05 Dec

Posted at 03:00h in How To, shopping, Thrift by
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new buy the bag location, Buy the Bag brooklyn
Last week I told you about the new Housing Works Buy the Bag location. The thrift store used to offer select dates for this awesome sale {$25 for a bag full of clothing}, but now they have a stand alone location that's open five days a week. Needless to say I was super excited to hear this sale is now being offered year round and throughout the week.
I went to the press preview and the space is definitely different from the warehouse feel of the previous setting. A new layout and even new bags means your strategy has to change a bit.
Keep reading for a complete rundown of the new Housing Works Buy the Bag shop, plus some tips on how to get the max amount of items in your bag.
 

19 Sep

Posted at 03:00h in Looking FLY on a Dime, shopping, Thrift by
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Looking Fly on a Dime DirectoryI constantly have people ask me what my favorite thrift stores in NYC are. I've done posts on this before {thrift shopping FAQ}, as I have a set of shops I visit on a regular basis. When it comes to New York, I can direct anyone to the appropriate shop based on their needs.

But I also have readers ask about thrift and vintage shops outside of the Big Apple and then I'm usually stumped for answers. I always tell people to check out The Thrift Shopper {enter your zip code for secondhand shops in the U.S} and of course I take to my Facebook page for suggestions, which is exactly what I did when someone hit me up on Twitter asking for great thrift stores in Baltimore.

13 Aug

Posted at 03:00h in How To, shopping, Thrift by
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How to thrift shopI frequently post my thrift store scores on the blog, Instagram {user: LookingFlyonaDime} and Facebook and the one statement I hear over and over again is, "you always find the best stuff" or I'm asked the question, "how do you find the best stuff?"

Though I've done a ton of posts on thrift shopping 101, thrift shopping commandments, etc, I'll let you in on the three secret tips I utilize to always** find great stuff. Well, they're really not secret since I'm telling you and honestly, anyone can utilize them for a great thrifting trip.

24 Jul

Posted at 08:12h in Thrift by
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thrift shopping with a noviceIf you're new to thrift shopping, I've done a few posts on how to get started {thrift shopping 101 and thrift shopping FAQ}. But what if you're not new to thrifting but you want your newbie friends to join in on the thrifting fun? Well, this post is for you.

Last weekend I had a small adventures in thrifting trip to the Housing Works Buy the Bag sale {$25 for a bag full of clothes!} with Danielle from The Frugal Fatshionista and photographer Rayon Richards. Danielle is a thrifting pro, but for Rayon, it was his first time at the sale.The bag sale can be a bit overwhelming. It gets crowded, hot and there are so many clothes, everything eventually gets pulled out of the bins and on the floor {see the photo below, I'm literally standing on a pile of clothes!}. But luckily, our thrifting newbie walked away with two bags of goods.So if you're thrift shopping with someone who's new to secondhand stores, here's what you should do:

29 Jun

Posted at 08:50h in How To, Looking FLY on a Dime, shopping, Thrift by
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thrift store prices, how to thrift shop
Two weeks ago I posted what may have just been my most commented on {via the blog and Facebook}, shared, liked and tweeted post. When I posed the question, "Are Thrift Store Prices Becoming Too Expensive?," you guys chimed in and the overwhelming answer was yes, the prices have increased.
Some people blamed the lagging economy {more people need to thrift so the prices are reflecting that}, others feel since some re-sell thrifted finds, the stores are upping the prices and a few people even believe bloggers like myself are responsible, since we're putting a spotlight on thrift shopping and making it "chic." 
Hmm, whatever the cause, us frugal folks aren't too happy with it. 
And Goodwill was the one thrift store in particular that everyone kept singling out. 
I've been a long time Goodwill supporter {shopping, donating and I even styled a Goodwill fashion show for disabled workers}, so I wanted to hear their side. I reached out to the New York and New Jersey branch of Goodwill to see how they determine prices and what percentage of sales are dedicated towards providing services to those in need.
Here's what they had to say....