By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert  The philanthropic movements behind most thrift shops are not always in the forefront of most shoppers’ minds as they enter resale establishments. Like many, my early motivation for patronizing these thrifty haunts was purely for the thrill of the hunt and the joy of snatching up fabulous items for a fraction of what I would pay retail. It wasn’t until I began looking behind the scenes, that I realized that many thrift organizations support philanthropic causes ranging from crisis pregnancy centers to animal rescue. They use their retail proceeds,... Read More

I began thrifting because it was fun and, quite frankly, I loved to shop. Okay, I still do. But, initially there was a deeper motivation for my need to haunt the secondhand shops that peppered my town … I was broke. I loved the fact that I could buy fabulous things for pennies on a dollar.  It didn’t take long for me to get hooked on the thrill of furnishing my homes or fashioning chic wardrobes found in thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, consignment shops and auctions.  I became a veteran power shopper, quickly falling in like with each venue I tested and every tarnished treasure... Read More