Confessions of a Value Village Addict (And My Sneakiest Thrift Store Hacks)
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I am not above a snack drawer.
Hell, I have two because I believe in redundancy, Amazon, and always being prepared (well actually one is a cupboard and the other the freezer ;) ).
Same goes for my wardrobe. And my home decor. And, frankly, my entire adulting strategy. Which is why my latest $85 haul from Value Village is a minor thrift miracle I must now shout about online.
Here’s what went down, how I do it, and how you can walk in with as little as twenty bucks and come out feelin’ like a budget Cate Blanchett with a cute blouse and three pairs of pants.
The Haul: A Retelling in Jazz Hands
Let’s be clear - I didn’t need more clothes. But I did need some fresh looks à la Retail Therapy, without breaking the bank. And since summer forgot about Calgary this year (thanks, thunderstorms), I took shelter in one of my happy places: the VV Boutique.
We’re talking:
A groovy flower-power dress with graphic florals straight outta 1967
A pair of black dress pants that won’t wrinkle (I love an easy-care queens)
A bougie satin blouse that may or may not turn me into someone who brunches
And designer-signed jewelry that might actually be worth something if I squint and manifest hard enough
Plus, four other shirts, another dress, a pair of shoes and two things for my house! All for $85 CAD. Not $850. Not $185. Eighty. Five. Dollars.
LouLou’s VV Boutique Hacks: The Secret Sauce
Let’s break it down like I do in my car after a haul when the adrenaline wears off… but the smugness stays strong.
1. Join the Super Savers Club (seriously)
It’s free. Just give them your phone number and email, and you’ll start getting 20-40% off coupons regularly. This haul, I got 40% off my entire clothing purchase. I’ve never emotionally recovered.
2. Split your purchases at the till
Got a coupon that only works on clothes? Run the rest through separately. Boom. Double dip the system. They’ll never know (they do know, but they don’t care).
3. Shop outside your size section
People hide things. I repeat, PEOPLE HIDE THINGS. I found two of my best pieces lurking in the “maybe someday I’ll fit this again” zone.
4. Look for fabric you’ll actually wear
If it wrinkles like a toddler with no nap, you won’t wear it. If it feels like polyester hell, you won’t wear it. If it looks like it actually needs dry-cleaning, you won’t wear it. Trust your inner lazy laundry demon.
5. Wash everything the second you get home
Don’t let it linger in the bag. Trust me. Your house does not need to smell like 17 people’s closets and vintage storage bins.
What I Skipped (and Why):
Anything dry-clean only, that looks like you REALLY could not delicate-cycle wash it (no ma’am)
Shoes that look really worn, or worn at all really (my tender tootsies have opinions)
Anything that smelled like a$$ - you know what I mean!
I’ll be fixing that painting on the right. Need to add my colours (in a future DIY post).
Thrifted And Thriving Cuteness Final Thoughts
Thrifting is part sport, part therapy, and part survival skill. And whether you’re dodging Calgary’s monsoon season or just trying to look put together without going broke, there is no shame in the VV game.
Now, go! Fill your cart. F your budget… I give you permission (and because it’s hard to break it there). And remember to bring your own bag, your coupons, and your common sense.
You got this, bargain babe.
P.S. Bonus Hack
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