You may remember that last year, we visited a local thrift store and purchased outfits for the entire family for only $20. The girls loved it so much, they’ve been begging us to do it again. So last weekend, I surprised them with a trip to Goodwill! While the prices have changed just a bit since last January, we were still able to dress the entire family for only $24.
The Hunt.
There are positives and negatives when it comes to our local Goodwill. They sort everything by color vs. size, so it takes a really long time to go through everything to find things that will fit you. We did find a few pieces that were brand new, but unfortunately, there were much more pieces with holes or were dirty. We decided that if we do this again, we are going to visit a different store, in a nicer area. We are convinced that we will find better quality that way.
Once we arrived, I presented them all with their challenge… to find an outfit that they love for around $5. They couldn’t wait to see who could find the best outfit, for the least amount of money.
So let me brag a bit about what they chose and how much they cost.
Falynn’s Outfit – Total $1.98
This adorable Cherokee denim vest looks like it had only been worn once and was only $.99! It can be worn as a top or over a tee or tank. She also chose a fun skirt from Epic Threads which was also $.99. It’s perfect for my little tomboy because it has attached shorts.
Iyla’s Outfit – Total $6.89
Iyla was on the hunt for something she could wear over the summer. And while white usually gets dingy, this top from On Fire was in great shape and was $4.59. She also found these super soft denim shorts from Garage which were on sale for $2.30.
Lucia’s Dress – Total $5.99
Lucia is my rockstar when it comes to thrift store shopping. By the time she was ready to head to the fitting room, she had a cart full of options. She was excited to find this dress from Forever 21 because she can wear it to the next school dance. We did find a small hole in the front, but she is confident she can fix it. At $5.99, it was definitely a steal. She also got a brand new Holister dress, with the tags still on, for only $7.
Nelson’s Outfit – Total $9.18
Super Dad never has a problem spotting the deals. He looks for brand names and always finds great pieces in the 6 racks of men’s clothing. His Izod top and Adidas khaki shorts were $4.59 each and make a great outfit for Summer.
We are going to make this an annual challenge because they really love the hunt! And of course, since Falynn chose the least expensive outfit, she was able to choose one prize, a book for $.69.
Have you ever shopped in a thrift store? What was your experience? Would your family enjoy this challenge too?
Wow! You got some great deals. Loving all those outfits!
I remember the post from last year, and this year you’ve outdone yourselves!! Everyone looks great. Such a fun challenge.
My daughter loves shopping at thrift stores and making outfits! We used to live in a town with so many of them but where we live now only has a few, that’s where garage sales have really come in handy. So much fun, cute outfits!
Goodwill collects stuff and sends it all over. Just because it is donated locally does not mean it stays local so another area may not yield better results. You may want to try something like the Salvation Army or Hospice. I believe those donation stay local.
You found some really amazing pieces. This is one of the reasons that I love going thrifting.
It really is amazing the things you can find in thrift stores! I love that you have managed to kit yourself out with some amazing outfits along with the rest of your family.
Oh my gosh I love this! We’ve been working really hard to reduce our consumption and waste, and buying second hand is a great way to do that. I’ve been shopping thrift stores more often and you make a great point that they are perfect for saving money—and treading more lightly on the planet.