Earlier this year, I was disappointed to hear that thrift store donations are down due to the bad economy.  Just when people’s incomes are down and they’re turning to thrift stores for a new outfit or new school clothes for their growing kids, the stock isn’t flowing in as freely as it once did.  Amy, from Shopping Golightly, has started a petition on Facebook to designate a National Thrift Store Month.

Last weekend I got the motivation to clean out our closets.  I dug out suits I haven’t worn in two years because they just never fit right.  I organized my sons’ clothing by size and then by season, and only saved the things my baby can actually wear as he gets older.  The rest joined the enormous stash in my trunk that eventually made the trip to my favorite thrift shop, The Scholar Shop.

I love The Scholar Shop.  The proceeds of their sales go to fund scholarships for education.  And they send me an itemized 1099 form at the end of the year for our taxes!  I started donating to them many years ago, and now I regularly make their “Who’s Who” list in their annual magazine.  For some reason, this gives me an odd sense of accomplishment, as though my shopping isn’t completely senseless.

So this month, do your closets a favor.  Give them a good cleaning!

• If you haven’t worn something in a year, pack it up.
• If your kids have outgrown clothes you aren’t sentimental about, pack them up.
• If your husband gave you a handbag for Christmas five years ago that you’ve never worn, pack it up.
• If you have an enormous pile of costume jewelry but you haven’t touched it in years, pack it up.

And while you’re dropping off your goodies, stop to take a look around.  You’d be surprised what you can snag for a great deal at a thrift store!

Photo by empracht