THRIFT STORES GO BEGGING?

BEEN TO YOUR LOCAL THRIFT STORE LATELY?

You may have noticed that the racks and shelves look a bit sparse. That's not just because more people are shopping at thrift stores but also BECAUSE DONATIONS ARE DOWN.

According to the management of one thrift store we went to, donations are down because now people are selling their things rather than donating.

And we notice that garage sales on lawns seem to be happening more in neighborhoods where the people who donate live!

DON'T YOU JUST HATE STORES THAT SELL CLOTHING and HAVE NO DRESSING ROOMS ?

Don't know about you but in my neighborhood stores have opened that sell clothing inexpensively. And if you're broke or you don't make much money yourself, the only options for clothing are stores like these, and thrift shops and garage sales.

This inexpensive clothing is usually sold by first generation immigrants - Chinese - Russian - Armenian - who buy clothes in the garment district (where there are reportedly still illegal immigrants - even slaves - sewing the clothes). THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO TRY ON CLOTHING and a NO RETURN POLICY. It stinks.

But maybe worse are the thrift stores that also have no try ons and no returns.

You can't really save money if you buy clothes that turn out not to fit.