There are times when you want to blow some money, but you realize you don’t have much. Not to worry, your local thrift store might have the answer.

There are lots of goodies to be found hiding in the shelves of your local salvage stores with prices that are actually low.

Unlike antiques shops, thrift stores are for the everyday items that would go ignored or thrown away. Most of these items are the leftovers from yard sails and moving boxes that took-up too much space. 

It’s easy to pass these items up as junk, but if you really looked at what is there you might see something that has interest to you. Recently, I visited to my local thrift stores and found some unique buys I had share.

“An old pair of paint splatted overalls,” they look pretty handy to me. I haven’t started my painting project yet, but at least it will look like I have.

“A Letterman jacket form 1985,” how cool is that! So what if I don’t play sports or if I didn’t graduate in the Class of 1985? If anyone asks, I’ll just say that I ran tack and was so fast time still has not caught up with me. 

“Large collection of paper back novels,” I’m sure I’ll find one I will like. Never judge a bookstore by its cover.

“Stacks of never opened workout videos,” I could use these. Warning! Exercises from the 80s will still burn as much in 2016. Just because no one watches them anymore doesn’t mean they don’t work. 

“A slightly used toaster,” you can’t find them in Walmart for that price. Most of these items are in good use, but the owners decided they wanted a different model. They probably lost the receipt and couldn’t take it back, so they donated it to Good Will for a tax write-off.

“Boxes full of Teddy Bears,” guess what my future children will get for Christmas. It’s just like the pound, except for toys. Why spend a fortune trying to win one in the claw machine when you can get one for a dollar? 

I am always finding new things to buy, but most importantly I like that the money I’ll spend goes back to the Community. Salvation Army and Good Will are always doing programs to help people in need, which only adds value to my purchase.

You never know what is valuable until to check. There are cases every time on Antique Road Show of ordinary objects going for thousands of dollars. If you see something you think is worth something why not buy it then; it’s always a possibility that it could be worth a fortune.

It may not be new by Webster’s Dictionary standers, but it’s new to buyers who want to save a little money.

Allen Brewer is an intern for the Oxford EAGLE. You can reach him at allengbrewer@yahoo.com.