded, Saturday morning sale.DSC02217Selection: I was really impressed with the assortment of items offered. Electronics, furniture, shoes, books (especially children's and romance novels), vinyl records, etc. Though some of the electronics are a bit outdated and may need some repair, how can you not get a kick out of seeing an typewriter (what's that?) or an original PlayStation? And the clothing was just as varied, in style and sizes. I found everything from an Old Navy leather coat to a Theory military jacket (my new BFF!) to an adorable pair of leopard flats.