Spend a Penny, Save a Dollar

I LOVE to go to thrift shops, boutiques, and resale stores for good deals. There is almost nothing more satisfying then walking in a thrift store and finding an item with the tag still on for less then 1/2 the retail price. Since moving to Michigan I have found a few stores that I always enjoy browsing and eventually buying something at. The stores are Once Upon a Child, Grow With Me, and Value World. 

Once Upon a Child has great deals on Tuesdays. They call it "Tote Tuesday". If you have a tote ( you can purchase one for five dollars) you are eligible for amazing clearance price deals every Tuesday! Awesome, I know! A couple weeks ago they had a deal where every red marked item was twenty five cents...TWENTY FIVE CENTS! Of coarse I took advantage of that and spent a few dollars to get some "new" clothes for Zalen. I bought Osh Kosh, Carters, Ralph Lauren. and other top name brands for just 25 cents. The other good thing about this store is that you can sell the baby items you don't use for store credit or cash. So, as your kids get older and out grow things you can basically trade in for newer items. 

            Once Upon a Child   <-- Click to view website

(Picture taken by: Once Upon a Child, Ann Arbor, MI)

$5.00 tote used for Tote Tuesday

I paid 25 cents for each outfit.

 Osh Kosh, Ralph Lauren, Carter, and Old Navy are the brands of the clothing in the picture.

Grow With Me sad to say, is a locally owned children's resale boutique. It is located in Ann Arbor, MI. They are a more upscale resale store but with garage sale prices. This store not only has resale and trade in items but also the store has new items it purchases from companies. If you love the princess theme, this is the place for you. They have rows of tutus, crowns, wands, ballet shoes, lace head bands, and bows. If you have a son like me you will also love the store because they have puzzles, crafts, games, and super hero costumes for your little hero. Everything is either new or gently used. This store also has deals here and there. They have a card that when you spend ten dollars they stamp it and when you fill up the card you get 20 % off your purchase. That is a typical thing to see in resale shops so that's not special, what is special is the deals they have every now and then. One sale coming up next Saturday is the "Fill a Bag"  They will had you a plastic bag and you fill it up with select items for one low price. There will be new items, and gently used. All of the top brands included! Depending on the time you show is how much the bag is. If you show up when they open it's 10.00 a bag, if you show up close to when they close it's 2.00 a bag. This store is also a place where you can sell your children's items for cash or store credit. The difference between this store and other children resale stores is that at this one a portion of the store proceeds benefit local autism organizations. 

Grow With Me  <-- Click to view website

Grow With Me, Ann Arbor, MI

Grow With Me bathroom. Changing table with complementary diapers and wipes! Every Mother's dream bathroom.

Lastly, there is Value World. This store is only located in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. So, lucky for you if you live in one of those states! I was introduced to Value World by my husband when he was on his way to work and I wanted to do some window shopping. He didn't know the store was thrift store he just suggested I check it out because it was close to where he works. When I first walked in I was overwhelmed by how huge the store is and the rows and rows of clothes, shoes, purses,  *breath*  books, toys, movies, crafts, etc. Value World is a lot like Goodwill but on a bigger scale with cheaper prices. They have VHS movies for fifty cents, DVD's for a dollar, books for forty cents and toys and board games for two dollars or cheaper. The clothes range from five dollars to just a couple dollars. The down side to this store is you do have to pick through to find some gold nuggets but it's worth it. I found some gently used Lane Bryant and Old Navy  clothing  for a few dollars as well as new books retailing fifteen or more dollars for just forty cents. If you like DIY projects this is the store for you. They sell furniture, picture frames, and other house hold products that need a little TLC. 

Value World <-- Click to view website

Value World. (picture taken by: Gunsmoke and Knitting)