Friendly Bit of Advice #4: Book It

Bought: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Price: $4.98
Place: Half Price Books

Today, dear reader.

Today is the day we expand our definition of thrift store.

Today is the day we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the thrift store purists and purposefully irritate them by including used book stores in this blog.

We will not be stopped!

Today will be seized!


Back to the point.

I just started my Spring Quarter at school and, as usual, put off buying my books until I first checked the library, amazon.com, and Half Price Books for my ludicrously overpriced text books.

It is the latter location that we will be discussing today.

I know it's not a thrift store, but all of the books have been used and are sold at a discounted rate. Therefore, I'm including it.
What are you gonna do about it?

Here's the point:
There is absolutely no reason for you to ever buy a book new (unless it's a brand new edition or a workbook).

Reason 1: How many times are you going to read through it? Once? You're paying $30 for a book you're going to read once?

Reason 2: You sometimes find hidden little treasures in the books. Now I'm not referring to the chocolate-y goo on the front of my Understanding Comics. That was just disgusting-but also easily removed.




"I, Mrs. Louis Fucci give my permission for Maureen, my daughter, to have her hair colored by Revlon Products."

Mrs. Louis Fucci







Bought: The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton (Yes, that is James Lipton's father).
Price: $12
Place: Alibris










In conclusion...












You never know when you could get a free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut.
And before you even ask, yes, I was part of Book It. And yes, I do still have my- not one, but two- buttons somewhere. And yes, that feeling welling from deep within you is jealousy.

I guarantee that buying some used books will make you feel better. If that doesn't help, try buying a Pizza Hut pizza.
I'm just saying...

Friendly Bit of Advice #3: Cut Loose, Footloose

Bought: Shoes
Price: <$10 except the heeled Candies boots Place: Goodwill, Pleasant Hill; Anna's Attic; Goodwill, Concord; Good Samaritan Thrift Store, San Diego; Salvation Army, Concord (R.I.P.)

Today, we're going to talk about the one most terrifying thrift store item.

No, not the undergarment. We're going to pretend that those don't even exist there. There is absolutely no way I would ever look at those, much less touch them. And buying them would be an early sign of a brain aneurysm.

The Shoe.

I know. Don't be scared.

The Shoe is like the Holy Grail or the Lost Ark (or any other Biblical artifact that has since been turned into a mainstream movie title) of the thrift store.
Most people don't get rid of their shoes, unless they're completely worn out, making The Shoe search more difficult.

So in true Monty Python and Indiana Jones fashion, let's turn this into a scavenger hunt.

1. Find The Shoe that is in style.

2. It's in style? See if it fits. If it doesn't, place back on the rack and go back to step 1.
Cinderella Step-Sister-Like behavior is generally frowned upon.

3. It fits? Find its mate. If you can't, place back on the rack and go back to step 1 or ask an employee for assistance.

4. It's in style, it fits, and "it" is now a "they"?! Check the price. Depending on the uniqueness and quality of the shoe, place back on the rack if it's over $10.

5. Fend off anybody else who is eying your shoes. View other customers as enemy scavenger hunt competitors who will potentially take you down if you find one of their items. Tuck your find under your arm and sprint for the cash register. Unnecessary roughness will be flagged and may result in expulsion from the hunt, so be sure to barrel someone over only if the ref has his eyes closed.

6. Oh no... You're not finished yet. High-tail it home, and whip out your disinfectant spray. Take your shoes outside and spray those suckers off until you just about can't breathe with all the toxins in the air. Leave outside to dry.

7. Do a victory dance, for you have won the hunt! Gloating optional, but generally encouraged.
Example:
Scavenger Hunt Completion Party

Friendly Bit of Advice #2: Don't Get Pigeonholed

Bought: Four vintage suitcases
Price: $25 for the set
Store: Teen Challenge, Concord

There's more than just outdated clothes at thrift stores. Oh sorry. Let's be politically correct. "Vintage Shops."

Keep your eyes (and your mind) open for unique pieces with which to decorate. I've found incredible things in the home section (just walk straight past the used silverware without stopping to think about whose filthy lips were on those) that I wouldn't have been able to find anywhere else!

Being extremely narcissistic, I love buying one-of-a-kind pieces. And where else can you get those cheap than a thrift...mmm..."vintage" store?

Correct answer: Nowhere.