Baltimore Thrift Shopping

Yesterday, my three sisters, my son's girlfriend, and I went to Baltimore thrift shopping.  We went in great anticipation of coming home with the back of my Suburban full of clothes and useful stuff.  I even had the back seat taken out so we would have lots of room. 

Now normally I love thrift shopping.  I love to dig around and get that good bargain.  I have found alot of good deals doing this.  Let me tell about Baltimore.

Yesterday we went to three stores.  The first store was Collins Ave. Thrift Store.  It had two color tags half price.  I found a few things there, probably paid a little more than I normally would.  I got a long sleeve button down shirt with deer on it for $7.  My son's girlfriend got 2 tupperware pieces for a couple dollars each.  I also got a cute rooster rug for $5.  The tag fell off and I was hoping it was half price (it wasn't) but now that I got it home I really like it.

The next store was The Salvation Army.  I did not find anything there.  Some of the others picked up a few things.  This store had green tags half price.  The selection was not as much.

The third store was Value Village.  On all holidays, this store has everything half price.  It is a big store with lots of stuff.   You could spend a couple hours checking everything out.  The only bad thing about the store was the restroom.  No more comments about that. 

There was a lot of people too.  In the morning, it is as busy as it would be on Black Friday.  We, thankfully, got there soon after lunch.  We had to wait for a cart, and the line to pay was long.  But til we were ready, it was getting cleared out.

This store had racks and racks filled with clothes.  Plus lots and lots of shoes.  If you've never been to one, you  can't imagine the stuff.  Furniture, clothes, toys, books, housewares, trinkets, small appliances, gloves, kids' clothes, linens, etc. 

I did not realize at first that all items were half price.  I would have kept that in mind when looking.  Here I bought a John Deere tractor with a wagon for $5.  I bought some shirts and sweatshirts, and a jacket for me, a pair of shoes etc. I could have looked some more but two of my sisters were sitting in the Suburban waiting for the rest of us.

All in all, it was a fun day.  I drove, which I like to do.  I had to turn around a few times, expecially on the way home.  We got to go through a tunnel two times because I missed my road.  Then I missed a sign.  So the joke on the way home was "I can read that sign!" or "Can you read that sign?"

Now,  the question is "Would I go again?"  My answer to that is "Probably not."  Your question is "Why not?"

Some people I have heard get alot of clothes.  That is good.  But apparently, my children are grown up enough, that it is harder to find clothes.  Plus, I have only one girl and I sew her clothes, so I wouldn't need much in that department.  Another reason could be because I went yard saleing some this year.  So maybe I didn't need enough to make it worth while. 

It cost us $40 for gas and tolls.  So in reality, for 5 of us to go, it was not costly.  It also was a very fun day.  We bonded and laughed, like we sisters normally do. 

It depends from which aspect you look at.  Friendship or lots of cheap clothes- not matter which- it was worthwhile to spend the day like we did.

What do you think?  Would you drive to Baltimore in hopes of getting a lot of good bargains?  Would love to hear your stories if you went.