Thrift Stores and Shuffle

One of the hallmarks of saving energy is to recycle, reduce and reuse. And the best way to do that exact thing is by visiting your local thrift store.

I have been going to the thrift stores in my neck of the woods for years. So much so that almost every one knows me by name! They are one of the few hangouts where I actually like to spend money, get items that are well worth the cost, yet save bookoo bucks in the process. You can literally buy name brand products there for pennies on the dollar.

As mentioned before here on Detect Energy, I love using retro cooking devices. Things like old crock pots, electric frying pans or dutch ovens, even those old electric sandwich making griddles are some of the staples in my kitchen! (I’ll tell you straight up that there is no finer grilled cheese sandwich than one that is made on an electric sandwich making griddle. YUM!!!)

These devices all save money because they burn far less electricity than a stove top, an oven or a broiler. They are usually easy to clean, and if you are worried about sticking, use a little organic Pam for a non-stick surface.

I get a lot of my clothing there too. Most of them are brand name items like Levis, Old Navy, Fruit of the Loom, and I have even found some very fashionable Italian made suits, Versace and Haggar shirts, Oshkosh overalls, and many many others. None of those cost a whole heck of a lot of money at a thrift store, and I was literally stylin’ and profilin’ when I put them on.

The best part for me are the electronics. A lot of this stuff is American made and the quality shows. I’ve gotten things like a Mixmaster Mixer (cakes never tasted so good), a couple of Singer sewing machines (the older all metal ones, I might add), a couple of original Osterizer blenders (great for making smoothies), Electrolux vacuums (a canister and an upright) and many many others. I’ll bet that I purchased all of these items for less than $100 dollars.

Thrift stores are gold mines, and they accomplish several things. Reusing old products like this keeps them out of the landfills, which is a good enough reason all by itself. But it also takes a lot less energy to reuse something than make something new. Plus, this is basic recycling 101. Only instead of grinding up the pieces parts for reuse, I am actually reusing what is already there which, as I said before, reduces both waste and energy. So in every step when buying at a thrift store, I am doing my part for a healthier and greener planet.

The best part about this is, you can do this as well! This is one of the easiest and best ways to not only save money, but save energy too. And it’s fun to do! You can take just a few bucks to a thrift store and potentially come home with a bag-full of useful items. You are helping the green cause, you are helping the owners of the thrift store by supporting their business, and you are helping yourself by saving money while getting an incredible value for every dollar spent.

I always hear people say that it takes money to go green. Well that’s just a load of bull! Take it from the Green Guy, next time you want to dance, do the thrift store shuffle. You’ll be saving energy, saving money, and everyone will love the smile on your face when you get back home and tell them how much money you DIDN”T spend.