Whenever I’m out of town on vacation I try to shop at a few thrift stores and clothing consignment shops. I sometimes refer to this as, Destination Thrift. One year, while I was on vacation in Destin, Fla., I went to the local Goodwill and found a beautiful Eileen Fisher skirt and sweater set. I also purchased a designer jacket. My total bill? $15. And I still had plenty of time to enjoy the beach!
Thrifting while on vacation
or traveling has its benefits.
1. It’s fun.
2. It’s a great way to explore a city or town.
3. It’s like a treasure hunt because you can find interesting, one-of-a-kind items that you would never find at home.
That’s because every city or town, large or small, has its own culture and history. So, you never know what you’ll find, especially when you visit an estate sale or thrift store in another city. Come on now. You’re going to shop while you’re on vacation anyway. Why not save some money while you’re at it? Don’t just settle for shopping at a mall, boutique or expensive hotel gift shop.
Here are five easy ways to get destination thrifty:
1. Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to route your Treasure Map (all the places you can thrift.
2. Ask the hotel concierge or clerk. Sometimes hotel staff can be a great resource for finding the best places to shop.
3. Search for estate sales. I love scouring estate sales when I’m traveling. Two great websites for locating estate sales around the country are www.estatesale.com and www.estatesales.net. Subscribers to www.estatesales.net can even get free, e-mail updates about upcoming estate sales.
4. Go old school. When you arrive at your vacation destination, don’t forget to check out the classified ads in the local newspapers and magazines.
