|
Getting what you need for free or
from a thrift store, a friend that's
willing to share, a stranger in a
network can be the smartest thing
you'll do.
Let's crunch some numbers and see
who really wins.
Taking the time to shop around for a bargain or finding it for free from a friend or other outlet can be a great way to save money, but some people feel that it’s not worth the time or effort that is involved in searching for low-cost or no-cost items. How much of an advantage is there to looking for the best deal on the things that you buy, or to doing what you can to locate free offerings from people that you know or others? To make sure that you receive the best return on your investment of time, effort, and money, take the time to consider some of the following when shopping thrift or looking for low- or no-cost alternatives for the things you want to buy.
Thrifty Shopping
Finding a good deal on the clothes or other items that you want is always a worthwhile venture, whether you’re making minimum wage or you have a job that pays $20 an hour or more. Even if you can afford to pay full price for the items that you buy, taking the time to shop at thrift stores for at least some of your items can save you a significant amount that could be better spent toward leisure activities or to cover other expenses. Additionally, many thrift stores are operated by churches or nonprofit charitable organizations and use the money generated by the sale of thrift items to pay for the cost of programs such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or no-cost clinics for those who can’t afford health care. Even if you can afford to shop elsewhere, taking the time to visit a thrift store can be a great way to get the clothes or other items that you want while doing a bit to help those less fortunate at the same time.
No-Cost Items
Regardless of how much money you have, free is free. By looking at community notice boards for items that are being given away or keeping an eye or ear out for friends who are planning on throwing away or getting rid of certain items, you can find things that you want while helping others to get rid of those same things that they no longer want to have. The time that you spend looking for give-away items directly translates into savings, since all that you’ve spent on the item was a little bit of your free time looking to see if anything was available.
Is It Worth It?
Unfortunately, many people take the attitude that it isn’t worth their time to sort through items at a thrift shop or to check and see if people are giving things away (or even selling items at a greatly reduced cost.) The problem with this thinking is that they are overlooking a major part of the big picture… it isn’t just about how much you spend or how much you save on the items that you buy, but also about how you interact with others and the impact that you can have on others’ lives. By shopping at a thrift store once a month, you can help to raise money that keeps a free clinic open in your area. By arranging to pick up an item that someone wants to get rid of instead of going out and buying a new one for yourself, you not only get what you’re wanting but can also help to keep something out of dump sites or landfills. By thinking in larger terms, you can see that even small things that you do can have a larger benefit than you might originally realize.
|
Business
Help