A THRIFT-AHOLIC! WHO? ME?

Do you remember when you returned home from a thrift store shopping spree and your neighbor said: "Well, what did you get this time?" All the time eyeing those bulging bags you were trying to load into your apartment? You replied: "Incredible stuff. I didn’t spend hardly any money! And look what I bought! Check out this little table. No scratches. No damage. And only twenty bucks."

"Yeah, great," she replied. "But look, there’s a tiny burn spot on the top of it."

"No problem," I answered. "It will buff right out with fine sand paper and even if I didn’t do that, my doily would cover it. Gotta be worth $50 on up! And look at this juicer. New model, $10. Carrot juice, beet juice-whatever you want."

"Now you’ve become a juicer?" she said. "Guess we’ll have to test it out."

When I first began shopping in thrift stores, my neighbor (and friend) certainly questioned the logic of it. After all, I was a busy woman embroiled in a successful public relations business. But early on the thrill of the hunt got me even though my first forays were not into thrift stores but to weekend garage sales. That’s where the treasures were, lots of them. But that was back in the 60’s and things have changed. Today your best bargains can be found in thrift stores and in rummage sales. What’s the difference? Thrift stores do not always have what you are looking for and they price according to their knowledge and their needs. Rummage sales contain everything one could ever imagine owning (except automobiles and those large ticket items) with prices in the low to fair range. But back to thrift stores.

I remember once, when I was rummaging in Goodwill’s downtown basement (probably the 50’s)--a true treasure trove of all kindsa stuff--I looked under a shelf and there were two gorgeous deco-style, Caribbean figure lamps! I think I paid around $5.00 for them. Today they would be worth over $300! Of course, I have also dragged my doubting friend with me on several occasions. Yet she wasn’t convinced about thrift store or rummage sale buying until I came home with a 4 ft. x 3-1/2" foot painting tied onto the top of my VW -- a painting I paid $10 for with a $600 price tag labeled on the back by a well known La Jolla artist.

Yes, it is true. I am definitely a thrift-aholic. It all goes back to the "thrill of the hunt." Yet it might be more accurate to say I am a "second hand addict." For all of the following reasons:

(1) Even today, the best buys are still out there--in local thrift stores, in second hand shops and especially in rummage sales. Although these are certainly recycled goods, most of what you see looks new. The days of smelly old clothing, heavily damaged furniture, decaying couches and similar discrepancies have, for the most part, passed.

(2) The price is right. If you make a mistake, it won’t matter quite as much because you paid so little to begin with. Retail prices are often twice or three times as much so think about the savings, learn from your mistake and continue shopping!

(3) Consider the "cause." Many thrift stores are charity-related endeavors. Learn who the reputable stores are and remember, a por- tion of each dollar goes to a homeless man or woman, a substance abuser, employment programs, the disadvantaged or disabled, lonely kids, veterans and others. Choose the charity you identify with and shop in those stores, if you can. You’ll feel better knowing your pur- chase was used in a worthy cause.

But remember, there also can be thrift store mania. You could end up like those junk brothers in New York, who in the 1920’s gathered, accumulated and purchased tons of material--so many tons that when one brother was presumed dead, firefighters had to cut a hole through reams of junk piled as high as the ceiling in order to reach the body! Compulsive buying can be hazardous to your health! Houses can be stuffed with hat racks, pots and pans, dishes, hardware, bric brac, clothing, glassware, paintings, miniature dogs, cats, birds, jewelry and all of that other stuff you had one of to begin with! Please dear God, don’t let it be you! When you start admiring someone else’s support hose, you’re the one who will need the support!