Giving Bargainistas what they want

So, I was taught that when you do something wrong, you apologize. And it is you my readers, whom I apologize. 

See, I started this blog last fall. And I really have not been keeping up with it. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't thrift -- I do, way too much. But I just don't write about it so much. And I will change that, but I have to apologize first.

Thrift apology

I'm sorry for not telling you about my fab thrift finds.


I'm sorry for not making videos, showing you my great discounts.

I'm sorry for  not showing you Bargainistas how I thrift -- so that you can be thrifty, too.

This is all going to change.

You'll hear more from me on a regular basis -- and not just an occasional post here and there.  I want you to know exactly what I'm wearing, how I'm wearing it and, more importantly -- how much I'm saving.

I've begun to thrift more in my home, too, so you'll even be seeing that as well.

You ready? Get your thrift life with BargainistasATL! 

My thrift store adventures in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

It's when you go thrift store shopping at stores out of town that you realize just how lucky you are to have so many thrifting options.

Atlanta, where I live, has tons of thrift stores and consignment boutique options - from the tried-and-true 'you never know what you're gonna find' Goodwills and the swankiest of the swank dripping with Louboutins consignment stores, to the, "Do I really want to get out of this car?" stores that make you second guess your decision to thrift there in the first place.

I wasn't sure what I was going to find when I went thrifting in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. recently.  The experience has made me appreciate thrift stores in Atlanta even more. 

For starters, the entire store was half the size of most Goodwills in Atlanta. No joke. And what was there, wasn't enough to write home about -- though I did find a cute pair of shoes and a dress.

Ft. Walton Beach may have sunshine aplenty and white sand kissed beaches for miles on the Emerald coast, but good thrift stores? No, ma'am, at least not in the tiny community where I vacationed.

Though I suspect that I'd have done better had I gone five miles down the beach to Destin.(Next time).

Inside, I felt like everything was a mashup - no color coordination or anything else at that Goodwill. It was rather dreary. I just knew I wouldn't find much of value here, but I did find a few things. 

What I picked up

Anywho, this is what I got:;

Don't let the wrinkles fool you; this is actually a cute dress from Willi Smith (TJ Maxx) that will be good for the spring.

New pair of Sam & Libby shoes with tags still on 'em.

If you live in a major city, be grateful. Thrift shopping could be a lot worse. I did have a blast in the sun, tho. My shorts are thrifted, below.

5 reasons you know you shop at thrift stores WAYYY too much

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainstasATL.blogspot.com

As much as I like to shop at thrift stores, there are signs that you just need to .... stop.

 1. When you buy the same item two or three times over -- and you have away too many of the same items in your closet.

2. When you have no more room in your closet to fit anything else.

3. When you have more Goodwill plastic bags than grocery bags. FYI: They make really good bathroom trash bags and bags for small trash bins.

 

4. You hide your Goodwill bags from your spouse/significant other and pray they don't notice.

5. When you look at people at Goodwill  like this when they get something you want: