Most of us have less cash to burn these days, so buying other folks’ castoffs is a great way to save a few bucks.
The Internet, specialty shops, bookstores and going-out-of-business sales carry drastically reduced items that are especially good for occasional needs or events. Here are some of my go-to bargain hunting sites and stops.
For furnishings
I am a picker who spends blissful weekends poking through garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores. My searches have resulted in a fashionable home decorated entirely with thrift. Granted, it took years, but now my house is elegant and eceletic with a comfortable combination of styles, periods, textures and collectibles.
So my antenna still goes up when family or friends decide to move or downsize, since most would rather give away perfectly good things than pay movers to ship them.
Plus, secondhand shopping isn’t just good for saving money. It also can be a way to make money.
A few years back, I walked into what I thought was a garage sale. It turned out that I had invaded a couple’s moving day. After a few apologies and inquiries, I ended up carting home a charming armoire for my granddaughter’s room. Because the couple couldn’t fit it into their moving van and intended to leave it behind, they apologetically asked if $10 was too much to pay. So happy were they to be rid of the piece, they helped load it into my vehicle, tied it down and thanked me profusely. My son recently resold that same item on CraigsList for $250.
For moms-to-be
While some pregnant celebrities bare their bellies for posterity, the majority of expectant mothers are concerned with being covered and comfortable. Most can squeak by for three or four months before their tightening waistbands send them scurrying to maternity shops. But it’s tough justifying a new wardrobe for a measly five months.
Brand names that cover the “bump” — such as Juicy Maternity and Pea in the Pod — can be found online at secondhand sites like where, in addition to buying and selling, bartering is lively. Another nifty maternity and baby site is .
For books
In college, my summer waitressing stash went toward tuition and rent, while my dishwashing paycheck had to cover textbooks. The cost of books for a year in college can run into the thousands, according to CollegeBoard.com; the national average tops out at $1,137 a year.
But shrewd students have learned to take the bite out of this expense treadmill by buying their texts secondhand, then selling them at the end of the semester. Companies like Swap.com and operate a thriving online business where customers can list, share and swap books from home.
Locally, (3434 W. 32nd Ave.; 303-480-0220), (300 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-837-0700), (290 Fillmore St.; 303-388-6811), (850 S. Monaco Parkway; 303-333-4971), and (210 S. Broadway; 303-744-1043) all carry or specialize in used books. Even the biggies like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com now carry recycled hard and soft versions in an effort to keep up with the trendy mom-and-pop resellers.
For formal wear
Red-carpet affairs are big business for designers who, according to style expert and blogging fashionista , have their dresses, shoes, handbags and jewels returned after big events. “Celebrities usually don’t pay anything out-of-pocket for their outfit,” she says, “unless it’s a pair of shoes or something they are dying to keep.”
So maybe Brad Pitt won’t be attached to your arm at the Academy Awards next year, but you can still be red-carpet-ready for your events without draining your bank account. The key: Consignment shops, specialty thrift stores, and upscale vintage boutiques.
One of my favorites is (1123 Pearl St., Boulder; 303-447-0065). This hip reseller of the post-World War II eras — from the tender 1940s and 1950s to the beaded 1960s or the even roving hemlines of the 1990s — won’t disappoint.
Then again, why not rent? carries Nichole Miller gowns, Judith Leibler purses and Badgley Mischka jewelry that can be yours for up to eight days including backup sizes and pre-labeled return packaging.
For jewels
Elizabeth Taylor owned the Hope Diamond, Marilyn Monroe sang “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and Audrey Hepburn sighed over the array of baubles at Tiffany’s. But before you crack into your wall safe to buy more jewelry, consider a cheaper path to finding your bling: pawnshops, estate sales and auctions.
Trust me, not all resale shelves are filled with broken equipment and jewels of questionable origin. The truth is, those coveted trinkets — especially diamonds — have incredibly low resale worth.
There is a little antique jewelry shop downtown that prides itself on being the area’s oldest purveyor of estate and antique jewelry. (1417 Larimer St.; 303-573-5049) carries jewelry dating from the early 1800s. It’s well worth the look, because, as Victoria Magazine reports: “For the past 200 years, jewelry has been the highest expression of the various design periods.”
More tips for thrify special-occasion shopping
Ask for appraisals or Internet verification before you bid on or buy pricey secondhand jewelry.
Search for resale items locally to minimize or eliminate shipping costs altogether.
If you love books, search eBay and Amazon for recycled reads, and save hundreds.
Brides on a budget, and their entourage, should check out the amazing frocks on the virtual racks of .
