You already know about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. This post is about Thrift Store Tuesday, which doesn’t just come around once a year. Good news, friends! You can take advantage of the Volunteers of America 50% off sale on the last Tuesday of every month. On a normal business day, the VoA thrift stores are brimming with bargains. However, this monthly sale has a special place in my heart. Ask anyone who knows me. I live for this stuff.
The grand plan was to hit three of the four grocery store-sized thrift stores in mid-Michigan. I’ll get you next time, Burton location. I decided to start in Corunna, a half-hour drive from Lansing. I arrived about 20 minutes before the store opened. The morning was just cold enough for steam to rise from the tailpipes of about 30 idling cars. I saw a few women milling about near the entrance, so I hopped out of the truck, walked over and sparked up a conversation. They immediately told me to knock of the door and get a number for a cart. I definitely would be needing a cart. I tapped on the glass door, and a nice woman passed me the number 31 written on a sticky note. The last time I dropped in on the Corunna store on half-off day, I arrived after the store was open and the cart inventory was wiped out. Of course, I hit the used merchandise lottery and was forced to drag three 25-lb. sacks of fabric around behind me with additional clothing items thrown over my shoulder. Like a beacon in the night, I spied an abandoned cart in the center aisle. I asked around to verify that no other shoppers had laid claim to the cart. I unburdened my load only to discover that the front wheel was seized, so I drove the cart around the store in pop-a-wheelie mode until it was time to check out. Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
I was so excited about starting this half-price Tuesday in Corunna. I consistently find giant plastic bags stuffed with vintage fabric, scads of ugly 1970s neckties and other various vintage items. This time, I found several two-tone vintage towels that I plan to upcycle. I also scooped up another grab bag mystery fabric, a few hideously ugly neckties and a couple vintage pillowcases. Normally, I resist the urge to peruse the bric-a-brac. But this time, the Christmas decorations sucked me in. I spied a lonely plastic popcorn donkey perched on top of a pile of decorations and I felt like he needed a good home. There’s nothing particularly Christmas-themed about him, but between the cashier and I, we deduced that he was most definitely a Christmas donkey. The grand total for a pile of vintage textiles, a giant bag stuffed with fabric, a few ugly neckties and a Christmas donkey came to a grand total of $13 and some change. Feeling triumphant, I threw the sack of goods over my shoulder and passed my cart off to another bargain shopper on my way out the door. It was time to head back into Lansing and see what the Saginaw Street store had waiting for me.
I rolled out of the small town of Corunna, drove past several farms, hooked a left on a two-lane road and jumped back on I-69. When I reached the Volunteers of America on the corner of Saginaw and Waverly, I discovered a jam-packed parking and people trolling the front of the lot for a good parking spot. I parked in the back of the lot and hiked in.
I wondered if any “good stuff” was left, but then I remembered that few people are looking for old textiles and ugly neckties. I headed straight for the necktie stash and snagged two clip-on ties. I used to pass on clip-on ties, but then I realized that the ends make great pockets. Plus, one of the ties had pheasants on it, so that was a no-brainer. This trip I was mostly staying on the periphery in order to avoid the frenzy I witnessed up and down the clothing aisles. However, I did pluck out two Joyce Sportswear polyester blazers that stood out from the pack. One was last worn on December of 1991 as evidenced by the unused $20 gift certificate for a now defunct East Lansing restaurant named Pistachio’s. I bet David and Denise would be devastated if they knew that Carolyn and Wally never enjoyed their free meal. I also found a new old stock maxi skirt from Woolco for 50 cents, which I’m pretty happy about. I did resist the magnetic pull of the bric-a-brac section. I just repeat to myself, “Stay out of the bricky section. Stay. Out.” I love you, bric-a-brac, but I can’t take any more of you into my home.
As I approached the long checkout line, I spied a dishwasher crammed between two other appliances. When we moved into our duplex in August, the landlord pointed to the decades-old dishwasher in our kitchen and said, “The dishwasher doesn’t work. And that’s just the way it is.” Well, this gently used dishwasher was $10.01 after the 50% discount, so I plan to install it later this week. And that’s just the way it’s going to be. The last place we lived in had a broken dishwasher in need of a new circuit board. On a half-off day at the Saginaw VoA about three years ago, I bought the exact model of dishwasher as the broken one for eight bucks. I harvested the circuit board I needed and passed off the rest of the appliance to a friend who turned it in for scrap. So the Saginaw Volunteers of America is truly my discount dishwasher headquarters. I stood in line chatting with other bargain hunters while occasionally popping over to look at the linens section. I found another vintage towel and a sheet set, which I threw over my cramped arm. I really don’t mind standing in a long line at the thrift store on half off day. I almost always end up talking to other people about the cool things they found and what they are going to do with them. Plus, the VoA really has their act together for these monthly events. That line moves. So don’t be discouraged by its length. You’ll be at the register and out the door in no time. The grand total at this location was $17 and change – including the dishwasher.
The third and final location I visited was the Cedar Street store at about 11 a.m. This location has few different rooms. I suggest you do not bypass the linens room. There are always a few gems hiding in there waiting to be discovered. After scooping up a couple things in the linens area, I hit the necktie rack over in the men’s section and found five excellent examples of tacky of 1970s neckwear. I scanned the other sections of the store and jumped in line. The grand total at the last stop was $6 and change. It was time to get some lunch and survey all my goods. I have big plans for a lot of this stuff, so check back at my Etsy shop to see what I made with all the great stuff I found.
The cab of my truck was loaded down with merchandise and I was beginning to wonder where I was going to stash all my new finds. Every time I go on these second-hand sprees I find so many wonderful things it’s hard to leave anything behind. My left brain begs me to be selective, while my right brain whispers, “But you could make something really cool out of that!” The right side usually wins the argument and I return home with bags and bags of stuff. And that’s OK. Every time I buy something from the thrift store, I am keeping it from laying in a landfill. Plus, my money is going to help fellow humans. For more info about how the Volunteers of America make a positive impact on the communities we live in, click here. Makes me wish I would have splurged on some of that bric-a-brac. Maybe next time.
I cannot conclude this post without extending a great big thank you to all of the staff at the mid-Michigan Volunteers of America thrift stores – especially Amanda, who took time out of her day to show me around and allow me to take photos inside the stores. I had the time of my life! If you have never experienced the 50% off sale, or the VoA thrift stores in general, I suggest you head down to one and see what you can find! Please see the photos below to check out what else I found.
Polyester & Trash 
I wish there were one store like this in London!
It’s so huge inside.
LikeLike
For sure! You could spend hours in these places!
LikeLike
You had me at “giant plastic bags stuffed with vintage fabric”!! ^_^ I love thrift store shopping!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the nice comment Valerie! On my way to check out your site!
LikeLike
What a fab haul ! Can’t wait to see your makes and up cycling, you certainly have your work cut out !
LikeLike
Thanks for checking out my post! I do have a lot of work to do!
LikeLike
It was a great read , we don’t have those huge thrift stores here sadly.
LikeLike
Such pretty fabrics! Those heavy discount days are so hard to resist and dangerous! I really like the blue tie with the turkey print…or whatever mystery bird that is.
Victoria
http://chicvic.com
LikeLike
Oh my gosh, I know. I come home with tons of stuff every time I go! And that blue tie is pretty great. Ha ha.
LikeLike